Abstract: A modular communications platform and method for processing a communications command are described. The communications platform provides an infrastructure for telephony service providers. The platform includes a connection logic control module for supporting network services, a service logic control module for providing call control support, a subscriber and policy service module to respond to subscriber and policy requests, and an FCAPS module to execute fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security functions. The method can include the steps of receiving a communications command, generating an authentication request, generating an approval to the authentication request if the communications command is from an approved source, generating a billing request, generating a CPL script, generating instructions based on the CPL script, processing the instructions, generating a status report, and processing the billing request and a status report.

Abstract: Characterizing a cargo container and its contents. A system comprising an emitter to emit radio frequency (RF) energy, a receiver to receive an RF response related to the energy, and a processor operative to compare a plurality of RF responses. A method for characterizing a cargo container and its contents, the method including providing a system as described above, via the system: emitting a RF energy within a container, receiving an RF response of the container and the container contents, emitting a second RF energy within a container, receiving a second RF response of the container and the container contents, and comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.

Abstract: An LED, and in particular an LED employing emissive semi-conductors such as conjugated polymeric materials, consists of a pair of electrodes, one or more intermediate semi-conductor layers arranged therebetween and optionally one or more futher layers, and incorporates a microstructured feature adapted to manipulate spontaneous emission or propagation of light. The invention also consists of a method for the production of such an LED and the use of such a LED as an light emitting display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that dynamically allocates processor resources to data transfer-related operations, minimizing the processor resources used for data transfer-related operations and maximizing the processor resources available for other applications. The apparatus comprises a communication device (104), comprising a processing unit (204) and a complexity controller (206), which communication device (104) is capable of executing multiple data transfer-related operations and is highly configurable. The complexity controller (206) monitors a condition of a communication channel (102) and determines the best configuration of communication device (104) in regard to processor resource utilization to meet a given Quality of Service requirement for the condition of channel (102) and to maximize the processor resources available for other applications, such as data terminal equipment user applications (108) or signal processing by other communication devices using the same host processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method to selectively adjust and temporarily retain a vertical beam in a desired position quickly and with a high accuracy, while not damaging an outer surface of the beam.

Abstract: Characterizing a cargo container and its contents. A system comprising an emitter to emit radio frequency (RF) energy, a receiver to receive an RF response related to the energy, and a processor operative to compare a plurality of RF responses. A method for characterizing a cargo container and its contents, the method including providing a system as described above, via the system: emitting a RF energy within a container, receiving an RF response of the container and the container contents, emitting a second RF energy within a container, receiving a second RF response of the container and the container contents, and comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a salt of 5-phenylpentanoyl-(S)-arginyl-(S)-alanyl-{(S)-2-[(R)-3-amino-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl]propionyl}-(S)-alanyl-(S)-arginyl-(S)-alanyl-4-aminophenylacetamide (SEQ ID NO: 1) which comprises deprotection of a compound of the formula II or a salt thereof: wherein Pg and R1 are defined in the description. Also claimed are intermediates used in the process and the processes for the preparation of the intermediates.

Abstract: A method for remote verification in which a first party at a first telephone confirms their identity to a second person at a second telephone. The fingerprint of the first person is read and compared to a stored fingerprint pattern. If the stored and sensor fingerprint patterns match, the first telephone transmits a signal to the second telephone which controls a display on the second telephone to display an image of the first person.

Abstract: An air conditioning system with thermal storage that is suitable for using solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device, which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

Abstract: A product and the use thereof to stimulate and/or modulate immune response in animals and humans, comprising lipids having a glycerol backbone carrying at least one alkyl or acyl chain, wherein the lipid is phospholipid, glycolipid or neutral lipid, saturated or unsaturated, and the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon tails lies between (10 and 22) inclusive, the lipids being defined as esters of glycerol (propane 1,2,3-triol) with fatty acids, also including 1,2-di-O-acylglycerol joined at oxygen (3) by a glycosidic linkage to a carbohydrate, also derivatives of glycerol in which one hydroxy group, commonly but not necessarly primary, is esterified with fatty acids, and execluding those organic compounds consisting of a trisaccharide repeating unit with oligosaccharide side chains and acyl or amine linked fatty acids.

