Abstract: The popularity of geographical points, locations or regions is represented and displayed by software in a computing system. Geographical popularity data may be stored according to a hierarchical naming convention that maps to geographical detail levels, and the geographical popularity data may be updated, e.g., continually or periodically, to maintain real-time, dynamic popularity measurements. The geographical popularity data can be represented according to different hierarchical levels of geographical detail. One visualization technique includes displaying the geographical popularity data as a chloropleth enabling a user to observe variation of the popularity of geographical sub-regions within a greater geographical context.

Abstract: An object slide attachment system designed for temporarily transporting various secondary objects that must be selectively removed or connected to a primary support object or surface. The system includes an elongated receiver mounted or attached to a primary support object or surface. The elongated receiver includes at least one elevated connecting site with a longitudinally aligned, inverted bell-shaped keyway opening formed thereon. The system also includes a complimentary-shaped post member attached to an intermediate slide connector that connects to a secondary object or that is formed directly on a secondary object. The post member is L-shaped in cross-section and includes an upper half-circular wing section integrally formed on a lower cylindrical body. During use, the post member must be properly rotated and aligned with the keyway opening in order to engage and disengage from the keyway slot.

Abstract: A sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, includes a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled. A timer for timing the operation of the switch causes the sampler to capture a first waveform section of the first signal and a second waveform section of the second signal, wherein the second signal is responsive to the first signal and the timing of the switch is such that the second section includes a portion that has been generated in response to the first section.

Abstract: A probe for measuring the hardness of concrete includes a body adapted to receive a retainer such that the combined body and retainer can be held in an aperture extending through a wall of a mould for the hardenable material, with the body extending from the inside of the wall. A sensor circuit includes detector elements supported by the body and disposed when in use in the concrete, and circuit terminals which face the exterior of the mould wall when in use, and are accessible through the retainer for connection to terminals of an external instrument. Preferably, the detector elements are conductive portions of a printed circuit board forming a resonator. The instrument can operate a switch in the probe which interconnects the terminals to indicate a good connection and measures resonator impedance at multiple frequencies.

Abstract: A method and system for gathering enriched web server activity data in a global communications network in which requested information files are cached at a plurality of network devices. With the prevalence of web caching on the Internet, the origin web servers do not serve the majority of requests for web site content. A single pixel clear Graphics Image Format (GIF) request is added to the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) source file for a web page. Appended to the GIF request is a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) string of data that contains enhanced web activity data information, including the number of images (“hits”) that have to be retrieved by a client browser to build the web page, and the referring identifier that resulted in access to the web page. The single pixel clear GIF request is not cacheable and results in the request being transmitted to the origin web server when the client browser interprets the HTML file.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for parallel detection of the behaviour of mechanical micro-oscillators interacting with the sample (21). The amplitude and the phase of resonance of micro-oscillators (12) are measured with optical means. The invention is characterised in that a source (1) is active during a fraction 1/n of the period (n being an integer) and of variable phase p/n of the period (p being an integer). Interferences are produced between light beams generated by reflection of incident light beams (7) and (8) on the micro-oscillators (12). Periodically the micro-oscillators (12) are displaced by means. The value of the parameter p (p being an integer) is varied and N elementary measurements are integrated to obtain a measurement representing each of the values of p. The phase and amplitude of each micro-oscillator (12) are calculated on the basis of the representative data obtained for each value of p and this for a large number of accumulations.

Abstract: A security system for securing data paths in a network responds to events to change parameters of the security features in use. For example, it can change the type of encryption algorithm being used, or parameters of the encryption algorithm such as the key length or number of rounds of negotiation, or it can change a data transfer protocol. Events which the security system can respond to include user action, such as logging on to a more expensive service or moving their network location, or date or time, or patterns of usage in the network. The system processes incoming data using rules to determine a response. Parameters are changed by outputting configuration data to communication devices attached to the network, such as the head end and television receivers in a digital television system. In a preferred form of the system, the parameters of the security features in use can be dependent on network location, introducing diversity to the system which makes the security more difficult to penetrate.

Abstract: A sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, includes a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled. A timer for timing the operation of the switch to causes the sampler to capture a first waveform section of the first signal and a second waveform section of the second signal, wherein the second signal is responsive to the first signal and the timing of the switch is such that the second section includes a portion that has been generated in response to the first section.

Abstract: A call management method and system. The system includes at least one user position, comprising a computer workstation and a telephone apparatus that is associated with the computer workstation. In addition, the system includes a call management computer comprising a memory; and a digital data network to connect the computer workstation with the call management computer. The memory is used to store a plurality of call processing rules that determine how a call, directed to a user, is to be processed. The plurality of call processing rules is defined by the computer workstation before the call is received. The call management computer intercepts the call, that is incoming, to a first user position that is included in the at least one user position. The call management computer determines that the call is for the first user position and interacts with the memory to determine how the call is processed based on the plurality of call processing rules.

Abstract: A method for enabling a server to maintain an accurate count of web-page views. The server maintains a counter that records the number of times the page is accessed due to automatic browser refreshes, and a counter that records the number of times the page is accessed otherwise. A browser accesses the URL of the web page and records a timestamp. When the browser next accesses the page, it determines the present time, and subtracts the timestamp from the present time. The browser then compares the difference with bounds that reflect a window of tolerance about an expected content-update period of the web page. If the difference is within the bounds, the browser instructs the server to advance the automatic-refresh counter; otherwise, the server advances the page-hit counter.

