Abstract: A long-wave or medium-wave receiver receives a first signal from a first terminal of a loopstick antenna on a positive antenna input terminal of the receiver and receives a second signal from a second terminal of the loopstick antenna on a negative antenna input terminal of the receiver. The first and second signals are processed differentially in the receiver. The receiver may optionally be configured to operate in either a differential mode or a single-ended mode by setting switches to selectively connect one of the antenna input terminals to ground in single-ended mode.

Abstract: Circuitry and methods are disclosed that may employ common mode calibration circuitry configured to at least partially calibrate out impedance differences or mismatches between the differential signal paths of differential signal circuitry. The common mode calibration circuitry may be integrated as an internal part of integrated differential signal circuitry that includes a differential amplifier to reject common mode noise, and may be used to reduce or substantially eliminate any external and/or internal difference in signal path resistance that exists between the differential signal paths of the integrated differential signal circuitry. A common mode calibration signal may be internally or externally applied to the signal inputs of differential signal circuitry, and used to determine a setting for the common mode calibration circuitry that at least partially calibrates out impedance differences or mismatches between the differential signal paths of differential signal circuitry.

Abstract: Variable capacitive attenuation circuitry and associated methods are disclosed that may be implemented to employ a plurality of multi-purpose capacitors that may be selectably coupled together in different configurations to form a capacitive divider having different respective attenuation properties. In a particular embodiment, each of the capacitors of the disclosed capacitive attenuation circuitry may be selectably coupled to an RF reference as either a shunt capacitor or coupled in series between an RF signal input and an attenuated RF signal output as a series capacitor, thus forming a capacitive divider having selected attenuation properties. The disclosed variable capacitive attenuation circuitry may be advantageously utilized to attenuate an input RF signal and to provide a resulting attenuated RF output signal, for example, in the front end of RF receiver circuitry.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a clinical trial participant with a transportation provider. The system, based on information from an authentication mechanism, determines whether an individual requesting desired transportation is an authenticated clinical trial participant having a participant record in a patient recruitment management system database. The system, based on information from an authorization mechanism, determines whether the authenticated clinical trial participant is an authorized clinical trial participant for procurement of the transportation being requested. When the authenticated clinical trial participant is the authorized clinical trial participant for the desired transportation, the patient recruitment management system outputs an indication of approval to connect the clinical trial participant with a transportation provider.

Abstract: A clinical trial participant reimbursement system relies on a separate a patient tracking system having a patient database with a participant record unique identification string for each patient of a plurality of patients configured in such a way that maintains patient anonymity and does not itself convey patient identifying information. The clinical trial participant reimbursement system creates an association between the participant record unique identification string and a reloadable payment card unique identification string for a payment card assigned to each participant for receiving reimbursement payments. The payment card itself can be issued without being coupled to the patient's bank account, and by loading a payment card there is no need to issue checks with the patient's name (i.e., patient identifying information) thereon. The payment card can be issued with a zero balance, a pre-determined balance, or a customized balance indicated by the system and set at the time of the card activation.

Abstract: An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.

Abstract: An automated banking machine can cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read from user cards, card data that corresponds to financial accounts. The machine can operate responsive to the read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can provide users a transaction receipt. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to machine users. Value of dispensed cash can be assessed to an account which corresponds to the read card data. The machine also includes an accepting device that can receive currency bills and/or checks from users. An account that corresponds to the read card data can be credited for the value of received bills and/or checks.

Abstract: A communications system and method for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box (100) includes one or more central stations (101) that defines a region of operation. A central drop box (102) is associated with the central station (101) for providing a database of spectrum usage information. Stations (103, 105, 107) using the communications system may submit information regarding spectrum usage to the central drop box (102) that affects the region of operation (109, 115) for providing the most efficient and non-interfering uses of the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a communication node for scheduling uplink and downlink transmissions in a communication system. The communication node determines based on a first set of parameters of a data associated with the communication node and a second set of parameters of a data associated with one other communication node, whether to load the data associated with the communication node from an end of a data queue buffer. The communication node upon determining to load the data associated with the communication node from the end of the data queue buffer, loads the data associated with the communication node from the end of the data queue buffer. The communication node further determines a start time for transmission of the data associated with the communication node and schedules transmission of the data associated with the communication node at the start time.

