Patents Issued in December 20, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010053191
    Abstract: A synchronization establishing method of a mobile station in a mobile communication system is proposed which can reduce the effect of noise or interference, and achieve higher accuracy than conventional method. To enable the mobile station to detect a signal transmitted from a base station, and to establish synchronization to the signal in a mobile communication system in which a synchronization channel is multiplexed periodically into the downlink signal, the mobile station averages, in phase and in complex numbers, correlation values of the synchronization channel over a plurality of periods, followed by detecting the power of them to carrying out peak detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Motohiro Tanno, Takehiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20010053192
    Abstract: A portable radio system, a portable radio equipment to be used in the same and a frequency error prediction method can be adapted to large frequency error by making tap number smaller and frequency error smaller. The portable radio system employs an automatic frequency control for detecting a frequency shift of an internal oscillator of a portable radio equipment with reference to a received wave transmitted from a base station having higher precision of frequency and adjusting the frequency of the internal oscillator by feeding back the frequency shift to the internal oscillator. Coordinate rotation digital computation (CORDIC) is employed for calculation of arctangent in the automatic frequency control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Mariko Matsu Moto, Shigeru Ono
  • Publication number: 20010053193
    Abstract: SYNC parsing for Cable Modem Clock Synchronization is implemented using software processing with hardware assist in a manner that achieves the cost benefits of software SYNC parsing with the time accuracy of hardware SYNC parsing. Hardware scans for the arrival of new MPEG frames. Whenever any MPEG frame arrives, the NPEG frame is processed to extract MAC packets. If a SYNC packet is discovered during this processing, the software determines the SYNC arrival time, a comparison is made between the time the SYNC arrival time and the SYNC time value, and the software uses the difference to adjust the Cable Modem clock. Implementation variations include different approaches to when timestamps are recorded, the calculation of the SYNC arrival time, the use of software to process the MPEG frame and MAC packets, and the use of software to perform the time comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Hirak Mitra, David Stark
  • Publication number: 20010053194
    Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a means for preventing interference and the occurrence of “sliding collisions” when two or more DECT communication systems are used in relatively close proximity The invention provides for the connection of the DECT systems to a data communication network along which a timing reference signal is carried such that the DECT systems connected to the network are synchronised. In one embodiment further steps can be taken to adapt the timing reference signal to take into account changes in the distance from the respective DECT systems to the data communication system head end at which the timing reference is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Pace Micro Technology Plc
    Inventor: Graham Johnson
  • Publication number: 20010053195
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the invention is composed of a counter which outputs intermediate carry signals (CARRY 0, 1, 2) and the final carry signal (CARRY END) for determining the end of a delay output signal in a period starting from a delay pulse-generating trigger signal (DPT) and continuing for a predetermined time, and a delay circuit which outputs count up signals (COUNT UP) for counting up the counter on the basis of pulse signals generated in accordance with the intermediate carry signals and the DPT. According to the aforementioned semiconductor device, the delay output signal can be outputted without using an external clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Katsumi Yahiro
  • Publication number: 20010053196
    Abstract: A weight compensation mechanism for compensating for the weight of a stage movable in at least the vertical direction along a vertical reference plane by using a pulley uses a half hydrostatic bearing as a bearing for supporting the pulley shaft of a pulley. A hydrostatic bearing with a large load-carrying capacity can be provided by halving the hydrostatic bearing, and a weight compensation mechanism applicable even when a heavy load acts can be provided by supporting the pulley shaft by the bearing. The half hydrostatic bearing is preferably formed from a magnetic member and/or electromagnet so as to pre-load the pulley shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Publication number: 20010053197
    Abstract: A method for measuring a height of a bump formed on a work of substrate, the method comprising: irradiating X-rays having a predetermined wavelength and an incident intensity toward a first work of substrate which is the same as the above-mentioned work of substrate, but no bump is formed thereon, and detecting a first X-ray transmitted intensity at a position on which the bump is to be formed; irradiating X-rays having the same wavelength and incident intensity toward a material constituting the bumps and detecting a linear absorption coefficient of the X-rays; memorizing the first X-ray transmitted intensity and the linear absorption coefficient as known data; and irradiating X-rays having the same wavelength and the same incident intensity toward a second work of substrate which is the same as the above-mentioned work of substrate, but bump is formed thereon, and detecting a second X-ray transmitted intensity at a position on which the bump is formed; and determining the height of the bump from the second
