Abstract: An x-ray tube has a cathode and an anode produced from a first material, the anode having a heat conductor element on the first side thereof facing away from the cathode. To improve the performance of the x-ray tube, the heat conductor element is composed of graphite doped with titanium having a heat conductivity of at least 500 W/mK.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for determining the characteristics of a local loop using the multi-carrier tones of a DSL activation process. For one embodiment, one or more sets of downstream multi-carrier tones of a digital subscriber line activation process are received at an extended voice-band modem and are capable of transmitting upstream multi-carrier tones of the digital subscriber line activation process over a local loop. The downstream carrier tones and the upstream carrier tones are folded into a first multi-tone signal and a second multi-tone signal, respectively, each having a plurality of component signals within the spectrum band of the extended voice-based modem. The total signal power of the first multi-tone signal is divided by the power of one of the plurality of component signals of the second multi-tone signal to determine a ratio value. The ratio value is used to determine a characteristic of the local loop.

Abstract: A centralized recorded announcement unit shared by multiple end offices on a public switched telephone network stores announcements in digital files. When a call is received at a switch and an announcement is required, the announcement is played to the caller by an announcement device if the particular announcement file is stored locally. If the announcement is not stored locally, a request is sent to the centralized recorded announcement unit to retrieve the announcement file and play the announcement to the caller. Both the request and the announcement file are sent via a packed-switched network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically populating a signaling-based access control database based on output from a fraud detection application are disclosed. According to one method, a fraud detection application detects fraud based on call information received from monitoring points in a network. The fraud detection application produces output for identifying a calling party making a fraudulent call. The output is used to automatically populate a signaling-based access control database. A signaling-based access control application screens call signaling messages and performs a screening action, such as rerouting a call, using the information received from the fraud detection application.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein include a method and system for billing for the use of a service control point (“SCP”). In one presently preferred embodiment, an SCP receives a query from a service switching point (“SSP”) and accesses data in a database in response to the query. The accessed data is associated with a data owner. The SCP tracks that the SSP sent the query and that the data owner's data was accessed in response to the query. After a plurality of queries have been received and tracked, the SCP creates a billing record and sends it to a billing center. Using the billing record, the billing center can charge the SSP for the use of the SCP. These preferred embodiments provide an efficient way for charging for the usage of an SCP, especially when the SSP querying the SCP is owned by a different telecommunications company.

Abstract: Real time detection of the fraudulent use of a telecommunications network is accomplished by analyzing data for each call that is occurring within the network. A signal protocol receiver is used to collect signaling protocol for each call that is occurring within the network. The Signaling protocol data is collected, decoded and formatted into call information records (CIRs). The CIRs contain various operator specified parameters for each call that is occurring within the network. The CIRs are compared to operator defined thresholds. If any of the CIRs exceeds the thresholds, an alert is generated. The alerts are stored in a database where the operator can analyze them and take the appropriate corresponding action to resolve the alert. The alerts and the CIRs are archived in a database so that trends of fraudulent use can be detected and prevented. This method of fraud detection provides for the effective analyzation of every call that is occurring within the network.

Abstract: A communication support system includes a command signal recognition unit which discretely detects a command signal sent by a telephone unit and a command signal sent from a telephone network, and determines whether the command signal is from the telephone unit, the command signal from the telephone unit indicating one of a plurality of telephone services of a data processing device. A signal transmission inhibition unit inhibits transmission of a signal from the telephone unit to the telephone network. A telephone service processing unit performs a telephone service processing of the data processing device for the telephone service indicated by the command signal from the telephone unit, the telephone service processing unit starting execution of the telephone service processing when the command signal recognition unit determines that the command signal is from the telephone unit.

Abstract: Systems and method for processing orders for telecommunications services are disclosed. Generally a telecommunications transaction set of an electronic data interchange standard is received, the telecommunications transaction set corresponding to a telecommunications product or service for a customer. An order for the telecommunications product or service is then generated based on processing of the telecommunications transaction set.

Abstract: A system and method for initiating calls via electronic calendar is disclosed. A call list is associated by a user to a particular time and day within the electronic calendar. When the particular day and time arrives, the call list is forwarded to a service which executes the call list, and subsequently contacts the members of the call list. The system may initially query the callees through a text messaging system to determine which callees are present, and then establish a telephone connection based on responses to the queries. Once a connection is established, the user and the members of the list are linked to a conference bridge.

Abstract: A method of operating a telecommunications network includes, in one embodiment, detecting a call at an originating switch of the telecommunications network and, when a destination for the call matches a predetermined destination, routing the call on designated data trunks. When traffic on the designated data trunks exceeds a capacity threshold, the method further includes routing the call to a terminating switch using interoffice trunks and completing the call to the destination from the terminating switch.

