Abstract: A method and related apparatus for telemetry between downhole devices and surface devices. In particular, the methods and related apparatus may send a first datum of a first parameter in an uncompressed form, and send a second datum of the first parameter in compressed form.

Abstract: A security monitor receives an indication of a robbery from a security system. In response, an alert generator sends an alert to a plurality of employee terminals, where the alert causes each of the employee terminals to preemptively display a notification of the robbery and prompt for and record an employee's observations.

Abstract: Caps and hats are constructed to focus attention on one of two somehow related but different subjects. A baseball-style cap may have two identical fixed visors or bills positioned opposite to each other, a harlequin type of color scheme (front versus rear) and permanently affixed front and rear indicia that depict two opponents or contenders in a competition. It may also commemorate a competition or game, as by one or more laterally placed event indicia, and it may be adjustable to promote the fitting of different head sizes through the use of stretchable material in the lateral aspects of both the crown and the headband. By a simple front to rear rotation of the cap, the wearer might reverse his or her loyalty as, for example, should the team of preference suffer defeat in the contest.

Abstract: The specification discloses algorithms for error recovery in pulse position modulation-based mud pulse telemetry. More particularly, the specification discloses detection and attempted correction of at least five possible error mechanisms: the missed detection of a pulse that creates an interval greater than maximum; the missed detection of a pulse that results in an interval still within acceptable boundaries; detection of an extra pulse; a pulse shift that results in data in contiguous intervals being affected; and a pulse shift resulting in a single interval data corruption.

Abstract: A self-adjustable baseball-style cap and a non-domed hat can fully commemorate a competition or game. It consists of two identical fixed visors or bills positioned opposite to each other, without overlap, that provide shade for both the eyes and the neck of the wearer. It has an adjustable feature that promotes the fitting of a plurality of head sizes through the use of stretchable material in the lateral, not rear, aspects of both the crown and the headband. A harlequin type of color scheme (front versus rear) and a permanent twin logos mounting format depict, simultaneously, two opponents or contenders in a competition that is also memorialized by a third, laterally placed event logo. A fourth event year and location marker is placed on the contra-lateral side. Finally, it features a built in fan reversibility mechanism that involves a simple front to rear rotation of the cap.

Abstract: A system and method for check processing is provided wherein a mailed check is received at a mail processing location, converted to electronic form, and electronically sent to the bank of first deposit. The mailed physical checks may be repackaged in envelopes and forwarded to the bank of first deposit. Because mailed checks are converted to electronic form at the mail processing facility, the delay before a bank of first deposit receives the check may be reduced.

Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry technique that uses a number of bits per interval based on parameters of the pulse position modulation system in order to reduce data transfer time in a pulse position modulation system. More particularly, depending on parameters of the pulse position modulation such as the minimum-time and the bit-width, it may be possible to decrease overall transmission time by splitting values having a larger number of bits into multiple transmissions with each transmission having a smaller number of bits.

Abstract: A security monitor receives an indication of a robbery from a security system. In response, an alert generator sends an alert to a plurality of employee terminals, where the alert causes each of the employee terminals to preemptively display a notification of the robbery and prompt for and record an employee's observations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of tracking individual plants growing and/or taken from a growing location, such as a field, growing bed, plot or greenhouse. Machine-readable data related to selected individual plants is maintained in close association with corresponding plants while growing or if the plant is taken from the growing location. Information about each plant, e.g. traits, characteristics, genetic make-up, can be added to a database that correlates the information to the machine-readable data. Thus, individual plants can be tracked and information about the plant is available by maintaining the machine-readable data with the plant. The machine-readable data can be read by a machine operatively communicated with a computer on which is stored the database. Identity and information about the plant is therefore available, without keeping specific track of a plant.

Abstract: The specification discloses algorithms for error recovery in pulse position modulation-based mud pulse telemetry. More particularly, the specification discloses detection and attempted correction of at least five possible error mechanisms: the missed detection of a pulse that creates an interval greater than maximum; the missed detection of a pulse that results in an interval still within acceptable boundaries; detection of an extra pulse; a pulse shift that results in data in contiguous intervals being affected; and a pulse shift resulting in a single interval data corruption.

