The present invention is directed to a method for treating a human patient for coronary artery disease, comprising administering into at least one coronary vessel of a human patient in need of treatment for coronary artery disease a safe and angiogenically effective dose of a recombinant FGF-5 of SEQ ID NO:9, or an angiogenically active fragment or mutein thereof. The invention is also directed to a method for inducing angiogenesis in the heart of a patient, comprising administering into at least one coronary vessel of a human patient in need of coronary angiogenesis a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant FGF-5 of SEQ ID NO:9, or an angiogenically active fragment or mutein thereof.

The fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are a family of at least eighteen structurally related polypeptides (named FGF-1 to FGF-18) that are characterized by a high degree of affinity for proteoglycans, such as heparin. The various FGF molecules range in size from 15-23 kD, and exhibit a broad range of biological activities in normal and malignant conditions including nerve cell adhesion and differentiation [Schubert et al., J. Cell Biol. 104:635-643 (1987)]; wound healing [U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,818 (Fiddes)]; as mitogens toward many mesodermal and ectodermal cell types, as trophic factors, as differentiation inducing or inhibiting factors [Clements, et al., Oncogene 8:1311-1316 (1993)]; and as an angiogenic factor [Harada, J. Clin. Invest., 94:623-630 (1994)]. Thus, the FGF family is a family of pluripotent growth factors that stimulate to varying extents fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, and neuronal cells.
When FGF is released by normal tissues, such as in fetal development or wound healing, it is subject to temporal and spatial controls. However, many of the members of the FGF family are also oncogenes. Thus, in the absence of temporal and spatial controls, they have the potential to stimulate tumor growth by providing angiogenesis.
Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) is a progressive disease in humans wherein one or more coronary arteries gradually become occluded through the buildup of plaque. The coronary arteries of patients having this disease are often treated by balloon angioplasty or the insertion of stents to prop open the partially occluded arteries. Ultimately, these patients are required to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery at great expense and risk. It would be desirable to provide such patients with a medicament that would enhance coronary blood flow so as to preclude the need to undergo bypass surgery.
An even more critical situation arises in humans when a patient suffers a myocardial infarction, wherein one or more coronary arteries or arterioles becomes completely occluded, such as by a clot. There is an immediate need to regain circulation to the portion of the myocardium served by the occluded artery or arteriole. If the lost coronary circulation is restored within hours of the onset of the infarction, much of the damage to the myocardium that is downstream from the occlusion can be prevented. The clot-dissolving drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), streptokinase, and urokinase, have been proven to be useful in this instance. However, as an adjunct to the clot dissolving drugs, it would also be desirable to also obtain collateral circulation to the damaged or occluded myocardium by angiogenesis.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicament and a mode of administration that provides human patients with cardiac angiogenesis during coronary artery disease and/or post acute myocardial infarction. More particularly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic dose of an FGF and a mode of administration to humans that provide the desired property of cardiac angiogenesis, while minimizing adverse effects.
Many of the various FGF molecules have been isolated and administered to various animal models of myocardial ischemia with varying and often times opposite results. According to Battler et al., "the canine model of myocardial ischemia has been criticized because of the abundance of naturally occurring collateral circulation, as opposed to the porcine model, which 'excels' in its relative paucity of natural collateral circulation and its resemblance to the human coronary circulation." Battler et al., "Intracoronary Injection of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Enhances Angiogenesis in Infarcted Swine Myocardium," JACC, 22(7): 2001-6 (December 1993) at page 2002, col. 1. However, Battler et al., who administered bovine bFGF (i.e., FGF-2) to pigs in a myocardial infarct model, considered the varying results that are obtained from one animal species to another, and expressly discloses that the divergent results "thus emphasiz[e] the caution that must be exercised in extrapolating results from different animal models." Battler et al., at page 2005, col. 1. Further, Battler points out that "the dosage and mode of administration of bFGF [i.e., bovine FGF-2] may have profound implications for the biologic effect achieved." Battler, et al., at page 2005, col. 1. Thus, it is a further object of this invention to discover a dosage and a mode of administration of a fibroblast growth factor that would provide for the safe and efficacious treatment of CAD and/or post MI injury in a human patient. More generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pharmaceutical composition and method for inducing angiogenesis in a human heart.

Method of treating coronary artery disease by administering FGF-5


A fill level measurement device includes at least first and second removable and replaceable components that each include a non-volatile memory device. The device senses that the first removable and replaceable component has been inserted into the fill level measurement device, and provides a sensed signal indicative thereof. In response to the sensed signal, component customer parameter data is received at the first removable and replaceable component, and the received component customer parameter data is written into the non-volatile memory device of the first removable and replaceable component.

The present invention relates to the field of fill level sensors, and in particular to fill level sensors that include various removable and replaceable components that include memory containing fill level sensor data.
To measure the fill level of solid bulk goods or liquids in a container, several measurement techniques are known. For example, fill level measurements that employ radar, vibrating rods, pressure, and capacitance measurements are known.
These known sensing techniques often include a measurement sensor that is connected to a converter. This common connection on the converter and measurement sensor is often referred to as the process connection. The supply lines and the electric measurement lines of the measurement sensor are connected to those of the converter.
Voltage flashovers can occur at the measurement sensor, which destroy parts of the measurement sensor or the electronic analytical device. For applications in hazardous areas, precautions are prescribed, such as for example minimum distances between the electric lines, to assure reliable protection against explosions.
The data generated by the measurement sensor are conducted to a measurement data converter, which for example converts them into digital data, and transmits the digital data to an electronic analytical device. Before the fill level measurement device is started, customer-specific parameter data must be entered into the fill level measurement device. When the measurement data converter or the electronic analytical device are replaced, these customer-specific parameter data must be re-entered into the fill level measurement device, which results in undesirable complication.
Therefore, there is a need for a fill level measurement device that automatically updates customer specific parameter data when a component of the measurement device is replaced.
Briefly, according to an aspect of the invention, a fill level measurement device includes at least first and second removable and replaceable components that each include a non-volatile memory device. The device senses that the first removable and replaceable component has been inserted into the fill level measurement device, and provides a sensed signal indicative thereof. In response to the sensed signal, component customer parameter data is received at the first removable and replaceable component, and the received component customer parameter data is written into the non-volatile memory device of the first removable and replaceable component.
The measurement data converter includes a first non-volatile memory, and the electronic analytical device contains a second non-volatile memory, and that the same parameter data are redundantly stored in both memories.
The inventive fill level measuring device includes a measurement sensor, a measurement data converter, and an electronic analytical device. The measurement sensor is situated at the measurement point and measures the fill level, for example in a container or a tank. The measurement sensor is connected to the measurement data converter through a line. The measurement data converter generally is situated near the measurement sensor. The measurement data converter is connected to an electronic analytical device through another line. The measurement sensor transmits its measured data to the measurement data-converter, which converts them into digital data, and transmits them to the electronic analytical device.
The measurement data converter contains a first non-volatile memory and the electronic analytical device contains a second non-volatile memory. The same parameter data, which are absolutely necessary to operate the fill level measurement device, are redundantly stored in both of these memories.
If the measurement data converter is replaced because of a defect or for maintenance purposes, the parameter data, which are redundantly stored in the memory of the electronic analytical device, are automatically read into the memory of the new measurement data converter as soon as this has been installed. Similarly, when the electronic analytical device is replaced (e.g., because of a defect or for maintenance purposes), the parameter data redundantly stored in the memory of the measurement data converter are automatically read into the memory of the newly installed analytical device. Whether the measurement data converter or the electronic analytical device is replaced, the previously redundantly stored parameter data are again available in both memories as soon as the new device has been installed.
Because the parameter data that are necessary for starting and operating the inventive fill level measurement device are stored redundantly both in the measurement data converter and in the electronic analytical device, they no longer need to be entered anew when one of these two devices is replaced.

Fill level measurement device and a method for operating such a fill level measurement device


Low doses of interferon contacted with the oral and pharyngeal mucosa of a patient in conjunction with administration of radiation therapy or chemotherapy reduces the toxic side effects associated with administration of said cancer therapy.

