Abstract: A communications system is provided for sending and receiving information relative to a mobile unit in which a number of network channels are available through which the information can be transferred. The system includes a link selector for selecting an acceptable network channel using application requirements for the particular channel, together with channel operating parameter values. When such a channel does not become available, the link selector is also involved with recovery procedures. These network channel operating parameters include bandwidth, information transfer costs and information transfer packet loss, latency and jitter. Weighting vectors are also utilized with such channel operating parameters in determining suitability values associated with the available network channels. The link selector communicates with a link scheduler that has responsibility for determining when information should be transferred including when there should be a change in the timing of the information transfer.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for controlling the local operation of a mobile station are characterized in that a mobile station specific group of special cells is formed from selected network cells. The information on a group of special cells is transmitted to the mobile station via a radio path and the operation of the mobile station is controlled on the basis of the group of special cells.

Abstract: The invention is a Roaming Solution network system, the system including a Roaming Server, a National Location Register, and an 800 number Remote Switching Unit. The system is integrated with a standard SS7 type telecommunications network and further coupled to an account based billing and call control platform that allows registered wireless credit limited subscribers to place and receive calls when roaming outside of their Home Provider's network. The invention verifies that the wireless subscriber's account balance is sufficient to place or receive the call, translates the account balance into talk minutes, and monitors the call for talk duration. The Roaming Solution network system is further operable such that if the wireless subscriber exceeds the available account balance, the system tears down the call in the first negative minute and immediately decrements the wireless subscriber's account.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing mobile telecommunications networks utilizing geographical positioning information. Initially, a particular telecommunications event, such as a handover event, call set-up event, a dropped call event, or a high bit error rate event, is designated, such that an occurrence of the particular telecommunications event automatically triggers geographical positioning of a mobile unit within a mobile telecommunications network. A geographical positioning request is then transmitted to a mobile location center within the telecommunications network, in response to an occurrence of the particular telecommunications event. Thereafter, geographical positioning information associated with the particular telecommunications event and the mobile unit is determined, in response to the transmission of the geographical positioning request to the mobile location center. The geographical positioning information is thereafter stored in a database within the mobile telecommunications network.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel methodology for increasing the performance of CDMA systems with packet data services by accommodating a variety of users with different rates. The invention operates to increase the spectrum efficiency of a wireless system by using an optimal transmission set of base transceiver stations and assigning proper data rates to efficiently utilize the radio resources. In particular, the invention operates to decrease interference so that the quality of data transmission in CDMA systems is advantageously maintained. Moreover, the invention operates to increase the allocation of bandwidth, particularly for high-speed data services. The invention provides a methodology to evaluate the data rates of different combinations of BTSs that may be in connection with a particular mobile station (MS), allocate an appropriate data rate for the MS and make allocation of system resources more efficient in a multi-user environment.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for requiring a mobile station (MS) to notify the network of the number and/or duration of positionings performed by the MS. A service program or API (Application Program Interface), e.g., JAVA program, which is responsible for collecting information regarding the requests for location information, is either included in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, or other memory, of the MS, or downloaded to the SIM card in the MS. As a result of performing a location calculation, the API within the MS initiates a mobile originated reporting Short Message Service (SMS) or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message to the serving network, which includes a time stamp of the time and date the positioning request was received, the number and/or duration of the positioning(s) and the final location of MS.

Abstract: An audio coupling is provided between a location reporting unit and the microphone of a wireless phone in which location information is provided either by synthesized voice and/or DTMF tones through the audio coupling to the microphone such that the location of the wireless phone can be broadcast on the normal voice channel to a dispatch operation such as a Public Safety Answering Point or to a location-based service provider. The subject interface makes possible the adaptation of any wireless phone to provide location-based information without change to the wireless phone and without any additional infrastructure for the wireless network. The utilization of synthesized speech and/or DTMF tones over the voice channel provides a universality for the system, which can be utilized anywhere where there is both wireless and GPS satellite coverage.