Abstract: A message conversion system comprising a first interface configured to receive a call signaling message for a call in a first format wherein the call signaling message includes a plurality of call information elements, a processing system configured to copy the plurality of call information elements from the call signaling message, insert a first group of the plurality of call information elements into a first group of a plurality of fields of a setup message, and insert a second group of the plurality of call information elements into a second group of the plurality of fields of the setup message, and a second interface configured to transmit the setup message.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchange system which makes it possible to control connection and disconnection between terminals by an operation method which can be intuitively recognized. The exchange system includes display means for displaying icons of various terminals on screens of the terminals, detection means for detecting association between the icons performed on the screens of the terminals, and control means for controlling connection and disconnection between the terminals and/or connection and disconnection between an exchange apparatus and the terminals depending on the contents of the association.

Abstract: In a telephony call management system, a method of distributing calls among a plurality of packet-based load balancing resources can include receiving over a telephony channel a call request specifying call information, comparing the call information with selection criteria to select one of the plurality of packet-based load balancing resources, and querying the selected packet-based load balancing resource to resolve the call request. A response from the selected packet-based load balancing resource can be received which indicates whether the call request can be resolved.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method for automated unit service requests from a telematics unit. A unit request call trigger is set at the telematics unit from a call center. A unit request call is received based on the unit request call trigger. The telematics unit is configured in response to the received unit request call. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for automated unit service requests from a telematics unit.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more ubiquitous sensor(s) for generating awareness data relating to a user, a context engine for receiving and processing the awareness data to determine the user's current context for the purpose of event handling, a policy engine for receiving and relating at least one pertinent evidential indicator of an incoming event from a caller to the user's current context and in response selecting a preferred event handling feature, and a delivery agent for executing the preferred event handling feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling of agents for a network, which in one embodiment among many, can be broadly summarized by a representative method of forecasting network data for a future time interval from past network data, determining a group of agents, forecasting group statistics using at least the forecasted network data, and assigning a second group of agents to work the future time interval. Another embodiment can be described as an agent scheduler system that has logic configured to forecast network data for a future time interval using past network data, logic configured to determine a first group of agents, logic configured to forecast group statistics using the forecasted network data and the agent profiles of the agents in the first group, and logic configured to assign a second group of agents to work the given time interval.

Abstract: A behind-the-head mounted personal audio set that allows a mono-aural personal audio device to be worn in either a wearer's left or right ear without the need to remove or detach individual components of the personal audio sent and mount is disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, the personal audio device has two earphone portions and the mount allows the audio device to operate in either mono or stereo modes wherein one of the earphones may be moved away from a wearer's ear when needed, such as when driving. A boom microphone is preferably pivotally secured to one of the earphone portions.

Abstract: A quantum communication apparatus is used in operations to generate entanglement between the two physical system ensembles and operations to extend the distance between entangled ensembles by connecting pairs of entangled ensembles. The apparatus uses only passive elements without any actuating parts, active devices having no mechanically actuating parts, such as an electro-optical device capable of ultrahigh-speed operation, and a laser source capable of generating high-speed pulse trains or a continuous wave laser source. The apparatus can rapidly execute light irradiation necessary for entanglement generation and connection, and detection of a generated photon at the needed sites within a decoherence time of the physical system.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to providing an n-dimensional entity for encoding and storing data securely. A user provides a cursor position within the n-dimensional entity, and a user seed to a pseudo-random number generator. The user seed may be combined with a fingerprint of a computing system in which the invention operates. The n-dimensional entity is populated with bits from the pseudo-random number generator. Bits within the n-dimensional entity are associated with actions to be performed at each cursor position. Subsequent cursor directions within the n-dimensional entity are determined using a random number generator. Plaintext is bitwise translated to a direction and an offset from the cursor position to a bit matching the plaintext bit within the n-dimensional entity. The offset is employed to modify a row of truly random bits in an encoded array.

Abstract: Disclosed is a key generator, which assures the security of a key by preventing a circuit designer and other persons from readily knowing the value of the key. Random number generator circuits (51, 52, 53 and so on) generate random numbers respectively in accordance with different clocks (CLK1, CLK2, CLK3, and so on). An arithmetic circuit (59) operates on the random numbers generated from the random number generator circuits (51, 52, 53 and so on) to generate an N-bit random number RA as the output from a random number generator (50). This N-bit random number is RA acquired via a key selector (43), and latched into a key register (45) in accordance with an acquisition enable signal EN from a timing monitoring counter (47), which is driven by a clock CLKA other than clocks CLK1, CLK2, CLK3, and so on, to obtain a hardware key, which is a unique secret key.