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Kei Murayama, Mitsutoshi Higashi
  • Publication number: 20010053198
    Abstract: A channel-cut monochromator has at least two kinds of reflecting surface pairs processed on a common single crystal block. Each reflecting surface pair has a first and a second reflecting surfaces between which X-rays are reflected even-number times. The channel-cut monochromator can be rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to a reference plane so as to switch the reflecting surface pair which reflects X-rays. An X-ray beam incident on any reflecting surface pair or its extension line is tangent to a common imaginary circle whose center coincides with the axis of rotation. With this structure, the switchover of the reflecting surface pair is accomplished by only the rotation of the channel-cut monochromator around its axis of rotation, so that various X-ray beams reflected by various Miller indices can be taken out selectively. The channel-cut monochromator may have a direct path through which an X-ray beam passes in no contact with any reflecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20010053199
    Abstract: Collimation device of the type intended to direct an energy beam in a given direction and at a given solid angle, the collimation device being capable of being installed on output of an energy beam generating means and of being connected to a control unit. The collimation device includes means for testing operation of the assembly formed by the energy beam generating means, the collimation device 1 and the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Dietmar Sundermann, Lionel Desponds, Jean-Luc Duflot
  • Publication number: 20010053200
    Abstract: When X-rays are projected to an X-ray sensor through a grid, a pitch of the grid has a relationship such that a length of multiplying an odd number to a half pitch of a projection image is equal to a pitch of detection pixels of the X-ray sensor. X-rays passing through a sample to be measured via the grid are detected by the X-ray sensor. Levels of the detected X-ray detection signals are inputted into an operation process portion and subjected to an equalizing process for every even number detection pixel group continuously lined up in a pitch direction of the grid, i.e. with a combination of a high value and a low value of the levels of the X-ray detection signals, as a unit. As a result, irregularities of the levels of the X-ray detection signals can be corrected, and moires generated on an output screen of an image display portion can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki Hori
  • Publication number: 20010053201
    Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus has a base and a support connected by an arm arrangement. The support is connected to a holding device in which a curved carrier is displaceably mounted, the curved carrier having an X-ray emitter at one end and a radiation detector at an opposite end. An examination table is movable between the X-ray emitter and the radiation detector. The arm arrangement is composed of at least first and second arms. The first arm is rotatably mounted at a shaft at the base, and the second arm is rotatably mounted at a shaft at the carrier. The respective free ends of the first and second arms are rotatably connected to each other by another shaft. The carrier, without bothersome components of the stand beneath the examination table, can be rotated 90° from a head-adjusted position in both directions to lateral positions, while maintaining the isocenter at a fixed position, and the carrier also can be lowered to the floor on which the base is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Enar Leandersson, Arne Borggren, Jan Narfstrom
  • Publication number: 20010053202
    Abstract: An accessory for fluoroscopy equipment is provided to support the x-ray tube and detector on a pedestal with respect to a patient limb for quantitative bone densitometry measurement. Software loaded into the associated digital imaging fluoroscopy equipment provides necessary correction of the images for the quantitative accuracy needed for bone densitometry. Alternatively, a specialized detector or extremely low form factor image intensifier may be inserted in the pedestal to be used in lieu of the fluoroscopy equipment detector. A similar software correction is performed on an associated computer when a separate detector must be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Richard B. Mazess, David L. Ergun, Joseph P. Bisek
  • Publication number: 20010053203
    Abstract: This invention provides an X-ray CT apparatus which can be mounted in a motor vehicle, trailer, or container, including locking mechanisms for locking at least some of the movable portions of the X-ray CT apparatus, detectors for detecting the locking/unlocking states of the locking mechanisms, and a notifying unit for representing the states of the locking mechanisms on the basis of outputs from the detectors. Collision of an unlocked movable portion with its periphery during traveling can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Takahiro Ishii, Tatsuro Suzuki, Tetsuya Honda, Masami Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20010053204