Abstract: A cellular network is controlled such that time slots of transmissions from base stations with the same operating frequency are synchronized. Moreover, adjacent base stations using the same frequency are controlled such that, at any given time, they are transmitting different sync words.

Abstract: A communications terminal, such as a wireless mobile terminal, is supplied with an indication of group call characteristics for incoming group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of incoming calls. A Group Call Server in charge of the group call may selectively augment the calling party number field of the paging message with one or more indicator “flag characters,” indicating one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call subtype, or priority level. The communications terminal receives the group call paging message and selects the appropriate response to the paging message based on the flag characters. The communications terminal preferably examines the calling party field of the paging message and notes the presence of the flag characters. When the flag characters are present, the communications terminal parses out the flag characters and calling party ID.

Abstract: There is provided a mobile radio communication apparatus being able to transmit data and voice, connected with one of base stations over a radio communication channel, the apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile identification numbers (MINs), an interface being able to connected with an external device inputting data from the external device and outputting data to the external device, data communication request detecting means for detecting a data communication request from the external device through the interface, and connection control means for controlling the connection with the base station by using a first MIN of the plurality of MINs responsive to output of the detecting means. In the mobile radio communication apparatus having the above constitutions, the data communication request detecting means detects a data communication request from the external device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an organizer that may receive a cellular portion to form a cellular telephone is provided. An organizer comprises an organizer component, including a microphone. The organizer further includes an area for receiving an additional component. The area is designed to receive a cellular component, and a connection element is designed to mate the microphone in the organizer component with the cellular component, to use the organizer as a part of a cellular telephone.

Abstract: A system whereby subscribers are provided with a universal resource locator (URL), that uniquely identifies, e.g., a web site maintained by the calling party. In a preferred embodiment, when the telephone call reaches the subscriber's handset, a special character, e.g., an “*” is added to the display, e.g., at the end of the calling party's telephone number to let the subscriber know that additional information is available. The subscriber can then obtain detailed information about the calling party by, e.g., pressing a special “send” button on the handset, using a softkey or entering a special code. This establishes a link from the subscriber's telephone to a website on the internet maintained by the calling party. The subscriber's handset then downloads the information stored on the calling party's website for display on the subscriber's handset.

Abstract: An inexpensive, PCMCIA-based radio transceiver is provided that interfaces to a separate baseband modem, which may itself be PCMCIA-based or may be an internal modem of a notebook computer. Together, the PCMCIA-based radio transceiver and the baseband modem realize a wireless modem. In order to miminize cost and increase versatility of the resulting wireless modem, the radio transceiver is a relatively unintelligent, protocol-agnostic, slave device that is controlled by commands issued by the baseband modem. The baseband modem may be a hardware modem or a software modem. In either case, the character of the baseband modem may be changed by downloading new software. The radio transceiver may also be exchanged for another within a family of radio transceivers, each of which customized for a particular radio standard. The result is an extremely flexible, extremely low-cost wireless modem solution.

Abstract: A portable terminal, includes a host detector, a hub circuit and a bus manager circuit. The host detector detects whether a host operates as a bus manager. The hub circuit has a hub function and is connectable to an external device. The bus manager circuit has a bus manager function. The bus manager circuit stops the bus manager function such that the host can operate as the bus manager for the portable terminal and the external device connected to the portable terminal, when the host operates as the bus manager. Also, the bus manger circuit carries out the bus manager function such that the bus manager circuit can operate as the bus manager for the portable terminal and the external device connected to the portable terminal, when the host does not operate as the bus manager.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of implementing transceiver operation at a base station. In the method, at least two transmitter units (300, 302) in different sectors transmit signals at different frequencies to the same multifrequency amplifier (306), and the signals amplified by the multifrequency amplifier (306) are transmitted to a filter structure (500), which filters signals to be transmitted at different frequencies. In the method sector-specific antennas (418, 420) transmit and receive the signals at different frequencies and the filter structure (500) filters the at least two signals received at different frequencies. The filtered signals are transmitted via the filter unit (400) to the receiver amplifier (404), whereupon the signals received from the different sectors are transmitted to sector-specific receiver amplifiers (406, 408).