Abstract: Subject matter includes exemplary systems and related methods for fully scalable encryption of scalable multimedia. A scalable bitstream encrypted using the subject matter maintains full functionality of scalable features in the encrypted form. The exemplary scalable encryption allows transcoding, rate shaping, and other operations directly on the ciphertext without degradation of scalable compression efficiency and error resiliency.

Abstract: A recording medium, comprising a lead-in area, a data recording area that is formed on an outer periphery side of the lead-in area and in which a plurality of pieces of content data is recorded, and a lead-out area formed on an outer periphery side of the data recording area, wherein first copyright management information and second copyright management information with which copyrights of the plurality of pieces of content data are managed are recorded at different positions whose secrecies are different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention is a digital dynamic compression or automatic gain control (AGC) (10) adapted for use in high quality audio and hearing aids applications. An efficient digital AGC design employs two compact ROM-based tables (ROM_CSD, ROM_SPL) in addition to two comparators (COMP_A, COMP_B) and several registers (REG_A, REG_B, ADDR_A, ADDR_B). While one ROM stores the values of discrete input signal levels, the other contains gain codes based on a canonical signed digit (CSD) coding approach that leads to a very simple gain multiplier (20). In many cases an extremely compact table for gain values can be achieved by reusing a single small-size ROM that behaves like one that is several time larger. Two design examples are shown to expound the insights of the new digital AGC design. For the less-than-half-dB-gain-step cases only two adders are required for the multiplier whereas just three adders are needed in the situations with less than quarter-dB gain steps.

Abstract: A hearing instrument system detects the insertion or removal of a hearing instrument into a space and includes first and second acoustic transducers, first and second level detection circuitry, and signal processing circuitry. The first acoustic transducer receives a first electrical signal and in response radiates acoustic energy, and the second acoustic transducer receives radiated acoustic energy and in response generates a second electrical signal. The first level detection circuitry is operable to receive the first electrical signal and generate a first intensity signal, and the second level detection circuitry is operable to receive the second electrical signal and generate a second intensity signal. The signal processing circuitry is operable to receive the first and second intensity signals and compare the first and second intensity signals and determine whether the hearing instrument is inserted into the space or removed from the space based on the comparison.

Abstract: There is provided a headphone with a behind-the-head headband comprising at least one transducer and a behind-the-head headband for receiving the transducer. The behind-the-head headband further comprises first and second contact locations for resting against a temporal bone of a wearer of the headphone. The spacing between the transducer and the first or second contact location can be adjusted. By virtue of the possibility of adjusting the spacing with respect to the contact location the transducer can be positioned exactly over the auditory channel of the headphone wearer without pressure points on the ear.

Abstract: A camera (32) captures successive images of light stripes (22) projected onto an object by a light curtain (18) positioned by a light source positioner (28). A background image is subtracted (616) therefrom, and the resulting image is boosted by binning (618), binarized with a thresholding algorithm (620), skeletonized (622), interpolated (624) and stored (626). Interpolated images are acquired for a plurality of light stripes (22). A processor (30) generates (1604) a 3-D surface model from Cartesian coordinates computed for non-zero camera pixels. A volumetric representation is determined (1610) from the offset of the object surface model relative to a model of a proximate surface, e.g. a seating surface (24). The object is classified (1614), e.g. by a trainable pattern recognitions system, responsive to 3-D shape descriptors (1606) of the 3-D surface model and to the volumetric representation (1610) or portions (1612) thereof.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus provided to a movable body for capturing a clear image without blurring even if it is the case where it is moving.

Abstract: A document processing system and method for using image quality to sort documents. The document processing system comprises: a document sorting system that designates a destination pocket for each document based on data gathered from each document; a document imaging system that captures an image of each document; and an image quality analysis system that analyzes each image and causes any document having an unacceptable image to be redirected to an unacceptable destination pocket.

Abstract: A methodology and apparatus is described that incorporates the use of thermal infrared imaging into a complete end-to-end face recognition system. Since thermal infrared primarily images emissive phenomenology there are advantages over video imaging in the reflective domain (e.g., visible, near-infrared) for face recognition, particularly with respect to image invariance in the presence of varying illumination incident on the subject. On the other hand video cameras in the reflective domain provide important image detail not apparent in thermal infrared imagery. Fusion of thermal infrared imagery with reflective domain (e.g., visible, near-infrared) imagery provides even further advantages. Embodiments of such systems that incorporate thermal infrared imaging for automatic face recognition are important for access control, verification, identification, and surveillance and monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fingerprint sensing mechanism using a two-dimensional thermoelectric sensor array to capture the thermal image related to the ridges and valleys on the finger, wherein its fabricating method is totally compatible with integrated circuits processing. Using the body temperature of a human being as the stimulation source for biometrics, a temperature difference is produced from a ridge of a fingerprint contacting the thermoelectric sensor and the temperature gradient is converted into an electrical signal. A plurality of thermoelectric sensors arranged in a two-dimensional array forms a fingerprint sensor so as to obtain the electrical signal output of the ridge profile of the fingerprint.