This invention relates to a method for reducing the toxic side effects of cancer therapy. More particularly this invention relates to the use of interferon administered in a form adapted to promote contact with the inside of a patient's mouth and pharynx to reduce the undesirable side effects resulting from the administration of radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic agents during the treatment of cancer.
Treatment of cancer has, over the last twenty years, been the focus of a significant research and development effort. Many approaches to cancer therapy have been investigated. As a practical matter, cancer therapy can involve use of multiple treatment methods including surgical excision, radiation therapy (radiotherapy), chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation (for treatment in patients with some types of hematological malignancies, particularly acute myelocytic leukemia). The specific protocol utilized to treat a given malignancy, depends on the nature, location and type of malignancy being treated. Surgical excision is the preferred method for treatment of primary circumscribed tumors. Often, however, surgical excision is combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to complete the treatment protocol. In instances where the malignancy is not localized or where its location lowers the probability of successful removal or excision by surgical techniques, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used in combination.
Chemotherapy has been shown to produce long term remissions in patients with some types of cancer, including Hodgkin's Disease, acute lymphocytic and myelogenous leukemia, testicular cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In other types of cancer, chemotherapY has been used successfully to decrease the size of large primary tumors prior to surgery. Chemotherapy often involves the use of combinations of chemotherapeutic agents. New protocols (programs for combination drug treatment) are being developed and tested continuously by the medical research community.
Anti-tumor agents are drugs which, in addition to killing tumor cells, can and do damage normal tissue. Even with the extensive research that has been conducted to define dosage levels and scheduling of drug administration, chemotherapy often results in unpleasant and possiblY dangerous side effects due to drug toxicity. Radiation therapy produces many of the same problems. Most common of such side effects are nausea and vomiting, alopecia (hair loss), and bone marrow depression. Such side effects are usually, but not always, reversible. Some anti-cancer drugs may permanently damage the nervous system, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, gonads or other organs. Some chemotherapeutic agents are themselves carcinogenic. Patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy must also take precautions to avoid what can be life threatening infections in their therapy-induced immuno-suppressed condition.
Treatments have been developed to counteract the side effects of cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For example, drugs can be administered to provide some relief from nausea, antibiotics can be administered to help fight infection, and transfusions can be administered to increase blood cell and platelet counts if necessary.
In accordance with this invention it has been found that interferon administered in conjunction with cancer therapy is effective to reduce the undesirable side effects of cancer therapy. The effective route of administration is by contact of interferon in relatively low dosages with the patient's oral and pharyngeal mucosa. It is necessary that the interferon be administered in a form adapted to promote contact with the inside of the patient's mouth and throat in amounts effective to reduce the toxic side effects of cancer therapy, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Method for reducing side effects of cancer therapy

Amarillo Cell Culture Company, Incorporated


A seal section for a downhole pumping system includes a fluid exchange pathway and a rotatable gravity separator. The rotatable gravity separator preferably includes a chamber, a backwash inlet connecting the chamber to the fluid exchange pathway and a backwash outlet connecting the chamber to the fluid exchange pathway. The rotatable gravity separator further includes a weight that causes the rotatable gravity separator to remain in a substantially constant orientation with respect to the force of gravity.

Submersible pumping systems are often deployed into wells to recover petroleum fluids from subterranean reservoirs. Typically, a submersible pumping system includes a number of components, such as an electric motor coupled to one or more pump assemblies. In many cases, seal sections are placed between pumps and motors. Seal sections are designed to protect intricate internal motor components from harmful wellbore fluids. Seal sections are also used to accommodate the expansion of lubricants from the electric motor and act as a downthrust support during a pumping operation.
Equipment manufacturers have experimented with a number of different types of seal sections. Many seal sections employ an expandable bag or bellows that increases in volume as fluids move through the seal section. Although generally effective, the materials used to manufacture the expandable components are often susceptible to chemical breakdown under the inhospitable downhole environment. Other manufacturers have employed complex labyrinth systems that filter contaminated fluids with gravity-based traps. The labyrinth system often includes a series of ports and chambers that force contaminated fluids to travel upward, thereby allowing gravity to separate heavier contaminated fluids and solids from cleaner, less harmful fluids.
In many installations, modern labyrinth systems effectively filter contaminated fluids moving through the seal section. The success of existing labyrinth systems is, however, dependent on the proper orientation of the seal section with respect to the force of gravity. In non-vertical wells, it is particularly difficult to maintain the proper orientation of labyrinth systems in seal sections. During installation or use, the entire pumping system may rotate, thereby changing the relative positions of the various components within the labyrinth system. If, for example, the labyrinth system becomes inverted or even tipped horizontally, contaminants otherwise trapped by gravity in a proper installation may "fall" into lower portions of the seal section or pumping system. It is to these and other deficiencies in the prior art that the present invention is directed.


It is intended to provide a polynucleotide comprising a viral base sequence, the viral base sequence containing: a first base sequence encoding a viral replication protein, and a second base sequence encoding a viral movement protein, the second base sequence being located downstream of the first base sequence and having a linking site for linking with an exogenous base sequence encoding a polypeptide to be expressed, the linking site being located downstream of the second base sequence, the second base sequence being obtained by modifying with a base sequence in a native sequence derived from a virus by insertion, substitution, or addition. By using this, a vector containing a viral base sequence is constructed, and a protein is efficiently produced without worsening growth of a host cell containing the vector.

Examples of a method for producing a useful protein in a plant includes a method of using a transformed plant in which a foreign gene is introduced into a cell, and a method of infecting a plant cell with a virus vector. The method using a virus vector is advantageous since it provides higher expression efficiency than the method using a transformed plant.
Non Patent Document 1 discloses a method for expressing a foreign gene in a plant cell by infecting the plant cell with at least two agrobacteria into which virus vectors are introduced respectively. This method eliminates the need for creating a construct for each of plural genes when combinations of various genes are tested to find a combination for encoding a useful protein. Therefore, this method is useful in analyzing functions or the like of a large number of proteins. Further, a virus vector disclosed in Non Patent Literature 1 can realize high expression speed, can be constructed at a low cost, and can eliminate steps of a conventional gene recombination process.
It is desired that a useful protein produced in a plant can be produced efficiently and in mass scale since it is used not only for food, but also for medical products. In view of this, the inventors of the present invention have constructed a system for producing a protein by using a virus vector (see Patent Literatures 1 through 3).
As another system for producing a protein by using a virus vector, Patent Literature 4 discloses a method for increasing a production amount of a useful protein by improving efficiency of producing a transcription product. Patent Literature 4 discloses a method for expressing a target protein by inserting an intron sequence into a replication sequence of a virus vector, and introducing the virus vector thus obtained into a host cell. According to this method, in which an intron region containing a lot of adenosine (A), and thymidine (T) or uracil (U) is removed from the replication sequence of the virus vector or is substituted with an intron derived from a plant cell so that (i) decomposition of the transcription product in the plant cell can be suppressed and (ii) efficiency of producing the transcription product can be improved, it is possible to increase a production amount of a target protein.
Meanwhile, each of Non Patent Literatures 2 and 3 discloses a method for improving replication efficiency of a vector which is introduced in a host cell and which contains a base sequence of potyvirus. According to the method disclosed in Non Patent Literatures 2 and 3, an intron sequence is inserted into the base sequence of potyvirus so that a transformed sequence is obtained, and a vector containing the transformed sequence is introduced into Escherichia coli. In the E. coli to which the vector is introduced, introduction of intron suppresses expression of a virus protein encoded by the base sequence of potyvirus. This controls toxic influence of the virus on the E. coli, and attains better growth of the E. coli, thereby improving replication efficiency of the vector in the E. coli.


A method and apparatus for monitoring stack gas emissions wherein a probe including temperature and pressure indicating transducers is sequentially located at predetermined positions within a smokestack and the output of such transducers is fed into an electronic data logger for retention therein. The data logger includes a light hand held module having a liquid crystal display and start/reverse/advance pushbutton switches whereby the data logger can be remotely controlled. The invention eliminates the necessity of using two operators to record the desired information and significantly reduces the cost of producing accurate evaluation of stack gas emissions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to stack gas emissions monitoring systems using moveable gas differential pressure and temperature measurement devices whose readings are electronically recorded for analysis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Environmental standards require that gaseous emissions from smokestacks, particularly large stacks such as used by utility companies in the generation of electric power, meet predetermined emission standards. Periodic testing of the gaseous stack emissions is required and conducted, and reports are regularly submitted to the appropriate government environmental agencies.
In the past, gaseous stack emissions were determined by locating differential pressure and temperature measurement devices temporarily within the smokestack at predetermined locations, and the measurements were manually recorded. Such recording was accomplished by one individual placing the measurement devices into the flue gas stream within the smokestack, and another individual nearby recording the readings from analog instruments connected to the output of the measurement devices.
Usually, the stack gases are monitored at more than one horizontal location within the smokestack, and several ports, or openings in the stack wall to facilitate such measurements, are arranged along a horizontal plane around the circumference of the smokestack. This traditional system of flue gas flow measurement is expensive and time consuming (requiring two operators), and is subject to errors in the reading of the analog meters, data recording at the test location, and subsequent data transcription to computer spreadsheets for the final calculations and report.
A variety of sophisticated electronic systems and devices have been utilized in the analysis of emissions from various sources, and such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,561,288, 4,786,472, 5,206,818, 5,415,025, 5,479,359, and 5,526,280. However, devices such as shown in these patents are not specifically designed for the measurement of volumetric flow of stack gas emissions.


