Abstract: A casting apparatus for producing metal matrix composite materials includes a melt channel inclined in an apparatus flow direction, a flow pathway for a metal melt, and a particle feed device for adding solid particles to the metal melt. A casting method includes adding solid particles to a metal melt flowing in a continuous flow down a melt channel. The particle feed device is a shaft extending at least up to a base of the flow pathway and having a particle exit window in a casing of the shaft. The metal melt flowing down along the flow pathway is divided into two partial streams flowing around the channel projecting into and dividing the flow pathway. Where the partial streams combine again after flowing around the channel, the solid particles trickle into the confluence of the partial streams via a particle exit window in the channel located above the flow pathway.

Abstract: A fitting holder designed for receiving a branch pipe during a welding operation in order to attach the branch pipe to a pipeline or a pipe, wherein differently dimensioned branch pipes can be received by the fitting holder, comprising a hollow-cylindrical housing with an upper region which, during the welding, faces away from the pipeline to be welded thereto, and a lower region which, during the welding, faces the pipeline to be welded thereto, wherein mounts for the axial fixing of the branch pipe which can be received by the fitting holder are arranged in the lower region, a ring arranged displaceably in the housing, and clamping elements pressing the ring downwards, wherein the fitting holder has different guide inside diameters which guide the differently dimensioned branch pipes by way of their differently dimensioned outside diameters in the fitting holder.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning floors comprising a drivetrain, a main controller, a safety module, and one or more cleaning aggregates for cleaning a floor upon which the cleaning unit moves. The main controller may operate the cleaning unit in one of an autonomous mode in which cleaning unit autonomously navigates while cleaning the floor or a manual mode in which the cleaning unit is maneuverable under an applied external force while cleaning the floor. The safety module may be responsive to a plurality of safety inputs such that if a safety input indicates an unsafe condition, the safety module initiates a lockout to stop movement by the cleaning unit. In the autonomous mode, the safety module may be responsive to a first set of safety inputs and in the manual operating mode, the safety module may be responsive to a second set of safety inputs.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning floors comprising a drivetrain, a main controller, a safety module, and one or more cleaning aggregates for cleaning a floor upon which the cleaning unit moves. The main controller may operate the cleaning unit in one of an autonomous mode in which cleaning unit autonomously navigates while cleaning the floor or a manual mode in which the cleaning unit is maneuverable under an applied external force while cleaning the floor. The safety module may be responsive to a plurality of safety inputs such that if a safety input indicates an unsafe condition, the safety module initiates a lockout to stop movement by the cleaning unit. In the autonomous mode, the safety module may be responsive to a first set of safety inputs and in the manual operating mode, the safety module may be responsive to a second set of safety inputs.

Abstract: A device for fastening a measuring apparatus on pipes, in particular a butt weld seam checking measuring apparatus, containing a housing for accommodating the measuring, control, and/or drive units and a clamp, wherein the clamp is designed as a ring segment, wherein the clamp is attached in the radial direction over a pipe external diameter, wherein the clamp has a pre-tension in the installed state.

Abstract: A device for fastening a measuring apparatus on pipes, in particular a butt weld seam checking measuring apparatus, containing a housing for accommodating the measuring, control, and/or drive units and a clamp, wherein the clamp is designed as a ring segment, wherein the clamp is attached in the radial direction over a pipe external diameter, wherein the clamp has a pre-tension in the installed state.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying structured data by automatically suggesting classification labels. The system comprises a taxonomy configured to provide one or more normalized labels and a classification tool configured to automatically classify data across an enterprise system using the one or more normalized labels. The method comprises extracting metadata from one or more relational databases; suggesting classifications based on the metadata; and converting one or more names to normalized labels across an enterprise system based on the suggested classifications.

Abstract: An electronic device for executing an application includes: application data, a central control unit for processing the application data according to a first method call, an interface for transmitting a description of the first method call to a second electronic device, and a synchronization entity for generating the description and passing the description to the interface. The transmitted description is used by the second electronic device to derive a second method call that is executable on the second electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying structured data by automatically suggesting classification labels. The system comprises a taxonomy configured to provide one or more normalized labels and a classification tool configured to automatically classify data across an enterprise system using the one or more normalized labels. The method comprises extracting metadata from one or more relational databases; suggesting classifications based on the metadata; and converting one or more names to normalized labels across an enterprise system based on the suggested classifications.

