Abstract: A marine seismic source method capable of retaining low frequencies is disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises a seismic source that generates an up-going wave and first down-going wave with opposite polarity. The up-going wave reflects off the ocean surface as a second down-going wave having the same polarity as the first down-going wave and the first and second down-going waves combine substantially in-phase to form a third down-going wave. A source apparatus to accomplish the method is also disclosed. One source apparatus embodiment comprises a device wherein at least part of the device is below the surface of the water and the device is adapted to cause oscillations below the surface of the water, and means for oscillating the device in the water to create an up-going wave and a first down-going wave and the up-going wave has reverse polarity relative to the first down-going wave.

Abstract: A pressure gradient sensor for seismic and other applications utilizing the principle of diamagnetic drift. The sensor comprises at least one transducer, each transducer made of or containing a medium having at least one species of mobile charged particles such as electrons or holes that exhibit diamagnetic drift under a pressure gradient. A magnet and a pair of electrodes are installed in each transducer. Diamagnetic drift current collected by the electrodes can be measured by an ammeter or similar device, and formulas and methods are disclosed to determine the pressure gradient from the measured current.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing or jetting a viscous material. The systems include an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The systems further include at least one sensor that senses a system dispensing parameter and communicates an output signal representing the sensed parameter to the electronic controller for controlling system operation. In pneumatically-actuated jetting dispensers, a sensor may sense the fluid pressure in the air cavity of the pneumatic actuator. In jetting dispensers with a movable needle valve, a sensor may sense the displacement of the needle shaft. In other jetting dispensers, a sensor may sense the vibration of the jetting dispenser.

Abstract: A pressure gradient sensor for seismic and other applications utilizing the principle of diamagnetic drift. The sensor comprises at least one transducer, each transducer made of or containing a medium having at least one species of mobile charged particles such as electrons or holes that exhibit diamagnetic drift under a pressure gradient. A magnet and a pair of electrodes are installed in each transducer. Diamagnetic drift current collected by the electrodes can be measured by an ammeter or similar device, and formulas and methods are disclosed to determine the pressure gradient from the measured current.

Abstract: A marine seismic source method capable of retaining low frequencies is disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises a seismic source that generates an up-going wave and first down-going wave with opposite polarity. The up-going wave reflects off the ocean surface as a second down-going wave having the same polarity as the first down-going wave and the first and second down-going waves combine substantially in-phase to form a third down-going wave. A source apparatus to accomplish the method is also disclosed. One source apparatus embodiment comprises a device wherein at least part of the device is below the surface of the water and the device is adapted to cause oscillations below the surface of the water, and means for oscillating the device in the water to create an up-going wave and a first down-going wave and the up-going wave has reverse polarity relative to the first down-going wave.

Abstract: A precision positioning device, such as a robot, decouples the different axes of motion by utilizing a modular motion unit for each different axis of motion. Each modular motion unit includes a base structure, a linear guide, a carriage, a drive motor, and a cable to convert the torque of the drive motor into useful, controlled carriage movement. The parts and sub-assemblies of each modular motion unit are interchangeable without concern about the ultimate orientation of the unit. To assemble the units into a robot, the modular motion units are attached to an underlying frame structure to provide computer-controlled movement over a designated physical work space. Re-tensioning of a drive cable within the modular motion unit is accomplished without requiring the operator to have special training or tools. One end of the drive cable is attached to a tensioner that is releasably locked into place.

Abstract: A computer-telephony call which includes encoded voice communication from a calling party to a called party who has a computer capable of receiving the call, within a communication network having a services platform, can be screened by the called party. The call is received at the services platform, within the communications network, where a communication from the calling party is recorded. The communication of the call is routed to the computer of the called party so that the called party can perceive the communication of the call as the communication is being recorded at the services platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partitioning each job within a plurality of jobs into stateless tasks. Each job is marked with at least one task divider defining two tasks. Each task divider indicates where, in the job flow, required data is unavailable. For each task divider, state information is preserved, a task is created which tests for availability of the required data, and predefined actions are taken. An initial task is entered into an alert table or an execution queue. When that task executes, it queues subsequent tasks for immediate or delayed execution.

Abstract: An electronic mailbox filters or sorts messages according to personalized or customized rules set by the owner of the mailbox through the use of address extensions. The addressee will assign an address extension to a prospective sender before the sender sends a message. The sender may use this address extension when addressing and sending a message to the addressee. The addressee can also provide a specific sender with multiple address extensions so that the sender could send messages relating to particular topics or projects. The addressee will maintain a look-up table of valid address extensions. This look-up table correlates address extensions with particular levels of priority. The addressee can change the priority associated with particular messages by reassigning the priority associated the corresponding address extension in the look-up table.

Abstract: A messaging system is arranged to substitute an alias address for the real address of a messaging subscriber with an unlisted address thereby allowing the subscriber to be known and yet to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the unlisted address while enabling the subscriber to a) transmit messages to targeted recipients, b) receive reply messages and other types of messages from these recipients, and c) receive spontaneous messages from others with knowledge of the alias address. The messaging system, which may be communicatively coupled to a communications carrier network, comprises a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database to manage the use of alias addresses.

Abstract: A communications system allows special messages to be transmitted to a wireless device subscriber if certain conditions are met. Identification information authenticating the sender may be sent using an originating device, such as a personal computer with a modem. A location information generating device, such as the ANI generator in a telephone end-office connected by physical telephone wire (local loop) to the computer, generates location information. The identification information and location information are provided to a message platform. The message platform establishes time of day and compares sender identification information, originating device location information, and time of day information to prestored values to determine whether a special prestored message should be sent. If a message should be sent, the message platform initiates message transmission.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for playing back a recorded voice message, and, in particular, for automatically playing back a spoken numeric portion of the message at a rate that is slower than the rate for playing back the remaining portion of the recorded voice message. A voice messaging system receives and analyzes the voice message. Specifically, the messaging system determines whether the voice message includes spoken numeric information and, if so, determines the relative position of the spoken numeric information within the message. The computer system stores both the voice message and the positional information in a storage device. Upon playback of the message, the messaging system retrieves the stored voice message and positional information from the storage device. As the voice message is played back, the messaging system processes the positional information.