A method and apparatus is provided to control the admission of a user to a network by preventing a port through which the user connects to the network from forwarding data packets until the user is authorized. A network login controller operates in conjunction with a user interface to receive a user identification data from the port user. The network login controller further operates in conjunction with an authorization server to authenticate the user by sending a user authentication request containing the user identification data to the authentication server. The network login controller grants or denies permission to the user to access the network based on the user authentication response from the authentication server. If permission is granted, then the network login controller unblocks the port through which the user is connected to place it in packet-forwarding mode. If permission is denied, then the port remains in packet non-forwarding mode (i.e. it remains blocked).

In recent history, the architecture of computer network topologies has changed dramatically. In the past, computer networks were mainly private networks contained within a private office. Now, however, an entire building with multiple offices of different companies may make up a single local area network (LAN), a user may use a laptop to access a wireless LAN in a public place, or a student may plug a laptop into network ports in various classrooms. Situations like these open a network to potential cyber-attacks that may compromise the security of network resources and also prevent access by legitimate users. As a consequence, network resource providers are under enormous pressure to provide bulletproof security and foolproof access control, so that no matter what type of method a user uses to access the network, whether it be via a modem, network interface card (NIC), or by some other means, private information and network resources remain secure. Security mechanisms in the devices at the network edge, such as LAN switches, are particularly critical because they grant access to the rest of the network.
The difficulties associated with securing a network have existed ever since computer networks were first introduced. Over the years a variety of techniques have been employed to provide network security. Generally most of these security techniques take place between network nodes (a node is an end point for data transmissions, such as a computer workstation, network server, CD-ROM jukebox, or some other such device) and not between connection points (a connection point is an intermediate point in the network, such as a router, hub, or a switch). Some of those methods include encryption techniques to prevent unauthorized access to a network resource, such as a network server or network printer. For example, techniques like private key and public key encryption codes transmit encrypted data between individual machines.
A common network security technique is the login procedure, which occurs when a network node attaches to a network resource, such as when a user logs into a server. Typically, the user is prompted for authentication information, such as a username and password or an identification card. Once the user inputs the authentication information, a user authentication system compares the user's input to user authentication and authorization information stored in a database. If the user's input is valid the user is granted access to certain administrator-defined network resources.
An example of a user authentication system employed in login procedures is the Novell Directory Services database or the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS). The RADIUS service is actually a protocol for carrying authentication, authorization, and configuration information between an access server and an authentication server. The RADIUS protocol has been documented as an Internet standard protocol, the most recent version of which is Request For Comment (RFC) 2865, Rigney, C., Willens, Rubens, A., Simpson, W., RADIUS, June 2000.
A login procedure using the RADIUS protocol secures networks against unauthorized access using a centralized authentication server ("the RADIUS server") in communication with an access server ("the RADIUS client") using the RADIUS protocols. All of the user information necessary for authenticating users seeking access to the network and various network services resides on the RADIUS server. A network access server operates as a RADIUS client by sending authentication requests to the RADIUS server using the client protocols. In response the RADIUS server either accepts, rejects, or challenges the authentication request, and the RADIUS client acts on that response to permit or deny access to the network and various network services, or to request more information from the user. A drawback to prior art login procedures is that a user who plugs a computer into a network port has immediate access to the network, although they may not necessarily have access to any of the resources on the network (i.e. they have not yet successfully completed the login procedure).
Other prior art network security techniques have been implemented at a connection point (i.e. at the LAN switch level) to prevent intruder and hacker attacks. For example, algorithms and techniques have been designed and implemented in LAN switches to prohibit cyber-attacks, such as access control lists (ACLs), Denial of Service (DoS) attack protection as documented in Request for Comments (RFC) 2267, Network Ingress Filtering: Defeating Denial of Service Attacks which employ IP Source Address Spoofing, January 1998, and Synchronize (SYN) attack protection.
For example, access lists were developed to combat cyber-attacks on the LAN switch by providing an administrator-controlled list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or media access control (MAC) addresses that were authorized to access the network. DoS and SYN attack protections are based on similar concepts. For example, when a hacker overloads a targeted connection point such as a router or a LAN switch with incoming data packets, the router or LAN switch is prevented from accepting new legitimate requests for services, resulting in a denial of service. When the targeted device is behind a firewall, an access list protects against such attacks by explicitly restricting inbound access to the device to a select few IP addresses.
A major drawback to access lists, DoS, and SYN attack protections is that access to the network is machine- or hardware-based instead of user-based. Therefore, an unauthorized user who has access to an authorized machine can still gain access to the network, completely bypassing the intended security protection. Moreover, publicly accessed network resources, e.g. a web server not protected by a firewall, are more susceptible since access to a public resource cannot usually be restricted to certain machines or IP addresses. Finally, most of the security measures currently in place to defend against such attacks are proprietary and therefore expensive to implement.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has proposed a solution to providing controlled access to networks using port-based security measures, as documented in IEEE protocol 802.1x, Mar. 21, 2001. While still in draft form, the IEEE proposal has already gained the support of several wireless technology based companies. IEEE 802.1x uses the Point-to-Point Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), documented in RFC 2284, and published in March 1998, and layer-2 communication methods to prevent access to a network.
A drawback to the IEEE 802.1x approach to network access control is that it creates an entirely new communications protocol that requires software and, in some cases, hardware upgrades to bring devices on the network into compliance with the new protocol. Specifically, adoption of the IEEE 802.1x approach forces software companies to update software to comply with the standard, which in turns means that individual users would have to download and install those software updates in order to use the features proposed by the new protocol. This applies not only to human computer users, but also to network printers, network servers, and any other device that is capable of accessing a network. The IEEE 802.1x approach may also force users to update older hardware to comply with the new technology standard, since hardware companies may not find it viable to invest time and money into updating old hardware driver files and providing the necessary read-only memory (ROM) updates for older devices, such as an old network printer.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to prevent a user from accessing not only network resources and services, but also the network itself, until the user is authorized. To provide such controlled network access without requiring expensive hardware and software upgrades presents a unique set of challenges requiring a new and novel solution.

