Abstract: Several embodiments in accordance with the invention are disclosed. An embodiment for compressing a gray scale image is described and an embodiment for decompressing the codebook produced by compressing the gray scale image is described. Of course, the invention is not limited to only gray scale images, however.

Abstract: A method of encoding a watermark into a digital image. The method includes partitioning an original image into blocks and then determining a variance value of each block. The blocks are then arranged according to the variance values. A number of selected blocks are identified, where the number depends upon the size of the watermark. The blocks selected are then arranged by their location. Data from the watermark is used to replace bits in a representation of each of the selected blocks with data from the watermark. A method of decoding is also discussed.

Abstract: A software application for emulating a user in an interactive chat session hosted on a data-packet-network is provided. The software application comprises, a navigation interface for accepting input from a navigation system, a dialog interface for inputting dialog into the chat session, a session recorder for recording a chat session, a timer for regulating intervals of input of dialog entered into the chat session and a function disabler for disabling undesired communication events sourced from the chat session. The software application is characterized in that a user pre-configures a list of queries for input into an impending chat session, sending the queries along with session-associated parameters in the form of a request for navigation to and proxy interaction in a session on behalf of the user.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anhydrous cosmetic composition comprising: (a) 15-33% of an external phase (also called the oil phase) which is made with at least one selected naphthalate organic ester; a volatile silicone based emulsifier; and a volatile silicone; and (b) 85-67% of an internal phase which is made with an active ingredient, such as an antiperspirant active, in a glycol solvent. For the external phase all or a major portion of what would have been a non-volatile silicone component has been replaced by the naphthalate ester. While a dimethicone copolyol is still included, the use of this particular naphthalate ester obviates the need for the use of any other non-ionic emulsifiers.

Abstract: A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system has a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers. A work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers generates work requests for collecting WEB summaries, and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers writes data to a database. Work flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers, where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (20) includes an isolated p-well (22) formed in a substrate (21) by a buried n-well (25) and an n-well ring (24). The n-well ring (24) extends from a surface of the semiconductor device (20) to the buried n-well (25). The isolated p-well (22) includes a plurality of n-well plugs (27) extending from the surface of the semiconductor device (20) into the isolated p-well (22) and contacting the buried n-well (25). The plurality of n-well plugs (27) reduces an n-well resistance to provide better noise isolation for high frequency signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (20) includes an isolated p-well (22) formed in a substrate (21) by a buried n-well (25) and an n-well ring (24). The n-well ring (24) extends from a surface of the semiconductor device (20) to the buried n-well (25). The isolated p-well (22) includes a plurality of n-well plugs (27) extending from the surface of the semiconductor device (20) into the isolated p-well (22) and contacting the buried n-well (25). The plurality of n-well plugs (27) reduces an n-well resistance to provide better noise isolation for high frequency signals.

Abstract: A process for Friedel-Crafts type liquid-phase alkylation or acylation of an aromatic compound using a hydrotalcite-type basic anionic clay catalyst represented by a formula: [(M2−)1−x(M3+)x(OH)2]x+[Ay−]x/yqH2O where M2+ is a divalent cation selected from Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ or a mixture thereof; M3+ is a trivalent cation selected from Ga3+, In3+ Al3+, Fe3+ Cr3+ or a mixture thereof; x is a mole fraction of trivalent cations in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.5; 0 is oxygen; H is hydrogen; Ay− is an anion; y minus is an anionic negative charge having a value of 1 minus or 2 minus; and q is a number of water molecules, as the water of hydration; and involving following steps: i.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server system, including software, between the client device and the Internet. The system collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: A process for Friedel-Crafts type liquid-phase alkylation or acylation of an aromatic compound using a hydrotalcite-type basic anionic clay catalyst represented by a formula: [(M2+)1−x(M3+)x(OH)2]x+[Ay−]x/y q H2O where M2+ is a divalent cation selected from Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ or a mixture thereof, M3+ is a trivalent cation selected from Ga3+, In3+ Al3+, Fe3+ Cr3+ or a mixture thereof; x is a mole fraction of trivalent cations in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.5; O is oxygen; H is hydrogen; Ay− is an anion; y minus is an anionic negative charge having a value of 1 minus or 2 minus; and q is a number of water molecules, as the water of hydration; and involving following steps: i.

Abstract: A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system has a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers. A work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers generates work requests for collecting WEB summaries, and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers writes data to a database. Work flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers, where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server.

