Abstract: A communication network includes a Virtual Private Network (VPN) interconnection to a Foreign Exchange (FX) service. A method for routing a call for a telecommunication network customer having Virtual Private Network (VPN) capability and Foreign Exchange (FX) lines, includes receiving a call destination number from a first customer location originating point having an origination location number. The method further includes routing the call to an FX line of the customer corresponding to the destination number through a virtual private network of the customer.

Abstract: An integral guide mechanism (2) for a power drill (1) which has retractable arms (10, 11) cooperating with the housing of said power drill. A workpiece engaging base (14) is on the retractable arms. The retractable arms enable retraction of the base towards the housing of the power drill past the chuck (6) and a catch arrangement holds them retracted. The base of the guide mechanism has a seat (20) to enable the base to be stably positioned against a pipe or other non-planar surface. The seat can include V blocks (24) to be positioned on the side of the base opposite to which the drill bit approaches or be positioned on the same side from which the drill bit approaches to cradle an article to be drilled.

Abstract: It is often the case that a professional, lacking the time or capabilities to provide specialized services to his client, will refer the client to some other professional. Traditionally, this has been done through personal contacts and knowledge of local professional resources. Because the passing on of a client is a professional favor, there are often payments (cash or otherwise) made by the specialist to the referring professional. In the United States referral system, it is not legal to pass on professional favors nor payments at this time and it is conceivable that reformation of current federal medico-legal regulations will occur and that a bidding system may become feasible in the United States.

Abstract: A low distortion compression amplifier comprising an amplifier circuit having an input and an output, wherein an input signal is received at the input and amplified in accordance with a gain to form an output signal at the output. The amplifier circuit further comprises a comparator circuit operable to receive the output signal and generate a first control signal in response thereto. A digital gain control circuit is coupled to the amplifier circuit, and is operable to generate a digital gain control signal based at least in part on the first control signal. The gain control signal is then employed to modulate the gain of the amplifier circuit in a digital fashion. The invention also comprises a method of digitally controlling a gain associated with an amplifier circuit. The method comprises comparing an output signal to a threshold and modulating the gain in a digital fashion, wherein the gain is modulated up in a plurality of rates or down in a plurality of rates in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A retention clip for securing a trim piece to a vehicle. The retention clip includes a trim piece affixing portion, a first leg member, and second leg member that extends from a head portion. The trim piece affixing portion is defined by at least one pair of grips that includes a plurality of retention barbs. Each first and second leg member is defined by a first leg portion, an intermediate knee portion, and a second leg portion. Each second leg portion is defined by a first and second length and a first and second deployment angle, respectively. The retention clip has a resilient retention feature that allows the retention clip to deform inwardly to during installation, then outwardly when affixing a trim piece to a vehicle in order to provide a perpendicular biasing force and a later, outboard biasing force.

Abstract: We present a method of using natural language processing (NLP) techniques to extract information from online news feeds and then using the information so extracted to predict changes in stock prices or volatilities. These predictions can be used to make profitable trading strategies. More specifically, company names can be recognized and simple templates describing company actions can be automatically filled using parsing or pattern matching on words in or near the sentence containing the company name. These templates can be clustered into groups which are statistically correlated with changes in the stock prices.

Abstract: Modern medical practitioners face a real risk from frivolous lawsuits initiated by overly litigious patients. Even if innocent of any malpractice, a doctor subject to such lawsuits may experience personal stress and extended periods of time diverted from practice in addition to greatly increased insurance premiums. This patent describes a database system that allows medical professionals to gauge the legal risk presented by new patients, giving them the opportunity to avoid medical involvement with those individuals most prone to engaging in unwarranted legal actions. Other applications of the present system pertain to insurance companies, legal services and other professional service providers.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry, receiver and integral battery all mounted in a casing. The battery may be a metal-air device. The battery may be activated by removing a tape which blocks air holes on the battery or, if the battery is sealed into the hearing aid, air-vent holes on the hearing aid. The hearing aid may also include an air-blocking mechanism which is activated when the hearing aid is inserted in the user's ear and deactivated when the hearing aid is removed. The assembled hearing aid may also be packaged in non-permeable packaging material to extinguish battery activity. The hearing aid may also include an electronic switch which monitors the battery potential to disconnect the battery from the hearing aid electronics when the battery is deprived of oxygen and which connects the battery to the electronics when oxygen is provided to the battery.

Abstract: A microfluidic device has a layer with a capillary break formed by a capillary sluice. The capillary sluice has a lower surface and an upper surface. A first electrode is disposed on the lower surface. The first electrode is coupled to the voltage source. A second electrode spaced a predetermined distance from the first electrode is coupled to the voltage source. A controller may be used to control the voltage applied to the electrodes. The controller may alter the operation of the microfluidic chip in response to fluid sensed at the electrodes.

Abstract: A metal-air cell for powering electronic components in a hearing aid device. The metal-air cell has a flex circuit inside containing an anode mixture. The flex circuit comprises a flexible substrate having a cathode electrode area at one end of the substrate, an anode electrode area at another end of the substrate and an electronic components area in between. The flexible substrate is disposed within the housing. The cathode electrode area is near a top surface of the housing, and the anode electrode area is near a bottom surface of the housing and in contact with the anode mixture. The cathode electrode area has air flow means for permitting air into the housing. An isolation means between the cathode electrode area and the anode mixture is provided for preventing contact between the cathode electrode area and the anode mixture.