Method and apparatus for network login authorization


Disclosed are methods of measuring dynamic displacement of an object. The methods include capturing a plurality of images of a dynamically moving object. The object may include one or two color-patterned target(s) that include two rows and two columns of two contrasting colors (e.g., colors with a difference in hue values of approximately 180). The methods include identifying a reference point of the object (e.g., a center of a color-patterned target or a midpoint between the centers of two color-patterned targets) and measuring the dynamic movement (displacement) of the reference point over time. The images may be captured by a smartphone camera and the smartphone may identify and measure the dynamic movement of the reference point. In view of the constraints of smartphone hardware capabilities, the images may be cropped and/or not displayed to enable the smartphone to process the images and measure the dynamic displacement in real time.

The process of implementing a damage detection and characterization strategy for engineering structures is generally referred to as structural health monitoring (SHM). When permanent deformation occurs, structural displacement or deformation information is particularly important and it is often more accurate than acceleration measurements in lower-frequency ranges.
Conventional methods for displacement monitoring, which include GPS-based methods and computer vision-based methods, each have their own drawbacks. The cost for survey-level, dual-frequency GPS systems that support sub-centimeter accuracy is still too high for routine use. Meanwhile, single-frequency, low-cost GPS devices that are generally used for navigation purposes are not sufficiently advanced for practical use in SHM applications.
Computer vision-based methods use a video camera (generally in combination with an optical zoom lens and lighting lamps) that capture images of a precision target attached to a location of interest on a structure over time. Non-contact, vision-based systems are available at relatively low cost and significantly reduce the difficulties in providing stationary reference points (a critical challenge for contact-type displacement sensors). Conventional video cameras, however, have a number of drawbacks. The limited resolution of conventional video cameras causes difficulty in identifying high-frequency displacements, which have smaller amplitudes than low-frequency vibrations. At higher resolutions, the maximum frame rates of conventional video cameras are limited to 30-60 frames per second. While those low frame rates may be sufficient for measuring low-frequency and high-amplitude vibrations of long-period structures such as high-rise buildings and long-span cable-supported bridges, higher frame rates are essential for appropriately monitoring the dynamic behavior of many of small-to-mid scale structures. Additionally, anti-aliasing filters are not available for conventional vision-based measuring systems. While a high-speed camera (allowing up to 2000 frames per second) may minimize such aliasing problems, the practical use of such expensive cameras for civil engineering applications is still in question because of the level of cost and the difficulty of achieving real-time processing.
Recent advances in smartphone technologies provide various onboard sensing capabilities. In particular, the embedded cameras included in many smartphones provide higher resolution images and higher frame rates than many conventional video cameras. Moreover, their powerful processors and memories allow for onboard processing capabilities, eliminating the need for additional computers to perform extensive image processing. Meanwhile, because of their many general purpose functions (e.g., cellular telephony, text messaging, or internet access, etc.), smartphones are nearly ubiquitous.
Accordingly, there is a need to measure dynamic and absolute displacement by a smartphone.
While the processing power of currently-available smartphones is increasing, smartphone capabilities are still limited when compared to desktop computing devices that can include hardware and software selected for their proficiency regarding computer vision applications. Therefore, in order to quickly and accurately measure both low-frequency, high-amplitude vibrations and high-frequency, low-amplitude vibrations using currently-available smartphone technology, the process must be optimized.

THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA


A door opening/closing device of door-type rotary nozzle which cannot fit collector nozzle (16) unless clampers are removed. There is no possibility of pouring molten metal while forgetting to remove the clampers (25). When the fixed frame (7) is opened or closed, a ladle is fitted by a 90 degree angle with its bottom almost vertical. So, the fitting and removing operations of the clampers (25) can be performed in front of an operator, which makes the operation very easy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a door-type rotary nozzle, and more specifically to a door opening/closing device of the door-type rotary nozzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Rotary nozzle systems have been used widely with ladles for receiving the molten steel tapped from a converter to transport or pour the molten steel into molds, tundishes for receiving the molten steel from a ladle to pour the molten steel into molds and the like.
Particularly, a door-type rotary nozzle in which a rotor including a slide plate brick are pivoted by hinges so as to open and close these bricks and this type of nozzle has a number of features that the contacting or sliding surfaces of the top nozzle, the bottom plate brick and the slide plate brick can be exposed to permit the confirmation of any damages on the brick surfaces by the naked eye, that there is no need to prepare any standby set for replacing or repairing the bricks, that the operation is easy and so on, has often been used recently.
The door of such a door-type rotary nozzle is pivotably attached with a hinge on a base member fixed to the bottom part of a ladle and opened and closed through this hinge. However, it is necessary to place tightly the bottom plate brick in contact with the slide plate brick at closure to prevent leakage of molten metal and intrusion of air. Also, it is absolutely necessary, for safety, to surely lock it so that it does not open during operation.
One example of such a door-type rotary nozzle is given in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-107764. To open the door in this door-type rotary nozzle, a clamper is inserted into the portion provided at the upper part of a rotor, and a nozzle hole is set at the fully closed position by rotating the rotor by a 90 degree angle. As a result, a cam intrudes under the clamper and the rotor is pushed down and compresses a coil spring. Therefore, a gap is generated between the bottom plate brick and the slide plate brick, and the door as a whole is pushed down to the part corresponding to this gap. As a result, a lock arm can be easily rotated and unlocked by pushing down a frame on the lock side by hand, and the door can be rotated with the hinge as an axis.
This door-type rotary nozzle has various characteristics and has been widely used in and out of Japan, but the following problems have taken place.
(1) As the clamper is inserted from the side of upper part operators sometimes forget to pull out the clamper to pour in the molten metal, which causes a leakage accident.
(2) As the clamp position is provided on the side of the fixed frame, a holder provided at the ladle interferes in fitting and removing of the clamper.


Systems and methods for reducing bandwidth loss in IPv6 packet switching networks. A network appliance is configured to sample IPv6 packets and mirror sampled packets to a working memory or memory structure, such as a queue. A transport layer payload is extracted from each sampled packet and a transport layer checksum validation operation is performed. Upon detecting an error, the network appliance updates a dropped packet rate or other metric.

Computing networks are regularly monitored by software and hardware tools for maintenance and performance continuity purposes. Network monitoring tools implemented in physical networking appliances (e.g., routers) configured for legacy IPv4 networks leverage header checksums for error detection at the network layer.
However, IPv6 intentionally omits header checksums at the network layer and instead relies on error checking/verification operations at the transport layer and the link layer. As a result, as adoption of and demand for IPv6 support advances, legacy network monitoring tools must be replaced, updated, or phased-out. For organizations managing large-scale wide-area networks, replacing and/or upgrading monitoring tools can be cost prohibitive.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Service continuity for network management systems in IPv6 networks


The material loading machine supported on the ground surface is in combination with a return to travel assembly. The combination includes a material loading machine chassis, a work implement, and at least one lift arm supported by the chassis to pivot between an uppermost position and a lower most position while supporting the work implement. Actuators pivotally raise and lower the lift arm. A lift arm position control system automatically stops the lift arm in an uppermost position when it is raised upwardly and automatically stops the lift arm in a return to travel position when it is lowered. In the return to travel position the work implement is located safely above the ground surface so that the vehicle may travel without scraping the work implement on the ground surface.

Conventional digging and lifting machines, such as a tractor digging and loading machine having a digging bucket mounted on lift arms, are provided with a multiplicity of complex controls for operating the lift arms and the tilt of the digging bucket. Operators of these sophisticated machines must concentrate on the controls for lifting, lowering and tilting the bucket during digging and loading operations, while at the same time concentrate on such operations as steering, braking, and controlling the speed of the tractor vehicle. Much effort has been made by those skilled in this technology to decrease the complexity of operating a tractor digger/loader by making certain operations involving the orientation of the bucket and its height above ground to be controlled automatically. Some of those attempts have particularly concentrated on remedying the problem faced by the operator of most conventional tractor digger/loaders of not being able to visually observe the bucket height above ground to assure that it is in its correct operating position while locating the overall position of the tractor.