Abstract: Electronic devices and methods of processing and preparing processing application data are disclosed. Application data are operated on a first electronic device (2a) and a copy of said application data is operated on at least another electronic device (2b). A method call for modifying application data on the first device (2a) is translated into a more general description. The description is passed to the other device (2b). The application data on the first device (2a) is processed according to the method call. On the second device (2b), the received description of the method call is translated into a locally executable method call which is processed on the copy of application data.

Abstract: Electronic devices and methods of processing and preparing processing application data are disclosed. Application data are operated on a first electronic device (2a) and a copy of said application data is operated on at least another electronic device (2b). A method call for modifying application data on the first device (2a) is translated into a more general description. The description is passed to the other device (2b). The application data on the first device (2a) is processed according to the method call. On the second device (2b), the received description of the method call is translated into a locally executable method call which is processed on the copy of application data.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making communication or information services via a telecommunication network available to service users.

Abstract: A telephone session between a calling person and a called person uses a call-related information segment which has been prepared by the calling person to inform the called person of the calling person and the subject of the session. The call-related information is transmitted to the called person and outputted there by use of an output unit, alerting the called person of the nature of the telephone session without the called person entering into the telephone session.

Abstract: Described is a method for routing an electronic message from an electronic device to an output unit. Automatically controlled steps are comprised of determining at least one of several output units based on a result of a message classification process, and of initiating the message to be routed to the determined output unit for presenting the message to a user of the electronic device. Further there is described an electronic device, having interfaces for connecting output units to the device, and a control unit for controlling the routing of messages. The messages are determined to be presented to a user of the device via at least one of these output units. The control unit is configured for determining at least one of these output units for routing a message to based on a result of a message classification process, and for routing the message to that interface serving the determined output unit.

Abstract: A method of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T1 . . . T10), at least some (T1,T2) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said method including: (a) continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T1,T2) for a change of a call status of said subscriber terminal from the presence of a call to the absence of a call; (b) generating a first or “high availability” signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call into said absence of a call; (c) monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal; (d) generating a second or “availability unknown” signal after a predetermined time period &tgr; within said interval; and (e) making said availability signals accessible to any interconnected presence system.

Abstract: A distributed multipoint conferencing system (3) comprises a plurality of participating terminals (31;32;33) for sending and receiving media streams in a conferencing interchange; the system further includes at least one multipoint distributor (30) (MD) connected to one terminal (31) for receiving at least one or all media streams from that terminal (31) but not from any other of the participating (32;33); the multipoint distributor (30) is connected to the other participating terminals (32;33) for sending the media stream or streams received from the MD-associated terminal (31) to the other participating terminals (32;33).

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for distribution of multimedia files from file servers (110) over arbitrary telecommunication networks (150) to consumers (160) where those networks offer connections of a certain bandwidth for transmission. The consumers deliver requests for presentation of multimedia files, and the file servers deliver those files with respect to said requests for presentation. According to the proposed method, the transmission rates of the multimedia files are smoothed by spreading the transmission over time leading to additional delays in the delivery of said information. Minimum transmission rates for maximum values of the delays are calculated, and these values are provided as control data for the transmission. These control data are appended to the respective multimedia files, and the multimedia files are delivered to the receivers with respective additional, delays between the requests for presentation and the presentation of the files, corresponding to the maximum delays.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system comprised of one or more telecommunication systems; two or more subscriber terminals connected to the telecommunication systems; an electronic computing means connected any telecommunication system of the teleconferencing system. The electronic computing means, e.g. a server-type computer runs a conference initiating program; and a means for providing an availability signal associated with each subscriber terminal. The availability signal is accessible to the server and any participating telecommunication system is capable of cooperating with program for initiating a conference between the subscriber terminals; program initiates a conference between the subscriber terminals by attempting transmission of a conference call when such call is requested by any of the subscriber terminals; the conference call is transmitted to each subscriber terminal as soon as its associated availability signal indicates availability of that terminal.

Abstract: A method of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T1 . . .

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making communication or information services via a telecommunication network available to service users.