Disclosed is a polymannuronate composition including polymannuronate having molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000 in a high purity. The composition can be used in producing nutritional compositions such as functional foods and health aids. Also, the composition can be used in a pharmaceutical composition along with a pharmaceutical carrier. The composition has various effects, including controlling serum lipids, preventing hyperlipidemia, preventing obesity, preventing diabetes, enhancing functions of liver, expelling heavy metals from a body, etc. Further disclosed is a process to producing the polymannuronate composition, in which alginate is hydrolyzed and then the polymannuronate components are isolated. Further disclosed herein is a composition produced by that process. In the hydrolysis, an organic acid is preferably used, and the isolation of the polymannuronate involves adjustment of pH of the resulting mixture of the hydrolysis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to low molecular weight polymannuronate, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an isolated low molecular weight polymannuronate composition, and a process for preparing thereof from high molecular weight alginate. Further, the present invention pertains to a nutritional composition and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition, and a method of treatment of certain conditions using thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
The incidence of many cardiovascular diseases that are hard to treat such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and cerebral thrombosis, as well as obesity and diabetes, are increasing due to excessively nutritional diet which includes high fat and high protein, and lack of exercise. There are increasing interests in the prevention and treatment of such diseases. It is preferable to prevent and/or treat these diseases or conditions with dietary foods supplemented with extracts from natural sources rather than with artificially synthesized products because such natural products are normally considered safe and more desirable by the consumer.
Reflecting such trends, there have been much research and development focusing on dietary fibers. Certain dietary fibers were known to have favorable effects on the prevention of constipation and obesity as well as the prevention of geriatric diseases such as thrombosis, arteriosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. J. Ame. Clin. Nutr. 48:748-753, 1988; J. Ame. Clin. Nutr. 52:495-499, 1990; J. Ame. Clin. Nutr. 124:78-83, 1994.
Among dietary fibers, high molecular weight alginate, a dietary fiber component constituting 20-30% of the cell-wall polysaccharides in marine algae (e.g. brown seaweed, sea tangle, gulfweed, hiziki), was known as having effects on lowering cholesterol levels in vivo and repressing obesity. J. Jap. Nutr. 26(3):78-83, 1974; J. Jap. Nutr. 33(6):273-281, 1974; Jap. J. Fisheries 59(5):879-884, 1993.
At present, many alginate-containing products are being manufactured and sold. However, the alginates contained in the products are produced by simple extraction and processing from raw seaweed materials, and are of high molecular weight, which is more than about 4 million daltons. High molecular weight alginate is a block polymer of mannuronate (M) and guluronate (G) monomers. The alginate in its high molecular weight form has high viscosity and low solubility in water. With the high viscosity and low water solubility, it is not easy to add the high molecular form of alginate to foods (especially into beverages) in high concentrations.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Hei 6-7093 discloses a use of low molecularized alginate as supplement to functional drinks. The term xe2x80x9clow molecularized alginatexe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the state in which polyguluronate and polymannuronate of Mw. 10-900 kDa are mixed. Compared with high molecular weight alginate, low molecularized alginate is known to have lower viscosity and higher solubility, and to have increased beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.
Conventional methods used to prepare low molecularized alginate from high molecular forms include acid-alkali hydrolysis method [Haug, A., Larsen, B. and Smidsrod, O., Acta Chem. Scand., 20(1):183-190, 1966; Hirst, E. and Rees, D. A. J. Chem. Soc., 9:1182-1187, 1965; Hirst, E. L., Percival, E. and Wold, J. K. J. Chem. Soc., 8:1493-1499, 1964], hydrolysis under heat and pressure [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Hei 6-7093, 1994; Kimura, Y., Watanabe, K. and Okuda, H., J. Ethnopharmacology 54:47-54,1996] and hydrolysis by enzymes [Doubet, R. S. and Quatrano, R. S., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47(4):699-703, 1984; Dunne, W. M. and Buckmire, F. L. A., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 50(1):562-567, 1985; Hansen, J. B. and Nakamura, L. K. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49(4):1019-1021, 1985; Haug, A. and Larsen, B., Carbohydr. Res. 17:297-308, 1971; Romeo, T. and Preston, J. F., Biochemistry 25(26):8385-8391, 1986; Yonemoto, Y., Murata, K., Kimura, A., Yamaguchi, H. and Okayama, K., J. of Fermen. and Bioengin. 72(3):152-157, 1991].
The acid-alkali hydrolysis method is difficult to adapt to industrial scale due to deterioration of product quality, corrosion of reactors, need for a substantial amount of neutralizing agents and troublesome handling of strong acids. The second method for preparing low molecularized alginate by heating alginate at 100-200xc2x0 C. under pressure, also has defects, in that the reaction takes a long time and is costly because the process is carried out at high temperatures of more than 100xc2x0 C. under high pressure. The enzyme-hydrolysis method is not appropriate for industrialization due to long reaction time.
As mentioned above, compared with high molecular weight alginate, low-molecularized alginate has increased effects on decreasing cholesterol levels and has improved physical properties such as solubility. Thus, the low molecularized alginate is expected to be useful for health-aid foods.
The low-molecularized alginate is a mixture including polymannuronate, polyguluronate, and some copolymers of the mannuronate and guluronate. However, polymannuronate in an isolated form is not known. Nor is it known what effects it will have on decreasing cholesterol levels. Polymannuronate is only known in its calcium salt as a material for controlling the levels of toxic elements in patients with chronic uremia (Kulbe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,322), or as a cell- or tissue-coating material to protect transplanted cells or tissue following transplantation (Dorian et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,656,468).
One aspect of the present invention provides a method of preparing a polymannuronate composition. The method comprises: providing alginate; hydrolyzing the alginate to form a mixture comprising polymannuronate and polyguluronate, wherein the polymannuronate has a molecular weight ranged from about 4,000 to about 500,000; and isolating the polymannuronate from the mixture.
In the method, the provision of the alginate comprises extracting the alginate from marine algae. The alginate has a molecular weight from about 2,000,000 to about 4,000,000. The hydrolysis is carried out for about 20 minutes to about 3 hours. Alternatively, the hydrolysis is carried out for about 40 minutes to about 2 hours, or for about 1 hour to about 1.5 hours. The hydrolysis comprises adding one or more acids to the alginate and heating the mixture of the alginate and the acid. A representative group of organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid and acetic acid. Preferably, the organic acid is acetic acid. The concentration of the organic acid is preferably from about 0.2 M to about 0.6 M. The acids at 0.4 M concentration have pH from about 3.2 to about 4.0, preferably from about 3.4 to about 3.8. Preferably, the acids are organic acids. Following hydrolysis, the isolation of polymannuronate comprises adjusting pH of the mixture to a range from about 2.5 to about 3.5. Preferably, the pH of the mixture is adjusted to a range from about 2.8 to about 3.0. The isolation of polymannuronate further comprises forming a precipitate in the mixture and collecting a supernatant, in which the polymannuronate is dissolved, and further comprises precipitating the polymannuronate from the collected supernatant.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a polymannuronate composition prepared by the method. The polymannuronate prepared by the method has a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000. Preferably, the molecular weight is from about 10,000 to about 100,000, and more preferably from about 25,000 to about 80,000, furthermore preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000. The polymannuronate composition has a purity from about 70 wt. % to about 98 wt. %. Preferably, the purity is from about 80 wt. % to about 97 wt. %, more preferably from about 90 wt. % to about 95 wt. %. The viscosity of the 2% (w/v) polymannuronate composition dissolved in water at 25xc2x0 C. is from about 1.25 to about 15. Preferably, the viscosity ranges from about 2 to about 10, more preferably from about 3 to about 7.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a polymannuronate composition. The polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000. Preferably, the molecular weight is from about 10,000 to about 100,000, and more preferably from about 25,000 to about 80,000, furthermore preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000. The polymannuronate composition has a purity from about 70 wt. % to about 98 wt. %. Preferably, the purity is from about 80 wt. % to about 97 wt. %, more preferably from about 90 wt. % to about 95 wt. %. The viscosity of the 2% (w/v) polymannuronate composition dissolved in water at 25xc2x0 C. is from about 1.25 to about 15. Preferably, the viscosity ranges from about 2 to about 10, more preferably from about 3 to about 7.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a nutritional composition comprising a foodstuff and polymannuronate having a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000. In case the nutritional composition comprises polyguluronate, the polyguluronate is in an amount less than about 30 wt. % of the total weight of the polymannuronate and polyguluronate. The polyguluronate amount is preferably less than about 15 wt. %, more preferably less than about 10 wt. % of the total weight of the polymannuronate and polyguluronate. The nutritional composition contains the polymannuronate in an amount from about 0.00001 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, and preferably from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 15 wt. %. The foodstuff is in a liquid or solid form. The polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 100,000. Preferably the molecular weight is from about 25,000 to about 80,000, more preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising polymannuronate and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000. In the pharmaceutical composition, in case the pharmaceutical composition comprises polyguluronate, the polyguluronate is in an amount less than about 30 wt. % of the total weight of the polymannuronate and polyguluronate. The polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 100,000. Preferably the molecular weight is from about 25,000 to about 80,000, more preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000.
