Abstract: A method of dynamically configuring and monitoring every host connected to a gateway device, where at least one initiating host and one receiving host is at least connected to the gateway device in a computing network environment. All information about all connected hosts and their addresses are first determined and stored in a port-sharing table in a memory location accessible to the gateway device. The availability of each host connection is monitored and checked at preselected intervals and if any host becomes unavailable, a change in status is made in the portsharing table. When a special IP address command is issued for a particular initiating host, such as a SET IP address command, all IP datagrams for that particular host is received and in turn compared to the entries in the portsharing table.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and resolving commonly confused words in a natural language parser is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a computer system parses input text made up of two or more words using a relation that maps from potentially confused words, including one word among the words of the input text, to possibly intended words. The computer system first identifies the possible parts of speech for each word of the input text including the potentially confused word. The computer system then identifies the possible parts of speech for the possibly intended word to which the relation maps the potentially confused word. Finally, the computer system applies syntactic grammar rules to the identified parts of speech such that a complete syntax tree containing a possible part of speech for the possibly intended word is produced and no complete syntax tree containing a possible part of speech for the potentially confused word is produced.

Abstract: The invention is an encapsulated circuit assembly including a chip; a substrate; at least one solder joint, wherein the solder joint spans between the chip and the substrate forming an electrically conductive connection between the chip and the substrate; and an encapsulant formed adjacent the solder joint, wherein the encapsulant comprises a hyperbranched polymer formed by the reaction of a monomer of the formula: (A).sub.n RB, wherein A is a coupling group reactive with B, B is a coupling group reactive with A, n is greater than 1, and R is a group selected from the group consisting of an aromatic group, an aliphatic group, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process of forming a protective laminate to a laser-ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon an image layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder, the colorant layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, wherein the element is subjected to a corona discharge treatment prior to application of the protective laminate.

Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis and a hard disk drive mounting bracket rotatably attached to the chassis. A portion of the bracket includes a resilient surface formed therewith and extending into sliding engagement with the chassis. An alignment tab is attached to the bracket and extends therefrom into engagement with a groove in the chassis for guiding the bracket to a secured position. A securing tab is attached to the bracket and extends therefrom for engaging the chassis and securing the bracket in the secured position.

Abstract: A new duplicating carving machine that will allow individuals to easily and accurately carve wooden propellers, musical instruments, sculpture or other items. The invention has a unique and rigid carving mechanism, having a stylus and motorized cutter mounted upon a rigid "U"-shaped frame, combined with a simple and accurate alignment system, in which the U-frame pivots upon a transverse bar which is aligned upon side rails in the manner of a T-square, enabling the duplicator to easily and accurately carve a propeller or other item from a three-dimensional master. The duplicating carver of the invention is very simple to set up and operate, and includes a novel brake mechanism to stabilize the cutting motion. The average craftsman will be able to quickly and precisely shape a workpiece--any design from violin faces, electric guitar bodies or scroll work on cabinet doors, to airplane propellers, to name only a few. Only sanding is required to achieve the finished shape.

Abstract: Attenuated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and vaccine compositions thereof are produced by introducing specific mutations associated with attenuating phenotypes into wild-type or RSV which is incompletely attenuated by cold-passage or introduction of mutations which produce virus having a temperature sensitive (ts) or cold adapted (ca) phenotype. Alternatively, recombinant RSV and vaccine compositions thereof incorporate attenuating and other mutations specifying desired structural and or phenotypic characteristics in an infectious RSV. Recombinant RSV incorporate desired mutations specified by insertion, deletion, substitution or rearrangement of a selected nucleotide sequence, gene, or gene segment in an infectious RSV clone. The immune system of an individual is stimulated to induce protection against natural RSV infection, or multivalently against infection by RSV and another pathogen, such as PIV, by administration of attenuated, biologically derived or recombinant RSV.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading configuration information into a programmable integrated circuit (e.g., an FPGA) configurable to perform parallel loading or bit serial loading within the same architecture. The configuration information is presented to the FPGA in data frames of N serial bits each. Each data frame is divided into discrete serial portions having Y bits each (e.g., a data frame comprises N/Y portions). In parallel mode, the portions are loaded into a segmented configuration register, one portion per programming cycle, such that Y bits are loaded into the segmented configuration register in parallel. On each programming clock cycle during parallel loading, all the bits of a data frame portion are simultaneously loaded into the segments of the configuration register (at the first bit position for each segment) such that each segment receives one bit per programming cycle. The bits of the configuration register are then shifted down by one and the cycle repeats for the next data frame portion.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture anchor into tissue using a cannulated drill guide having an indented tip. Ligament tissue at a shoulder repair site is penetrated with a cannulated drill guide and removable trochar obturator. The obturator is removed, and the indented tip is positioned to straddle the glenoid rim at the repair site. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The pre-threaded suture anchor is attached to a device driver and installed through the cannulated drill guide into the repair site, where it is drilled into bone.

Abstract: An apparatus is programmed with a video service for facilitating video communication with another remote apparatus, in accordance with a video communication protocol. The video service includes a still image function with logic for providing a plurality of progressive scans of one or more still images to the remote apparatus, in accordance with a still image communication protocol defined within the video communication protocol. In one embodiment, the still image function includes logic for instructing a local video capture driver to switch to a format of the still image function's choice for capturing video image frames, holding constant video image input to a video codec to generate the plurality of progressive scans of the still images, and implementing the still image communication protocol.