Abstract: A dermatoglyph test system examines dermatoglyph of fingers, big toes and palms comprising at least an image capture device to capture images of testers' all fingers, big toes and palms dermatoglyph, a recognition unit to recognize the features of dermatoglyph and an output unit to output the features of the dermatoglyph in characters.

Abstract: In computer aided diagnosis, a high-accuracy image indicating a temporal difference of a diseased part of a patient is produced from a current image and a past image as follows. First, a plurality of matching ROIs (Regions of Interest) are defined on the current image and the past image. A matching processing is performed on corresponding ROIs of the two images to determine points on the past image corresponding to the respective points on the current image. Obtained shift vectors are fitted to a two-dimensional polynomial. In the fitting, when a matching ROI of the current image is included in or overlapped with a previously-defined region of interest, shift vectors are weighted by a small factor. The current image is then modified according to obtained fitting coefficients. Finally, an image indicating the difference between the modified current image and the past image is produced.

Abstract: A method for applying correction adapted to the shape of a subject to be imaged. The method includes applying edge enhancement to data D(r, v, c) of interest if the difference between the data D(r, v, c) of interest and data D(r, v+1, c) in a view adjacent to the view corresponding to the data D(r, v, c) is large, while smoothing is applied to the data D(r, v, c) of interest when the difference is small.

Abstract: A device for inspecting microscopic objects. A plurality of LEDS is arranged in an array underneath a lens. Some of the LEDS are lighted and some of the LEDS are unlighted. A computer is in control of the LED array. The computer turns on selected LEDS from the array to form the lighted LEDS. Also, the computer turns off selected LEDS from the array to form the unlighted LEDS. The lighted LEDS form a pattern of lighted LEDS underneath the lens. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is connected to a computer controlled camera and the microscopic objects are microscopic crystals.

Abstract: A “Woodprint™” characterization and identification technique employs cameras (16), lighting (14), camera interface hardware (18), a computer (20), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood (8) to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (8), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece (8) reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece (8).

Abstract: After a CAD data and a parts library are combined to produce an inspection data, the set data for the inspection window is automatically corrected using the image of a bare board for a board to be inspected. In this correcting process, an inspection window based on the aforementioned inspection data is set on a bare board image, and then an image in the inspection window W4 making up a reference for setting other windows is binarized, and lands 35 on this binary image are detected. Further, on the basis of the detection result, the set position and size of land windows W1 for solder inspection are corrected, after which the set positions of other inspection windows W2 to W4 are corrected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the change in position of an item of luggage in order to examine a suspect region in this item of luggage.

Abstract: An image processing method of making luminance correction on the basis of a luminance histogram showing luminance level distribution of image data expressing an image by a numerical value. A luminance average value, a luminance standard deviation, and a peak distance in the luminance histogram are obtained. A distribution discrimination value which can discriminate whether the luminance level distribution is deviated on the low/high luminance side in the histogram is compared with the peak distance. A halftone presence/absence discrimination value which can discriminate whether the luminance distribution is not deviated in the halftone in the luminance histogram is compared with the standard deviation. A backlight image is discriminated by the comparison results. An exposing state of an image other than a backlight image is discriminated by using an exposing state discrimination value. The proper luminance correction is made in accordance with the exposing state.

Abstract: A production system and method for producing a VIPDL output stream from a dynamic document and a recipients list including a data iterator for iterating through the recipients list one record at a time and computing values for each dynamic object in the dynamic document for the record, a document instantiator for creating an instance document for the record, an output generator operating in tandem with the document instantiator for generating code specifying the rendering of the document instance, and a merge component for generating the VIPDL output stream from output of the output generator.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology is described herein for recognizing the perceptual similarity of the content of digital goods. At least one implementation, described herein, introduces a new hashing technique. More particularly, this hashing technique produces hash values for digital goods that are proximally near each other, when the digital goods contain perceptually similar content. In other words, if the content of digital goods are perceptually similar, then their hash values are, likewise, similar. The hash values are proximally near each other. This is unlike conventional hashing techniques where the hash values of goods with perceptually similar content are far apart with high probability in some distance sense (e.g., Hamming). This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the corners of a region in an image.

