Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network having uncommitted bandwidth, and a plurality of adaptive grooming routers (AGR) coupled to the network. The AGRs comprise a group adapted to function as a virtual transit exchange whose fabric and control are distributed over the group. The visual comprising the AGRs incorporates independent connection control and call routing functions and has means for determining the current system status whereby to set up narrow band connections across the ATM network based on that status determination.

Abstract: An improved architecture in a circuit switched communications network is provided in which a plurality of network service provider devices, eg intelligent peripherals are arranged to provide network service data to a plurality of time division multiplex circuits and trunks by converting these circuits and trunks to streams of packets, and providing network service data packetized in a set of network service data packet streams to the circuit packet streams without incurring delays to the circuit packet streams. The circuit packet streams may be duplicated and forwarded to the network service provider devices without incurring delay to the ongoing through put packetized circuits, and similarly packet streams containing network service data may be superimposed into the circuit packet streams, without the requirement for the circuit packet streams to be switched to the network service provider devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for playing a game, comprising: a base board having a support member configured to rotate upon a support surface by manual operation; a playing board configured to fold into a three-dimensional shape so as to present a plurality of playing surfaces when mounted on the base board; and a plurality of magnetic playing pieces movable over each of the playing surfaces and configured to be retained magnetically upon a playing surface.

Abstract: An optical waveguide splice apparatus, comprises a camera adapted to record an image of at least two optical waveguides, a screen, a control unit coupled to the screen to generate a display representation to be displayed on the screen, wherein the display representation comprises a first region comprises a first portion of the recorded image and a second region comprising a second portion of the recorded image, a semitransparent layer and information about a splice process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to achieve frequency synchronization between a first clock at a first node and a second clock at a second node of a packet-carrying communications network. At the first node: a property of packet transmission through the network between the first node and the second node is measured; and the measurement of the property is sent to the second node. At the second node, the same property of packet transmission through the network between the first node and the second node is measured. The measurement of the property made at the first node and the measurement of the property made at the second node are used to synchronize the frequency of the second clock with respect to the first clock.

Abstract: A video system for a splicing device comprises a processor with a camera interface integrated on chip, a first and a second camera and also a selection device. The selection device has an interface output, which is coupled to the camera interface, and also a first interface input, which is coupled to the first camera, a second interface input, which is coupled to the second camera, and a control input for feeding in a selection signal. The first or the second interface input can be coupled to the interface output depending on the selection signal. Via the on-chip camera interface, it is possible both to receive image data and to output control signals for controlling functions of a camera respectively connected via the selection device.

Abstract: Traffic from a number of different service type users is multiplexed into minicells for transmission over an ATM link. Service type information is transmitted in a service specific field and is stored. This stored information is used to derive length information to delineate the different length user minicells. The technique occupies less bandwidth than the conventional methods for transmitting cell length information.

Abstract: A draught beverage (170) which may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, for example a lager or cider in an open-topped drinking vessel or glass (172). The beverage comprises a water content and dissolved gas content. The draught beverage is dispensed from a font at a cooled temperature below the freezing point of water at ambient atmospheric pressure. The dispense temperature may be in the range of ?1° C. to ?12° C. The beverage in the glass may or may not be subjected to external excitement energy, for example ultra-sound, to encourage formation of nucleation sites in the beverage. Either way dissolved gas bubbles out of the beverage causing occurrence of nucleation sites at which ice (188A, 188B) from the water content forms. At least in part the ice has a slushy character. A head (174) also forms on the dispensed draught beverage and below the head the ice (188A, 188B) locates and develops downwards into the beverage.

Abstract: Methods and systems permit rendering a text element formatted using unavailable or restricted fonts. In one embodiment, when producing a document that contains a restricted font, text portions formatted with the restricted font are processed into an alternate representation. A textual representation for the text portions and the additional representation(s) are embedded in a document or container. A unique representation for the restricted font file allows a consuming computing system to attempt to find the restricted font locally. Each textual representation is rendered using its corresponding restricted font, if the restricted font file is found. Otherwise, the additional representation(s) are used.

Abstract: Traffic from a number of different service type users is multiplexed into minicells for transmission over an ATM link. Service type information is transmitted in a service specific field and is stored. This stored information is used to derive length information to delineate the different length user minicells. The technique occupies less bandwidth than the conventional methods for transmitting cell length information.

Abstract: A device that may include logic to determine whether each word in a text is important to convey a content of the text, logic to emphasize each word determined to be important, and logic to reduce spacing between lines of text.