Abstract: A process for Friedel-Crafts type liquid-phase alkylation or acylation of an aromatic compound using a hydrotalcite-type basic anionic clay catalyst represented by a formula.

Abstract: An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server having access to client-related data, an internet-capable client station usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like.

Abstract: In a site-sensitive Internet service system enhanced client browsers report URLs to an Internet-connected service-control server, which informs clients of other clients visiting common URLs, and organizes and enables chat sessions among simultaneous visitors to common Internet sites. In some cases the server activity, including chat sessions is transparent to hosts of the WEB sites visited. In others the WEB sites, through cooperation with the service-control server, control information streaming to clients, including chat sessions. Information streamed may include banner ads enabled as hyperlinks. In a further embodiment the service-control server maintains and reports statistics based on site visitation reported by clients.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anhydrous cosmetic composition comprising: (a) 15-33% of an external phase (also called the oil phase) which is made with at least one selected naphthalate organic ester; a volatile silicone based emulsifier; and a volatile silicone; and (b) 85-67% of an internal phase which is made with an active ingredient, such as an antiperspirant active, in a glycol solvent. For the external phase all or a major portion of what would have been a non-volatile silicone component has been replaced by the naphthalate ester. While a dimethicone copolyol is still included, the use of this particular naphthalate ester obviates the need for the use of any other non-ionic emulsifiers.

Abstract: Low water emulsions are described which are useful for antiperspirants and/or deodorants wherein the emulsions are made by combining (I) 15-33% of an external phase comprising: (a) 1-25% of an organic ester having a refractive index in the range of 1.43-1.60 and capable of releasing an antiperspirant active to achieve a specified conductivity; (b) a sufficient amount of a silicone copolyol to achieve a solids content of 0.25-10%; (c) a sufficient amount of a volatile silicone to achieve a total amount of the external phase as 15-33%; (c) 0-5% of a silicone elastomer (on an actives basis); and (d) 0-15% of at least one emollient; and (II) 67-85% of an internal phase comprising: (a) an effective amount of at least one cosmetically active ingredient; (b) a sufficient amount of a solvent component to dissolve the cosmetically active ingredient with a maximum amount being about 80%; (c) 0.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and disseminating information records from Internet sources includes a client device and an intermediary server system, including software, between the client device and the Internet. The system collects a record specific to a client from an individual one of said Internet sources in a first form in which the record is recorded at the Internet source, transforms the record from the first form to a second form specific to an application other than an Internet browser application, the application executable by the client device, and transmits the transformed record to the client device for display in the application other than an Internet browser application executable by the client device. In some cases the client device connects by a data link that is not Internet-compatible link. Data mining on the Internet specific to clients and client devices is taught, with aggregation services and synchronization for keeping a client up-to-date efficiently for changing data content.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anhydrous cosmetic composition comprising: (a) 15-33% of an external phase (also called the oil phase) which is made with at least one selected naphthalate organic ester; a volatile silicone based emulsifier; and a volatile silicone; and (b) 85-67% of an internal phase which is made with an active ingredient, such as an antiperspirant active, in a glycol solvent. For the external phase all or a major portion of what would have been a non-volatile silicone component has been replaced by the naphthalate ester. While a dimethicone copolyol is still included, the use of this particular naphthalate ester obviates the need for the use of any other non-ionic emulsifiers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid phase process for the acylation of aromatic compound by an acylating agent of the formula (R5R6R7)—Y—Z to obtain the corresponding acylated compound using a solid catalyst comprising a metal oxide of the formula AOx with or without a catalyst support, wherein A is a metallic element selected from Ga, In, Ti, Fe and a mixture of two or more thereof, and x is the number of oxygen atoms required to fulfil the valance requirement of A, wherein the catalyst is pretreated with a dry gas comprising a hydrogen halide in the presence or absence of the aromatic compound to be acylated, contacting the hydrogen halide pretreated catalyst with a liquid reaction mixture comprising the aromatic compound and the acylating agent, cooling the reaction mixture, removing the catalyst from the reaction mixture and then separating the reaction products from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a site-sensitive Internet service system enhanced client browsers report URLs to an Internet-connected service-control server, which informs clients of other clients visiting common URLs, and organizes and enables chat sessions among simultaneous visitors to common Internet sites. In some cases the server activity, including chat sessions is transparent to hosts of the WEB sites visited. In others the WEB sites, through cooperation with the service-control server, control information streaming to clients, including chat sessions. Information streamed may include banner ads enabled as hyperlinks. In a further embodiment the service-control server maintains and reports statistics based on site visitation reported by clients.