Abstract: A cannula for passing surgical instruments through tissue. In some instances, the cannula may include a distal flange flexible between a radial configuration and a longitudinal configuration. In some instances, the cannula may also include an actuator configured to move the distal flange between the radial configuration and the longitudinal configuration. In some instances, the cannula may include a valve disposed within the lumen of the cannula, and a cap configured to secure the valve to the cannula. The valve may include a body member having a base and first and second opposing walls extending from the base. In some instances, the valve has an arcuate cutout in the lower surface configured to fit around an instrument shaft inserted therethrough. In some instance, the cannula includes a slit extending an entire length of the cannular to permit an instrument shaft to be inserted and/or removed laterally.

Abstract: A material delivery apparatus for delivering foam into a mixer of a ready-mix truck comprising an elongated bar, a support arm, a guide tube and a delivery tube is disclosed. There is a foam tube having one end mounted to the delivery tube and another end mounted to a foam generator. The delivery tube slides within the guide tube. There is a cable mounted to the delivery tube and to a motor reel on an opposite end. Included is a control panel communicatively coupled to the motor reel and the foam generator. The mixer of a ready-mix truck is aligned underneath the delivery tube. The controller is operated to control volume and rate at which foam is to be delivered by the foam generator. The delivery tube is positioned to accurately delivery the foam in the mixer to mix the foam with concrete to produce foam concrete.

Abstract: An analyzer analyzes portions of a logical data stream including data content received from a source. Based on analyzing the data content (e.g., data content formatted according to Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)) received from the source, the analyzer generates metadata associated with multiple analyzed portions of the logical data stream. The metadata supports manipulation of how the logical data stream is presented when at least a portion of the data content of the logical data stream is later presented to a receiver for play back in a mode different than the original content (e.g., play back includes fast forwarding, rewinding, and/or pausing.

Abstract: A transmitter (14) of audio, video, or other real-time information reads the information from a persistent store (22) in which the real-time information has been stored in the Real-time-Transport Protocol (“RTP”) format (FIG. 4). A receiver (18) receives the information from the channel (16) through which the transmitter (14) has transmitted it, and the receiver may store the information in a persistent store (24) in RTP format instead of or in addition to playing it by applying it to an appropriate player (20). Parts of this communications circuit may be tested by a tester unit (26) that also employs RTP-format information from a persistent store (22).

Abstract: A transmitter (14) of audio, video, or other real-time information reads the information from a persistent store (22) in which the real-time information has been stored in the Real-time-Transport Protocol (“RTP”) format (FIG. 4). A receiver (18) receives the information from the channel (16) through which the transmitter (14) has transmitted it, and the receiver may store the information in a persistent store (24) in RTP format instead of or in addition to playing it by applying it to an appropriate player (20). Parts of this communications circuit may be tested by a tester unit (26) that also employs RTP-format information from a persistent store (22).

Abstract: Each set of pointers inserted into a received data stream eventually includes pointer values that point to other locations (e.g., other segments) within the data stream. Initially, pointer values can be set to null values because an address or respective index to other segments or other sets of pointers in the data stream may not be known until they are either received from the live feed or inserted into the data stream. As new segments of data are received from an original data stream such as a live feed, a processing function herein backfills the null pointer values in the set of pointers with appropriate values to the newly received segments or set of pointers. Backfilling of appropriate pointer values into the data stream enables a respective user viewing the data stream to initiate navigation amongst the data stream and potentially view a live feed with little or no delay.

Abstract: A transmitter (14) of audio, video, or other real-time information reads the information from a persistent store (22) in which the real-time information has been stored in the Real-time-Transport Protocol (“RTP”) format (FIG. 4). A receiver (18) receives the information from the channel (16) through which the transmitter (14) has transmitted it, and the receiver may store the information in a persistent store (24) in RTP format instead of or in addition to playing it by applying it to an appropriate player (20). Parts of this communications circuit may be tested by a tester unit (26) that also employs RTP-format information from a persistent store (22).

Abstract: A connector having a cylindrical hollow body having a first, closed end and a second, open end. A first external thread extends from the first end toward the second end and a second external thread extends from the second end toward the first end. Additionally, a contact element extends concentrically from the closed first end of the hollow body.

Abstract: A transmitter (14) of audio, video, or other real-time information reads the information from a persistent store (22) in which the real-time information has been stored in the Real-time-Transport Protocol (“RTP”) format (FIG. 4). A receiver (18) receives the information from the channel (16) through which the transmitter (14) has transmitted it, and the receiver may store the information in a persistent store (24) in RTP format instead of or in addition to playing it by applying it to an appropriate player (20). Parts of this communications circuit may be tested by a tester unit (26) that also employs RTP-format information from a persistent store (22).

Abstract: Network nodes (12, 14, 16, 18, and 20) that exchange time-dependent data in accordance with the Real-Time Transport Protocol subject the timestamps of incoming packets (FIG. 1) to tests that indicate whether the timestamps were likely generated correctly. Such a no de begins an RTP session by determining its output in accordance with the incoming packets' times of arrival. It thereafter bases its output's timing on the incoming packets' timestamps if previously received packets have passed a test (FIG. 5) that indicate their timestamps' reliability. While such a node operates in such a timestamp-based output-timing mode, it continues to test incoming timestamps and assumes operation according to the time-of-arrival mode if too many packets fail the timestamp-reliability test.

Abstract: The method and apparatus related to macroblock parsing in a GOB to comply with a maximum-transmission-unit size is described. The real-time transmission protocol (RTP) suggests that the RTP packet sent be smaller than the underlying transport mechanism. In the case where video streams are encoded under ITU-T H.261 recommendation, certain group of blocks (GOBs) exceed the allowable packet size. For end-points such as a terminal, implementing a macroblock parser is a natural outcome of the encoding process. However, for other devices, such as a multipoint control unit (MCU), a marcoblock parser is not that easily implemented. Thus, instead of using a macroblock parser, the incoming packets are monitored for partial GOBs. A partial GOB is where the GOB was previously parsed into portions by a device for compliance. Once a partial GOB is detected, pertinent information pertaining to the macroblock fragmentation is then retrieved and stored for future use.

Abstract: Continuous presence designed in accordance with H.261 recommendation allows for several sites to be seen simultaneously on one screen. For instance, the H.261 recommendation specifies that two picture scanning formats (i.e., CIF and QCIF) may be used in a codec. Notably, H.323 end-points could send pictures in QCIF while receiving CIF pictures. An MCU could select four appropriate sites, receive QCIF pictures from those sites, form a composite picture, and distribute the composite picture to the conferencing end-points. It is desired to be able to allow the sites to transmit pictures at different rates according to their preferences. Each site is associated with a queue into which the transmitted QCIF pictures are stored. The transmission rate for those sites are then deduced. A thread then activates to determine if there are QCIF pictures to be placed in the associated queues. Another thread retrieves the QCIF pictures from the queues based on the deduced transmission rate.

Abstract: A system for sensing speed of other vehicles without the use of radar or laser is presented. It uses interferometric techniques to passively compute another vehicle's speed. It would be useful for law enforcement officials to detect speed violators without speed violators radar or laser detectors providing any warning. The system uses two moving vehicles each equipped with a GPS receiver, data radio, tachometer, user input device and onboard laptop computer. Each window on the vehicle would be taped with two cross-hairs define the acceptable zone where the lead vehicle can start (and trail vehicle may end) the clocking procedure.