In one aspect of the invention, the frames of a thread stack that associated with the misbehaving code are popped from the thread stack. Exception handling code is allowed to execute for trusted code by popping the trusted code frame via processing an exception, but exception handling is not allowed to execute for untrusted code. In a second aspect, frames are popped on all thread stacks of all threads that are associated with the misbehaving code. Threads are generally deemed to be associated with the misbehaving code when the threads share a same object or the same resources as the thread that is associated with the misbehaving code.

The invention relates generally to software applications and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for aborting threads in an object-based system.
Within an object-based environment, threads are often used to satisfy requests for services. A thread may be thought of as a xe2x80x9csketch padxe2x80x9d of storage resources, and is essentially a single sequential flow of control within a computer program. In general, a thread, or a xe2x80x9cthread of control,xe2x80x9d is a sequence of central processing unit (CPU) instructions or programming language statements that may be independently executed. Each thread has its own execution stack on which method activations reside. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, when a method is activated with respect to a thread, an activation is xe2x80x9cpushedxe2x80x9d on the execution stack of the thread. When the method is deactivated, the activation is xe2x80x9cpoppedxe2x80x9d from the execution stack. Since an activation of one method may activate another method, an execution stack operates in a first-in-last-out manner.
Although threads generally self terminate, one may also wish to forcefully terminate a thread while it is executing. For example, one may wish to terminate a thread whose currently executing code is currently mounting a xe2x80x9cdenial of service attack.xe2x80x9d A denial of service attack uses all or most of the local host""s resources (e.g., processor and/or memory resources). For example, code associated with a particular thread may initiate an infinite loop, which functions to open an infinite number of windows. In this example, the code continues to open windows until so many resources are consumed that the particular application that is executing the code (or the entire computer system) crashes or freezes up.
A denial of service attack is generally associated with untrusted code that originates from an unknown source. For example, downloaded computer programs may include methods from an unknown programming source. In other words, the downloaded program may include untrusted code that was maliciously or unintentionally designed to mount a denial of service attack.
Thus, when code begins to misbehave (e.g., by using an unreasonable amount of resources), it is desirable to kill the thread that is associated with this misbehaving code. One potential solution that has been contemplated is xe2x80x9cthread.destroyxe2x80x9d, which is currently available as a resource within the Java(trademark) II Standard Development Kit although it has not been implemented. Thread.destroy works by deallocating the stack associated with the misbehaving thread. In- other words, the thread""s stack is removed from the scheduler, which schedules threads for execution.
Although this solution may work in some situations, thread.destroy does not clean up the internal data structures that the misbehaving thread may have inconsistently altered. That is, the misbehaving thread may be writing to an internal data structure when it is killed and may only partially fill the internal data structure. For example, the misbehaving thread may initiate a print function by setting a print flag, but not yet write to the print buffer before the misbehaving thread is killed. In this example, a thread.destroy may cause garbage to be printed since the thread was killed before it could write valid print data to the print buffer.
Another solution xe2x80x9cthread.stopxe2x80x9d is currently available as a resource within the Java(trademark) II Standard Development Kit. Thread.stop throws an exception so that a currently executing method may xe2x80x9ccatchxe2x80x9d the exception and execute any implemented clean up code. Although trusted code is generally designed to perform clean up routines (e.g., within a xe2x80x9cfinallyxe2x80x9d block), untrusted code cannot be trusted to perform such clean up processes. In other words, the untrusted code""s may continue to misbehave when an exception is thrown. For example, when an exception is thrown, an untrusted code""s xe2x80x9cfinallyxe2x80x9d routine may also mount a denial of service attack. Additionally, thread.stop does not provide any mechanisms for cleaning up any inconsistent data structures.
Therefore, improved methods and apparatus for killing threads associated with code that is misbehaving are desired. Additionally, there is a desire to cleanly kill these threads such that data structures are left in a consistent state.
Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing apparatus and methods for aborting threads. In one aspect of the invention, the frames of a thread stack that are associated with the misbehaving code are popped from the thread stack. Exception handling code is allowed to execute for trusted code by popping the trusted code frame via processing an exception, but exception handling is not allowed to execute for untrusted code. In a second aspect, frames are popped on all thread stacks of all threads that are associated with the misbehaving code. Threads are generally deemed to be associated with the misbehaving code when the threads share a same object or the same resources as the thread that is associated with the misbehaving code.
In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for aborting a thread that has an associated thread stack with a plurality of frames that are associated with either trusted or untrusted code. A frame within the thread stack of the thread to be aborted is selected. The selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted is popped when the selected frame is associated with untrusted code. An exception is thrown for the selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted when the selected frame is associated with trusted code.
In a preferred embodiment, the above described method is repeated for each frame within the thread stack such that the associated thread is aborted. In one aspect, the trusted code is unlikely to result in a denial of service attack and it is unknown whether untrusted code will mount a denial of service attack. In another aspect, the untrusted code has an unknown resource utilization amount. In yet another aspect, the untrusted code was downloaded from an untrusted source. In a final embodiment, processing an exception for the selected frame allows the selected frame to complete any clean up routines.
In yet another embodiment, the invention pertains to a computer readable medium containing instructions for aborting a thread that has an associated thread stack with a plurality of frames that are associated with either trusted or untrusted code. The computer readable medium includes (a) computer code for selecting a frame within the thread stack of the thread to be aborted, (b) computer code for popping the selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted when the selected frame is associated with untrusted code, and (c) computer code for processing an exception for the selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted when the selected frame is associated with trusted code.
In another aspect, the invention pertains to a computer system for aborting a thread that has an associated thread stack with a plurality of frames that are associated with either trusted or untrusted code. The computer system includes an identifier configured to select a frame within the thread stack of the thread to be aborted and a frame handler configured to pop the selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted when the selected frame is associated with untrusted code and to process an exception for the selected frame from the thread stack of the thread to be aborted when the selected frame is associated with trusted code.
In an alternative embodiment, a method for aborting one or more threads is disclosed. Each thread executes one or more code sets, wherein at least one of the code sets has been identified as misbehaving and is associated with an abort identifier. At least one of the code sets include one or more checkpoints. The abort identifier of the misbehaving code is set to indicate that an abort procedure is to be performed. Currently executing threads that have code sets that are associated with the abort identifier abort are aborted.
In one alternative embodiment, the currently executing threads that are associated with the abort identifier are aborted by processing an exception for the currently executing code set when an abort checkpoint has been reached and the currently executing code set is associated with the abort identifier associated with the misbehaving code set. If there is no abort checkpoint, execution of the code set associated with the currently executed thread is continued.
In another embodiment, currently executing threads that are associated with the abort identifier further are aborted by determining whether there is an abort checkpoint located prior to the exception handling code when the currently executing code set contains exception handling code. The exception handling code is inhibited from executing when the currently executing code set contains exception handling code and if there is an abort checkpoint located prior to the exception handling code. In a preferred embodiment, the exception handling code is inhibited only if the exception handling code is associated with the abort identifier associated with the misbehaving code set.
In another aspect, the invention pertains to a computer readable medium containing instructions for aborting one or more threads. Each thread executes one or more code sets. At least one of the code sets has been identified as misbehaving and is associated with an abort identifier, and at least one of the code sets have one or more checkpoint inserted within the code set. The computer readable medium includes computer code for setting the abort identifier of the misbehaving code to indicate that an abort procedure is to be performed and computer code for aborting currently executing threads that have code sets that are associated with the abort identifier.
In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a computer system configured to abort one or more threads. Each thread executes one or more code sets, and at least one of the code sets has been identified as misbehaving and is associated with an abort identifier. At least one of the code sets have one or more checkpoint inserted within the code set. The computer system includes an abort indicator arranged to set the abort identifier of the misbehaving code to indicate that an abort procedure is to be performed and a thread executioner arranged to abort currently executing threads that have code sets that are associated with the abort identifier.
The described embodiments of the present invention have several associated advantages. For example, when a method frame is popped that is associated with misbehaving code, exception handling is inhibited if the popped frame is associated with untrusted code. Thus, untrusted code is inhibited from continuing to misbehave through its exception handling code. In contrast, trusted code is allowed to perform exception handling (e.g., clean up routines) prior to aborting the associated thread. Thus, the likelihood of internal data structures being left in an inconsistent state is minimized. Additionally, in one embodiment, all of the threads that share a same resource are aborted. Thus, if the shared resource is left in an inconsistent state by an aborted thread, other threads that are associated with the inconsistent shared resource are prohibited from accessing the inconsistent resource when they too are aborted.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.

