Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a lighting end and a mouth end. The lighting end is a longitudinally extending segment comprising smokable material that is intended to be lit and burned, and the resulting smoke generated by the burning of that smokable material is intended to be drawn into the mouth of the smoker through the mouth end of smoking article. A mouth end piece is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generation system that is located between the lighting end segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation system includes (i) a heat generation segment located adjacent to the lighting end segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generation region located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation region incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors).

Abstract: Audio tracks or other portions of a particular type of audio material to be encoded are analyzed to determine a value of at least one coding-related parameter suitable for providing optimal encoding of the particular type of audio material. When a given portion of the audio material is to be encoded for transmission in a perceptual audio coder of a communication system, the value of the coding-related parameter is identified and then utilized in conjunction with the encoding of the given portion. The determined value of the coding-related parameter may be at least a portion of a psychoacoustic model utilized in encoding the given portion of the particular type of audio material in the perceptual audio coder. As another example, the value of the coding-related parameter may be a setting of an audio processor utilized to process the given portion of the particular type of audio material prior to encoding the given portion in the perceptual audio coder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stabilized substrate composition for smoking articles, particularly cigarettes. In general, the stabilized substrate composition comprises an admixture of a binder and an aerosol forming material which plasticizes the binder, together with optional fillers and/or base materials. In the stabilized substrate compositions of the present invention the relative amounts of binder and aerosol former depend particularly on the situation in which the substrate composition is used. In general, the ratio of aerosol former to binder is between about 3:1 and about 40:1. When the stabilized composition is used on a base material such as tobacco cut filler, the ratio of aerosol former to binder should be at least about 15:1, and preferably is from about 25-35:1, with a maximum ratio of about 40:1. If the composition is formed into a cast sheet, the minimum ratio is about 3:1, the preferred ratio is about 8:1, and the maximum ratio is about 10:1.

Abstract: A cigarette filter connected to a tobacco rod is provided with air dilution holes which extend radially into the fibrous material of the filter to a depth of about 1.0 to about 4.0 millimeters. When a smoker draws on the cigarette, air admitted into the air dilution holes flows to a central or core region of the filter and thence to the smoker's mouth. Mainstream smoke from the tobacco rod flows into the filter and is diverted to an annular region surrounding the core region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stabilized substrate composition for smoking articles, particularly cigarettes. In general, the stabilized substrate composition comprises an admixture of a binder and an aerosol forming material which plasticizes the binder, together with optional fillers and/or base materials. In the stabilized substrate compositions of the present invention the relative amounts of binder and aerosol former depend particularly on the situation in which the substrate composition is used. In general, the ratio of aerosol former to binder is between about 3:1 and about 40:1. When the stabilized composition is used on a base material such as tobacco cut filler, the ratio of aerosol former to binder should be at least about 15:1, and preferably is from about 25-35:1, with a maximum ratio of about 40:1. If the composition is formed into a cast sheet, the minimum ratio is about 3:1, the preferred ratio is about 8:1, and the maximum ratio is about 10:1.

Abstract: In a public cordless telephone system, a cordless telephone handset unit requests and establishes a communications link with a public base unit served by a desired local service provider whenever possible. By generating a service request containing a specific carrier request code, the handset unit selectively identifies an available public base unit served by the desired local service provider and then establishes a communications link with this base unit. In response to receiving the service request from the handset unit, all public base units operated by the chosen service provider respond by providing a first acknowledgment signal. All other public base units respond by providing a second acknowledgment signal. When both such signals are received, the handset unit responds only to the first acknowledgment signal and establishes a communications link with the first base unit providing this signal.

Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to the use of an impact modifying agent and in particular the use of levulinic acid, a carbohydrate ester acetate or a carbohydrate ester levulinate in one or more of the component parts of a smoking article comprising a carbonaceous fuel element and a physically separate non-burning charge of tobacco or tobacco extract which article is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol. The use of an impact modifying agent in smoking articles in accordance with the present invention provides the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without burning tobacco and without the undesirable impact or off-taste commonly found in previous smoking articles.

Abstract: Disclosed are smoking articles, such as cigarettes, which include a short, i.e., about 9 mm long carbonaceous fuel element positioned in a heat exchange relationship with a physically separate aerosol generating means. Surrounding the fuel element is a tobacco/glass insulating wrapper, preferably comprising at least four layers, defined from the periphery of the fuel element as: (1) a first layer of glass fibers; (2) a first tobacco-containing sheet; (3) a second layer of glass fibers, and (4) a second tobacco-containing sheet.