Abstract: A system for providing a life line safety connection from a subscriber telephone in a multiple band communication network for customer premise equipment is disclosed. Whenever a failure is detected in any of the systems or components an alternate route through line cards that bypasses digital multiplexing circuits enables a subscriber telephone such as an analog telephone to communicate through plain old telephone lines to outside networks. In some embodiments switches are automatically triggered to activate the life line safety connection. Other embodiments use a selected frequency band for providing the life line safety connection. Failure in external network interfaces as well as in a subscriber server or in customer premise devices can be effectively bypassed by practicing these life line safety connection techniques.

Abstract: A twisted pair and/or coaxial cable fed, integrated residence gateway controlled set-top device provides a plurality of services. One service is lifeline service which may be provided over the coaxial cable via a cable modem of the integrated residence gateway or over the twisted pair facility. An integrated residence gateway is coupled to either or both of the coaxial cable or twisted pair and distributes the bandwidth facilities available over either service vehicle to customer devices including a set top box. A network service platform (NSP) is coupled to a cable facilities management platform (FMP) for providing services for cable television subscribers as well as telecommunication service subscribers such that an interexchange or telephone company would control the network services to the subscribers. The NSP architectural concept may permit the interexchange or telephone company to be the single service provider of information to subscribers on an equal basis.

Abstract: A post-mix beverage valve provides for automatic, accurate beverage ratioing. A valve body can be assembled, and includes a water flow hard body, syrup body and common nozzle body. The water and syrup flow bodies define flow channels and include one end for connection to water and syrup respectively, and opposite ends for fluid connection to the nozzle body. The water flow channel includes a turbine flow sensor connected to a micro-controller determining the water flow rate. The syrup flow channel includes a flow sensor, two MEMS pressure sensors, monitoring the syrup. The sensors are connected to the micro-controller and positioned about an orifice and senses sense a differential pressure indicative of syrup flow rate solenoid regulates flow of syrup through the syrup body. A stepper motor on the water body controls a rod in the flow channel in conjunction with a v-groove.

Abstract: A device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer during multiple tumble drying cycles, the device comprising a support member attachable to a reservoir for storing fabric treatment composition, the support member including attachment means for attachment of the device to the tumble dryer interior, preferably the door, wherein the device, preferably the support member, includes one or more flexible portions which contact the dryer interior and allow positional adjustment of the device relative to the tumble dryer interior, during attachment by the user.

Abstract: The method of encoding divides the image into a number of blocks, which are then transformed (200), in accordance with a linear transform, into blocks of transform coefficients. The transform coefficients are rearranged (202) into a set of groups, wherein subsets of the groups of coefficients are capable of being inversed transformed to reproduce the image or a resolution thereof. The groups (203) are then encoded in turn. In the method of decoding, a user first selects a resolution mode and the method decodes (300) a predetermined number of groups in response to said resolution mode. The method then rearranges (301) the decoded groups to form blocks of transform coefficients, wherein the arrangement is determined in response to the resolution mode. The method then inverse transforms said rearrangement (303), if necessary, wherein the inverse transform is dependent on the resolution mode and combines the blocks of pixels to reconstitute the image or a resolution thereof.

Abstract: An optical transmitter system for supplying a plurality of different wavelength optical radiation components (&lgr;1 to &lgr;n) to a transmission element (2), which, in operation, is connected to the transmitter system for conveying the different wavelength radiation components to a respective receiver (11), is disclosed. The transmitter system comprises means for detecting a loss of a wavelength radiation component at the respective receiver (11) and means (9) for interrupting the supply of the wavelength component in response to a detection of loss of the wavelength component at the receiver. The transmitter system is characterised by timing means (10) capable of providing respective restart times (t1 to tn) which differ one to another for the wavelength radiation components, and means (9) for restarting the supply of the wavelength component, following an interruption, at the restart time provided by the timing means.

Abstract: The method generates a compressed digital image from a original image. The compressed digital image allows random access to portions of the compressed image at a number of resolutions. The original image is first transformed (103) by a multi-level DWT to form a non redundant multiple resolution frequency domain representation of the image. The representation comprises a DC subband and a plurality of high frequency subbands arranged as levels, where each level represents a frequency contribution between adjacent resolutions and where each subband comprises a plurality of tiles. The DC subband is then entropy encoded (104) into the bitstream. The high frequency subbands are next entropy encoded (108,109, and 110) into the bitstream in level order (105,113,114) and tile order (107,111).