Apparatus and methods for preventing denial of service attacks


One embodiment of the invention provides a system that simulates effects of a manufacturing process on an integrated circuit to enhance process latitude and/or reduce layout size. During operation, the system receives a representation of a target layout for the integrated circuit, wherein the representation defines a plurality of shapes that comprise the target layout. Next, the system simulates effects of the manufacturing process on the target layout to produce a simulated printed image for the target layout. The system then identifies problem areas in the simulated printed image that do not meet a specification. Next, the system moves corresponding shapes in the target layout to produce a new target layout for the integrated circuit, so that a simulated printed image of the new target layout meets the specification.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the process of designing an integrated circuit. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for simulating effects of a manufacturing process on an integrated circuit to enhance process latitude and/or reduce layout size.
2. Related Art
Recent advances in integrated circuit technology have largely been accomplished by decreasing the feature size of circuit elements on a semiconductor chip. As the feature size of these circuit elements continues to decrease, circuit designers are forced to deal with problems that arise as a consequence of the optical lithography process that is typically used to manufacture the integrated circuits. This optical lithography process begins with the formation of a photoresist layer on the surface of a semiconductor wafer. A mask composed of opaque regions, which are formed of chrome, and light-transmissive clear regions, which are generally formed of quartz, is then positioned over this photoresist layer coated wafer. (Note that the term xe2x80x9cmaskxe2x80x9d as used in this specification is meant to include the term xe2x80x9creticle.xe2x80x9d) Light is then shone on the mask from a visible light source, an ultraviolet light source, or more generally some other type of electromagnetic radiation together with suitably adapted masks and lithography equipment.
This light is reduced and focused through an optical system that contains a number of lenses, filters and mirrors. The light passes through the clear regions of the mask and exposes the underlying photoresist layer. At the same time, the light is blocked by opaque regions of the mask, leaving underlying portions of the photoresist layer unexposed.
The exposed photoresist layer is then developed, through chemical removal of either the exposed or non-exposed regions of the photoresist layer. The end result is a semiconductor wafer with a photoresist layer having a desired pattern. This pattern can then be used for etching underlying regions of the wafer.
As feature sizes continue to decrease, optical effects, resist effects, mask writer beam effects, and/or other effects can degrade the quality of the printed image obtained through the optical lithography process. The upper portion of FIG. 1 illustrates how an optical lithography process 102 converts a layout 510 into a printed image 113 on a semiconductor wafer. As mentioned above, this optical lithography process 102 involves: a mask fabrication process 104, an exposure of the mask through stepper optics 106, a photoresist development process 108 and a development or etching process 112. Note that each of these processes can degrade the resulting printed image 113.
A layout of an integrated circuit is typically created in accordance with a set of design rules that specify a number of constraints, such as minimum spacings or minimum line widths, to increase the likelihood that the finished integrated circuit functions properly in spite of different manufacturing effects. These design rules can be thought of as guidelines for a layout to circumvent process limitations.
It is advantageous to use such design rules because they simplify the layout process by hiding the complexity of the photolithography process. Design rules can be thought of as transforming a continuous problem into a discrete problem. Moreover, design rules can be easily verified by checking dimensions in the layout, such as minimum spacing between shapes.
However, the use of design rules can lead to sub-optimal layouts. For example, a design rule may specify a minimum spacing between specific shapes. However, a circuit designed using this minimum spacing may only function properly for a narrow range of variations in the manufacturing process. It may be preferable to use a larger spacing between shapes whenever possible to improve xe2x80x9cprocess latitudexe2x80x9d.
For this reason, some foundries have xe2x80x9crecommended rulesxe2x80x9d to improve process latitude. The layout designer/tool uses these recommended rules in addition to standard design rules during the cell generation process to improve process latitude. The layout designer/tool attempts to satisfy these recommended rules. However, unlike standard design rules, they are not required to be satisfied. The layout designer/tool must relax minimum spacing, width and/or size between layout shapes to implement recommended rules. However, if recommended rules applied everywhere, they can lead to unnecessary expansion of the layout. The designer also has to make tradeoffs between recommended rules.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for optimizing the spacing, width and/or size of layout shapes in order to enhance process latitude.
Note that in addition to the process latitude for standard design rules, there can be xe2x80x9cfighter design rulesxe2x80x9d that decrease process latitude compared to standard design rules. There can also be xe2x80x9crelaxed rulesxe2x80x9d, which increase process latitude compared to the standard design rules. Note that a recommended rule is a special case of a relaxed rule with a fixed value. Relaxed rules can allow for multiple values.
One embodiment of the invention provides a system that simulates effects of a manufacturing process on an integrated circuit to enhance process latitude and/or reduce layout size. During operation, the system receives a representation of a target layout for the integrated circuit, wherein the representation defines a plurality of shapes that comprise the target layout. Next, the system simulates effects of the manufacturing process on the target layout to produce a simulated printed image for the target layout. The system then identifies problem areas in the specification that do not meet a specification. Next, the system moves corresponding shapes in the target layout to produce a new target layout for the integrated circuit, so that a simulated printed image of the new target layout meets the specification.
Note that the above-described process differs from optical proximity correction. Optical proximity correction modifies a layout to compensate for optical effects so that the actual printed layout matches a target layout. In contrast, the above-described process moves shapes within the target layout to produce a new target layout that has better process latitude.
In a variation on this embodiment, moving the corresponding shapes in the target layout involves optimizing process latitude for the target layout.
In a variation on this embodiment, moving the corresponding shapes in the target layout involves performing a compaction process to minimize layout size.
In a variation on this embodiment; moving the corresponding shapes in the target layout involves providing objectives and/or constraints to the compaction process.
In a variation on this embodiment, moving the corresponding shapes in the target layout involves applying relaxed rules to the problem areas of the target layout to improve process latitude. In a further variation, the relaxed rules include priority values for resolving conflicts between relaxed rules.
In a variation on this embodiment, moving the corresponding shapes in the target layout involves applying relaxed rules to the problem areas of the target layout.
In a variation on this embodiment, the effects of the manufacturing process are simulated over a range of manufacturing parameters.
In a variation on this embodiment, the system additionally uses the simulated printed image to estimate a yield for the target layout.
In a variation on this embodiment, the system performs optical proximity correction (OPC) on the new target layout to produce a modified layout, wherein a simulated printed image of modified layout more closely matches the new target layout than the simulated printed image of the new target layout.
In a variation on this embodiment, the system uses information obtained from examining the simulated printed image to formulate new design rules for the target layout. These new design rules may be more aggressive tightened design rules. Alternatively, these new design rules can merely be different rules that apply to specific cases. For example, a certain pitch may not print well with off-axis illumination, and a new design rule could prohibit this case.
In a variation on this embodiment, the target layout defines a standard cell that is used as a building block for the integrated circuit.
In a variation on this embodiment, the system performs a design rule checking operation on the target layout prior to simulating the effects of the manufacturing process.

