Abstract: A patient interface device includes a headgear component having a first end, a second end, and a sealing interface region located between the first end and the second end, wherein the sealing interface region has a hole extending through the elongated fabric body member. The patient interface device also includes a mask component having a cushion and a fluid coupling conduit fluidly coupled to the cushion, wherein at least a portion of the fluid coupling conduit extends through the hole and the sealing interface region covers at least a portion of the cushion. The cushion will be held and supported by the elongated fabric body member in engagement with a portion of the patient's face responsive to the patient interface device being donned by the patient by wrapping the elongated fabric body member around the head of the patient.

Abstract: A pressure support device (50) such as, such a CPAP machine (50), is provided, which includes a housing (51), and a controller (64) enclosed by the housing (51). The controller (64) operates the CPAP machine (50) independently or in combination with an accessory (70) such as, for example and without limitation, a humidifier (70). A user interface (66) is operably (74) coupled to the controller (64) and includes a primary display (72), a secondary display (74) and a single control (76). The single control (76) is operable in a first mode of operation to adjust operating parameters of the CPAP machine (50), and in a second mode of operation to adjust operating parameters of the humidifier (70). The secondary display (74) preferably comprises a dead front (74), which is operational (e.g., without limitation, visible) only in the second mode of operation. A method of operating a pressure support device (50) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for mapping a plurality of multimedia streams (e.g., received from a set of satellite transponders) across a lesser plurality of decoders. In one embodiment, arbitration logic allocates the multimedia streams to divide the decoding load equally among the group of decoders (or at least as equally as possible). Allocation may occur statically, when the system is initialized, or dynamically, as the streams are being processed. In addition, in one embodiment, the arbitration logic monitors the amount of multimedia data for each stream stored in a buffer and causes streams to be serviced by the decoders which have relatively more stored multimedia data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing the development or exacerbation of tendinitis is provided. The apparatus includes a first pad made of a resilient material that is configured to be carried by a digit of the user. The first pad has a palmar face and an oppositely disposed dorsal face that define a thickness therebetween. The thickness of the first pad is selected in order to prevent the digit of the user from fully bending so that impact forces transmitted through the digit are dampened as the muscle pulling on the digit is not completely tight.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems, method and tools for facilitating group collaborations. In an embodiment, collaborative ideas are represented in a modified tree data structure in which ideas are stored in nodes of the tree (an “idea tree”). Each node may be associated with data storage means, such as a table of records, in which different kinds of data can be stored. Data stored in the idea tree, or a part thereof, may be created, modified, deleted or organized by using various types of collaboration tools. A participant's interaction with the idea tree, or a part thereof, using a particular collaboration tool may be mapped as a transformation of the idea tree from one state to another. Other participants may simultaneously or successively interact with the idea tree, or a part thereof, using the same or a different collaboration tool. A coherent representation of collaborative ideas can be developed and organized without excessive manual effort.

Abstract: A system and method are described in which a decoder decodes data from a plurality of data streams. In one embodiment, the decoder is restored to the state it was in the last time it processed data from each data stream by re-decoding data stored in a replay buffer before decoding new data from each respective data stream. In one embodiment, multiple decoders are grouped together to process data from a plurality of satellite transponders.

Abstract: An apparatus is described comprising: a decoder which decodes a plurality of data streams, the decoder having a state associated with each of the data streams; and state restoration logic to restore the decoder's state upon switching from decoding one data stream to another data stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for mapping a plurality of multimedia streams (e.g., received from a set of satellite transponders) across a lesser plurality of decoders. In one embodiment, arbitration logic allocates the multimedia streams to divide the decoding load equally among the group of decoders (or at least as equally as possible). Allocation may occur statically, when the system is initialized, or dynamically, as the streams are being processed. In addition, in one embodiment, the arbitration logic monitors the amount of multimedia data for each stream stored in a buffer and causes streams to be serviced by the decoders which have relatively more stored multimedia data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for normalizing a plurality of state metric values stored in a plurality of accumulators. In one embodiment, normalization logic monitors the each of the state metric values. When all of the values are above a predetermined threshold, the normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount from each of the state metric values. In one embodiment, the normalization amount is incorporated into branch metric calculations at one or more branch metric units. In addition, in one embodiment, different normalization amounts are employed based on the state metric values.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, during add-compare-select computations, the output of the adders is guaranteed to be a positive value because the only time normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount is when all accumulators are greater than the normalization amount. As such, the detection of overflow is greatly simplified. Overflow in the add-compare-select unit may be indicated simply by the value of the most significant bit (“MSB”) (i.e., the sign bit) of the result. If the MSB of the result of the adder is set then, in one embodiment, the output of the adder gets forced the maximum possible value given the number of bits. For example, this value will be forced to 7h7f if the value is represented by 7-bits. That is to say, if an overflow is detected, then the accumulator is saturated to the maximum value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for mapping a plurality of multimedia streams (e.g., received from a set of satellite transponders) across a lesser plurality of decoders. In one embodiment, arbitration logic allocates the multimedia streams to divide the decoding load equally among the group of decoders (or at least as equally as possible). Allocation may occur statically, when the system is initialized, or dynamically, as the streams are being processed. In addition, in one embodiment, the arbitration logic monitors the amount of multimedia data for each stream stored in a buffer and causes streams to be serviced by the decoders which have relatively more stored multimedia data.

