Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6400286 | Data compression method and apparatus implemented with limited length character tables A new LZW compressor implementation architecture utilizes a plurality of limited length character tables corresponding to the respective characters of the alphabet. A string is stored by storing the code associated with the string in the character table c... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6392568 | Data compression and decompression method and apparatus with embedded filtering of dynamically variable infrequently encountered strings A data compression and decompression system based on the LZW data compression and decompression methodology that includes exclusion tables for storing strings that are infrequently encountered. If an extended string formed for updating the compressor and ... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6359548 | Data compression and decompression method and apparatus with embedded filtering of infrequently encountered strings A data compression and decompression system based on the LZW data compression and decompression methodology that includes exclusion tables storing strings that are infrequently encountered. If an extended string formed for updating the compressor and deco... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6307488 | LZW data compression and decompression apparatus and method using grouped data characters to reduce dictionary accesses In a data compressor, the input stream of data characters is formed into one or more data character groupings where each grouping comprises a predetermined number of the data characters (grouped character) followed by one or more of the input data charact... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6121901 | Data compression and decompression system with immediate dictionary updating interleaved with string search A dictionary based data compression and decompression system where, in the compressor, when a partial string W and a character C are matched in the dictionary, a new string is entered into the dictionary with C as an extension character on the string PW w... | 09/19/2000 |
| 5861827 | Data compression and decompression system with immediate dictionary updating interleaved with string search A dictionary based data compression and decompression system where, in the compressor, when a partial string W and a character C are matched in the dictionary, a new string is entered into the dictionary with C as an extension character on the string PW w... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5838264 | Method and apparatus for performing LZW data compression utilizing an associative memory An associative memory is utilized to perform LZW data compression. The respective locations of the memory contain a prefix code field and a character field. A register containing a code field and a character field is associatively compared to the location... | 11/17/1998 |
| 5757895 | Extracting and processing data derived from a common channel signalling network A platform for connecting to a CCS7 network for supporting concurrently running CCS related applications. Copies of the SUs flowing through the network are sent to the platform where the FISUs, LSSUs and MSUs are filtered to provide the desired SU type fo... | 05/26/1998 |
| 5712908 | Apparatus and method for generating call duration billing records utilizing ISUP messages in the CCS/SS7 telecommunications network A computer platform with a Call Billing application thereon monitors linksets of the CCS/SS7 network extending between Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) Signaling Transfer Points (STP) and Competitive Access Provider (CAP) switches such as End Offices (EO) and... | 01/27/1998 |
| 5644719 | Interprocess communication apparatus interposed between application processes and the operating systems of hosting computers in a system of networked computers In a network of computers having different operating systems with different message transport mechanisms, an interprocess communication layer (IPC) is interposed between applications hosted on the computers and the operating systems thereof. IPC presents ... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5642112 | Method and apparatus for performing LZW data compression utilizing an associative memory An associative memory is utilized to perform LZW data compression. The respective locations of the memory contain a prefix code field and a character field. A register containing a code field and a character field is associatively compared to the location... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5579371 | Common channel signaling network applications platform A platform for connecting to a CCS7 network for supporting concurrently running CCS related applications. Copies of the SUs flowing through the network are sent to the platform where the FISUs, LSSUs and MSUs are filtered to provide the desired SU type fo... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5535264 | Prompt issuing protocol for an intercept voice messaging system A voice messaging service system for caller accepted voice store and forward service. The service offering prompt is issued during dial tone in response to caller off-hook, advising that the service can be accepted by the caller if the call to the intende... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5493606 | Multi-lingual prompt management system for a network applications platform In combination with the Network Application Platform (NAP), a Speech Interface to NAP (SPIN) creates or modifies a SPIN application for each language in which the prompts of a Network Application deployed on NAP are to be spoken. A prompt is mapped into a... | 02/20/1996 |
| 5455852 | Method and apparatus for defining parameter transmission protocols for a call intercept/message delivery telephone system A Voice Messaging System (VMS) offers a voice store and forward service to a caller on an incomplete call. The caller records the voice message at a Message Delivery System (MDS) via an Intercept Processing Unit (IPU) during a recording session. Call rela... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5384829 | Digital computer platform for supporting telephone network applications A platform for supporting telephone network applications includes Network Interface Units (NIU) for interfacing between the telephone network and the platform. A disk storage system stores voice messages to be sent over the network and voice messages rece... | 01/24/1995 |
| 5381383 | Sonar transducer calibration apparatus and method Calibration parameters such as bias, azimuth misalignment and scale factor for a velocity measuring sonar transducer are determined by mounting the transducer in a tank of water on a stationary mount. A continuous belt on a pair of rollers at the bottom o... | 01/10/1995 |
| 5379052 | VGA and EGA video controller apparatus using shared common video memory A video controller board for supporting AX Japanese modes and enhanced VGA modes. The board includes two EGA video controllers to support the AX standard and a VGA video controller to support the enhanced VGA standard. Video memory sufficient to support t... | 01/03/1995 |
| 5363343 | Folded hydrophone array for narrow marine vehicles An extendible linear sonar array for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) comprises a linear hydrophone array fixed in the nose of the AUV and two hydrophone array segments mounted at the leading edge of stabilization fins extendible from and retractabl... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5341681 | Stepped gravity gradiometer A gravity gradiometer instrument alternately and sequentially rotatable in opposing angular increments provides a measure of the gravity gradient in-line and cross components without requiring real-time generation of trigonometric harmonic components, con... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5339439 | Apparatus for interfacing a real-time communication link to an asynchronous digital computer system by utilizing grouped data transfer commands grouped for effecting termination An interface between a real-time data link and a digital computer system utilizes data buffers between the computer central data storage and the data link. An interface control processor is responsive to a Data Transfer Command set comprising a SEND, a GE... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5323450 | Telephone network application platform for supporting facsimile applications A voice Telephone Network Applications Platform (NAP) is enhanced to manage facsimile messages, as well as voice messages, by the addition of facsimile functionality to the platform actuatable by high-level facsimile commands from applications supported o... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5278895 | Voice messaging method and apparatus for pay phone telephone systems A voice message system for a pay phone telephone network interposes an Intercept Processing Subsystem (IPS) in the line connections between the pay telephones and the central office. A Voice Processing Subsystem (VPS) is connected to the central office sw... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5257163 | Computer system having monitor with detachable module for providing diverse functionality A monitor is transformed into a predetermined type of digital computer system by attaching a personality module to the rear thereof. The module contains one or more circuit cards for imparting the desired personality to the system. The monitor includes an... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5255371 | Apparatus for interfacing a real-time communication link to an asynchronous digital computer system by utilizing grouped data transfer commands An interface between a real-time data link and a digital computer system utilizes data buffers between the computer central data storage and the data link. An interface control processor is responsive to a Data Transfer Command set comprising a SEND, a GE... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5189401 | AX and EGA video display apparatus utilizing a VGA monitor A PC video adapter board for driving a VGA color monitor, the board including a VGA video color palette DAC for providing analog color video to the monitor. A VGA controller provides VGA digital color video signals to the DAC through a first multiplexer a... | 02/23/1993 |
| 5173951 | Word oriented image smoothing apparatus and method An image to be smoothed is represented by a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of adjacent scan lines. Each pixel under examination is changed to the value of a predetermined number of pixels in a 3×3 pixel neighborhood surrounding the pixel under ... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5173821 | Adaptive-gap magnetic recording and reading head A ring-type magnetic recording and reading head having a saturable pole tip that defines a narrow gap for reading and saturates in response to normal write current so as to define a wide gap for recording.... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5142683 | Intercomputer communication control apparatus and method Interprocessor message communication and synchronization apparatus and method for a plurality of processors connected to a system bus. The message communication photocol involves utilizing an array of mailbox locations associated with the processors, resp... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5138710 | Apparatus and method for providing recoverability in mass storage data base systems without audit trail mechanisms Message Segments comprising Messages are stored in a flat file on disk. A unique Message Number is assigned to each Message and each Message Segment is stored at a flat file address (Segment Descriptor) in a record containing the Message Segment data and ... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5138708 | Digital processor using current state comparison for providing fault tolerance A highly fault-tolerant processor is comprised of first and second central processing units (CPU) executing the same instruction sequence. Each CPU provides a state vector representing the current state thereof. The current state of each CPU is defined by... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5134646 | Voice messaging method and apparatus for pay phone telephone systems A voice message system for a pay phone telephone network interposes an Intercept Processing Subsystem (IPS) in the line connections between the pay telephones and the central office. A Voice Processing Subsystem (VPS) is connected to the central office sw... | 07/28/1992 |
| 5133004 | Digital computer platform for supporting telephone network applications A platform for supporting telephone netrwork applications includes Network Interface Units (NIU) for interfacing between the telephone network and the platform. A disk storage system stores voice messages to be sent over the network and voice messages rec... | 07/21/1992 |
| 5097388 | Computer system housing monitor with detachable module for providing diverse functionality A monitor is transformed into a predetermined type of digital computer system by attaching a personality module to the rear thereof. The module contains one or more circuit cards for imparting the desired personality to the system. The monitor includes an... | 03/17/1992 |
| 5087913 | Short-record data compression and decompression system Short-data records are compressed and decompressed by Lempel-Ziv compression and decompression utilizing a fixed searchtree database, an encoder and a decoder. The searchtree database is incrementally grown by a file preprocessor from a sample of the inpu... | 02/11/1992 |
| 4967397 | Dynamic RAM controller A DRAM controller wherein the outputs of a 74F538 integrated circuit provides RAS signals to the banks of a DRAM array, respectively, where the 74F538 is located at the array. A microprocessor utilizing the array provides appropriate memory address signal... | 10/30/1990 |