Method and apparatus for facilitating process-compliant layout optimization


An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member based on an image input signal; a detection sensor configured to detect a detection image at multiple density levels, which is formed by the image forming unit; a correction unit configured to correct image output characteristics of the image forming unit with respect to the image input signal, based on a detection result of the detection sensor; and a change unit configured to change the density levels at which the detection image is formed so that the detection image is preferentially formed in a density area of a large absolute value of a rate of change of slope of the image output characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following method is conventionally known as a method (hereinafter, referred as an "image control method") of adjusting image density characteristics of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.
The image forming apparatus forms a tone pattern including multiple patches on an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum upon completion of warm-up operation after startup. The image forming apparatus then reads a density of the formed tone pattern, and based on the read density value, changes an operation of a circuit such as a gamma correcting circuit for determining image forming conditions, to thereby stabilize the quality of an image to be formed (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-238341).
When fluctuations in environmental conditions change the tone characteristics of the image forming apparatus, a tone pattern is formed again on the image bearing member, read, and fed back again to the circuit such as a gamma correcting circuit for determining image forming conditions. As a result, image quality may be stabilized according to the fluctuations in environmental conditions.
When the image forming apparatus is used over a long period of time, where a read density of the tone pattern on the image bearing member and a density of an actually printed-out image may not match each other. Thus, there is known a method of forming a tone pattern on a recording material, and correcting image forming conditions based on the density value of the tone pattern (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-131650).
There is known a method of correcting a gamma look-up table (γLUT) or creating a γLUT correction table based on density information of one image pattern, and adding correction information to the gamma correcting circuit so as to compensate for the shortfall in correction information. In this regard, calibration is known to be performed for correcting a change in output characteristics caused by an individual difference of the apparatus such as a printer or a change in output environment (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-202711).
The above-mentioned conventional technologies have the following problems. Specifically, a tone pattern having a patch of a fixed density level is conventionally used for creating a tone correction table. On the other hand, a great change in tone reproduction may not always occur at the same place, depending on variance on engine characteristics between the apparatus, environmental changes or materials.
However, the density level of formed patches is fixed, and hence it is difficult to sufficiently correct a density level of a great tone change. The number of patches to be formed may be increased to preferentially correct the density level of which change in tone reproduction is great. However, the increase in the number of patches may result in an extended period of down-time.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed at identifying an idle state for a processor that minimizes power consumption. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for identifying a target idle state that does not require a linear progression into any intermediate states is provided. More specifically the method includes collecting data from a plurality of data sources that describes activities occurring on the computer and/or attributes of the hardware platform. Then, using the collected data, a target idle state for the processor is calculated. Finally, if the current idle state of the processor is different than the target idle state, the method causes the idle state of the processor to be changed to the target idle state.

Market requirements, environmental needs, business costs, and limited battery life dictate that computing devices use as little energy as possible while still providing robust computing services. The energy consumed by a computing device can be more efficiently managed by providing enough computational power for each service as needed instead of providing maximum computational power at all times. Computing devices such as laptop, desktop, and mainframe computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, etc., provide services by causing program instructions to be executed by electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry that executes computer program instructions in a computing device is often contained in a single integrated circuit referred to as a "core." A core is contained in a single physical package often referred to as a "microprocessor" or simply a "processor." Moreover, multiple interacting cores may be contained in a single processor.
Most computing devices execute a computer program commonly referred to as an operating system that guides the operation of the computing device and provides services to other programs. More specifically, an operating system controls the allocation and usage of hardware resources such as memory, computing resources, mass memory storage, peripheral devices, etc. The computer instructions for initializing and operating the computing device are typically contained in a component of the operating system often referred to as the "kernel." Shortly after a computing device is started, the kernel begins executing. Since a kernel has direct control of the hardware and access to data that describes the state of a computing device, a kernel may be used to regulate computing power and otherwise control energy consumption.
In some existing systems, software components in a kernel reduce the consumption of power used by a processor through the use of processor idle sleep states (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "C-states"). For example, some computers adhere to a specification commonly known as Advanced Configuration and Power Interface ("ACPI"). In this example, when a computer is put into in any of the available C-states, instructions are not executed. However, a processor will regularly "wake up" or exit the idle sleep state and transition back to the working state automatically when any user or platform activity occurs so that instructions may be executed. Then, the processor will be put back to "sleep" to save power. Since the processor is able to enter and exit idle sleep states very quickly, the user experience of interacting with programs is not affected when the processor is put into an idle sleep state.
When a predetermined threshold amount of idleness is identified, a processor may transition from the working state ("C0") in which the processor consumes the most amount of power into an initial idle C-state ("C1"). Traditionally, when a processor is in an idle C-state (e.g., "C1") and an additional predetermined threshold amount of idleness is identified over a given time period, the processor transitions from the current C-state (e.g., "C1") into the next higher or deeper C-state (e.g., "C2"). On one hand, each successively higher C-State provides greater levels of power savings. On the other hand, a higher C-state is associated with a greater latency overhead required to exit the idle sleep state. Stated differently, using a higher C-state than is appropriate based on the idleness of the processor could adversely affect system responsiveness and the user experience. As a result, existing systems use a linear promotion and demotion scheme for selecting a C-state in which a predetermined amount of time is accrued in a C-state before a promotion or demotion to the next appropriate C-state occurs. However, a linear promotion/demotion scheme for transitioning between C-states does not take advantage of recent advances in hardware technology. Instead, additional power savings may be achieved by using a non-linear scheme for setting an appropriate processor state.

Identifying a target processor idle state


The present invention relates to a roller bearing (10) for supporting a rotatable component such as a shaft. We describe a double row roller bearing (10) for supporting a rotatable circular section component, said roller bearing (10) comprising an inner ring (11) including a pair of inner races (12, 13), an outer ring (17) including a pair of outer races (18, 19), two rows of rollers (22, 23) mounted between the inner and outer races, each row of which rollingly engages respective races in the inner and outer rings, clamping ring means (26) which surrounds and clamps said inner ring (11), at least said inner ring (11) and said clamping ring means (26) each comprising two substantially semicircular parts, the relevant semicircular parts being mounted together to provide a circular component for surrounding the rotatable component, and said clamping ring means (26) surrounds and clamps with said inner ring (11) at a position substantially midway between the axially opposite sides of the inner ring (11).

Roller bearings of the double row type generally comprise an inner ring which includes a pair of outwardly facing raceways or bearing surfaces, an outer ring which includes a pair of inner facing raceways, and mounted between them, a pair of rows of rollers which engage respective raceways on the outer and inner rings, the rollers usually being mounted in a cage. In split roller bearings, the components (inner and outer rings, and cage are split in an axial plane (or substantially axial, they may be at a small angle as shown in the Figures) so as to be simply removable from the rotatable component without disengaging the bearing and rotatable component axially which is complex and time consuming. So that the inner ring will rotate with the rotatable component, the two semicircular parts of the inner ring are clamped around the rotatable component by means of two clamping rings which surround axially opposite ends of the inner ring.
In a cylindrical roller bearing having a single row of rollers, thrust loads are carried between the ends of the rollers and adjacent faces of roller guide lips. This is a sliding contact which is difficult to lubricate and thus the thrust load carrying capacity is relatively low compared to other bearing types, particularly at high shaft speeds.
Double row bearings are able to support higher thrust loads. Double row types of bearings include double row spherical bearings (in which there are provided two rows or rings of rollers, in which the inner race is spherically convex and the outer race is spherically concave), and double row taper bearings (in which each row of rollers have oppositely inclined taper rollers and corresponding shaped inner and outer races). In each of these arrangements, the axes of the rollers (and, indeed, the contact lines between the rollers and races) are not parallel to the bearing axis which better enables axial thrust to be absorbed (it is absorbed by the contact between the rollers and the raceways). The greater the angle between the roller axes and the bearing axis, the greater the ability to absorb axial thrust and so a configuration which allows an increase of that angle is technically advantageous.
In the usual configuration of clamping rings where the two semicircular parts of the inner ring are clamped around the rotatable component by means of two clamping rings which surround axially opposite sides of the inner ring, the clamping rings are acting on the two semicircular parts where they are thinnest. It would be useful to increase the thickness where the clamping rings act.


Methods and systems to provide a home system with information about a wireless unit roaming in a visited system based on information the wireless unit provides to the visited system. A mobile switching center (MSC-V) of the visited system receives the information from the wireless unit and routes a message to an international gateway. In response, the international gateway creates a new message or alters the original message, and transmits the new or altered message to a mobile switching center (MSC-H) of the home system. In response to receipt of the new or altered message, the MSC-H validates the wireless unit (if valid), creates a response to the new or altered message, and routes the response to the international gateway. The response may include an authorization period for the wireless unit and/or OCOS/TCOS information. In response, the international gateway creates a new response or alters the response, and transmits the new or altered response to the MSC-V. In response to receipt of the new or altered response, the MSC-V registers the wireless unit, provides the wireless unit with communication services in the visited system, or otherwise follows instructions in the new or altered response. If the wireless unit moves to an area served by a second MSC-V, the second MSC-V checks with the international gateway about the wireless unit. If an authorization period is in effect, the international gateway may provide a validation of the wireless unit to the second MSC-V without another message to the home system of the wireless unit.