Abstract: A data communication terminal, such as a cellular telephone, capable of synthesizing speech. The data communication terminal can establish a communication session with a base station over a transmission facility implementing a voice channel and a data channel. The data communication terminal includes a speech synthesizer engine that receives from the remote entity a signal transmitted over the data channel and that conveys the vocal tract characteristics of the message to be delivered as a spoken announcement. The base station generates the signal containing the vocal tract characteristics from a text-based signal of the message to be synthesized. The invention also extends to a base station that can convert the text based message to be synthesized into a signal containing vocal tract characteristics and that sends the signal to a remote terminal over the data channel.

Abstract: A circuit is provided wherein the electronic properties of the circuit are varied by a magnetic actuator. The circuit includes a fixed substrate and a movable substrate. The magnetic actuator comprises a magnetic driver on an upper surface of the fixed substrate that is substantially overlapped by an HTS reaction plate on the lower surface of the fixed substrate. A tuning current applied through a continuous strip of HTS material in the magnetic driver induces a repulsive magnetic force causing the movable substrate to move with respect to the fixed substrate.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to optical imaging systems and methods for providing images of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional distribution of properties of chromophores in various physiological media. More particularly, the present invention relates to optical imaging systems, optical probes thereof, and methods therefore utilizing self-calibration of their output signals. A typical self-calibrating optical imaging system includes at least one wave source, at least one wave detector, a signal analyzer, a signal processor, and an image processor. The signal analyzer receives, from the wave detector, an output signal representative of the distribution of the chromophores or their properties in target areas of the medium. The signal analyzer analyzes amplitudes of the output signal and selects multiple points of the output signal having substantially similar amplitudes.

Abstract: A method of imaging a patient with an MRI scanner (10) includes imaging a region of interest of the patient with the MRI scanner (10) and acquiring image data resulting from the imaging. An image of the region of interest is reconstructed from the image data. The method also includes generating navigator echos during the imaging, collecting the navigator echos and deriving, from each navigator echo, a measurement of patient motion experience during the imaging. A historical record of the measurements is maintained. Parameters for the acquisition of image data are selected to compensate for motion, or specific image data is selected for reconstruction, based on the historical record.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance information acquired by a movable magnetic resonance instrument is used to monitor hyperthermia treatments such as tissue ablation. The instrument may include both the magnetic resonance equipment and an energy applicator such as a high intensity focused ultrasound unit. The treatment can be conducted under automatic control after the operator marks a treatment volume on an image of the subject, such as a magnetic resonance image acquired using the movable magnetic resonance instrument. The automatic treatment can be based on interpolation of tissue response curves at plural test points near the treatment volume. The system can also provide automatic supervisory control during manual operation, to prevent application of heat to sensitive anatomical structures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating the position, preferably in three dimensions, of a sensor by generating magnetic fields which are detected at the sensor. The magnetic fields are generated from a plurality of locations and, in one embodiment of the invention, enable both the orientation and location of a single coils sensor to be determined. The present invention thus finds application in many areas where the use of prior art sensors comprising two or more mutually perpendicular coils is inappropriate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the instantaneous location, the orientation of an object moving through a three-dimensional space by applying to the object a coil assembly including a plurality of sensor coils (20) having axes of known orientation with respect to each other including components in the three orthogonal planes; generating a time-varying, three-dimensional magnetic field gradient having known instantaneous values of magnitude and direction; applying the magnetic field gradient to the space, and object moving therethrough to induce electrical potentials in the sensor coils; measuring the instantaneous values of the induced electrical potentials generated in the sensor coils; processing the measured instantaneous values generated in the sensor coils together with the known magnitude, direction of the generated magnetic field gradient, the known relative orientation of the sensor coils in the coil assembly to compute the instantaneous location, orientation of the object within the space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using diffuse optical tomography and a blood-borne dye in a stroke patient, or a patient suspected of having a stroke, to detect ischemic events or bleeds in the brain.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound imaging system includes a display monitor having a viewing screen with an aspect ratio substantially wider than 4:3. The wide aspect ratio screen is able to display horizontally elongated images typically obtained in ultrasound imaging using a greater percentage of the viewing screen compared to display monitors used in prior art ultrasound imaging systems. As a result, the images can be seen with greater size and resolution without cutting off portions of the images. The display monitor is preferably rotatable 90 degrees to provide a viewing screen having an aspect ratio substantially narrower than display monitors used in prior art ultrasound imaging systems, thereby providing a viewing screen that is better able to show deep images.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that provides a ring of light around a junction to be viewed; the ring of light being bright enough to be seen on the other side of the junction. Such an arrangement may be used in severing an anatomic body, such as the cervix, from the vagina whereby a surgeon viewing the structure from the pelvic cavity has the junction outlined in light brought into contact with the junction through the vagina.