Abstract: The specification discloses a mud pulse telemetry technique that uses a number of bits per interval based on parameters of the pulse position modulation system in order to reduce data transfer time in a pulse position modulation system. More particularly, the specification discloses that, depending on parameters of the pulse position modulation such as the minimum-time and the bit-width, it may be possible to decrease overall transmission time by splitting values having a larger number of bits into multiple transmissions with each transmission having a smaller number of bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damped steering assembly are provided. The damped steering assembly includes a steering wheel attached to a steering column. Disposed between the steering wheel and the steering column is an active vibration control mechanism. The active vibration control mechanism damps vibration transmitted from the steering column to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A non-rotating retainer for a draft key having a circular opening, the non-rotating retainer including a retainer pin and a retainer lock member configured for being received in the circular opening. The retainer lock member is formed from a one-piece flat metallic stock blank and having a U-shaped first end for fitting around the end of the draft key and a projection formed on the retainer lock member, the projection spaced from the U-shaped first end at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the draft key, the retainer pin having a cylindrical portion and an integral head. Along one side of the retainer pin a notch is formed corresponding to a portion of the flat metallic stock blank for receiving the same. The second end of the retainer lock member is adapted for bending over the head of the retainer pin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damped steering assembly as disclosed herein. The damped steering assembly includes a steering wheel attached to a steering column. Disposed between the steering wheel and the steering column is an active vibration control mechanism. The active vibration control mechanism damps vibration transmitted from the steering column to the steering wheel.

Abstract: Screen objects used by the application programs to draw or paint on the display screen are created in accordance with a predefined class structure which represents a generic display system. Developers of specialized hardware develop specialized classes based on the predefined structure to handle specific command sets and protocols. When the system is initially powered up or reconfigured, the screen objects are created from the generic and specialized classes as necessary by examining the actual display hardware present in the system. When the specialized classes are used to create the screen objects, the screen objects receive the specialized command sets and protocols necessary to interact with display hardware which have been provided by the hardware developers.

Abstract: A window server communicates with clients and creates, destroys and modifies window objects. Objects are created in response to parameters provided by clients. Clients can obtain a variety of information regarding windows managed by the window server. Hardware windows are supported by subclassing objects, which provides polymorphic screen objects. Therefore, it does not matter whether the window is created by a hardware or software entity. Clients may be notified by the window server in response to certain events occurring with respect to particular windows, such as a configuration change. The window server also dynamically manages a default window layering scheme which takes into account the parameters specified, or not specified, by clients as well as the characteristics of the windows currently being managed by the window server. The window server also supports window clustering, which allows a window to span monitors.

Abstract: A cursor manipulation system and method provides for interrogation of the most recently displayed cursor location upon the occurrence of a user-generated event, such as actuation of a mouse button, to avoid errors of input to an application due to delays in rendering of cursor images. The coordinates of a displayed cursor location are stored as an acknowledgment of completion of display of a cursor image at a new location. Specification of cursor display location is determined by a graphic input device corresponding to each cursor image and applications running on a data processing system including the cursor manipulation system are isolated from control of cursor movement.

Abstract: A method and system for caching graphic information for display in a graphics processing system to avoid repeated rendering each time a graphic is required to be re drawn. A developer of an application program can specify which graphic objects should be cached, and request that caching be carried out for those graphics. Devices may also specify whether caching is desired, and this preference may be overridden by the caching system. The caching system may create a single cache object for several devices, or may create several cache objects for corresponding devices, depending on the characteristics of the devices. The objects are cached in a device-dependent manner. The cached graphic may be sent to methods and devices in the same mariner that any other graphic is sent.

Abstract: A system for converting a high-resolution bitonal bit map representation of a document to a lower-resolution pixel representation for display. A special subset of the high resolution output is assigned special meanings by codes which are used to produce a real time video signal with higher bandwidth to enhance the resolution and readability of the displayed image on a lower resolution display. This is accomplished by splitting each coded pixel into two or more "twixels". The twixels produced from pixels which are not part of the special subset have the same codes as the corresponding original pixels. The twixels produced from pixels which are part of the special subset have special codes which, when displayed, duplicate certain predetermined high resolution features of the original bitonal pixel-code information on a display.

Abstract: A compositing architecture provides for correct rendering of overlapping opaque and translucent regions of respective graphic images with rapid pixel restoration when an image floating above another image is moved or manipulated to reveal pixels of a graphic image at a greater depth by provision for buffering data corresponding to a portion of a graphic image which is beneath another graphic image. Data representing graphic images is selectively routed to a painter in response to a determination of opacity and depth order of the graphic images. A plurality of painters are preferably provided with image rendering pipeline of differing lengths. A painter is chosen in accordance with the number of images to be composited. Data buffering is minimized by dynamic creation and removal of buffers in accordance with the intersecting regions of the graphic images.