Abstract: The invention presents a method of providing a modified manifest to a video client for streaming a video sequence associated with the manifest. An original manifest is modified to replace references to locations of lower quality, or bit rate, segments with references to equivalent segments at a higher quality, or bit rate, if the higher quality segment is cached locally. Then, when the video client determines that a given quality of segment should be streamed, it uses the modified manifest to retrieve the appropriate reference for that segment, and if a replacement has taken place, will be provided with the reference to the replacement segment at the higher quality. Thus, the client will always be provided with the highest possible quality segment taking into account local caching.

Abstract: A loss of connection between a wireless access point and a network is reported to a network-based service platform by the wireless access point by automatically establishing wireless contact with a second wireless access point, and transmits a predetermined fault report message to a predetermined network platform address by way of the second wireless access point and the second network interface. Authentication credentials are stored in the access point allowing automatic access to the service platform without user intervention, to allow the report to be generated without user intervention. The message may include data on recent usage of the access point, or may be repeated when a user attempts to use the access point, in order to prioritize the fault reported at the service platform.

Abstract: A loss of connection between a wireless access point and a network is reported to a network-based service platform by the wireless access point by automatically establishing wireless contact with a second wireless access point, and transmits a predetermined fault report message to a predetermined network platform address by way of the second wireless access point and the second network interface. Authentication credentials are stored in the access point allowing automatic access to the service platform without user intervention, to allow the report to be generated without user intervention. The message may include data on recent usage of the access point, or may be repeated when a user attempts to use the access point, in order to prioritise the fault reported at the service platform.

Abstract: The invention presents a method of providing a modified manifest to a video client for streaming a video sequence associated with the manifest. An original manifest is modified to replace references to locations of lower quality, or bit rate, segments with references to equivalent segments at a higher quality, or bit rate, if the higher quality segment is cached locally. Then, when the video client determines that a given quality of segment should be streamed, it uses the modified manifest to retrieve the appropriate reference for that segment, and if a replacement has taken place, will be provided with the reference to the replacement segment at the higher quality. Thus, the client will always be provided with the highest possible quality segment taking into account local caching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding media content. In the field of video compression, temporal compression generates I-frames and dependent P-frames and B-frames. The placement of I-frames is determined by the presence of scene switches in the video. In order to improve the ability of a user to seek to interesting parts of the video, a video encoder considers semantic data identifying narrative points of interest within the video. The encoding process generates encoded video data having I-frames present at scene transitions and also at narratively interesting parts of the video.

Abstract: Metadata is associated with media elements in a content store during automatic composition of media articles. The metadata includes relationship data indicating how what is portrayed by that media element relates to what is portrayed by one or more other media elements. Because relationship metadata is included media articles can be generated automatically with the need for the production of a detailed framework describing that media article.

Abstract: A method of processing a non-linear narrative article to improve a user's interactive experience is described. A user watching the narrative article can select options during presentation which influence subsequently viewed media clips associated with the selected options. The user navigates a single downstream path through the many possible paths in the narrative. In addition to downstream non-linear navigation, at each navigational decision point, upstream parts of the non-linear narrative are identified and the user is presented with upstream navigation options to enable non-linear upstream navigation through the narrative.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a non-linear narrative article. After generation of a non-linear narrative article from a set of narrative rules and accompanying media elements, the narrative is optimised and the media elements are also optimised into a dictionary. A narrative tree generator determines all possible paths through the narrative to generate a narrative tree and redundant parts are removed.

Abstract: A computer apparatus which uses a database (22) to offer persistent storage of metadata (36) describing the content of media files (32). Metadata is used to create a personalized media article (48) from those media files. That metadata also indicates relationships between those media files. In order to accelerate the creation of the personalized media article (48), media element metadata items are stored in a cache. The usefulness of this cache is improved further by reading related media elements data from retrieved metadata items (36), and then pre-fetching those items and placing them in the cache. Because the relatedness of the data items means that the related data item is more likely to be required in the near future, the caching method is more useful than known caching methods. Furthermore, the improved usefulness of the cache is achieved without placing constraints on where the data items are placed in the persistent storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding media content. In the field of video compression, temporal compression generates I-frames and dependent P-frames and B-frames. The placement of I-frames is determined by the presence of scene switches in the video. In order to improve the ability of a user to seek to interesting parts of the video, a video encoder considers semantic data identifying narrative points of interest within the video. The encoding process generates encoded video data having I-frames present at scene transitions and also at narratively interesting parts of the video.

Abstract: An anion-exchange chromatographic packing composition which comprises:a substrate which consists essentially of particles having cation-exchanging sites at least on their available surfaces, the particles being of a diameter of between about 1 to about 75 microns; anda liquid coating which consists essentially of a hydrophilic, water soluble, film forming resin having anion-exchanging sites which attract available cation-exchanging sites of the substrate, wherein the liquid coating is retained by electrostatic bonds on the available surfaces of the substrate particles. The invention further includes a chromatographic column and process using the described packing composition.

Abstract: An analytical chemistry apparatus and method for introducing a reagent into a flowing stream of liquid carrier in order to quantitatively analyze one or more components of a sample added into the carrier. The reagent is permeated across a short section of membrane having relatively large pores. The use of such a membrane: (a) allows the membrane to be protected from physical damage by covering it with a perforate structure; (b) significantly reduces bandspreading across the membrane reagent addition device; (c) reduces the pressure drop across the membrane reagent addition device; and (d) still allows for the permeation of an effective amount of the reagent into the carrier. The reagent is preferably pressurized to minimize leakage of carrier across the membrane and the reagent can be self-pressurized by essentially completely filling the reagent reservoir of the invention with reagent and then hermetically sealing the reservoir.

Abstract: The overall mass transport efficiency of hollow fiber membrane separation cells is increased by introducing segmented flow into the bores of the fibers. The invention is preferably practiced by dispersing a gas segmentation phase into a continuous liquid phase and feeding the dispersion into the bores of the fibers to form alternating flowing segments of gas and liquid.

Abstract: Porous ceramic plugs are cast in place in chromatographic columns in order to provide supports for chromatographic beds in liquid chromatography devices and restrictors in supercritical fluid chromatographic devices. The supports are cast in place by fusing a silicate containing solution, such as one containing potassium silicate, which has been drawn into the outlet end of the column.

Abstract: Packing tube membranes or membrane channels for Ion Chromatography with inert or charged ion exchange beads greatly increases overall suppressor efficiency. The length of membrane required is reduced, e.g. from 20 feet to 5 feet and bandspreading is reduced from 870 .mu.l to 200 .mu.l. This significant increase in efficiency is attributed to the mixing action of the packing on the flow stream which results in convective radial transport much more rapid than the diffusion controlled transport observed in unpacked membranes. The technique is also described for developing more efficient liquid chromatographic post-column reactors for adding reagent to the column effluent to increase detection sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane assisted analytical chemical method for the determination of the concentration of an organic compound in an aqueous matrix. The membrane partitions the matrix from a receiving fluid. The organic compound permeates the membrane and passes into the receiving fluid which is then analyzed for the permeated compound by, for example, liquid or gas chromatography. The membrane is selected to prevent contamination of the receiving fluid from otherwise interferring components of the matrix. The concentration of the organic compound is above its solubility limit in water which would ordinarily prevent effective use of such a membrane assisted method. However, when the organic compound is emulsified with, for example, a surfactant, then a membrane assisted method is successful.

Abstract: The invention is the novel combination of liquid chromatographic separation of water from other components of an injected sample followed by electrochemical detection and quantitation of the separated water.

Abstract: The overall mass transport efficiency of hollow fiber membrane separation cells is increased by introducing segmented flow into the bores of the fibers. The invention is preferably practiced by dispersing a gas segmentation phase into a continuous liquid phase and feeding the dispersion into the bores of the fibers to form alternating flowing segments of gas and liquid.

Abstract: A versatile and highly sensitive procedure of indirect photometric chromatography in which a variable capacity pH dependent weakly basic or weakly acidic ion exchange medium is used in the chromatographic column to effect ion separations. Adjusting eluent pH allows increased detection limits without extended analysis time, reduced column efficiency, or the need for a battery of conventional strongly basic/acidic ion exchange columns.

Abstract: An improved chromatographic analytical column, the column containing a pellicular type (agglomerated) anion-exchange packing, comprising:Component A, which comprises a pressure packed bed of substrate particles of insoluble synthetic resin, having cation-exchanging sites at least on their available surfaces, the Component A particles being of low porosity relative to Component B microparticles, described below, andComponent B, derived by agglomerating microparticles of insoluble synthetic resin onto the pressure packed bed of Component A particles, the microparticles having a volume average diameter of less than about 1,500 and greater than about 50 Angstroms and having anion-exchanging sites, at least on their outer surfaces, which attract available cation sites of Component A, wherein the microparticles of Component B are attached as a monolayer to the available surfaces of the Component A particles.