Author: claimsbot

1. A method for detecting congestion in a communications network comprising:
(a) determining a control packet transmission duration for a control packet, said control packet having a control packet transmission priority;
(b) determining a bearer packet transmission duration for a bearer packet, said bearer packet having a bearer packet transmission priority, wherein said bearer packet transmission priority is lower than said control packet transmission priority;
(c) calculating a delay in a transmission of said bearer packet; and
(d) comparing said delay to a threshold delay.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(e) rejecting a communication request when said delay exceeds said threshold delay.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(e) redirecting a communication request when said delay exceeds said threshold delay.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating said threshold delay.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating of said threshold delay comprises:
determining a mean control packet delay;
multiplying said mean control packet delay by a multiplier;
determining a minimum control packet delay; and
adding the result of said multiplying to said minimum control packet delay.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises:
determining a control packet delay for a specified percentile of all bearer packets;
multiplying said control packet delay by a multiplier;
determining a minimum control packet delay; and
adding the result of said multiplying to said minimum control packet delay.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said control packet.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating said control packet.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting said control packet transmission priority.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said bearer packet.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting said bearer packet transmission priority.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps a\u2013c.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(i) rejecting a communication request when said queuing delay exceeds said threshold delay.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(i) redirecting a communication request when said queuing delay exceeds said threshold delay.
15. A method for detecting congestion in a communications network comprising:
(a) receiving a control packet, having a control packet transmission priority and a control packet source timestamp;
(b) recording a control packet time received;
(c) determining a control packet transmission duration by subtracting said control packet source timestamp from said control packet time received;
(d) receiving a bearer packet, having a bearer packet transmission priority and a bearer packet source timestamp, wherein said bearer packet transmission priority is lower than said control packet transmission priority;
(e) recording a bearer packet time received;
(f) determining a bearer packet transmission duration by subtracting said bearer packet source timestamp from said bearer packet time received;
(g) calculating a queuing delay encountered by said bearer packet by subtracting said control packet transmission duration from said bearer packet transmission duration; and
(h) comparing said queuing delay to a threshold delay.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising calculating said threshold delay.
17. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for detecting congestion in a communications network comprising:
(a) computer program code for determining a control packet transmission duration for a control packet, said control packet having a control packet transmission priority;
(b) computer program code for determining a bearer packet transmission duration for a bearer packet, said bearer packet having a bearer packet transmission priority, wherein said bearer packet transmission priority is lower than said control packet transmission priority;
(c) computer program code for calculating a delay in a transmission of said bearer packet; and
(d) computer program code for comparing said delay to a threshold delay.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:
(e) computer program code for rejecting a communication request when said delay exceeds said threshold delay.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:
(e) computer program code for redirecting a communication request when said delay exceeds said threshold delay.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for calculating said threshold delay.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said program code for calculating said threshold delay comprises:
program code for determining a mean control packet delay;
program code for multiplying said mean control packet delay by a multiplier;
program code for determining a minimum control packet delay; and
program code for adding the result of said multiplying to said minimum control packet delay.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said program code for calculating said threshold delay comprises:
program code for determining a control packet delay for a specified percentile of all bearer packets;
program code for multiplying said control packet delay by a multiplier;
program code for determining a minimum control packet delay; and
program code for adding the result of said multiplying to said minimum control packet delay.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein said first media gateway comprises an IP voice tandem.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein said second media gateway comprises an IP voice tandem.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for transmitting said control packet.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for creating said control packet.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for setting said control packet transmission priority.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for transmitting said bearer packet.
29. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for setting said bearer packet transmission priority.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for repeating steps a\u2013c.
31. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for detecting congestion in a communications network comprising:
(a) program code for receiving a control packet, having a control packet transmission priority and a control packet source timestamp;
(b) program code for recording a control packet time received;
(c) program code for determining a control packet transmission duration by subtracting said control packet source timestamp from said control packet time received;
(d) program code for receiving a bearer packet, having a bearer packet transmission priority and a bearer packet source timestamp, wherein said bearer packet transmission priority is lower than said control packet transmission priority;
(e) program code for recording a bearer packet time received;
(f) program code for determining a bearer packet transmission duration by subtracting said bearer packet source timestamp from said bearer packet time received;
(g) program code for calculating a queuing delay encountered by said bearer packet by subtracting said control packet transmission duration from said bearer packet transmission duration; and
(h) program code for comparing said queuing delay to a threshold delay.
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising program code for:
(i) rejecting a communication request when said queuing delay exceeds said threshold delay.
33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising program code for:
(i) redirecting a communication request when said queuing delay exceeds said threshold delay.
34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising program code for calculating said threshold delay.
35. A system for detecting congestion in a communications network comprising:
a first media gateway in communication with said communications network, wherein said first media gateway comprises:
a timestamp clock, a control packet generator in communication with said timestamp clock, and
a classifier marker in communication with said control packet generator;

