Abstract: An embodiment of an intervertebral prosthetic device for implantation in a spine includes a rigid fixation member and a compressible member. The fixation member is configured to be placed in a cavity of a first vertebral body and against bone of the first vertebral body. The compressible member is configured to be placed in a cavity in an intervertebral disc and to be secured to the first fixation member. Another embodiment includes two compressible members and one fixation member. In this embodiment, the first and second compressible members are sized to substantially replace the nucleus pulposus of first and a second intervertebral discs, respectively, on either side of a vertebral body. The fixation member is sized to fit within a cavity in the vertebral body between the first and second compressible members.

Abstract: A scheduler is used to schedule execution of tasks by ‘engines’ that perform high resource functions as requested by ‘executive’ control code, the scheduler using its knowledge of the likelihood of engine request state transitions. The likelihood of engine request state transitions describes the likely sequence of engines which executives will impose: the scheduler can at run-time in effect, as the start of a time slice, look-forward in time to discern a number of possible schedules (i.e. sequence of future engines), assess the merits of each possible schedule using pre-defined parameters (e.g. memory and power utilisation), then apply the schedule which is most appropriate given those parameters. The process repeats at the start of the next time slice. The scheduler therefore operates as a predictive scheduler. The present invention is particularly effective in addressing the ‘multi-mode problem”: dynamically balancing the requirements of multiple communications stacks operating concurrently.

Abstract: A remote control device for consumer broadcast receivers, particularly television and radio receivers, is disclosed. In addition to the remote control features normally found on such a device, the device also contains a display on which advertisements, product and service offers, and other information (collectively, “display data”) may be shown to the user. The device receives such display data via a radio link from one of a plurality of central processing stations. The user of the device may interact with such display data (for example, to purchase an advertised good), and the device may send back details of such interactions to a central processing station, which in turn may initiate a transaction with the appropriate sponsoring party.

Abstract: Many compressed audio or video frames contain silence (if audio), or a blank image (if video); these essentially information content free (e.g. silent if audio or blank if video) frames can be both detected whilst still in compressed form and then used to carry the additional data. In an MPEG implementation, subbands associated with silent frames are rendered digitally silent and then used to carry PAD (Programme Associated Data).

Abstract: An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered ‘in the clear’; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback.

Abstract: A threat fire simulation system (40) for simulating a projectile impacting a user (26) includes an electrical impulse element (44) configured for physical contact with the user (26). A controller (42) is in communication with the electrical impulse element (44). The controller (42) enables receipt of a signal (54) for activating electrical impulse element (44) to deliver a non-disabling electrical pulse (46) to the user (26). The electrical pulse (46) simulates an impact of the projectile on the user (26).

Abstract: A simulation system (20) facilitates training for trainees (26) subject to multi-directional threats. A method for providing a scenario (211) for use in the simulation system (20) utilizes a scenario provision process (202) executable on a computing system (26). The process (202) calls for choosing a background image (234) for the scenario (211), and selecting a video clip(s) (386) of one or more actors (266) from a database (203) of video clips (386). The video clip(s) (386) are filmed using a green or blue screen technique, and include a mask portion (394) of the actor (266) and a transparent portion (396). The video clip(s) (386) are combined with the background image (234) to create the scenario (211), with the mask portion (394) forming a foreground image over the background image (234). The scenario (211) is displayed on a display of the simulation system (20).

Abstract: Recovery of hydrocarbons, such as petroleum products, from a liquid or solid substrate is facilitated by the use of microwave energy to energize and separate molecular bonds between the hydrocarbons and the substrate. A radio frequency (RF) applicator delivers microwave energy to a treatment volume containing an emulsion of a hydrocarbon and a substrate. Delivering the microwave energy to the emulsion facilitates separation of the hydrocarbon and substrate molecules into layers. Hydrocarbons and other products can then be recovered from their respective layers. The treatment volume may be located either above or below ground. The RF applicator may include an antenna body with slots formed substantially parallel to one another in a substantially horizontal orientation. The RF applicator efficiently delivers microwave energy into the treatment volume. Substantially all of the power supplied to the RF applicator is radiated, with very little power reflected internally within the RF applicator.

