Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A scalable audio codec for a processing device determines first and second bit allocations for each frame of input audio. First bits are allocated for a first frequency band, and second bits are allocated for a second frequency band. The allocations are made on a frame-by-frame basis based on the energy ratio between the two bands. For each frame, the codec transform codes both frequency bands into two sets of transform coefficients, which are then packetized based on the bit allocations. The packets are then transmitted with the processing device. Additionally, the frequency regions of the transform coefficients can be arranged in order of importance determined by power levels and perceptual modeling. Should bit stripping occur, the decoder at a receiving device can produce audio of suitable quality given that bits have been allocated between the bands and the regions of transform coefficients have been ordered by importance.

Abstract: A hollow coaxial cable adapted for conduction of radio frequency (RF) energy, particularly microwave energy, has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises coaxial inner and outer conductors extending substantially the entire length of the cable from the proximal end to a distal end portion of the cable with a dielectric medium disposed between the inner and outer conductors. The inner conductor comprises an elongated electrically conductive tubular member having a hollow, axially extending lumen, and the outer conductor comprises an elongated electrically conductive tubular member disposed in a substantially coaxial relationship over at least a portion of the inner conductor. An ablating member which delivers radio frequency energy, particularly microwave energy, to body tissue is disposed at a distal end portion of the cable.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment agreement is established at a payment service provider that defines terms of a payment relationship between a merchant and a user. The establishing of the payment agreement includes linking the payment agreement with a payment account of the merchant or user stored at the payment service provider. After establishing the payment agreement, a payment request associated with a transaction is received, whereby the payment request includes a unique identifier to identify the payment agreement stored at the payment service provider. Based on a verification that the payment request complies with terms of the payment agreement, the payment request is processed.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A camera tracking system includes a controllable camera, an array of microphones, and a controller. The microphones are positioned adjacent the controllable camera and are at least responsive to ultrasound emitted from a source. The microphones may additionally be capable of responding to sound in the audible spectrum. The controller receives ultrasound signals communicated from the microphones in response to ultrasound emitted from the source and processes the ultrasound signals to determine an at least approximate location of the source. Then, the controller sends one or more command signals to the controllable camera to direct at least approximately at the determined location of the source. The camera tracking system tracks the source as it moves and continues to emit ultrasound. The source can be an emitter pack having one or more ultrasonic transducers that produce tones that sweep form about 24-kHz to about 40-kHz.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating merchant-initiated online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment service provider's server receives a user's request, via a merchant's server, to establish a merchant-initiated payment relationship or agreement. Accordingly, the payment service provider presents the user with options to customize the terms of the merchant-initiated payment agreement. After the agreement has been established and the terms customized, the merchant server communicates a merchant-initiated payment request to the pavement service provider for a transaction entered into with the user. The payment service provider's server processes the payment request after verifying that processing the payment does not exceed the user-customized terms of the agreement.

Abstract: A conferencing unit reduces or eliminates percussive noise in audio that it outputs to a far-end. The unit filters near-end audio into a plurality of bands and calculates instantaneous energies for each band. The energies in first and second ranges of the bands are summed, and a difference between the two sums is compared to a threshold value to determine whether speech is present in the near-end audio received. The first range is preferably a mid-band range of frequencies of 300 to 600-Hz, while the second range is preferably an outer-band range of 100-Hz to 300-Hz and 600-Hz to 14-kHz. Based on the determination, the conferencing unit adjusts an output level of the near-end audio to reduce or eliminate any percussive noise in output audio while there is not a substantial amount of speech in the near-end audio.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to human Ly6-BIG molecules and their use in diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment methods for colon, lung and other cancers, in preventing the reoccurrence of such cancers, and in diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment methods for autoimmune disorders and AIDS.