a second media gateway in communication with said communications network, wherein said second media gateway comprises:
a system clock, and
a delay calculator in communication with said system clock.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein said timestamp clock comprises a first stratum-1-classified signal receiver time.
37. The system of claim 35, wherein said system clock comprises a second stratum-1-classified signal receiver time.
38. The system of claim 35, wherein said communications network comprises an Internet protocol (IP) network.
39. The system of claim 35, wherein said first stratum-1-classified signal receiver time comprises a network access card.
40. The system of claim 35, wherein said first stratum-1-classified signal receiver time comprises a global positioning system receiver.
41. The system of claim 35, wherein said second stratum-1-classified signal receiver time comprises a network access card.
42. The system of claim 35, wherein said second stratum-1-classified signal receiver time comprises a global positioning system receiver.
43. The system of claim 35, wherein said classifier marker comprises a differentiated services (DiffServ) classifier marker.
44. The system of claim 35, wherein said classifier marker comprises:
a control packet queue; having a first transmission priority; and
a bearer packet queue, having a second transmission priority, wherein said first transmission priority is higher than said second transmission priority.
45. The system of claim 35, further comprising a connection admission controller in communication with said delay calculator.

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. An inflatable kayak comprising:
an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment,
an inflatable floor cushion supporting a floor of the passenger compartment, the floor cushion including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset, wherein the surface area of the top wall is less than the surface area of the bottom wall, and,
a plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, each I-beam baffle having a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beams baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle.
2. The inflatable kayak of claim 1, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between the same two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall.
3. The inflatable kayak of claim 2, wherein the surface area of the top wall is at least 5% less than the surface area of the bottom wall.
4. The inflatable kayak of claim 3 wherein the buoyancy chamber of the peripheral structure includes a first compartment and a second compartment disposed concentrically around the first compartment.
5. The inflatable kayak of claim 4, further comprising a cover of flexible material that is less elastic than the material of the peripheral structure and floor cushion, wherein the cover encases the peripheral structure and inflatable floor cushion, forming a substantially inelastic skin against which the peripheral structure and floor cushion can be inflated to form a structure that is more rigid than the peripheral structure and floor cushion.
6. The inflatable kayak of claim 5, further comprising a shell spanning beneath the passenger compartment and extending along the lower and outer sides of the peripheral structure and cover to further support the floor cushion and protect the tube and cover.
7. The inflatable kayak of claim 6 wherein the shell that spans beneath the passenger compartment comprises a layer of nylon disposed between two layers of PVC.
8. The inflatable kayak of claim 7 including a foldable seat mounted in the passenger compartment.
9. The inflatable kayak of claim 8 including a splash deck of flexible material attached to the cover and extending between the side sections of the tube over the forward portion of the passenger compartment.
10. The inflatable kayak of claim 9, wherein the kayak weighs less than 50 pounds (18.7 kg).
11. The inflatable kayak of claim 10, wherein the kayak is between 6 feet (1.8 m) and 15 feet (4.6 m) long from the fore section to the aft section.
12. The inflatable kayak of claim 4, wherein the first compartment contains fluid that is isolated from the second compartment.
13. The inflatable kayak of claim 2, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall is at least 10% greater than the distance between the two I-beam baffles along the top wall.
14. The inflatable kayak of claim 2, wherein the floor cushion includes a single aperture of inflating the floor cushion.
15. The inflatable kayak of claim 1, wherein the floor cushion is between 6 feet (1.8 m) and 9 feet (2.7 m) in length from the fore section to the aft section.
16. The inflatable kayak of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated I-beam baffles includes at least 4 I-beam baffles.
17. An inflatable floor cushion of a kayak comprising:
an inflatable floor cushion including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one gusset joining the top wall and bottom wall to define a chamber,
a plurality of elongated I-beam baffles within the cushion, each I-beam baffle including a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between the same two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall.
18. The cushion of claim 17, wherein the surface area of the top wall is at least 5% less than the surface area of the bottom wall.
19. The cushion of claim 18, wherein each I-beam baffle includes a midpoint and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beam baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle.
20. An inflatable kayak comprising:
an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment, wherein the buoyancy chamber of the peripheral structure includes a first compartment and a second compartment disposed concentrically around the first compartment,
an inflatable floor cushion, wherein the floor cushion supports a floor of the passenger compartment and includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset, wherein the surface area of the top wall is at least 5% less than the surface area of the bottom wall,
a plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extending in the longitudinal direction from the fore section of the kayak to the aft section of the kayak, between the top wall and the bottom wall, each I-beam baffle having a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beam baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between the same two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall,
a cover of flexible material that is less elastic than the material of the peripheral structure and floor cushion, wherein the cover encases the peripheral structure and inflatable floor cushion, forming a substantially inelastic skin against which the peripheral structure and floor cushion can be inflated to form a structure that is more rigid than the peripheral structure and floor cushion, and
a shell spanning beneath the passenger compartment and extending along the lower and outer sides of the peripheral structure and cover to further support the floor cushion and protect the tube and cover.

1. A balance pillow comprising:
a body having a wave-shaped top surface from which a first protrusion and a second protrusion transversely protrude, a recessed area defined between the first and second protrusions, the first protrusion being higher than the second protrusion, the first protrusion having an inner recessed area which is shaped to be correspondent to a curvature of a user’s neck, a circular recess defined between the first and second protrusions and the recessed area, the circular recess being shaped to be correspondent to a curvature of a user’s head, an inner recess defined in an inner end of the circular recess and being smaller than an occipital of a skull, the inner recess being contoured to match the occipital of a skull and being resiliently compressible, when the inner recess is resiliently compressed by the occipital of the skull, an inner end of the inner recess is shaped to be correspondent to a curvature of a position of a user’s head where the occipital is located to contact and support the occipital.
2. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first protrusion extends inclined toward an underside of the body.
3. The pillow as claimed in claim 2, wherein a slope of the first protrusion is correspondent to a user’s shoulder.
4. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circular recess and the inner recess are shaped to be correspondent to a curvature of user’s head, the inner recessed area is shaped to be correspondent to a curvature of user’s neck.
5. (canceled)
6. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner recess is substantially a triangular recess.
7. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner recess is substantially a circular recess.
8. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner recess is substantially a polygonal recess.
9. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has multiple passages defined through the top surface and an underside thereof.

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

What is claimed is:

1. The method of communicating with a private or public telecommunications system; the method comprising:
interfacing with the network elements which comprise a public communication network, wherein the network includes network elements consisting of at least one switching center, and an intelligent network that includes a number of network elements having a service switching function or service control function;
interfacing with the network elements which comprise a private communication network, wherein the network includes a private branch exchange in which access is provided between the public communications network and the private network over at least one interface;
utilizing the native communication protocols supported by the network elements located in the domain of both the public communications network and private network;
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the informational and control parameters and variables associated with a public telecommunications network element are distilled into a vector of alphanumeric values or objects.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the informational and control parameters and variables associated with a private network element are distilled into a vector of alphanumeric values or objects.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the state of a particular subscriber;
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the state of a particular circuit-switched or packet-switched session.
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein a vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the state of a particular subscriber;
7. The method according to claim 3, wherein a vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the state of a particular circuit-switched or packet-switched session.
8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the controllable attributes of a public telecommunications network element.
9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the vector of alphanumeric values or objects define the controllable attributes of a private network element.
10. The method according to claim 2 wherein the set alphanumeric values or objects are utilized to provide an application programming interface which execute on a computer platform.
11. The method according to claim 3 wherein the set alphanumeric values or objects are utilized to provide an application programming interface which execute on a computer platform.
12. A system comprised of one or more public network gateways and one or more private network gateways.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the public network gateway is a computer platform comprising:
memory for storing service execution logic;
a database for storing service logic data and subscriber data;
service execution logic for one or more telecommunication services;
a mechanism for loading and executing service logic;
interfaces for the purpose of communicating with public telecommunication network elements utilizing the native communication protocols supported by the network elements;
interfaces for the purpose of communicating with other public network gateways utilizing a communication channel and protocol.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the private network gateway is a computer platform comprising:
memory for storing service execution logic;
a database for storing service logic data and subscriber data;
service execution logic;
a mechanism for loading and executing service logic;
interfaces for the purpose of communicating with private network elements utilizing the native communication protocols supported by the network elements;
interfaces for the purpose of communicating with public network gateway utilizing a communication channel and protocol.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein public network gateways and private network gateways execute service logic for the provision of telecommunication services utilizing an application programming interface.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein public network gateways convey service requests and responses to private network gateways and other public network gateways via an application programming interface.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein private network gateways convey service requests and responses to public network gateways and other private network gateways via an application programming interface.
18. The system of claim 12, wherein public network gateways convey service logic to private network gateways and other public network gateways via a communication channel and protocol.
19. The system of claim 12, wherein private network gateways convey service logic to public network gateways and other private network gateways via a communication channel and protocol.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein the local database contains data pertaining to the state of circuit-switched calls, data-packet sessions, and applications as well as state and profile information pertaining to subscribers.
21. The system of claim 14, wherein the local database contains data pertaining to the state of circuit-switched calls, data-packet sessions, and applications as well as state and profile information pertaining to subscribers.
22. The system of claim 20 wherein, the state and profile information of a group of subscribers is associated with a single record.
23. The system of claim 21 wherein, the state and profile information of a group of subscribers is associated with a single record.
24. The system of claim 12, wherein public network gateways and private network gateways interface with network elements for the purpose of terminating or transcoding bearer traffic.
25. The method of generating and executing telecommunication services, the method comprising:
the loading and execution of service logic on a computer platform;
detecting a trigger event;
reacting to a trigger event by executing the service logic appropriate to the indicated service request or response as well as the state and profile associated with a given subscriber;
updating the state information associated with a subscriber, network element, circuit-switched connection, or packet-switched session.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event may be comprised of:
a service request or response conveyed via an application programming interface relating to an event which has transpired on a given public or private telecommunications network element; or
a service request or response conveyed from service logic executed locally on the computer platform; or
a service request or response conveyed via an Application Programming Interface relating to an event which has been relayed via another computer platform;
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the service logic associated with a given telecommunications service is distributed among one or more computer platforms located within the domain of either the private network or public telecommunications network.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the computer platform on which the service logic executes directly interfaces with a network element located in the public telecommunications network or private network.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein the computer platform on which the service logic executes does not directly interface with a network element located in the public telecommunications network or private network.
30. The method of claim 25, wherein the service logic determines the appropriate treatment and rating for a telecommunication service.
31. The method of claim 25, wherein the computer platform generate records providing descriptions of services which have been provided or for services which were denied using the service logic hosted by the computer platform.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the computer platform generate records which provide charging information for services provided or for services which were denied.
33. The method of claim 25, wherein the service logic may execute algorithms serially or concurrently in one or more computer platforms to provide a telecommunications service.
34. The method of claim 25, wherein a given service request is validated against the subscriber state and profile information before the service is rendered.
35. The method of claim 25, wherein the service logic invokes the functionality or capability of a network element in the public telecommunications network or private network for the provision of a telecommunications service.
36. The method of claim 26, wherein service logic mediates the service requests and responses for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the structure of the application programming interface.
37. The method of claim 25, wherein service logic is transferred and loaded into the memory of the computer platform using removable media.
38. The method of claim 25, wherein service logic is developed and executed on the computer platform using an application programming interface.
39. The method of claim 25, wherein service logic is conveyed to another computer platform via a communication channel and protocol.
40. The method of claim 25, wherein attempts to modify service logic are mediated and validated.