A mounting table structure for mounting thereon an object to be processed to form a metal-containing thin film on the object includes a ceramic mounting table in which a chuck electrode and a heater are embedded, and a metal flange connected to a bottom surface of a peripheral portion of the mounting table. The mounting table structure further includes a metal base which is joined to the flange by screws and has a coolant path for flowing a coolant therein, and a metal seal member interposed between the flange and the base.

In general, various processes, e.g., a film forming process or a pattern etching process are repeatedly performed on a semiconductor wafer to manufacture semiconductor devices. With increased requirements for high-integration and high-miniaturization of semiconductor devices, a line width or hole diameter of the device is getting smaller. Further, conventionally, an aluminum alloy is widely used as a wiring material or a burying material. However, recently, there is a tendency to use tungsten (W), copper (Cu) or the like for meeting the requirements of a fine line width, a fine hole diameter and a high operating speed.
Further, when a metal material such as Al, W and Cu is used as a wiring material or a burying material for a contact hole, silicon may be diffused between an insulating material of, e.g., a silicon oxide (SiO2) film and the metal materials. In order to prevent the diffusion of silicon or improve adhesivity of the film, a barrier layer is provided at a boundary between an insulating layer and a conductive layer formed thereunder. A Ta film, a TaN film, a Ti film, a TiN film or the like were widely known as the barrier layer. Further, a thin film containing metal such as Cu, Ti, Ta or the like is generally formed by using a plasma sputtering method and a plasma film forming apparatus (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-250816 or 2007-214387).
In the plasma film forming apparatus, for instance, a mounting table having a chuck electrode and a heater is placed in a vacuum evacuable processing chamber and a semiconductor wafer is mounted on the mounting table. The semiconductor wafer is attracted and held on the mounting table by an electrostatic force generated by a high voltage applied to the chuck electrode. In this state, metal ions generated from a metal target by a plasma are attracted to the mounting table by a high frequency bias power to form, e.g., a metal thin film on the semiconductor wafer. Further, the mounting table is provided with a cooling jacket in addition to the heater. The heater and the cooling jacket are controlled according to the amount of heat supplied to the semiconductor wafer from the plasma side such that the semiconductor wafer is maintained at a temperature suitable for film formation.
A conventional mounting table structure is illustrated in FIG. 10. A mounting table 2 includes a metal base 6 having a cooling jacket 4 and a thin ceramic heater 8 installed on the base 6. A chuck electrode 10 and a heater 12 are embedded in the ceramic heater 8. A semiconductor wafer W is mounted on the ceramic heater 8 to be attracted and held thereon by an electrostatic force. Further, the ceramic heater 8 is strongly attached to a top surface of the base 6 by an adhesive 14.
In the above-mentioned apparatus, any particular problem does not occur in a conventional case in which the design criterion is not very strict. However, when the design criterion becomes strict due to high integration and miniaturization of the semiconductor devices, it is required that the quality and characteristics of a metal film are improved. Accordingly, for example, in order to prevent contamination of the metal film due to foreign matter, it is required to discharge impurities attached to the surface of the processing chamber or an inner structure by outgassing by evacuating the processing chamber to a high vacuum level prior to the film formation. However, the adhesive 14 continuously emits an impurity gas of silicon compounds such as siloxane. Accordingly, it is difficult that the processing chamber is maintained at a high vacuum level and in a clean state.
Further, in order to improve the quality and characteristics of a thin film, it is required to perform a film forming process at a high process temperature of, e.g., about 400° C. However, the heat resistant temperature of the adhesive is very low, e.g., about 80° C. Thus, the adhesive cannot be used.
Further, there is a mounting table structure wherein a chuck electrode or a heater is buried in a mounting table by thermal spraying. However, also in this case, a thermally sprayed portion has a heat resistant temperature of at most about 80° C. and, thus, cannot endure the high temperature.

Mounting table structure and plasma film forming apparatus


Embodiments of the invention provide monitoring of the Quality-of-Experience (QoE) of a mobile user of a wireless network without introducing any additional packets or requiring user feedback. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide QoE information based on certain control messages that may be utilized for reporting, research, or monitoring purposes. As such, a service provider could utilize the QoE information provided by embodiments of the invention to, among other possibilities, manage, upgrade, or enhance their wireless network to ensure a quality network experience for end users.

The subject matter described herein generally relates to the monitoring of the Quality-of-Experience (QoE) of a mobile user of a wireless network without introducing any additional packets or requiring user feedback.
Wireless networks are expanding their offerings of live or near-live multimedia services, including mobile video calls, voice and/or video conferencing, video streaming, mobile informational devices (for example, mobile telemedicine video carts), and service appliances. In addition, the availability of fourth generation wireless networks (4G), which enable high bandwidth and latency sensitive applications over wireless, is increasing. Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters, such as packet delay, loss, and jitter, provided by the underlying network to the service flow varies with time. In addition, the QoE is sensitive to even small changes in the QoS parameter values. As such, in order to provide satisfactory multimedia service, it is important to continuously monitor the QoE perceived by the mobile user.
Existing QoE metrics for multimedia services can be categorized in multiple ways. For example, QoE metrics for multimedia services can be categorized according to service type, such as whether the application is utilizing voice (mean opinion scores [MoS]) or video (peak signal-to-noise ratio PSNR). QoE metrics can be categorized subjectively through evaluation by actual users of a particular service (MoS) or through objective quality metrics, such as analytical models like PSNR. QoE metrics for can be categorized based on how much reference information is required about the original (reference) multi-media flow (for example, full-reference, reduced-reference and no-reference). QoE metrics for can be categorized based on whether spatial or temporal distortions (initial buffering time, stalls) are measured, whether user feedback is required, and/or whether probes (QoE robots) or new messages are utilized. QoE metrics for can be categorized based on location of the QoE module (at the source, end-user or in the network), and whether live QoE monitoring or offline QoE computation is employed.
The monitoring and management of Quality-of-Experience (QoE) is important to high-level wireless communication networks, such as the fourth generation wireless network (4G). This is due to such networks volume intensive rich media services, scarce wireless resources, the pack value per wireless bit, and prioritizing among sessions to increase value per wireless bit. Wireless communication networks, such as 4G networks, are higher bandwidth compared to 3G networks, due primarily to the ability to provide, among other services, rich media services, data downloads, and multiple sessions simultaneously. As such, bottlenecks will occur between network base stations and end users devices. Thus, there is a need for specific intervention to manage such services, as the challenge to the wireless link becomes the bottleneck created by supporting all of a network's mobile users.
In existing systems, wireless links have a fixed number of transmission slots. In addition, wireless conditions can vary depending on, among other conditions, geographic area, number of users, and data load. Furthermore, services delivered on wireless links, such as media services, may not be provided at a constant rate and network base stations may not have the same data and connection capabilities. Thus, a need exists for an intelligent mechanism to manage and alleviate any such network bottlenecks.
Existing solutions for remote monitoring of QoE of a mobile user either modify existing messages or introduce new packets or messages, while other existing solutions are application specific. In addition, such solutions are not easy to deploy and are not scalable when continuous monitoring of QoE of a large number of mobile users is required. Furthermore, certain existing solutions are based on non-standard protocols and, as such, are unable to support diverse end-user equipment and applications.

System and method for monitoring of user quality-of-experience on a wireless network

International Business Machines Corporation


A stall-type enclosure for use by a golfer at a driving range having an under-floor plenum for receiving heated air and allowing it to rise through a grating covering the plenum in an area around a mat structure upon which the golfer stands. The plenum is surrounded by an insulating wall and heat either leaking or radiating from the sides of the plenum also rises through the grating from the insulated region. The enclosure has a rearwardly pitched roof providing a space behind the front wall and above the opening therein for collection of heated air which is returned to a rear compartment of the structure wherein the heater is located. The mat structure is preferably movable on the grating to allow positioning for optimum wind protection, and hinged flaps or dampers may be selectively placed in covering relation to portions of the grating to concentrate the areas through which heat rises. A ball container is preferably positioned adjacent the mat structure to receive heat rising through the grating.