A distinguishing feature of humans as a species is our ability to communicate with each other. Our methods of communication have become ever more sophisticated and have led to the development of wireless communications. Generally, wireless communications are communications that are transmitted through the use of radio frequency (RF) technology. Wireless communications include communications that are transmitted through the use of wireless units such as cellular telephones, mobile telephones, car phones, personal communication service (PCS) units, pagers, and the like, and also may include appropriately equipped computers, computer peripherals, and the like.
A wireless unit is particularly useful to a person on the move. For example, a person may use his or her wireless unit while driving a car. The wireless communications service to the person's wireless unit is provided typically by a service provider that may also he referred to herein as a carrier. Typically, a person who obtains wireless communications service from a service provider is generally referred to herein as a subscriber or a user. A subscriber may make or receive communications with his or her wireless unit. The term "communication" is used herein to refer to any call, message, announcement, or other exchange of data or information, whether analog or digital, that may be received on a wireless unit or transmitted from a wireless unit, and/or may be received or transmitted from a wireless unit that is operating as part of any other device such as a computer.
When a user initiates a communication on his or her wireless unit, a base station in or serving a predetermined geographic area wherein the subscriber is located receives the communication. The geographic area that is served with wireless communications service by the carrier is referred to herein as the service area of the service provider. The service provider typically operates a wireless communications network or system to provide wireless communications service to the geographic area. The wireless communications network or system includes the referenced base station, and other elements such as mobile switching centers (MSCs). The wireless communications network also includes elements that interface with the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and other networks and systems so as to provide for communications between and among parties using wireless units or using wireline units.
Upon receipt of a communication from a wireless unit of a user, the base station transmits the communication to a mobile switching center (MSC) (sometimes referred to as a mobile-service switching center or mobile telecommunications switching office (MTSO), or switch). In response to the receipt of the communication, the MSC further routes the communication as appropriate. This routing may take the communication to and through the PSTN, to and through the same wireless communications system, to and through another wireless communications system, or combinations thereof.
In addition to making a call, a subscriber may receive a communication on his or her wireless unit from a caller. The caller directs his or her communication to the number associated with the subscriber's wireless unit, which is referred to herein as the mobile number of the wireless unit. The mobile number may be the mobile identification number (MIN) of the wireless unit. The communication is routed through the PSTN, through other networks, and/or wireless communications systems until the communication reaches the MSC serving the subscriber's wireless unit. This MSC may be referred to as the serving MSC or the serving switch. The serving MSC then further routes the communication to the wireless unit.
As noted, a wireless unit is particularly useful when a subscriber is on the move such as when the subscriber is driving a car. The subscriber's mobility may take the subscriber out of the service area served by the service provider from whom the subscriber subscribes. In other words, the subscriber's mobility may take the subscriber out of his or her home service area served by his or her home service provider or home carrier. The subscriber may move so as to be located in another service area that is served by a different service provider with whom the subscriber has no direct business relationship. The subscriber is said to be "roaming" out of his or her home service area and may be referred to as a "roamer", or "roaming subscriber" in a visited service area that is served by a visited system. To provide a roaming subscriber with communications service, service providers have agreed to follow certain procedures in the processing of communications with respect to each other's subscribers. Generally, a roaming subscriber is validated and may be authenticated by the visited system, which also may be referred to as the visited service provider. Both of these processes (validation and authentication) are used to prevent fraudulent use of wireless units and for other reasons. General descriptions of these processes and other information about wireless communications systems may be found in the book entitled Cellular and PCS—The Big Picture by Lawrence Harte, Steve Prokup and Richard Levine (McGraw-Hill 1997).
Generally, in validation, when a wireless unit initiates a communication in a service area other than its home service area, the visited system serving that visited service area attempts to find the wireless unit's identification (also referred to as registration information) in the visitor location register (VLR) of an appropriate MSC in the visited system (MSC-V). If the visited system does not find the identification, then the wireless unit is determined to be not registered with the visited system. Prior to being provided with communications service in the visited system, a wireless unit typically needs to be registered in the visited system.
To register the wireless unit in the visited system, the MSC-V takes certain steps. Using the wireless unit's identification (which generally may include its mobile number, and electronic serial number (ESN), and/or mobile identification number (MIN), if different from the mobile number), the visited system sends a message to the wireless communications system ("home system") which generally provides wireless communications service to the subscriber. Alternatively, or in addition, the visited system may send a message to a clearing house or other entity other than the home system. The message from the visited system requests validation of the visiting wireless unit. The home system checks a home location register (HLR) in an appropriate MSC (MSC-H) of its system. The clearing house or other entity may check a database, table, or other storage medium of its system. A comparison is made with respect to the identification regarding the wireless unit to determine if the wireless unit is valid. If the wireless unit is valid, then the HLR of the MSC-H and/or the clearing house or other entity responds to the serving MSC in the visited system that the validation was successful. The HLR in the home system and/or clearing house or other entity generally keeps track of the information about the location of the subscriber in a visited system for use in the future routing of calls, etc.
After the serving MSC in the visited system receives confirmation that the visiting wireless unit is valid, the communication initiated by the visiting wireless unit is processed. The VLR of the serving MSC may then temporarily store the visiting wireless unit's information to validate the identity of the wireless unit itself rather than requesting validation again for the next call.
Validation generally is the mechanism for providing information to the subscriber's home system with respect to the subscriber's location in a visited system. With this location information, the home system then may process calls that are received for the roaming subscriber. In particular, when a home system receives a call for its subscriber, the MSC in that home system (MSC-H) checks its HLR to determine if the wireless unit is operating in the geographic area of the home system. The MSC-H may find that the wireless unit is not located in the geographic area of the home system, but rather, is roaming in a visited system. The MSC-H may have location information with respect to the wireless unit. If so, the MSC-H sends a request to the visited MSC (MSC-V) for information that will help the MSC-H in routing the call to the subscriber.
The above processes of validation and call processing are carried out generally with respect to communications that occur within the United States. However, wireless communications between the United States and foreign countries or wireless communications between foreign countries have been problematic. Problems arise because the processes described above may not be carried out with respect to communications between the United States and a foreign country or between foreign countries because of the differences in the wireless systems in the respective countries. A wireless system and its related wireline system in a particular country may not be networked with the wireless system and its related wireline system in a foreign country. Thus, in some cases, information regarding a wireless unit's roaming location in a visited system is not reported properly to the home system. The lack of reporting is especially problematic between countries having differences between their respective wireless systems. Without location information regarding a wireless unit, the home system is unable to route calls to the wireless unit.
In addition, the problems associated with the fraudulent use of wireless units are prevalent in the United States and abroad. Once a wireless unit is registered in a visited system, the wireless unit may be especially vulnerable to being cloned or otherwise fraudulently used.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that provide location information regarding a wireless unit that is roaming in a visited system to a home system of the wireless unit. Further, there is a need for methods and systems that provides safeguards so as to prevent fraudulent use of wireless units as they roam between and among countries or systems.

Method and systems for providing information to a home system regarding a wireless unit roaming in a visited system


Methods and apparatuses for beam reporting are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base unit comprises: a transmitter that transmits a set of reference signal (RS) resources for beam management to a remote unit; and a receiver that receives an interference report including at least one of inferences of RS resource, contained in the set of the RS resources to an associated RS resource, wherein each RS resource contained in the set of the RS resources is received at the remote unit with a receiver that is the same as the receiver of the associated RS resource.

The following abbreviations are herewith defined, some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), New Radio (NR), Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM or Flash Memory), Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), User Equipment (UE), Uplink (UL), Evolved Node B (eNB), Next Generation Node B (gNB), Downlink (DL), Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), Static RAM (SRAM), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Time division multiplexing (TDM), Code division multiplexing (CDM), Orthogonal Cover Code (OCC), Media Access Control-Control Element (MAC-CE), Reference Signal (RS), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), CSI-RS Resource Indicator (CRI), Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), SSB Resource Indicator (SSBRI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Interference RSRP (I-RSRP), Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP), Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI), Transmission Reception Point (TRP).
A base station may have a plurality of panels each of which may transmit with a plurality of beams. Each resource to be transmitted from base station to UE may be associated with one beam. For one panel, only one beam can be transmitted at a certain time. On the other hand, beams belonging to different panels can be transmitted simultaneously. Accordingly, if the base station has two panels (for example, panel 1 and panel 2), the base station may serve two UEs at the same time using two beams each of which belongs to a different panel. In the above situation, the base station has to determine one beam from panel 1 and another beam from panel 2 to serve two UEs simultaneously. It is very helpful if the base station knows the information on one beam interference with other beams when scheduling multiple UEs with different beams simultaneously.


