Abstract: A packet-based or cell-based data communication system is capable of determining whether a new call is a modem call or a voice call before a modem connection is established between the two end devices. The network switches are configured to monitor for distinctive facsimile modem and data modem calling and answer signals. In response to the detection of such calling or answer signals, the data communication system selects a speech coding scheme and/or a data transmission technique for use in connection with the current call, while a conventional 64 kbps PCM transmission scheme is maintained for communications between the network and the end devices. A speech coding protocol, such as ADPCM, may be enabled for voice calls, thus conserving network bandwidth. The 64 kbps PCM scheme may be employed to facilitate high speed modem transmissions.

Abstract: The present invention uses a wiring scheme for data transmission. The wiring scheme includes designating N−1 telecommunication wires and a common wire to each carry N−1 signals. The wiring scheme further includes designating one telecommunication wire, other than the N−1 telecommunication wires, as a common wire for each of the N−1 wires. In addition, the DC voltage polarities of at least one of the N−1 telecommunication wires may be reversed to reduce the likelihood of overloading the common wire. The wiring scheme may be utilized in the context of many data transmission systems including: POTS, PSTN, DSL, data modems, facsimile modems, and ISDN. The wiring scheme of the present invention may achieve higher data rates for data transmission.

Abstract: A system and method for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel, e.g., a coronary bypass graft, of a living being. The system comprises an atherectomy catheter having a working head, e.g., a rotary impacting impeller, and a debris extraction sub-system. The atherectomy catheter is located within a guide catheter. The working head is arranged to operate on, e.g., impact, the occlusive material in the occluded vessel to open a lumen therein, whereupon some debris may be produced. The debris extraction sub-system introduces an infusate liquid at a first flow rate adjacent the working head and withdraws that liquid and some blood at a second and higher flow rate, through the guide catheter to create a differential flow adjacent the working head, whereupon the debris is withdrawn in the infusate liquid and blood for collection outside the being's body.

Abstract: A telephony system and method for providing telephony services to remote users. The telephony system comprises a user side and a provider side. The user side includes a telephony instrument and a personal computer for establishing communication with the provider side via a communication gateway, a communication device and a wide area network, such as the Internet. The provider side includes a virtual private network in communication with the wide area network and a communication network. The communication network is in communication with a telephony server interfacing with a telephone switched system. The telephone switched network provides telephone lines for allocation of the telephone lines by the virtual private network to the remote users.

Abstract: A system and method for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel, e.g., a coronary bypass graft, of a living being. The system comprises an atherectomy catheter having a working head, e.g., a rotary impacting impeller, and a debris extraction sub-system. The atherectomy catheter is located within a guide catheter. The working head is arranged to operate on, e.g., impact, the occlusive material in the occluded vessel to open a lumen therein, whereupon some debris may be produced. The debris extraction sub-system introduces an infusate liquid at a first flow rate adjacent the working head and withdraws that liquid and some blood at a second and higher flow rate, through the guide catheter to create a differential flow adjacent the working head, whereupon the debris is withdrawn in the infusate liquid and blood for collection outside the being's body.

Abstract: A telephony services distribution system includes a voice/data server that receives and transmits telephony data in accordance with a suitable digital communication protocol. The voice/data server is associated with a customer premise that supports a number of enhanced telephony devices, which may include wired and/or wireless telephone devices, videophone devices, facsimile devices, or the like. The customer premise may also support any number of conventional POTS telephony instruments. The voice/data server and the enhanced telephony devices communicate signaling data therebetween via a signaling technique such as the V.21 modem protocol. The signaling information conveys data associated with the status of the enhanced telephony devices, calling party and called party identification, characteristics of the incoming and outgoing calls, and/or data related to any number of operating parameters and characteristics of the system.

Abstract: A system is provided for communicating location and other related information of a field unit to a remote base station. The field unit generates position signals based on signals received from communication with a plurality of GPS satellites. These position signals are transmitted to a remote base station, where they are processed and displayed. The field unit includes an environmental circuit having devices for determining an environmental condition and producing an environmental signal representative of the environmental condition. The environmental signal is also transmitted to the remote base station for processing and display. The field unit is also provided with a cellular link circuit for transmitting the position signals and the environmental signal to the remote base station via a cellular link.

Abstract: A packet-based or cell-based data communication system is capable of determining whether a new call is a modem call or a voice call before a modem connection is established between the two end devices. The network switches are configured to monitor for distinctive facsimile modem and data modem calling and answer signals. In response to the detection of such calling or answer signals, the data communication system selects a speech coding scheme and/or a data transmission technique for use in connection with the current call, while a conventional 64 kbps PCM transmission scheme is maintained for communications between the network and the end devices. A speech coding protocol, such as ADPCM, may be enabled for voice calls, thus conserving network bandwidth. The 64 kbps PCM scheme may be employed to facilitate high speed modem transmissions.