Abstract: A fluorescence diagnosis system includes an exciting light projector which projects onto an organic part to be observed exciting light which is in a predetermined wavelength range suitable for exciting intrinsic fluorophore of the organic part to emit auto fluorescence. The intensity of the auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic fluorophore of the organic part to be observed upon excitation by the exciting light is detected. A plurality of characteristic values are obtained from the intensity of the auto. The condition of the organic part to be observed is recognized on the basis of the characteristic values in which the characteristic values comprise an intensity of the auto fluorescence and a normalized value of the intensity of the auto fluorescence, or a fluorescence yield of the auto fluorescence and a normalized value of the intensity of the auto fluorescence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting leads off in a multi-electrode medical diagnostic system. The multi-electrode medical diagnostic system comprises: a carrier circuit unit connected to a plurality of active electrodes and a reference electrode connected to a patient to be detected for generating a plurality of carrier signals of lead impedances and impedance pneumography; a pre-stage protecting circuit coupled to the carrier circuit unit and generating a plurality of input impedance signals to prevent the apparatus from being damaged by defibrillation; and a leads-off detection unit coupled to the carrier circuit unit for demodulating the plurality of input impedance signals into lead impedance related voltages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forecasting arrhythmia based on real-time intact intracardiac electrograms. Real-time changes in the electrograms that may be used to predict an impending arrhythmia are identified from non-arrhythmic complexes of the intracardiac electrogram prior to the onset of a spontaneous arrhythmia. One embodiment relies on a running comparison between the morphology of a normal sinus template and a sequence of complexes within a running window. In an alternative embodiment the comparison is made between a pre-arrhythmic template and the acquired electrogram wherein a high correlation is an indicator of an impending arrhythmia. The analysis may be performed continuously or periodically.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method wherein subject-specific ECG data is acquired, and forms the direct basis for generating an output signal that is effective to generate a generally representational, pictorial view of at least a portion of the heart. In a specific embodiment illustrated and described herein, an interpretation is performed in relation to creating such a signal, which interpretation uses some or all of the following kinds of information: hypertrophy information; general population reference physiological/anatomical data; and subject-specific physiological/anatomical and medical-history data.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a user with a bio-characteristic index in an easily realizable manner by controlling and displaying said index in a long-term viewpoint, and, in particular, to display a transition of user's body fat in an easily sensible manner and to provide a body fat meter employing such display system which allows the user to execute a preferable dieting and to exercise a management of his (her) body weight and body fat. The body fat meter of the present invention graphically displays on a display section simultaneously a daily, a weekly and a monthly variations of past body fat mass stored in a storage section. Further, variation of body weight values is displayed together with that of the body fat mass simultaneously in the same manner thereto. This allows the user to detect an unreasonable dieting where only the fat free tissue decreases but the body fat doesn't decrease, and provides the user with a safe and healthy weight and body fat management system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining a degree of fatigue of a human body, comprising: two pairs of electrodes; an electric current source; a voltage measuring unit; an arithmetic unit; a storage unit; and a display unit. The two pairs of electrodes are configured to contact with a body of a person under test. The electric current source feeds a measurement current via selected ones of said electrodes. The voltage measuring unit measures a voltage between another selected ones of said electrodes. The storage unit stores a bioelectrical impedance calculated by said arithmetic unit and a reference value. The arithmetic unit calculates the bioelectrical impedance based on the measurement value from said voltage measuring unit and a degree of fatigue of the person under test by comparing the currently measured value of the bioelectrical impedance with the reference value of the bioelectrical impedance stored in the storage unit. The display unit indicates the degree of fatigue of the person under test.

