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(11)

EP 1 230 587 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.08.2002 Bulletin 2002/33 (21) Application number: 00990488.9 (22) Date of filing: 06.11.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 3/00, H04B 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0041/912 (87) International publication number: WO 0137/072 (25.05.2001 Gazette 2001/21)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR (30) Priority: 05.11.1999 US 163898 P (71) Applicant: University of Massachusetts Boston, MA 02108 (US)	(72) Inventors: GRINSTEIN, Georges Ashby, MA 01431 (US) HOFFMAN, Patrick Wilmington, MA 01887 (US) (74) Representative: von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Friedrich R., Dipl.-Phys. et al SAMSON & PARTNERWidenmayerstrasse 5 80538 München 80538 München (DE)