A compact multi-purpose exercise device includes two adjustable length arms which are pivoted together at one end and which has adjustable angle handles or actuators at their other ends. At the pivot point of the two arms a hydraulic resistance member is provided which has a substantially constant force, which may be adjusted, and which is substantially independent of the speed at which the handles are actuated relative to one another. The constant force is provided by a reverse Pelton bucket, which includes a spring-biased member in the hydraulic fluid flow path which is moved to reduce hydraulic flow resistance with increased velocity of the hydraulic fluid flow. Hydraulic fluid is directed to the reverse Pelton bucket assembly by a vane which is rotatable in a hydraulic fluid chamber as the arms are rotated relative to one-another. The two arms of the exercise device are made up of four telescoping sections, with spring-mounted thumb-actuated detents operating into apertures in the inner telescoping arm sections, to hold them at any desired extension from about one foot to about three feet in length. Instead of single handles at the free ends of each of the arms, double handles or stirrups may be provided for easy operation with a person's feet or ankles, or roller wheels may be used to facilitate rowing-type excercises.

Many types of multi-purpose exercise devices have been proposed, and Nautilus and other large bulky and expensive machines are enjoying widespread popularity. However, many persons cannot afford the time or money to visit a health club where the large exercise apparatus is normally found, nor do they wish to set aside a large portion of their living quarters to accommodate such a large and costly apparatus. Accordingly, there is a significant need for a small or compact and versatile exercising apparatus.
With regard to prior patents in the exercise field, attention is directed to N. Wright U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,415, granted Oct. 7, 1980; to C. H. Stoecker U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,802, granted Oct. 23, 1979; and to R. Ruggles U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,588, granted Feb. 22, 1983. Of these patents, the Wright U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,415 is typical of the large size, expensive exercise apparatus of the type mentioned hereinabove. On the other hand, the Stoecker and Ruggles patents are relatively smaller units but suffer from the disadvantages that they are single purpose units, and are not adapted to many different types of exercising as required for a complete and balanced exercise program In addition, all three patents are believed to include resistance arrangements which vary significantly in their resistance with the speed of actuation. This is a significant disadvantage, as it is desirable that a substantially constant resistance force be present despite variations in the speed at which the exercise device is operated.
Accordingly, principal objects of the present invention include first, providing an exercise device which is both compact and versatile, permitting many different types of exercise to be performed; and, secondly, providing a device which has a substantially constant resistance force, despite variations in the speed of actuation of the two arms relative to one another.

Hydraulic resistance exerciser with relatively rotatable arms


A method of printing an image with a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor, which comprises a support having thereon an image forming layer A containing a water-soluble material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) imagewise exposing the layer A of the printing plate precursor so as to form an unexposed portion and an exposed portion; (b) supplying an emulsion ink containing an oil-based ink and water onto the layer A so that the unexposed portion is removed from the layer A so as to form a non image portion and the exposed portion remains in the layer A so as to form an image portion to give the printing plate, wherein the image portion is lyophilic and the non image portion is hydrophilic; and (c) printing the image on the printing plate to an image receiving material while further supplying the emulsion ink.

The present invention relates to a printing method and a printing press, and particularly to a printing method of developing an on-press type printing plate precursor mounted on a printing press with emulsion ink and carrying out printing, and a printing press employing the method.
Recently, a printing press equipped with an image forming means represented by an infrared laser irradiation device, a so-called DI printing press, has been focused on as a system for prompt delivery of prints and reduction of printing cost. As the DI printing press, there are a printing press employing dampening water and a waterless type printing press employing no dampening water, as in an ordinary printing press.
The waterless type DI printing press has no device for supplying dampening water, and even if the press is installed with an image forming system, it can be structured very compactly. For example, there are provided printing presses such as Quickmaster-46-DI produced by Heidelberg Co., Ltd. and 3404DI produced by Ryobi Co., Ltd., which can be installed in a reduced space, and can be applied in an office environment.
The waterless type printing press does not require the delicate control of dampening water supply amount nor any special operation skill, which is one of the elements suitable for an office environment.
FIG. 1 shows the fundamental structure of Quickmaster-46-DI produced by Heidelberg Co., Ltd. This printing press has four sets each including a blanket cylinder 2, a plate cylinder 1, an ink supply system 4, and an infrared laser exposure system 5 in a satellite state around an impression cylinder 3 having a diameter 4 times greater than that of the plate cylinder 1.
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a plate cylinder 1, which illustrates in detail the interior of the plate cylinder 1. That is, the plate cylinder 1 has, within the cylinder, a supply spool 1b and an uptake spool 1c, and has a construction in which a printing plate precursor 9 is stored in the roll form on supply spool 1b within the cylinder, unrolled, withdrawn through an opening 1a, brought onto the outer surface of the cylinder and wrapped around the cylinder, reintroduced through opening 1a into the cylinder, and received by uptake spool 1c within the cylinder.
Fixation of a printing plate precursor on the plate cylinder can be carried out, for example, by locking either one of the supply spool or the uptake spool not to rotate, applying a rotational torque in the rotational direction to the other spool to apply a certain tension to the plate precursor, and then locking it. Further, the interior of the plate cylinder as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 7-101044 is also usable.
Further, as in the printing press disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 11-28802, which has a plate cylinder composed of two cylinders, one being an outer hollow cylinder having orifices and the other an inner cylinder, fixation of a plate precursor on the plate cylinder can be carried out by mounting the plate precursor on the outer, hollow cylinder, and then sucking air through the orifices from beneath the plate mounted on the outer cylinder.
The printing method comprises the steps of withdrawing a printing plate precursor 9 stored in the roll form (resin material) within the plate cylinder 1, bringing it onto the outer surface of the plate cylinder 1 to wrap the cylinder, imagewise exposing the precursor employing an infrared laser exposure system 5 to ablate the exposed portions of the precursor, cleaning the surface of the exposed precursor through a cleaning system 6 to remove the ablation residue to form an image, and subsequently supply ink onto the surface of the resulting precursor through an ink supply system 4, whereby printing is carried out. A water supply is not needed, since a waterless printing plate precursor is used, and the printing press has no water supply system, since a waterless printing plate precursor is exclusively used.
Printing paper is fed to an impression cylinder 3 from a printing paper feeding section 7. Four different color inks transferred from four plate cylinders 1 to four blanket cylinders 2 are sequentially transferred to the printing paper to obtain four-color prints, which is subsequently supplied to a delivery section 8.
As described above, a waterless printing plate precursor makes it possible to use a compact printing press relative to the size of the paper sheet to be printed. The waterless printing plate precursor, which is presently supplied for a DI printing press, is an ablation type waterless printing plate precursor, and requires cleaning of the printing plate precursor surface after laser exposure as described above to form an image. This cleaning step increases the set-up time for printing, which is one factor of the cost increase. Further, use of a cleaning solution and non-woven fabric for cleaning also adds to the cost increase.
In contrast, as a printing plate precursor used in the DI printing press employing dampening water, a so-called xe2x80x9cprocessless CTP materialxe2x80x9d, there is a printing plate precursor disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,938,397 and 2,938,398, which comprises a hydrophilic support having thereon an imaging layer containing heat-fusible hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles dispersed in a hydrophilic binder. In this precursor, a so-called xe2x80x9con press developmentxe2x80x9d is required, which comprises the steps of mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of a printing press, exposing the precursor employing a laser, and supplying dampening water and ink onto the surface of the exposed precursor while rotating the plate cylinder to remove unexposed portions of the imaging layer. As compared with the waterless printing plate precursor as described above, this printing plate precursor does not require an exclusive plate surface cleaning system nor processing materials thereof, reducing the running cost. However, the printing plate precursor has the problem in that the set-up time for printing resulting from on press development increases.
Recently, there has been developed a printing plate precursor which starts printing without cleaning the printing plate surface nor carrying out on press development in the same manner as in a conventional PS plate, and exhibits the same rise in printing as the PS plate, for example, the printing plate precursor as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-358969. Application of such a printing plate precursor to a DI printing press requires no exclusive printing plate surface cleaning system and makes it possible to markedly reduce a set-up time for printing, resulting in the possibility of reducing the running cost.
However, at present, even if such a printing plate precursor is applied, the DI printing press is considered to need the same continuous water supply system as that of a printing press used in the PS plate, and has a construction in which an image forming system is installed in a general unit type printing press (carrying out one color printing per one unit) (for example, Speedmaster 74-DI series produced by Heiderberg Co. Ltd.), which requires a large establishment area relative to the printing sheet size.
Further, since the printing plate precursor employs dampening water in printing, a printing skill is required.
There is disclosed a printing method in U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,048, which comprises the step of (b) imagewise exposing an ablation type printing plate precursor (a) employing water which has an outermost layer containing polyvinyl alcohol capable of being removed by a non-aqueous single fluid ink, and (c) removing the outermost layer by carrying out printing employing the non-aqueous single fluid ink. Use of polyvinyl alcohol in a protective layer results in various problems that background contaminations are likely to be produced at the initial printing stage and staining is likely to be produced at portions of the printing plate precursor where fingers touched, even in the conventional printing methods. In this case, a counter measure such as use of dampening water containing alcohol is required, but an optimum combination of the structure or materials used of the printing plate precursor with the single fluid ink has not still been developed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing method employing a printing plate precursor employing dampening water which provides reduced running cost, and does not require a high degree of skill, and to provide a printing press for a printing plate precursor employing dampening water which is capable of being small-sized, reduces running cost, and does not require a high degree of skill.
The above object has been attained by one of the following constitutions:
1. A method of printing an image with a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor, which comprises a support having thereon an image forming layer A containing a water-soluble material, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) imagewise exposing the layer A of the printing plate precursor so as to form an unexposed portion and an exposed portion;
(b) supplying an emulsion ink containing an oil-based ink and water onto the layer A so that the unexposed portion is removed from the layer A so as to form a non image portion and the exposed portion remains in the layer A so as to form an image portion to give the printing plate, wherein the image portion is lyophilic and the non image portion is hydrophilic; and
(c) printing the image on the printing plate to an image receiving material while further supplying the emulsion ink.
2. The method of item 1, wherein the water-soluble material in the layer A is a saccharide.
3. The method of item 1, wherein the printing plate precursor further comprises a hydrophilic layer B between the support and the layer A, wherein the layer A further comprises heat-fusible particles or thermoplastic particles.
4. The method of item 3, wherein the water-soluble material in the layer A is an oligosaccharide.
5. The method of item 3, wherein the hydrophilic layer B is a porous layer.
6. The method of item 3, wherein the hydrophilic layer B further comprises a light-heat conversion material.
7. The method of item 1, wherein the printing plate precursor further comprises a layer C which is capable of being ablated and a hydrophilic layer B on the support in that order, the layer A being located on the layer B.
8. The method of item 7, wherein the water-soluble material in the layer A is a polysaccharide.
9. The method of item 1, wherein the printing is carried out without supplying water on the surface of the printing plate during printing.
10. The method of item 1, wherein water is supplied on the surface of the printing plate precursor prior to supplying the emulsion ink on the surface of the printing plate precursor.
11. The method of item 10, wherein water is supplied with a water spraying device on the surface of the printing plate precursor.
12. The method of item 11, wherein an amount of water W (g/m2) supplied on the surface of the printing plate precursor and a coating coverage Q (g/m2) of the layer A satisfy the following formula,
0.1xe2x89xa6W/Qxe2x89xa650.
13. The method of item 1, wherein the step (a) is carried out after the printing plate precursor is mounted on a plate cylinder of a printing press.
14. The method of item 1, wherein an infrared laser is employed for imagewise exposing the printing plate precursor.
Examples of printing presses for the above-mentioned methods are as follows.
(i) a printing press comprising an exposure system employing an infrared laser capable of forming an image on a printing plate precursor mounted on the plate cylinder and comprising no water supply system for continuously supplying water onto the surface of the printing plate precursor during printing.
(ii) a printing press comprising an exposure system employing an infrared laser capable of forming an image on a printing plate precursor mounted on the plate cylinder and a water supply system for supplying water onto the surface of the printing plate precursor so that water does not directly contact ink.
(iii) the printing press of item (ii), comprising a water supply system which brings a water supply roller into contact with the surface of the printing plate precursor while rotating the plate cylinder to supply water onto the printing plate precursor surface, and then separates the water supply roller from the printing plate precursor surface before carrying out printing by bringing an ink supply roller into contact with the surface of the printing plate precursor.
(iv) the printing press of item (ii), wherein the water supply system is a water spraying device which is capable of spraying water onto the surface of the printing plate precursor.