Abstract: A device for in vivo electroporation therapy comprising an electrode applicator with at least two pairs of electrodes arranged relative to one another to form an array and a power supply. The device is used to generate an electric field in a biological sample and effect introduction of selected molecules into cells of the sample.

Abstract: A method for treating cardiac arrest includes defibrillating the patient and/or ventilating the patient and/or administering a cardiac arrest drug such as epinephrine to resuscitate the patient, and then cooling the patient's body temperature using one or more cooling catheters positioned in the central venous system of the patient and/or particularly cooling the patient's brain temperature using a catheter advanced into the aortic arch or into the carotid artery whereby a bolus of cold saline solution is introduced into the blood supplied to the brain to lower the brain temperature quickly, and further cooling or maintaining the brain temperature at a desired level by pumping coolant in a closed circuit formation between the catheter and the coolant source to remove heat from the blood supplied to the patient's brain.

Abstract: The system and method discriminates P-waves or other electrical events originating in the atria from R-waves or other electrical events originating in the ventricles. In one example, far-field R-waves in the atria are distinguished from true P-waves using both a post-ventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) interval and a separate pre-ventricular blanking interval (pre-VAB) interval. Insofar as the pre-VAB interval is concerned, upon detection of a P-wave in the atria, the implantable medical device begins tracking a pre-VAB interval. If an R-wave is then detected in the ventricles during the pre-VAB interval, the P-wave is rejected as being a far-field R-wave. A PVAB interval may also be employed to filter out any P-waves detected in the atria immediately following detection of an R-wave in the ventricles. In another example, far-field R-waves are distinguished from true P-waves using template matching. P-waves detected in the atria are compared against a template representative of true P-waves.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a percutaneous electrical therapy system includes a control unit; an electrode electrically connected to the control unit to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, the electrode comprising a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue at an electrode insertion point; and an electrode insertion pain reducer adapted to reduce pain experienced by the patient during insertion of the electrode into the patient's tissue. Both the electrode and electrode insertion pain reducer may be located apart from the control unit.

Abstract: A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system provides multiple stimulation channels, each capable of producing up to 10 mA of current into a 1 K&OHgr; load. The SCS system further includes a replenishable power source, e.g., a rechargeable battery, that requires only an occasional recharge, and offers a life of at least 10 years at typical settings. Each of the multiple stimulus channels of the system may be combined with other channels to deliver more than 10 mA of current. Additionally, the SCS system has the capability to stimulate simultaneously on all available channels. Each channel has at least two outputs (one positive and one negative) that can be mapped via a low impedance switching matrix to any electrode contact or the system case, thereby allowing a clinician to provide unique electrical stimulation fields for each current channel. Moreover, this feature, combined with multi-contact electrodes arranged in two or three dimensional arrays, allows “virtual electrodes” to be realized.