Abstract: Variable capacitive attenuation circuitry and associated methods are disclosed that may be implemented to employ a plurality of multi-purpose capacitors that may be selectably coupled together in different configurations to form a capacitive divider having different respective attenuation properties. In a particular embodiment, each of the capacitors of the disclosed capacitive attenuation circuitry may be selectably coupled to an RF reference as either a shunt capacitor or coupled in series between an RF signal input and an attenuated RF signal output as a series capacitor, thus forming a capacitive divider having selected attenuation properties. The disclosed variable capacitive attenuation circuitry may be advantageously utilized to attenuate an input RF signal and to provide a resulting attenuated RF output signal, for example, in the front end of RF receiver circuitry.

Abstract: A long-wave or medium-wave receiver receives a first signal from a first terminal of a loopstick antenna on a positive antenna input terminal of the receiver and receives a second signal from a second terminal of the loopstick antenna on a negative antenna input terminal of the receiver. The first and second signals are processed differentially in the receiver. The receiver may optionally be configured to operate in either a differential mode or a single-ended mode by setting switches to selectively connect one of the antenna input terminals to ground in single-ended mode.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for reliably distributing network management information in and ad hoc multi-hop wireless network which includes a number of existing nodes. A first node selects a particular timeslot in a dedicated channel based on the network management information received from the neighbor nodes and determines, via a contention channel, if the particular timeslot is being used by any neighbor nodes of the first node. If the particular timeslot is determined to be unused, then it is assigned to the first node for periodically transmitting network management information.

Abstract: An automated banking machine is operable to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The machine is operative responsive to read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can also provide machine users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to users, and cause the value of dispensed cash to be assessed to accounts corresponding to the read card data. The machine also includes a sheet accepting device that can receive currency notes and/or checks from users. An account that corresponds to the read card data can be credited for the value of received notes and/or checks.

Abstract: A method of operation of a node for obtaining channel information in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes receiving periodically, information related to channel assessment capability of plurality of nodes of the wireless communication network, maintaining a metric characterizing the channel assessment capability for each of the plurality of nodes based on the received channel assessment capability, selecting at least one node from the plurality of nodes by comparing the metric of each of the plurality of nodes, sending a request for channel information to the selected node and receiving channel information from the selected node.

Abstract: A device for delivery of water and at least one further compound which comprises at least one first part containing at least one first compound; at least one second part substantially surrounding said first part, the or each second part being at least partially permeable to water and to the or at least one first compound; and at least one third part substantially surrounding said second part, the or each third part including a water absorbent material.

Abstract: An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.

Abstract: An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a communication node for scheduling uplink and downlink transmissions in a communication system. The communication node determines based on a first set of parameters of a data associated with the communication node and a second set of parameters of a data associated with one other communication node, whether to load the data associated with the communication node from an end of a data queue buffer. The communication node upon determining to load the data associated with the communication node from the end of the data queue buffer, loads the data associated with the communication node from the end of the data queue buffer. The communication node further determines a start time for transmission of the data associated with the communication node and schedules transmission of the data associated with the communication node at the start time.

Abstract: A banking system includes an automated banking machine controlled by data bearing records. The machine compares indicia from a bearer record with computer information regarding the bearer. The machine operates to reallocate credit among various accounts responsive to computer determined correspondence among stored user identification data, read card data, and read biometric data. The machine also includes a note presenter and a currency cassette. A gate of the presenter is located at a note dispensing outlet of the machine. The gate is opened by actuating a lever linked with an arm connected to the gate. The currency cassette includes a one-piece polymer body attached to a one-piece polymer lid. A one-piece tambour door is movable along guide tracks integrally formed with body side walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dynamically identifying locations of a plurality of mobile nodes in a time division multiple access (TDMA) based ad hoc communication network, wherein one or more mobile nodes are being moved in and out of a predefined region. The method comprises allocating a hello slot in a dedicated channel of the TDMA based ad hoc communication network to each of the mobile nodes and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through hello slot allocation map, receiving location information from each of the mobile nodes during their hello slot and determining mobile nodes that are inside the predefined region based on the received location information, allocating a data slot to each determined mobile nodes inside the predefined region and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through data slot allocation map, and receiving updated location information from each determined mobile nodes during their data slot.