In telecommunication, trellis modulation (also known as trellis coded modulation, or simply TCM) is a modulation scheme that transmits information with high efficiency over band-limited channels such as telephone lines. Gottfried Ungerboeck invented trellis modulation while working for IBM in the 1970s, and first described it in a conference paper in 1976. It went largely unnoticed, however, until he published a new, detailed exposition in 1982 that achieved sudden and widespread recognition.
In the late 1980s, modems operating over plain old telephone service (POTS) typically achieved 9.6 kbit/s by employing four bits per symbol QAM modulation at 2,400 baud (symbols/second). This bit rate ceiling existed despite the best efforts of many researchers, and some engineers predicted that without a major upgrade of the public phone infrastructure, the maximum achievable rate for a POTS modem might be 14 kbit/s for two-way communication (3,429 baud × 4 bits/symbol, using QAM).
Bob is the surname of:
Bob is a fictional character in the book series The Dresden Files and its TV series adaptation, in which he is portrayed by Terrence Mann.
Bob is a "spirit of intellect" who inhabits a skull perched on a shelf in Harry Dresden's secret lab. He is bound to the skull and its owner's wishes. He is free to leave the skull if given permission by his owner, but he will die if exposed to significant sunlight without a host body. His usual vessel is Harry's cat, Mister, who does not seem to mind Bob's presence.
As a spirit of knowledge, Bob has served various wizards over the years and functions much like a magical encyclopedia, assisting Harry with various tasks; such as making potions, preparing difficult rituals, and providing him with useful information about the various supernatural creatures Harry deals with throughout the books (since Harry's magic causes almost all modern technology to malfunction in his presence, he does not own a computer).
This is a list of supporting characters from the First Comics series Grimjack. It covers characters from both the John Gaunt and James Twilley eras.
Blacjacmac was Gaunt's oldest friend. He was the son of Mac Cabre, one of the Dancer's chief lieutenants. Gaunt and Mac met in the Arena, a gladatorial-style combat venue. Mac initially fought with an insane style, earning the nickname "Wild Thing," because he had no regard for his own life or anyone else's. Gaunt, recognizing a kindred spirit, approached Mac and helped him turn his anger outward to survive.
Upon leaving the Arena, Mac established a private mercenary army. He was romantically involved with Goddess, a "black god" from an alternate dimension who hated Gaunt for leading Mac to put his life in danger.
When GrimJack reincarnated as Twilley, he sought out the descendants of Blacjacmac. Mac had incorporated back in Gaunt's time and by Twilley's time it was almost impossible to function without being a member of a corporation. Mac had formally "adopted" Gaunt, which extended to Twilley. Twilley discovered that Mac himself "reincarnated" after a fashion by being born to Goddess each time he died.