Still further aspect of the present invention provides a method of treatment selected from the group consisting of controlling a cholesterol level in blood, controlling serum lipids, preventing hyperlipidemia, preventing obesity, preventing diabetes, enhancing functions of liver and expelling heavy metals from a body. The method comprising administering a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of polymannuronate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000. Again, the polymannuronate has a molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 100,000. Preferably the molecular weight is from about 25,000 to about 80,000, more preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000. In case the composition further comprises polyguluronate, the polyguluronate is in an amount less than 30 wt. % with reference to a total weight of the polymannuronate and polyguluronate.
Polymannuronate, a polymer of mannuronic acid, exists as part of alginate, which is a block copolymer including polymannuronate blocks, polyguluronate blocks and blocks made of mixture of mannuronic and guluronic acids. To date no relatively pure form of polymannuronate exists. In a hydrolyzed form of alginate discussed above in Background of the Invention, polymannuronate exists in an amount from about 40 wt. % to about 60 wt. % in a mixture of polymannuronate, polyguluronate and other polymers from the alginate. The molecular weight of the polymannuronate in the hydrolyzed mixture may significantly vary depending upon the degree of hydrolysis.
In accordance of an aspect of the present invention, alginate having a large molecular weight is hydrolyzed to produce a mixture comprising polymannuronate. This hydrolysis is controlled so as to produce polymannuronate having a molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000 Daltons. The mixture then is treated to isolate a polymannuronate composition having the molecular weight from about 4,000 to about 500,000 Daltons. The molecular weight is advantageously from about 10,000 to about 100,000 Daltons; preferably from about 25,000 to about 80,000 Daltons; more preferably from about 40,000 to about 50,000 Daltons. Advantageously, the isolated polymannuronate composition has a purity from about 70% to about 98% of the total weight of components of alginate. Preferably, the purity is from about 80% to about 97%, and more preferably from about 90% to about 95%.
The isolated polymannuronate composition has good solubility in water or aqueous solution. The solubility in water at 25xc2x0 C. is from about 90 to about 99, preferably from about 94 to about 98, more preferably from about 95 to about 97. Also, the isolated polymannuronate composition has viscosity, when dissolved in water at a concentration of 2% (w/v), is from about 1.25 to about 15 at 25xc2x0 C. The viscosity of the composition ranges preferably between about 2 and about 10; more preferably about 3 and about 7.
The isolated polymannuronate composition is also referred to as xe2x80x9clow molecular weight polymannuronatexe2x80x9d throughout this description. This term xe2x80x9clow molecular weight polymannuronatexe2x80x9d differs from oligomers of mannuronic acid having the molecular weight from about 500 to about 2000 Daltons and further from the non-isolated mixture including some significant amount of other polymeric materials as well as polymannuronate.
According to the process of preparing the polymannuronate composition of this invention, high molecular weight alginate is partially hydrolyzed with an acid to produce low molecularized alginate, a mixture of polymannuronate, polyguluronate and some other polymeric materials, from which polymannuronate is separated by precipitation dependent on pH.
The high molecular weight alginate to be used as a starting material for the present invention can be obtained from natural brown algae or from a dried-powder sample thereof after a proper preparation method which are well known in the art, i.e., extraction, neutralization, dehydration and drying under reduced pressure. The alginate subjected to the hydrolysis has a molecular weight from about 2 to 4 million Daltons.
The alginate is hydrolyzed preferably with an organic acid although any proper acid can be used instead. The organic acids which can be used for the present invention include, but are not limited to, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid and acetic acid. Any organic acids that can hydrolyze high molecular weight alginate to low molecule weights can be used for the present invention. The degree of hydrolysis may be differentiated dependent on the organic acid chosen, but adjustable by controlling the concentration of the organic acid used and/or the hydrolysis time. As shown in Example 2 below, acetic acid showed the optimum hydrolysis results among various organic acids under the same concentration conditions.
Advantageously concentrations of the organic acid are between 0.2 mole and 2 mole, more preferably between 0.2 mole and 1 mole. The acids at 0.4 M concentration have pH from about 3.2 to about 4.0, preferably from about 3.4 to about 3.8. The hydrolysis of high molecular weight alginate with an organic acid can preferably be performed at a temperature between 80 to 120xc2x0 C., and more preferably, between 95 to 105xc2x0 C.
After the hydrolysis, the low-molecular weight polymannuronate composition is isolated. This isolation is performed by adjusting the pH of the mixture resulting from the hydrolysis. The adjustment of the pH is carried out so as to form a precipitate. To adjust the pH, added to the resulting mixture are either acids or bases. Preferably, one or more acids are added to adjust the pH. More preferably, the same acids as used in the hydrolysis are used for the pH adjustment. Most of the polymannuronate remains unprecipitated, and the supernatant is collected and further proceeded to isolate the polymannuronate. Although not limited thereto, the pH of the resulting solution is adjusted preferably to between 2.5 and 3.5, more preferably between 2.8 and 3.0. If the pH is set under 2.5, the purity of the obtained polymannuronate will be high but the yield would be low, and if the pH is over 3.5, the purity of polymannuronate will be lowered. Either the purity or yield may be compromised depending upon the goal. For the purpose of preparing polymannuronate for use in nutritional compositions or pharmaceutical compositions, the above-noted ranges of pH are preferably employed.
The low-molecular weight polymannuronate obtained according to the process of the present invention can be in high purity of over 90 wt. %. However, the purity may occur from about 70 wt. % to about 98 wt. %. Preferably, the purity is from about 80 wt. % to about 97 wt. %, and more preferably from about 90 wt. % to about 95 wt. %. The low-molecular weight polymannuronate has an average molecular weight between 1 and 100 kDa. The low molecular polymannuronate produced according to the present invention is between 25 and 80 kDa, preferably 30 and 50 kDa, more preferably, 35 to 45 kDa.
The present inventors found that the low-molecular weight polymannuronate thus obtained from the method is unexpectedly superior to materials such as high-molecular weight alginate, low-molecular weight alginate or low-molecular weight polyguluronate, in terms of the function to control serum lipid levels. The phrase xe2x80x9cto control serum lipid levelsxe2x80x9d as used herein is intended to include many functions such as lowering the overall cholesterol level, increasing the levels of the advantageous high density lipoprotein (HDL), lowering the levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and controlling the levels of triglyceride and phospholipid, both in blood and liver, as well as lowering GOT and GPT values. GOT and GPT values are results of measuring the activities of the enzymes, Glutamic Oxalotransaminase and Glutamic Pyruvictransminase, respectively. As the activities of GOT and GPT are increased in all types of injuries against liver and their increases are very sensitive to all damages, the ability to lower GOT and GPT values means an enhancement of liver function.
In animal experimentation, it was found that the instant low-molecular weight polymannuronate is superior to low-molecular weight alginate and low-molecular weight polyguluronate in terms of the function to control serum lipid levels. Further, it was also found that animal liver is not damaged with continuous and successive administration of low-molecular weight polymannuronate. See Example 3 below. The novel function of low-molecular weight polymannuronate according to the present invention is not only to lower the overall cholesterol level, but also to control advantageously the composition ratio of each type of cholesterol carrier. Further, the low-molecular weight polymannuronate can lower GOT and GPT values, and thus contribute to enhancement of liver function.
In addition, the present inventors found that the low-molecular weight polymannuronate according to the present invention associates with many harmful heavy metals, such as Cd, Pb, Hg, and then eliminates them from the body. The affinity of polymannuronate to harmful heavy metals is much more increased compared with high-molecular weight alginate. In addition, basically, as the binding ability of polymannuronate with water and water-keeping properties are high, polymannuronate is expected to be beneficial for relieving constipation.