Abstract: A wearable modular interface strap device for supporting multiple module units comprising a flexible strap with a plurality of electrically connected nodes acting as docking points to serial bus interface and mechanically connect removable modules, with the strap being 10 mechanically lockable in a loop by a clasp containing hub and host circuitry to enable network communication between modules and to a universal connector plug for recharging and data-exchange. Said strap containing a plurality of electrical wires between control circuitry and nodes and arranged to be wearable as a wristband, alternatively as a wrist device that when opened forms a curved handset with audio input and outputs at alternate ends, or arranged in a necklace configuration.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery assembly comprises a built in connector, circuitry to provide charge control, at least one rechargeable battery unit, and circuitry providing a further function. The battery assembly is mechanically reversible between a deployed configuration having a general form and functions of a conventional battery format and a charge configuration in which the connector is made accessible. In the deployed configuration the battery assembly is capable of providing a discharge to at least one voltage level and can be charged by means of a suitable external charger device. In the charge configuration the battery assembly can be charged by means of the integral charge control circuitry when the connector is connected to a suitable powered receptacle on a computing or peripheral device.

Abstract: A spherical display and control device, that is preferably collapsible between a spherical configuration and a collapsed generally cylindrical ellipsoid configuration, comprising a flexible transparent spherical surface sprung attached to a central hinged modular cube assembly that contains digital displays on outward faces, and circuitry, battery units and electronic modules on inward surfaces, where said sphere surface contains surface position sensing layers and said central cube contains gyroscopic and inertial sensing devices to provide spherical rotation, and physical displacement data for three dimensional control applications, where said displays preferably have curved polarizer lenses such that the overall device appears as a spherical display or are flat to form an overall Cuboid display or are combined with a flexible spherical display surfaces.

Abstract: A display device (1) has an extendible screen (2) and at least one extendible side member (3). The extendible screen (2) is extendible in an extension direction from a relatively compact form to an extended form. The screen (2) in the extended form has opposed edges (17) that are substantially parallel to the extension direction. An extendible side member (3) is provided for at least one of said opposed edges (17). The or each extendible side member (3) is extendible to provide support to and structural rigidity to the screen (2) when the screen (2) is in the extended form. The display device (1) provides an extendible rigid screen (2) suitable for example for creating a rigid collapsible tablet computer, or enabling a compact portable display to support a rigid touch-screen, or for incorporation into a mobile phone or remote control unit.

Abstract: A draught beverage 170 which may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, for example a lager or cider in an open-topped drinking vessel or glass 172. The beverage comprises a water content and dissolved gas content. The draught beverage is dispensed from a font at a cooled temperature below the freezing point of water at ambient atmospheric pressure. The dispense temperature may be in the range of ?1° C. to ?12° C. The beverage in the glass may or may not be subjected to external excitement energy, for example ultra-sound, to encourage formation of nucleation sites in the beverage. Either way dissolved gas bubbles out of the beverage causing occurrence of nucleation sites at which ice 188A, 188B from the water content forms. At least in part the ice has a slushy character. A head 174 also forms on the dispensed draught beverage and below the head the ice 188A, 188B locates and develops downwards into the beverage.

Abstract: An open topped drinking vessel containing a beverage, the beverage comprising a water content and a dissolved gas content and having a head overlying an ice formation made of many ice crystals, the ice formation having been produced by ice formed in the beverage whilst the beverage is in the drinking vessel.

Abstract: A lamp and projection device for a single slide or digital imaging means comprising six substantially identical faces assembled to form a cube body which supports an illumination system consisting of a light-emitting unit, a electrical transformer unit and switches, a plurality of reflecting mirrors and at least one condensing lens, and a slide or digital light engine. Said overall cube body having a hinged face at the top supporting a reflecting mirror on the inside surface which can be positioned at any angle to allow projecting an image onto a ceiling or onto an adjacent surface, with a micro-switch acting to switch on the device when opened. Said lens being adjustable by means of an external button to enable focusing. The overall faces being formed from a semi-translucent material to enable soft illumination. Said overall device being implemented as a single slide projector/decorative lamp, digital photo projector or video projector.

Abstract: A voice activity detector (100) filters (204) out noise energy and then computes a high-frequency (2400 Hz to 4000 Hz) versus low-frequency (100 Hz to 2400 Hz) signal energy ratio (224), total voiceband (100 Hz to 4000 Hz) signal energy (214), and signal periodicity (208) on successive frames of signal samples. Signal periodicity is determined by estimating the pitch period (206) of the signal, determining a gain value of the signal over the pitch period as a function of the estimated pitch period, and estimating a periodicity of the signal over the pitch period as a function of the estimated pitch period and the gain value.

Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network having uncommitted bandwidth, and a plurality of adaptive grooming routers (AGR) coupled to the network. The AGRs comprise a group adapted to function as a virtual transit exchange whose fabric and control are distributed over the group. The virtual comprising the AGRs incorporates independent connection control and call routing functions and has means for determining the current system status whereby to set up narrow band connections across the ATM network based on that status determination.