Author: claimsbot

1. A method comprising executing computer implemented instructions performed by one or more processors for determining the collectability of check writers, the method comprising:
storing a negative file in a database, the negative file including negative information about each check writer of a plurality of check writers;
classifying, via at least one processor, each check writer into one of a plurality of categories associated with a score based at least in part on the number of checks returned to merchants for insufficient funds;
modifying, via at least one processor, the negative file by removing the negative information for each check writer classified within a pre-determined set of the categories and retaining the negative information for each check writer not classified with the pre-determined set of categories;
labeling, via at least one processor, each check writer classified within the pre-determined set of categories as collectible and labeling each check writer not classified within the predetermined set of categories as non-collectible; and
transmitting the modified negative file to at least one merchant for use in check verification at a merchant location, wherein the modified negative file is accessed to determine check writer information.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying each check writer into one of the plurality of categories comprises:
receiving the negative information from the negative file;
processing the negative information to determine a score for each check writer based on the negative information; and
classifying each check writer into one of the plurality of categories based on the score of the check writer.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising saving the modified negative file as a scrubbed file.
4. A method for determining the collectability of a check writer, the method comprising:
receiving negative information about the check writer from a database;
processing the negative information to determine a score, wherein the score is based at least in part on the number of checks returned to merchants for insufficient funds;
classifying the check writer within one of a plurality of categories based on the score;
removing the negative information from the database if the category into which the check writer is classified is one of a predetermined set of categories; and
transmitting a scrubbed negative file from the database to at least one merchant for use in check verification at a merchant location, wherein the modified negative file is accessed to determine check writer information.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising saving the negative information in a scrubbed filed if the category into which the check writer is classified is not one of the pre-determined set of categories.
6. A system for determining the collectability of check writers, the system comprising:
a database containing a negative file, the negative file including negative information of a plurality of check writers; and
a processor in communication with the database, the processor operative to:
(a) classify individual check writers of the plurality of check writers as one of a plurality of pre-determined categories associated with a score based at least in part on the number of checks returned to merchants for insufficient funds,
(b) modify the negative file by removing the negative information of the individual check writers classified within a pre-determined set of the plurality of pre-determined categories and retaining the negative information of the individual check writers not classified within the pre-determined set of the plurality of pre-determined categories,
(c) label the individual check writers classified within a pre-determined set of the plurality of pre-determined categories as collectible and labeling the individual check writers not classified within the pre-determined set of the plurality of pre-determined categories as non-collectible, and
(d) transmit the modified negative file to at least one merchant for use in check verification at a merchant location, wherein the modified negative file is accessed to determine check writer information.
7. The system of claim 6, the processor further configured to:
receive the negative information of the individual check writers from the negative file;
determine scores of the individual check writers based on the negative information; and
classify the individual check writers as one of the plurality of pre-determined categories based on the scores of the individual check writers.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to save the modified negative file as a scrubbed file.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device for suspending bed-base slats, formed by an end-piece which has an upper portion which comprises at least one receptacle to receive the end of a slat, a lower portion provided with a device for anchoring the said end-piece to a bed frame, and an intermediate portion comprising suspension members which connect the lower portion to the upper portion wherein the suspension members comprise at least one longitudinal wall which is capable of folding at least one substantially longitudinally extending fold line, and a pair of transverse walls which are capable of folding at a substantially transversely extending fold line, and wherein the longitudinal wall is arranged substantially between the two transverse walls.
2. The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein, when seen in the transverse direction of the end-piece, the transverse span of the longitudinal wall, when it is folded or unfolded, is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the lower portion.
3. The suspension device according to claim 1 wherein, when seen in the transverse direction of the end-piece, the width of each of the transverse walls is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the lower portion.
4. The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein, when seen in the transverse direction of the end-piece, the longitudinal wall comprises at least one angled portion in such a way as to define the fold line.
5. The suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the angled portion is so orientated as to open towards the outside of the bed frame.
6. The suspension device according to claim 4 wherein the longitudinal wall also comprises a second angled portion which defines a second fold line, the said portion being so orientated that it opens towards the inside of the bed frame.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when projected orthogonally onto a reference plane parallel to the slat, the fold line in the longitudinal wall is curved.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when projected orthogonally onto a reference plane parallel to the slat, the fold line in the transverse wall is curved.
9. The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises two receptacles to receive the ends of two slats.
10. The suspension device according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal wall also comprises two upper arms which are connected each to a respective one of the receptacles.
11. The suspension device according to claim 9 wherein the longitudinal wall also comprises two lower arms which are connected to the lower portion.
12. The device according to claim 9, wherein a supporting platform for a mattress is arranged above the two receptacles.
13. The device according to claim 9, wherein each of the receptacles comprises an extension which forms a supporting portion for a mattress.
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion also comprises an additional receptacle to receive the end of a lower slat.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring device comprises at least one spigot which is intended to fit into a hole made in the bed frame.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring device comprises at least one sleeve to be fixed to a spigot secured to the bed frame.

1. Apparatus for making an anastomotic connection between a tubular graft conduit and a patient’s tubular body structure at first and second spaced locations comprising:
first and second connectors attached to the axial ends of the tubular graft conduit and having interior portions substantially accessible to the interior of the tubular graft conduit, a portion of the first and second connectors configured for annular expansion; and
first installation structure having a first expandable portion for annularly expanding a portion of the first connector by engaging the interior of the first connector and a first elongated structure for remotely controlling expansion of the first expandable member, the first installation structure having an axial opening extending therethrough;
second installation structure having a second expandable portion for annularly expanding a portion of the second connector by engaging the interior of the second connector and an second elongated structure for remotely controlling expansion of the second expandable member, a portion of the second installation structure extending coaxially through the axial opening in the first installation structure, wherein the first and second installation structures are remotely controllable from outside the patient;
an elongated structure configured for passage into and along the inner lumen of the patient’s tubular body structure to the first location, wherein the elongated structure defines an interior configured to receive the tubular graft; and
a balloon structure for selectively enlarging an opening at the second location, the balloon structure having an internal lumen for coaxial advancement over the longitudinal member.
2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the first elongated structure and the second elongated structure extend from the same one of the first and second axial ends of the tubular graft conduit.
3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for passage into and along a inner lumen of the patient’s tubular body structure.
4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a longitudinal member adapted for installation between the first and second locations,
wherein the tubular graft is adapted for coaxial advancement over the longitudinal member between the first location and the second location.
5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a tapered sheath structure adapted for positioning about a distal portion of one of the connectors during passage of said connector and said sheath structure through the opening at the second location to assist said passage therethrough.
6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein the sheath structure further comprises a tubular member extending axially from the sheath structure, wherein the sheath structure and the tubular member are configured for axial movement with respect to the longitudinal member.
7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the sheath structure and the tubular member are configured to advance distally into and along the lumen of the patient’s tubular body structure after said passage through the opening at the second location.
8. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the sheath structure and the tubular member are configured to advance proximally into the interior of one of the connectors following annular expansion and into and along the lumen of the tubular graft conduit after said passage through the opening at the second location.
9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a fourth elongated structure configured to annularly surround a selected axial portion of one of the expandable portions in order to selectively restrain the selected axial portion of the expandable portion from expansion, thereby controlling selective expansion of one of the connectors.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A communication recovering system for wavelength division a multiplexed passive optical network (WDM PON) comprising:
a central office including:
cyclic arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) C1 and C2;
a first 1\xd72 optical switch which is installed at a multiplexed signal input and output lead of the cyclic AWG C1;
a second 1\xd72 optical switch which is installed at a multiplexed signal input and output lead of the cyclic AWG C2;
a first bluered (BR) band coupler which is connected to each of the first and the second 1\xd72 optical switches;
a second BR band coupler which is connected to each of the first and second 1\xd72 optical switches;
a first optical fiber monitor which is installed on an optical fiber connecting the first 1\xd72 optical switch to the first BR band coupler, and is connected to the first 1\xd72 optical switch; and
a second optical fiber fault monitor which is installed on an optical fiber connecting the second 1\xd72 optical switch to the second BR band coupler, and is connected to the second 1\xd72 optical switch;

remote nodes including:
a first remote node RN1 which has a first cyclic AWG R1 whose multiplexed signal inputoutput lead is connected to the first BR band coupler and whose demultiplexed signal inputoutput leads are connected to first remote BR band couplers, respectively; and
a second remote node RN2 which has a second cyclic AWG R2 whose inputoutput lead is connected to the second BR band coupler and whose demultiplexed signal inputoutput leads are connected to second remote BR band couplers, respectively; and

optical network units including:
a plurality of transmittersreceivers; and
star couplers which connect the plurality of transmittersreceivers to the first remote and second remote BR band couplers,

wherein when there in an fault in an optical fiber connecting the first BR band coupler to the cyclic AWG R1 or at an optical fiber connecting the first remote BR band coupler to a corresponding star coupler of a corresponding ONU, optical signals are inputtedoutputted through the first 1\xd72 optical switch and the second BR band coupler, and when there is a fault in an optical fiber connecting the second BR band coupler C2 to the cyclic AWG R2 or in an optical fiber connecting the second remote BR band coupler to a corresponding star coupler of a corresponding ONU, optical signals are inputtedoutputted through the second 1\xd72 optical switch and the first BR band coupler.
2. A communication recovering system for a wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM PON) comprising:
a central office including:
cyclic arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) C1 and C2;
a first 1\xd72 star coupler installed at a multiplexed signal inputoutput lead of the cyclic AWG C1;
a second 1\xd72 star coupler installed at a multiplexed signal inputoutput lead of the cyclic AWG C2;
a first bluered band coupler connected to each of the first and second star couplers; and
a second bluered band coupler connected to each of the first and second star couplers;

remote nodes including:
a first remote node RN1 which has a first cyclic AWG R1 whose multiplexed signal inputoutput lead is connected to the first BR band coupler and whose demultiplexed signal inputoutput leads are connected to first remote BR band couplers, respectively; and
a second remote node RN2 which has a second cyclic AWG R2 whose inputoutput lead is connected to the second BR band coupler and whose demultiplexed signal inputoutput leads are connected to second remote BR band couplers, respectively; and

optical network units including:
1\xd72 optical switches connecting the first remote and second remote bluered band couplers and to transmittersreceivers; and
for each optical network unit an optical fiber fault monitor which is installed at an optical fiber connecting a corresponding 1\xd72 optical switch to the corresponding first remote bluered band coupler or the corresponding second remote bluered band coupler, and is connected to the 1\xd72 optical switch,
wherein when there is a fault in an optical fiber connecting the first BR band coupler to the cyclic AWG R1 or at an optical fiber connecting the corresponding first remote BR band coupler to the 1\xd72 optical switch, optical signals are inputtedoutputted through the second BR band coupler and corresponding second remote BR band coupler as the corresponding second remote BR band coupler is connected to the 1\xd72 optical switch, and when there is a fault in an optical fiber connecting the second BR band coupler to the cyclic AWG R2 or at an optical fiber connecting the corresponding second remote BR band coupler to the 1\xd72 optical switch, optical signals are inputtedoutputted through the first BR band coupler and corresponding first remote BR band coupler as the corresponding first remote BR band coupler is connected to the 1\xd72 optical switch.