Further, the low-molecular weight polymannuronate obtained from the method of the present invention has good water-solubility and viscosity to be used in production of various food products and health aids. Furthermore, it does not retain the peculiar smell and taste of natural brown algae. The low-molecular weight polymannuronate can be used as a functional additive to various foods or the low-polymannuronate powder alone, for the purpose of favorable adjustment of serum lipid levels and prevention and/or treatment of obesity and diabetes. The low molecular polymannuronate prepared according to the present invention may also be used as a material for controlling the levels of toxic elements in patients with chronic uremia, or as a cell- or tissue-coating material to protect the transplanted cell or tissue from immune attack in transplantation.
The low-molecular weight polymannuronate prepared according to the present invention can be used as a main component or an additive or a supplement when various health-aids and/or functional food are produced.
The term xe2x80x9cfunctional foodxe2x80x9d as used herein, means a functionally-reinforced special food in which the functionality of general food is reinforced with the addition of the low molecular weight polymannuronate of this invention. Functionality of food generally relates to the physical properties and physiological functionality of the additives. The isolated polymannuronate composition according to this invention has an improved viscosity and binding affinity to heavy metals as physical property. Further, the isolated low molecular polymannuronate composition of the present invention has, as a physiological functionality, a function to prevent hyperlipidemia (i.e. resulting from lowering of cholesterol levels), a function to enhance liver function, and so on. Therefore, if the polymannuronate of the present invention is added during preparation of usual foods, the physical and physiological functionality of the usual food will be enhanced. As used herein, the term of xe2x80x9cfunctional foodxe2x80x9d is defined to include all such functionally-enhanced foods not only in physical properties but also physiological functions. For example, the low-molecular weight polymannuronate of the present invention may be added to the preparation of secondary-processed food, such as ham, in order to increase viscosity of the food and/or to prevent hyperlipidemialobesity. Then, this secondary-processed food added with the present polymannuronate is generally referred to as functional food.
Separate from the definition for functional food, above, the term xe2x80x9chealth-aidsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cnutritionally special foodsxe2x80x9d mean health care composition or foods which are made by adding low-molecular weight polymannuronate of this invention to usual foods or by making an ingestable vehicle solely with polymannuronate. The functional foods, health-aids or nutritionally special foods are also referred herein to as a nutritional composition, a medicament or a pharmaceutical composition, depending upon the existence of a pharmaceutical carrier, the amount of the polymannuronate, the purpose of takings, frequency of takings, etc. The health-care foods are generally sought by patients or persons who have high likelihood of disease, to obtain a particular health effect. When treated with the present invention over an extended period of time, health-aid gives particular pharmacological effect just as medicine, but does not provoke a side-effect compared with usual medicine, because it is made of natural food.
For example, by using the function of the present polymannuronate to diet efficiency, the instant nutritional composition can be used to enhance weight loss. In addition, by using the function to enhance liver function, we may produce functionality-reinforced foods or beverage. Also, the polymannuronate according to the invention is applicable for the preparation of a health-aid that can be used as one of diet therapy to lower and/or adjust cholesterol levels in patients of hyperlipidemia or to prevent hyperlipidemia. Examples of other applications include dietary fiber beverage for prevention of constipation, cholesterol-lowering functional bread, flour noodles and margarine. Furthermore, the compositions of this invention can be administered in combination therapies with other agents. When the compositions of this invention are administered in combination therapies with other agents, they may be administered sequentially or concurrently to the patient. Alternatively, pharmaceutical or prophylactic compositions according to this invention may be comprised of a combination of a polymannuronate composition of this invention and another therapeutic or prophylactic agent.
Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention comprise any of the polymannuronate compositions of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, with any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include adjuvants and vehicles, such carriers that may be used in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention include, but are not limited to, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts or electrolytes, such as protamine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, polyethylene glycol, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyacrylates, waxes, polyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polymers, polyethylene glycol and wool fat.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir. Oral administration is preferred. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.
The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable preparation, for example, as a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents (such as, for example, Tween 80) and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are mannitol, water, Ringer""s solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. Fatty acids, such as oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives are useful in the preparation of injectables, as are natural pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil or castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions. These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or dispersant such as Ph. Helv or a similar alcohol.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, and aqueous suspensions and solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers which are commonly used include lactose and corn starch. Lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried corn starch. When aqueous suspensions are administered orally, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening and/or flavoring and/or coloring agents may be added.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration. These pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared by mixing the polymannuronate composition of this invention with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature but liquid at the rectal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the active components. Such materials include, but are not limited to, cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.
Topical administration of the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention is especially useful when the desired treatment involves areas or organs readily accessible by topical application. For application topically to the skin, the pharmaceutical composition should be formulated with a suitable ointment containing the active components suspended or dissolved in a carrier. Carriers for topical administration of the polymannuronate compositions of this invention include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, liquid petroleum, white petroleum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition can be formulated with a suitable lotion or cream containing the active compound suspended or dissolved in a carrier. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be topically applied to the lower intestinal tract by rectal suppository formulation or in a suitable enema formulation. Topically-transdermal patches are also included in this invention.
The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered by nasal aerosol or inhalation. Such compositions are prepared according to techniques well-known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may be prepared as solutions in saline, employing benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives, absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability, fluorocarbons, and/or other solubilizing or dispersing agents known in the art.
The low-molecular weight polymannuronate according to the invention is preferably contained in the final nutritional compositions in a proportion between about 0.00001 and about 100% of final products. Preferably, the polymannuronate is included in an amount from about 0.00001 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. More preferably, the amount of the polymannuronate is from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 15 wt. %. A preferred proportion is generally dependent on the group of foods, e.g., more or less of 0.01-5% for drinks, more or less of 10-50% for noodles, more or less of 40-100% for health-aids.
Functional flour-derived foods such as noodles and bread containing low-molecular weight polymannuronate can be prepared by mixing the isolated low molecular weight polymannuronate in powder form and flour, and then subjecting the mixture to normal production of noodles and bread. The term xe2x80x9csolid food productxe2x80x9d encompasses such functional foods as noodles and bread, but are not limited thereto. Ordinary skilled in the art will be able to easily apply the concept of the given examples to other food substances in view of this disclosure. The compositions including the low-molecular weight polymannuronate according to the invention can be prepared a various forms to be easily administered by using conventional manufacturing method known in the art. Including the above applications, the present low-molecular weight polymannuronate can be used in diverse fields of food industry in its original powder form or a dissolved solution. For example, it can be added in usual beverages to produce functional beverages, can be added in high fat/cholesterol foods, such as ham and sausage, and also can be added in seasonings for meat or a salt.
The present invention will be further described in greater detail by way of the following examples, which are not intended to limit the invention.