Abstract: An MPEG 1 layer II encoder can be programmed to add a data payload to a frame. It uses a conventional Musicam pyshoacoustic model to apply a sub-band resolution parameter that is constant across a window of a given number of samples. The encoder is further programmed to apply a sub-band resolution algorithm that generates a more accurate set of resolution parameters that vary across at least part of a given window, the difference between the constant parameter and the variable resolution parameters for the same window being indicative of bits which can be overwritten with the data payload.

Abstract: Compressed signals contain amplitude data (for example, scale factors in an MPEG frame) which can be examined to enable a decision to be taken on whether the signal contains information or not (e.g. silence in the case of audio or no image in the case of video).

Abstract: Many compressed audio or video frames contain silence (if audio), or a blank image (if video); these essentially information content free (e.g. silent if audio or blank if video) frames can be both detected whilst still in compressed form and then used to carry the additional data. In an MPEG implementation, subbands associated with silent frames are rendered digitally silent and then used to carry PAD (Programme Associated Data).

Abstract: A remote control interface has a Bluetooth transceiver 11 for receiving commands from a Bluetooth enabled device such as a mobile phone 2, an infra-red transmitter 12, and a processor 14 for converting received commands from the phone into transmitted infra-red codes for controlling a TV or the like 10.

Abstract: A programmable single-chip device, comprising a programmable gate array (PGA) section, a DSP core and a RISC core. The device is ideal for prototyping and deploying low-to-moderate volume implementations of high-bandwidth algorithms, which have processing requirements split between front-end, high iteration, low-numeric-agility, “wide” loadings, middle-end, moderate iteration, high-numerical-precision loadings and back-end, low-iteration, highly conditional loadings, without the commensurate problems inherent in the custom ASIC, joint FPGA/DSP/RISC (or even direct compilation to FPGA) solutions.

Abstract: An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered “in the clear”; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback.

Abstract: A method of User broadcasting data using wireless communication in which the data is extracted from a source SQL database and broadcast to a receiving device programmed to reconstruct the data into a SQL database.

Abstract: Electronic tokens are distributed without charge to a device (e.g. a digital radio) controlled by a consumer. The tokens are (a) distributed together with an enternainment media stream decoded by the device and (b) can be used by the consumer as payment for the item when sufficient token have been collected in the device but are not restricted to being redeemable only against that item.

Abstract: An encoder for encoding digital streaming media at a studio site, in which the encoder is a software encoder which uses an IP based protocol to communicate with a remote, central multiplexer. Because the encoder is a software encoder, it is significantly cheaper than conventional, dedicated hardware; the encoder can typically run on a PC or industrial PC. As an IP based protocol is used, the present invention is cheaper to implement than STI over G703/4 or a WG1/2 bus. Similarly, handling reconfiguration data is possible over IP and the software of the encoder also leads to increased reconfigurability. Placing the encoder at the studio site also eliminates the conventional need for extra codes in a central multiplexing paradigm, further reducing cost and increasing quality.

Abstract: A mobile telephone network is configured to transmit information, such as TV network scheduling, which can be received by receivers “eavesdropping” on the system. A mobile telephone can be configured to receive only, avoiding the battery drain which results from its transceiver needing to periodically handshake with the network transceiver.

Abstract: Useful subband information which is present in a first audio signal (for example, MPEG 1 Layer II) is discarded in the conventional approach of format conversion, only to be regenerated when encoding to the target format (for example, MPEG 1 Layer III). Instead, in the present invention, this useful subband information is re-used directly or indirectly in order to eliminate the conventional requirement to fully decode to PCM and then encode again.

Abstract: Software for designing, modelling or performing digital signal processing comprises a virtual machine layer optimized for communications DSP. The virtual machine layer allows low MIPS, complex code to interface with high MIPS processes by using APIs presented by the virtual machine layer. The present invention enables software to be written for the virtual machine rather than a specific DSP, de-coupling engineers from the architecture constraints of DSPs from any one source of manufacture.