Abstract: In object registration and recognition based on a set of known templates, the tremendous set of possible transformations that may relate the template and an observed signature makes any detection and recognition problem ill-defined unless this variability is taken into account. The present invention estimates the deformation that transforms some pre-chosen representation of an object (template) into the current observation. The method employs a set of non-linear operators to replace a high dimensional problem by an equivalent linear problem, expressed in terms of the unknown parameters of the transformation model. The solution is applicable to any homeomorphic transformation regardless of its magnitude. In the special case where the transformation is affine the solution is shown to be exact.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus is placed on a desk and an object to be captured is presented above the apparatus. An illumination device can emit light of a plurality of wavelengths, and a camera captures an image of an object to be captured using different wavelengths. By processing an image using different wavelengths, the material of the object to be captured can be obtained. The captured image is compared with a recorded image stored in the image capture apparatus and used in image determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering detected events to determine events of interest. A sensor data analysis system identifies a plurality of detected events from provided sensor data and evaluates the sensor data to determine at least one characteristic associated with each event. The sensor data analysis system reports the plurality of detected events and their associated characteristics. At least one affiliated event generator is operative to generate at least one affiliated event and produce at least one event report. A given event report provides at least one characteristic associated with an affiliated event. An event filtering system compares the at least one event report to the detected events to identify at least one affiliated event amongst the plurality of detected events.

Abstract: A method is provided clustering data points in a multidimensional dataset in a multidimensional image space that comprises generating a multidimensional image from the multidimensional dataset; generating a pyramid of multidimensional images having varying resolution levels by successively performing a pyramidal sub-sampling of the multidimensional image; identifying data clusters at each resolution level of the pyramid by applying a set of perceptual grouping constraints; and determining levels of a clustering hierarchy by identifying each salient bend in a variation curve of a magnitude of identified data clusters as a function of pyramid resolution level.

Abstract: A method for encoding characters includes identifying one or more sequences of the character codes that are likely to be generated due a segmentation error in application of a pattern recognition process, and associating a respective extension character code with each of the sequences. The area of an image containing characters is divided into segments, such that each segment contains approximately one character. The pattern recognition process is applied to each of the segments in order to generate an input string of character codes. At least one of the identified sequences of the character codes in the input string is replaced with the respective extension character code so as to generate a modified string. The output string is determined by comparing the modified string to a directory of known strings.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for generating data to be used for image processing, in which the image processing apparatus includes, a dividing unit dividing code data of a compressed image into a plurality of segments, a code size computing unit computing a code size corresponding to each of the plurality of segments, and a memory unit storing the corresponding relation between the code size and each of the plurality of segments.

Abstract: An image processing method for facilitating data transmission is provided. An image compression method is performed to convert X-bits binary digital signals to a binary compressed data in a floating-point form of (1.n)*2m. Bit m represents the first bit with logic level “1” of the X-bits binary digital signals, and n represents the bits taken from the X-bits binary digital signals after the bit m. The binary compressed data in the floating-point form of (1.n)*2m is outputted with a sequence of binary number representing a set of (m, n). The latter n bits of the sequence of binary numbers are consisted of the n bits of the X-bits digital signal. Therefore, by the present image compression method, the transmission amount of image data is reduced. The transmission time of image data and the volume of a memory for storing the image data are also reduced.

Abstract: An image processing method for facilitating data transmission is provided. An image compression method is performed to convert X-bits binary digital signals to a binary compressed data in the form of n*2m, in which n is represented by the former Y bits of the X-bits binary digital signals, m is set to the value of (X-Y), and represented by binary numbers with [log2 (X-Y+1)] bits. The binary compressed data is transmitted with a sequence of [log2 (X-Y+1)]+Y bits, representing (m, n), wherein m is the former [log2 (X-Y+1)] bits and n is the latter Y bits. Therefore, by the present image compression method, the transmission amount of image data is reduced. The transmission time of image data and the volume of a memory for storing the image data are also reduced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (1) is adapted to carry out a heavy-load operation that requires a longer processing time as compared with other ordinary operations. The apparatus comprises multiple heavy-load processing units (14, 15, 16, 17) arranged in parallel with each other, a data distribution unit (13) configured to distribute image-related data to each of the heavy-load processing units, and a data synthesizing unit (18) configured to synthesize multiple data sets output from the heavy-load processing units so as to produce a sequence of heavy-load processed data that is substantially the same as one obtained if a single heavy-load processing section were employed.