Laminated cards with user interfaces are provided. The user interfaces can have enhanced tactile feel. In one embodiment, a card may be constructed to have a dual-layer user interface. In another embodiment, a card may be constructed to include a support structure. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a relatively soft material that covers at least a portion of the user interface. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a user interface that is fluidically coupled to a bladder. In a further embodiment, a card can include any combination of a user interface, which may be a dual-layer user interface, a support structure, a soft material that at least partially covers a user interface, and a bladder.

This relates to laminated cards with user interfaces.
Powered cards or electronic cards that include components such as a battery, a microprocessor, and other circuitry may be assembled to have similar dimensions to credit or debit cards or other cards which may include a magnetic stripe, for example. Some of these cards may include buttons, however if the cards are laminated, the buttons may not work reliably or may lack a tactile feel.
What is needed is a laminated card having at least one user interface that functions reliably and can provide a suitable tactile feel.

Cards and assemblies with user interfaces


A system and method for altering the tack of a material, namely a polymer used as an adhesive, also known as stickies, or pitch. The present invention reduces the tack of the stickies and pitch by exposing the materials for a short duration to low-energy pulsed electrical discharges between a pair of electrodes that are submerged in a liquid medium, such as a fiber stream, water, a pulp slurry, or whitewater.

People throughout our society have become increasingly aware and concerned about the environmental issues that plague the world. The depletion of the ozone layer, the rain forests, and clean water are just a few of the environmental issues that are being addressed. One approach in addressing these issues includes preserving resources by recycling them. Consequently, the recycling industry has become instrumental to serving this need.
In the recycling field, one area of increasing interest is the reuse of wastepaper. Millions of tons of wastepaper are generated every year in the United States. Recycling this wastepaper can save countless trees, as well as provide other ecological and economic benefits. However, the key to reuse of this wastepaper is the removal of contaminants from the wastepaper, thereby facilitating the use of recycled or secondary fibers from the wastepaper.
The paper recycling industry encounters a variety of contaminants in wastepaper. Many of these contaminants adhere to paper fibers and therefore may cause problems during the recycling process. One such contaminant is "stickies", which were used originally as paper adhesives or tacky adhesives. Stickies typically are classified as hot melts, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), latexes, and binders. Pitch is another contaminant associated with both virgin and secondary fibers. Pitch is a part of the extractives from wood, and is released during pulping.
Contaminants may cause operational and product quality problems. Specifically, contaminants may be deposited on wires, felts, press rolls, and drying cylinders of paper machines. In addition, contaminants may hinder bonding of fibers, increase web breaks, and reduce product quality in the papermaking process. Consequently, contaminants must be controlled in order to improve papermaking operations and product quality.
Tack is the sticky property of paper adhesives, paperboard adhesives and glue coating materials. The tack of an adhesive and the adhesive's ability to bond to another surface is dependent, in part, upon the surface energy of the adhesive. Reducing the tack of contaminants can minimize the propensity of the contaminants to attach to paper machine surfaces, thereby leading to fewer operational problems.
Various prior art methods are used to reduce the tack of the contaminants. Some methods use repulpable or recyclable adhesives. More common methods include chemical additives for modification, detackification, or pacification of the contaminants. For instance, detackification of contaminants is frequently accomplished by adding minerals, such as talc, or surface-active chemicals. These minerals and surface-active chemicals attach to the surface of the contaminants and alter their surface properties, thereby causing tack reduction. This method of tack reduction is described in a publication entitled, "Successful Approach in Avoiding Stickies," by S. Abraham, Tappi J., 81:2 79-84 (1998), which is incorporated herein by reference. Nonetheless, chemical additives can be very expensive and may cause other problems in the papermaking process, such as a decline in product quality.
Mechanical methods for controlling contaminants include dispersion, screening and cleaning. Dispersion is a technique by which contaminants are broken up into smaller and smaller particles until they are invisible in the final product. Unfortunately, the overall appearance of a product may be diminished greatly by the presence of contaminants. In addition, when the product containing contaminants is wound, sticking may occur between adjacent layers.
Screens and centrifugal cleaners are typically used to remove stickies, pitch and debris from the fiber stream. In general, screens are used to physically separate fiber from contaminants based on the differences between the sizes and shapes of contaminants and the holes or slots in the screen. One problem is that screens cannot remove contaminants that are either smaller than the size of the screen hole or deformable enough to pass through the screen hole. Centrifugal cleaners separate contaminants from fiber primarily on differences between the specific gravities of the fiber and the contaminant. However, separation is poor if the specific gravity of the contaminant is similar to the specific gravity of the fiber.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for improving the removal efficiency of contaminants, such as stickies and pitch, from a fiber stream. In addition, there is a need for a system and method that can detackify contaminants by altering, without the use of chemicals, the surface properties of the contaminants. There is yet another need for a system and method that alters the tack of materials inexpensively and simply.