    Abstract: An external tracking system for use three dimensional (3D) reconstruction with X-ray C-arm systems comprises a set of marker or tool plates and a sensor system. It measures the 6D pose (position and orientation) of these tool plates relative to the sensor. The tool plate of such a tracking system is rigidly attached to the X-ray source frame of the C-arm system. In order to use an external tracking system for the recovery of projection geometry for 3D tomographic reconstruction, the relations of the external sensor coordinate systems to patient/world and X-ray coordinate systems have to be determined. Previously the transformation from tool plate to X-ray coordinate system has been determined based on CAD drawings and a calibration of the focal point of the X-ray system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Nassir Navab, Matthias Mitschke
  • Publication number: 20010053205
    Abstract: A subscriber circuit allowing a reliable and proper subscriber line test is disclosed. The subscriber circuit includes a splitter and a feeder for feeding a current to subscriber equipment through a subscriber line. A path selector is provided to select one of a first path and a second path between the subscriber line and the feeder. The first path has the splitter inserted therein and the second path has no splitter inserted therein. The path selector normally selects the first path. When the subscriber line test instruction is received, the path selector selects the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kikui
  • Publication number: 20010053206
    Abstract: A network based voice mail system without losing any of the advantages of traditional answering machines includes a small device, which looks like an answering machine and costs about the same, and three-way calling service. The small device (called a Remote Answering Device) looks just like an ordinary answering machine. It has a speaker, a message number indicator and the basic play back control buttons like “play”, “delete”, “stop”, “rewind”, “skip”, etc. When a call comes in that is not answered by a human, the Remote Answering Device will pick up after a preselected number of rings and play a prerecorded greeting that is stored locally and then prompt the caller to wait for the beep. The Remote Answering Device then uses three-way calling service to conference the user's voice mail number into the call, by sending a hook flash signal and speed dialing the user's voice mail number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Urs A. Muller
  • Publication number: 20010053207
    Abstract: A network infrastructure integrated system which is able to integrate a telephone line network and a power line network as a single network using a simple circuit includes a first network to which a plurality of Home Information Machines are connected; a second network to which a plurality of Home Information Machines are connected; and a network bridge connected between the first and second networks and enabling the Home Information Machines to share respective applications and data with each other, whereby the cost can be reduced, the interchangeability is increased, and the accessibility to the network can be increased by using both the power lines and the telephone lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Paul Jeon, Won Kwang Baik
  • Publication number: 20010053208
    Abstract: A system and method for accessing a party with a telephone over a LAN with user verification and dialing achieved by making use of handwriting analysis. A server incorporating phone agents and user agents is linked to software for analyzing the handwriting from a touch sensitive pad. The system and method prevents unauthorized access to a dialed party and ensures user validity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Debbie Pinard, Douglas Oddy
  • Publication number: 20010053209
    Abstract: The call charging method, enables to charge a call under control of an Intelligent Network service. The Intelligent Network service is executed by a Service Control Point. The Service Control Point additionally determines the charge of the call, based on the result of a processed customized call charging object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventor: Michel Jose Claude Ghislain Genette
  • Publication number: 20010053210
    Abstract: A public telephone with a cash payment function is connected to a server of a banking agency through a telephone network and verifies whether a card, such as credit card, inserted by a user is available for the requested cash service and, as the result of the verification, provides an amount of money required by the user from a currency cassette, thereby facilitating the cash withdrawal for the user. Therefore, an operator can use an inexpensive telephone network, instead of an exclusive line, thereby reducing operational cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Hwang-Sub Kwon
  • Publication number: 20010053211
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for the management of subscriber functions in a digital telephone exchange. According to the invention, the functions for default subscribers are stored in and read from default records common to the subscribers, and only the functions for special subscribers are stored in and read from subscriber-specific records. The invention allows significantly faster execution of operations applying to subscriber functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Jukka Jarvi
  • Publication number: 20010053212