An email update system dynamically updates the content of an email when the originator of an email has sent the email, and the originator later determines that the email requires editing. The updating may take place transparent to the recipient and without the introduction of duplicative content into the recipient's email program. The email update system comprises a delta engine program and a delta temporary storage in a sender's computer, a queue manager program and an intermediate email queue in a server computer, and a recipient email retrieval program in a recipient's computer.

Electronic mail or email transmits texts and documents over networks in an ever increasing communication role. From its early inception as a teletype messaging system across Arapanet in the 1970's, email has emerged as a global messaging system over both the Internet and intranets, playing a vital role in business and personal life, so that individuals now routinely use email for both personal convenience and business productivity.
Some emails are sent with errors. Other emails are sent prematurely by accidental user activation of the send button before composition is complete. Occasionally, the information contained in an email changes after the email is sent. The present solution to each of these problems is to send a new email with the corrected or updated information. Creating a second email adds to storage space demand, as well as the composer's time to create a new message. Therefore, a need arises for a method and apparatus that would enable a sent email to be updated by the originator without the need to compose and send a new email with duplicative content.
Updating a sent email requires overcoming problems in the area of editing the email, avoiding duplicative content, and linking the update to an email that has already been opened.
U.S. Patent Application 2002/0078104 (the '104 publication) discloses a method and system for managing documents that includes editing prior emails. An email identification is placed on a business email that is passed to the document management system where the email is opened to a plurality of users in an editable form for updating. The system traces and manages the updating of the document information. The '104 application does not provide for updating email message content by the sender.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,197 (the '197 patent) discloses a method for avoiding duplicate content in subsequent emails. The '197 patent system and method stores messages in folders or archives identified by a user account within the message database. Selected information about messages is extracted into a master array. The master array is processed to identify topics which occur only once and identify them as unique. Duplicate and near-duplicate messages are removed and unique messages are stored.
U.S. Patent Application 2002/0073157 (the '157 publication) discloses a method for linking prior emails by creating an email thread as a single readable document in which extraneous material has been removed, and the individual messages interlinked.
While emails can be canceled after they are sent, present email tools do not update, or modify an email after it is sent. There is currently no tool that updates or modifies an email when a user inadvertently sends an email before completing, proofreading, or attaching intended documents.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