System and method for altering the tack of materials using an electrohydraulic discharge


A clamp structure of the open type with mutually overlapping inner and outer band portions, in which two ears are provided disposed diametrically opposite one another and at least the outer band portion is provided with an additional opening on the side of its ear opposite the free end of the outer band portion to balance the clamp structure when installed on an object to be fastened thereby. For larger clamp sizes, the inner band portion may also be provided with an opening located on the side of the outwardly extending hooks of the mechanical interconnection opposite the free end of the inner band portion. The inner band portion may additionally be provided with an outwardly extending hook adapted to engage in the opening provided in the outer band portion so as to keep the two band portions axially aligned. Elastic stretchability may be imparted to the clamping band by one more sections having non-rectilinear lateral band portions on both sides of the center longitudinal clamping band plane, whereby one or more of such sections replace one or more of the openings.

Clamps of the most varied types equipped with one or more so-called "Oetiker" ears have been sold with immense success worldwide for more than thirty years. These clamps are either of the endless type, made from tubular stock, or are of the open type in which case the overlapping ends are mechanically interconnected. For reasons of economy and ease of installation, one-ear clamps are preferred in normal applications because such one-ear clamps require only the closing of one ear for purposes of tightening the clamp about an object to be fastened. However, clamp structures with two or more ears are also available, for example, for applications where dimensional conditions and/or desired tightening forces make the use of more than one ear preferable.
While the one-ear clamps pose no problems in stationary or quasi-stationary applications, the imbalance resulting therefrom raises some problems with rotating parts, especially parts subjected also to relatively higher rotational speeds. This problem is exacerbated if the clamps are used in applications where they are intended to fasten tubular members to protect the lubricant of bearings, as, for example, in connection with axle boots in front-wheel drive motor vehicles. Furthermore, the problem is aggravated if the used clamps are of the so-called stepless type as disclosed, for example, in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,012 in which a relatively long area of circumferential overlap of the inner and outer band portions exist in the area of the ear which increases the imbalance. However, such stepless clamps are required in applications such as axle boots made from relatively thin hard plastic material, such as "Hytrell" material.

Hans Oetiker AG Maschioen- und Apparatefabrik


A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image processing device including plural image processing units; a control device configured to control the plural image processing units; and a connection unit configured to connect the image processing device to the control device. Each of the plural image processing units is connected to the control device by one of plural channels; the image processing device is connected to the control device by a first bus including the channels; and the connection unit is provided on the first bus so that the image processing device is connected to the control device by a single connection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image processing device, a control device, and a connection device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is a technology of providing a high-speed serial bus as an internal bus in an image processing device for transferring data inside the image processing apparatus at high speed. Generally, image data are high-volume, and therefore the technology of transferring such data at high speed is important for performing high-speed processing.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-148896 (Patent Document 1) discloses an invention of further increasing the processing speed of an image equipment system that uses a PCI-Express® interface (I/F) (hereinafter, "P-E") which is a high-speed serial I/F. Specifically, plural switches are provided under a route complex. The functions connected to the switches are appropriately divided in order to separate the data transfer operation performed via the route complex and the data transfer operation performed with a switch as the highest level.
Furthermore, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-106456 (Patent Document 2) discloses an invention of an image forming apparatus in which a controller and an image forming function unit in the image forming apparatus are connected by a P-E bus. Accordingly, the controller and the image forming function unit are removably attached to each other, and moreover, the overall power consumption of the apparatus can be controlled.
According to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the controller and the image forming function unit can be performed on separate substrates. This configuration facilitates increasing speed, improving performance, and increasing the number of functions, which require changes in the design of a circuit board.
The "controller" and the "image forming function unit" described in Patent Document 2 correspond to the "control device" and the "image processing device" of the present invention, respectively.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-148896    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-106456
However, the invention of the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 does not describe how the substrate having a controller function and the substrate performing the image forming function are connected to each other. The type of image processing performed by an image forming apparatus differs according to the type of image and the purpose, such as an image read with a scanner or an image to be output with a plotter. A large scale integrated circuit (LSI) or a substrate may be provided for each type of image processing. With such a configuration where each of the different substrates is connected to the substrate having the controller function with a connection unit such as a connector, it is necessary to develop each individual substrate as well as a dedicated connector for each substrate, which leads to increased development costs.

Image forming apparatus, image processing device, control device, and connection device


A method of detaching a film of material (2) from the surface (5) of a substrate (1). An outlet (11) of a fluid delivery device (10) is engaged with an aperture (7, 8) in the substrate (1) from the opposite side of the substrate (1) from the surface (5) to which the film (2) is attached. Fluid is passed out of the outlet (11) and through the aperture (7, 8) to generate a detaching force between the film of material (2) and the surface (5) adjacent to the aperture (7, 8).

The invention relates to a method of detaching a film of material from a substrate.
Recently, semiconductor device packaging techniques have been developed in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a substrate and an epoxy resin material is molded around the semiconductor chip on only one side of the substrate. Hence, the underside of the substrate is left substantially free of the epoxy resin material. One particular type of packaged device where this technique is used is commonly known as a quad, flat, no lead (QFN) package where the substrate is a metal lead frame. In order to prevent epoxy resin material seeping onto the underside of the lead frame and causing flashing, it is conventional practice to attach an adhesive masking tape to the underside of the lead frame. The lead frame with semiconductor chip and masking tape is then placed into a mold and epoxy resin material is molded around the semiconductor chip. The masking tape minimises seepage of epoxy resin molding material onto the underside of the lead frame, and so helps reduce flashing.
However, one of the problems with using masking tape to minimise flashing on the underside of the lead frame is the subsequent processing of the lead frame to detach the adhesive masking tape from the lead frame without damaging the lead frame or the packaged device.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detaching a film of material from the surface of a substrate, the method comprising engaging a fluid delivery device with an aperture in the substrate from the opposite side of the substrate from which the film is attached to the substrate, and causing the fluid delivery device to pass a fluid through the aperture to generate a detaching force between the film of material and the surface of a substrate adjacent to the aperture.
Preferably, the method further comprises inserting the fluid delivery device through the aperture from the opposite side of the substrate to which the film is attached, and pressing the fluid delivery device against the film to separate the film from the surface of the substrate adjacent to the aperture prior to passing the fluid through the aperture.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detaching a film of material from a surface of the substrate, the method comprising attaching a detachment member to the external surface of the film opposite to the surface of a substrate such that the attachment force between the detaching member and the film is greater than the adhesion force between the film and the surface of a substrate, and moving the detachment member away from the surface of the substrate to cause the film to detach from the substrate.
Preferably, the first aspect of the invention may be used in combination with the second aspect of the invention to remove the film from the substrate.
Typically, the first aspect of the invention is used to initiate detachment of the film from the substrate and the second aspect of the invention is used to remove the film from the substrate.
In one example of the invention, the detaching member may comprise a second film of material which is attached to the exposed side of the first film, typically by an adhesive. Typically, where the first aspect is used in combination with the second aspect, the second film is attached to the first film before the fluid is passed through the aperture in the substrate by the fluid delivery device.
Preferably, the second film comprises a layer of adhesive.
In a further example of the invention, the detaching member comprises a clamp device adapted to clamp onto an edge portion of the first film
Preferably, the aperture in the substrate is adjacent the edge portion of the first film which is engaged by the clamp device.
Preferably, the clamp member comprises a wedge shaped member which is adapted to be inserted between the first film and the substrate and a clamp member movable relative to the wedge shaped member to cause the film to be clamped between the wedge shaped member and the clamp member when the clamp member moves to a clamping position.