Abstract: A method of compressing a current image of a sequence of images is disclosed. Firstly, the current image is transformed with a predetermined transform such as the DWT to provide a set of transform coefficients (step 2202). The method then retrieves (step 2303), for at least one transform coefficient of a current image, a predetermined number of bits, preferably two, of a corresponding transform coefficient of a previously compressed image of the sequence. The corresponding transform coefficient is truncated at a truncation bitplane and the retrieved bits are the least significant bits of the truncated corresponding transform coefficient. The transform coefficient of the current image is set to a new value that is a function of the retrieved bits (step 2306) and bits of the transform coefficients of the current image are stored for use in compressing one or more subsequent images of the sequence (step 2208).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water by employing steam generated by heating water in a lower section of a container to heat water in an upper section of the container. The lower section is separated from the upper section by a filter. A pressure differential is created across the filter such that a portion of the steam forms a steam pocket below the filter and the remaining portion passes through the filter to heat the water in the upper section. A microprocessor control system is operable to control heating of the water in the lower section and withdrawal of purified water from the upper section to maintain the size of the steam pocket between upper and lower limits.

Abstract: The method generates a compressed digital image from a original image. The compressed digital image allows random access to portions of the compressed image at a number of resolutions. The original image is first transformed (103) by a multi-level DWT to form a non redundant multiple resolution frequency domain representation of the image. The representation comprises a DC subband and a plurality of high frequency subbands arranged as levels, where each level represents a frequency contribution between adjacent resolutions and where each subband comprises a plurality of tiles. The DC subband is then entropy encoded (104) into the bitstream. The high frequency subbands are next entropy encoded (108,109, and 110) into the bitstream in level order (105,113,114) and tile order (107,111).

Abstract: A multilayer printed wiring board in which surface contact pads are formed by depositing electrically conductive metallic layers directly over blind holes/vias. This allows ball grid array devices to be mounted on the printed wiring boards with a greater contact pad density than is the case where the contact pads are formed to the sides of the blind holes/vias. In a method of manufacturing printed wiring boards embodying the invention, it is desirable to treat the surfaces of the board to prepare the outward facing surfaces of the plated layers of the blind vias to receive copper capping layers.

Abstract: An error monitor for indicating the quality of communications on a digital communication channel. One or more error detection mechanisms provide indication when an error occurs. After receipt of an error indication, no further indications are detected until a burst error time window has passed. Error indications are stored in a bin. When time since an error indication has been received exceeds a second time period, the event is removed from the bin. When all slots in the bin contain error indications, an indication of the quality of communications on the channel is provided. Parameters can vary with the strength of the received signal to accommodate long range conditions.

Abstract: An optical workstation comprising an optical breadboard supported by a frame, the frame comprising a plurality of upstanding legs interconnected by laterally extending cross-beams, the cross-beams defining a space into which the optical breadboard is received and laterally enclosed. By laterally enclosing the optical breadboard with the cross-beam frame elements, side protection for the optical breadboard is provided, thus protecting it from lateral impacts against which conventional damping mounts are not effective. In addition, since the cross-beams are part of the frame structure, they provide a stable and rigid platform for mounting optical and other components at the very edge of the workstation outside the optical breadboard area. Anchor points in the cross-beams are provided for this purpose.

Abstract: Content control programme 14 for electronic book system 10 includes an automatic shutdown feature 31 which issues a shutdown request 40 in response to the state of the display 65. Prior to shutdown, the system 10 enters a post read sequence 36 which is configurable by a user. The programme 14 also provides other enhanced functions including the control of access to supplemental information 34 by linking of that information to the book content 15, and the generation of lists 61 by selection of material on the display.

Abstract: Electronic media for teaching others financial principles includes an interactive game that includes a financial lesson. The interactive game may be remotely accessed by users via a network such as the Internet. In certain embodiments the interactive game includes (i) a lesson portion; (ii) a game play portion; and, optionally, (iii) a lesson reinforcement portion. In other embodiments the interactive game includes one or more rewards for successfully completing each interactive game. Such rewards may include a certificate of achievement and/or access to an otherwise inaccessible game.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for predetermining the withdrawal force required to disconnect an appliance coupler such as a plug and socket. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for preventing disconnection of an appliance coupler such as a plug from a socket. Furthermore, the invention relates to method and apparatus for preventing inadvertent or unintentional disconnection of a plug from a socket for the supply of electrical power to a medical apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a valve providing for the dispensing of two liquids at a desired ratio. The valve includes first and second liquid flow body assemblies releasably securable to a nozzle body assembly. Each liquid flow body assembly is securable to a source of liquid and includes flow sensing means and flow regulating means. A control receives inputs from the flow sensing means and regulates the operation of the flow regulating means to provide for the dispensing of the two liquids from the nozzle body assembly at a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A method (300) of encoding an image into an image code-stream. The method (300) generates a reduced resolution representation of the image and encodes the reduced resolution representation in accordance with a multi-resolution format to form an encoded reduced resolution representation of the image. The encoded reduced resolution representation is embedded into a first portion of the image code-stream and a compressed representation of the image is encoded into a further portion of the image code-stream.

Abstract: A charge storage device comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode being opposed to and spaced apart from the first electrode; a porous separator disposed between the electrodes; a sealed package for containing the electrodes, the separator and an electrolyte in which the electrodes are immersed; and a first terminal and a second terminal being electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively and both extending from the package to allow external electrical connection to the respective electrodes, wherein the gravimetric FOM of the device is greater than about 2.1 Watts/gram.