Abstract: In a water pump for pumping coolant in a low temperature and a high temperature circuit with low temperature and high temperature housings each including a spiral flow guide structure, and a single rotor disposed in the joined housings and having a low temperature rotor part for pumping coolant through the low temperature circuit and a high temperature rotor part for pumping coolant through the high temperature circuit, the housings are joined with a heat isolating structure disposed between the flow guide structures of the high temperature and the low temperature housings to limit heat transfer from the high temperature coolant pumped through the high temperature housing to the low temperature coolant pumped through the low temperature housing.

Abstract: Continuously produced algae is seeded into the waste streams by the use of 4 or more photo bio-reactors. The algae so produced manufacture oils and fats inside their cells from nutrients in the waste and the process of photosynthesis. Their growth is enhanced by the use of screens, both fixed and movable. These algae adhere to the screens or to the long chain algae attached there to. Algae removed from the raceway bio-reactor are killed by repeated application of heavy rollers over leveled out extracted algae cells. The dead algae are covered with recycled process waste water which goes to one of more oil/water separators and then to storage tanks that contain bio-diesel oil fraction, to waste water tanks and to storage bins for solid waste dead cell material removed.

Abstract: A time and attendance system includes a biometric reader, a data collection terminal in communication with the biometric reader for collecting a biometric signature of a presented individual, a processor programmed to validate the collected biometric signature against one or more stored biometric signatures, and a camera for capturing an image of the presented individual. The image is included as part of a time and attendance transaction associated with the presented individual in response to a failed validation of the collected biometric signature.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a networked multiplayer game for use by playable characters. When operated by a player's character, this mechanism causes the game to send a request for contact to an external contact center. The contact request is queued and allocated to an agent, optionally with the assistance of information provided by the game. When a contact center agent answers the contact request, a communications channel is opened from the agent directly into the game where the game system directs the communication to the local environment of the player's character enabling the player to communicate with the agent of a contact center without leaving the game environment. The agent or contact center may additionally have a representation in the game so that the player can interact with the agent or contact center. The agent representation may be a character in the game controlled by an agent who is logged into the game, or by the contact center manipulating a game client or API, or by the game engine itself.

Abstract: A package assembly for automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to: first and second portions which cooperate to contain the aliquot, wherein a pair of flexure channels are defined in opposing sides of at least one of the first or second portions, the flexure channels cooperating to define a flexure axis extending through the pair of flexure channels. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may allow at least one of first and second portions of the package assembly to flex about the flexure axis in response to a force exerted on the package assembly such that the first and second portions separate in response to the force.

Abstract: Calls made using the session initiation protocol (SIP) are augmented by exchanging data in the form of messages between terminals where the message content is defined by items of information expressed as uniform resource indicators (URIs). The receiving terminal can extract and process such information based on the semantic information in URI format.

Abstract: A device and method for applying a wind force to a plurality of plants in an agricultural environment is provided to screen for selected wind-resistance traits in the plurality of plants. In one embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided including a generating device for creating a moving fluid stream to provide the wind force, a directing device, such as a duct and/or movable vane, for precisely and selectively directing the wind force towards a portion of at least one plant, and a controller for adjusting one or more parameters of the fluid stream. The device and/or method embodiments of the present invention may thus be used to selectively apply the wind force to one or more plants (or portions thereof) such that the plants may be evaluated with respect to one or more wind-resistant physical characteristics.

Abstract: A method operates a limited-bandwidth network in a differential service (DiffServ) mode with DCCP congestion control to provide high throughput with good QoS.

Abstract: A system maintains quality of service of a wireless network. The system includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer configures a directional antenna to transmit and receive in particular sectors based on antenna gain, transmission power, and beam width. The second layer communicates a direction and range to the first layer. The third layer maintains information summarizing connectivity between a plurality of nodes. The third layer determines whether to extend the range of the signal from a predetermined default range to an extended range.

Abstract: Each local node of a network adjusts the priority of messages passing through the node based on locally available information. If network topology is available, priority can be given to those messages which have the most hops to go. If source identity or time is/are known, the priority of a message can be upgraded for those messages which have already taken a long time or have already experienced a large number of hops. If destination address and network topology are additionally known, end-to-end QoS can tend to be equalized for all paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating equipment and software in a distributed gaming environment through the use of embedded, digital keys and digital certificates in a private key infrastructure (PKI) is disclosed. By issuing a key from a trusted root server, authentication is performed in a serial manner throughout the operational chain of hardware and/or software modules that collectively serve to support the gaming environment. Beginning with the root certificate authority server, each module in the operational chain authenticates itself to another module that relies on that module's authenticity. By authenticating the chain of modules in a serial manner from beginning to end, security of the gaming environment is ensured.