Rational design of immunotherapeutics relies on clear knowledge of the immunodominant epitopes of antigens. Current methods for identifying kinetically stable peptide-MHC complexes are in many cases inadequate for a number of reasons. Disclosed herein is a reductionistic system incorporating known participants of MHC class II antigen processing in solution to generate peptide pools from antigens, including those for which no immunodominant epitope has yet been identified, that are highly enriched for proteolytic fragments containing their immunodominant epitopes. HLA-DM-mediated editing contributes significantly to immunodominance and is exploited in discovering immunodominant epitopes from novel or previously uncharacterized antigens, particularly antigens associated with pathogens, tumors or autoimmune diseases.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in the field of biochemistry and immunology medicine relates to a method of cell-free antigen processing for MHC class II-restricted antigens that exploits the role of HLA-DM in the selection of immunodominant epitopes and permits de novo identification of immunodominant epitopes in antigens, including novel antigens for which immunodominant epitopes have not yet been identified.
2. Description of the Background Art
The ability of the immune system to focus T cell responses to a select number of epitopes potentially derivable from a complex antigen is termed "immunodominance." Several models that attempt to explain how immunodominance is established include kinetic stability for MHC binding (Lazarski, C A et al., Immunity 23:29-40 (2005)) and/or prevalence (Nelson, C A et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:7380-3 (1992)). Other models explain immunodominance by the development of high avidity T cells recognizing those dominant peptides epitopes (Kedl, R M et al., J Exp Med 192:1105-13. (2000)).
For MHC class II restricted epitopes, HLA-DM ("DM"), a MHC-like molecule implicated in the editing of peptides that bind MHC II (benzin LK & Cresswell, P, Cell 82:155-65 (1995); Kropshofer, H. et al., EMBO J 15:6144-54 (1996)), may be involved in immunodominant epitope selection (Nanda N K et al., J Exp Med 192:781-8. (2000)). DM distinguishes its substrates (Chou C L et al., J Exp Med 192:1697-1706 (2000); Belmares, M P et al., J Immunol:169:5109-17 (2002); Pashine, A et al., Immunity 19:183-92 (2003); Stratikos, E et al., J. Immunol. 172:1109-17 (2004); Pu, Z et al. Immunity 20:467-76 (2004)) based on conformational differences between peptide/MHC complexes (Sadegh-Nasseri, S et al., Nature 353:167-70 (1991); Sadegh-Nasseri, S et al., Immunol Today 13:43-6 (1992); Sadegh-Nasseri, S et al. Nature 370: 647-50 (1994); Joshi, R et al., Biochemistry 39:3751-62 (2000).
An empty or partially filled hydrophobic pocket 1 of HLA-DR1 constitutes a favorable substrate for DM interaction, whereas a compact and rigid conformation induced by the filling of pocket 1 (Sadegh-Nasseri, S et al., 1994, supra; 16. Stern L I et al., Cell 68:465-77 (1992); Natarajan, S K et al., J. Immunol. 162:3463-70 (1999)) is an unfavorable substrate (Chou et al., supra; Pu et al., supra).
A number of approaches have been utilized for identification of T cell epitopes that include peptide mapping, screening of synthetic peptide (or combinatorial) libraries, generation and screening of expression libraries derived from organisms or tissues of interest, and elution and sequencing of naturally occurring peptides from MHC molecules using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). Peptide mapping and the screening of synthetic peptide libraries provide critical information, but may not identify naturally occurring ligands. Elution and sequencing methods have the advantage of providing direct information about peptide generation and MHC selection in vivo. These methods are useful in identifying cytotoxic T cell epitopes, but are less effective or ineffective in defining helper T cell epitopes, which is one of the goals of the present invention.
Examples of prior art methods for screening synthetic peptides for defining helper T cell epitopes include the following. One method is based on scanning of non-overlapping short peptides of 10-15 amino acids to encompass the entire length of a given protein. T cells from immunized individuals are the common "read-out" system for identification of the immunogenic epitopes. A major problem here is that the actual immunogenic peptide sequences may go undetected because the active region of the immunogenic peptides might not fall within the sequences chosen.
In a second approach designed to circumvent this problem, peptide sequences are designed that encompass the length of a given protein with 12-15 residue peptides of overlapping sequences. This approach although preferred, is even more tedious, costly, and often unreliable. Because of the huge number of peptides that need to be tested, and limitations on the responding T cell sources, characterization of individual peptides becomes an impossible task.
A third approach employs prediction algorithms based on MHC class II structure and the nature of eluted peptides from a given MHC protein. However, this approach relies on prediction of peptides that might bind MHC II stably but might not necessarily be immunogenic; hence this method is most unreliable.
Thus, all currently established and commonly practiced methods for identifying immunogenic epitopes are fraught with disadvantages including the fact that they are very tedious, time consuming, costly, and frequently unsuccessful. Consequently, identification of a high throughput method to isolate most likely candidate immunogenic and immunodominant epitopes derived from the natural processing of protein antigens is a most desirable goal to which the present invention is directed.
Citation of the above documents is not intended as an admission that any of the foregoing is pertinent prior art. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents is based on the information available to the applicant and does not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.

Method for identifying and validating dominant T helper cell epitopes using an HLA-DM-assisted class II binding assay


An automated seal selection, seal design, manufacturing, and post sales system allow a distributor or untrained user to select a replacement seal for a pump. The automated system designs and engineers the seal, whether standard or special, and creates all drawings, documentation, quotations, and other output forms. The automated system initiates selection from inventory or purchasing of materials to be used in the manufacturing operations, creates all manufacturing CNC programs for the components to be manufactured and downloads to CNC from manufacturing equipment. The system allows selection of a seal based upon a seal part number, or selection of a seal based upon the pump into which the seal will be installed and the operating conditions of the pump. The pump may be defined by searching through a database of existing pumps, or may be defined as a new pump if it is not in the pump database.