Method of detaching a film of material from a substrate


A system for weighing items sequentially delivered by a feeder subsystem in order to discharge batches of items having a desired target weight; and more particularly to a method and apparatus particularly configured to handle fragile items, e.g. strawberries, cherries, etc., to reduce bruising such items during the weighing process. The invention includes a container for receiving discrete items sequentially delivered by an item feeder together with means for measuring the weight of items accumulated in the container. The weighing container is located for movement between a first position at which a product receiving surface is oriented substantially horizontally in close proximity to the output location, for receiving product items from the output location, and a second position at which the container is oriented to accommodate an increased volume of items. The weighing apparatus includes means for moving the container from the first position to the second position and discharging the target weight of items.

Various systems, e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,013, are described in the prior art for rapidly filling small containers, e.g., one, three, or five pound, with discrete items, e.g., beans, nuts, hard candy, fruit items, etc. Such systems typically include a feeder subsystem that sequentially feeds the items to at least one weighing container. A controller monitors the weight of the items accumulated in the weighing container(s) and then causes a desired batch to be discharged therefrom. Such systems can use various procedures, e.g., "linear weigh" or "combination weigh", to discharge the desired batch. It is typical for the feeder subsystem, e.g., a conveyor belt or vibratory feeder, to release the items so they drop by gravity into the weighing container. The drop can cause bruising of fragile items such as strawberries, cherries, etc.

Method and apparatus for weighing fragile items


A structure for absorbing and transporting a liquid. The structure includes a masking layer having from 0 to about 90 weight percent shaped fibers and a distribution layer having from 100 to about 10 weight percent shaped fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to absorbent structures. Specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent structure comprising a nonwoven masking layer and a nonwoven distribution layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of absorbent structures are known for use in disposable absorbent products intended to absorb body fluids. Examples of such products include diapers, feminine care products, training pants, adult incontinence products and the like. In general, one of the most economical, liquid-absorbent materials for use in such products is cellulosic fibers, such as comminuted wood pulp fluff. While being absorbent, undensified wood pulp fluff typically does not transport or distribute a liquid particularly well. Thus, liquid absorbed by undensified wood pulp fluff tends to remain in the fluff at the point where it is initially absorbed.
Various solutions have been proposed to allow wood pulp fluff to better distribute an absorbed liquid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,459 to Sigl describes decreasing the pore size of an absorbent material along the length of an absorbent product. The improved capillary action of the pores overcomes the force of gravity and causes liquid to move along the length of the absorbent product. The reduction in pore size tends to reduce the total absorption capacity of the absorbent batt.
In an attempt to improve on the teachings of Sigl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,619, issued Oct. 13, 1987, to Bernardin, describes a two-layer structure for absorption of body fluids. The upper layer has a lower density and/or larger pore size than the lower layer. The upper layer serves as an acquisition layer to initially absorb a liquid at the point of liquid application. The absorbed liquid is then drawn into the lower layer, having a higher density or smaller pore size, and is transported throughout the lower layer so as to desorb the portion of the upper layer where liquid waste initially accumulated. After the lower layer distributes the absorbed liquid, the liquid is free to transfer from the lower layer back into the upper layer at points remote from the location of initial fluid insult. While such a two-layer approach has proven effective, densification of the lower layer tends to reduce the absorbent capacity of the lower layer.
The use of shaped fibers to form various woven and nonwoven products is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,679 issued Dec. 12, 1978, to Woodings describes regenerated cellulose filaments having a collapsed hollow structure and a multi-limbed cross section. The fibers are said to possess a high capability of water imbibition. The fibers can be formed into woven fabrics, like toweling, and non-woven fabrics and wadding, such as diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons and swabs. European Patent Application 0 301 874 published Feb. 1, 1989, is directed to cellulosic fibers having a decitex of less than 5.0 and a multi-limbed cross section. The limbs have a length-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2:1. The fibers can be formed into woven, nonwoven, or knitted fabrics and are described as being especially useful for absorbent products. Japanese Kokoku Patent No. SHO 62[1987]-53605 published Nov. 11, 1987, is directed to synthetic fibers having shaped cross sectional views meeting certain criteria. Again, the fibers are said to have excellent water absorptivity when formed into nonwoven products.
When nonwoven webs containing shaped fibers are employed in disposable absorbent products, the ability to absorb a liquid is generally not sufficient to ensure optimum performance. For example, during use, many disposable absorbent products are exposed to multiple insults of a liquid. In order to ensure proper absorption of subsequent insults, it is generally desired that the first insult of liquid not only be absorbed but also transported within the absorbent products to areas remote from the point of insult. European Patent Application 0 391 814 published Oct. 10, 1990, describes the use of shaped fibers in absorbent products to transport liquids. The shaped fibers are described as possessing a specific surface area relative to diameter.
When nonwoven webs containing shaped fibers are employed in disposable absorbent products, it is desirable that the web not only be able to transport a liquid but also be able to quickly accept a liquid. Additionally, it is often desirable to be able to control the direction in which liquid present in the product is transported. This is particularly true when the width of the absorbent product is relatively narrow compared to its length. The ability to control the direction of liquid transport allows prevention of liquid transferring out the side edges of a product.
Absorbent products, which are capable of good liquid transport, are not without disadvantages. Liquids to be absorbed by such absorbent products are often applied to the products in a relatively localized area. When the liquid is subsequently transported throughout the product, a larger surface of the product tends to become wet and discolored by the absorbed liquid. This may be both uncomfortable and unattractive.