Abstract: A scalable audio codec for a processing device determines first and second bit allocations for each frame of input audio. First bits are allocated for a first frequency band, and second bits are allocated for a second frequency band. The allocations are made on a frame-by-frame basis based on the energy ratio between the two bands. For each frame, the codec transform codes both frequency bands into two sets of transform coefficients, which are then packetized based on the bit allocations. The packets are then transmitted with the processing device. Additionally, the frequency regions of the transform coefficients can be arranged in order of importance determined by power levels and perceptual modeling. Should bit stripping occur, the decoder at a receiving device can produce audio of suitable quality given that bits have been allocated between the bands and the regions of transform coefficients have been ordered by importance.

Abstract: A system and method for high resolution video conferencing is shown and described. A transmitting station and a receiving station including video cameras or sensors, a plurality of microphones and speakers, video, audio and communication processing engines are disclosed. Video is processed and transferred through the system allowing for multiple video streams to be produced and audio is processed and transferred through the system allowing for sound to be played back with an indication of position in relation to the videoconferencing system.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view.

Abstract: In audio processing for an audio or video conference, a terminal receives audio packets having transform coefficients for reconstructing an audio signal that has undergone transform coding. When receiving the packets, the terminal determines whether there are any missing packets and interpolates transform coefficients from the preceding and following good frames. To interpolate the missing coefficients, the terminal weights first coefficients from the preceding good frame with a first weighting, weights second coefficients from the following good frame with a second weighting, and sums these weighted coefficients together for insertion into the missing packets. The weightings can be based on the audio frequency and/or the number of missing packets involved. From this interpolation, the terminal produces an output audio signal by inverse transforming the coefficients.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for coding and decoding audio are disclosed. At least two transforms are applied on an audio signal, each with different transform periods for better resolutions at both low and high frequencies. The transform coefficients are selected and combined such that the data rate remains similar as a single transform. The transform coefficients may be coded with a fast lattice vector quantizer. The quantizer has a high rate quantizer and a low rate quantizer. The high rate quantizer includes a scheme to truncate the lattice. The low rate quantizer includes a table based searching method. The low rate quantizer may also include a table based indexing scheme. The high rate quantizer may further include Huffman coding for the quantization indices of transform coefficients to improve the quantizing/coding efficiency.

Abstract: A new speakerphone wherein a loudspeaker is oriented to face the listeners of an audio conference is disclosed. New speakerphones which have a bass loudspeaker and at least one tweeter loudspeaker wherein the tweeter loudspeaker is oriented towards listeners of an audio conference are also disclosed.

Abstract: An overhead microphone assembly using multiple unidirectional microphone elements. The microphone assembly is installed overhead, generally above all the desired sound sources and below the undesired sound sources. The signals from these multiple microphone elements are fed into a microphone steering processor which can mix and gate the signals to ensure the best signal/noise ratio. The steering processor may also track the sound source dynamically when such tracking (source locating) is desired. The resulting audio signal from the steering processor may be further processed, such as echo canceling, noise reduction and automatic gain control.

Abstract: A new speakerphone wherein a loudspeaker is oriented to face the listeners of an audio conference. New speakerphones which have a bass loudspeaker and at least one tweeter loudspeaker wherein the tweeter loudspeaker is oriented towards listeners of an audio conference are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microphone bar for obtaining audio input for a video conferencing system includes a master module and one or more slave modules. The master module houses a first pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar, and each of the slave modules houses a second pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar. Extensions connect the modules together, and at least one bus conducts audio signals through the extension from the microphones to the video conferencing system. The microphones are operable according to a broadside mode of stereo operation when a central axis of the bar is substantially orthogonal to a view angle of the conferencing system. Furthermore, the microphones are operable according to an end-fire mode of stereo operation when the central axis of the bar is substantially parallel to the view angle of the conferencing system.

Abstract: A new speakerphone wherein a loudspeaker is oriented to face the listeners of an audio conference is disclosed. New speakerphones which have a bass loudspeaker and at least one tweeter loudspeaker wherein the tweeter loudspeaker is oriented towards listeners of an audio conference are also disclosed.