Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and apparatus comprising automated analysis and feedback on soft tissue imaging quality, including analysis and feedback in real time and in conformance with key parameters and metrics which affect the quality of an image. The system is arranged to implement a method wherein method for providing a qualitative and/or quantitative assessment of an image including several steps. The steps include using an imaging apparatus to obtain at least one soft tissue image of a patient and at least one test object image; deriving a soft tissue image parameter and statistical data from image data from the soft tissue image. The system and method are characterised by employing a metric for the assessment in comparison to the parameter and statistical data, wherein the metric is obtained from the soft tissue image data, data obtained from the at least one test object image, and data from the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: Gaming devices and systems are configured to present a game in which players place a game wager on either a banker hand or a player hand. Initial two card player and banker hands are dealt, and if either or both comprise a blackjack, the outcome of the game and associated wagers is resolved relative to those initial hands. If not, final banker and player hands are completed based upon predefined rules. The outcome of the game and the associated game wagers are then resolved relative to those final hands. In one embodiment, the final hands are resolved in similar fashion to a blackjack game with the winning hand being the one with a point total closest to 21 without going over. One or more side bets may also be available to each player.

Abstract: Gaming devices and systems are configured to present a game in which players place a game wager on either a banker hand or a player hand. Initial two card player and banker hands are dealt, and if either or both comprise a blackjack, the outcome of the game and associated wagers is resolved relative to those initial hands. If not, final banker and player hands are completed based upon predefined rules. The outcome of the game and the associated game wagers are then resolved relative to those final hands. In one embodiment, the final hands are resolved in similar fashion to a blackjack game with the winning hand being the one with a point total closest to 21 without going over. One or more side bets may also be available to each player.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and apparatus comprising automated analysis and feedback on soft tissue imaging quality, including analysis and feedback in real time and in conformance with key parameters and metrics which affect the quality of an image. The system is arranged to implement a method wherein method for providing a qualitative and/or quantitative assessment of an image including several steps. The steps include using an imaging apparatus to obtain at least one soft tissue image of a patient and at least one test object image; deriving a soft tissue image parameter and statistical data from image data from the soft tissue image. The system and method are characterised by employing a metric for the assessment in comparison to the parameter and statistical data, wherein the metric is obtained from the soft tissue image data, data obtained from the at least one test object image, and data from the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method of playing and presenting a game offers player multiple betting options and card hand formation elections. In one embodiment, each player places an ante wager and may place one or more proposition bets. Each player and the dealer are dealt 5 playing cards. If a player does not fold, the player forms a player two card flush hand and a three card hand from their 5 cards. If a dealer's two card flush hand does not qualify, the player wins. Otherwise, the player's two card flush hand is compared to the dealer's two card flush hand. If the player wins, winnings may be paid at least in part based upon the player's three card hand. Winnings may also be paid for winning position bets, regardless of whether the player folded or not.

Abstract: An echo canceling system has an adaptive filter connected to an echo source, for canceling echo from an echo path. A fixed echo conditioning filter is connected in series with the adaptive filter, intermediate the echo source and the adaptive filter. The fixed echo conditioning filter cancels the constant part of the echo path using a measured impulse response of the echo path.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to tone detection in echo canceling systems, and more particularly to a method of monitoring oscillations of adaptive filter coefficients for narrow band tone detection in echo cancellation systems. The invention is directed at improving communication in a telephone communication network having one or more hybrid connections. A method for detecting continuous tones in an echo canceling system having an adaptive filter is provided. Continuous tones have a deleterious effect on the performance of adaptive filters. In the present invention, the adaptive filter coefficients are monitored. Oscillation of those coefficients indicates continuous tone presence.

Abstract: A method is set forth for calculating an expected Echo Return Loss Enhancement (ERLE) in an echo canceller. The expected ERLE is used to control the adaptation step of an adaptive filter in the echo canceller. Also, a novel echo canceller is set forth where the adaptation step of its adaptive filter is controlled based on the expected ERLE.

