Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to intermediating credit report requests to a credit bureau between a prospective creditor and a prospective debtor. The system includes a server with an intermediary database for receipt and storage of prospective creditor identifying information, prospective debtor identifying information, with the prospective debtor identifying information including at least one key to credit bureau credit report information for said prospective debtor. The server is configured to receive an electronic communication from the prospective debtor authorizing a prospective creditor to access the credit report of the prospective debtor and storing the authorization in the intermediary database. The server conditionally retrieves the credit report of the prospective debtor from the credit bureau upon confirmation of the prospective debtor to prospective creditor authorization, and transmits the credit report to the prospective creditor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical device is disclosed. The method comprises laser cutting a tubular member. The tubular member may have an inner surface, an outer surface and a tubular wall defining a thickness extending therebetween. The method may also include laser cutting the member. Laser cutting may include removing a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall at one or more discrete locations along the tubular wall. The method may also include chemically etching the one or more discrete locations to form a slot within the tubular wall at the one or more discrete locations along the tubular member.

Abstract: A ventilation cap includes a tube portion, a vent portion, and an upper portion. The tube portion is configured to releasably engage with a vent pipe. The vent portion extends from the tube portion to define a common pathway formed therein. The vent portion has at least three interconnected adjacent sides. Each of the sides includes one or more upright ribs, and multiple contiguous ribs laterally extending from the upright ribs to define openings in fluid communication with the common pathway. The contiguous ribs at one or more sides have an intermediate segment with an increased cross-sectional area. The contiguous ribs taper laterally from the intermediate segment to ends. The upper portion is disposed above the vent portion and connected to an upper end of the upright ribs.

Abstract: A ventilation cap includes a tube portion, a vent portion, and an upper portion. The tube portion is configured to releasably engage with a vent pipe. The vent portion extends from the tube portion to define a common pathway formed therein. The vent portion has at least three interconnected adjacent sides. Each of the sides includes one or more upright ribs, and multiple contiguous ribs laterally extending from the upright ribs to define openings in fluid communication with the common pathway. The contiguous ribs at one or more sides have an intermediate segment with an increased cross-sectional area. The contiguous ribs taper laterally from the intermediate segment to ends. The upper portion is disposed above the vent portion and connected to an upper end of the upright ribs.

Abstract: A method for enhancing speech prediction coefficient signals, including: a) receiving a set of prediction coefficient signals; b) calculating a set of amplitude spectrum coefficient signals based on the prediction coefficient signals; c) calculating a set of enhancement coefficient signals based on the amplitude spectrum coefficient signals; d) calculating a set of enhanced autocorrelation coefficient signals based on the enhancement coefficient signals; e) converting at least some of the enhanced autocorrelation coefficient signals into reflection coefficient signals; f) testing the range of values of the reflection coefficient signals; and g) converting at least some of the tested reflection coefficient signals into prediction coefficient signals.

Abstract: A method for transcoding a bit stream encoded according to a mixed-excitation linear prediction (MELP) standard to a bit stream encoded according to a linear predictive coding (LPC) standard, including: decoding a bit stream into a first set of vocoder parameters compatible with the MELP standard; transforming the first set of vocoder parameters into a second set of vocoder parameters compatible with the LPC standard without converting the first set of vocoder parameters to an analog or digital waveform representation; and encoding the second set of vocoder parameters into a bit stream compatible with the LPC vocoder standard.

Abstract: A method for transcoding a bit stream encoded according to a linear predictive coding (LPC) standard to a bit stream encoded according to a mixed-excitation linear prediction (MELP) standard, including: decoding a bit stream into a first set of vocoder parameters compatible with the LPC standard; transforming the first set of vocoder parameters into a second set of vocoder parameters compatible with the MELP standard without converting the first set of vocoder parameters to an analog or digital waveform representation; and encoding the second set of vocoder parameters into a bit stream compatible with the MELP vocoder standard.

Abstract: A method for enhancing prediction coefficient signals, including: a) receiving a set of prediction coefficient signals; b) generating a set of bandwidth expanded coefficient signals based on like prediction coefficient signals; c) converting at least some of like prediction coefficient signals and like bandwidth expanded coefficient signals into corresponding autocorrelation domain coefficient signals; d) convolving like autocorrelation domain coefficient signals; e) converting like convolved autocorrelation domain coefficient signals into reflection coefficient signals; f) determining the stability of like reflection coefficient signals; and g) converting like reflection coefficient signals into enhanced prediction coefficient signals.

Abstract: A stent, an intermediate article in the manufacture of a stent, and a method of forming a stent from a workpiece are disclosed. A portion of the wall thickness of a workpiece may be removed, demarcating the structural framework of a stent from the remainder of the workpiece material during a cutting process. In some embodiments, a residuum layer of material remaining after a cutting process may have a recessed surface in relation to a first surface of the structural framework of the stent formed in the workpiece. In some embodiments, a plurality of kerf channels may be cut in a workpiece to demarcate a structural framework of a stent from waste material of the workpiece. In some embodiments, a series of perforations may, at least in part, demarcate the structural framework of a stent from the remainder of the workpiece material. The waste material and/or residuum material may be removed from the structural framework of a stent during a post-cutting process.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention comprises a compressed domain voice activity detector that detects the presence or absence of voice activity in a digital input signal. The method includes converting a digital input signal into parametric data. The parametric data is subsequently analyzed, and then compared against a background noise threshold to determine if voice activity is present.

Abstract: A hybrid liquid-jet/laser device may be used to remove material from a tube or sheet to form a medical device, such as a stent. The liquid-jet/laser stream may be impinged against the wall of the tube or sheet between the ends of the tube or sheet, wherein an aperture may be formed in the tube or sheet, followed by a lead-in, and then a full thickness cut. A full thickness cut should be achieved via a lead-in before moving the liquid-jet/laser stream along a final cut path.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention comprises a compressed domain universal transcoder that transcodes a bit stream representing frames of data encoded according to a first compression standard to a bit stream representing frames of data according to a second compression standard. The method includes decoding a bit stream into a first set of parameters compatible with a first compression standard. Next, the first set of parameters are transformed into a second set of parameters compatible with a second compression standard without converting the first set of parameters to an analog or digital waveform representation. Lastly, the second set of parameters are encoded into a bit stream compatible with the second compression standard.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention comprises a compressed domain conference bridge. The method includes maintaining full intelligibility for all users even when there are multiple simultaneous talkers. The bridge also allows a user to hear a plurality of talkers over a single channel.