Abstract: A method for interactive evolutionary computing may include generating a solution set based on an evolutionary scheme in which an objective function is a priori mathematically unexpressed, presenting data based on the solution set to one or more users, receiving at least one input from the user(s), the input(s) based on the user(s)'s evaluation of the presented solution set, and, based on the input(s), using at least the evolutionary scheme and the input(s) to generate an updated solution set, and repeating the presenting and receiving.

Abstract: Circuitry is used for generating one or more commands to access a ring buffer on an end node device of an advanced switching (AS) fabric. The circuitry includes circuits to receive information for accessing the ring buffer and to generate a current command based on the information. The information includes an address of the ring buffer and a length of data associated with buffer access. The circuitry also includes a controller to determine whether the information is for one command or for plural commands. If the information is for plural commands, the circuits generate the plural commands by updating the information following generation of the current command and by generating a subsequent command using updated information.

Abstract: An apparatus communicates with an advanced switching (AS) fabric. The apparatus includes a transmit engine that generates a request packet for transmission to the AS fabric. The transmit engine associates a first transaction identifier with the request packet. A receive engine receives a reply packet in response to the request packet. The reply packet contains a second transaction identifier. The receive engine compares the first transaction identifier to the second transaction identifier. If the first transaction identifier matches the second transaction identifier, the receive engine decides to store data from the reply packet at an address associated with the first transaction identifier.

Abstract: A manipulator for a fiber optic cable assembly (FOCA) provides microradian accuracy in control of the direction of a beam emanating from the FOCA. Such manipulators can control FOCAs to control the incidence angles of beams at a beam combiner in a beam-combining unit. Accordingly, fewer additional optical elements are required for control of input paths in the beam-combining unit. The manipulator and the beam-combining unit are accurate enough for use in an interferometer that combines beams with different frequencies and polarizations. One such interferometer includes a Zeeman split laser providing a heterodyne beam. A beam splitter separates frequency components of the beams, and AOMs increase the frequency separation between the separated beams. The separated beams can be sent via optical fibers to the beam-combining unit, which combines the beams for use in interferometer optics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to perform fabric discovery for a communications fabric are described.

Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. The candidate points are considered and refined using code phase measurements from a set of GPS satellites.

Abstract: A manipulator for a fiber optic cable assembly (FOCA) provides microradian accuracy in control of the direction of a beam emanating from the FOCA. Such manipulators can control FOCAs to control the incidence angles of beams at a beam combiner in a beam-combining unit. Accordingly, fewer additional optical elements are required for control of input paths in the beam-combining unit. The manipulator and the beam-combining unit are accurate enough for use in an interferometer that combines beams with different frequencies and polarizations. One such interferometer includes a Zeeman split laser providing a heterodyne beam. A beam splitter separates frequency components of the beams, and AOMs increase the frequency separation between the separated beams. The separated beams can be sent via optical fibers to the beam-combining unit, which combines the beams for use in interferometer optics.

Abstract: A manipulator for a fiber optic cable assembly (FOCA) provides microradian accuracy in control of the direction of a beam emanating from the FOCA. Such manipulators can control FOCAs to control the incidence angles of beams at a beam combiner in a beam-combining unit. Accordingly, fewer additional optical elements are required for control of input paths in the beam-combining unit. The manipulator and the beam-combining unit are accurate enough for use in an interferometer that combines beams with different frequencies and polarizations. One such interferometer includes a Zeeman split laser providing a heterodyne beam. A beam splitter separates frequency components of the beams, and AOMs increase the frequency separation between the separated beams. The separated beams can be sent via optical fibers to the beam-combining unit, which combines the beams for use in interferometer optics.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems that include generating a solution set based on an evolutionary scheme in which an objective function is a priori mathematically unexpressed, presenting data based on the solution set to one or more users, receiving at least one input from the user(s), the input(s) based on the user(s)'s evaluation of the presented solution set, and, based on the input(s), using at least the evolutionary scheme and the input(s) to generate an updated solution set, and repeating the presenting and receiving.

Abstract: A warming blanket having a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the warming blanket. The temperature sensor may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element that is threaded throughout the blanket. In one embodiment, the temperature sensing element runs perpendicular or transverse to the heating wires in the warming blanket, permitting the temperature sensing element to measure an average blanket temperature. In another embodiment, the heating element is supplied as a pair of buss wires extending along opposite sides of the warming blanket and having a number of heating wires extending therebetween. In this embodiment, the temperature sensing elements may run either parallel to or transverse to the heating elements. Temperature changes/signals in the temperature sensing element are sent to a microprocessor, which in turn changes the wattage of the heating elements to prevent overheating of the warming blanket.

Abstract: A range of a frequency measuring device having limited range is extended by pre-processing an input signal. The input signal is divided into a plurality of channels. In each channel, the input signal is divided into sub-bands. A frequency of the input signal is determined using a frequency measuring device having limited range. The frequencies are stored in a frequency set. The frequency set is used to determine a frequency associated with the input signal according a set of pre-determined reconstruction rules.

