Abstract: A method of accessing a dial-up service is disclosed. An example method of providing access to a service includes receiving a first speech signal from a user to form a first utterance; recognizing the first utterance using speaker independent speaker recognition; requesting the user to enter a personal identification number; and when the personal identification number is valid, receiving a second speech signal to form a second utterance and providing access to the service.

Abstract: A safety tether is able to secure a wide variety of different hand-held articles directly to a user, particularly for overhead work. A resilient bag holds the article and is formed by joining portions of a wire at nodes such that the bag is biased to a collapsed state to form a mesh. Mouth loops of the mesh are circumferentially spaced around a mouth of the bag. A hook fastener includes a hook onto which the mouth loops are inserted to draw the mouth closed and a gate for closing the hook to retain the mouth loops. The hook fastener is connected to one end of a retractable leash, the opposing end of which is attached to the user's apparel. The bag may also have a clip by which it may be hung from a user's apparel.

Abstract: A home gateway system has a transceiver (70) capable of establishing a wireless local loop connection (72). A voice processing system (74) is coupled to the transceiver (70). The voice processing system (74) is capable of storing a message from an incoming call. A caller identification processing system (76) is coupled to the transceiver (70). The caller identification processing system (76) determines a telephone number of the incoming call and routes the incoming call to the voice processing system (74), if the telephone number belongs to a screened group of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A vehicle sun visor hat can be lowered and rotated horizontally around operator providing protection from any direction by using a remote control device conveniently located. This invention is designed primarily for a person with a disability that restricts movement required to adjust a conventionally manually operated sun visor. This invention requires little movement by the operator. This invention is considerably safer than a convention sun visor. It provides seven times more horizontal coverage, twice the vertical coverage, no need to take your eyes off the road while ducking your head when moving the visor to side window. There are four options available to make this invention even more safe. One is a sun tracking device that automatically keeps the visor ideally positioned. Second it's a round (like the sun) sun visor that does not block a considerable of operators view like conventional visor does. Third is a round snap on day time sun visor.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the linear program having only one forward link to the next media element. The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download and display the next media element in the linear program.

Abstract: A modulating burner apparatus includes a burner and a blower placed upstream of the burner. A venturi is placed upstream of the blower. A damper valve is placed upstream of the venturi. The damper valve has an open position and a restricted position. A smaller gas valve and a larger gas valve are communicated with the venturi. A controller is operably associated with the system to select a position of the damper valve and to select the appropriate one of the gas valves so as to provide a low output operation mode and a high output operation mode, which in combination provide an overall turndown ratio of at least 25:1.

Abstract: A safety tether is able to secure a wide variety of different hand-held articles directly to a user, particularly for overhead work. A resilient bag holds the article and is formed by joining portions of a wire at nodes such that the bag is biased to a collapsed state to form a mesh. Mouth loops of the mesh are circumferentially spaced around a mouth of the bag. A hook fastener includes a hook onto which the mouth loops are inserted to draw the mouth closed and a gate for closing the hook to retain the mouth loops. The hook fastener is connected to one end of a retractable leash, the opposing end of which is attached to the user's apparel. The beg may also have a clip by which it may be hung from a user's apparel.

Abstract: A security luggage bag having multi layered walls defining a storage volume and at least one of the walls has a reinforcing layer comprised of a fabric with a reinforcing wire strand on a surface of the fabric, the reinforcing strand being fixed to the fabric as with stitching, tape or welds extending lengthwise along the reinforcing strand.

Abstract: A security luggage bag having multi layered walls defining a storage volume and at least one of the walls has a reinforcing layer comprised of a fabric with a reinforcing wire strand on a surface of the fabric, the reinforcing strand being fixed to the fabric as with stitching, tape or welds extending lengthwise along the reinforcing strand.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the linear program having only one forward link to the next media element. The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download and display the next media element in the linear program.

Abstract: The invention uniquely combines a Cattle Guard, which is a horizontal grid flush in a roadway to prevent livestock passage along the roadway, with a Crash Resistant Security Gate. Crash Resistant Gates are vertically swinging barriers preventing vehicle trespass on a roadway, and also provide a barricade preventing vehicles from crashing through the gate, and trap the vehicle within the barricade. The invention is placed across a roadway integral with a fence. In the “open” position, the grid barrier reposes flush with the roadway for passage of vehicles, but prevents passage of livestock. In the “closed” position, the grid swings vertically on the side of its long axis to now form a Crash Resistant barrier to vehicle trespass. In its preferred embodiment, the invention is a deliverable module, including integrated pit. The invention described includes integrated powered gate activation, and energy recovery to provide increased efficiencies over prior art.