This invention relates to stall-type enclosures for use at a golf driving range, or the like, to provide a comfortable environment for a golfer using the driving range during inclement weather conditions.
Temperature-controlled tee areas have been provided in a number of configurations for use at golf driving ranges, and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,023 of Heffley, Jr. discloses a driving booth equipped with air circulation means extending across the upper side of the opening through which balls are driven to circulate a curtain of heated or cooled air over the opening. A similar temperature control means is that of Buchanan U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,236, wherein air is directed downwardly across the open front of the enclosure to provide an "air door" which tends to maintain a desired temperature therein. In Mowrer U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,680, a radiant heater is positioned within the booth or stall, directly above the golfer.
The use of downwardly-directed, forced air curtains, or radiant heat may be effective in some circumstances, but is not particularly efficient. Nor do such systems provide effective distribution of heat throughout the playing area within the enclosure.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved stall-type enclosure for use by a golfer at a golf driving range during inclement weather conditions.
A further object is to provide an effective and efficient heating system for a stall-type enclosure having an open front through which golf balls may be driven.
Another object is to provide a stall-type enclosure for use at a golf driving range wherein comfort heating is provided throughout the playing area, and air curtains or similar downflow heating systems are eliminated.
A still further object is to provide a heated enclosure for use at a golf driving range, having a novel and improved relationship of the heating system and the mat or other surface from which the ball is driven.
An additional object is to provide a stall-type enclosure for use at a golf driving range and having cooperative means for heating the playing area of the enclosure and warming the balls as they are fed to the location from which they are driven.
Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Stall enclosure for all-weather golf driving range

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Multi-layer computer-implemented methods of encryption and decryption of English-language text messages, as well as practical systems that implement them. The first layer of encryption may be by encoding each character as a 3-digit number, or by letter-proximity-based mapping of characters to unique 1-digit, 2-digit, and 3-digit numbers. A second layer of encryption is achieved by mapping some or all of these numbers to unique cryptograms using patterns from Kaprekar Graphs for 3-digit numbers.

The present invention relates generally to encrypted message communication, and more specifically to communication of message data via a network from a sender computer to a receiver computer, using encryption to protect the message data.
Transmitting information so that only the intended recipients could understand it is an ancient art. Numerous systems and methods have been developed over hundreds, if not thousands of years. The relatively recent rise of computer and long-distance electronic transmission made the art more urgent while completely upending it. Old, well-loved methods have been cracked, and new methods need to be devised. The encryption arms race continues at full pace, as methods are being cracked continuously. Data security, especially in the context of widespread social media use, is key to transmitting information safely and preventing it from being exploited or misused by our adversaries.

Multi-layer encryption employing Kaprekar routine and letter-proximity-based cryptograms


Systems and methods for nesting product packaging with strainer inserts are provided. Product packaging systems may include, for example, a product container with a lid and with a strainer insert disposed within the container. In some embodiments, the strainer inserts may be snapped into place in a channel, groove, or other retention feature of the parent container, thus permitting coupling without the use of adhesives or fasteners. The strainer inserts, when coupled within the parent containers, may define a drainage volume in which product fluids may drain to maintain the product separately from the fluids, e.g., to prolong shelf-life of the product.

There have been many efforts directed to improving consumer product packaging, and in particular, packaging for fresh or perishable products such as fruit and vegetables. Fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, for example, offer unique packaging challenges due to the fact that the contained material itself (i.e., the cut fruit) alters the atmosphere within the packaging (due to natural decomposition) and because the exposed surfaces (i.e., the cut surfaces) accelerate product decomposition. Fresh-cut products also cause natural juice seepage (or "bleeding") that both enhances product breakdown and is generally unsightly to consumers. While various designs and solutions have been proposed to address these and other problems that reduce the shelf-life of fresh-cut products, such solutions are generally costly and/or have failed to maximize shelf-life times.
The most common solutions to managing bleeding or off-juicing of fresh and/or fresh-cut products are the introduction of absorbent pads into containers (typically of clear plastic) of fresh products or the incorporation of raised surfaces at the bottom of the containers (to promote drainage). While absorbent pads do offer shelf-life and some consumer perception advantages, they are costly to implement—e.g., increasing packaging material cost, increasing product packaging procedure costs, increasing shipping costs, and increasing potential problems with waste disposal and/or recycling. Pads may become oversaturated and thereby lose their effectiveness and pads may also be prone to fostering undesirable odors. Drainage structures formed in the bottom of the containers are generally either too short to provide for adequate juice storage or are too widely spaced apart, thereby permitting product components (e.g., cut fruit pieces or smaller whole fruit pieces such as grapes) to fall into the drainage spaces where they are exposed to the juices.


In one aspect, the teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for extending certain HARQ feedback procedures introduced in LTE Rel-10, which were defined for CA configurations involving TDD serving cells of the same UL/DL configuration, to the new, more complex CA configurations introduced in Rel-11, which involve the aggregation of interband TDD serving cells with differing UL/DL configurations. Such reuse enables reliant and efficient HARQ feedback signaling in LTE Rel-11, without substantially increasing the specification or implementation complexity of HARQ feedback signaling in LTE Rel-11, despite the decidedly more complex CA configurations introduced in LTE Rel-11.

Carrier aggregation or CA is one of the new features recently developed by the members of the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, for so-called Long Term Evolution, LTE, systems, and is standardized as part of LTE Release 10, referred to as "LTE Rel-10" or simply "Rel-10", which is also known as LTE-Advanced. Rel-8 is an earlier version of the LTE standards and it supports bandwidths up to 20 MHz. In contrast, LTE-Advanced supports bandwidths up to 100 MHz. The very high data rates contemplated for LTE-Advanced require an expansion of the transmission bandwidth.
However, to maintain backward compatibility with Rel-8 mobile terminals, the available spectrum in Rel-10 is divided into chunks called component carriers, or CCs, where each CC is Rel-8 compatible. CA enables bandwidth expansion beyond the limits of LTE Rel-8 systems by allowing mobile terminals to transmit data over an "aggregation" of multiple Rel-8 compatible CCs, which together can cover up to 100 MHz of spectrum. This approach to CA ensures compatibility with legacy, Rel-8 mobile terminals, while also ensuring efficient use of the wider carrier bandwidths supported in Rel-10 and beyond by making it possible for the legacy mobile terminals to be scheduled in all parts of the wideband LTE-Advanced carrier.
The number of aggregated CCs, as well as the bandwidth of the individual CCs, may be different for uplink, UL and downlink, DL, transmissions. The configuration of aggregated CCs is referred to as "symmetric" when the number of CCs in the UL is the same as in the DL. Thus, a CA configuration with different numbers of CCs aggregated in the UL versus the DL is referred to as an asymmetric configuration. Note, too, that the number of CCs configured for a geographic cell area may be different from the number of CCs seen by a given mobile terminal. A mobile terminal, for example, may support more downlink CCs than uplink CCs, even though the same number of uplink and downlink CCs may be offered by the network in a particular area.
LTE systems can operate in either Frequency-Division Duplex, FDD, mode or in TDD mode. In FDD mode, downlink and uplink transmissions take place in different, sufficiently separated, frequency bands. In TDD mode, on the other hand, downlink and uplink transmission take place in different, non-overlapping time slots. Thus, TDD can operate in unpaired spectrum, whereas FDD requires paired spectrum. TDD mode also allows for different asymmetries in terms of the amount of resources allocated for uplink and downlink transmission, respectively. In this regard, the UL/DL configuration of a TDD cell determines, among other things, the particular allocation of subframes for DL use and for UL use, within a given radio frame. Different UL/DL configurations correspond to different proportions of DL and UL allocations. Accordingly, UL and DL resources can be allocated asymmetrically for a given TDD carrier.
One consideration for operation in the CA context is how to transmit control signaling on the UL from a mobile terminal to the wireless network. Among other things, UL control signaling includes HARQ feedback. As used herein, the term "HARQ feedback" denotes the HARQ-ACK bits transmitted from the mobile terminal for the involved CCs, for a given HARQ feedback window. Here, the term "HARQ feedback window" refers to the overall set or span of DL subframes that is associated with the HARQ feedback being generated, as taken across all serving cells involved in the HARQ feedback generation. Moreover, the term "HARQ-ACK bit" is used to refer to a given HARQ feedback bit, regardless of whether the state of that bit is an ACK value, a NACK value, or a Discontinuous Transmission, DTX, value.
A User Equipment, UE, or other mobile terminal operating in accordance with LTE Rel-8 or Rel-9—i.e., without CA—is configured with only a single downlink CC and uplink CC. The time-frequency resource location of the first Control Channel Element, CCE, used to transmit the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, for a particular downlink assignment determines the dynamic resource to be used by the targeted UE for sending corresponding HARQ feedback on a PUCCH, which in this context is referred to as a "Rel-8 PUCCH". No PUCCH collisions occur in the Rel-8 scheme, because all PDCCHs for a given subframe are transmitted by the network using a different first CCE. Therefore, each targeted UE sends HARQ feedback corresponding to its PDCCH reception using different CCE resources in the UL.
HARQ feedback becomes more complicated in the CA context, where the HARQ feedback relates to multiple serving cells or, equivalently, multiple CCs. However, Rel-10 provides a number of defined approaches to sending such feedback. These defined approaches build in some sense on the approach used in Rel-8, but with certain multiplexing and timing provisions to cover the multiple cells/CCs involved in the HARQ feedback. Rel-10 procedures, however, assume that all serving cells in a given CA configuration have the same UL/DL configurations and thus have the same UL/DL subframe allocations.
Rel-11, among other things, adds the flexibility of aggregating carriers having different UL/DL configurations and aggregating carriers having different frequency bands and/or Radio Access Technologies, RATs. Rel-11 thus introduces a number of new HARQ feedback scenarios that are incompatible with the HARQ feedback signaling introduced in Rel-10 for CA scenarios.