    Abstract: An improved technique of managing a multiparty conference of a digital domain such as the Internet is disclosed. A party may invite other party(ies) to split the conference into two conferences. Parties invited establish communications with all other invited parties to create the second conference. Also, an improved technique for preventing collisions of messages in a multiparty conference of a digital domain such as the Internet is disclosed. A deference algorithm is provided that prioritizes messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mark, Kalon Kelley, Mark Grosen
  • Publication number: 20010053213
    Abstract: A teleconferencing system comprised of one or more telecommunication systems; two or more subscriber terminals connected to the telecommunication systems; an electronic computing means connected any telecommunication system of the teleconferencing system. The electronic computing means, e.g. a server-type computer runs a conference initiating program; and a means for providing an availability signal associated with each subscriber terminal. The availability signal is accessible to the server and any participating telecommunication system is capable of cooperating with program for initiating a conference between the subscriber terminals; program initiates a conference between the subscriber terminals by attempting transmission of a conference call when such call is requested by any of the subscriber terminals; the conference call is transmitted to each subscriber terminal as soon as its associated availability signal indicates availability of that terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Linh Truong, Lucas S. Heusler, Yann Duponchel, Marcel Graf, Beat Liver
  • Publication number: 20010053214
    Abstract: A method of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T1 . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang B. Kleinoder, Hong Linh Truong, Lucas S. Heusler, Yann Duponchel, Marcel Graf, Gabriel Dermler
  • Publication number: 20010053215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing the calls addressed to a called subscriber (B) of a telephone network (KN), comprising the steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Sascha Larger, Wolfgang Zeller, Emmanuel Sutter
  • Publication number: 20010053216
    Abstract: A call re-directing system associated with a call center integrates an interface on a computer station at an agent station having a telephone, a CTI-application executing on a processor connected to a telephony switch, and an DSP-controller to operate with Transfer Connect protocols for re-directing misrouted telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment, data associated with a call is transferred to the new destination of a re-routed call and re-associated with the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Yuri Shtivelman, Kenneth Scott Myers
  • Publication number: 20010053217
    Abstract: The invention concerns interworking between distributed services in a telecommunications network, especially in an intelligent network. The invention is based on the idea that at least one new Interworking Point is introduced to the call handling model and with the aid of this Interworking Point the interworking between the distributed services is implemented. The Interworking Point can be defined as either a point where instructions received from one service program are reported to interested service programs or as a point where a service to be carried out by the responsible service program is requested by some other service program. The interworking points are armed by the service programs, and the service programs which armed the interworking point are informed of the encounter with an interworking point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Heikki Tuunanen
  • Publication number: 20010053218
    Abstract: A “TC Correlate” mechanism correlates the outgoing TC-dialogue of an originating signaling point (SP) with the outgoing TC-dialogue at an intermediate SP. It allows an intermediate SP to terminate its TC-dialogue (signaling transaction) after it is no longer needed from a functional standpoint, while preserving end-to-end TCAP connectivity. It also allows an intermediate signaling point (e.g., switch or database) to forward a query to a second signaling point (e.g., second switch or database), while otherwise staying out of the TC-dialogue. In both instances, greater efficiency and better use of network resources can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Alex Leung, Mark A. Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20010053219
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of establishing a connection for a communications network (KN2) in which two or more terminals (TE2 to TE7) are assigned to a user group (UG), as well as an exchange and a service computer to carry out this method. A call request is directed by a calling terminal (TE1) to a called terminal (TE5) of the communications network (KN2) which is assigned to the user group (UG). Upon a request from the other terminal or from one of the other terminals (TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6) of user group (UG), a connection (CON) is established between the calling terminal (TE1) and the requesting terminal (TE4). Before the connection between the calling terminal (TE1) and the requesting terminal (TE4) has been established, data (DAT, DAT′) which determine the calling terminal (TE1) are sent to the other terminal or at least to one of the other terminals (TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6) of user group (UG).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: LOTHAR KRANK, WOLFGANG LAUTENSCHLAGER
  • Publication number: 20010053220
