Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: A programming application for creating an Interactive Multimedia Application (IMA) which includes access to and rendering of multimedia files stored in a data repository has first selectable software modules providing functionality for an Interactive Multimedia Application other than access to and rendering of the multimedia files, and at least one selectable Interactive Multimedia Viewer (IMV) software module including a code set adapted to access and render media code from multimedia files stored in a data repository and an editable layer allowing a programmer to program limitations limiting access by the IMV to preselected media files. In the programming application the programmer, by selecting, including, and editing software modules the programmer is enabled to create the IMA. IVRs may access and render code of one multimedia type or more than one type, and are adapted to interact with other software modules in an application.

Abstract: A thermal switch selectively couples a heat source to a pair of heat sinks. The thermal switch includes a shunt that is thermally coupled to the heat source. The shunt has a pair of posts. End portions of the posts are at least partially radially surrounded by respective cups. The cups in turn are thermally coupled to respective of the heat sinks. The cups are made of a material with a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the posts. Activation of one of the heat sinks causes the cup corresponding to that heat sink to contract, bringing it into contact with the corresponding post of the shunt. This opens a heat path through the switch from the heat source to the activated heat sink. Thermal isolation of the second cup is facilitated by an axial isolator of high thermal impedance, facilitating isolation of the inactive heat sink.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: An Interaction Object Model (IOM) Interface to a data repository includes objects representing files in the data repository; standardized information about each file, the information associated in the IOM with each object, and an updating interface communicating with the data repository, keeping objects conformal with the files in the data repository. An interaction interface to system function modules requiring data associated with the files in the data repository is provided, wherein through the interaction interface the system function modules are enabled to retrieve required data from the IOM without accessing the data files in the data repository directly. A principle use is in a multimedia call center, storing text and non-text transactions of the call center.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: A method and technique for achieving a high strength bond between two substrates includes igniting a plasma using a source RF signal. The substrates are biased with a bias RF signal during surface treatment by the plasma. The treated surfaces are brought into contact. The resulting bonded substrates show an improvement over bonds attained using conventional bonding techniques.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: A process for translating M audio input channels representing a soundfield to N audio output channels representing the same soundfield, wherein each channel is a single audio stream representing audio arriving from a direction, M and N are positive whole integers, and M is at least 2, generates one or more sets of output channels, each set having one or more output channels. Each set is associated with two or more spatially adjacent input channels and each output channel in a set is generated by a process that includes determining a measure of the correlation of the two or more input channels and the level interrelationships of the two or more input channels.

Abstract: A magnetic pick-up tool, which preferably features a magnet retained on its non-exposed sides within a ferrous-containing carrier. The ferrous-containing carrier redirects the magnetic forces issuing from the magnet toward the exposed surface area, significantly increasing a magnet's strength without the need for increasing magnet size. In one embodiment, the pick-up tool features a threaded carrier, mated to a sleeve member in a manner allowing the sleeve member to be adjustably positioned relative to the magnet and carrier by rotation of the sleeve member in the desired direction.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: A radial impeller includes a cover having a frusto-conical portion and multiple blades extending radially outwardly. Related mixing systems involve positioning the radial impeller with blades adjacent a flow opening of a tank to draw water through the flow opening when the impeller is rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a high strength bond between two substrates includes igniting a plasma using a source RF signal. The substrates are biased with a bias RF signal during surface treatment by the plasma. The treated surfaces are brought into contact. The resulting bonded substrates show an improvement over bonds attained using conventional bonding techniques.

Abstract: Mixing systems including a radial impeller assembly positioned adjacent a flow opening of a tank are described.

Abstract: An audio crosstalk-cancelling network that may be implemented in software, such that when run in real time on a personal computer, the canceller has very low mips requirements and uses a small fraction of available CPU cycles. The network is particularly useful for rendering surround sound images outside the space between left and right computer multimedia loudspeakers when the audio from such sources is reproduced. The network includes two signal feedback paths, each feedback path having a time delay and frequency dependent characteristic. The frequency dependent characteristic represents the smoothed difference in the attenuation in the acoustic path between a transducer and the listener's ear farthest from said transducer and the attenuation in the acoustic path between the same transducer and the listener's ear closest to said same transducer. The smoothed difference in the attenuation is implemented by one or more simple digital filters requiring low processing power.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: An Interaction Object Model (IOM) Interface to a data repository includes objects representing files in the data repository; standardized information about each file, the information associated in the IOM with each object, and an updating interface communicating with the data repository, keeping objects conformal with the files in the data repository. An interaction interface to system function modules requiring data associated with the files in the data repository is provided, wherein through the interaction interface the system function modules are enabled to retrieve required data from the IOM without accessing the data files in the data repository directly. A principle use is in a multimedia call center, storing text and non-text transactions of the call center.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) an agent work presentation software model (AWPM) may be programmed to an individual agent or group of agents, and set to launch automatically each time an agent for whom the model is programmed logs on to the operating system of the MMCC. The AWPM has interfaces for accessing all necessary information to prepare agent work lists, such as agent skills, licenses, authorizations, waiting calls, and waiting work of other sorts, and automatically accesses the needed information and prepares a dynamic work list to an agent for the duration of a work session. Work lists are updated by the pertinent AWPM as each agent accomplishes tasks, and work-in-progress is updates as well. Many other tasks may be done as well, such as statistical updates, agent rating, alerts, and so on.