Abstract: A warming blanket having a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the warming blanket. The temperature sensor may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element that is threaded throughout the blanket. In one embodiment, the temperature sensing element runs perpendicular or transverse to the heating wires in the warming blanket, permitting the temperature sensing element to measure an average blanket temperature. In another embodiment, the heating element is supplied as a pair of buss wires extending along opposite sides of the warming blanket and having a number of heating wires extending therebetween. In this embodiment, the temperature sensing elements may run either parallel to or transverse to the heating elements. Temperature changes/signals in the temperature sensing element are sent to a microprocessor, which in turn changes the wattage of the heating elements to prevent overheating of the warming blanket.

Abstract: A radio-controlled toy vehicle is provided with four non-steerable wheels, two on each lateral side of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the wheels on each lateral side are drivingly coupled with a separate, reversible motor. The vehicle is steered by controlling the operation and direction of each motor. In another embodiment, the wheels on each lateral side are drivingly coupled with a single reversible motor. The vehicle is steered through one-way clutches which allow the wheels on one lateral side to operate in either a forward or a reverse direction while the wheels on an opposite lateral side always rotate in the same direction. In both embodiments, a pivoting beam is centrally located on one lateral side, with the wheels on that side being rotatably attached to the beam. The pivoting beam provides for infinite ranges of suspension positions. In operation, the vehicle proceeds until it encounters an obstacle.

Abstract: A system for employing the Coriolis effect for the generation and/or storage of energy generally comprises a vortex chamber for rotational acceleration therein of superheated, supersaturated water vapor and heated air and a water intake assembly and an adjustable air intake assembly each in fluid communication with the vortex chamber. The water intake assembly is adapted to deliver a directed flow of superheated water vapor to a lower portion of the vortex chamber while the air intake assembly is adapted to deliver a flow of heated air to the lower portion of said vortex chamber. The air intake assembly comprises an electrical generator operable by airflow drawn from the air intake assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing efficient connectivity to the Internet via a satellite communication link. A particularly useful embodiment of the invention comprises a an apparatus and method for webcasting live events over a satellite communication link. Digital multimedia data is converted to a bitstream format by an encoder. The encoder supplies the bitstream data to an uplink subsystem for transmission to a satellite. The satellite retransmits the data to a ground-based facility which makes the content available to subscribers over the Internet, either directly or through an independent Content Delivery Network. A novel TCP proxy process adjusts for propagation delays associated with the satellite path. Preferably, the TCP proxy resides in the uplink and the ground-based receiver that receives the bitstream data that is transported by the satellite, or by a router configured to provide such a TCP proxy process.

Abstract: A biodegradable target (10) for sports-shooters comprising a body (12) defining an internal cavity (22), and a display material (34) is contained within the cavity (22) wherein the display material (34) expands upon breakage of the body (12) by a projectile (24), such as a bullet, to give visual confirmation that the projectile (24) has hit the body (12). The target (10) is made by molding body segments which are configured to cooperatively define an internal cavity (22) when joined, adding a display material (34) to at least one of the body segments and joining the body segments to form the target (10).

Abstract: A system and method for administration of network transaction terminals, such as automated teller machines (ATMs) utilizes queued components to allow a synchronized guaranteed delivery of messages, such as log event messages. The messages, which are formatted as Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents, are sent over a network via a secure authenticated and encrypted delivery mechanism. Once the messages reach a data collector in a secure data center, the messages are propagated into a data repository, and the stored messages can be analyzed using a management tool. A distributed secure instrumentation query tool and a message filtering and event alert feature of the system facilitate a data query by a user.

Abstract: A radio-controlled toy vehicle is provided with four non-steerable wheels, two on each lateral side of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the wheels on each lateral side are drivingly coupled with a separate, reversible motor. The vehicle is steered by controlling the operation and direction of each motor. In another embodiment, the wheels on each lateral side are drivingly coupled with a single reversible motor. The vehicle is steered through one-way clutches which allow the wheels on one lateral side to operate in either a forward or a reverse direction while the wheels on an opposite lateral side always rotate in the same direction. In both embodiments, a pivoting beam is centrally located on one lateral side, with the wheels on that side being rotatably attached to the beam. The pivoting beam provides for infinite ranges of suspension positions. In operation, the vehicle proceeds until it encounters an obstacle.

Abstract: A method and means for locating a transceiver remote from a base station operating in a spread spectrum mode, including determining the angle of arrival of a remote emission from the transceiver and the range of the remote emission and then calculating the geolocation of the remote transceiver therefrom.

Abstract: A Low Earth Orbiting satellite system provides location and data communications services to mobile users equipped with a receiver/transmitter. The receiver/transmitter acts as a transponder that responds to a query transmitted over the satellite network. The response is sent after a precisely controlled time interval after the transponder receives the query so that the ground station can estimate the length of the propagation path from the satellite to the transponder. The transponder also transmits the response at a frequency that is proportional to the frequency of the received query so that the ground station can estimate the first and second derivatives of the length of the propagation path according to the measured Doppler shift. The ground station also estimates the satellite positioning using telemetry from the satellite obtained from the on-board GPS receiver. The position of the user terminal relative to the satellite position is then determined from the path length measurements.