Abstract: A method for in-vehicle dynamic virtual reality includes receiving vehicle data from one or more vehicle systems of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle data includes vehicle dynamics data and receiving user data from a virtual reality device. The method includes generating a virtual view based on the vehicle data, the user data and a virtual world model, the virtual world model including one or more components that define the virtual view, wherein generating the virtual view includes augmenting one or more components of the virtual world model according to at least one of the vehicle data and the user data and rendering the virtual view to an output device by controlling the output device to update display of the virtual view according to the vehicle dynamics data.

Abstract: A method for in-vehicle dynamic virtual reality, including receiving vehicle data from a portable device, the portable device operably connected for computer communication to an output device, the vehicle data including vehicle dynamics data, and receiving user data from at least one of the portable device or the output device. The method including generating a virtual view based on the vehicle data, the user data and a virtual world model, the virtual world model including one or more components that define the virtual view, wherein generating the virtual view includes augmenting one or more components of the virtual world model according to at least one of the vehicle data or the user data. The method including rendering the virtual view to the output device by controlling the output device to update display of the virtual view according to at least one of the vehicle data or the user data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for in-vehicle dynamic virtual reality includes determining a spatial environment around a vehicle and one or more maneuver paths for the vehicle in the spatial environment. The method includes updating a virtual view based on the spatial environment and the maneuver paths. Updating the virtual view includes augmenting one or more components of a virtual world model to indicate the spatial environment and the maneuver paths. The virtual view is rendered to an output device. The method includes generating a vehicle maneuver request for the vehicle. The vehicle maneuver request includes at least a desired vehicle maneuver and the vehicle maneuver request is based at least in part on the spatial environment. The method includes controlling one or more vehicle systems of the vehicle based on the vehicle maneuver request.

Abstract: A method for in-vehicle dynamic virtual reality includes receiving vehicle data and user data from one or more portable devices, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle dynamics data of the vehicle. The method includes generating a virtual view based on the vehicle data, the user data and a virtual world model. The virtual world model including one or more components that define the virtual view and wherein generating the virtual view includes augmenting one or more components of the virtual world model according to at least one of the vehicle data and the user data.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dial-up service is disclosed. An example method of providing access to a service includes receiving a first speech signal from a user to form a first utterance; recognizing the first utterance using speaker independent speaker recognition; requesting the user to enter a personal identification number; and when the personal identification number is valid, receiving a second speech signal to form a second utterance and providing access to the service.

Abstract: A bird-operated interactive bird feeder is provided. The interactive bird feeder attracts birds and dispenses a substantially predetermined amount of bird feed (e.g. bird seed) when a bird operates a tool. Bird feed is held in storage in a feed hopper (i.e. housing) above a stage. An aperture is provided in the bottom of the housing large enough for the enclosed feed to flow freely from the housing to the stage. However, the aperture is equipped with the tool that causes the feed to bridge. When a bird operates the tool, the tool disrupts the bridged feed causing feed flow for a period of time, and then rebuilds the feed bridge when the bird ceases operation of the tool. Avid bird watchers can therefore enjoy watching birds for extended periods of time since the birds encounter larger amounts of feed at the stage.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dial-up service is disclosed. An example method of providing access to a service includes receiving a first speech signal from a user to form a first utterance; recognizing the first utterance using speaker independent speaker recognition; requesting the user to enter a personal identification number; and when the personal identification number is valid, receiving a second speech signal to form a second utterance and providing access to the service.

Abstract: A fall arrest safety net assembly has the form of a bag constructed of wire mesh, with a closed end and an opposing open mouth about which a plurality of eyes are spaced. An elongate line has opposing first and second ends, first and second line portions of the line being disposed adjacent the first and second ends respectively, an intermediate portion of the line located between the first and second line portions. A choker fitting has two faces between which a plurality of openings extend, and an end fixture on the choker fitting. The first portion of the line is connected in a ring by the choker fitting, the first end being fixed to the end fixture, the first portion extending through the eyes for drawing the mouth closed, and the intermediate portion extending through the openings in the choker fitting.

Abstract: A wire mesh safety net for enclosing an overhead device fabricated from a wire strand formed into a bag and having a closed bottom and an open mouth with a line engaging the open mouth for opening and closing the bag around the device and having wire mesh extending and retracting structure for increasing and decreasing the extent of the wire mesh bag.