Absorbent structure for masking and distributing a liquid


A transmission method with compensation for fading distortion or frequency offset distortion in digital communications using pilot signals, comprises the steps of: receiving modulated radiofrequency signals, demodulating the digital signals carried by said radiofrequency signals, extracting pilot signals from the received radiofrequency signals or demodulated digital signals, finding a spectrum of the extracted pilot signals, finding fading components or frequency-offset components from said spectrum, and using one of these components to compensate the received radiofrequency signal or estimate the original digital signal from the demodulated digital signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a means of simultaneously compensating for propagation path distortion and frequency offsets suffered by a moving station or the like in digital wireless communication, and to a method of compensating for fading or frequency offsets in a propagation environment wherein one or the other occurs in digital wireless communication, and particularly to transmission method with compensation for fading distortion and frequency offset compensation and used as a propagation path distortion-compensation technique using pilot signals in mobile wireless communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In digital wireless communication using moving stations, fading caused by various changes in the environment and frequency offsets arising due to the movement of the station are known to occur. FIG. 1 shows the frame structure in a first related art used to compensate for the fading and frequency offsets that occur when the station moves. The unique word shown in FIG. 1 is a known symbol sequence and the pilot symbol is a known symbol. The receiver estimates the frequency offset of this unique word portion and estimates the fading distortion from the pilot symbol, and compensates for each, respectively.
However, with this method, each type of compensation is performed with a different type of known symbol, thus complicating the structure of the transceivers and reducing the fraction occupied by the data portion so there is a problem in that the transmission rate is reduced,
In addition, FIG. 2 shows an example of a second related art wherein two pilot symbols are disposed sequentially, and P1 or P2 or both are used to estimate fading and the frequency offset is estimated from the phase difference among the adjacent P1 and P2. This is a method of compensating for propagation path distortion by inserting two or more adjacent pilot symbols. However, with this method, phase differences between the adjacent P1 and P2 arising from the phase noise suffered by P1 and P2 occur, so the frequency offset may differ greatly from the estimated value of the frequency offset. In addition, if the phase difference reaches the vicinity of 180 degrees, the sign of the frequency may be reversed in the estimate.
Moreover, if three or more adjacent pilot symbols are used in order to reduce these phase errors, there is a problem in that the fraction occupied by the data portion is relatively reduced and the transmission rate is lowered.
As described above, with the first related art that uses unique words, there are problems in that the structure of the transceiver becomes complex and the fraction occupied by the data portion is reduced so that the transmission rate is lowered, and with the second related art that uses two consecutive pilot symbols, there are problems in that the frequency offset may be much different from the estimated value and if three or more adjacent pilot symbols are used, the fraction occupied by the data portion is relatively reduced, also lowering the transmission rate.

Transmission method with fading distortion or frequency offset compensation

National Institute of Information and Communication Technology


A method for performing a write operation in a distributed storage system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a first time-stamped write request from a proxy server. Further, the method comprises determining if the first time-stamped write request is within a time window of a reorder buffer and if the first time-stamped write request overlaps with a second time-stamped write request in the reorder buffer. Responsive to a determination that the first time-stamped write request is outside the time window or that the first time-stamped write request is within the time window but has an older time-stamp than the second time-stamped write request, the method comprises rejecting the first time-stamped write request. Otherwise, the method comprises inserting the first time-stamped write request in the reorder buffer in timestamp order and transmitting an accept to the proxy server.

Distributing data storage over different storage servers in a computer system or computer network has many advantages. Increasing capacity is a clear advantage; not needing to fit all available storage into a single device allows for a much larger storage space. Another advantage is flexibility. System designers can place storage devices substantially anywhere, in any configuration, with any combination of technologies, as long as some form of network is available to connect the entities that need to access the storage servers and the storage servers themselves, either directly or through some form of proxies.
The advantages of distributed storage systems, however, are accompanied by challenges. For example, two challenges in this context are coordination and issues of latency. Assume, for example, that two different entities need to write to the same portion of the available address space at almost the same time. It becomes problematic to determine which set of write data should be present in storage at the end of these two write operations, especially in an environment in which the time it takes for each entity to communicate its write request may be different because of differences in network latency and where the two sets of write data may be different.
One known answer to this race condition involves locks. In lock-based systems, whichever entity obtains and holds a lock is allowed to complete its write operation to a given resource, while other entities must wait. Although this resolves write conflicts, it does so at the cost of inefficiency, as contested locks add latency and, furthermore, require a lock server and a lock manager. Moreover, lock managers themselves suffer from lack of scalability, inasmuch as the prevalence of false conflicts must be balanced against the granularity of the lock. Lock management becomes even more complex in distributed systems.
In a similar vein, some systems require writing entities to obtain tokens in order to write, which then requires relatively complicated mechanisms for distributing the tokens, for arbitrating which entity gets which token, and for determining the tokens' order of priority. In some other systems, a supervisory system issues a transaction ID for each I/O operation, but this arrangement often adds significant delay.
Still other known solutions synchronize writes relative to logical clocks, such as a vector clock or a Lamport timestamp to be able to detect causality violations. The main disadvantages of such systems are that they require not only communication across storage clusters, but also usually entail coordinating signals over several round trips—virtual clocks have high overhead when a total order is desired, as they require many more messages. Furthermore, even total-order versions of virtual clocks can incur causality violations when writing entities communicate directly with each other, without passing these communications, in particular I/O requests, through the higher level storage system controllers.
Partial-order versions of arrangements based on virtual clocks are less onerous in terms of overhead but are more likely to expose causality violations; virtual clocks preserve causality only internal to the storage system. If the applications using the storage system can also communicate "out of band", for example, using sockets or time or another independent storage cluster, the virtual clocks will be unaware of all the causality relationships and the storage system can appear to violate causality.

Ordinary write in distributed system maintaining data storage integrity


A source of MPEG2 video data is connected with a dedicated AV device or personal computer by means of an IEEE 1394 interface. A transmission unit in the source has an IEEE 1394 encryption unit and a sending I/F unit. A reception unit varies between the dedicated AV unit and the personal computer. In the reception unit of the dedicated AV device, a receiving I/F unit and a decryptor are integrally incorporated into one semiconductor chip and an MPEG2 decoder is incorporated into one semiconductor chip. In the reception unit of the personal computer, the receiving I/F unit is formed of one semiconductor chip, and the decryptor connected to the I/F unit through a bus, and the MPEG2 decoder are formed of one semiconductor chip. Thus, data before decryption will not appear on the bus, which prevents MPEG2 video data from being taken out of the computer for illegal copying purposes. In addition, the reception unit is made to have a different physical configuration depending on whether it is to be mounted in the dedicated AV device or the personal computer. This will prevent the reception unit (including the decryptor) of the dedicated AV device from being connected in the personal computer in place of its associated reception unit (excluding the decryptor).