Abstract: An electronic signal processing system, including a microphone section and an integral battery, may be assembled with a receiver section to form a three section hearing-aid. The shape of the outer shell of an integral battery may approximate the shape of an ear canal when attached to the other two sections. An integral (sealed-in) battery with such an unusual shape may have a higher capacity battery than those of standard insertable/removable batteries. The integral battery (e.g. a zinc-air battery) may be tested for leakage before being assembled to the other sections of the hearing-aid. To preserve battery shelf-life a “pull” tab may be placed over vents in the integral battery. To activate the battery, the “pull” tab may be removed. Conducting strips may be formed on the “pull” tab permitting the circuits, battery and components of the hearing-aid to be tested after assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a puppet comprising a front side, a back side, and a tummy cavity formed within the puppet. A transparent window section is formed on the front side of the puppet and positioned so that a user can view into the tummy cavity. The puppet also includes a finger cavity.

Abstract: A disposable in-the-ear monitoring instrument includes a monitoring assembly for monitoring one or more vital health signs of a user, a transmitter assembly for transmitting the monitored vital health signs to a remote receiving unit, and a battery for energizing the assemblies. The assemblies and battery are mounted on a printed circuit which is disposed in a cylindrical shell. And the cylindrical shell is itself mounted in an earmold. The disposable in-the-ear monitoring instrument is of an optimum design having a minimum number of components, and thus is easy to assemble on an automated basis. The automated assembly of the in-the-ear monitoring instrument and its optimum design reduces costs and allows for the disposability of the monitoring instrument.

Abstract: The system for the automatic determination of customized prices and promotions automatically constructs product offers tailored to individual shoppers, or types of shopper, in a way that attempts to maximize the vendor's profits. These offers are represented digitally. They are communicated either to the vendor, who may act on them as desired, or to an on-line computer shopping system that directly makes such offers to shoppers. Largely by tracking the behavior of shoppers, the system accumulates extensive profiles of the shoppers and the offers that they consider. The system can then select, present, price, and promote goods and services in ways that are tailored to an individual consumer. Likely shoppers can be identified, then enticed with the most effective visual and textual advertisements; deals can be offered to them, either on-line or off-line; detailed product information screens can be subtly rearranged from one type of shopper to the next.

Abstract: A telephone network includes one or more end office switches not directly connected by a trunk line to a 911-type emergency tandem switch to handle emergency telephone calls. For those end office switches not so connected, a received emergency “9-1-1”-type telephone call is routed to a gateway switch having a trunk line connected to the emergency tandem. In the network, a first gateway switch connected to the emergency tandem switch provides the primary link, while a second gateway switch connected to the emergency tandem switch provides the secondary link. Routing information resident in end office switches is sent to the switch network to facilitate proper handling of an emergency call. The disclosed telephone network allows for less than full connectivity between gateway switches and an emergency tandem switch, while still providing a measure of redundancy to help ensure that an emergency call is completed.

Abstract: A hearing instrument is adapted for positioning in the external auditory canal of a human proximal to the tympanic membrane. It includes a substantially rigid shell and a relatively flexible tip member. The tip member includes a hollow body portion defining a elongated passage for the communication of acoustic signals through the tip member. The hollow body portion of the tip member is sufficiently deformable so that an axis of the passage substantially conforms to an axis of the external auditory canal upon insertion. The hollow body is also significantly rigid to resist substantial collapse of the passage upon such insertion. The axis of the passage defined by the hollow body portion is moveable at an angle with respect to the axis of the shell so that the hearing instrument can navigate the canal during insertion. Wax guard and receiver mounting configurations as well as a method of assembly are also described.

Abstract: A telecommunications network (41) for providing telecommunication subscribers (12, 14, 16, 18, and 20) with special features independent of the subscriber's number plan includes a first switch (40.sub.1) that receives an incoming call for a dialed number subscriber. For each received call, the switch launches a first query to a first data base (Segmentation Directory 54) that identifies a particular one of a plurality of special features data bases (56.sub.1 -56.sub.x) containing call processing information for the special feature subscribed to by the subscriber. In response to the identity of the particular special features data base returned to the switch via the first query, the switch launches a second query to the identified special features data base to obtain the call processing information needed to process the call to provide the special feature. In this way, a POTS subscriber can obtain a special feature, such as time-of-day or geographic routing, for example.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a lock releasing mechanism for a container having a hinged or removable lid. A locking arm is disposed adjacent the container lid to prevent an opening of the lid, and a cable, or rigid bar, connects the locking arm to the locking mechanism. The elements of the locking mechanism comprise a slide plate to which the cable is fixed; a spring for urging the slide plate to a locked position, a guide member for guiding the slide plate, and a trigger ball which blocks movement of the slide arm in the locked position. When the container is tilted forward by a predetermined angle, the trigger ball becomes dislodged from the locking position to enable movement of the slide plate, and subsequent movement of the locking arm. When the locking arm is moved out of the path of travel for the container lid, the contents of the container may be removed. In one embodiment, a stop is provided to limit rotation of the locking bar to prevent contact with the container lid.

Abstract: An interexchange carrier (IXC) switch and an associated database route qualified calls dialed to local service provider (LSP) subscribers onto interconnecting facilitiies with local access settlement rates, thereby allowing a local rather than toll cost structure. The IXC switch and associated database operate with existing toll features including those features which translate a private dialed number into a public number. The IXC switch and associated database classify the call into a jurisdictional classification from a customer billing and feature application perspective, and from a routing perspective independent of the customer billing and feature application classification. The jurisdictional classification can include, example, local, toll, interLATA toll or intraLATA toll.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an exercise apparatus which includes a gripping or handle assembly which is grasped at each of its ends by a user's hands. The handle assembly is rotatably mounted on a support having a configuration selected so that when the ends of the handle assembly are grasped by the user, the user is in a position with his hands positioned above his shoulders. The handle is then rotated by the user pulling on one end of the assembly and then the other end, to pivot the handle assembly about a pivot point and stretch the various upper body muscles.