Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic Virtual Lane buffer reconfiguration in a channel adapter. A first register is provided for communicating an adapter buffer size and allocation capability for the channel adapter. At least one second register is provided for communicating a current port buffer size and one second register is associated with each physical port of the channel adapter. A plurality of third registers is provided for communicating a current VL buffer size, and one third register is associated with each VL of each physical port of the channel adapter. The second register is used for receiving change requests for adjusting the current port buffer size for an associated physical port. The third register is used for receiving change requests for adjusting the current VL buffer size for an associated VL.

Abstract: A method of transmitting packets over a network includes steps of transmitting a first plurality of test packets during a first plurality of time locations that are coarsely spaced apart in time; determining which of the first plurality of time locations corresponds to favorable network traffic conditions; transmitting a second plurality of test packets over the network during a second plurality of time locations that are finely spaced apart in time, wherein the second plurality of time locations are selected on the basis of favorable network traffic conditions; determining which of the second plurality of time locations corresponds to favorable network traffic conditions; and transmitting data packets over the network using one or more favorable time locations determined by the finely spaced test packets. The method can be used to “zero in” on congested network periods by detecting differences in packet latencies among test packets.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an optical disc having increased storage capacity that provides sufficient signals for readability in a majority of players. Pursuant to a first aspect of the invention, acceptable cross-talk levels and increased storage capacity are achieved by decreasing track pitch and pit width. Pit width is decreased based in part on the amount the track pitch has been decreased, and in part on cross-talk levels that are produced by the optical disc when scanned in a majority of players. Pursuant to a second aspect of the invention, acceptable data signals, acceptable tracking signals, and increased storage capacity are achieved by decreasing the pit lengths and by selecting a pit depth. The pit depth is selected based in part on the pit lengths, and based in part on the data signals and the tracking signals produced by the optical disc when scanned in a majority of players.

Abstract: A linear motor is provided which includes members for engaging a magnet rail to prevent bending of the magnet rail. Such members may include a wheel or sliding block, for example. The members exert a force proximate an upper edge of the magnet rail to counter potential bending of the magnet rail during operation of the motor, and thereby avoid substantial variations in the air gaps. Furthermore, an armature yoke is provided which includes at least one partial tooth at one end of the armature yoke for reducing an end effect cogging of the linear motor armature in relation to a magnet rail along which the armature will run. In addition, an armature yoke is provided which includes multiple segments which are held end-to-end via fasteners. Such fasteners may serve as part of the magnetic flux path. A support strip may be provided to reduce bowing.

Abstract: A soybean variety designated 92B76, the plants and seeds of soybean variety 92B76, methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the variety 92B76 with itself or with another soybean plant, and hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 92B76 with another soybean line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 92B76. This invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean varieties or breeding lines derived from soybean variety 92B76 and to soybean varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.

Abstract: A system including a broadband switch includes a controller which coordinates video call set-up and a switch for connecting various phone lines together through diplexers. The system permits video telephone conferencing and other video related applications to be performed over ordinary telephone wires. Two diplexer/modems are typically provided for each user: one at the user's telephone jack and another at the central PBX location for that user's telephone line. The PBX connections can usually be made in a central wiring closet. A video server can also be provided which retrieves video images from disk to provide on demand to users. the existing PBX handles the switching of normal telephone audio signals, and a broadband data switch handles the switching of broadband signals over the same telephone wires that the PBX uses. The broadband switch essentially “piggybacks” off the PBX system and avoids interference with telephone signals through the use of diplexers.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual instrumentation system including a host computer and an embedded system or device, wherein graphical programs created using the computer system can be downloaded to the embedded system for execution in a real-time or more deterministic manner. The present invention thus provides a method for automatically generating an embedded application in response to a graphical program created by a user. This provides the user the ability to develop or define instrument functionality using graphical programming techniques, while enabling the resulting program to operate in an embedded real-time system. The invention includes a novel method for configuring the embedded system. During execution of a graphical program in the embedded system, the block diagram portion executes in the embedded system, and the host CPU executes front panel display code to display on the screen the graphical front panel of the graphical program.

Abstract: A scalable high-speed packet switching device includes a packet switch with ports, a crosspoint matrix, and a plurality of subswitches, one for each port of the packet switch. A processor in the packet switch detects a high level of traffic between two ports and causes the subswitches and crosspoint matrix to divert packets away from the packet switch and through a dedicated channel in the crosspoint matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for interfacing a plurality of ISDN lines from a telephone company central office to equipment which transmits video data, such as videoconferencing equipment. A single telephone wiring jack is directly coupled to two, three, or four ISDN lines without conversion to S/T channels. The single telephone wiring jack is coupled to an interfacing device which converts each ISDN line format into a format compatible with the videoconferencing equipment, such as the Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol format. Rather than using conventional wiring pin-outs for the single telephone wiring jack, all pins of the jack may be allocated to carrying ISDN data. The inventive method and apparatus avoids the expense of various conversion devices and wiring of separate telephone jacks, and permits as many ISDN lines to be allocated as are needed to support a desired bandwidth.

Abstract: A polycarbonate substrate coated with an acrylic coating containing at least one polybenzoylresorcinol, and optionally a silicone hardcoat on the acrylic coating, wherein said at least one polybenzoylresorcinol has the formula ##STR1## wherein each A is independently a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic aromatic radical wherein any substituents are hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, C.sub.1-8 alkyl, or hydroxy, and R is hydrogen or a linear or branched aliphatic radical having less that about 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for modulating and transmitting full-motion, television-quality color video signals along with digital data signals over a pair of ordinary unshielded twisted pair telephone wires without interfering with normal telephone data on the wires. A transmission method is disclosed involving frequency modulation of a baseband video signal and subsequent filtering to suppress an upper sideband corresponding to a color component of the original video signal. The filtered signal is received from the telephone wires at a difference location, filtered, demodulated and provided to a display device. Full-duplex operation over the same pair of wires is possible, such that two video signals may be simultaneously transmitted, each signal having an approximate bandwidth of 6 MHZ and shifted to a desirable noninterfering frequency location within the approximately 20 MHZ of usable bandwidth on the telephone wires.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for modulating and transmitting full-motion, television-quality color video signals along with digital data signals over a pair of ordinary unshielded twisted pair telephone wires without interfering with normal telephone data on the wires. The invention is characterized by a transmission method involving frequency modulation of a baseband video signal and subsequent filtering to suppress an upper sideband corresponding to a color component of the original video signal. The filtered signal is received from the telephone wires at a different location, filtered, demodulated and provided to a display device. Full-duplex operation over the same pair of wires is possible, such that two video signals may be simultaneously transmitted, each signal having an approximate bandwidth of 6 MHz and shifted to a desirable non-interfering frequency location within the approximately 20 MHz of usable bandwidth on the telephone wires.

Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of particles entrained in a liquid metal flowing along a confined flow path having a substantially horizontal base characterized by the steps of:(1) disposing a first planar device within the flow path to cause the shedding of vortices downstream of the device so that particles having a predetermined range of terminal velocities are trapped within the vortices and agglomerated into clusters of particles.(2) causing the agglomerated particles to be sedimented either upwardly or downwardly and(3) establishing a flow pattern downstream of the first device in which the local Reynolds number decays to a value sufficiently lower than 10.sup.3 to result in essentially laminar flow of the metal so as to minimize re-entrainment and subsequent break up of the agglomerated particles.

Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of particles entrained in a liquid metal flowing along a confined flow path having a substantially horizontal base characterized by the steps of:(1) disposing a first planar device within the flow path to cause the shedding of vortices downstream of the device so that particles having a predetermined range of terminal velocities are trapped within the vortices and agglomerated into clusters of particles.(2) causing the agglomerated particles to be sedimented either upwardly or downwardly and(3) establishing a flow pattern downstream of the first device in which the local Reynolds number decays to a value sufficiently lower than 10.sup.3 to result in essentially laminar flow of the metal so as to minimize re-entrainment and subsequent break up of the agglomerated particles.

Abstract: In a twin head dry shaver, the shaver heads are carried at the upper end of a four-bar mounting linkage comprising vertical side members 1A, 1B and bell crank links 2, 3 pivotally connected to the side members at points 7, 8 and 9, 11. The links are pivotally connected to the frame by pivot pins 4 and 6 set above and mid-way between the connections to the side members, thus rendering the heads highly sensitive to cut of balance forces acting on the heads so that they may move vertically, relative to each other to restore the balance.