The present invention relates to a digital data reproduction device which receives and decrypts encrypted digital data to reproduce the original digital data and more particularly to a reproduction device which prevents unauthorized copying of data.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 9-107541, filed Apr. 24, 1997, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In recent years, networking of digital devices has advanced as multimedia applications have evolved. That is, the transmission of digital data is increasingly being made not only between general-purpose computers, such as personal computers, but also between dedicated AV units, such as audio-visual equipment, or between a dedicated AV unit and a general-purpose computer. As one of digital interface standards that allow the transmission of digital data between a computer and a dedicated AV unit, an IEEE standard, IEEE 1394, was established recently.
However, the use of this standard to receive and decrypt encrypted multimedia data with a general-purpose computer causes a problem that unauthorized copies of digital data can be produced readily. The unauthorized copy, which is produced by digital processing, suffers from no degradation in picture quality and sound quality, allowing high picture quality duplications (so-called pirated editions) and leading to an infringement of copyrights. The dedicated AV unit is constructed such that multimedia data obtained by decrypting encrypted data cannot be taken out until it is converted by a digital-to-analog converter into analog form. That is, the decryptor, the D/A converter and the decoder (including an expansion decoder when data has been subjected to compressed encoding) are formed integrally and the decrypted data or decoded original digital data cannot be taken out from any intermediate stage. However, with general-purpose computers in which data is transferred over a bus for processing and hence decrypted digital data is also transferred over the bus, software can be used to control the personal computer so that the decrypted digital data can be taken out of the computer through the bus, thereby allowing the digital data to be copied.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital data reproduction device which receives and decrypts encrypted digital data to reproduce the original digital data, but is arranged to prevent the digital data from being copied.
According to the present invention there is provided a digital recording/reproduction system comprising a transmit device for sending encrypted data; a receive device for receiving and decrypting the encrypted data sent from the transmit device and outputting decrypted data; and connection means for connecting the transmit device and the receive device together by means of an interface that conforms to an established standard with which a dedicated audiovisual digital device and a general-purpose digital device are compatible, in which the receive device comprises receiving interface means that has a different configuration depending on whether the receive device is the dedicated audio-visual digital device or the general-purpose digital device.
According to the present invention there is provided a recording/reproducing method for a digital recording/reproduction system comprising a transmit device for sending encrypted data; a receive device for receiving and decrypting the encrypted data sent from the transmit device and outputting decrypted data; and connection means for connecting the transmit device and the receive device together by means of an interface that conforms to an established standard with which a dedicated audio-visual digital device and a general-purpose digital device are compatible, in which the receive device comprises receiving interface means that has a different configuration depending on whether the receive device is the dedicated audio-visual digital device or the general-purpose digital device, the method allowing proper data transmission between the transmit device and the receive device only when the receiving interface means is mounted in the corresponding digital device.
According to the present invention there is provided a semiconductor receiver device used for a receive device which is connected with a transmit device that transmits encrypted data over connection means based on a predetermined interface and decrypts the encrypted data sent from the transmit device over the connection means, the predetermined interface conforming to an established standard with which a dedicated audio-visual digital device and a general-purpose digital device comprising a computer comprising a software-controllable bus are compatible, the semiconductor receiver device comprising receiving I/F means comprising a different configuration according to whether the receive device corresponds to the dedicated audio-visual digital device or the general-purpose digital device.
According to the present invention there is provided a receive device connected with a transmit device which provides encrypted data, comprising a central processing unit; a bus connected to the central processing unit; a receiving unit connected to the bus and comprising interface means; and a processor unit connected to the bus and comprising decryption means for receiving encrypted data from the transmit device over the bus and decrypting the encrypted data to provide decrypted data and conversion means for converting the decrypted data into an analog signal, data transmission between the decryption means and the conversion means being made without the use of the bus.
According to the present invention there is provided another receive device connected to a transmit device which provides encrypted data, comprising interface means for receiving the encrypted data; decryption means for decrypting encrypted data received by the interface means to provide decrypted data; and conversion means for converting the decrypted data provided by the decryption means into an analog signal, in which at least the interface means and the decryption means being integrally incorporated into one semiconductor chip.
According to the present invention there is provided a digital recording/reproduction system comprising a transmit device for transmitting encrypted data; dedicated data reproduction device; a general-purpose data reproduction device comprising a computer; and connection means for connecting the transmit device to the dedicated data reproduction device or the general-purpose data reproduction device by means of a predetermined interface which conforms to an established standard with which the dedicated data reproduction device and the general-purpose data reproduction device are compatible, in which the dedicated data reproduction device comprises interface means for receiving the encrypted data; decryption means for decrypting the encrypted data received by the interface means to provide decrypted data; and conversion means for converting the decrypted data provided by the decryption means into an analog signal, at least the interface means and the decryption means are integrally incorporated into a first semiconductor chip, and the general-purpose data reproduction device comprises a central processing unit; a bus connected to the central processing unit; a receiving unit connected to the bus and comprising interface means, the receiving unit being formed of a second semiconductor chip which is not compatible with the first semiconductor chip; and a processor unit connected to the bus and comprising decryption means for receiving the encrypted data from the transmit device over the bus and decrypting the encrypted data to provide decrypted data, and conversion means for converting the decrypted data into an analog signal, data transmission between the decryption means and the conversion means being made without the use of the bus.
According to the digital data reproduction device of the present invention, data after decryption is not transferred over the bus of a personal computer, thus preventing decrypted data from being taken out of the computer for copying purposes.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.
The objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


Examples provided herein describe a female connector in a computing device that includes a plurality of sensors for determining if a male connector has established a proper connection with the female connector. To do so, in one example, each of the sensors is coupled to an actuator that protrudes into an aperture defined by an inner surface of the female connector. As the male connector is inserted into this aperture, the actuators are pressed down which activates the sensors. Furthermore, the actuators are arranged such that a first actuator is deeper within the aperture than a second actuator. Thus, if the male connector pressed down the first actuator but not the second, a computing device can determine that only a partially connection was made. By using at least two actuators arranged at different depths in the aperture, the computing device is able to detect a proper or improper connection.

The present invention relates to detecting proper connection between male and female connectors, and more specifically, to using a plurality of sensors in the female connector to determine if the connection is proper.
Many wired data communication techniques mate a male connector with a female connector in order to establish data communication between a computing device and an external device or network (e.g., a LAN or WAN). To do so, the male or female connectors may include a latching mechanism that secures the male connector to the female connector once the connection is fully engaged. However, the user may not fully engage the latching mechanism, in which case, the female and male connectors do not establish data communication, or the latching mechanism may have failed which permits the male connector to move and not maintain the fully engaged connection. Alternatively, the user may have forgotten to plug in the male connector. In either case, the computing system cannot determine if the user has failed to make a proper connection, or whether the user has made a proper connection but the external device or network (e.g., a LAN) is unavailable. For example, the computing device may rely on the female and male connectors to establish data communication with a network device (e.g., switch or router). However, if the computing device cannot send data to or receive data from the network device, the computing device has no means for determining if the male/female connection is improper or if the network device is unavailable.

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation