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Patent US4042391 - Process for forming vesicular photographic images by employing simultaneous ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA vesicular image is prepared by contacting an original with a vesicular photograhic element, wherein the element contains a decomposing photosensitive material; and irradiating said element with light containing infrared light from the element side of said contacted image and element....http://www.google.com/patents/US4042391?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4042391 - Process for forming vesicular photographic images by employing simultaneous actinic light and infra-red reflex exposureAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4042391 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 05/571,051Publication dateAug 16, 1977Filing dateApr 24, 1975Priority dateApr 25, 1974Also published asDE2518581A1Publication number05571051, 571051, US 4042391 A, US 4042391A, US-A-4042391, US4042391 A, US4042391AInventorsHideo Fukutani, Hiroshi Oba, Akane Okada, Atsuko ShimizuOriginal AssigneeMitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (13), Referenced by (7), Classifications (9), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetProcess for forming vesicular photographic images by employing simultaneous actinic light and infra-red reflex exposure
US 4042391 AAbstract
A vesicular image is prepared by contacting an original with a vesicular photograhic element, wherein the element contains a decomposing photosensitive material; and irradiating said element with light containing infrared light from the element side of said contacted image and element.
1. A process for forming a vesicular image which is the same sign as that of the original, which comprises contacting an original with a supported vesicular photographic element comprising a photosensitive material which generates a gas when irradiated by light to which it is sensitive, said material dispersed or dissolved in a thermoplastic or thermosettable resin, wherein the vesicular photographic element while in contact with the original is reflex exposed simultaneously to both infrared rays and light of wavelengths to which said photosensitive material is sensitive through the vesicular element to the original so as to effect decomposition of the photosensitive marerial to generate a gas and formation of the vesicular image simultaneously.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the vesicular photographic element has a vesticular image before said element is exposed simultaneously to both infrared rays and light of wave lengths within the photosensitive region of said element.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the source of the infrared rays and the light of wavelengths within the photosensitive region of said material is a xenon flash lamp.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the original is opaque.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the original has an opaque portion and a transparent portion.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the original is an aperture card.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the original is contacted with the sensitive layer of the vesicular photographic element.
8. The process of claim 1, wherein the back of the original is covered with a heat insulating plate.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein a part of the photosensitive material of the vesicular photographic element is decomposed by using a shield plate.
The present invention relates to a process for forming a vesicular image. More particularly, it relates to a novel process for forming a vesicular image in positive-positive or negative-negative format by using a vesicular photographic element which contains, in a synthetic resin, photosensitive material capable of vaporizing after exposure to a light source.
Heretofore, the following process has been applied for forming an image on a vesicular photographic element 1 (FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 1, the vesicular photographic element 1 is contacted with a transparent original 2 (A-1). The film 1 is exposed to ultraviolet rays transmitted through the original side whereby the photosensitive material is decomposed to generate a gas (formation of latent image) (A-1). The film is then heated to form a vesicular image in the exposed portion (formation of visible image) (A-2). Thus, the formation of the vesicular image itself is attained by the steps of (A-1) to (A-2). If desirable, the vesicular image can be further stabilized by the following steps. First, the unexposed photosensitive material is decomposed by irradiation of ultraviolet rays on the entire surface (A-3). The gas generated by step (A-3) is discharged by diffusion by allowing the film to set for several hours before further processing (A-4). As is clear from the foregoing discussion, the vesicular image produced by steps (A-1) to (A-2) or (A-1) to (A-4) is positive in the case of a negative original 2 and is negative in the case of a positive original. That is, vesicles are formed in that part of the vesicular photographic substrate 1 corresponding to the transparent part of the original. Since light is reflected in the vesicular portion to produce a visible image, the originally transparent section of the image will be reflective instead. On the other hand, in a projected image of a vesicular photograph, the vesicular part is the negative part.
In order to reproduce a positive vesicular image from a positive original 2 or to reproduce a negative vesicular image from a negative original 2, the following operations are performed after step (A-1). The gas generated by step (A-1) is discharged by diffusion out of the vesicular photographic element 1 by allowing it to set for several hours without heat (B-1). The undecomposed photosensitive material in (A-1) is then decomposed by irradiation with ultraviolet rays over the entire surface thereby generating gas (B-2). A vesicular image is then formed by heating, thereby yielding vesicles only in the regions where the gas generated by step (B-2) exists, (B-3). Consequently, in order to form a positive image from a positive original on a vesicular photographic element 1, it is necessary to combine several steps: the irradiation of image light; the setting step; the irradiation of the entire surface; and the heating step. Accordingly, the operation is complicated. Furthermore, in the conventional process, the light transmitted through the original 2 must reach the vesicular photographic substrate 1 as the image light. Accordingly, the supporting structure for the original must be transparent to this light. In summary, vesicular photography has an advantage in that it forms an image by dry processes, but it has the disadvantages that it requires a complicated operation and the use of an original 2 formed on a transparent support. Consequently, it would be most desirable if these disadvantages could be overcome, thereby making vesicular photography a much more attractive process. (Note that throughout the specification, the terms "vesicular photographic substrate" and "vesicular photographic film" are used interchangeably.)
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art complicated operation and to provide an image from an opaque original 2.
This and other objects of this invention, as will hereinafter be made clear from the ensuing discussion, have been attained by providing a process for forming a vesicular image by contacting an original with a vesicular photographic element wherein the element contains a decomposing photosensitive material and irradiating the element with light containing infrared light from the element side of the contacted original and substrate 1. This includes providing a process for forming a vesicular image by contacting an original image with a vesicular photographic element and, from the side of the photographic element 1, simultaneously irradiating it with light including infrared rays and light of a wavelength to which the vesicular photographic element is sensitive. The invention also provides a process for forming a vesicular image by irradiating light of wavelengths to which the vesicular photographic element is sensitive, and then, contacting an original image with the exposed vesicular photographic element and irradiating it with light including infrared rays from the side of the photographic element 1 to form a positive image from a positive original.
FIG. 1 A-1 - A-4 and B-1 - B-3 show conventional steps of forming a vesicular photographic image;
FIG. 2 C-1 - C-2 show the steps of forming a vesicular photographic image according to the invention;
FIG. 3 C-22-C-24 show the steps of forming a vesicular photographic image according to the invention;
FIG. 4 A-0 - A-2 and B-1 - B-2 show one embodiment of steps A and B of the invention as defined below;
FIG. 5 A-0 - A-4 and B-1 - B-2 show another embodiment of steps A and B;
FIG. 6 A-2 - A-3 and B-1 - B-2 show still another embodiment of steps A and B;
FIG. 7 shows a sectional view illustrating one method of irradiating light in step B; and
FIG. 8 shows a sectional view illustrating another method of irradiating light in step B.
Referring to the drawings, several embodiments of the invention will be illustrated. The vesicular photographic element used for the invention is prepared by dispersing or dissolving in a thermoplastic and/or thermosettable resin a photosensitive material which generates gas when irradiated by light. This is then coated onto a suitable support 1b to form a photosensitive layer 1a. Suitable thermoplastic resins include polyvinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloride copolymers, vinyl chloride copolymers, thermoplastic epoxy resins and the like. Suitable thermosettable resins include reactive resins containing isocyanate as a hardener.
Suitable photosensitive materials which generate gas when irradiated with light and which are mixed into the synthetic resins include compounds having a diazo group (--N=N +) or an azido group (--N3). Suitable photosensitive materials include: diazonium compounds such as p-diazodimethylaniline zinc chloride salt, p-diazophenylaminesulfate, p-diazoethylaniline zinc chloride salt, p-diazoethylhydroxyethylaniline zinc chloride salt, p-diazoethylmethylaniline zinc chloride salt, 4-morphorinobenzenediazonium chloride and the like; and azido compounds such as 2-azido-1, 4-quinone and derivatives thereof and the like. It is also possible to include other additives such as dyes for improving the characteristics of the photosensitive layer. Suitable supports 1b include infrared transmissive films made of polyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic resin, cellulose resin and the like. In some applications, a support 1b is unnecessary.
The vesicular photographic element 1 can be prepared by dissolving the synthetic resin and the photosensitive material in a suitable solvent, e.g., methyl ethyl ketone or the like, and coating it on the support 1b, followed by drying the product. Sometimes, the solution of the resin and the photosensitive material is shaped to form a film. The thickness of the photosensitive layer 1a is not critical and is usually less than 100 μm, preferably less than 50 μm, and is especially preferred to be 3- 20 μm. Suitable commercial vesicular photographic substrates 1 include Kalvar films, e.g., Mikrolith 100, Mikrolith 150, Mikrolith 200, Mikrolith 500 and Kalvalith manufactured by Kalvar Corporation (U.S. Trademarks).
In the process for forming a vesicular image according to the invention, it is necessary to simultaneously irradiate light including infrared rays and light of wavelengths to which the photosensitive element is photosensitive so as to decompose the photosensitive material and to form the vesicular image at the same time; or to irradiate light to which the photographic element 1 is sensitive and, then, to irradiate light including infrared rays. The wavelengths of the light to which the photographic element 1 is sensitive depend upon the nature of the photosensitive material and the additive (s). The appropriate radiation usually has wavelengths of 200 mμm- 600 mμm, especially 300 mμm- 550 mμm. The photosensitive region of the commercially available Kalvar film is 340 mμm- 450 mμm, with a peak of 385 mμm- 400 mμm. Suitable light sources for the radiation of the photosensitive region include ultraviolet fluorescent lamps, mercury lamps, and the like. The light including infrared rays comprises infrared rays having wavelengths longer than 800 mμm, alone or mixed with other radiation. The light source preferably generates high intensity radiation for a short time. Suitable light sources include infrared lamps, schillerization sources utilizing the combustion of aluminum or magnesium or the like, excitation lamps and flash lamps utilizing a discharge in a rare gas, e.g., xenon, krypton, argon and the like. The emanations of the schillerization sources, the excitation lamps, and the flash lamps, except for the infrared lamps, include light of wavelengths in the photosensitive region for the photographic substrate 1 as well as infrared rays. The exposure time for irradiation by the light source depends upon the intensity of the light source, the distance to the photographic element 1, and other factors. It usually is from several seconds to 30 seconds in the case of the ultraviolet fluorescent lamp and the mercury lamp; and less than 1 second in the case of the schillerization sources, the excitation lamps and the flash lamps. It is unnecessary to carry out the process in a dark room, but rather an office room, for example, will suffice. This is a significant advantage over the requirements for the irradiation of the conventional silver salt type film.
In accordance with the process of this invention (FIG. 2), an original 2 is contacted with a vesicular photographic element 1. Light including infrared rays and light of wavelengths within the photographic region of the photographic element is irradiated over the entire surface of the element from the side of the photographic element 1 that is reflexexposed, whereby the photosensitive material in the vesicular photographic element 1 is decomposed to generate gas. Simultaneously, infrared rays are absorbed only at that portion of the original 2 which contains an image, i.e., the opaque regions; thereby heat is generated and only the vesicles of the photosensitive layer 1a which are in contact with the original image are expanded to form a vesicular image on the photographic element 1 corresponding to the original image. Heat is not generated at the portions of the element not in contact with the original image. Consequently, the small vesicles of the photosensitive layer 1a at these portions are not expanded and no image is formed. The result is that the image formed in the vesicular photographic element 1 is the same as that of the original 2, that is, the copy has the same sign as the original. (The light including both infrared rays and light of wavelengths within the photosensitive region is irradiated as shown in FIG. 2, C-2.)
When the light having wavelengths within the photosensitive region and having no infrared portion is irradiated on the photographic element 1 from the side of the photographic element 1, the photosensitive material in the photosensitive layer 1a is decomposed (FIG. 2 C-1). The original 2 is then contacted with the vesicular photographic element 1 and light including infrared rays is irradiated whereby the infrared rays are absorbed, as above, only at those portions of the original 2 containing an image thereby generating heat. Only the small vesicles in the photosensitive layer 1a in contact with the original image are expanded to form a vesicular image in the photographic element 1 corresponding to the original image (FIG. 2 C-21). As with the first process, heat is not generated at the locations not in contact with the original image. The small vesicles of the photosensitive layer 1a at these positions are not expanded and no image is formed. Once again, the result is that the image formed in the vesicular photographic substrate 1 is the same as that of the original 2.
In the process of this invention, it is necessary to generate heat at the locations of the image on the original 2. Accordingly, the original image is preferably formed with material capable of generating satisfactory heat energy such as black pigment, black ink, printing ink, pencil and the like. Of course, it is still possible to form an image by irradiating the light including infrared rays for a sufficiently long time when an original is not so treated. In order to prevent heat loss, it is preferable to cover the black surface of the original 2 with a heat insulating plate 4 on the side opposite to the direction of irradiation (FIG. 3 C-22).
When the original 2 is contacted directly with the support 1b and the light is irradiated from the side of the photographic element 1 (FIG. 3 C-23), the heat generated at the locations of the original image must be transmitted through the support 1b to the photosensitive material. Accordingly, the heat efficiency is decreased and much longer times are disadvantageously required for the irradiation. Consequently, it is preferably to contact the photosensitive layer 1a directly with the original 2. When the original 2 is contacted with the photosensitive layer 1a and the light is irradiated from the side of the original (FIG. 3 C-24), heat is generated at the surface of the original 2, and must be transmitted through the original 2 to the photosensitive material. Accordingly, the heat efficiency is low in this case also.
As stated above, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to form a positive vesicular image from a positive original 2 or to form a negative vesicular image from a negative original 2 by exposure to light only. A clear image can be obtained and the durability of the image is excellent. Additionally, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to irradiate light from the side of the photographic element 1. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to use a transparent original as with the conventional process and the vesicular image can be formed from an opaque original 2. Consequently, it is possible to form a vesicular image directly from an original such as normal printed matter, hand-written originals, and originals having records on both sides. Furthermore, the product prepared by coating the photosensitive layer 1a on a suitable transparent support 1b, such as a polyester film, has high mechanical strength and its handling is easy. When this product is used as the original for an overhead projector, it is much more easily handled than an original for an overhead projector utilizing heat shrinkage of the film. Moreover, the vesicular image formed in accordance with this invention has high contrast. Accordingly, the projected image is quite clear. When this invention's product having the vesicular image is used as an original for diazo type reproduction, it is possible to obtain a clear diazo type copy. Optionally, when the photosensitive layer 1a is coated onto a transparent article and a vesicular image is formed, the products can be used as ornaments.
The process of the invention can also be applied for copying an original wherein both a transparent part and an opaque part are present simultaneously, such as an aperture card used in the microfilm field. The process of the invention is especially effective for production and reproduction of such cards. Aperture cards comprise a record on a transparent support (microfilm) and a record (information describing the microfilm) on an opaque support, e.g. paper (card). It is difficult to copy both the record on the transparent support and the record on the opaque support at the same time by the conventional reproduction techniques. Accordingly, in the preparation of the aperture card, the preparation of the microfilm (exposure development or copy) is conducted separately from the preparation of the record on the card. Then, using an adhesive composition, the microfilm is adhered to the aperture of the card. Alternately, the microfilm is inserted into a transparent pocket in the aperture of the card. Since the card and the microfilm are separately prepared and assembled, the operation is complicated. In the conventional process, the thickness of the aperture card is not uniform because of the adhesive composition of the pocket. This is a distinct disadvantage where the filing of many aperture cards is required. Furthermore, the aperture cards often become adhered to each other by excess adhesive composition. Accordingly, there is a great need to have an aperture card containing both the records on the microfilm and those on the card on one support. However, a satisfactory process has heretofore not been found for preparing or reproducing such a product.
In accordance with the process of this invention, it is possible to copy both a record on a transparent support and a record on an opaque support onto one vesicular photographic element 1 by combining the following steps:
A. Irradiating light of wavelengths within the photosensitive region onto the vesicular photographic element 1 from the side of the original 2 (decomposition of the photosensitive material); and
B. Contacting the original 2 with the vesicular photographic element 1 and irradiating it from the side of the photographic element 1 with light including both infrared rays and light of wavelengths within the photosensitive region.
One embodiment of this process will be illustrated. The latent image corresponding to the image 2p of the transparent parts 2s of the original 2 is formed on the photographic element 1 by step A, wherein light of wavelengths within the photosensitive region is irradiated onto the vesicular photographic element 1 from the side of the original 2 (FIG. 4 A-1). The original 2 can be in contact with or removed from the vesicular photographic element 1. It is only necessary to pass the appropriate light through the transparent part 2s of the original to irradiate the vesicular photographic element. When this occurs, the light passes through the non-imaged portions of the transparent part 2s to form a latent image (FIG. 4 A-1) on the substrate. When the vesicular photographic substrate 1 is heated to expand the small vesicles in the photosensitive layer 1a (FIG. 4 A-2), a vesicular image 3p is formed in positive/negative relationship to the image 2p of the transparent part 2s (FIG. 4 B-2). Then, the image corresponding to the image 2q of the opaque part 2b of the original 2 is formed on the vesicular photographic element 1 by step B, wherein the original 2 is contacted with the photographic substrate 1 and light-including infrared rays and light having wavelengths within the photosensitive region is irradiated from the side of the photographic element 1 (FIG. 4 B-1). The photosensitive material in the photosensitive layer 1a is decomposed by the light within the photosensitive region, whereby a latent image is formed by the generating gas over the entire surface (FIG. 4 B-1). However, a latent image is not formed at the locations of the vesicular image 3p of the photographic element 1, because the photosensitive material at those positions has already been decomposed by step A. (The latent image corresponds to the formation of small vesicles). Simultaneous with the formation of the latent image, infrared rays contained in the light are absorbed only at positions of the image 2q of the opaque portion of the original, thereby generating heat; whereby only the latent image corresponding to that portion of the photosensitive layer 1a in contact with the image 2q is expanded to form a vesicular image on the photographic element 1 (FIG. 4 B-1, B-2) corresponding to the image 2q. Heat is generated only at those portions in contact with the image of the original 2. The latent image in the photosensitive layer 1a, corresponding to other areas, is not expanded. Consequently, no visible image of these areas is formed. Of course, infrared rays are also absorbed at the image 2p of the transparent part of the original 2. However, this image 2p is not directly in contact with the photosensitive layer 1a. The support of the original 2 is present between them. Accordingly, heat is not transmitted to the photosensitive layer 1a very quickly, and the latent image is not expanded.
When a vesicular image 3p is formed in a positive/positive relationship to the image 2p of the transparent part 2s (FIG. 6 B-2), the vesicular photographic substrate 1 is treated by step A (FIG. 4 A-1) to form a latent image. The product is allowed to set for several hours to enable the gas of the vesicles to discharge out of the photographic element 1. Then, the same light as used in step A is irradiated through a shield plate 4 having a transparent part 4s and an opaque part 4b which has the same shape as the original 2, but which has no image on the entire surface of the photographic substrate 1 (FIG. 6 A-3). Thereby, a latent image is formed at the positions unexposed in step A, and a vesicular image 3p in a positive/positive relationship to the image 2p, is formed by heating (FIG. 6 A-2).
The vesicular image 3q is then formed by step B. The case of an original 2 having an image 2q on the front surface and an image 2p on the back surface has been illustrated with steps A and B in FIG. 4. However, it is possible to form a vesicular image 3p in positive/negative relationship with the image 2p of the transparent part 2s of the original 2 even if both images are on one surface (FIG. 5 A-0). In the latter case, after step A, (FIG. 5 A-1), the vesicular image 3p is formed by heating (FIG. 5 A-2). Then, light from the light source used in step A is irradiated onto the photographic element 1 through plate 4 (FIG. 6 A-3), whereby a latent image is formed at the unexposed part of the photographic element 1 corresponding to the transparent part of the original 2. When the latent image is allowed to set for several hours, the gas in the vesicles are discharged by diffusion out of the photographic element 1 (FIG. 5 A-4). In this case, the vesicular image 3p formed by heating in (A-2) is not changed. As described above, the vesicular image 3q is then formed by step B.
When the images 2'p and 2q are present on the same surface (FIG. 5 A-0), a vesicular image 3'p can be formed in a positive/positive relationship to the image 2'p by combining the above-mentioned steps. That is, step A is applied as shown in FIG. 5 A-1, and the gas in the vesicles is discharged by diffusion by allowing the substrate to set and then the product is treated as shown in FIG. 6 A-3, FIG. 6 A-2, and FIG. 5 B-1 to form a vesicular image 3'p.
In order to prevent heat loss, it is preferred to cover the back surface of the original with a heat insulating plate 5 (FIG. 7). In step B, from the viewpoint of heating efficiency, it is preferred that the original 2 be in contact with the photosensitive layer of the vesicular photographic element 1 when infrared rays are irradiated (FIG. 6 B-1). When the original 2 is in contact with the opposite surface having no photosensitive layer and infrared rays are irradiated (FIG. 8), the heat generated at the image of the original must be transmitted through the support 1b to the photosensitive material. Thereby, heat efficiency is quite low, disadvantageously requiring a much longer irradiation time. The case of an original having a transparent part and an opaque part has been illustrated. However, it is possible to form a vesicular image on one photographic element by using two originals, one transparent and the other opaque. It is also possible to apply step B prior to step A if means are taken to prevent irradiation of the portions of the substrate to be exposed by step A, by the light including infrared rays and light within the photosensitive region, for example, by shielding the light with an opaque plate.
It should be noted that although the gas of the latent image (small vesicles) formed by irradiation on light within the photosensitive region is discharged by diffusion out of the photosensitive layer by allowing it to set for several hours, the vesicular image formed by irradiating infrared rays is not changed by passage of long periods of time. This occurs because the infrared radiation causes the generation of heat whereby the vesicular image becomes fixed.
A glass plate is disposed a distance of 7 cm above a xenon flash lamp (output of 1400 WS) having a reflective plate at the lower end. A vesicular film (a layer of polyvinylidene chloride containing p-diazodimethylaniline zinc chloride, coated on polyethylene terephthalate film) was placed on the glass plate providing an emulsifying agent surface at the upper side. An original 2 written with a pencil was faced downwardly and was contacted with the vesicular film. An insulator 5 was placed on the back surface of the original under pressure and irradiation was performed by discharge of the xenon flash. Thereby, a film forming a positive vesicular image which is identical with the original was obtained. The film having the positive image was projected by an overhead-projector to obtain a clear image. A reproduction of the original was formed by a diazo type copying apparatus to obtain a clear copy.
The vesicular film 1 of Example 1 was exposed for 60 seconds by an exposing apparatus for vesicular photography (Karprinter Automatic manufactured by Cannon K.K.). An original 2 (a newspaper) was put on the sensitive layer 1a of the vesicular film 1 and infrared rays were irradiated onto the film 1 from the film side, in a dial-set value of 1, by a heat sensitive copying lithography apparatus (Rithofax BF-11). As a result, a clear positive vesicular image which is identical to the original 2 was obtained. The film having the positive image was projected by an overhead projector to obtain a clear image. A reproduction of the original was formed by a diazo type copying apparatus to obtain a clear copy.
Ultraviolet rays were irradiated onto the vesicular film 1 of Example 2 for 15 seconds by a high pressure mercury arc lamp (Ushio UMH-3000). An original 2 written with black Japanese ink (on white board) was placed on the film 1. Infrared rays were irradiated in accordance with the process of Example 2, to form the vesicular image. The product was used as a display in a building.
An original 2 (Aperture card) was prepared by adhering a color developed diazo type microfilm 2s to an aperture of a printed paper card 2b (letter 2q and line sq formed with black ink) so that the printed surface was reversed with respect to the diazo type sensitive layer. The original was copied onto the vesicular film 1 of Example 1, as follows:
The color developed diazo type sensitive layer was put on the sensitive layer 1a of the film 1 which had the same size as that of the aperture card 2. The vesicular film was exposed for 35 seconds to light in the proper photosensitive region through the microfilm by an exposing apparatus (KAL-printer automatic manufactured by Cannon K.K.) (A-1). The exposed film was developed by a developer (KAL-Developers manufactured by Cannon K.K.) (A-2). The sensitive layer 1a of the vesicular film 1 on which the image 2p of the microfilm 2s was formed was placed on the printed surface of the aperture card. The film 1 having a reflector at its back was exposed by a xenon flash lamp (1400 WS) from a distance of 5 cm (B-1). As a result, the vesicular image 3p, 3q on the film was quite clear.
An imaged surface of a silver salt type photographic film 2 was placed on a sensitive layer 1a of vesicular film of Example 1. The vesicular film was exposed for 30 seconds by a high pressure mercury arc lamp (500 W) from a distance of 50 cm to the contacted portion by using a shield plate 4 (Step A). The vesicular film 1 was developed by heating the film 1 through contact with a metal roller at 130� C. An original 2q printed by copy print (the same one used for the silver salt type photography) was put on the unexposed sensitive layer 1a of the vesicular film 1 and the film was exposed by the xenon flash lamp (step B). Both the images 2p of the silver salt type film and 2q of the printed original were clearly copied on the same vesicular film 1.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2703756 *Dec 12, 1951Mar 8, 1955Gen Aniline & Film CorpVesicular prints and process of making sameUS2911299 *Jul 22, 1952Nov 3, 1959Kalvar CorpSystem of photographic reproductionUS2916622 *Dec 28, 1956Dec 8, 1959Kalvar CorpMethods and apparatus for copyingUS3189455 *Apr 30, 1962Jun 15, 1965Kalvar CorpVesicular photographic materials containing a polyamide vehicleUS3194659 *Mar 6, 1961Jul 13, 1965IbmReflex copying method using heat developable light scattering materialsUS3260599 *Nov 19, 1962Jul 12, 1966Minnesota Mining & MfgVesicular diazo copy-sheet containing photoreducible dyeUS3298833 *Sep 22, 1965Jan 17, 1967Gen ElectricMethod for storing informationUS3408192 *Jun 10, 1964Oct 29, 1968IbmLight-sensitive diazotype compositions and elementsUS3410686 *Jun 30, 1964Nov 12, 1968IbmDevelopment of imagesUS3457071 *Feb 1, 1966Jul 22, 1969Kalvar CorpMethod of making reversal imagesUS3536490 *Apr 28, 1964Oct 27, 1970Pitney Bowes IncNovel diazotype copying processUS3785821 *Jun 18, 1971Jan 15, 1974N NotleyMethod of developing vesicular photographic materialsGB850954A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4193183 *Jun 26, 1978Mar 18, 1980National Semiconductor CorporationInfrared photolithographic process for constructing self-aligned electrodesUS5151595 *Oct 16, 1990Sep 29, 1992Simon Marketing, Inc.Imaging device and method for developing, duplicating and printing graphic mediaUS5311017 *Jun 23, 1992May 10, 1994Simon Marketing, Inc.For reproducing an imageUS5321263 *May 10, 1993Jun 14, 1994Simon Marketing, Inc.Recording targetUS5334836 *Nov 29, 1991Aug 2, 1994Simon Marketing, Inc.Imaging device having a passive compliant card scanner and a validation sensorUS5413893 *Apr 12, 1993May 9, 1995Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.Optical information recording mediumUS6794107 *Jan 23, 2003Sep 21, 2004Kodak Polychrome Graphics LlcThermal generation of a mask for flexography* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification430/152, 250/316.1, 427/582, 427/586, 430/290, 430/395International ClassificationG03C5/60Cooperative ClassificationG03C5/60European ClassificationG03C5/60Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 1, 1988ASAssignmentOwner name: MITSUBISHI KASEI CORPORATIONFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:005004/0736Effective date: 19880601Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:5004/736Owner name: MITSUBISHI KASEI CORPORATION,JAPANOwner name: MITSUBISHI KASEI CORPORATION, JAPANRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services


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With aging parents to care for, adult children returning home, and soaring medical expenses, baby boomer's dreams of retirement are quickly fading away. In Boomers on the Edge the author offers practical advice to help you master these challenges and encourages you to let your faith in God see you through your difficult transitions. Paperback.
Format: DRM Protected ePubVendor: ZondervanPublication Date: 2009ISBN: 9780310316589ISBN-13: 9780310316589UPC: 025986316587Availability: In Stock
Retail: $26.95 Save 26% ($6.96) 5 Stars Out Of 5 1 Reviews Availability: In Stock CBD Stock No: WW500794 Video eBOOK
Add To Wishlist The Caregiving Season: Finding Grace to Honor Your Aging Parents - eBook
Jane Daly, Jim Daly Jane Daly, Jim Daly Focus on the Family / 2016 / ePub $14.99
5 Stars Out Of 5 2 Reviews Availability: This product will be released on 09/01/16. CBD Stock No: WW83131EB eBOOK
Add To Wishlist Setting Boundaries with Your Aging Parents: Finding Balance Between Burnout and Respect - eBook
Allison Bottke Allison Bottke Harvest House Publishers / 2010 / ePub $8.99
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Add To Wishlist Loving Your Parents When They Can No Longer Love You - eBook
Terry D. Hargrave Terry D. Hargrave Zondervan / 2010 / ePub $7.99
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Retail: $26.95 Save 26% ($6.96) 5 Stars Out Of 5 1 Reviews Availability: In Stock CBD Stock No: WW500794 Video Publisher's Description
Where can you go when youve been pushed to the edge? The baby boomer generation has found itself in a perfect storm of new and difficult challenges. Aging parents need care. Adult children are moving back home. And just when boomers thought they could retire, economic realities such as meager 401(k) plans and crushing medical expenses are forcing boomers by the thousands back into the workplace. As a boomer, you will have to face at least one of these situations and perhaps even juggle all three. Boomers on the Edge explores the unique challenges that lie ahead and shows how you can survive and even flourish. This book is filled with practical advice, and it is also rich in encouragement. Author Terry Hargrave helps you see the opportunities behind todays changing circumstances. Now is a new chance to build a legacy of wisdom and connection with your parents, learn new responsibility as a parent to older children, and deepen your faith in the face of financial realities. By embracing the emerging landscape of tests and changes, you will discover the rewards of developing a servants heart, and you will come to see Gods faithfulness as never before.
Terry Hargrave, PhD, is nationally recognized for his pioneering work with aging and intergenerational families and the author of Loving Your Parents When They Can No Longer Love You. . Terry has appeared as a consultant on ABC's Good Morning, America, and he and his wife Sharon are therapists in private practice. Terry is professor of marriage and family therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology. He and his wife, Sharon, have two children and were the primary caregivers for Sharon's mother until her passing. Product Reviews
Page 1 of 1 Jiminy
This review was written for Boomers on the Edge: Three Realities That Will Change Your Life Forever.
This is a MUCH more worthwhile book than one might think, even though a bit dated, since written before the 2008 crash. Of the 3 realities ... caring for parents, adult children moving back (with kids), and retiring to a fixed income with underfunded social security, medicare, and personal funds ... only the third is especially relevant (or so I believe).
Yet, even though the first two may not bear on my life, the writing is insightful and rewarding.
As to the third, I was born in 1947, so am in the vanguard. Terry argues that I should work as long as possible. Can I shoot the messenger? I guess that does not help with unpleasant truths. He did score points with me for suggesting using a bike as real transportation. I've done this in Anchorage for over 25 years (year round), but now arthritis in hip and knee has brought changes. Now we actually own two cars. As he suggests, we are working on changing our spending habits. I wish me lots of luck.
There are two things not covered. The first is the importance of doing all you can to stay healthy ... well, if mentioned it is not emphasized. The second is making sure your wills are in order; another thing for us to do.
This is fundamentally a Christian-oriented book in that scripture comes up either as support or illustration of his points. For those of you who would be as likely to join the Islamic State as ever to become a Christian, you should still read the book. Terry does not beat the reader up in an evangelistic frenzy. It's just not on his program. That ancient cultures might have worthwhile things to say should not offend you, nor should his own obvious reverence for our Creator. We are all in this together.
Boomers on the Edge by Terry Hargrave is much needed in today's culture for those in midlife. Baby Boomers are now being called "The Sandwich Generation" because we are often sandwiched in between our aging parents and our children, having to care for both. This book gives practical advice for those who are facing this and other similar situations. It also faces financial issues that Boomers will be facing due to our nation's rising cost of living.The book is broken down into three sections:~The Challenge of Caregiving~The Challenge of Adult Children~The Challenge of RetirementThis is a must read for anyone who will be facing caring for elderly parents in their near future. The section on how to parent and grandparent at the same time is also excellent.I highly recommend this. Kudos to Terry Hargrave for writing such a timely book!
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Velvet Underground 039 Live END OF Cole AVE Dallas 28 OCT 1969 039 LTD 500 Copies LP | eBay Skip to main content eBay Shop by category Enter your search keyword All Categories Advanced eBay Deals My eBay Expand My eBay My eBay My eBay Summary Bids/Offers Watch List Wish List All Lists Purchase History Selling/sold Followed searches My messages Sell Expand Sell Sell Sell an Item Seller Centre Selling Fees Sell for Charity Community Expand Community Community eBay News Discussion Forum Buying Guides Groups Answer Centre Feedback Forum Customer Support Back to home page
Details about VELVET UNDERGROUND 'Live End Of Cole Ave. Dallas 28 Oct 1969' Ltd. 500 Copies LP
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cocuny (u/cocuny) - Reddit
u/cocuny
cocuny commented on
Switch from Ubuntu 16 to Manjaro?
r/FindMeADistro•Posted by
u/PM_ME_UR_PHYSICS_HW
cocuny
Not trying to off post, but advice for you: no matter which transition you choose, it's gonna take some time to properly configure your machine. I'd do it on weekend if not on tight schedule, otherwise just wait until you have free time. In meanwhile, you can use Manjaro in VM for couple of weeks just to see how it behaves, maybe you'll change your mind.
Which distribution to try after Debian
I'm a long time Linux user. Was using distributions from Slackware to Ubuntu. I thought I've settled down on Debian Testing branch with KDE, but yesterday I couldn't boot my machine. Luckily, I've made backups but I dislike the idea that my machine at some point will not be able to boot itself, so I guess I'm looking a bit more stable distribution.
Today I've tried pretty much all popular distributions, but I mind the idea that GNOME or Cinnamon are using over 1 GB of RAM in IDLE. I have fairly strong computer, Haswell processor with 8 GB of RAM, and KDE always been in sweet spot. I like Xfce too, but KDE these days offer so much more productivity for me, so preferring newer KDE if possible.
I'm using computer mostly for development and school, so I'm in need for newer packages like PHP 7+, I'm not yet sold on idea to use Docker.
Boby_MC_bobs
What in particular wasn't working properly?
That's odd, if xorg was trying to remove... Were you doing any system modifications?
I run Leap and haven't had anything like that. I find Leap super stable.
No system modifications were made, just applying updates after clean net installation. Sadly, I really like Leap but it just doesn't work on my machine. Have you ever tried GeckoLinux, would you recommend that or something else?
GeckoLinux seem quite nice, I haven't tried it but I've seem about it. Looks promising!
I'm trying Leap at the moment installing from USB. Thanks for your comments kind man!

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text:
SAMPLE PLAY AUDIO SAMPLE http%3A%2F%2Fsamples.audible.com%2Fbk%2Fharp%2F001913%2Fbk_harp_001913_sample.mp3+flashcontent05BRTH8YRSBXRBZZCK7Y0
Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release Date:06-23-09 Publisher:
Overall(5193)Performance(3524)Story(3517)
derrick swords says:
Overall(12602)Performance(10927)Story(10857)
Overall(628)Performance(534)Story(524)
Overall(686)Performance(593)Story(591)
Overall(8829)Performance(7084)Story(7052)
Elvin C. Ames
Dabrigadier
"Didn't like as much"
I'm a fan of Emyth but this book was not that good. Not his best work!
"Very disappoint"
The audio book was philosophical rhetoric that didn't have supporting validation or research. It was more like a manifesto. More Less
very genuine and from the heart from many years of struggles and persistence. I will listen to it several more times probably. More Less

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text: Cowboys must work to keep Landry in forefront1777dJean-Jacques TaylorRanking Tyson's 10 greatest knockouts7mDan Rafael1 Related Collins: Tyson's tumultuous careerGiants to let Bumgarner hit for self in AL parkSan Francisco Giants44mPierre-Paul preaches fireworks safety in PSANew York Giants28mDan GrazianoSources: Thunder looking to lure Horford tooAtlanta Hawks3hBrian WindhorstSources: Knicks strong favorites to land NoahNew York Knicks6hMarc Stein and Ian BegleyFunny money? FAs about to get paid in NBAOklahoma City Thunder2hZach Lowe3 Related The Thunder's blueprint to re-sign Kevin Durant In search of the next DeMarre CarrollRanking the 25 best NBA free agentsIs LeBron worth $100 million a year?Cleveland Cavaliers55mKevin PeltonBody parts found near Rio beach volleyball venue2hCubs, Dodgers top MLB Future Power RanksChicago CubsDan SzymborskiMichael Phelps embraces his historic moment8hWayne DrehsColts give 140 million reasons why Andrew Luck won't repeat 201516hWhy Andrew Luck's megadeal is a letdown for future QBsIndianapolis Colts1hDan GrazianoColts lock up Luck with massive long-term dealIndianapolis Colts1hMike WellsExpectation is that Dave Dombrowski will aggressively seek pitching help34mBuster OlneyA big win -- or a big tease? -- for the Yankees9hWallace MatthewsNationals appear poised to run away with NL East10hJose Altuve's MVP-caliber season is one for the ages so far11hDavid SchoenfieldInside the tale of Sam Hinkie's controversial process and his ultimate fallPhiladelphia 76ers20hJordan BrennerMeeting with Dwight Howard another encouraging sign for Celtics22hChris ForsbergRewind: Jon Jones looks back on UFC 182 win1hESPN.comSummer recruiting road map: Another Kentucky exodus looms1hJeff BorzelloBaylor scandal leads to unprecedented recruiting windfall for Texas1hJeremy CrabtreeWhat each Elite 11 QB needs to improve3hTom LuginbillDaily MLB lineups2hESPN.com staffStamkos, Weber arrivals tip power for the EastMontreal Canadiens9hScott Burnside2 Related Steven Stamkos' goal-scoring touch makes him coveted free-agent targetTrade Grades: Predators come out ahead in Subban-Weber swapTom Landry no longer top of mindFacebookTwitterPinterestEmailcommentAug 19, 2011Jean-Jacques TaylorESPN Staff Writer CloseJean-Jacques Taylor joined ESPNDallas.com in August 2011. A native of Dallas, Taylor spent the past 20 years writing for The Dallas Morning News, where he covered high schools sports, the Texas Rangers and spent 11 seasons covering the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a general columnist in 2006.Follow on TwitterFacebookTwitterPinterestEmailprintcomment

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text:
Patent US6853719 - Provision of media content to telephony callers on-hold - Google Patents
A method of providing media content, such as music and video, to callers on hold involves the generation of the media content locally in the environment of the held caller, rather than the transmission of the content over the network. The local call server of the held caller is signalled when the call...http://www.google.com/patents/US6853719?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6853719 - Provision of media content to telephony callers on-hold
Publication number US6853719 B2
Application number US 09/815,323
Priority date Mar 22, 2001
Also published as CA2377617A1, CA2377617C, DE60227021D1, EP1244282A2, EP1244282A3, EP1244282B1, US20020136384
Publication number 09815323, 815323, US 6853719 B2, US 6853719B2, US-B2-6853719, US6853719 B2, US6853719B2
Inventors Tony McCormack, Joseph Smyth
Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (22), Classifications (9), Legal Events (10)
Provision of media content to telephony callers on-hold
US 6853719 B2
A method of providing media content, such as music and video, to callers on hold involves the generation of the media content locally in the environment of the held caller, rather than the transmission of the content over the network. The local call server of the held caller is signalled when the call has been placed on hold by the server which has placed the call on hold. The caller's server then activates a music-on-hold server (or other media content generator) to provide the media content directly to the caller's telephony terminal. The advantage of this is that the media content is not transmitted across the network, allowing a higher bandwidth to be used locally for the media content without utilizing wide area network resources. This results also in the media content being provided in a higher quality format to the caller, avoiding the loss of quality associated with transmitting music using compressive voice codecs over packet-based networks.
1. A method of providing media content to a caller on hold in a call placed across a communications network between first and second locations, said first location having a first call control unit associated therewith and said second location having a second call control unit associated therewith, said caller being at said second location and communicatig with the first location by means of a telephony terminal, said method carried out by the second call control unit and comprising the steps:
a) detecting that the call has been placed on hold by the first call control unit;
b) activating a media content generator associated with said second location to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold;
c) receiving telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold; and
d) mixing said received telephony signals with any audio media content from the local media content generator.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of detecting comprises receiving a signal from the first call control unit that the call has been placed on hold.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said media content generator comprises an audio source associated with the second call control unit.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said media content generator comprises an audio source associated with said telephony terminal.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said audio source comprises a memory for storing audio content and a playback unit, both the memory and the playback unit forming part of said terminal.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said media content generator comprises an Internet connection associated with said telephony terminal, and wherein said locally generated media content is accessed from a remote Internet site before being presented to said caller at said telephony terminal.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said telephony terminal, said second call control unit and said media content generator are each connected to a local area network (LAN) which is connected to said communications network.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said communications network is a packet-based network, and wherein said call is conducted using a first codec, said method further comprising the step of causing said telephony terminal to switch to a second codec while receiving content from said media content generator.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second call control unit(s) comprise a private branch exchange.
10. A method of holding a call placed across a communications network between a first location having a first call control unit associated therewith and a second location having a second call control unit associated therewith, said method carried out by the first call control unit and comprising the steps of:
a) placing the call into an on-hold state;
b) signalling to the second call control unit that the call is on-hold, whereby said second call control unit can provide locally generated media content to said second location while the call remains on hold; and
c) continuing to send telephony signals across the communications network from the first location to the second location while the call is on hold, whereby the on-hold telephony signals can be mixed with any locally generated audio media content by the second call control centre.
11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the subsequent steps of:
a) placing the call from the on-hold state into an active state; and
b) signalling to the second call control unit that the call is active, whereby said second control unit can finish providing locally generated media content to said second location.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step, carried out by the second call control unit on receipt of the signal from the first call control unit that the call is on hold, of activating a media content generator associated with said second location to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold.
13. A computer program product in machine readable form containing instructions which when executed cause a call control unit to:
a) detect that a call made between a telephony terminal under the control of the call control unit and a remote location has been placed on held at said remote location;
b) activate a media content generator associated with said call control unit to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold;
c) receive telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold; and
d) mix said received telephony signals with any audio media content from the local media content generator.
14. A computer program product in machine readable form containing instructions which when executed cause a call control unit to:
a) place a call under the control of the call control unit on hold; and
b) generate a signal to a remote location to which the call is connected indicating that the call is on hold; and
c) continue to send telephony signals across the communications network from the first location to the second location while the call is on hold, whereby the on-hold telephony signals can be mixed with any locally generated audio media content by the second call control centre.
15. A call server comprising:
a) a call control unit for maintaining control of a call between a telephony terminal associated with the server and a remote location to which the terminal is connected via a communications network;
b) a detector for detecting that a call in which the terminal is involved has been placed on hold at a remote location;
c) a media content generation actuator for actuating a media content generator associated with the call server to thereby provide media content to the telephony terminal while the call is on hold; and
d) a mixer for receiving telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold and mixing said received telephony signals with any audio media content from the local media content generator.
16. A call server as claimed in claim 15, wherein said server is selected from a private branch exchange (PBX) or a public switched telephony network (PSTN) exchange.
17. A telephony terminal having an associated media content generator, a media control unit for activating said generator and switching the output thereof into the voice channel of a call in which the terminal is involved on receipt of a signal that said call is on hold at a remote location, and a mixer for receiving telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold and mixing said received telephony signals with any audio media content from the local media content generator.
18. A communications network including a call server, wherein said call server comprises:
a) a call unit for maintaining control of a call between a telephony terminal associated with the server and a remote location to which the terminal is connected via said communications network;
c) a media content generation actuator for actuating a media content to the telephony terminal while the call is on hold; and
d) a mixer for receiving telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold and mixing said received telephony signals with any media audio content from the local media content generator.
19. A method of providing media content to a caller on hold in a call placed across a communications network between first and second locations, said first location having a first call control unit associated therewith and said second location having a second call control unit associated therewith, said caller being at said second location and communicating with the first location by means of a telephony terminal, said method carried out by the second call control unit and comprising the steps of:
b) activating a media content generator associated with said second location to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold, wherein said telephony terminal, said second call control unit and said media content generator are each connected to a local area network (LAN) which is connected to said communications network; and
c) causing said telephony terminal to switch from a first codec, used to transmit the call over the communications network to a second codec, used to transmit content from said media content generator over the local area network.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said step of detecting comprises receiving a signal from the first call control unit that the call has been placed on hold.
21. A method according to claim 19, wherein said media content generator comprises an audio source associated with the second call control unit.
22. A method according to claim 19, wherein said media content generator comprises an audio source associated with said telephony terminal.
23. A method according to claim 4, wherein said audio source comprises a memory for storing audio content and a playback unit, both the memory and the playback unit forming part of said terminal.
24. A method according to claim 19, wherein said media content generator comprises an Internet connection associated with said telephony terminal, and wherein said locally generated media content is accessed from a remote Internet site before being presented to said caller at said telephony terminal.
25. A method according to claim 19, wherein the first and/or second call control unit(s) comprise a private branch exchange.
26. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of receiving telephony signals from the first location while the call is on hold and mixing said received telephony signals with the media content from the local media content generator.
27. A computer program product in machine readable form containing instructions which when executed cause a call control unit to:
a) detect that a call made between a telephony terminal under the control of the call control unit and a remote location has been placed on hold at said remote location;
c) switch the encoding of data employed by the telephony terminal from a first codec, used to transmit telephony data within the call, to a second codec, used to transmit locally generated media content from the media content generator.
28. A call server comprising:
c) a media content generation actuator for actuating a media content generator associated with the call server to thereby provide media content to the telephony terminal while the call in on hold;
d) a switch associated with the detector for switching the data encoding for the call from a first codec, used for transmit call signals between the telephony terminal and the remote location, and a second codec, used to transmit content from said media content generator over the local area network, said switch being actuated on detection that the call has been placed on hold.
29. A communications network including a call server, wherein said call server comprises:
c) a media content generation actuator for actuating a media content generator associated with the call server to thereby provide media content to the telephony terminal while the call is on hold;
The present invention relates to the provision of media content to callers on-hold in telephony applications. The invention has particular application in the provision of music and other audio content in voice telephony over packet-based networks.
In traditional circuit-switched voice networks, a basic feature of many private branch exchanges (PBXs) is music-on-hold (MOH). A caller may be placed on hold either by a user of a handset connected to the PBX or automatically (e.g. while queuing for an operator to answer a call). In either case, the PBX switches MOH onto the voice channel as soon as the caller is placed on hold, so that music is delivered to the caller while he or she is holding.
The source of the MOH may, for example, be a disk or tape drive connected to the PBX, or a radio tuner which delivers the content of a radio station to the caller, or it may be electronically generated music from the PBX. In any case, this music is delivered in either digital or analog uncompressed format with minimal distortion to the caller who is placed on hold.
With packet-based voice networks, valuable Wide Area Network (WAN) resources are used whenever a voice call is made. Voice signals are therefore normally compressed by means of an algorithm known as a codec, before being transmitted as packets across the network, to reduce bandwidth.
The International Telecommunication Union defines a number of standard codecs which are used to compress telephony signals. Two examples of such codecs which are used in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls are G.729AB and G.723.1, which result in data transfer rates of 8 kb/s and 6.4/5.333 kb/s respectively. Both codecs provide acceptable standards of voice quality but since they are not designed to work on non-voice inputs, such as music, they often give unacceptable results when so used. This has the result that when used with common codec standards, MOH delivered to the far-end PBX (where the caller on-hold is located) will be rendered unrecognisable by the encoding, transmission and decoding.
While there are uncompressed codecs (e.g. G.711 A Law) available for packet-based networks, it is wasteful of bandwidth to use these codecs for the transmission of MOH due to the bandwidth-imposed restrictions of the networks.
In applications such as video telephony, the bandwidth requirements will in general be greater, and it is therefore even less desirable to deliver video content to callers who are on hold, even though this might be a desirable feature for customers of video conferencing solutions.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved quality media content to callers on hold.
The invention provides a method of providing media content to a caller on hold. The call is placed between first and second locations, each having an associated call control unit, the caller being at the second location and communicating with the first location by means of a telephony terminal. The method of the invention is carried out by the second call control unit and involves the following steps:
a) detecting that the call has been placed on hold by the first call control unit; and
b) activating a media content generator associated with the caller's location to provide locally generated media content to the caller while the caller is on hold.
The invention allows for a reduction in bandwidth for calls which are on hold by allowing the media content (e.g. music or video on hold) to be provided locally at the caller's end, rather than being transmitted across the network.
In cases where telephony calls (whether voice or video) are made over a packet-based wide area network (WAN), significant bandwidth reductions are made. Even where the call terminates on equipment based on a local area network (LAN) at either end, the content generated locally can generally be carried at a higher bandwidth over the LAN using a less compressive codec than is used to carry the call, since most LANs utilise high speed connections between entities on the LAN.
The terms “local” and “remote” as used herein denote symbolic rather than geographical proximity. In other words, entities which are controlled by one another or which are under mutual control are considered as “local” whereas independent parts of a network system are considered as “remote”.
The step of detecting preferably involves receiving a signal from the first call control unit that the call has been placed on hold.
In this way, signalling between the two ends acts as an instruction that the call is being held and that locally generated MOH or other content should be switched into the call until the call comes off hold. Generally, the respective call servers will establish at call set-up whether or not they are compliant with the invention, and this information is then used by the first call server (which is placing the call on hold) during the call to decide whether to switch a MOH server into the call, or alternatively, to simply signal to the second server that the second server should locally switch in a MOH server.
Preferably, the media content generator comprises an audio source associated with the second call control unit. Many call servers are traditionally provided with either a built-in MOH unit or an input for receiving MOH from a conventional audio source.
Alternatively, the media content generator may be an audio source associated with the telephony terminal, either as a separate unit or as an integral part of the telephony terminal. The telephony terminal and the source can be mutually connected by a LAN or via traditional connections to a PBX.
As the invention has particular application in calls made over packet-based networks, the telephony terminal, second call control unit and media content generator are preferably each connected to a local area network (LAN) which is connected to the communications network.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the communications network is a packet-based network, and the call is conducted using a first codec, with the method further including the step of causing the telephony terminal to switch to a second codec while receiving content from the media content generator.
The advantage of this feature is that the bandwidth over the WAN can be conserved by using the first (low-bit rate) codec as normal in e.g. VoIP calls. However, when the call is placed on hold, the call server of the held caller is signalled to switch the caller's terminal to a less-compressive codec to receive the locally generated MOH, which will generally be confined to a LAN or local PBX environment which can provide higher bandwidth communications.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method, telephony signals continue to be received from the first location while the call is on hold, with the second call server performing the mixing operation on these signals with the media content from the local media content generator.
This provides the advantage that the first call server can provide the caller with useful information from e.g. a recorded announcement (RAN) unit, via the low bandwidth call codec while the call is held, and these announcements are then mixed in with the locally generated MOH for the caller to listen to. Such announcements might be used, for example, to advertise products or services of the organisation which is holding the call, or to provide the caller with information regarding opportunities to select particular extensions rather than holding further.
The first and/or second call control unit(s) can comprise a private branch exchange (PBX).
In a further aspect the invention provides a method of holding a call placed across a communications network between a first location having a first call control unit and a second location having a second call control unit. The method of this aspect of the invention is carried out by the first call control unit and involves the steps of:
a) placing the call into an on-hold state; and
b) signalling to the second call control unit that the call is on-hold, whereby the second call control unit can provide locally generated media content to the second location while the call remains on hold.
This aspect of the invention provides the complementary steps carried out by the server which initiates the call holding and which enables the call server at the far end to initiate local MOH.
The method preferably also includes the subsequent steps of:
c) placing the call from the on-hold state into an active state; and
d) signalling to the second call control unit that the call is active, whereby the second control unit can finish providing locally generated media content to the second location.
In a further preferred aspect of the method, the second call control unit, on receipt of the signal from the first call control unit that the call is on hold, activates a media content generator associated with the second location to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold.
In other words, a preferred method of the invention involves the relevant steps being taken by both call servers in combination.
In another aspect there is provided a computer program which when executed causes a call server to:
a) detect that a call made between a telephony terminal under the control of the call server and a remote location has been placed on hold at the remote location; and
b) activate a media content generator associated with the call server to thereby provide locally generated media content to the telephony terminal while the caller is on hold.
In a further aspect the invention provides a computer program which when executed causes a call server to:
a) place a call under the control of the call server on hold; and
b) generate a signal to a remote location to which the call is connected indicating that the call is on hold.
The invention further provides a call server comprising:
b) a detector for detecting that a call in which the terminal is involved has been placed on hold at a remote location; and
c) a media content generation actuator for actuating a media content generator associated with the call server to thereby provide media content to the telephony terminal while the call is on hold.
The call server of the invention is preferably either a private branch exchange (PBX) or a public switched telephony network (PSTN) exchange.
The invention further provides a telephony terminal having an associated media content generator and a media control unit for activating the generator and switching the output thereof into the voice channel of a call in which the terminal is involved on receipt of a signal that said call is on hold at a remote location.
The terminal of the invention can be selected from a mobile handset, an analog or digital desktop set, an ethernet set, or a computer running telephony software.
In another aspect, the invention provides a call control signal comprising an electronic indication that an identified call has been placed on hold, said signal being adapted for transmission from a call server associated with the telephony equipment at which the call has been placed on hold, to a remote location across a communications network.
The invention will now be illustrated by the following descriptions of embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a system architecture of a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a system architecture of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a system architecture of a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a system architecture of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a system architecture of a fifth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a system architecture of a sixth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the operation of server software at the server placing a call on hold; and
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the operation of server software at the server of the caller who has been remotely placed on hold.
FIG. 1 shows an implementation of the invention in which a plurality of telephony terminals 12 are connected within an intranet environment over a first local area network (LAN) 14. Calls over the LAN and from the LAN to external numbers are made under the control of a first call server 16.
LAN 14 is connected via a router 18 to a wide area network (WAN) 20. The WAN uses the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) to carry packets between nodes on the network, with router 18 being connected at one such node. A second router 22 is connected at another node and a second LAN 24 is connected to router 22. This LAN also connects a plurality of telephony terminals 26 at a second location under the control of a second call server 28. The first and second call servers may be implemented, for example, by the “Meridian 1” call server available from Nortel Networks, Montreal, Canada.
Each LAN is provided with a music-on-hold (MOH) server 30,32. Traditionally, such MOH servers are switched into the voice channel of a call by their local call servers whenever a user places a call on hold, and thus the music provided by the MOH server is substituted for the voice input of the caller who placed the call on hold and this music traverses the network 20.
According to the present invention, however, the two call servers 16,28 identify at call set-up their respective capabilities. As well as the normal information exchanges at this time (e.g. deciding which codec is to be used for the call based on the terminal capabilities, deciding on a bandwidth allocation, etc.), the servers establish that they are compliant with the present invention.
If and when the call is placed on hold by either a user of one of the telephony terminals involved in the call, or some other entity (e.g. a call centre software application answering the call), the normal actions are taken by the call server. Thus, for example, assuming that the user at one of the terminals 12 places the call on hold by pressing the appropriate handset button, a message is passed to the call server indicating that the call is to be held. The server takes control of the call and releases the terminal from the call, allowing the user to e.g. place another call or replace the handset temporarily.
The call server 16 also, however, forwards a message to the call server 28 signalling it that the call is now on hold, and thereby implicitly requesting that call server to provide MOH to the caller at the other end. In one of the most widely used VoIP protocols at the current time, the H.323 standard, a H.245 signalling channel is used to carry call control signals between entities involved in the call. The H.245 standard has user definable messages which can be used to define proprietary signals between endpoints. In this case, a H.245 “Add” message is used to indicate to the call server 28 that the call has been placed on hold by server 16.
This prompts call server 28 to signal the local MOH server 32 to provide MOH to the appropriate one of telephony terminals 26. The signalling between the call server and the MOH server can be conducted using Media Gateway Control signals (e.g. the Megaco standard defined by ITU H.248).
The instruction from the call server 28 to the MOH server 32 will identify the network address of the appropriate terminal 26, and the MOH will then be delivered by means of the RTP protocol. The instruction to the MOH server will typically also include an identification of the codec to be used, which may be an uncompressed codec such as G.711.
At the same time, the call server 28 will signal to the relevant telephony terminal that it should switch from the codec used to carry voice packets over the WAN to this new uncompressed protocol, so that this terminal is in a position to receive and correctly decode RTP packets arriving from the MOH server. Typically, the server 28 will send a confirmatory message back to the first call server 16, although this is not crucial.
When the call is taken off hold at the first location, the first call server 16 sends a message to this effect using the H.245 messaging protocol, and this message causes the second server to instruct the MOH server to cease broadcasting packets to the terminal 26, and also instruct the terminal to revert to the original voice codec in order that the call may be resumed.
Even in cases where the WAN has the capability to carry uncompressed music using e.g. G.711, most networks will be engineered to assume that there is a certain amount of end-to-end silence between both parties. In other words, even as a conversation is on-going, packets are only transmitted when there is actually a voice input at either end, and such voice inputs are sporadic. The network engineers therefore typically assume that there will be silence in most calls for a certain proportion of the time. MOH typically involves very little if any silence, and thus tends to require not only uncompressed codecs, but also a constant stream of packets across the network. By confining the flow of packets to the LANs at either end, therefore, these valuable network resources are maintained.
It will be appreciated that the scenario shown in FIG. 1 is symmetric, so that the second call server 28 could equally place a call on hold, causing the first call server to activate its local MOH server to play music to one of the local terminals 12.
FIG. 2 shows an implementation of the invention in which the architecture at the first location (which places the call on hold) is identical to that of FIG. 1. However, in this case the caller being placed on hold is a mobile caller using a cell phone 34 connected by the global system for mobiles (GSM) or similar protocol to a base station 36. The base station 36 in turn passes the call signals to an exchange 38 of the caller's mobile service provider which is connected to the WAN 20.
The exchange 38 is provided with a MOH server 40, and performs the function of the second call control unit referred to previously. Thus, it receives signals from the call server 16 indicating that the call has been placed on hold, and the exchange software interprets these signals to switch the output of the MOH server into the voice channel of the call. The music is thus broadcast to the cell phone handset via the base station, again avoiding the necessity of carrying the MOH over the packet-based WAN.
In a variation of the system shown in FIG. 2, the MOH server 40 may be omitted if the mobile handset has the capability of storing and playing music itself, or if it can access another music source while on hold. In the first of these scenarios, the phone will have the capability of storing music files in a high quality format, e.g. the MP3 format, and this capability will be known to the exchange software. When the call is placed on hold, the appropriate message is simply passed along by the exchange to the handset, which maintains open the call connection, but switches the audio output to the user from the call to the built-in MP3 player in the handset. The handset monitors for the further signal that the call has been taken off hold, at which point it switches the call back into the audio output and disables the MP3 player.
In the second alternative scenario, the handset uses the “on-hold” signal received from the call server 16 via the exchange 38 as an instruction to initiate a second call, while maintaining the first call. This second call will be to a media provider, such as a music service or a talk-based information service. It could also be a connection to a wireless application protocol (WAP) Internet site. Thus, when the mobile handset is told that the call is on hold, the caller is switched to a new audio media source or a browser connection is opened. The caller is free to enjoy and utilise this new media content until the “off hold” signal is received following which the new (second) call is disconnected and the caller is switched back to the first call which has been maintained on hold by the handset itself.
For phones employing 2.5G and 3G wireless technology, a second call to a WAP server is not required and thus a default web page can be called up when the call is placed on hold.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the left-hand side of the architecture is again unchanged but the caller at the second location uses a desktop PC 42 running telephony software to connect to the Internet (WAN 20) via a modem 44. The call from the second location is under the control of a call server 46, but the only connection between call server 46 and PC 42 is via the WAN.
When the call is placed on hold at the first location, a message is again sent from the first call server 16 to the second call server 46. Rather than switching in a MOH server, however, the call server 46 simply instructs the PC 42 that the call has been placed on hold and allows the PC to select the type of media content to play to the caller. Typically, the user of the PC will have predefined this in the telephony software but it could be e.g. music or video stored on the PC or in a connected device, or it could be a game loaded on the PC, or it could be an instruction to open a browser window to access a particular website. Again, in any case, while the call remains on hold, some type of locally generated content is provided to the caller, or a website is accessed by the caller, avoiding the necessity of providing MOH over the WAN while on hold.
FIG. 4 shows a similar scenario to that of FIG. 3, but with the difference that the user is making the call from an ethernet set. This ethernet set 48 has an in-built MOH capability, and thus when the second call server 46 receives the information that the call is on hold, it issues a H.245 instruction to the set 48 to activate its in-built MOH facility until instructed that the call has been taken off hold.
In the FIG. 5 embodiment, a plurality of telephone sets 50 at the second location are connected via an analog connection to a call server 52 in the form of a PBX having a built-in MOH server. The operation of this embodiment is similar to those previously described with the difference that signals from call server 16 to server 52 that a call from one of the sets 50 has been placed on hold, cause server 52 to switch the output of the MOH server into the voice channel leading to the telephone set in question. When the call comes off hold, the voice connection to the WAN 20 is again restored.
In FIG. 6 yet another embodiment is shown. This embodiment is generally similar to that of FIG. 1 with the differences that (i) one of the terminals 26 at the second location has been replaced by an audio mixer 54 which is adapted to combine two or more audio inputs and output the mixed signals on a single voice channel, and (ii) the MOH server at the first location has been replaced by a recorded announcement (RAN) server 56 which is adapted to play a number of pre-recorded voice messages rather than simply a stream of music.
When call server 16 places a call on hold, it signals this fact to call server 28 in the manner previously described. It also, however, activates the RAN unit 56 to play a series of messages at intervals while the call remains on hold. These messages are output to the original destination address of the call (one of the terminals 26) over the WAN 20 using the original VoIP codec chosen for the call.
Call server 28 switches on the local MOH server 32 and the mixing unit 54. MOH server 32 is instructed to output MOH to the LAN address of the mixer unit 54, and this mixer unit is in turn instructed to direct its output to the terminal 26 involved in the call, using an uncompressed codec. Server 28 also instructs the terminal 26 to switch to the same uncompressed codec, as previously described. While the call remains on hold, voice packets arriving over the WAN 20 from RAN server 56 are redirected to the mixing unit where they form an input. The mixing unit mixes this voice input with the MOH input according to a pre-defined algorithm (e.g. the volume of the music might be lowered while the voice input is arriving, so that the voice signal can be clearly heard in the mixer output over the reduced volume music, with the music volume restored during the periods between voice announcement. This mixed output is then provided to the caller who hears the RAN messages over the locally generated MOH. The advantage of this embodiment is that only the compressed codec is used to transmit the RAN messages over the WAN, while the higher quality codec is used for the music and combined music voice signals sent over the LAN.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show the operation of the control software running at the first and second servers of e.g. FIG. 1, respectively. In practice a single piece of software will control the operation of a server both when it acts to place a call on hold and when it is informed that a call made to or from one of its local terminals has been remotely placed in hold, but for clarity the operation of both aspects of the invention will be described separately with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 7 and 8.
In the flow chart of FIG. 7, the first server, during call set up, step 60, determines whether or not the server controlling the other end of the call is compliant with the invention (as well as determining all other call parameters to be established between the two ends). The server software module controlling the operation of the invention then enters a waiting mode, step 62, until the call is placed on hold by e.g. the local caller pressing a hold button on his or her telephone set, step 64. The server then places the call on hold as normal, step 66, e.g. by freeing the terminal from the call and terminating the call at the server to allow the terminal to make other calls or to hang up temporarily.
When the call is placed on hold, the software determines whether or not the other server is compliant with the invention (from the call set-up capability exchange), step 68. Taking the case first where the other server is not compliant, the server switches on a local MOH server, step 70, and switches the output into the outgoing voice channel of the call.
The server then awaits a signal that the call is to be taken off hold, step 72, determined by the local user again pressing the hold button (or the line button of the line on which the call is being held), step 74, following which the server switches off the MOH server, step 76, and returns the active call to the terminal, step 78.
If the other server is compliant, however, a different sequence of steps is followed according to the invention. In this case, when the call is placed on hold, the local MOH server is not activated, but instead a H.245 signal is passed to the remote server, step 80, instructing it to provide the media content to its own terminal while the call is on hold. The first server then awaits the instruction to take the call off hold, step 82, determined by the hold button being pressed by the user, step 84, following which the first server sends a second message to the second server, indicating that the call is being taken off hold, step 86. The call is then returned to the terminal, step 78, following which the software module awaits the next “hold” instruction, step 62.
In the software module running on the second server, FIG. 8, the call set up, step 90, identifies to this server that the remote server controlling the other end of the call is compliant and thus that H.245 messages can be expected if the call is placed remotely on hold. The server thus awaits such messages, step 92, and on receipt of such a message, step 94, the server activates its local MOH server, step 96, and instructs it to output to the local terminal involved in the call in question. This instruction will also identify to the MOH server which (generally uncompressed) codec it should use to transmit the RTP packets containing the MOH. At the same time, the server instructs the local terminal to switch to this new codec to allow it to receive and decode the RTP packets from the local MOH server, step 98.
The MOH server continues to provide MOH to its local terminal until the call server receives a further signal from the remote server that the call is being taken off hold, step 100, at which point it instructs the MOH server to stop transmission, step 102, and instructs the local terminal to revert to the original VoIP (compressive) codec allowing conversation to resume, step 104. The process then reverts to step 92 awaiting a further signal that the call is again on hold.
While the invention has been primarily described in relation to voice calls and the provision of music on hold, it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to other telephony applications such as e.g. video telephony, in which case the content played to the caller on hold may involve visual and/or audio media streams.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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U.S. Classification 379/215.01, 379/201.01, 379/214.01
International Classification H04M3/428, H04M7/00
Cooperative Classification H04M3/4285, H04M7/006
European Classification H04M7/00M, H04M3/428M
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MCCORMACK, TONY;SMYTH, JOSEPH;REEL/FRAME:011633/0863
Mar 10, 2014 AS Assignment
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP;REEL/FRAME:032422/0919
Feb 8, 2017 LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

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