Abstract: A light water reactor to safely convert depleted uranium into a fuel source that could be used as a sustainable source of energy for centuries. The reactor is a type of breed-burn reactor uniquely combined with a proliferation-resistant fuel cycle with no uranium enrichment and no plutonium isolation. It is comprised of a compact factory-produced fast region and a thermal region that produces about 95% of the core power and contains the passageways for transports of delayed-neutron emitters to the fast region, where they can provide additional neutrons (source-based mode) or all the necessary excitation without an external neutron source (self-regulating mode). A second embodiment of the invention is a small unit driven by a neutron source with beam recycling for propulsion, electrical power or radioisotope production. It could also serve as a demonstration facility for the transmutation reactor with fission-fusion fuel.

Abstract: A zirconium alloy nuclear reactor cylindrical cladding has an inner Zr substrate surface (10), an outer volume of protective material (22), and an integrated middle volume (20) of zirconium oxide, zirconium and protective material, where the protective material is applied by impaction at a velocity greater than 340 meters/second to provide the integrated middle volume (20) resulting in structural integrity for the cladding.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a nuclear fuel assembly grid or a portion or a part of the grid, such as a grid strap and/or an integral flow mixer that is at least partially constructed of a composition containing one or more ternary compounds of the general formula I: Mn+1AXn??(I) wherein, M is a transition metal, A is an element selected from the group A elements in the Chemical Periodic Table, X is carbon or nitrogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 3.

Abstract: An X-ray optical component device having an X-ray optical component unit, a motor controller, and a connector. The connector has motor pins and motor terminals electrically connected to a motor when engaged with each other, and a signal pin and signal terminal for sensing detachment of the connector, the signal pin and signal terminal being capable of engaging with each other. A pin-side connector and a terminal-side connector are detachable. When the pin-side connector is detached from the terminal-side connector, the time that the signal pin is removed from the signal terminal is earlier than the time that the motor pins are removed from the motor terminals. During replacement of an X-ray optical component unit equipped with a motor for adjusting the position of an X-ray optical component, unwanted movement of the position of the X-ray optical component provided in the unit is prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus (210) and method for total or partial blanking of an electron beam (e) during a jump between the 2 or more positions of a dynamic focal spot (FP) movement in circumferential direction of the electron beam impinging on the focal track (FPTR) of a rotating target disk (230) of a X-ray tube (110). Alternatively the focal spot size can be increased during this short time interval. Overheating of the anode at the focal spot can be prevented.

Abstract: Apparatus for radiography is disclosed, which includes a scintillator having a first surface for being exposed to radiation and a second surface for emitting visible light in response, and an associated imaging system. The imaging system includes a plurality of scanning mirrors, each associated with a respective sub-region of the scintillator second surface, each scanning mirror being mounted and controlled so as to re-direct light from along a predetermined scan path within the respective sub-region towards a respective optical channel. A photodetector is associated with each scanning mirror and optical channel for receiving the re-directed light and generating an electrical signal representing light intensity. A processor receives the electrical signal from each photodetector and the corresponding position of each mirror to generate therefrom a reconstructed two-dimensional image.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray source configured to radiate X-rays to a region of a subject, an X-ray detector configured to acquire a plurality of frame images related to the region of the subject by detecting the radiated X-rays, a filter configured to filter the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source, an image processor configured to set a region of interest within the region of the subject based on the plurality of frame images, and a controller configured to control the filter so that X-rays of a lower dose than a dose of X-rays made incident on the region of interest are made incident on a region of non-interest within the region of the subject, and control the X-ray detector so that a gain of the X-ray detector in the region of non-interest is greater than that in the region of interest.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray radiation unit configured to radiate X-rays to an object; and a main control unit configured to acquire orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit and orientation information of an X-ray detector and select the X-ray detector based on the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit and the orientation information of the X-ray detector.

Abstract: A modular x-ray source in which the x-ray tube is removably attached to a case and power supply by a removable cap.

Abstract: A method and system for generating real-time or near real-time alerts is disclosed, the method and system related to emergency events. Particularly, the method and system generate alerts to a user that may be filtered based on a type of emergency event, such as a crime-based event or a fire-based event, and/or a location of the emergency event, such as an event within a desired geographic radius.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing emergency service calls from a user device to a PSAP, the user device having an associated line number and being configured to originate calls from fixed and mobile access networks. The method includes determining whether a call from the user device originates from a home location in a fixed access network. When the call is determined to have originated from the home location in the fixed access network, the call is routed to the PSAP, where a location of the user device is determined based on the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) included in signaling associated with the call. When the call is determined not to have originated from the home location in the fixed access network, adding pseudo-ANI to signaling associated with the call and routing the call to the PSAP, where the location of the user device is determined based on the pANI.

Abstract: A voicemail computer system transcribes a voicemail message into text that is presented to a calling party for approval. A calling party is able to approve, disapprove or edit a voicemail message prior to delivery to one or more called parties. The voicemail computer system may analyze a voicemail message to detect errors, omissions, or potentially offensive words. The voicemail computer may analyze a voicemail message to make suggestions as to tone, content or information contained within the voicemail message. The calling party can edit the voicemail message or approve it prior to providing a notification to one or more called parties that they have received the voicemail message.

Abstract: A method and a system for updating contact information in an electronic device include capturing a voice of a caller to generate a voice signature. The method includes determining presence of the voice signature in the electronic device. The method includes updating contact information of the caller based on the voice signature.

Abstract: A Data Entry Confirmation System (DECS) is provided whereby a user with a communication device capable of communicating with the DECS is able to perform a pre-dialing operation based on contact information inputted onto the communication device and transmitted by said communication device to the DECS. Thus, the DECS is able to perform a reverse caller ID operation allowing a user to confirm identity of the party the user wishes to call prior to actually calling the party. The DECS uses the input contact information to retrieve corresponding contact information from one or more databases with which it is in communication and transmit said output contact information to the user device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a second party. First. the second party receives a telephone number of a first party. The second party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the first party's computer-network address is retrieved, first-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the second party's CPE. Also the first party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the first-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the second party's CPE.

Abstract: A digital audio conferencing system has a fixed base station that is in communication with a far end (R.E.) system over a communication network. The base station is associated with a wireless loudspeaker and one or more wireless microphones. The base station operates to receive F.E. audio signals to be played by the wireless loudspeaker, and it operates to remove acoustic echo picked up by the wireless microphones. A first clock controlling F.E. audio signal sampling at the base station, and a second clock controlling audio signal sampling and at a wireless microphone are synchronized to one master, reference clock that controls the operation of the base station. Acoustic echo included in an audio signal picked up by a wireless microphone is removed by AEC functionality running in the base station.

Abstract: A system for automated assignment of monitoring customer-agent interactions is provided. A metadata extraction module configured to extract metadata related to each of a plurality of customer-agent interactions is disclosed. Further, a resource attribute collection module configured to collect attributes about each of a plurality of supervisor resources in the communication system is disclosed. Additionally, an assignment module configured to assign one of the plurality of supervisor resources to monitor one of the plurality of customer-agent interactions based on the extracted metadata and the collected attributes is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a contact center in real-time. An overview page may be displayed providing information associated with a plurality of agents in a contact center including real-time status information indicating that one or more of the plurality of agents are currently involved in customer interactions and indicating progress of the interactions. An interaction page may be displayed for a selected one of the customer interactions providing computer-generated information summarizing the customer interaction in real-time. A user may be connected to the customer or agent to intervene in the selected interaction.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a switch coupled between an input voltage terminal and an energy storage element, a first output capacitor coupled to a first node defined between the switch and the energy storage element, the first capacitor being coupled to a first output voltage terminal, a charge pump circuit coupled to the first node and comprising a second output capacitor coupled between a second output voltage terminal and the first output voltage terminal, and a controller operable to selectively enable the switch to control voltages generated at the first and second output terminals.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) hash module configured to apportion at least a first portion of a message of length L to a number (S) of segments, the message including a plurality of sequences of data elements, each sequence including S data elements, a respective data element in each sequence apportioned to a respective segment, each segment including a number N of blocks of data elements and to hash the S segments in parallel, resulting in S segment digests, the S hash digests based, at least in part, on an initial value and to store the S hash digests; a padding module configured to pad a remainder, the remainder corresponding to a second portion of the message, the second portion related to the length L of the message, the number of segments and a block size; and a non-SIMD hash module configured to hash the padded remainder, resulting in an additional hash digest and to store the additional hash digest.

Abstract: Devices and methods for masking and unmasking sensitive data, based on a standard cryptographic algorithm defining a ciphering algorithm, and a deciphering algorithm using more resources than the ciphering algorithm are described. The masking of sensitive data is done by applying the deciphering algorithm to the sensitive data to obtain masked sensitive data. The unmasking of the masked sensitive data is done by applying the ciphering algorithm to the masked sensitive data to obtain sensitive data in plain form.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer program products, implementing and using techniques for processing data representing observations of entities. An anonymized key is generated. The anonymized key represents a spacetime region with which an entity is associated. The spacetime region represents a spatial region and a time interval. The entity is associated with the spacetime region based on spacetime coordinates for the entity.

Abstract: In a functional encryption scheme where a decryption key dk can decrypt a ciphertext encrypted by an encryption key ek, when decrypting the encryption key in which a parameter ? is set, by the decryption key dk in which a parameter ? is set, if and only if a relation R(?, ?) holds, a wider range as a relation R is expressed. Of first information including a polynomial d(x), plural polynomials Di(x), and predicate information, and second information including attribute information, a cryptographic system treats one as a ciphertext and a remaining one as a decryption key. A decryption device, based on the predicate information and attribute information, selects at least one of polynomials Di(x), and calculates a coefficient ?i enabling a polynomial constituted based on a polynomial ?iDi(x) to be divided out by a polynomial d(x), the polynomial ?iDi(x) obtained by multiplying the selected polynomial Di(x) by coefficient ?i.

Abstract: A method of managing the sensitive data of a mobile terminal and an escrow server for performing the method are disclosed. In the method of managing the sensitive data of a mobile terminal, an escrow server receives a request for registration from a mobile terminal, a user key is generated in response to the request for registration, a user virtual folder adapted to store the sensitive data of the mobile terminal is generated, encrypted sensitive data is received from the mobile terminal if the mobile terminal determines to store the sensitive data in the escrow server, and the encrypted sensitive data is re-encrypted and stored in the user virtual folder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for coding a first data stream and a method for decoding a second data stream wherein the coding is the result of comparing the first data stream with a third data stream formed by a pseudorandom sequence by means of an exclusive comparison operation (XOR). Specifically, the invention relates to the methods based, on hyperchaotic coding methods for generating the pseudorandom, sequences used in coding and decoding.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a cipher then segment approach in a Power Line Communication (PLC). A node or device generates frames to be transmitted to a destination node in the PLC network. A processor in the node is configured to generate a data payload comprising data to be sent to the destination node. The processor divides the data payload into two or more payload segments and encrypts the payload segments. The processor creates a frame for each of the encrypted payload segments, wherein each frame comprises a message integrity code. The processor creates a segment identifier for each frame using the message integrity code and an authentication key that is shared with the destination PLC node. The segment identifier is added to each frame.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for communicating MPDUs having a plurality of types are described herein. One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of processing a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) in a wireless system. The method includes receiving the MAC protocol data unit, the MAC protocol data unit comprising an indication of a communication in accordance with a protocol version. The method further includes selecting a replay counter from one of a first and second sets of replay counters based at least in part on the indication. The method further includes processing the received MAC protocol data unit in accordance with the selected replay counter.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a first audio signal analyser configured to analyse a first audio signal to determine at least one audio source, wherein the at least one audio source has a virtual location; a second audio signal analyser configured to analyse a second audio signal to determine at least one localised audio source, wherein the second audio signal is generated from the apparatus audio environment; and a repositioner configured to reposition the virtual location of the at least one audio source dependent on the at least one localised audio source.

Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) represents a complete sound field in the vicinity of a sweet spot, independent of loudspeaker set-up. The high spatial resolution requires a high number of HOA coefficients. In the invention, dominant sound directions are estimated and the HOA signal representation is decomposed into dominant directional signals in time domain and related direction information, and an ambient component in HOA domain, followed by compression of the ambient component by reducing its order. The reduced-order ambient component is transformed to the spatial domain, and is perceptually coded together with the directional signals. At receiver side, the encoded directional signals and the order-reduced encoded ambient component are perceptually decompressed, the perceptually decompressed ambient signals are transformed to an HOA domain representation of reduced order, followed by order extension.

Abstract: A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.

Abstract: A connector mating assurance system includes a microphone configured to be located in a vicinity of a mating zone for electrical connectors. The microphone is configured to detect an audible sound when the electrical connectors are mated. An output unit is connected to the microphone and receives audio signals from the microphone. The output unit processes the audio signals for mating assurance. The output unit may provide feedback to an assembler based on the audio signals. The output unit may determine if the electrical connectors are properly mated based on the audio signals. The microphone may be held by the assembler proximate to the assembler's hand when assembling the electrical connectors.

Abstract: A game headset receives a plurality of audio channels during play of a particular game, monitors one or more of the plurality of audio channels and detects an occurrence of one or more particular sounds in the plurality of audio channels during the monitoring of the one or more of the plurality of audio channels. In response to the detecting, the game headset triggers playback of one or more of a plurality of voice commands that corresponds to the one or more particular sounds. The voice commands may be predefined and associated with the one or more particular sounds in a data structure. The voice commands may instruct the listener of the game headset to perform an action in the particular game. The characteristics of the one or more sounds may include direction, intensity, and/or frequency of the particular one or more sounds.

Abstract: A method and device for distributing audio data to a number of audio playback devices that are connected to a network. One or more network-related performance criteria of a plurality of the audio playback devices are compared. Based on the comparison, at least one of the audio playback devices is designated as a master device and at least one other of the audio playback devices is designated as a slave device. The master device then controls the distribution of audio data to one or more of the slave devices.

Abstract: An audio controller is provided which includes an audio transducer interface that is capable of receiving audio signals from one or more audio transducers each associated with a channel. A channel selector is configured to selectively connect the audio signals to an output of the audio controller. A tone detector receives a tone from a mobile device and the tone is associated with a selected channel or indicating a channel change. The tone causes the channel selector to output audio associated with a channel. A listening device interface transmits the audio output from the channel selector to a listening device. The audio signal is presented to a mobile device, such as a smartphone or table device. Audio signal received by mobile device may be displayed in graphical form, recorded, or processed and one or more modification may be made to the audio signal such as equalization or an offset.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for cancelling an interfering audio signal. The system may include a mobile device including a microphone configured to capture an acoustic audio signal, the acoustic audio signal a combination of the interfering audio signal and a desired audio signal, the desired audio signal generated by a user of the mobile device. The system may also include a wireless communication module incorporated in the mobile device, to receive a reference signal through a side-channel, the reference signal associated with the interfering audio signal. The system may further include an acoustic echo cancellation module incorporated in the mobile device, the acoustic echo cancellation module to cancel the interfering audio signal from the captured acoustic audio signal, the cancellation based on the reference signal.

Abstract: An integrated audio signal processing circuit is described for reducing crosstalk noise in an integrated headset switch for a headset having two speakers, a microphone sharing a common ground. The audio signal processing circuit includes two audio amplifiers and also has two terminals configured to be either a microphone connection terminal or a headset ground connection terminal, respectively, depending on the type of the headset. An audio amplifier reference node is coupled to inputs of the audio amplifiers. The audio signal processing circuit has a first switch device responsive to a headset ground selection signal and configured to connect the audio amplifier reference node to the detected headset ground connection terminal. The audio signal processing circuit also has a second switch device responsive to the headset ground selection signal and configured to couple the detected headset ground connection terminal to a ground terminal of the audio processing circuit.

Abstract: Adapter devices are provided which are connectable to an audio connector of a media device. The audio connector of the media device is configured to receive an audio input from an external microphone and to output an audio output to an earphone. The adapter device includes a male plug adapted to be plugged into the audio connector of the media device, a female receptacle electrically connected to the male plug. The female receptacle is adapted to mate with an audio plug of a headset and an audio signal coupling configured to couple a portion of the audio output from the media device into the audio input to the media device.

Abstract: An audio system may include a canalphone housing, and a plurality of low frequency drivers carried by the canalphone housing. The system may also include a plurality of high frequency drivers carried by the canalphone housing, the plurality of high frequency drivers tuned to produce an audio trace in the 10 kilohertz to 22 kilohertz on an audio analyzer.

Abstract: A portable speaker system is described. The portable speaker system includes: a waterproof enclosure; a wireless communication element; and a set of speakers. A device adapted to provide multimedia content includes: a communication module adapted to be able to be communicatively coupled to a mobile device via a communication link; a processor adapted to receive multimedia data over the communication link; and a set of output elements adapted to generate user-sensible outputs based at least partly on the received multimedia data. A multimedia playback device includes: a waterproof enclosure; a set of user interface (UI) features; a set of audio output elements; a set of audio input elements; at least one connection port; a wireless communication element; and a rechargeable battery.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a speaker driver, a processor, and a computer readable medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to implement a method. The example method includes receiving, from a first audio information source, first audio information. The example method includes playing back the first audio information. The example method includes receiving, from a second audio information source, (i) a first message, and (ii) second audio information.

Abstract: Intelligent switching of audio sources includes determining, via a computer processor communicatively coupled to an audio system in a vehicle, alternative sources of content that are communicatively available to the vehicle. The audio system renders an instance of a content item that has been received from a content provider, as a source of content, over a network. Upon determining an interruption in a signal from the content provider with respect to the instance of the content item, the intelligent switching of audio sources also includes presenting an alternative content item, through the audio system, from one of the alternative sources of content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spatialized communication of announcements to persons in a transit vehicle moving among a plurality of transit stations in at least two different languages simultaneously, in which at least two sound-emittive speakers are spaced-apart and disposed in opposing relation for persons to hear announcements. A storage device stores signals representative of at least one announcement associated with at least each transit station in at least two different languages. A communicator simultaneously communicates the signals representative of the announcement for each one of the at least two languages to a respective one of the speakers at a predetermined time prior to arrival of the transit vehicle at the transit station in sequence. The announcement, being communicated by each one of the at least two speakers in one of the at least two languages, is spatializedly discernable by persons in the transit vehicle in each of the communicated language.

Abstract: An in-car audio system includes a speaker unit. A frame of the speaker unit is fixed to a support plate serving as part of the structural member of a vehicle via a partition wall member. The support plate has an opening formed therein. A duct is connected to the opening, and the opening communicates with the outside of the vehicle. A space surrounded by the speaker unit, the support plate, and a partition wall member serves as a first acoustic resonance space, and a communication channel located inside the duct serves as a second acoustic resonance space.

Abstract: A processing apparatus estimates a noise amplitude spectrum of noise included in a sound signal. The processing apparatus includes an amplitude spectrum calculation part configured to calculate an amplitude spectrum of the sound signal for each one of frames obtained from dividing the sound signal into units of time; and a noise amplitude spectrum estimation part configured to estimate the noise amplitude spectrum of the noise detected from the frame. The noise amplitude spectrum estimation part includes a first estimation part configured to estimate the noise amplitude spectrum based on a difference between the amplitude spectrum calculated by the amplitude spectrum calculation part and the amplitude spectrum of the frame occurring before the noise is detected, and a second estimation part configured to estimate the noise amplitude spectrum based on an attenuation function obtained from noise amplitude spectra of the frames occurring after the noise is detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling sound output. The apparatus includes a sound processor configured to amplify a sound signal to a certain level to output an output signal to a speaker. An analyzer is configured to monitor whether an output level of the output signal output from the sound processor exceeds a maximum output level of the speaker between the sound processor and the speaker, and to convert the output signal into a signal of a frequency domain to analyze an energy amount for each frequency when the output level of the output signal exceeds the maximum output level of the speaker. A controller is configured to control a volume for the output signal of the corresponding frequency band when a frequency band having the energy amount exceeding the threshold value is detected from the analyzer.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically mixing audio signals may calculate a signal amplitude for each of two or more audio signals. The signal amplitude may be the absolute value of the audio signal. A signal sum may be calculated using each of the two or more signal amplitudes. Each of the two or more signal amplitudes may be smoothed. The signal sum may be smoothed. The smoothing may be a filter or a leaky integrator. A respective mixing gain may be calculated for each of the two or more audio signals using a respective ratio of each of the two or more smoothed signal amplitudes and the smoothed signal sum. Each of the two or more audio signals may be gain adjusted responsive to the respective mixing gain. Each of the two or more gain adjusted audio signals may be mixed to create an output signal.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving an indication that a first module is operatively connected to a main module, wherein the first module and the main module include hardware modules. A type of speaker operatively connected to the first module is identified. The type of speaker is matched to a speaker profile, wherein the speaker profile includes a predefined sound curve setting. The first module is tuned to the predefined sound curve setting based upon, at least in part, matching the type of speaker to the speaker profile.

Abstract: Electronic devices such as compact portable media players are provided. A housing for an electronic device may be relatively compact. The housing may include a door assembly with an attached spring-loaded clip. The electronic device may include a hold switch. Depending on the state of the hold switch, the electronic device may be in an off mode, a continuous playback mode, or a shuffle playback mode. The electronic device may not have integrated media playback controls such as play, pause, rewind, fast forward, etc. As one example, the electronic device may connect to an accessory that has media playback controls. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessory and user input information may be conveyed between the accessory and the electronic device using a wired path including audio connectors. The electronic device may include a printed circuit board assembly that is nested together with a battery assembly.

Abstract: In an electrodynamic acoustic transducer which uses a surface potential of an electret dielectric film as a polarization voltage, prevention of partial suctional adhesion of a diaphragm caused by variation in surface potential across the electret dielectric film is ensured in a simple way. In an electrodynamic acoustic transducer including a diaphragm and a fixed pole which are arranged with a predetermined interval so as to face each other, a facing surface of either one of the diaphragm and the fixed pole having an electret dielectric film, a surface of the electret dielectric film is divided into a plurality of segment regions, and a predetermined surface potential is given to each of the segment regions by a polarization processing unit.

Abstract: A sound receiver includes a casing, a circuit portion, a conductive member, a first piezoelectric plate, a second piezoelectric plate, a first conductive transmission portion, and a second conductive transmission portion. The casing has an accommodating portion. The accommodating portion has an opening and a base. The circuit portion is disposed to close upon the opening. The conductive member having a first side and a second side is disposed in the accommodating portion. The first piezoelectric plate is disposed at the first side of the conductive member within the accommodating portion. The second piezoelectric plate is disposed at the second side of the conductive member within the accommodating portion. The first conductive transmission is configured to elastically and electrically connect the base and the first piezoelectric plate. The second conductive transmission is configured to elastically and electrically connect the circuit portion and the second piezoelectric plate.