Abstract: An image pickup system includes a display screen, an image pickup device and a positioning program. The image pickup device is used for shooting a document. The display screen is used for showing a positioning mark. When the document is moved and a pre-shot document image is aligned with the positioning mark, the image pickup device is activated by the positioning program to shoot the document, thereby obtaining a document image.

Abstract: A redeye image detection method for detecting at least one redeye image in an input image includes: deriving an edge detection result by performing an edge detection process to detect an edge characteristic of the input image; deriving a red pixel detection result by performing a red pixel detection process to detect red pixels in the input image, and utilizing a determining circuit to derive a preliminary detection result according to the edge detection result and the red pixel detection result, and derive the redeye image according to the preliminary detection result.

Abstract: For a wireless network, communication nodes (such as a Mobile Switching Center) are disclosed that include at least ten small routers. The small routers handle traffic received from a plurality of base stations over a backhaul facility. The backhaul facility transports the traffic between the base stations and the small routers using Internet Protocol (IP). A small router in the communication node is defined as a router that is to handle 10% or less of the traffic for the communication node as configured. The percentage to be handled by a router is based on the configuration of the communication node.

Abstract: Load balancing is supported for a plurality of nodes having loads determined by a plurality of task distributors. A periodic, iterative process based on loads of real-time data causes the total load of each node to tend to converge towards equalization of loads among all of the nodes.

Abstract: Load balancing is supported for a plurality of nodes having loads determined by a plurality of task distributors. A periodic, iterative process based on loads of real-time data causes the total load of each node to tend to converge towards equalization of loads among all of the nodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for removing condensates, such as chlorides, from a dry etch, vacuum effluent stream. Dry etching of metallizations under vacuum conditions, using RF plasma and other techniques, is used in the processing of semiconductor devices and other applications. The apparatus and method remove accumulated chloride deposits that would otherwise restrict and ultimately plug the pipe that carries the vacuum effluent stream. The present invention utilizes an inner tube that is placed on the interior of the pipe and magnetically coupled to an outer tube that surrounds the exterior of the pipe. Translation of the outer tube causes translation of the inner tube, thereby removing accumulated condensate from the pipe. The apparatus may be configured so as to sense the accumulation of the condensate and automatically actuate the apparatus to remove the accumulated condensate.

Abstract: A sorting method for use with a database having randomly hashed records stored therein. The records are sorted in accord with a predetermined parameter and the database exists on a storage medium. At least one stage of the method includes sorting the records in accord with a subgroup of the predetermined parameter and into record groups stored in the storage medium. Records are further sorted in later stages and may be read onto a second medium for sorting. The sorting method allows the amount of processor memory used for sorting to be limited, such that adverse effects on normal call processing are limited or nonexistent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for managing a toll-free number database within a storage medium. The method provides for extending space for record data within the storage medium. Memory space within the storage medium is allocated into buckets for storing records in accord with record size. A database-index is provided for mapping each record to a bucket. A bucket-index is provided for identifying buckets that may receive new records. If a bucket becomes full or approaches full occupancy, a new bucket is added to the database and the bucket-index is updated accordingly. An occupancy-index may be provided for indicating the amount of available memory in each bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for topological channel assignment for focused beam, fixed wireless telecommunications. The preferred system embodiment includes a plurality of transceivers coupled to a telecommunications switch, in which each transceiver utilizes a narrow focused beam on the order of ten degrees, for full duplex communication with fixed customer premise equipment. The geographic region is topologically divided, preferably, into a plurality of adjacent cells, in which each adjacent cell utilizes a distinctive, orthogonal code set from a 10 MHz spectrum. As channels, the various code assignments may be dynamically determined at any given time. The switch includes instructions for determining the cell configurations, determining an available channel (code) set for a selected cell, and within the selected cell, determining the plurality of focused beam ranges to create a corresponding plurality of sectors.

Abstract: A method of responding to overload in a real time control system. Overload is measured through the use of a control parameter such as the occupancy of a control processor or the number of entries in a queue of a module of the system. The overload indication is reduced to one of a plurality of levels. The levels corresponding to a longer term more serious overload are based on control parameter measurements over a longer period of time than the less serious short term overload levels. With autonomous control, each module of the system determines its own overload level and performs overload control actions corresponding to that level. In integrated system overload control, a centralized processor receives overload indications from each of the modules of the system and requests an appropriate overload control action of each module. Advantageously, these arrangements allow the system and its modules to respond to overload more rapidly and to return to normal operation more rapidly.

Abstract: A method of responding to overload in a real time control system. Overload is measured through the use of a control parameter such as the occupancy of a control processor or the number of entries in a queue of a module of the system. The overload indication is reduced to one of a plurality of levels. The levels corresponding to a longer term more serious overload are based on control parameter measurements over a longer period of time than the less serious short term overload levels. With autonomous control, each module of the system determines its own overload level and performs overload control actions corresponding to that level. In integrated system overload control, a centralized processor receives overload indications from each of the modules of the system and requests an appropriate overload control action of each module. Advantageously, these arrangements allow the system and its modules to respond to overload more rapidly and to return to normal operation more rapidly.