Method and apparatus for hybrid automatic repeat request signaling


A mounting assembly (30) for mounting an evaporator (21) of a refrigeration system (20) to an electronic component (10) includes a housing member (31) and a clamping member (32). The housing member defines a through hole (33) with the electronic component located therein. The evaporator is received in the through hole and located in axial alignment with the electronic component. The evaporator defines therein a fluid flow channel (25) for passage of a refrigerant fluid. The refrigeration system is in fluid communication with the fluid flow channel of the evaporator to supply refrigerant fluid thereto. The clamping member is attached to the housing member and has an abutting portion (84) integrally formed therefrom for exerting an uniform force to the evaporator to maintain the evaporator in thermal contact with the electronic component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to refrigeration systems, and more particularly to a refrigeration system which can be firmly and uniformly attached to a heat generating component for removing heat therefrom.
2. Prior Art
It is well known in the electronic industry that cooling electronic components to below ambient temperature will greatly improve their operating efficiency. For example, it has been found that the performance of a desktop computer can be significantly improved by cooling the CPU to temperatures of −40 centigrade degrees or below.
It is also well-known that refrigeration systems can be used to cool electronic components to temperatures below ambient. The refrigeration system employs a refrigerant fluid circulating through a fluid flow channel defined in an evaporator which is attached to the CPU, to thereby cool the CPU.
In particular, the evaporator of the refrigeration system is received in a receiving aperture defined in a housing member in which the CPU is located. A refrigeration system is in fluid communication with channels defined in the evaporator to supply refrigerant fluid thereto. A clamping arrangement is attached to the housing member with a helical wave spring located therebetween to therefore urge the evaporator into engagement with a top surface of the CPU. The clamping arrangement and the housing member serves as a mounting assembly to maintain a bottom surface of the evaporator being in thermal contact with the CPU and to keep the evaporator isolated from the ambient environment. However, the evaporator of the above-mentioned refrigeration system is prone to disengage from the CPU as the helical wave spring cannot firmly maintain the evaporator in close contact with the CPU at all events. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the evaporator 1 is inserted into and guided by the receiving aperture of the housing member 2, the evaporator 1 tends to offset to one side, resulting in the evaporator 1 partly contacting the CPU 3. On the other hand, the helical wave spring 4 generally cannot provide an uniform downward pressing force as of the small contact surface between the spring 4 and the top surface of the evaporator 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the downward force (indicated as P) exerted by the spring 4 downward presses the evaporator 1 at a small area apart from its center to thereby cause the evaporator 1 to incline with respect to and partly contact the CPU 3. As a common result of the above-mentioned problems, the bottom surface of the evaporator 1 falls into a position inclined with respect to and partly contacting the top surface of the CPU 3, which greatly decreases the heat dissipating efficiency of the refrigeration system.


The invention is a hinge having a first joint part a second joint part and at least one articulated axle element. A locking device selectively locks the first joint part relative to the second joint part. A basic element is arranged at the first joint part. A holding device, having at least one articulated axle seat, is arranged at the second joint part. The articulated axle element is arranged at the articulated axle seat, and is arranged at the basic element. The locking device has at least one first clamping plane arranged at the articulated axle element, and a first clamping element arranged at the holding device. The first clamping element comprises a second clamping plane. The first clamping plane is located at the second clamping plane to lock the first joint part in relation to the second joint part.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,255 depicts a prior art device representative of the state of the art. A hinge is known from the state of the art that is equipped with a first joint part and a second joint part. The first joint part and the second joint part are connected by an articulated axle so that the first joint part can rotate in relation to the second joint part around a rotational axis. The known hinge furthermore has a locking device to lock the first joint part in a relative position with respect to the second joint part. This relative position, for example, is an open position or the closed position of a door. A catching device is provided on the first joint part of the known hinge to lock it in the relative position. The catching device comprises a first recess and a second recess. Both recesses are located on the joint axle. In one position, a first catching device enters into the first recess. In addition, a second catching device enters into the second recess. Each catching device is exposed to a coil spring element. The coil springs are diametrical to each other so that the joint axis is located between the two coil springs.
In the prior art, after a certain time of load on a known hinge (namely after a certain time during which the door is always moved from a first position into a second position using the known hinge), there is always the danger that the limiting areas of the first recess and the second recess in the known hinge become worn due to material abrasion and fatigue, and that these recesses become flattened. This reduces the secure lock of the first joint part in the relative position with respect to the second joint part.


A shunting socket for telephones is composed of a body and two receptacles respectively installed at two sides of the body. The receptacles are rotatable about the body to locate their notches at the top side, so that mounting cords connected in the notches will not trip someone passing by the shunting socket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a shunting socket for telephones, and more particularly to a shunting socket which has two receptacles rotatable about a body.
2. Description of Related Art
A shunting socket for telephones is used for connecting multiple telephones in one line. A conventional shunting socket for telephones has a plurality of notches at the front sides, so that mounting cords connected in the notches must be placed on the ground. Someone passing by the shunting sockets may be tripped by the mounting cords on the ground.
Therefore, the invention provides a rotatable shunting socket to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the invention is to provide a shunting socket of which an orientation of notches can be changed.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Processes are disclosed for the separation of light hydrocarbons from a feedstream containing hydrogen, light hydrocarbons and heavy hydrocarbons. The processes employ thermal swing adsorption zone to adsorb heavy hydrocarbons and a pressure swing adsorption zone to remove the remaining light hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the product from the pressure swing adsorption zone is used to purge the thermal swing adsorption zone. Specific applications of the process of the present invention are disclosed with relation to hydrodealkylation processes and dehydrocyclodimerization processes.