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving DES and other cryptographic protocols against external monitoring attacks by reducing the amount (and signal-to-noise ratio) of useful information leaked during processing. An improved DES implementation of the invention instead uses two 56-bit keys (K1 and K2) and two 64-bit plaintext messages (M1 and M2), each associated with a permutation (i.e., K1P, K2P and M1P, M2P) such that K1P{K1} XOR K2P {K2} equals the “standard” DES key K, and M1P{M1} XOR M2P{M2} equals the “standard” message. During operation of the device, the tables are preferably periodically updated, by introducing fresh entropy into the tables faster than information leaks out, so that attackers will not be able to obtain the table contents by analysis of measurements. The technique is implementable in cryptographic smartcards, tamper resistant chips, and secure processing systems of all kinds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Cryptography Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Kocher, Joshua M. Jaffe, Benjamin C. Jun
  • Publication number: 20010053221
    Abstract: Ciphering apparatus in which plaintext is divided into blocks, and a ciphering attribute for use in ciphering is set to each block. Each block is ciphered in accordance with the ciphering attribute set for each block, the ciphered blocks are collected, and ciphertext is formed. For deciphering, the ciphering attribute for each block is referred to, each block is deciphered, deciphered results are collected, and the original plaintext is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuneharu Takeda
  • Publication number: 20010053222
    Abstract: A data processing method comprising the steps of inputting a plurality of object data, encrypting at least a predetermined portion of the object data using first key data to produce encrypted object data, generating seed information which allows the first key data to be obtained therefrom, multiplexing the plurality of object data and the encrypted object data to generate a data stream, and individually transmitting the seed information and the data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Satoru Wakao, Keiichi Iwamura
  • Publication number: 20010053223
    Abstract: A user device receives the content, and pays a content fee, based on the usage control policy of the content, by electronic money up to the allowable amount of money set in an issue log. The user device then creates a usage log including a content identifier and sends it to a service provider. The service provider creates a receive log based on the usage log, and sends it to a clearing center. The clearing center performs settlement processing for the electronic money based on the receive log, and sends a transfer request to an account management institution. By performing the above-described series of processing by using encrypted data, the settlement of the content usage fee is safely performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshihito Ishibashi, Shinako Matsuyama, Hideaki Watanabe, Ichiro Futamura, Masashi Kon
  • Publication number: 20010053224
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to prevent sold digital information from being used in a non-compliant manner. Digital information accumulation capability 212 accumulates digital information 6 to be sold. License generating capability 227 generates the usage conditions for digital information 6. Encryption capability 229 encrypts digital information 6. Digital information key generating capability 228 generates a cryptographic key for decrypting encrypted digital information 6. Authentication capability 214 authenticates recording medium with license management capability 102-1 loaded in digital information vending apparatus 101. Licensed digital information writing capability 230 writes encrypted digital information and its usage conditions and cryptographic key onto authenticated recording medium with license management capability 102-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kishi, Akira Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20010053225
    Abstract: A client signal having a constant bit rate is segmented every a bytes to create code information blocks. The bit rate of the client signal is increased such that the client signal has the code information block and an empty area comprised of b bytes, and the ratio c/a is equal to or higher than 110% to create a code block 3 comprised of c bytes. The code information block in the code block is encoded such that an error correcting code is included therein to have an encoding gain of 6 dB or higher for a bit error ratio of 10−12. Associated check bits are placed in the empty area to eventually generate a super FEC signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Masaki Ohira, Masahiro Takatori, Takashi Mori
  • Publication number: 20010053226
    Abstract: A cable television system provides conditional access to services. The cable television system includes a headend from which service “instances”, or programs, are broadcast and a plurality of set top units for receiving the instances and selectively decrypting the instances for display to system subscribers. The service instances are encrypted using public and/or private keys provided by service providers or central authorization agents. Keys used by the set tops for selective decryption may also be pOublic or private in nature, and such keys may be reassigned at different times to provide a cable television system in which piracy concerns are minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Glendon L. Akins, Robert O. Banker, Michael S. Palgon, Howard G. Pinder, Anthony J. Wasilewski
  • Publication number: 20010053227