Abstract: A system for transmitting messages among a plurality of nodes is provided. The system includes a media access scheduler for pseudorandomly scheduling discrete message start times for each node of the plurality of nodes to provide access to a shared medium. A method of minimizing power in a distributed network and a method of operating the distributed network is also provided.

Abstract: A method of administering a game in a wireless embodiment utilizing multiple transmitters connected to a game server and base station controller is disclosed. The method comprises generating game state data describing game state in a bingo game; passing the game state data to each transmitter in a plurality of transmitters; and transmitting from transmitters in the plurality in sequence the game state signal to a wireless receiver, wherein the game state data are transmitted repeatedly.

Abstract: A method and system of congestion control in a network are provided. A required quality of service (QoS) parameter, such as a maximum allowable latency, for a packet received at a queue in the network, and a route cost metric, such as accumulated and estimated latency, are determined, and the packet is either discarded if the route cost metric exceeds the required QoS parameter, or a discard bias value is set for the packet. Also, if the required QoS parameter exceeds the route cost metric, the method includes determining whether a congestion condition exists in the network, and if the congestion condition exists, biasing the packet for discard based on its latency if the route cost metric for the packet exceeds a threshold. The network may be an IP network, and a network such as a mobile ad hoc network (MANET).

Abstract: Consider a user who has three different types of email account. Previously, in order to access those different email accounts the user has had a terminal with three desktop applications, one for accessing each type of email account. The user has been unable to access all of his or her email accounts simultaneously. Instead, the user has had to connect, for example, using a RAS connection, to one of the email accounts and then terminate that RAS connection before initiating a new RAS connection to the next type of email account. This is time consuming and problematic for users, particularly those who travel frequently. Another problem is that the user must maintain software applications on his or her terminal, one for each of the different types of message account. This takes up valuable memory and processing capacity on the user terminal.

Abstract: The production rate, useful life and operating efficiency of electric submergible pumping systems (ESP) is improved by operating the system so that the motor (220, 320) is cooled by two passes of production. Production fluids remove waste heat from the motor (220, 320) by passing the fluid in contact with the exterior of the motor (220, 320). The improved cooling permits the motor to be operated at a lower temperature improving life and efficiency, and/or to be operated at higher power at a similar temperature. Additionally, oversized and excess equipment is not required, further improving performance and economics for the user. In another aspect, the invention is a method of pumping fluids using a motor having vortex generators (366) on its exterior surfaces or on the interior surfaces of a surrounding shroud.

Abstract: Novel enhanced gaming systems employ unique, specialized, for example, FIRESTAR™ type of indicia disposed upon at least one location of a plurality of pre-mapped locations housed on, for example, a multiplicity of bingo-type of cards. Percentages of indicia arrayed on, for example, card sets are controlled by a gaming proprietor's or operator's configuration settings as are the respective locations of the subject indicia, for example, by using a random number generator to induce players to participate in multiple opportunities to garner prizes, for example, for achieving a bingo-type of victory concomittant with pre-established winning requirements and a pre-selected occurrence of a unique specialized indicum. Progressive reports serve to keep players, proprietors/operators and gaming authorities apprised of earnings both in terms of amounts, odds and related data on occurrence of the same indicia in real time providing unique inducement and tracking value in both hard copy and electronic form.

Abstract: Contacts received by a contact centre are auctioned to other contact centres to determine an optimum service or cost for each contact. By publishing requests for bids to a network visible space, multiple contact centres or agents can monitor for new requests, and if they can service the request, submit bids to take over the contact at the best price or service level. This enables contacts to be optimally distributed over a network without maintaining centrally records of currently available resources and current statistics for each contact centre. This also adds market competition to the distribution of contacts, providing the potential to increase the overall quality of service and to reduce costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible multilayer packaging film and packages formed therefrom wherein the films include a first film layer comprising a first biaxially-oriented polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyolefin, a polyamide, and a blend thereof and a surface-roughened portion, a second film layer comprising an adhesive, a third film layer comprising a barrier material, a fourth film layer comprising a second biaxially-oriented polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyolefin, a polyamide, and a blend thereof and at least one score-line; wherein the packages comprise a tear-initiation area and a directional tear zone.

Abstract: Web-based telephony applications have recently been developed whereby a user is able to access a web-site and click on links or buttons in order to establish a voice over internet protocol telephone call from for example, his or her PC phone, to another user at another telephone terminal (PC phone or other suitable type of telephone). By enabling a web-based telephony application to receive URIs containing time information it is possible to enable telephone calls (including conference calls) to be initiated automatically at specified times or for feature keys on a user's telephone terminal to be programmed such that when activated at a particular time, a specified telephone call is initiated. In addition, URIs comprising time information may be used to set up “follow-me” functionality whereby all calls to a particular user are directed to different pre-specified directory numbers depending on the time of day.