Sales and marketing of mechanical seals presently involves several activities including seal selection, design and engineering of a seal, manufacturing, and post sales service and support. This process involves many different people to gather, manipulate, interpret and process a variety of kinds of information, and is not an exact science.
A mechanical seal is a shaft sealing device provided to contain process fluids within equipment such as a pump, mixer or other rotary equipment. Mechanical seals are used in operations of a typical processing plant. Significant industries that use seals include: pulp and paper, chemical processing, petroleum chemical, oil refining, food, processing, and power and utilities, among others.
There are generally three types of mechanical seals: component (made of several pieces), cartridge (components unitized for one piece) and split seals. Cartridge seals generally are preferred over component seals for several reasons. First, cartridge seals may be installed without significant training. These seals also may be tested before shipping to ensure sealability. However, conversion from a component seal to a cartridge seal for an application involves a complex process of selection of an appropriate seal design.
Because of the variety of applications for seals, selection of a seal involves considering several factors. For example, seals typically are connected to equipment with a rotary shaft (pumps being the most common) for which there are a large variety of commercially available designs with different dimensional profiles. Equipment also may have been modified in the field for several reasons, resulting in a nonstandard dimensional profile. Additional factors are the operating conditions of the equipment, including process fluids and their combinations, and intentional and unintentional changes in the process fluids used in a systems. Aside from selecting a seal that fits the equipment and is suitable for the given operating conditions, costs of the seal and its installation also are factors.
This selection process therefore generally involves highly trained sales engineers with factory support to perform properly the seal selection process. Their training typically includes mechanical and design engineering and chemical engineering. These individuals typically also perform sales, service and support functions. Because of the complexity of the seal selection process, customers tend to be dependent on these sales engineers. This dependency is due to the complexity of part codes for these seals.
The expertise level of a sales engineer is generally dependent on the size of seal manufacturer, years of experience, education and training, resulting in varying competencies. Sales engineers may possess only industry specific expertise, acquired from their experience. Accordingly, without extensive experience, a sales engineer also may be dependent heavily on factory support for assistance in the seal selection process.
Moreover, sales engineers, despite their experience, still may be dependent on factory support because they typically have immediate access to selection information limited to common equipment and process fluids, either in printed or computer-readable text form. Other information, such as application data, engineering data, special pricing and drawings may be available only at the factory, requiring the sales engineer to use factory support to derive seal selections or to interpret the available information and to select a seal. Accurate communication between sales engineers and factory engineers is a critical component of this process.
Depending on the resources available to a manufacturer, which may depend on its size or its number of years in business, factory support may be limited to manually intensive selection methods prone to errors resulting in an informal, unscientific selection process. Even with more sophisticated procedures based on significant amounts of historical information, however, human intervention is generally required for many decisions made between field sales and factory support personnel because of individuals' judgments and perceptions, which may result in inaccurate selections. In particular, a significant amount of human interaction is required to gather, interpret, manipulate and analyze the application data when the sales engineer requires factory support. In particular, the pump and seal dimensions, operating conditions and process fluids affect the selection of materials to obtain maximum seal life. The human interaction involved in current selection methods may result in different recommendations from different individuals, for the same application, of a seal model, optional seal features, materials of construction, seal environmental controls, i.e., piping plans, and various auxiliary devices to be used with the environmental controls. In addition, the likelihood of an error is increased. An error in any stage of the selection process may result in an inaccurate or incomplete sealing solution, which translates into premature seal failure and increased costs.
There are several steps in the seal selection process which typically involve human interaction. One step is identification of the equipment, e.g., a pump or drive motor or other rotary equipment. The methods of identification differ among sales engineers. Example sources of identification information include identification tags on the equipment, maintenance records, engineering records, purchasing records, equipment manufacturer's records or seal manufacturer's records. If these sources provide incomplete information proper equipment identification may be impossible. Even if equipment is properly identified, e.g., by make and model, modifications may have been made to the equipment. A failure to identify such modifications results in an erroneous seal selection. As a result, a trained individual measures the equipment to obtain accurate dimensional data. Dimensional data is commonly collected using forms of varying complexity and completeness. Simple forms tend to be incomplete. Complex forms tend to be subject to interpretation by sales engineers and factory engineers. Both kinds of forms result in errors.
A seal model which is dimensionally compatible for the identified equipment then is selected. In order to make this selection, a sales engineer may refer to information available in a reference guide, or if not identified in a reference guide, performs a dimensional analysis. The dimensional analysis may be performed by the sales engineer or by relying upon factory support. When application data is received at the factory, it is reviewed for completeness and accuracy. If the data is not satisfactory, the process is delayed.
After a dimensionally compatible seal model has been selected, the operating conditions are identified by the sales engineer and are analyzed to confirm that the recommended seal is suitable for the process performed by the equipment. This analysis involves evaluating the operating conditions and the process fluids, with respect to a number of aspects of the seal, including, but not limited to: a metallurgy for general corrosion resistance; a face material combination for lubricity of the chemical and/or corrosion or abrasion resistance; and selection of secondary sealing components, i.e., o-ring elastomers for temperature and chemical resistance.
The operation conditions include but are not limited to: shaft speed as related to seal chamber pressure acting on the seal, i.e., pressure/velocity; stuffing box/seal chamber pressure, which is a function, of different pump internal part designs (impellers); shaft speed; pump discharge pressure at outlet nozzle; pump suction pressure at inlet nozzle; pressure/velocity parameters for different seal designs and face material combinations; box pressure calculations based on pump design type; seal face balance design; concentration; temperature; viscosity; the percentage of undissolved or dissolved or fibrous or nonfibrous solids; vapor pressure; specific gravity; and pollutants and other chemicals. Sometimes these values are estimated or are not obtained.
Either the sales engineer or factory support may analyze the operating conditions, depending on experience and resources. The parameter limits for various operating conditions generally are maintained in printed engineering tables by seal type, or may be calculated. If this analysis is performed by untrained individuals using only printed tables and without an engineering level analysis, or if incomplete information is used, then the analysis may be inaccurate or erroneous. It may also be inappropriate to select the material of a previous seal.
If the analysis indicates that a standard seal model is not acceptable, appropriate modifications to either a seal or the equipment are determined. An engineer may have a limited information guide explaining the modifications to be made to popular pumps to fit popular seals. Modifications to a seal generally are not provided. Otherwise the modifications are determined, either by the sales engineer or factory support, by reference to various guides or by analysis or based on historical information such as previous bills of material and factory engineering drawings. If the information used to make the modifications is inaccurate or incomplete, an inappropriate modification may be made to the seal or the equipment.
The process fluids also are analyzed to review characteristics which may affect seal selection, such as, but not limited to: volatile hazardous air pollutants, which requires selection of a double seal for absolute zero vapor emission leakage; flammability; toxicity; polymerization; solidification; abrasive slurries; percentage concentration of primary and secondary chemicals; and minimum and maximum process temperatures.
If a sales engineer has a reference guide with material ratings for a seal, the final seal selection is made by the sales engineer based on training and experience. A reference guide also may indicate materials for use with only one process chemical, without consideration of secondary chemicals which may be present in the process. If the guide is not complete, factory support may be required for assistance. An engineer providing factory support analyzes the process to identify the process fluid chemical characteristics, for example by utilizing published technical reference sources, chemical dictionaries, or historical information such as previous bills of material, or by basing a selection on properties of a chemical with similar characteristics. As with other steps involving factory support, information may be missing from the sales engineer, thus incurring a delay or resulting in an incorrect selection. Because of the complexity of the process fluid analysis, errors in selection are possible.
The sales engineer also selects optional seal features to obtain optimum seal performance life. Such features include, but are not limited to: a two piece stationary face (for viscous or polymerizing chemicals); a quench and drain gland (to cool or heat seal faces, or wash away crystalline deposits on atmospheric side of the seal faces); and pumping sleeves for double seals to provide maximum flow of barrier fluid to cool and lubricate the seal faces. The limited information on optional features in a reference guide may be limited. Otherwise, sales engineers derive the selection of optional features from the chemical characteristics. Whether a given seal has optional features to handle the application may require factory support for a recommendation.
Another step of the seal selection process is determining the best environmental controls or American Petroleum Institute (API) standard plan. The environmental controls are systems used to cool, lubricate, heat, etc., thereby controlling the environment of the mechanical seal, particularly at the seal faces. For an existing application, the sales engineer identifies the current external piping system and evaluates whether it should be modified for the application. For a new application, the sales engineer identifies piping systems available. A limited reference guide may help derive selection of the piping plan or factory support may be required. This aspect of the selection process may even be neglected or an existing piping plan may be incorrect for the application, thereby resulting in premature seal failure. Significant interaction between customers, sales engineers, and factory engineers may be required for proper selection.
Another step of the seal selection process is the selection of a variety of auxiliary devices, i.e., products external to the seal and typically in the piping plan, including but not limited to: supply tanks for double seal piping systems; throat bushings for use with external clean flush systems to seal faces; and flow control devices for external flush systems for single seals and double seals. As with other aspects of this process, such devices may be selected using limited reference guides, or application engineers may calculate the design, size and selection of an auxiliary device. Depending on the type of auxiliary, e.g., throat bushings, equipment dimensions may be needed by an engineer to design and manufacture the device.
After a seal with appropriate materials and optional features, environmental controls and auxiliaries have been selected, an appropriate price is determined along with a bill of materials and specifications for installation. Current pricing methods for mechanical seals for standard products typically involves price lists or books. The pricing book may be complex and may require factory support to be interpreted in order to arrive at a price for a given seal selection. When special designs are made, a selling price and discount structure is more complex to determine, and typically involves trained engineers and accountants. The entire quotation process involves time frames ranging from days to weeks.
Ultimately, after quotation and receipt of an order, a seal is manufactured according to the quotation if the seal is not a standard part. Manufacturing operations vary based on the size and scope of products offered by a seal manufacturer and the manufacturing process technologies used. The kinds of manufacturing equipment used ranges from manual equipment to computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment in various combinations depending on the scope of products and raw materials for the products. Despite the size of the manufacturer, highly trained individuals typically are needed for manufacturing.
While some manufacturers may use a computer program to assist in seal selection, such computer programs are generally an automated look-up table with which a user selects a model number of a pump, a corresponding product line of seals and receives a selection of possible seals. In some cases, the user may even select the materials for the seals. Such tools generally require either mechanical or chemical engineering knowledge or a significant amount of experience in order to select a seal correctly.
In sum, because of the complexity of the seal selection process, manufacturing and marketing of mechanical seals requires seal manufacturers to be dependent upon highly trained individuals. Customers depend on sales engineers and the manufacturer for technical support in order to obtain accurate solutions to field service problems. Because of complexity, delay and cost of the seal selection process, a customer may replace a failed seal with a seal of the same type rather than make a corrective selection. Premature seal failure may continue to occur, resulting in excessive operating costs.
The combination of the complexities and requirements of seal selection, quotation, design and engineering, manufacturing and post sales support processes thus produces inconsistent, unscientific and erroneous results, and increased costs.

Apparatus and method for selecting a mechanical seal


In order to improve the light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting element, the light-emitting element includes: a light-emitting layer provided between an electrode and a transparent substrate; a particle layer provided between the light-emitting layer and the transparent substrate; and an adhesive layer provided between the light-emitting layer and the particle layer, the particle layer includes particles having a refraction index that is higher than a refraction index of the transparent substrate, the adhesive layer has a refraction index that is higher than the refraction index of the transparent substrate, and the particle layer has an average thickness that is less than an average particle size of the particles.

Many manufacturers are competing to develop an electroluminescence element (OLED element) made of an organic material for an application such as a thin and space-saving illumination or a display.
The greatest challenge is to improve the external light extraction efficiency of the element. This is because more than half of the light emitted from inside the element cannot be output to the outside of the element due to the effect that the emitted light is reflected by a transparent electrode or the like having a high refraction index in the middle of exiting the element or other such effects. To address this problem, there have been proposed several approaches of providing various layers (light extraction efficiency improving layers) for improving the light extraction efficiency to the transparent electrode or the like.
Patent Literatures 1 and 2 propose improving the light extraction efficiency by providing on the transparent electrode a layer in which particles are dispersed in a binder, the particles having a refraction index that is different from that of the binder. Further, Non Patent Literature 1 proposes improving the light extraction efficiency by providing a layer formed of a titanium oxide thin film having voids therein.
In Patent Literatures 1 and 2, the binder layer containing the particles involves an organic solvent and is thus formed by, instead of a vacuum process, preparing a mixture of the binder, the powders, and the organic solvent, and applying and drying the mixture under normal pressure. In Non Patent Literature 1, the layer is also formed on the transparent electrode under normal pressure by spin coating. In Patent Literatures 1 and 2, and Non Patent Literature described above, the light extraction efficiency improving layer is provided on the transparent electrode.

Light emitting element, light emitting device using the light emitting element, and transparent substrate used in light emitting elements