Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to (i) receive a first stream of audio data representing audio content from a computing system, (ii) detect an indication that a source of the audio content is to switch from the computing system to a user device; (iii) after detecting the indication, establish a point-to-point wireless link with the user device over which to receive a second stream of audio data; (iv) receive the second stream of audio data representing the audio content; (v) determine a future time at which to transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data; and (vi) at the future time, transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to (i) receive a first stream of audio data representing audio content from a computing system, (ii) detect an indication that a source of the audio content is to switch from the computing system to a user device; (iii) after detecting the indication, establish a point-to-point wireless link with the user device over which to receive a second stream of audio data; (iv) receive the second stream of audio data representing the audio content; (v) determine a future time at which to transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data; and (vi) at the future time, transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to (i) receive a first stream of audio data representing audio content from a computing system, (ii) detect an indication that a source of the audio content is to switch from the computing system to a user device; (iii) after detecting the indication, establish a point-to-point wireless link with the user device over which to receive a second stream of audio data; (iv) receive the second stream of audio data representing the audio content; (v) determine a future time at which to transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data; and (vi) at the future time, transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to (i) receive a first stream of audio data representing audio content from a computing system, (ii) detect an indication that a source of the audio content is to switch from the computing system to a user device; (iii) after detecting the indication, establish a point-to-point wireless link with the user device over which to receive a second stream of audio data; (iv) receive the second stream of audio data representing the audio content; (v) determine a future time at which to transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data; and (vi) at the future time, transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to (i) receive a first stream of audio data representing audio content from a computing system, (ii) detect an indication that a source of the audio content is to switch from the computing system to a user device; (iii) after detecting the indication, establish a point-to-point wireless link with the user device over which to receive a second stream of audio data; (iv) receive the second stream of audio data representing the audio content; (v) determine a future time at which to transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data; and (vi) at the future time, transition from playing back the audio content using the first stream of audio data to playing back the audio content using the second stream of audio data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for configuring network devices that include native scanning or image-reading elements. Network configuration information is provided in a scannable image. A network device reads the scannable image and extracts configuration data from the image. The device then uses the extracted configuration data to configure the device to operate on a desired network.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating adverse conditions of the liver in an individual. A pharmaceutical composition including gallium, in the form of a coordination complex of gallium (III), a salt of gallium (III), an inorganic gallium (III) compound other than a gallium salt, or protein-bound gallium (III), together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, is administered to the individual in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically or prophylactically effective serum gallium level.

Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical gallium compositions that are particularly useful for oral administration. The pharmaceutical compositions include solid, liquid, and paste formulations, which have high oral gallium bioavailability and are suitable for human and veterinary applications. The compositions comprise pharmaceutically acceptable gallium compounds, such as gallium maltolate, gallium 8-quinolinolonate, or gallium nitrate, together with certain viscosity-increasing agents, such as water-soluble forms of methylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating or preventing infections by obligate intracellular prokaryotes, including mycoplasma, rickettsia and chlamydia, and DNA viruses, including herpes viruses, papillomaviruses, adenoviruses and hepatitis B virus. The methods involve the administration of 3:1 complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones with gallium, e.g., gallium maltolate. Therapies incorporating gallium maltolate in combination with agents used against obligate intracellular prokaryote and DNA virus pathogens are also provided, as are multi-combination therapies designed to treat co-infection by an obligate intracellular prokaryote or DNA virus in an immunocompromised individual. These multi-combination therapies rely on the ability of gallium maltolate to complement antiviral medication regimes against both HIV and other pathogens such as herpesvirus infections, including Kaposi sarcoma, CMV retinitis and blindness, and lymphomas, in patients immunocompromised by HIV infection.

Abstract: A network interface (20) comprises a microprocessor having an access port (50). A portable memory device (60) is capable of being inserted into the access port (50). A software datafile is contained on the portable memory device. Office equipment (10) is connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor reads the datafile contained on the portable memory device and configures operating characteristics of the office equipment.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the use of gallium in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory arthritis conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: A method of automatically determining a measure of atmospheric aerosol optical properties using a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image. A plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels are resolved from the image. A statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels is determined, and then corrected for non-aerosol transmittance losses. One or more wavelength-dependent aerosol optical depths are derived from the statistical spectral deviation. Wavelength-dependent gaseous optical depths can be derived from the statistical spectral deviation.