    Abstract: Audio-processing devices are known generally. When such an audio device wants to use as input signals from another device de audio device has to determine whether the received input signals are mono signals or stereo signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Veerava Narasimhan
  • Publication number: 20010053228
    Abstract: An active headset system is provided with compatibility with existing socket configurations in a way that minimizes the number of electrical connections. The number of connections between the active headset and the remote noise cancellation circuitry is reduced through the use of a common contact, having a controlled impedance, that serves as an input connection to corresponding terminals of the two earphones of the active headset. According to another aspect of the present invention, the transients associated with plugging in or unplugging stereo jack plugs or up to a seven pin connector into an active headset may be overcome by a transient detector in the noise cancellation circuitry. Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns the powering of the noise cancellation circuitry whether the noise cancellation circuitry is placed inside the active headset or at least partially internal to a remote external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Owen Jones
  • Publication number: 20010053229
    Abstract: The method and the apparatus specify that the acoustic useful signal is generated from a electrical useful signal, that an electrical listening signal determined by the acoustic useful signal and by an acoustic noise signal at the listening location be recorded, and from this the useful signal component contained therein be extracted. Then the useful signal component contained in the listening signal is compared with the listening signal itself, and the electrical useful signal is adapted in dependence on this.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Seyed Ali Azizi
  • Publication number: 20010053230
    Abstract: Acoustic devices have members extending transversely of thickness and capable of sustaining bending waves causing consequential acoustic action by reason of areal distribution of resonant modes of natural bending wave vibration consonant with required achievable acoustic action of said member over a desired operative acoustic frequency range, Areal distribution of stiffness including variation(s) therein is used to get desired locations for bending wave transducers and/or good resonant mode acoustic action from inherently unfavourable shapes of members. Members with combined pistonic active drive and bending wave excitement at centres of mass and geometry are featured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil Harris
  • Publication number: 20010053231
    Abstract: A multi-channel audio speaker system is provided for use with a desktop personal computer. This system includes a cabinet having a bottom surface for placement upon a desktop and having a top surface for supporting a computer monitor. Left front, center front and right front speakers are housed in the cabinet along with two sub-woofer speakers. Left rear and right rear speakers are provided in separate remote cabinets. The primary cabinet includes an amplifier having seven channels of amplification. The system is provided for use with a multi-channel audio source such as Dolby® 5.1 format, which provides five channels of full range audio data which are directed to the first five channels of amplification and then to the front and rear speakers. The sixth channel of low frequency audio data is split and directed to the sixth and seventh amplification channels which are in turn directed to the two sub-woofer systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: HENRY E. JUSZKIEWICZ, ANDY J. EWEN
  • Publication number: 20010053232
    Abstract: A light weight fully assembled speaker enclosure is provided that includes a backbox having a peripheral edge; a grill that is crimped around the peripheral edge of the backbox, and a sound-baffle sheet disposed between the backbox and the grill, the sound-baffle sheet having an opening for placement of a speaker. Also provided is a speaker system having an audio speaker; a backbox having a peripheral edge; a grill that is crimped around the peripheral edge of the backbox and that is affixed to the speaker; and a sound-baffle sheet disposed between the backbox and the grill, the sound-baffle sheet having an opening for placement of the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: John W. Mason, Kevin G. Lane
  • Publication number: 20010053233
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric acoustic converter used as a speaker or a receiver of a mobile communication device such as a portable telephone or the like. In the electric acoustic converter according to the present invention, the size reduction and thinning of the thickness of the electric acoustic converter can be promoted by providing surface-like rear surface terminals 81 and 82 on the exposed surface 33 which is a rear surface of the yoke 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Fukazawa, Tomohiko Kamimura, Satoru Fujiwara, Naoya Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20010053234
    Abstract: A long pseudo-random binary number, such as 128 bits, is used to represent a small increment of money (e.g., a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, etc.). The long length and random character of the number essentially makes each number unique. These numbers are issued by banks or other institutions in exchange for other forms of money (e.g., cash, check, credit card, or other electronic money). The bank tracks the numbers it has issued. A consumer can transmit one or more of these numbers to a vendor to pay for goods or services. The vendor relays the numbers to a server computer (e.g., at the issuing institution, as may be indicated by a bit string appended to each binary number) to determine whether such numbers have been validly issued. If the server confirms they are valid, it informs the vendor, who then completes the transaction. The vendor's account is credited by the institution accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20010053235