Abstract: A totally implantable microphone for use with an implanted hearing aid comprises a cylindrical bio-inert housing having a bio-inert metallic membrane at the acoustic sensing end and a bio-inert plate containing electrical lead-throughs at the other end. The cylindrical housing is implanted in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, with the thin auditory canal skin overlaying the microphone membrane surface. Surface features on the housing ossiointegrate it to the auditory canal bone, and a flange on the housing posterior end prevents post-operative migration into the auditory canal. A support plate beneath the membrane limits inward flexing and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. A protruding rim around the membrane perimeter acts to protect the membrane from rupturing during outward flexure. Lithographically formed wires laminated in a thin inert polymer and connected to the lead-throughs enable the overall length of the encapsulated microphone to be very short.

Abstract: This invention describes a personal therapeutic device comprising a supporting means with a far infrared ray emitting body placed thereon that provides a means for enhancing the health conditions of human beings. The device can be carried externally on the section of human body to be exposed to far infrared radiation . The result is improved blood circulation and metabolism and reduced stress and fatigue.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead, having an elongated lead body which includes an elongated insulative sheath having proximal and distal ends and which carries spaced first and second electrical components. The first and second electrical components are mechanically and electrically coupled to one another by a coil/core structure extending within the insulative sheath. The coil/core structure is made of lengths of fiber cord twisted around one another, with a metal coiled conductor wound around the lengths of twisted fiber cord. The coil/core structure may include two lengths of a single fiber cord, folded back upon itself to define a loop at one end thereof. The first electrical component may be provided with a longitudinal lumen extending therethrough and the fiber core may be tied into a knot located within the lumen of the first electrical component and the coil wound around the first electrical component.

Abstract: A cardioversion arrangement having an electrode arrangement for the intracardial discharge of electrical pulses in the atrium of a heart, having an electrode line and in the region of its distal end a plurality of electrodes which can be electrically connected by way of the electrode line to an electrical pulse-discharging device and a defibrillator, wherein the electrode-bearing region at the distal end of the electrode line is split into two branches of which one is in the form of a septal branch and the other is in the form of a lateral branch for assuming a septal position and a lateral position in the atrium of a heart, wherein the branches are respectively provided with electrodes in such a way that each electrode of a branch is associated in pair-wise manner with an electrode of the other branch, for the discharge of bipolar pulses, and the cardioversion arrangement is designed to record intra-atrial electrograms by means of the electrodes by receiving electrical signals between a respective two of the

Abstract: A lead assembly having a ring electrode is adapted for implant and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The lead assembly includes a first porous member disposed around the ring electrode at the distal end of the lead assembly, which can be used as a sensing or pacing interface with the cardiac tissue. In addition, a second porous member is disposed over the first porous member and is electrically coupled with the ring electrode.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling plating pulse rectifiers are provided by identifying one of the plurality of plating pulse rectifiers as a master plating pulse rectifier and identifying at least one of the plurality of plating pulse rectifiers, other than the master plating pulse rectifier, as a slave plating pulse rectifier. A recipe comprising a pulse pattern is downloaded to the master plating pulse rectifier and the slave plating pulse rectifier. A synchronization signal is transmitted from the master plating pulse rectifier upon initiating the pulse pattern of the recipe to the at least one slave plating pulse rectifier so as to cause the slave plating pulse rectifier to initiate the pulse pattern of the downloaded recipe. Plating pulse rectifiers suitable for use as master/slave plating pulse rectifiers and systems incorporating such plating pulse rectifiers are also provided.