Abstract: A shotgun shell dispenser that includes a rectangular-shaped six-sided housing with a lower loading and discharge opening formed on one end. Formed on the lower sidewall of the housing adjacent to the lower discharge opening. Located inside the housing is a downward biased stomper plate designed to press against the upper most shell to constantly force the row of shells downward towards the discharge opening. Located inside the discharge opening is a pivoting bail designed to receive and temporarily hold one shell in a blocking position inside the discharge opening. The pivoting bail is biased inward to maintain the lower shell in a blocking position thereby prevent the other shells from being accidentally discharged. The bail includes two finger tabs and a u-shaped finger opening that allows the user to easily lift and rotate the bail to dispense the shell located thereon.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products are disclosed for generating and viewing an electronic report having security features that allow for “virtual bursting” of the report for multiple users. A single report having multiple pages is generated such that each or some of the pages have security tags that are compared to a security identifier list of a particular user that acts as a security clearance for that user. Through this comparison, a subset of pages from the report is formed which makes up a “report” from the user's point of view that contains only data the user is allowed to see. This allows multiple users to view only authorized portions of a single report having page-level security determined by level breaks in the data.

Abstract: A method of controlling an amplifier, the method comprising a sampling step of using a sampler to obtain digital samples of both an output signal of said amplifier and a reference signal, a derivation step of obtaining from said samples values of a first parameter and associated values of a second parameter, an averaging step of averaging the first parameter values over ranges of the second parameter such that, for each range, an average of the first parameter is obtained by averaging the first parameter values whose associated second parameter values lie in the range, a generation step of generating a control signal for said amplifier from said averages, a suppression step of using said samples of said reference signal to inhibit the effect upon said control signal of errors in the operation of said sampler and a control step of applying the control signal to said amplifier to direct the operation of said amplifier. The invention also relates to apparatus involved in carrying out the method.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products are disclosed for generating and viewing an electronic report having security features that allow for “virtual bursting” of the report for multiple users. A single report having multiple pages is generated such that each or some of the pages have security tags that are compared to a security identifier list of a particular user that acts as a security clearance for that user. Through this comparison, a subset of pages from the report is formed which makes up a “report” from the user's point of view that contains only data the user is allowed to see. This allows multiple users to view only authorized portions of a single report having page-level security determined by level breaks in the data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for three-dimensionally imaging an apical dome located at the cotyledon end of a plant embryo are provided. Three-dimensional information of an apical dome can be obtained by scanning the apical dome at varying focal planes along an axis of the embryo, or by using multiple cameras arranged in a confocal manner to image the apical dome. It can also be obtained by irradiating the apical dome with polychromatic light, wherein light beams of multiple wavelengths are focused at multiple focal planes along the axis of the embryo so that the dome's height information can be obtained based on the wavelength of the light precisely focused and reflected at each surface point of the dome. The three-dimensional information is used to ascertain various morphological features (e.g., size, shape, texture, etc.) of the apical dome, which are in turn used to assess the embryo's germinant vigor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for simultaneously imaging multiple views of a plant embryo. First, the method provides a camera for receiving a first view of a plant embryo (e.g., the top view). Second, the method provides a first reflecting surface for receiving and reflecting a second view of the plant embryo (e.g., the side view) toward the camera. Thus, the method permits simultaneously imaging both the first and second views of the plant embryo. In one embodiment, the method further provides a second reflecting surface for receiving and reflecting a third view (e.g., the end view) of the plant embryo toward the camera, so that the camera can simultaneously image the first, second, and third views of the plant embryo. The invention reduces the time required to obtain multiple views of an embryo, which can then be analyzed to classify the embryos according to their germination vigor.

Abstract: A chassis for holding modules including a set of first modules oriented horizontally in the chassis and a set of second modules oriented vertically in the chassis. A midplane is oriented orthogonally to the sets of first and second modules. The midplane has connector pins extending from its first side through its second side. Each of the first modules has a first connector for mating with the connector pins extending from the first side, and each of the second modules has a second connector for mating with the connector pins extending from the second side.

Abstract: A single stage dental implant for implantation in living jawbone having overlying gingiva comprises a generally cylindrical body section having an exterior surface for confronting the jawbone and a head section attached to the body section for extending through the overlying gingiva when the body section is confronting the jawbone. The head section has an end portion which is generally near an outer layer of the gingiva. The implant further includes a bore within the head section extending to an opening at the end portion of the head section. The bore is defined by first, second, and third walls. The first wall has internal threads. The second wall has a larger diameter than the first surface and is substantially cylindrical. The second wall extends from the first wall toward the end portion. The third wall extends from the second wall to the opening and flares toward the opening to a diameter that is wider than a diameter of the second wall.

Abstract: Sample acquisition apparatus for sampling first and second signals within a signal processing arrangement, said apparatus comprising a sampler for capturing sections of the waveforms of both the first and second signals, a switch for alternating correction of the sampler to a point in the arrangement where said first signal can be sampled and a point in said arrangement where said second signal can be sampled and a timer for timing the operation of the switch to cause the sampler to capture a first waveform section of said first signal and a second waveform section of said second signal, wherein said second signal is responsive to said first signal and the timing of said switch is such that said second section comprises a portion that has been generated in response to said first section.