Hydrocarbon conversion processes are often performed in the presence of hydrogen. This is done for various reasons such as to aid the vaporization of the hydrocarbon, to provide hydrogen which is necessary for the desired reaction or to prolong the life of catalyst used in the reaction zone. In many cases, the hydrogen is recovered from the reaction zone effluent and recirculated. Often this recycle hydrogen stream is purified before being returned to the reaction zone. In another mode of operation the hydrogen is not recycled, or if recycled it is only after having passed through other processing units or purification steps. This is most commonly practiced in processes which consume only minor amounts of hydrogen or which produce hydrogen. These include, for example, isomerization processes, alkylation and dealkylation processes, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes, reforming processes and mild desulfurization or denitrification processes.
It is not uncommon for hydrocarbon conversion processes to produce effluents which need to be thereafter separated into hydrocarbon products. Frequently, hydrocarbon conversion processes produce light hydrocarbons as by-products which need to be removed from the process to avoid a buildup. While it is possible to purge the system to remove light hydrocarbons, such action can be undesirable due to the loss of desired components along with the by-products. Hence, it is often desired to separate light hydrocarbons, e.g., C.sub.4 -, from heavier hydrocarbons, e.g., C.sub.5 +, and hydrogen, e.g., from a purge stream or from a reactor effluent separator overhead stream. This type of separation is required, for example, in the thermal dealkylation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, such as for the production of benzene from toluene. Toluene is produced in large quantities, often as the by-product of thermal cracking, extraction, reforming or isomerization operations, or directly from petroleum or coal derived naphtha fractions. However, the market for toluene can be limited, and there is a significant economic incentive for its conversion to benzene since benzene is in demand as a basic starting material in the production of many petrochemicals. A variety of separation techniques for performing such separations have been proposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,452, issued to Laboda, relates to the dealkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons and discloses a process wherein a hydrogen-containing feedstream stream is purified in an absorber to remove light paraffins and produce a hydrogen-rich gas stream which is passed through the reaction zone on a once-through basis. The gas separated from the reaction zone effluent by partial condensation is passed into a stripper as the stripping media used to remove these same light paraffins from the liquid used in the absorber.
A similar type of separation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,205, issued to Steacy, which sets forth processes for the recovery of hydrogen and C.sub.6 + product hydrocarbons from the effluent stream of a hydrocarbon conversion reaction zone. The effluent stream is partially condensed to remove the bulk of the heavy hydrocarbons, which are sent to a fractionation zone. The remaining vapor is compressed to a substantially higher pressure. The vapor then passes into an autorefrigeration zone in which it is cooled and partially condensed by indirect heat exchange against flashed fluids. The still pressurized uncondensed compounds are transferred to a pressure swing adsorption zone, which produces a high purity hydrogen product.
As noted in the above cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,205one stage in the separation process is performed using pressure swing adsorption. Both thermal swing adsorption processes and pressure swing adsorption processes are generally known in the art for various types of adsorptive separations. Generally, thermal swing processes utilize the process steps of adsorption at a low temperature, regeneration at an elevated temperature with a hot purge gas and subsequent cooling down to the adsorption temperature. One process for drying gases generally exemplary of thermal swing processes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,933, issued to Cohen. The patent describes basic thermal swing processing steps coupled with the use of an auxiliary adsorber bed for improving the regeneration step. Thermal swing processes are often used for drying gases and liquids and for purification where trace impurities are to be removed. Often, thermal swing processes are employed when the components to be adsorbed are strongly adsorbed on the adsorbent, i.e., water, and thus, heat is required for regeneration.
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) provides a means for adsorption that does not require heat for regeneration. Instead, regeneration is accomplished by reducing the pressure in the adsorber bed to below the pressure at which adsorption had occured. PSA process typically include the steps of adsorption at an elevated pressure, desorption to a lower pressure and repressurization to the adsorption pressure. The process also often include a purge step at the desorption pressure to enhance desorption.
Such PSA processing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,418 issued to Wagner and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,849 issued to Fuderer et al., wherein cycles based on the use of multi-bed systems are described in detail. As is generally known and described in these patents, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full, the PSA process is generally carried out in a sequential processing cycle that includes each bed of the PSA system. Such cycles are commonly based on the release of void space gas from the product end of each bed in one or more cocurrent depressurization steps upon completion of the adsorption step. In these cycles, the released gas typically is employed for pressure equalization and for subsequent purge steps. The bed is thereafter countercurrently depressurized and often purged to desorb the more selectively adsorbed component of the gas mixture from the adsorbent and to remove such gas from the feed end of the bed prior to the repressurization thereof to the adsorption pressure.
PSA processes have been employed for both purification and bulk separations. Some PSA processes such as set forth in the above-described U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,418 are particularly well suited for providing a single high purity product gas such as hydrogen and a waste, or fuel gas. Other PSA processes have been disclosed to recover more than one product quality gas. This is often desired when there are two or more desired components in the feedstream.
A PSA process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,980, issued to Sicar, which relates to the separation of hydrogen, and carbon dioxide from mixtures with methane and other light gases and utilizes two groups of adsorber beds connected in series. The adsorbers in the first group undergo a cycle sequence comprising the following steps, (a) adsorption, (b) high pressure rinse, i.e., copurge, (c) depressure, (d) evacuation, i.e, vacuum, (e) equalize pressure, and (f) final pressurization. The adsorbers in the second group undergo a cycle sequence comprising the following steps (1) adsorption, (2) pressure equalization, (3) depressurizing, (4) purge, and (5) repressurization. The above-identified process can be severely deficient when separating feedstreams that contain heavy hydrocarbons because of the difficulty in desorbing heavy hydrocarbons by pressure swing methods.
Combined thermal swing-pressure swing processes have been proposed for dehydration and carbon dioxide removal, particularly in the purification of air and natural gas streams. U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,084, issued to Simonet, et al., discloses a process for the adsorption of moisture and carbon dioxide that employs thermal swing adsorption in one adsorber and both pressure swing and thermal swing in another adsorber. U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,058, issued to Templeman, discloses a method of purifying natural gas or the like to render it suitable for liquefaction. The method consists essentially of absorbing water and methanol from a natural gas stream also containing carbon dioxide in a first bed of absorbent material and subsequently absorbing carbon dioxide in a second bed of absorbent material, regenerating the absorbent material of the first bed by passing gas therethrough at an elevated temperature and regenerating the absorbent material in the second bed by pressure reduction at a temperature not exceeding 100.degree. C. U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,915, issued to Sicar, et al., discloses a process employing both thermal swing and pressure swing adsorption to remove moisture and carbon dioxide from air. The patent discloses that the air stream is passed to the pressure swing adsorber to remove moisture and the effluent therefrom is passed to the thermal swing adsorber to remove carbon dioxide.
Although integrated thermal swing-pressure swing processes have been proposed for air and light gas purification, there is no specific direction in the disclosures of these processes of how to separate light hydrocarbons from mixtures with hydrogen and heavy hydrocarbons. Accordingly, in view of the above-described need to separate light hydrocarbons from mixture with hydrogen and heavy hydrocarbons, processes are sought which can utilize thermal swing and pressure swing adsorption technology to accomplish the desired separation.

Integrated thermal swing-pressure swing adsorption process for hydrogen and hydrocarbon recovery


A trajectory determining device is designed for determining trajectory data (10) based on signaling data associating mobile communication device identifiers, time markers and signaling identifiers, at least some of the signaling identifiers designating a location cell. These trajectory data are used in order to identify pairs of movement markers associated with a same mobile communication device identifier, and corresponding signaling data, the time markers of which are between the time markers of a given pair, are reprocessed in order to return classified movement data (16) associating movement type data and departure and arrival data determined from location cells associated with the signaling data and a group of chosen locations.

It is complex to determine the flow of people moving between various locations. For a given location, it is possible to determine flows statistically, by measuring humanely the number of people entering and exiting. However, these methods are not very reliable, are high cost, and are lacking in contextual information. Indeed, it is not possible to know what the place of origin of the people counted is, what the means of transport used are, etc.


A serial-type LED device includes p light source units and a dimming circuit. Each light source unit includes first and second terminals, m light strings and m current balance units. Each light string includes LEDs coupled in series to have a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of a corresponding light source unit and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the corresponding light source unit through a corresponding current balance unit. The first terminal of the first light source unit is coupled to a second DC voltage, and the second terminal of the i-th light source unit is coupled to the first terminal of the (i+1)-th light source unit, where m and p are integers greater than or equal to 2, and i is any integer from 1 to (p−1). The dimming circuit coupled to the second terminal of the p-th light source unit controls the second DC voltage according to a current outputted from the p-th light source unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode (LED) device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a serial-type LED device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LED light source employs a plurality of LEDs to provide sufficient brightness. The LEDs can be coupled in series to drive so that each LED provides substantially the same brightness due to the same current flowing through each LED. However, the serial LEDs will not work if one of the LEDs does not work. In addition, the driving voltage applied to the serial LEDs increases as the number of the LEDs coupled in series increases, so that the driving voltage may be too high, resulting result in higher cost and increasing complexity of the circuit design.
To avoid the disadvantage of the serial LEDs, the LEDs can be divided into several groups. The LEDs of each group are coupled in series as a light string, and all light strings are coupled in parallel, so that the LEDs of each light string provide substantially the same brightness and so that each light string provides the same brightness by employing a current balance technology. In addition, if one of the light strings does not work, the others of the light strings can still work. However, as the number of the light strings increases, the circuit design of the current balance circuit becomes complex.

Serial-type light-emitting diode (LED) device


A dry etching method including the steps of introducing etching and deposition gases alternately into a reaction chamber at predetermined time intervals, etching the exposed surface of an article to be etched and applying deposition to the surface film thereof alternately by making plasma generated by applying power to the etching and deposition gases introduced into the reaction chamber come in contact with the article to be etched in the reaction chamber in order to etch the surface, is characterized in that the power is applied after the passage of predetermined time from the start of the introduction of the deposition gas and before the etching gas is introduced and cut off when the introduction of the etching gas is suspended.

