Abstract: According to various embodiments, a circuit for determining the frequency of a signal is described, comprising an input configured to receive an analog input signal, an analog to digital converter configured to convert the analog input signal to a digital input signal, a digital mixer configured to generate a mixing result signal by mixing the digital input signal with a single bit binary signal having a reference frequency, a low pass filter configured to generate a filtered signal by filtering the mixing result signal, a measuring circuit configured to measure the period of the filtered signal and an output configured to output a value differing from the frequency of the single bit binary signal by the inverse of the measured period as the frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A contact center queue is monitored to determine if the contact center queue meets an overload condition. For example, the contact center queue may be considered to be overloaded when there are ten voice calls on hold in the contact center queue . The contact center queue holds communication sessions in a first communication media (e.g., voice calls). In response to the first contact center queue meeting the first overload condition, a reserve agent group is identified that is associated with the contact center queue. The reserve agent group normally supports communication sessions in a second communication media (e.g., email). A communication session held in the first contact center queue in the first communication media is routed to a contact center resource (e.g., a contact center agent or contact center application) of the first reserve agent group.

Abstract: The invention provides a burst transmission optical fiber wavelength routed ring network and method comprising a plurality of nodes on a network ring where each node can drop and add a wavelength. The network has a control means to control the wavelength to be transmitted on the network ring in a burst transmit mode from each node over a scheduling interval. The invention provides a random generator for generating a plurality of gap intervals over the scheduling interval, such that the gap intervals allow for wavelengths from different nodes to transmit wavelengths in said gaps to achieve a fair access to bandwidth and fair latency in the ring network.

Abstract: The invention provides a burst transmission optical fibre wavelength routed ring network and method comprising a plurality of nodes on a network ring where each node can drop and add a wavelength. The network has a control means to control the wavelength to be transmitted on the network ring in a burst transmit mode from each node over a scheduling interval. The invention provides a random generator for generating a plurality of gap intervals over the scheduling interval, such that the gap intervals allow for wavelengths from different nodes to transmit wavelengths in said gaps to achieve a fair access to bandwidth and fair latency in the ring network.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composite includes stabilized raw lignocellulosic materials dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. A method for stabilizing the raw lignocellulosic materials in a matrix includes at least one of: a) pre-melting of a thermoplastic polymeric material prior to combining with the raw lignocellulosic materials; b) reducing the melt temperature of the polymeric material; c) increasing the surface compatibilization of the raw lignocellulosic materials; d) thermally stabilizing the lignocellulosic material; and, e) any combinations of a) through d).

Abstract: A reason code and token facilitate linking of a primary and secondary merchant to allow the secondary merchant to make an offer to a customer of the first merchant. The website linking system has a reason code, a token, a schema defining information to be passed from a first website, and a validator. The token is constructed to indicate a particular customer of the first website. The reason code correlates to a specified parameter to be used when making an offer to the customer indicated by the token, and the validator and the token are constructed to indicate the schema is a valid schema to the first website. The linked merchant transaction method involves receiving a reason code from a primary merchant for a customer in response to a transaction between the primary merchant and the customer; providing an offering to the customer based upon the reason code; receiving an acceptance from the customer; and in response to the acceptance, receiving customer identifying information from the primary merchant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for storage of a pH glass electrode (1), characterized in that at least the swelling layer (2) of the pH glass electrode (1) is stored in a storage solution (3) which is essentially free of alkali-metal ions. Preferably the storage solution (3) is an ammonium chloride or ammonium nitrate solution (NH4Cl solution or a NH4NO3 solution), or an alkaline earth salt solution, especially an alkaline earth chloride solution, preferably a magnesium chloride solution (MgCl2 solution).

Abstract: A system comprises a main processor, one or more sub-processors and an event queue apparatus arranged to queue events to be transmitted between the main processor and the sub-processors. The event queue apparatus comprises one or more storage devices arranged to implement a plurality of event queues; and an event queue status indicator, including a respective status component for each event queue. The status components indicate if the respective event queue contains at least one event. The main processor associates a respective priority with each status component and selects to handle an event from the event queue associated with the highest priority of the non-empty event queue(s).

Abstract: A reason code and token facilitate linking of a primary and secondary merchant to allow the secondary merchant to make an offer to a customer of the first merchant. The website linking system has a reason code, a token, a schema defining information to be passed from a first website, and a validator. The token is constructed to indicate a particular customer of the first website. The reason code correlates to a specified parameter to be used when making an offer to the customer indicated by the token, and the validator and the token are constructed to indicate the schema is a valid schema to the first website. The linked merchant transaction method involves receiving a reason code from a primary merchant for a customer in response to a transaction between the primary merchant and the customer; providing an offering to the customer based upon the reason code; receiving an acceptance from the customer; and in response to the acceptance, receiving customer identifying information from the primary merchant.