Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. Colored lead or colored chalk, having a porous basic lead body comprising a filler material and a non-ionic associative thickener as primary components, wherein basic lead body cavities are filled with a solid or liquid phase.
2. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 wherein
the associative thickener comprises a copolymer of at least one polyoxy-ethyleneglycol polymer (PEG) with 5 to 300 CH2CH2O-monomers and n-alkoxy-alkylglycouril monomers.
3. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises tetramethoxy-methylglycouril monomers.
4. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 3 wherein the copolymer comprises PEG-180 (q.v.), dodoxynol-5 (q.v.), PEG-25-tristyrylphenol and tetramethoxy-methylglycouril monomers.
5. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 that comprises an organic binder.
6. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 5 wherein said binder is sodium alginate.
7. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 wherein the filler material comprises polymethylmethacrylate particles.
8. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 wherein the filler material comprises mica.
9. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 that comprises a wetting agent.
10. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 9 wherein the wetting agent comprises disodium-laureth-sulfosuccinate.
11. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of oils, waxes, fats, fatty acid derivatives and water-soluble emulsifiers.
12. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the solid or the liquid phase filling the cavities is 20 to 45%.
13. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 12 comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of water or watery preparations, oils, waxes, fats, fatty acid derivatives and emulsifiers as solid or liquid phase.
14. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 13 comprising a fatty acid derivative selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides and hydrogenated palm glycerides.
15. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 that contains pigments as coloring agents.
16. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 with the following composition:
8
Basic lead body:
copolymer or associative thickener
0.1-3%
organic binder
0-5%
filler materials
24-60%
wetting agents
0-6%
wax andor fat andor fatty acid derivative andor
0-6%
emulsifier
coloring agent
0-30%
additive (e.g. aromatic agents, perfumes,
0-15%
preserving agents, skin-care substances
(optionally also micro-encapsulated))
Solidliquid phase in the cavities:
water or watery preparation or oils andor waxes
20-45%
andor fats andor emulsifiers
17. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 that additionally comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of aromatic agents, perfumes and skin-care substances in a micro-encapsulated form.
18. Colored lead or colored chalk according to claim 1 that comprises volatile silicon oils.

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 method of communication amongst a plurality of endpoints, comprising:
establishing a logical communication channel amongst said plurality of endpoints;
implementing said logical communication channel using at least one physical communication link of at least one communication network;
propagating, at a first time, at least one initial media stream within said logical communication channel; and
at a second time, at least one of: (a) bridging at least one media stream onto said logical communication channel and (b) removing at least one media stream from said logical communication channel.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
registering said plurality of endpoints with a service provider prior to said logical communication channel being established.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one of adding at least one endpoint to, and removing at least one endpoint from, said plurality of endpoints at any time after said first time.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints comprises one of a user element and a network element.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein each said at least one communication network comprises one of a packet-switched network, a circuit-switched network, and a wireless communication network.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein each said physical communication link comprises one of an Internet link, a wireless communication link, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) link.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein each said at least one media stream and each said at least one additional media stream comprises one of a voice stream, a digital audio stream, a video stream, and a data stream.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said data stream comprises an instant messaging stream.
9. A method of communication amongst a plurality of endpoints, comprising:
establishing a logical communication channel amongst said plurality of endpoints;
implementing said logical communication channel using a first physical communication link;
propagating, at a first time, a first media stream within said logical communication channel; and
switching, at a second time, said logical communication channel from said first physical communication link to a second physical communication link without establishing another logical communication channel.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
switching, at said second time, said first media stream to a second media stream without establishing another logical communication channel.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
registering said plurality of endpoints with a service provider prior to said logical communication channel being established.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
at least one of adding at least one endpoint to, and removing at least one endpoint from, said plurality of endpoints at any time after said first time.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints comprises one of a user element and a network element.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein said first physical communication link comprises one of an Internet link, a wireless communication link, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) link, and said second physical communication link comprises another of said Internet link, said wireless communication link, and said plain old telephone service (POTS) link.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein each said first media stream comprises one of a voice stream, a digital audio stream, a video stream, and a data stream, and said second media stream comprises another of said digital audio stream, said video stream, and said data stream.
16. A communication system, comprising:
at least one communication network for establishing a logical communication channel amongst a plurality of endpoints, said logical communication channel propagating at least one media stream, said logical communication channel using at least one physical communication link of said at least one communication network; and
a controller for, subsequent to said logical communication channel being established, at least one of: bridging at least one media stream onto said logical communication channel and (b) removing at least one media stream from said logical communication channel.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein each said at least one communication network comprises one of a packet-switched network, a circuit-switched network, and a wireless communication network.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein each said physical communication link comprises one of an Internet link, a wireless communication link, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) link.
19. A communication system, comprising:
at least one communication network for establishing a logical communication channel amongst a plurality of endpoints, said logical communication channel propagating a first media stream, said logical communication channel using a first physical communication link of said at least one communication network; and
a controller for switching, at a second time, said logical communication channel from said first physical communication link to a second physical communication link without establishing another logical communication channel.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said controller is further configured to:
switch, at said second time, said first media stream to a second media stream without establishing another logical communication channel.
21. The system of claim 19, wherein said first physical communication link comprises one of an Internet link, a wireless communication link, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) link, and said second physical communication link comprises another of said Internet link, said wireless communication link, and said plain old telephone service (POTS) link.

1-9. (canceled)
10. An information processing apparatus comprising:
acquiring means for acquiring information contents over a network;
holding means for holding said information contents acquired by said acquiring means;
reproducing means for reproducing said information contents held by said holding means; and
transmitting means for transmitting a notification over said network to another information processing apparatus counting the number of times said information contents have been reproduced, said notification saying that said information contents have been reproduced by said reproducing means.
11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said holding means further holds supplementary information attached to said information contents; and
wherein said transmitting means further transmits said supplementary information.
12. An information processing method comprising the steps of:
acquiring information contents over a network;
holding said information contents acquired in said acquiring step;
reproducing said information contents held in said holding step; and
transmitting a notification over said network to an information processing apparatus counting the number of times said information contents have been reproduced, said notification saying that said information contents have been reproduced in said reproducing step.
13. A storage medium which stores a program in a manner readable by a computer, said program comprising the steps of:
acquiring information contents over a network;
holding said information contents acquired in said acquiring step;
reproducing said information contents held in said holding step; and
transmitting a notification over said network to an information processing apparatus counting the number of times said information contents have been reproduced, said notification saying that said information contents have been reproduced in said reproducing step.

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 composition suitable for the delivery of biologically active substances comprising:
(a) at least one sublimable matrix material; and
(b) a biologically active agent.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sublimable matrix material has a sublimation enthalpy from about 20 kjmole to about 100 kjmole.
3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said sublimable matrix material has a melting point of about 37\xb0 C. or higher.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sublimable matrix material is selected from the group consisting of globular alkanes, perfluorinated alkanes, globular perfluorinated alkanes, adamantane, perfluoroadamantane, 1-methyladamantane, perfluoro 1-methyladamantane, tetraisopropylmethane, perfluorotetraisopropylmethane, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane (hexamethylethane), perfluoro-2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane, perfluoroneopentane, perfluoro-C60 fullerene, cubane, perfluorocubane, octamethylcubane, perfluorooctamethylcubane, perfluoromethyladamantanes, perfluorotri-tert-butylmethane, perfluorodimethyladamantane, perfluorohexamethylethane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethyladamantane, isocamphane, tricyclene, 1-ethyladamantane, 1-methyldimantane, perfluorodimethylbicyclo3.3.1nonane, diadamantane, perfluorodiadamantane, tri-tert-butylmethane, norbornane, perfluoronorbornane, cyclododecane, perfluorocyclododecane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, perfluoroundecane, perfluorododecane, bicyclo3.3.1nonane, tetracycloheptane, tricyclohexane, dimethyl-isopropyl-perhydrophenanthrene, hexamethylprismane, prismane, tetracyclododecane, bicyclo3.3.3undecane, 2-methyladamantane, 1-methyladamantane, pentacycloundecane, tricyclodecane, bicyclodecane, bicyclo3.3.1nonane, bicyclo2.2.2octane, bicyclo2.2.1heptane, perfluorotri-tert-butylmethane, perfluoro-1,3,5-trimethyladamantane, perfluoro2,2-dimethyladamantane, perfluorotetracycloheptane, perfluorotricyclohexane, perfluorohexamethylprismane, perfluoroprismane, perfluorotetracyclododecane, perfluorobicyclo3.3.3undecane, perfluoro2-methyladamantane, perfluoropentacycloundecane, perfluorotricyclodecane, perfluorobicyclodecane, perfluorobicyclo3.3.1nonane, perfluorobicyclo2.2.2octane, perfluorobicyclo2.2.1heptane, and mixtures thereof.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sublimable matrix material is selected from the group consisting of adamantine, hexamethylethane, perfluoroneopentane, norborane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, cyclododecane or mixtures thereof.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sublimable matrix material is present in an amount of at least about 10% by weight based on the weight of the composition.
7. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sublimable matrix material is present in an amount of at least about 60% by weight based on the weight of the composition.
8. The composition of claim 1 wherein said sublimable matrix material is present in an amount of at least about 80% by weight based on the weight of the composition.
9. The composition of claim 1 further containing a sublimation rate modifier.
10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said sublimation rate modifier is effective to alter a sublimation rate of said composition.
11. The composition of claim 9 wherein said sublimation rate modifier is effective to alter a surface area of said composition over time.
12. The composition of claim 9 wherein said sublimation rate modifier is selected from the group consisting of trimethylacetamide, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, neopentylpivalate, perfluorodecalin, perfluoroalkanes, tri-tert-butylmethanol, perfluorocycloalkanes, camphor, camphene, neo-pentyl alcohol, hexachloroethane, chlorobutanol, menthol, terpin hydrate, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, 1,3,5-trioxane, naphthalene, phenol, tristearin, dextran, glycogen, tert-butanol, biodegradable polymers comprised of polylactic acid or copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids, polyorthoesters, or polyanhydrides, microparticles comprised of said bioerodable polymers, fatty acids, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethyleneglycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, cholesterol and microparticles thereof, caprostane, triglycerides having a melting point above 37\xb0 C., collagen and microparticles thereof, gelatin and microparticles thereof, ethanol, propylene glycol, PEG 400, glycerol, polyglycerol, polysorbates, sucralose, sucralose pentahydrate, and mixtures thereof.
13. The composition of claim 9 wherein said sublimation rate modifier is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 30% by weight based on the weight of said composition.
14. The composition of claim 9 wherein said sublimation rate modifier is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight based on the weight of said composition.
15. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is in the form of an implantable disk, cylinder or pellet.
16. A method of delivering a biologically active agent to a host organism via sublimation comprising administering to said host organism a composition according to claim 1.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said host organism is a mammal.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein said composition further comprises a sublimation rate modifier.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein said composition further comprises a sublimation rate modifier.
20. A method of protecting a biologically active agent from physical or chemical degradation or from loss of activity comprising disposing said active agent in a solid or semi-solid matrix of sublimable matrix material.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said sublimable matrix material has a sublimation enthalpy from about 20 kjmole to about 100 kjmole and a melting point of about 37\xb0 C. or higher.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein said matrix further comprises a sublimation rate modifier.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein said matrix is disposed in a host organism.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein said matrix is disposed in a mammal.
25. The composition of claim 1 adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 7 days.
26. The composition of claim 1 adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 30 days.
27. The composition of claim 1 adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 3 months.
28. The method of claim 16 wherein said composition is adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 7 days,
29. The method of claim 16 wherein said composition is adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 30 days.
30. The method of claim 16 wherein said composition is adapted to release said active agent for a period of at least about 3 months.
31. A method for preparing composition suitable for the delivery of biologically active substances comprising:
a. combining at least one sublimable matrix material and a biologically active agent to form a mixture;
b. blending the mixture; and
c. compressing the mixture to form a solid or semi-solid mass of defined weight and shape.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising combining at least one sublimation rate modifier with said sublimable matrix material and said biologically active agent.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein as mixture is compressed to form a disc, cylinder or substantially spherical pellet.
34. A method for the treatment of a disease or illness comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.
35. The composition of claim 1 comprising at least two different sublimable matrix materials.
36. The composition of claim 35 further comprising a sublimation rate modifier.