Abstract: A manually operated water purifying device which includes a manually moveable operating member that pumps unpurified water into a conduit where it is exposed to purification by an electrically operated UV-C lamp and then dispensed from a portable container, and the UV-C lamp is energized by an electric generator that is also driven by a manually moveable operating member.

Abstract: In a method of administering a telephone local loop plant, a substantial portion--preferably at or above 80%--of the existing narrowband plant is caused to be "dedicated," so that constituent segments of an existing local loop therewithin are not allowed to be used to form other local loops when the existing loop is taken out of service. The remainder of the narrowband plant--the "non-dedicated" plant--is used to fill subscriber current orders for new service. Administration of the narrowband plant that has been dedicated is given over to an administrative system that is deployed to administer broadband facilities within the local loop plant. In preferred embodiment, the local loop plant is upgraded from narrowband to broadband in a way which gives priority to those geographical areas for which the costs of maintaining the narrowband plant are the greatest. The method, overall, provides a mechanism for reducing the costs associated with administering all of the narrowband plant using the legacy systems.

Abstract: The interface between a telephone station device and a telecommunications system/network is digitized at a point at which a telephone call is originated such that signals generated by the device and other intelligence, e.g., voice or data signals, are formed into respective data packets. The data packets are then sent to the telecommunications system/network via a data network as they are so formed. Similarly, the intelligence contained in data packets received from the telecommunications system and destined for the telephone station device is converted into a form acceptable to the telephone station device.

Abstract: The present invention is an efficient method for upgrading telephone networks having a large number of copper wire pairs 31 that extend from a telephone central office 300 to a predetermined number of telephone customers 250. Such networks are referred to as narrowband communication networks. However, for telephone companies to be competitive with cable television providers who may soon be offering telephone service, they must upgrade their narrowband networks to handle video communication signals such as CATV. This is done in an efficient multi-step process keeping in mind the eventual network configuration. During the first step, optical cable 21 is installed between the telephone office and a remote terminal 310; and digital loop carrier (DLC) equipment 201,202 is connected at each end. The DLC equipment is suitable for audio but not video communication signals. Thereafter, the DLC equipment is replaced at the telephone central office and at the remote terminal with broadband access (BA) equipment 203,204.

Abstract: A helmet for use by riders of bicycles, motorcycles or other vehicles. Left and right hearing assemblies are mounted inside of the helmet. Each of the assemblies has an enclosed ear cup positioned to fit snugly over a respective one of the user's ears. Respective hearing conduits extend from the ear cups through the interior of the helmet to respective openings. Thereby while the ear cups block substantial wind noises, the hearing conduits direct desirable sounds, such as emergency sirens, other traffic noises and voices, to the user's ears. User operable actuators for closing and opening the hearing conduits as desired can be provided. Optional ventilation tubes direct cooling and drying air through openings in the ear cups to the user's ears. Gates or shutters supported by the helmet shell allow the user to open and dose the ventilation tubes as desired.

Abstract: A facility is disposed in a telecommunications network which, advantageously, establishes a conference (N-way) call more efficiently than was done priorly. Specifically, a caller may establish a N-way call by dialing a code representing a sequence of speed dial codes respectively associated with the telephone numbers of the conferees that will be involved in the N-way call, rather than dialing each such telephone number. The facility, responsive to receipt of the dialed code, identifies the associated sequence of speed dial codes and places a call to each of the telephone numbers associated with those codes. In this sense, one code represents a plurality of telephone numbers.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, outgoing calls from a particular subscriber location for each of a plurality of telecommunications applications are delivered via a single access link to a single point of distribution through which the subscriber location is caused to be connected, as a function of the telecommunications application type, to an appropriate intelligent network element (INE) server. Additionally, incoming calls of the various application types and directed to a particular directory number are delivered to a single point of collection associated with its NPA-NNX and connections for those calls are caused to be made from the point of collection to an appropriate INE server, as a function of the telecommunications application type and the directory number in question. Communications within the network are by way of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network outgoing calls from a particular subscriber location for each of a plurality of telecommunications applications are delivered via a single access link to a single point of distribution through which the subscriber location is caused to be connected, as a function of the telecommunications application type, to an appropriate intelligent network element (INE) server. Additionally, incoming calls of the various application types and directed to a particular directory number are delivered to a single point of collection associated with its NPA-NNX and connections for those calls are caused to be made from the point of collection to an appropriate INE server, as a function of the telecommunications application type and the directory number in question. Communications within the network are by way of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells.