Author: claimsbot

1. A media content recording system in a subscriber television system, comprising:
a memory for storing logic;
a buffer space for buffering a plurality of media content instances; and
a processor configured with the logic to designate as permanent only a user-selected media content instance among the plurality of media content instances in the buffer space that is requested by a user for permanent recording.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a user interface, responsive to input from the user, that segregates the media content instances of the buffer space into separately identifiable media content instances and enables the user to select and permanently record at least one of the media content instances.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to enable the user to permanently record a displayed media content instance of the buffer space by selecting a button on an input device during any buffered and displayed frame of the media content instance to be permanently recorded.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the buffered media content instances as entries in a displayed pre-configured list that enables the user to select which entry to be permanently recorded.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a management file for each of the buffered media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a status flag in the management file wherein the status flag is configured as temporary for a buffered media content instance that is not designated for permanent recording.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to configure the status flag of the management file for a buffered media content instance as permanent when the user requests that said media content instance be permanently recorded, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to cause the permanently recorded media content instance to have a permanent designation in a file allocation table in response to having the status flag of the corresponding management file configured as permanent, such that the buffer space storing the permanently recorded media content instance becomes designated as non-buffer space.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to use media content instance guide data to determine the start time and stop time of a media content instance buffered into the buffer space.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine the receipt time into the buffer space by using the time indicated by an internal clock.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to configure the media content instances as media content instance files.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to randomly generate file names for the media content instance files.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to use titles of the media content instances from media content instance guide data as media content instance file names.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the media content instance file names include channel number, the media content instance title, and the source of the media content instance.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to cause the buffer space of the permanently recorded media content instance to be designated as non-buffer space.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer analog broadcast media content instances, received at a communications interface, as digitally compressed media content instances.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer an analog signal received at a connector from a consumer electronics device, as a digitally compressed media content instance.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital broadcast media content instances, received at a communications interface, as digitally compressed media content instances.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media-on-demand media content instances, received at a communications interface from a remote server, as digitally compressed media content instances.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media content instances, received at a digital communications port from a local network, as digitally compressed media content instances.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media content instances, received at a digital communications port from a local device, as digitally compressed media content instances.
20. A media content recording system in a subscriber television system, comprising:
a memory for storing logic;
a buffer space for buffering a plurality of media content instances; and
a processor configured with the logic to provide a user interface, responsive to input from the user, that segregates the media content instances of the buffer space into separately identifiable media content instances and enables the user to select and permanently record at least one of the media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to enable the user to permanently record a displayed media content instance of the buffer space by selecting a button on an input device during any buffered and displayed frame of the media content instance to be permanently recorded, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to select one of the media content instances at any point within a buffered start and end time of the media content instance for permanent recording, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a management file for each of the buffered media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a status flag in the management file wherein the status flag is configured as temporary for a buffered media content instance that is not designated for permanent recording, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to configure the status flag of the management file for a buffered media content instance as permanent when the user requests that said media content instance be permanently recorded, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to cause the permanently recorded media content instance to have a permanent designation in a file allocation table in response to having the status flag of the corresponding management file configured as permanent, such that the buffer space storing the permanently recorded media content instance becomes designated as non-buffer space, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to use media content instance guide data to determine the start time and stop time of a media content instance buffered into the buffer space, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine the receipt time into the buffer space by using the time indicated by an internal clock, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to configure the media content instances as media content instance files, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to use titles of the media content instances from media content instance guide data as media content instance file names, wherein the media content instance file names include channel number, the media content instance title, and the source of the media content instance, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to cause the buffer space of the permanently recorded media content instance to be designated as non-buffer space, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer analog broadcast media content instances, received at a communications interface, as digitally compressed media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer an analog signal received at a connector from a consumer electronics device, as a digitally compressed media content instance, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital broadcast media content instances, received at a communications interface, as digitally compressed media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media-on-demand media content instances, received at a communications interface from a remote server, as digitally compressed media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media content instances, received at a digital communications port from a local network, as digitally compressed media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to buffer digital media content instances, received at a digital communications port from a local device, as digitally compressed media content instances, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to designate as permanent only the selected media content instance among the plurality of media content instances in the buffer space that is requested by the user for permanent recording, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to delete the permanently designated media content instance as requested by the user.

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 biological information monitoring system comprising:
a transmitter to which first channel information is allocated, the transmitter operable to collect biological information from a living body and operable to output the biological information;
a first receiver in which the first channel information is set, the first receiver operable to receive the biological information from the transmitter to which the first channel information is allocated, the first receiver operable to output the biological information;
a monitoring apparatus operable to receive the biological information from the first receiver and operable to display the received biological information;
a setting unit operable to set the first channel information in the first receiver;
a second receiver in which second channel information is set; and
a detector operable to determine whether the first channel information set in the first receiver is identical with the second channel information set in the second receiver.
2. The biological information monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit, when the detector determines that the first channel information set in the first receiver is identical with the second channel information set in the second receiver, operable to perform notification of duplicate settings.
3. The biological information monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising an alarm outputting unit, in response to the notification performed by the notifying unit, operable to output an alarm, wherein
the setting unit is disposed in the monitoring apparatus,
the detector and the notifying unit are disposed in the first receiver, and
the alarm outputting unit is disposed in the monitoring apparatus.
4. The biological information monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising an alarm outputting unit, in response to the notification performed by the notifying unit, operable to output an alarm, wherein
the setting unit is disposed in the monitoring apparatus,
the detecting unit and the notifying unit are disposed in a computer connected to a network, and
the alarm outputting unit is disposed in the monitoring apparatus.
5. The biological information monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising an alarm outputting unit, in response to the notification performed by the notifying unit, operable to output an alarm, wherein
the setting unit, the detector, the notifying unit and the alarm outputting unit are disposed in the monitoring apparatus.
6. The biological information monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a forcible setting unit, when the detector determines that the first channel information set in the first receiver is identical with the second channel information set in the second receiver, operable to set the determination to be valid or invalid.

1. A knife comprising:
a. a handle having a main slot and a secondary slot, said main slot and said secondary slot defining a fore opening in the handle;
b. a blade slidable along the main slot between a retracted position, wherein the blade lies within the handle, and an extended position wherein the blade lies partially extended through and past the fore opening;
c. a locking mechanism cooperative with the handle and blade to hold the blade in the blade’s extended position; and
d. a blade actuation mechanism slidable along the secondary slot and removable from the secondary slot and handle; wherein the blade actuation mechanism is configured to detachably engage the blade when in the secondary slot, with the blade actuation mechanism moving the blade when the blade actuation mechanism is slid along the secondary slot and detaching from the blade and leaving the secondary slot and handle when the blade reaches the blade’s extended position.
2. The knife of claim 1 further comprising at least one bumper attached to the handle or the blade for absorbing shock created by the blade being slid into the blade’s extended position and for exerting a rearwards force against the blade to stabilize the blade and enhance the operation of the locking mechanism.
3. The knife of claim 1 wherein: the blade has a detent located proximate a base end of the blade; and the blade actuation mechanism has a ball, dimensioned to fit into the detent, for moving the blade when the blade actuation mechanism is slid along the secondary slot.
4. The knife of claim 1 further comprising a friction lock for holding the blade in the blade’s retracted position and the blade actuation mechanism within the secondary slot, wherein the friction lock is configured to release the blade and blade actuation mechanism when a manual force is applied to the blade actuation mechanism.
5. The knife of claim 1 wherein the blade actuation mechanism is a generally flat, elongate member.
6. The knife of claim 1 wherein:
a. the blade actuation mechanism, if removed from the secondary slot and handle, can be reinserted into the secondary slot and handle; and
b. the blade actuation mechanism is configured to unlock the locking mechanism and move the blade from the blade’s extended position to the blade’s retracted position when the blade actuation mechanism is reinserted into the secondary slot and handle.
7. The knife of claim 6 wherein:
a. a base end of the blade has a center slide and a rear-facing blade shoulder; and
b. the locking mechanism comprises a plate spring, said plate spring comprising:
i. a stanchion end attached to the handle;
ii. a center portion attached to the stanchion end; and
iii. an upturned detachment lip attached to the center portion and defining a spring shoulder with the center portion; wherein:

c. when the blade is slid to the blade’s extended position, the spring is configured to spring into place with the spring shoulder abutting the blade shoulder to hold the blade in place, and with the detachment lip extending up through the center slide; and
d. when the blade actuation mechanism is reinserted into the secondary slot and handle, the blade actuation mechanism is configured to press against the detachment lip to move the spring shoulder away from the blade shoulder, thereby unlocking the blade.
8. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade slidable within the handle between a retracted position and an extended position; and
c. a removable blade actuation mechanism which fits over the blade and within the handle, wherein the blade actuation mechanism is configured to slide within the handle to engage and slide the blade when within the handle and to disengage from the blade and handle when the blade reaches its extended position.
9. The knife of claim 8 further comprising a locking mechanism cooperative with the blade and handle and configured to hold the blade in the blade’s extended position.
10. The knife of claim 9, wherein the blade actuation mechanism is configured to unlock the locking mechanism holding the blade in the blade’s extended position, and to engage and slide the blade to the blade’s retracted position.
11. The knife of claim 9 further comprising at least one bumper attached to the handle or the blade for absorbing shock created by the blade being slid into the blade’s extended position and for exerting a rearwards force against the blade to stabilize the blade and enhance the operation of the locking mechanism.
12. The knife of claim 8 further comprising at least one bumper attached to the handle or the blade for absorbing shock created by the blade being slid into the blade’s extended position.
13. The knife of claim 8 wherein:
a. the blade actuation mechanism comprises: an elongate portion that fits within the handle and engages the blade; and an end portion attached to the elongate portion and accessible from outside the handle; and
b. the knife is actuated by a user pulling the end portion of the blade actuation mechanism away from the handle, thereby causing the elongate portion to slide the blade to the blade’s extended position and the blade actuation mechanism to disengage from the blade and the handle.
14. The knife of claim 8 further comprising a friction lock for holding the blade in the blade’s retracted position and the blade actuation mechanism within the handle, wherein the friction lock is configured to release the blade and blade actuation mechanism when a manual force is applied to the blade actuation mechanism.
15. The knife of claim 8 wherein the blade actuation mechanism comprises a generally flat, elongate member.
16. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade slidable within the handle between a retracted position and an extended position;
c. a locking mechanism cooperative with the handle and blade for holding the blade in the blade’s extended position; and
d. a removable blade actuation mechanism which fits and slides within the handle, wherein: the blade actuation mechanism is configured to slide the blade to the blade’s extended position when the blade actuation mechanism is pulled away and removed from the handle; and the blade actuation mechanism is configured to unlock the locking mechanism and slide the blade to the blade’s retracted position when the blade actuation mechanism is reinserted into the handle.
17. The knife of claim 16 further comprising at least one bumper attached to the handle or the blade for absorbing shock created by the blade being slid into the blade’s extended position and for exerting a rearwards force against the blade to stabilize the blade and enhance the operation of the locking mechanism.
18. The knife of claim 16 wherein: the blade has a detent located proximate a base end of the blade; and the blade actuation mechanism has a ball, dimensioned to fit into the detent, for sliding the blade along with the blade actuation mechanism.
19. The knife of claim 16 further comprising a friction lock for holding the blade in the blade’s retracted position and the blade actuation mechanism within the handle, wherein the friction lock is configured to release the blade and blade actuation mechanism when a manual force is applied to the blade actuation mechanism.
20. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade slidable within the handle between a retracted position and an extended position; and
c. a blade actuation mechanism that fits and slides within the handle, said blade actuation mechanism having an end portion accessible from outside the handle, and said blade actuation mechanism being moveable between a first position, coincident with the blade’s retracted position, where the blade actuation mechanism engages the blade, and a second position, coincident with the blade’s extended position, where the blade actuation mechanism can be disengaged from the blade and removed from the handle; wherein to actuate the blade for use when the blade is in its retracted position: the end portion of the blade actuation mechanism accessible from outside the handle is pulled away from the handle until the blade actuation mechanism is moved to its second position, thereby sliding the blade from its retracted position to its extended position; and the blade actuation mechanism is disengaged from the blade and removed from the handle.
21. The knife of claim 20 further comprising a locking mechanism cooperative with the blade and handle to hold the blade in the blade’s extended position.
22. The knife of claim 21 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be unlocked by the blade actuation mechanism when the blade actuation mechanism is moved from its second position towards its first position.
23. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade movable within the handle between an extended position and a retracted position in which the blade is fully contained within the handle; and
c. a removable blade actuation mechanism, wherein a portion of the blade actuation mechanism fits within the handle, wherein the blade actuation mechanism is configured to extend and to retract the blade; and wherein to actuate the knife for use, the blade actuation mechanism is used to extend the blade, and the blade actuation mechanism is removed from the handle.
24. The knife of claim 23 further comprising a locking mechanism attached to the blade or handle and configured to hold the blade in the blade’s extended position.
25. The knife of claim 24 wherein:
a. when the knife has been actuated for use and the blade actuation mechanism has been removed from the handle, the blade actuation mechanism can be reinserted into the handle to retract the blade; and
b. the locking mechanism is configured to be unlocked by the blade actuation mechanism when the blade actuation mechanism is reinserted into the handle to retract the blade.
26. A knife comprising:
a. a handle slidably housing an extendable blade and configured to fully receive the blade therein;
b. a blade actuation mechanism, wherein a portion of the blade actuation mechanism fits within the handle; said blade actuation mechanism operably coupled to the blade and handle and configured to extend the blade and disengage from the blade and handle when the blade is extended; and
c. a locking mechanism cooperative with the blade and handle for keeping the blade extended.
27. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade movable within the handle between an extended position and a retracted position in which the blade is fully contained within the handle; and
c. blade actuation means for extending and retracting the blade, a portion of said blade actuation means fitting within the handle and being removable from the handle, wherein to actuate the knife for use, the blade actuation means is used to extend the blade and the blade actuation means is removed from the handle, and wherein to move the blade to the blade’s retracted position, the blade actuation means is reinserted into the handle.
28. The knife of claim 27 further comprising locking means cooperative with the blade and handle for holding the blade in the blade’s extended position, wherein the locking means can be unlocked to allow the blade to be moved to the blade’s retracted position.
29. The knife of claim 28 wherein the blade actuation means is configured to unlock the locking mechanism and move the blade to the blade’s retracted position when reinserted into the handle.
30. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade movable within the handle between an extended position and a retracted position;
c. blade actuation means for extending and retracting the blade, a portion of said blade actuation means fitting within the handle and being removable from the handle, wherein to actuate the knife for use, the blade actuation means is used to extend the blade and the blade actuation means is removed from the handle, and wherein to move the blade to the blade’s retracted position, the blade actuation means is reinserted into the handle; and
d. shock absorbing means attached to the handle for absorbing shock when the blade is moved to the blade’s extended position.
31. A knife comprising:
a. a handle;
b. a blade movable within the handle between a retracted position and an extended position;
c. blade actuation means for moving the blade, a portion of said blade actuation means fitting within the handle and being removable from the handle when the blade is moved to the blade’s extended position, the handle being configured to dangle by the blade actuation means while the blade is in the retracted position; and
d. locking means cooperative with the blade and handle for holding the blade in the blade’s extended position.
32. The knife of claim 31 wherein the blade actuation means is configured to be reinserted into the handle for moving the blade to the blade’s retracted position.
33. The knife of claim 32 wherein: the locking means can be unlocked so as to no longer hold the blade in the blade’s extended position; and the blade actuation means is configured to unlock the locking means when the blade actuation means is reinserted into the handle to move the blade into the blade’s retracted position.
34. The knife of claim 31 wherein the handle is configured to fully receive the blade therein while the blade is in the retracted position.

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 process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion which is stabilized with a water-insoluble stabilizing colloid, the process comprising:
preparing the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid by means of a radical polymerization in water of
about 3 to 30 weight % of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer containing at least one of a sulfate group and a sulfonate group,
about 50 to 95 weight % of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer having a water solubility at 20\xb0 C. of less than 50 gl, and
up to 20 weight % of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer having a water solubility at 20\xb0 C. of more than 50 gl,
wherein the weight % is based on the total amount of monomer used for preparing the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid; and

adding at least one further olefinically unsaturated monomer and at least one initiator, such that by means of a radical polymerization of the at least one further olefinically unsaturated monomer, the aqueous dispersion is obtained.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one of a sulfate group and a sulfonate group is protonated.
3. The process according to claim 1, further comprising:
performing a residual monomer reduction by means of at least one of a polymerization of the residual monomers and a physical removal of the residual monomers.
4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the physical removal of the residual monomers further includes a physical removal of a volatile organic component by means of an introduction of at least one of vapor and gas.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid, measured by means of light scattering and indicated as volumetric means, is about 50 to 2,000 nm.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer containing at least one of a sulfate group and a sulfonate group is at least one of a (meth)acrylate monomer, a (meth)acrylamide monomer and a vinyl monomer.
7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the (meth)acrylate monomer is (meth)acrylic acid sulfoalkyl ester, the (meth)acrylamide monomer is 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and the vinyl monomer is at least one of styrene sulfonic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, allyl sulfonic acid, and an alkaline, an alkaline earth andor an ammonium salt thereof.
8. The process according to claim 1, wherein in preparing the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid, at least one of the olefinically unsaturated monomers is copolymerized with a further reactive group.
9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the further reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy, an epihalohydrin, an amine, an ammonium, a hydroxyl, an aldehyde, a ketone, an acid anhydride, an acetoacetonate, a carboxyl, a thiol, an alkoxysilane, a silanol, a glycidyl, a N-methylol, a sulfonic acid, an amide, an amidine, an imine, an ester, a carbonyl group, and combinations thereof.
10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one further olefinically unsaturated monomer is converted to a homo- or copolymer in the presence of the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid by means of at least one of a radical emulsion, a suspension and a microemulsion polymerization in at least one of a continuous process, a monomer feed process, and a batch process, wherein in the monomer feed process, the monomers can also be dosed in the form of a pre-emulsion.
11. The process according to claim 10, wherein the at least one further olefinically unsaturated monomer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester, ethylene, (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamides, maleic acid and esters thereof, styrene, styrene derivatives, butadiene, and combinations thereof.
12. The process according to claim 1, wherein about 2 to 50 weight % of the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid is used, based on the solids content of the aqueous dispersion being obtained.
13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of the obtained aqueous dispersion, measured by means of light scattering and indicated as volumetric means, is about 0.1 to 5 \u03bcm.
14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature Tg, measured as midpoint temperature in accordance with ASTM D3418-82, of the water-insoluble stabilizing colloid is between about 0 and 80\xb0 C., and the glass transition temperature Tg of the subsequently prepared homo- or copolymerizate is between about \u221250 and +80\xb0 C.
15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solids content of the aqueous dispersion is about 30 to 75 weight %.
16. An aqueous dispersion obtained by the process according to claim 1.
17. A process for the preparation of water-redispersible polymer powders, the process comprising:
drying the aqueous dispersion obtained according to the process of claim 1 by means of spray drying, freeze drying, fluidized bed drying, drum drying or flash drying.
18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the aqueous dispersion is dried with at least one of a water-soluble polymer and a further additive.
19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the water-soluble polymer is at least one of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the further additive is at least one of a polymer dispersion, a hydrophobic agent, a silane, a siloxanes, an air entraining agent, a wetting agent, a defoamer, a film forming adjuvant, a setting and solidification accelerator, a setting retarder, a thickening agent, a dispersing agent, a cement superplasticiser, a polycarboxylate, a polycarboxylate ether, a polyacrylamide, a water retention agent, a cellulose fiber, a cellulose ether, a starch ether, a guar ether, an additive for the reduction of at least one of efflorescence, sedimentation and bleeding, a filler, and an additive for the reduction of powder blocking.
20. A water-redispersible polymer powder obtained by the process of claim 17.