    Abstract: A VLD decodes MPEG2 data so as to generate RUN and Level therefrom. A multiplication unit multiplies target data to be added to the Level, and sends a multiplied result to an adder. The adder adds the target data to the Level. The VLC codes the MPEG2 data, using the RUN and the Level to which the target data is added. The selector compares the data length of the MPEG2 data which has been decoded by the VLC with the data length of the original MPEG2 data. If those data lengths coincide with each other, the selector selects the MPEG2 data output by the VLC. On the contrary, if those data lengths do not coincide with each other, the selector selects and outputs the original MPEG2 data. A counter counts the number of times the selector has done the selection, while another counts the number of times the selector has selected the data output by the VLC. The comparator compares the counted values of both of the counters, and adjusts the insertion degree based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinobu Sato
  • Publication number: 20010053236
    Abstract: An input content signal—representing audio or video—is encoded to hide plural-bit auxiliary data therein. The process generates an intermediate signal that is a function of (a) the plural-bit auxiliary data, and (b) data related to human perception attributes of the content signal. This intermediate signal is then summed with the content signal to effect encoding. The plural-bit auxiliary data can include copy control data, i.e., data that can be sensed by a consumer electronic device and used to disable a copying operation. The intermediate signal may include a pseudo-random key signal so as to obscure the encoding and require knowledge of a corresponding key at the decoder to extract the auxiliary data from the encoded content. In some embodiments, calibration data is encoded in the content signal with the auxiliary data. This calibration data desirably has known properties (e.g., spectral attributes, data content, etc.) facilitating its identification in the encoded content signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: DIGIMARC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20010053237
    Abstract: On embedding a watermark in a stream of digital images, a watermark strength is automatically varied in accordance with an amount of the digital images by detecting the amount of the digital images by a detection portion. The amount of the digital images may be measured at every unit time, for example, a unit of block, macroblock, slice, picture. Thus, detectability of the watermark is improved by adjusting the watermark strength on the basis of the amount of the digital images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20010053238
    Abstract: Embedding data to be embedded as a digital watermark is acquired. Packing data is formed in which the embedding data is repeatedly connected three times or more sequentially without interval. Real embedding information is formed such that a redundancy bit with a fixed length that is used for an error correction of an information bit is added immediately after the information bit in which the packing data is subdivided into data each having a fixed length. The real embedding information is embedded into the image data itself. The embedding mechanism for the information is not easily understood, and security level is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Takashi Katsura, Hisashi Inoue, Koji Sugishita
  • Publication number: 20010053239
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing credit card fraud by prohibiting the unauthorized use of a credit card through verification of the absolute identity of a credit card user. Account information is read from the credit card and the card holder's fingerprint is scanned and electronically encoded by a fingerprint scanner. The account information and the encoded fingerprint are then sent to a remotely disposed comparitor via a communication line. The comparitor compares the scanned fingerprint with the file record fingerprint of the authorized card holder and if the fingerprints match allows the transaction to take place. If the scanned fingerprint matches the file fingerprint, the system automatically allows the transaction to complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Jasper Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Harinder S. Takhar
  • Publication number: 20010053240
    Abstract: Performance of comparative reading of two or more images that are to become the objects of comparative reading is improved with respect to conventional means. An energy subtraction image forming means (structure-emphasized image obtaining means) obtains an energy subtraction image based on each pair of energy subtraction-use original images, and a structural-position relation obtaining means obtains the correlation between structural positions within each pair of energy subtraction image obtained thereby. Based on the correlation between structural positions of the energy subtraction images, an image position matching means matches the positions of the structures between each pair of energy subtraction-use original images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Akira Oosawa