Abstract: An apparatus is described comprising: a decoder which decodes a plurality of data streams, the decoder having a state associated with each of the data streams; and state restoration logic to restore the decoder's state upon switching from decoding one data stream to another data stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for mapping a plurality of multimedia streams (e.g., received from a set of satellite transponders) across a lesser plurality of decoders. In one embodiment, arbitration logic allocates the multimedia streams to divide the decoding load equally among the group of decoders (or at least as equally as possible). Allocation may occur statically, when the system is initialized, or dynamically, as the streams are being processed. In addition, in one embodiment, the arbitration logic monitors the amount of multimedia data for each stream stored in a buffer and causes streams to be serviced by the decoders which have relatively more stored multimedia data.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, during add-compare-select computations, the output of the adders is guaranteed to be a positive value because the only time normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount is when all accumulators are greater than the normalization amount. As such, the detection of overflow is greatly simplified. Overflow in the add-compare-select unit may be indicated simply by the value of the most significant bit (“MSB”) (i.e., the sign bit) of the result. If the MSB of the result of the adder is set then, in one embodiment, the output of the adder gets forced the maximum possible value given the number of bits. For example, this value will be forced to 7h7f if the value is represented by 7-bits. That is to say, if an overflow is detected, then the accumulator is saturated to the maximum value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for normalizing a plurality of state metric values stored in a plurality of accumulators. In one embodiment, normalization logic monitors the each of the state metric values. When all of the values are above a predetermined threshold, the normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount from each of the state metric values. In one embodiment, the normalization amount is incorporated into branch metric calculations at one or more branch metric units. In addition, in one embodiment, different normalization amounts are employed based on the state metric values.

Abstract: A forward tracing array and method are described in which a matrix of storage cells are interconnected according to the encoder polynomial for a particular type of error correction code. Selection signals from add-compare-select units cause the data to propagate through the forward tracing array. Decoded data is read from one of the rows from the final column of the matrix based on the minimum path metric calculated by the add-compare-select units.

Abstract: A system and method are described in which a decoder decodes data from a plurality of data streams. In one embodiment, the decoder is restored to the state it was in the last time it processed data from each data stream by re-decoding data stored in a replay buffer before decoding new data from each respective data stream. In one embodiment, multiple decoders are grouped together to process data from a plurality of satellite transponders.

Abstract: A method for surfacing panels, such as automobile panels or the like, includes the steps of applying a thin, reflective, flexible sheet to a panel to be surfaced, illuminating the sheet and comparing differing levels of brightness on the sheet in order to identify irregularities in the panel underlying the sheet. Thereafter, removing portions of the sheet that are overlying the identified irregularities in order to expose irregular portions of the panel, correcting the identified irregular portions and removing a remaining portions of the sheet from the corrected panel.

Abstract: A method for surfacing panels, such as automobile panels or the like, includes the steps of applying a thin, reflective, flexible sheet to a panel to be surfaced, illuminating the sheet and comparing differing levels of brightness on the sheet in order to identify irregularities in the panel underlying the sheet. Thereafter, removing portions of the sheet that are overlying the identified irregularities in order to expose irregular portions of the panel, correcting the identified irregular portions and removing a remaining portion of the sheet from the corrected panel.