Abstract: A method for remote verification in which a first party at a first telephone confirms their identity to a second person at a second telephone. The fingerprint of the first person is read and compared to a stored fingerprint pattern. If the stored and sensor fingerprint patterns match, the first telephone transmits a signal to the second telephone which controls a display on the second telephone to display an image of the first person.

Abstract: A modular communications platform and method for processing a communications command are described. The communications platform provides an infrastructure for telephony service providers. The platform includes a connection logic control module for supporting network services, a service logic control module for providing call control support, a subscriber and policy service module to respond to subscriber and policy requests, and an FCAPS module to execute fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security functions. The method can include the steps of receiving a communications command, generating an authentication request, generating an approval to the authentication request if the communications command is from an approved source, generating a billing request, generating a CPL script, generating instructions based on the CPL script, processing the instructions, generating a status report, and processing the billing request and a status report.

Abstract: A communications device wherein software modules performing functions related to communications are linked together using local satellite processors. When one module generates a request for a second module, the local satellite processor intercepts this signal and either send the signal on to the indicated active module, or reacts to the communication if it is directed towards an inactive module. The local satellite processors may also manage communications between modules by using a queue. The incoming signals are placed in a queue for transmission to the designated module based on some priority system. Furthermore, the queue may be used to allow modules to suspend work on a job while waiting for more information by holding all other signal traffic in the queue.

Abstract: This fish hook remover differs from other fish hook removers in that it turns the fish hook to a up side down position to be removed from even deep in a fishes throat. This tool does this by holding the eye of the fish hook while a trigger rod hooks the shank of the fish hook from the back side and roles it out of the hole it went in, to a upside down position.

Abstract: An air conditioning system with thermal storage that is suitable for using solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device, which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

Abstract: An air conditioning system that can be driven by solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

Abstract: A preparation and use thereof for modulating immune response, comprising lipids comprising esters of glycerol (propane 1,2,3-triol) with fatty acids, also including 1,2-di-O-acylglycerols joined at oxygen by a glycosidic linkage to a carbohydrate, also derivatives of glycerol in which one hydroxy group, commonly but not necessarily primary, is esterified with phosphoric acid as mono- or diesters and the other two are esterified with fatty acids, thus excluding those organic compounds consisting of a trisaccharide repeating unit with oligosaccharide side chains and acyl or amine linked fatty acid.

Abstract: In a PCM modem system, a method and apparatus for optimizing the fractional sampling phase offset in the upstream direction to maximize the upstream data rate utilizes a probing signal from the analog modem generated during startup and having at least two distinct phases of a pure tone, with the probing signal being detected at the digital modem where an optimum sampling phase value is calculated. From this calculated value, a signal representing the appropriate amount to delay the input data stream is transmitted back to the analog modem for adjustment of the fractional sampling phase so that the fractional sampling phase offset at the central office quantizer is optimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that dynamically allocates processor resources to data transfer-related operations, minimizing the processor resources used for data transfer-related operations and maximizing the processor resources available for other applications. The apparatus comprises a communication device (104), comprising a processing unit (204) and a complexity controller (206), which communication device (104) is capable of executing multiple data transfer-related operations and is highly configurable. The complexity controller (206) monitors a condition of a communication channel (102) and determines the best configuration of communication device (104) in regard to processor resource utilization to meet a given Quality of Service requirement for the condition of channel (102) and to maximize the processor resources available for other applications, such as data terminal equipment user applications (108) or signal processing by other communication devices using the same host processor.

Abstract: A radiation emitting device includes an optical micro-cavity bounded by first and second reflective boundaries (33,39), at least one of said reflective boundaries (39) has associated therewith inhibiting means, such as an array of hillocks or dimples, to inhibit the coupling of radiation from within the micro-cavity (31) to predetermined propagation modes, such as surface plasmon polaritons, associated with at least one of the reflective boundaries.