Abstract: A user interface for use with a content items delivery apparatus and method which simulates the look and feel of a video rental store. Rental of the content items occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer and displayed on a main website. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. The digital video signals may be displayed as virtual video boxes on a virtual carousel or on virtual shelves. The user may select a digital video signal and purchase a license to view the selected digital video signal based on an access level selected by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for extending the range of a base unit is disclosed. The system can include repeaters and/or network decoders, each of which is housed in a network module. The network module includes a first portion for insertion into a powered outlet. The first portion receives power from the powered outlet. The network module further includes a second portion for receiving a powered device, and an electronic housing that is coupled to the first and second portions. The electronic housing encloses an electronic unit for receiving power from the first portion and selectively providing power to the second portion. The electronic unit can also include a repeater for receiving commands and re-broadcasting the commands, and/or an active network device for receiving commands, decoding the commands, and controlling at least one device based on the command. The electronic unit can receive signals and transmit signals via a wired connection or a wireless link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing audio frequency-pressure modulation of the moisture content of the atmosphere caused by a moisture-laden audio source, such as a live human voice, is disclosed. A first light emitter is provided to generate a first light beam. An audio source that emits moisture, and the environment, modulate the first light beam to generate a first modulated light beam. A first detector is provided to detect and demodulate the first modulated light beam to recover an uncompensated audio signal. A second light emitter is provided to generate a second light beam. The second light beam is modulated by the environment and not by the audio source to produce a second modulated light beam. A second detector is provided to detect and demodulate the second modulated light beam to recover the signal component caused by environmental conditions.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link.

Abstract: A system and method for extending the range of a base unit is disclosed. The system can include repeaters and/or network decoders, each of which is housed in a network module. The network module includes a first portion for insertion into a powered outlet. The first portion receives power from the powered outlet. The network module further includes a second portion for receiving a powered device, and an electronic housing that is coupled to the first and second portions. The electronic housing encloses an electronic unit for receiving power from the first portion and selectively providing power to the second portion. The electronic unit can also include a repeater for receiving commands and re-broadcasting the commands, and/or an active network device for receiving commands, decoding the commands, and controlling at least one device based on the command. The electronic unit can receive signals and transmit signals via a wired connection or a wireless link.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link.

Abstract: An improved telecommunication system is capable of supporting an enhanced audio transmission mode and a conventional PCM waveform encoding mode. The enhanced audio transmission mode is governed by an audio coding protocol, while the PCM mode is governed by a PCM protocol such as &mgr;-law encoding. The telecommunication system performs an in-band signaling routine during a first communication session in accordance with the PCM protocol. The in-band signaling routine employs a form of robbed bit signaling to transmit information between the calling codec and the called codec. The signaling information is utilized to determine whether the called codec is compatible with the enhanced audio coding mode and, as necessary, to initiate the transition between the PCM mode and the audio coding mode. The audio coding mode transmits signals using a wider bandwidth than that used during the PCM mode. The use of a wider bandwidth results in a higher quality sound that better resembles person-to-person speech.

Abstract: A controller that communicates with a first set of devices and a second set of devices is disclosed. The controller includes a transmitter for transmitting commands to remotely control the first set of devices, and for communicating input/output (I/O) data with the second set of devices. A microphone, speaker, display and cellular and cordless phone circuitry are integrated into the controller to provide the controller with phone and paging capabilities. Systems for determining the spatial location of a target object are also disclosed. The spatial location of the target object is determined with reference to a predetermined spatial reference point based on measured elapsed times, which represent the difference between a time reference and the time of receipt of a location signal from the target object at the known locations.

Abstract: A system for testing a microelectronic circuit includes a test bed for mounting a microelectronic circuit, and a signal source for applying a signal to a microelectronic circuit mounted on the test bed. The system additionally includes a test probe for wirelessly receiving electromagnetic response signals from the microelectronic circuit mounted on the test bed. In a preferred form, the electromagnetic response signals are radio-frequency signals. The test system additionally includes a computer connected to be test probe for analyzing the electromagnetic response signals. An integrated circuit for testing on the test system has a test circuit portion that emits electromagnetic radiation in response to a predetermined signal applied to the test circuit.

Abstract: A cable modem provides upstream data signals in a cable system on a return channel. The upstream data signals are provided in a 50-550 MHz frequency range and yet do not affect the picture quality associated with conventional cable television signals. The data is provided on vestigial sidebands associated with the cable television signals or during black periods associated with the cable television signals. The data can be modulated in accordance with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) techniques.

Abstract: A system for testing a microelectronic circuit includes a test bed for mounting a microelectronic circuit, and a signal source for applying a signal to a microelectronic circuit mounted on the test bed. The system additionally includes a test probe for wirelessly receiving electromagnetic response signals from the microelectronic circuit mounted on the test bed. In a preferred form, the electromagnetic response signals are radio-frequency signals. The test system additionally includes a computer connected to be test probe for analyzing the electromagnetic response signals. An integrated circuit for testing on the test system has a test circuit portion that emits electromagnetic radiation in response to a predetermined signal applied to the test circuit.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line (DSL) communication system that utilizes the high frequency band of a standard telephone line does not require the use of a plain old telephone service (POTS) splitter in the resident's home, which provided isolation between the POTS frequency band (0 to 4 kHz) and the DSL frequency band. Digital signal processing techniques are utilized to adapt to varying subscriber line conditions due to POTS telephone equipment. The digital signal processing techniques eliminate the need for a splitter by reducing susceptibility to distortion due to varying subscriber line characteristics. The digital subscriber line modem utilizes constant envelope modulated signals and frequency division multiplexing, where the constant envelope modulations lessens the intermodulation distortion products due to DSL signals that are transmitted by the modem and which may result in audible noise at the POTS telephone equipment due to non-linearities of the POTS telephone equipment.