The present invention relates to a dry etching method and apparatus fit for implementing the so-called gas chopping or time modulated etching method for carrying out plasma etching alternately in different gaseous atmospheres by periodically alternating between deposition and etching gases as a discharge processing gas.
With the miniaturization and integration of semiconductor LSIs, there has developed a demand for extremely high precision etching techniques at a submicron millimeter level during the process of manufacture. In microminiature processing of this sort, the aspect ratio d/r, i.e. the ratio of an aperture diameter r to depth d to be formed tends to increase. The higher the aspect ratio, the lower the etching speed becomes. Moreover, the processing shape also changes with the pattern size.
In microminiature processing of this sort, the present inventor has proposed a method of periodically conducting SF.sub.6 and CCl.sub.4 plasma etching to reduce the dependence of the etching speed on the aspect ratio; more specifically, the method proposed comprises the step of alternating between SF.sub.6 as an etching gas and CCl.sub.4 as a deposition gas sequentially at intervals of several seconds using a microwave plasma etching apparatus. This method is known as the so-called gas chopping or time modulated (TM) etching method since it premises the switching of the gas seed in terms of time and has been found noticeable in that the effect of reducing the dependence of the etching speed and the resulting shape on the aspect ratio as compared with plasma etching carried out by mixing these gases simultaneously. Those techniques have already been discussed in a collection of preparatory papers for the 35th applied-physics-related joint lecture, p 28 and following, Mar. 28, 1988 and the 18th (1986 International) Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, Tokyo, 1986, pp 229-232.
The prior art TM etching method has certainly contributed to reducing the dependence of the etching speed and the resulting shape on the aspect ratio. Although difference in etching speed is on the decrease, depending on the size of the pattern to be formed, this fact is only applicable to a case where the gap between adjoining two patterns is 0.5 .mu.m or thereabout. However, etching accuracy for practical use has not yet been attained in the case of microminiature etching with the gap being not greater than 0.3 .mu.m. In other words, the problem is that a phenomenon generally called the micro-loading effect causes the difference in etching speed between narrow and wide etching portions. Patterns having small and large gaps are simultaneously produced by etching while minimizing the difference in etching speed between the gaps. The important technical task is therefore to establish a practical dry etching method and apparatus by which the etching is carried out while abating the aforementioned micro-loading effect.

Dry etching by alternately etching and depositing


A method for requesting a bandwidth at a mobile terminal in a wireless communication system includes receiving, from a base station, information on whether the base station can compensate for changes in bandwidth request quantity caused by fragmentation or packing of a protocol data unit (PDU); requesting, to the base station, a bandwidth required for transmitting a first PDU; separating the first PDU and generating a second PDU and a third PDU in consideration of the quantity of allocated bandwidth when the quantity of bandwidth allocated by the base station is smaller than the requested quantity; transmitting the second PDU to the base station; and starting a first timer at the point in time the bandwidth allocation is received or at the point in time when the second PDU is transmitted and the information indicates that the base station can compensate for the changes in the bandwidth request quantity.

A conventional bandwidth request procedure is described below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional bandwidth request procedure.
When an uplink resource is allocated to an Advanced Mobile Station (AMS), the AMS fragments or packs a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) taking into consideration the allocated bandwidth. When the AMS fragments or packs a MAC PDU, the AMS may add an extended header or remove a generic MAC header (GMH). The actual size of such a generated MAC PDU may differ from the size of a resource (or a resource unit) that the AMS has requested from an Advanced Base Station (ABS).
In FIG. 1, the AMS requests a 1502-byte uplink resource from the ABS. However, the ABS allocates only 1000 bytes. Thus, the AMS divides (or fragments) a payload of the PDU into two payloads and adds a fragmentation and packing extended header (FPEH) to each of the two payloads and adds a GMH to the second payload. Here, assuming that the FPEH and the GMH are each 2 bytes, the AMS needs 6 more bytes.
However, the ABS allocates, to the AMS, 502 bytes which have not been allocated to the AMS among 1502 bytes requested by the AMS. Then, the AMS divides a second PDU into two units since the AMS cannot transmit the second PDU using the allocated 502 bytes. Therefore, the AMS requires 4 more bytes.
As a result, the AMS requires 10 more bytes since the PDU is divided twice. This increases latency and wastes resources.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the AMS pads an allocated resource. As shown in FIG. 2, 56 bytes are needed to transmit two 16-byte ARQ blocks. However, if the AMS separates the two ARQ blocks to configure PDUs when the ABS has allocated 55 bytes to the AMS, the first PDU is 40 bytes. Accordingly, of the allocated 55 bytes, 15 bytes are padded. Then, to transmit the second PDU, the AMS additionally requests a resource.
Although a MAC management message is discriminated (or identified) basically using two connections, a flow ID currently used for the MAC management message has only one value. If the MAC management message is discriminated using only one flow ID, it is difficult to identify a delay sensitive message among MAC management messages and therefore it is difficult to provide services suitable for MAC management messages.

Method and apparatus for requesting bandwidth in a wireless communication system


Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. A media order entry captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is utilized by the system throughout the media experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other media control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site. A directory service that supports a hybrid communication system architecture is provided for routing traffic over the hybrid network and the internet.

The present invention relates to the marriage of the Internet with telephony systems, and more specifically, to a system, method and article of manufacture for using the Internet as the communication backbone of a communication system architecture while maintaining a rich array of call processing features.
The present invention relates to the interconnection of a communication network including telephony capability with the Internet. The Internet has increasingly become the communication network of choice for the consumer marketplace. Recently, software companies have begun to investigate the transfer of telephone calls across the internet. However, the system features that users demand of normal call processing are considered essential for call processing on the Internet. Today, those features are not available on the internet.
According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. A telephony order entry procedure captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is used by the system throughout the telephony experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other telephony control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible and control network activities from a central site, while still allowing the operator of the telephone system to maintain quality and routing selection. A directory service that supports a hybrid communication system architecture is provided for routing traffic over the hybrid network and the internet.

System and method for a directory service supporting a hybrid communication system architecture


A system and/or method that provides a virtual alpha-numeric keyboard based at least in part upon a user real-time input entry within a portable computing device. An input component receives an input providing a recognition component to determine and/or infer possible input entries (e.g., virtual keys). Once possible input entries are determined and/or inferred, a rendering component concurrently displays the virtual keys during the input entry.

The development and refinement of personal computing devices continues to occur at an extremely rapid pace. Advancements in personal computing devices are mostly based upon consumer demand. In order to fulfill consumer needs, the computer industry provides a plurality of devices (e.g., models of devices having various applications, and features). Smaller devices, game applications, web access, storage capacity, display size, ergonomics, phonebook storage, longer battery life, are a few examples that encourage the industry to improve upon existing technology.
Mobile devices are increasing in technological ability wherein personal computing devices can provide a plurality of functionality within a limited device-space. Personal computing devices can be, but not limited to for example, cell phones, PDA, pagers, laptops, tablets, hand-helds . . . . Although each device employs a specific function for a user, devices have been developing to allow overlapping functionality in order to appeal to consumer needs. In other words, personal computing devices have incorporated a plurality of features and/or applications such that the devices have invaded one another's functionality. For example, cell phones can provide cellular service, phonebooks, calendars, games, voicemail, paging, web browsing, video capture, image capture, voice memos, voice recognition, hand-writing recogntion . . . .
As a result, portable computing devices have incorporated a variety of techniques and/or methods for inputting information. Such computing devices facilitate entering information employing devices such as, but not limited to, keyboards, keypads, touch pads, touch-screens, speakers, stylus' (e.g., wands), writing pads, . . . . However, input devices such as speakers and writing pads bring forth user personalization deficiencies in which each user can not utilize the data entry technique (e.g., voice, and/or writing) similarly.
Within different geographical regions, voice and writing recognition entail numerous comprehension boundaries to overcome in order to meet the consumer need of data entry. Such boundaries can be geographical and linguistic related dependent upon the individual case. For example, consumers utilizing voice recognition in the United States can speak English, yet have distinct and/or different accents. Thus, the voice recognition for data entry within a personal computing device should account for the differentiation based at least in part upon accent variation (e.g., the southern drawl).In another example, consumers employing writing recognition in the United States can write in English, yet have distinct and/or different letter variations. Still another problem within handwriting recognition is the accessibility of a keyboard when the recognition system cannot comprehend the data entry. Traditionally, if the recognition system cannot interpret the data entry, the user must stop, access menu screens in order to access a keyboard to correct the data entry. Once the keyboard is used for the misunderstood character, the user has to switch back to utilize the writing pad for data entry. Therefore, consumer need for efficient data entry techniques drive the personal computing device industry to employ voice and/or writing recognition in which personal idiosyncrasies are accounted. In view of the above, there is a need to improve upon and/or provide recognition systems for facilitating user input into personal computing devices.

System to allow the selection of alternative letters in handwriting recognition systems


A retractable barrier that helps prevent the spread of communicable disease includes a first outer surface that faces a first direction, a second outer surface that faces a second direction opposite the first direction, and a filter layer between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The filter layer includes a particulate filtering material. The barrier is selectively extendable from a compartment to establish a partition that separates individuals on opposite sides of the partition.