Abstract: A method of determining residue-echo threshold for the trans-hybrid echo path of a loop start (LS) trunk line, comprising the steps of estimating the impulse response of the trans-hybrid echo path, passing a speech-like signal through the LS trunk circuit and collecting the echo signal. The collected echo signal is compared to the convolution of the speech-like signal with the estimated impulse response. The difference between the convolution result and the collected echo signal is the residue echo, which represents the effect of nonlinearity. With different levels of excitation signal, a curve of residue echo power level against input signal level is obtained, and the distortion characteristics are derived from this curve.

Abstract: A method for detecting echo path changes in an echo canceller using the statistics of the echo canceling behavior (i.e. signal and performance information), to distinguish between new line and double talk conditions. A moving counter is incremented or decremented based on monitored levels of ERL (Echo Return Loss), ERLE (Echo Return Loss Enhancement), noise and signal energies. When the counter reaches a predetermined threshold value indicative of sustained poor echo cancellation performance, a determination is made that there is a probable new line condition (i.e. echo path change). This echo path change information is then passed to the echo canceller to enable re-convergence.

Abstract: An echo canceling system has an adaptive filter connected to an echo source, for canceling echo from an echo path. A fixed echo conditioning filter is connected in series with the adaptive filter, intermediate the echo source and the adaptive filter. The fixed echo conditioning filter cancels the constant part of the echo path using a measured impulse response of the echo path.

Abstract: A noise level calculator for detecting noise in a telephone line echo canceller that utilizes adaptive filters enables silencing of noise switching so that it is not heard on the far end side. The calculator promotes determining whether the reference signal applied to the adaptive filter is a noise or non-noise segment. The calculator operates by calculating the difference in energy of two sample windows, calculating the difference in the energy of the signal within each of the sample windows, updating a variance parameter based on the difference, and performing further alternative operations based on the value of the variance parameter.

Abstract: A method of determining residue-echo threshold for the trans-hybrid echo path of a loop start (LS) trunk line, comprising the steps of estimating the impulse response of the trans-hybrid echo path, passing a speech-like signal through the LS trunk circuit and collecting the echo signal. The collected echo signal is compared to the convolution of the speech-like signal with the estimated impulse response. The difference between the convolution result and the collected echo signal is the residue echo, which represents the effect of nonlinearity. With different levels of excitation signal, a curve of residue echo power level against input signal level is obtained, and the distortion characteristics are derived from this curve.

Abstract: A method is set forth for calculating an expected Echo Return Loss Enhancement (ERLE) in an echo canceller. The expected ERLE is used to control the adaptation step of an adaptive filter in the echo canceller. Also, a novel echo canceller is set forth where the adaptation step of its adaptive filter is controlled based on the expected ERLE.

Abstract: A method for detecting echo path changes in an echo canceller using the statistics of the echo canceling behavior (i.e. signal and performance information), to distinguish between new line and double talk conditions. A moving counter is incremented or decremented based on monitored levels of ERL (Echo Return Loss), ERLE (Echo Return Loss Enhancement), noise and signal energies. When the counter reaches a predetermined threshold value indicative of sustained poor echo cancellation performance, a determination is made that there is a probable new line condition (i.e. echo path change). This echo path change information is then passed to the echo canceller to enable re-convergence.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to tone detection in echo canceling systems, and more particularly to a method of monitoring oscillations of adaptive filter coefficients for narrow band tone detection in echo cancellation systems. The invention is directed at improving communication in a telephone communication network having one or more hybrid connections. A method for detecting continuous tones in an echo canceling system having an adaptive filter is provided. Continuous tones have a deleterious effect on the performance of adaptive filters. In the present invention, the adaptive filter coefficients are monitored. Oscillation of those coefficients indicates continuous tone presence.

Abstract: A method of calculating noise level in a signal, comprising the steps of accumulating two sample windows of the signal, calculating energy of the signal within each of the sample windows, calculating the difference in the energy of the signal within each of the sample windows, updating a variance parameter based on the difference, in the event that the variance parameter is less than a predetermined multiple of the energy of the signal within a most recent one of the sample windows then indicating the presence of noise and setting a noise level parameter as a function of the energy of the signal within the most recent one of the sample windows, and in the event that the variance parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined multiple of the energy of the signal within the most recent one of the sample windows then indicating the absence of noise, and in the event the noise level parameter exceeds the energy of the signal within the most recent one of the sample windows then setting the noise level pa