Abstract: An information transmitting system for use in a factory, which is capable of transmitting information among controllers simply without the complicated lead-around of a communication line nor the need of complicated communication protocol. A controller for every molding cell Ai, where i=1,2 . . . max and max is a maximum number of molding cells, a conveyance controller to control an automatic conveyor, a stock cell and a centralized controller are connected to each other via an Ethernet line to provide a common information storage unit, and information is transmitted among the controllers through the common information storage unit. Since there is no need of parallel communication lines between the controllers, an I/O port or a communication line may be prevented from increasing in number and the lead-around of the communication line is prevented from being complicated, resulting in a reduction of cost required for setting up the devices.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a control system having a sliding resistance by using a sliding mode control method determines a deviation of an actual value of a quantity of state that is to be caused to follow a target value from the target value (step 1), calculates a switching surface &sgr; from the deviation (step 2), and determines a corrected switching surface &sgr;′ by adding a carrier wave to the calculated switching surface &sgr; (step 3). The carrier wave is expressed by a periodic function, for example, a sine wave, a sawtooth pulse wave, or the like, and has finite gradients on its waveform. Then, the control apparatus outputs an amount of operation u based on the value of the corrected switching surface &sgr;′ (step 4). The amount of operation u behaves in a manner similar to that in an ordinary sliding mode control method when the switching surface &sgr; is not close to zero.

Abstract: A system for motion control in which an application is developed that is independent from the actual motion control hardware used to implement the system. The system comprises a software system that employs an application programming interface comprising component functions and a service provider interface comprising driver functions. A system programmer writes an application that calls the component functions. Code associated with the component functions relates these functions to the driver functions. A hardware designer writes driver code that implements the driver functions on a given motion control hardware product. The driver functions are separated into core and extended driver functions. All software drivers implement the core driver functions, while the software drivers need not contain code for implementing the extended driver functions.

Abstract: A system for preparing manufacturing-process specifications employs process data serving both for a production control system and a simulation system, and effectively uses a result of simulation. The system prepares the manufacturing-process specifications through the steps of controlling apparatuses according to the manufacturing-process specifications, to carry out manufacturing processes; collecting data measured through the manufacturing processes; simulating the manufacturing processes according to corresponding models and parameters; correcting the models and parameters according to the collected data; and amending the manufacturing-process specifications according to a result of the simulation.

Abstract: A method for transporting semiconductor wafers in semiconductor factory automation system, includes the steps of: a) processing a lot of semiconductor wafers to be contained in a semiconductor wafer cassette in a process equipment; b) sending a cassette transportation request from the process equipment to a cell management server when the process equipment has processed the lot of semiconductor wafers; c) generating a transportation instruction in response to the cassette transportation request; and d) if the semiconductor wafer cassette is transported from the process equipment to a stocker by an automatic guide vehicle (AGV), simultaneously activating the AGV and the stocker by simultaneously sending the transportation instruction to the AGV and the stocker. The method in accordance with the present invention can reduce a time taken to transport the semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: An assembly line control system, and more particularly, an automotive assembly line storage and lot controlled system is disclosed. A communications network is overlaid onto a manufacturing assembly line. The assembly line includes a number of readers and processing stations to determine and confirm the identity of vehicles passing proximate to the readers and processing stations, and the vehicles' build instructions, status, position, condition, defect and repair history, etc. This information is stored in a computer database. Based on the information stored about the vehicles, the status of inventories, production schedules and the like, a routing of the vehicles through the manufacturing process is determined and implemented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for creating custom-fitted garments wherein the customer provides critical information which is known to or easily ascertainable by the customer without assistance. Using this critical information, a controller applies rules contained in a model to estimate other critical dimensions necessary for the production of a selected garment, and which are not easily ascertainable directly by the customer without assistance. Using the actual and estimated critical dimensions, the controller determines the pattern data which is used to produce custom-made clothing which provides a superior fit to that which a customer would typically experience from the retail purchase of a similar mass-produced garment.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a method for gauging a mold cavity to be used in the injection molding of a foam product, such as a sole of an article of footwear. The method comprises the steps of selecting a durometer for the product, determining a thickness expansion ratio based on the durometer selecting a thickness value, selecting a material based on the thickness value and thickness expansion ratio, dividing a model of the final product into a plurality of sections, determining a length/width expansion ratio for each section, gauging a mold model for each section based on the expansion ratio for each section, and constructing a composite mold model using the gauged sections.