Abstract: Wood-based products, to which an overlay material is attached, are pretreated with an aqueous suspension of alkaline, inorganic, multivalent compound such as magnesium hydroxide and a binding agent and then allowed to dry fixing the antistaining compound on the surface of the wood member. Selected additives can be added to the aqueous suspension to enhance application and surface properties. Thereafter the treated members are installed, a typical application being as wood-based underlayment or structural subflooring in flooring construction. When a vinyl floor covering material is attached to the pretreated panel, the treatment functions as a stain blocker preventing unsightly staining of the vinyl floor covering over time.

Abstract: A method and system for applying therapeutic electrical pulses to the heart includes a plurality of spaced apart electrodes. Each electrode in electrical communication with a pulse generator and are operative to deliver at least one energy pulse to a patient's heart. Sensors and electrical communication with a controller are operative to detect an abnormal rhythm in the patient's heart and transmit a signal to a controller to indicate an abnormal rhythmic condition. The controller is configured to receive the abnormal rhythmic signal from the sensor and cause the pulse generator to emit a sequence of spatially and temporally distinct pulses through the electrodes, each pulse passing through at least one of the electrodes.

Abstract: A solid coating composition for use in powder coating and extrusion coating applications is disclosed. The coating composition contains about 70 to about 95% of a base resin, such as a polyester, and about 1 to about 50% of a low-to-medium molecular weight end-capped epoxy resin, and is essentially free of a bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether monomer. The solid coating composition is applied to a metal substrate in a powder coating or an extrusion process to provide a metal article having a composition film having a thickness of about 1 to about 200 microns. The metal articles can be used to package food and beverages.

Abstract: A top system includes a hard top which may be operatively installed over a folded soft top. The top system allows delivery of both the hard top and the soft top to the customer. Additionally, the top system allows for an expanded range of uses of the associated motor vehicle. The owner/user can have the hard top on for greater comfort and less noise on long trips and on arrival, take the hard top off and have the soft top for local use with the benefit of open air driving. The soft top is ready to be moved to its operative position or retained in the stored position for available protection from the element from adverse weather conditions. The ability of the top system to allow the hard top to be operatively installed over the folded soft top is made possible largely in part due to the several unique aspects. For example, the soft top folds back and is contained within the boundaries of the body side of the motor vehicle and the tailgate area while having a low stack height.

Abstract: A pail lid having a retractable pouring spout. The pail lid has a neck integrally formed as part of the lid and extending from the face of the lid opposed to a peripheral groove. The neck has external threads adapted to receive a screw cap. A retractable pouring spout located within the opening is movable from a pouring position to a retracted position while being retained within the neck. The spout mates with the neck at the pouring position and the retracted position. An injection molding process for manufacture of the lid is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a color-management system, such as for a color digital printer, digital codes describing combinations of two colors are retained in a specific format. The three primary-color stimuli forming each color of the color pair are described as binary numbers, and the binary numbers are combined to yield a single orderable number. With this format, codes describing color pairs can be readily retained in a searchable table, preferably an AVL-balanced tree.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor which can be used as an active antenna is disclosed that is capable of small size, ultrawideband operation, and high efficiency. The sensor includes a multiplicity of magnetic field transducers, e.g., superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) or Mach-Zehnder modulators, that are electrically coupled in a serial array. Dummy SQUIDs may be used about the perimeter of the SQUID array, and electrically coupled to the active SQUIDs for eliminating edge effects that otherwise would occur because of the currents that flow within the SQUIDs. Either a magnetic flux transformer which collects the magnetic flux and distributes the flux to the transducers or a feedback assembly (bias circuit) or both may be used for increasing the sensitivity and linear dynamic range of the antenna.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for trading loans in real time by making loan applications, such as home mortgage loan applications, and placing them up for bid by a plurality of potential lenders. A transaction server maintains a database of pending loan applications and their statuses; each party to the loan can search and modify that database consistent with their role in the transaction, by requests to the server from a client device identified with their role. Brokers at a broker station can add loan applications, can review the status of loan applications entered by that broker, are notified of lender's bids on their loans, and can accept bids by lenders. Lenders at a lender station can search the database for particular desired types of loans, can sort selected loans by particular desired criteria, can bid on loan applications, and are notified when their bids are accepted.

Abstract: A Tee nut and method of manufacture is provided which Tee nut includes a flange and a hollow barrel extending from the flange. The flange is general circular and has a pair of pawls extending upwardly therefrom, each of which terminates in teeth for engaging a base member. The barrel has an end portion proximal to the flange and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion has internal female threads and the distal end portion has a smooth unthreaded inner surface. The wall thickness of the distal end portion is thinner than the wall thickness of the proximal end portion, and the outer wall diameter is essentially constant for the length of the barrel. The barrel is formed first as an elongate member extending from a strip of material initially having a constant inner diameter and an outer diameter of the proximal portion greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion, with the distal portion having a wall thickness thinner than the wall thickness of the proximal portion.

Abstract: A bidet device (10) includes a hand held spray member (12). An assembly (14) is for supplying a source of warm water to the hand held spray member (12), so that the warm water can be ejected from the hand held spray member (12) and be directed to a crotch area of a female person over a bowl (16) of a conventional toilet (18). An assembly (20) is for supplying a source of warm air to the hand held spray member (12), so that the warm air can be ejected from the hand held spray member (12) and be directed to the crotch area of the female person to dry the crotch area. An assembly (22) in the hand held spray member (12) is for supplying a source of liquid soap, so that the liquid soap can be ejected from the hand held spray member (12) and be directed to the crotch area of the female person to help clean the crotch area.