In late 2019, an infectious disease known as COVID-19 or coronavirus began infecting people in Wuhan, China. The disease spread globally rapidly resulting in a pandemic recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. In particular, disease caused by the virus is believed to be spread by people who are in close contact with one another and droplets that may be associated with sneezing, coughing, or even talking. Although it is believed that people showing symptoms of the disease are contagious, the virus is also believed to be spread by asymptomatic individuals. Countries throughout the world including China, Italy, Spain, and the United States, among others, have instituted lockdowns and stay-at-home restrictions to keep people from spreading the disease. The lockdowns and stay-at-home restrictions were instituted to help slow the spread of coronavirus and ensure that healthcare systems have capacity to assist patients who need to be hospitalized and who are suffering the most acute symptoms.
People who leave their homes to obtain essential supplies such as food and medicine are required to social distance and maintain a particular distance from other people. Businesses that are not essential businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, libraries, and schools have shut down throughout the world. Sports leagues throughout the world have canceled seasons and postponed events indefinitely. Concerts and other performances have been postponed indefinitely. The financial and social impacts are staggering.
It is believed that a vaccine may not be available for twelve to eighteen months. People will be unable to remain in their homes and maintain social distancing until the vaccine is available. Businesses, public venues, and public buildings will have to adjust.
It is with these issues in mind, among others, that various aspects of the disclosure were conceived.


A method and an apparatus providing a visual indication of the occurrence of video recording operations on an electronic device. The video recording operations including recording a plurality of frames according to a number of characteristics. The method comprising providing a time interval between the recording of two consecutive frames by modifying at least one of the characteristics of the video recording operations and providing the visual indication of video recording operations during the time interval.

1. Field
The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to methods for utilizing a flash LED as an indicator light during video recording on a handheld electronic device.
2. Background
Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wireless communication capability, although many such handheld electronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices.
Some handheld electronic devices and other electronic devices employ small cameras that can take photographs and video images that are then stored on the electronic device. Such cameras typically are digital cameras that comprise a camera lens, a sensor, and a processor system, which may be manufactured and sold as a modular unit.
In many jurisdictions, a blinking visual indicator light is required to be provided on a video-recording device in order to warn persons nearby that the device is being used for video-recording. Video-recording devices, such as camcorders, commonly employ a dedicated "widespread" red LED which is visible to the public but does not generally affect the image being recorded as the light energy is spread over a large area. Use of such a dedicated widespread red LED on a handheld electronic device would occupy space on the device which is generally at a premium. Furthermore, use of such a dedicated LED would also add additional manufacturing and equipment costs that would be passed to the consumer.

Apparatus and method for utilizing a flash LED as a video indicator light


A method for coating a metal surface, comprising: applying a solution comprising an amide thiol compound and a solvent to a metal surface, allowing the thiol compound to self assemble on the surface, and removing excess thiol compound from the surface. The amide thiol compound is preferably a fluoralkyl amide thiol and more preferably one having the general formula F(CF.sub.2).sub.n CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.n SH, where n and m are each 2-20. The solution can be sprayed onto the metal surface, or the metal surface can be dipped into the solution. The surface should be kept wet for a time period sufficient to allow the thiol molecules to self assemble on the metal surface.

There are many instances where it is desirable to protect the surface of a metal from exposure to air or water in the environment. In particular, it is often desirable to minimize the exposure of the metal surface to moisture, oxygen, sulfur-containing gases and other reactive molecules that may be present in the air. One simple way to achieve this goal is to encapsulate the metal object in a polymeric container. In the case of rare coins, encapsulation of the coin and a small gap of air surrounding the coin in airtight plastic case is referred to as "slabbing." Alternately, the metal object itself can be coated with a wax or polymer in solution, such an acrylic polymer lacquer, that contacts and covers the coin with a relatively thick, transparent layer. This layer is obvious to the naked eye, changes the appearance or sheen of the metal, and is subject to yellowing, cracking and peeling as the polymer ages. When the object is large, slabbing or encapsulation of the metal object in an airtight plastic container is not practical. Aesthetic or other considerations may preclude coating the metal with a layer of polymer. Therefore, alternative methods of protection are desired.
The coating of a metal surface by self assembly of organic molecules has been reported in the literature. The process yields a well defined surface that moderates and mediates the chemistry of the underlying metal. By self assembled, it is meant that the molecules in the coating layer each attach one of their ends to the surface, and then "assemble" in a uniform geometric pattern on the metal, thereby aligning themselves consistently and uniformly and forming a layer whose thickness is approximately equal to the length of one molecule.
For example, the self assembly of thiol compounds, i.e. those having the general formula H(CH.sub.2).sub.n SH, on metals like gold, silver or copper is known in the art. In the self assembled layer, the sulfur atoms are bound to the metal surface and the alkyl tails are pointed away from the metal surface. This outermost layer of hydrocarbons tends to make the surface of the layer at least slightly hydrophobic. A severe disadvantage to these alkyl thiol metal surface treatments, however, is that the thiol compounds tend to have prohibitively unpleasant odors. Although alkyl thiols having higher molecular weights are less odiferous, they exhibit reduced solubility in most practical solvents.
Hence, it is desired to provide a self-assembling metal surface treatment that produces a gas-, water-, oil- and corrosion-resistant outer layer without producing an undesirable odor during the application of the layer, and without employing hazardous chemical solvents. It is further desired to provide a metal surface treatment that is a simple and easy to apply and relatively inexpensive.

Method and composition for surface treatment of metals


The present disclosure is directed to a computing device including one or more processors and a foldable display. A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a set of instructions that when executed by at least one processor of the one more processors cause the at least one processor to detect a usage mode of the foldable electronic device, detect user input to the foldable electronic device, and control a brightness of an active area on the display based on the detected usage mode and detected user input.

The present disclosure relates to the reduction of power consumption in electronic devices, and more specifically to the reduction of electrical power consumed by displays in electronic devices including a foldable display.
In many electronic devices, such as laptop and notebook computers and mobile devices such as smart phones, a display of the electronic device is one of the highest power consuming components. These types of electronic devices are typically powered by battery power during use at least some of the time, and thus the high power consumption of the display reduces the battery life, where the battery life is the time for which the battery can power the electronic device. The power consumed by display components in an electronic device may be particularly high in foldable electronic devices, such as a foldable smart phone, phablet and tablet type devices. A foldable electronic device is a type of device that includes a display in which the device may folded to provide access to a smaller active area of the display and unfolded to provide access to a larger active area of the display. These foldable electronic devices are relatively new and may have a variety of configurations for the display. The Royole Flexpai, Huawei Mate X and Samsung Galaxy Fold are examples of foldable electronic devices. The term "foldable electronic device" is many times utilized as being synonymous with devices having a flexible display, but as used herein the term also includes devices having multiple smaller displays that may be folded and unfolded to provide access to smaller and larger active displays for the device.
When unfolded, the larger active display area of a foldable electronic device may have a large power consumption that greatly reduces battery life. In general, it would be advantageous to lower display power consumption and extend battery life in foldable electronic devices.

Usage mode based display power reduction in foldable electronic devices


A mobile image forming apparatus is provided that comprises a casing, a support frame to surround a printing medium roll from which a printing medium is supplied and to guide the printing medium, an image forming unit to form an image on the printing medium guided by the support frame and a printing medium receiving portion disposed between the casing and the support frame to receive therein the printing medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. The mobile image forming apparatus may further comprise a roll support core disposed in the support frame to rotatably support the printing medium roll.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a mobile image forming apparatus which is improved in portability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an image forming apparatus is connected to a host device in which image data is stored and visualizes the image data on a printing medium according to an output signal of the host device. Such an image forming apparatus may be classified into an ink jet type, an electrophotographic type, a dye sublimation type, etc. according to a method and function for image forming.
Recently, the image forming apparatus may be connected to a portable host device to communicate image data. Particularly, as a photography technology for image data has been under rapid development, many users can directly print photographic image data which are photographed by the users through the image forming apparatus.
Coping with this trend, an image forming apparatus for printing the photographic image data only has been developed. Particularly, an image forming apparatus of a dye sublimation type is widely used for photographic image data printing in consideration of its superior resistance to image deterioration due to physical characteristics such as moisture, good image preservation and high resolution.
However, the image forming apparatus for the photographic image data printing is conventionally too large in size for a user to carry this device, and thus, it is not practical for the user to carry such a device from one location to another and directly print the image data through the image forming apparatus.
Further, because the conventional image forming apparatus has no printing medium storage unit to store therein printing mediums, a user has to manually supply a printing medium to print, and thus, it is difficult to continuously print a plurality of image data.
Furthermore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, a printing medium having an image formed thereon is exposed to the outside of the apparatus while being transported by a user. Accordingly, the user has to directly touch the printing medium, thereby contaminating a surface of the printing medium.