A well tool can include an annular seal and a radial expansion mechanism having radially retracted and radially expanded configurations, the annular seal being longitudinally displaceable relative to the radial expansion mechanism in the radially retracted configuration. A method of setting a well tool can include positioning the well tool in a well, the well tool including an annular seal and a radial expansion mechanism, and then longitudinally displacing the annular seal to a radially outward position relative to the radial expansion mechanism. A well system can include a well tool including an annular seal, a radial expansion mechanism, an inner mandrel assembly and a setting sleeve, and a setting tool that produces a relative longitudinal displacement between the setting sleeve and the inner mandrel assembly, the annular seal radially outwardly overlying the radial expansion mechanism in response to the relative longitudinal displacement.

This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an example described below, more particularly provides a high expansion well tool and associated methods.
A well plug may be used to isolate one section of a wellbore from another section, either permanently or temporarily. If temporary isolation is desired, the well plug may be retrievable from the wellbore. Typically, a well plug includes an annular seal for sealing off an annulus between the wellbore and a body of the plug, and an anchoring device (such as one or more slips) for securing the plug against displacement in the wellbore.
A well packer is typically similar to a well plug, in that a well packer can include an annular seal and an anchoring device. However, a well packer is typically provided with an interior longitudinal flow passage that permits flow through the packer and any tubular string connected to the packer. Note that the terms "plug" and "packer" are not mutually exclusive, since some plugs provide for selective flow therethrough, and some packers have provisions for selectively blocking flow therethrough.
It will, therefore, be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the arts of designing, constructing and utilizing plugs and packers for subterranean wells.

High expansion well tool and associated methods


A new and distinct Dracaena cultivar named ‘Reijdramas’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green leaves with strong yellow-green center stripes. Plants are large and vigorous, and produce very glossy foliage. The new variety is a Dracaena, typically produced as an ornamental plant.

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring, whole plant mutation of the unpatented variety Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'.
The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Pieter Johannes Reijm, a citizen of the Netherlands, in March 2011, in a commercial nursery in Nieuwerkerk, the Netherlands. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of 'Reijdramas', assessing the stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'Reijdramas' was first performed at the commercial nursery in Nieuwerkerk, the Netherlands by vegetative cuttings in November 2011. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in an area not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.


Mini-wall parapet structures are disclosed. The structures are of one piece sheet metal with four sided, longitudinal members. A cleat extends downwardly from a lower corner of the structure. The cleat may be a single layer of sheet metal or a folded over layer. The cleat engages a coping member at final installation, and provides an additional attachment for the structure. A folded over primary attachment layer extends from the other lower corner of the structure. The attachment layer is of variable width so that different roof surfaces can be accommodated. The cross section of the structure is either square, or rectangular with longer vertical walls. Rectangular structures are used with thicker insulation. A facade extension may be used with rectangular structures. The top wall includes a gravel guard. The hollow void may be further filled with insulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to an article of manufacture which facilitates the application and sealing of sheet-like membranes, such as rubberized roofing materials, to the outside edges of buildings; more particularly, to a sheet metal mini-wall parapet which replaces prior art parapets which are labor intensive to make and install, and are not as sturdy and long lasting as our invention. The mini-wall parapet of this invention also allows it to be fully prefabricated in the shop of sheet metal, such as galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or other corrosion resistant metal, without the use of any wood or masonry in the structure.
2. Discussion of the Background of the Invention
Roof edge sealing constructions are referred to in the literature by several names such as mini-wall parapets, coping structures, roof edge assemblies, gravel stop assemblies, water dams, and the like. These devices are provided for the purpose of sealing the outer edges of roof construction components by anchoring the sheet-like roofing membranes to the roof edges. They also serve to retain ballasts, control water drainage, or for supporting fascia members at the interfaces between various constructions and structures. For purposes of this disclosure, we will refer to these devices as mini-wall parapets. In the description of the drawings which follows, all elements in common with prior art FIGS. 1A and 1B, will include the same numbering system insofar as possible. Also, the dimensions of the various elements are not true to scale, and certain portions of the drawings may be depicted as exaggerated in thickness or thinness to facilitate their disclosure.
As indicated by prior art FIG. 1A, edge sealing mini-wall parapet 1, is fabricated on the site at the edge of the roof deck 2 by layering a plurality of wood planks 3 (such as 2×6's or 2×8's), as shown at interface 17. Such a mini-wall parapet 1 is typically formed from so-called pressure treated wood so that it is assured of moisture and insect resistance, but untreated wood can be utilized as well, provided that the wood is well-sealed from moisture and insects by the rest of the structure. If the deck 2 is of concrete or masonry construction, the lowermost wood plank 3 is secured to roof deck 2 by anchor bolts or masonry fasteners 4. If the deck 2 is of wood or metal construction, the lower layer 3 is screwed to the deck. In that case, the fastening elements 4 are screws. Each of the subsequent wood layers 3 are securely nailed to the next lower layer by nails 5. The number of layered planks 3 required is determined by the thickness of the insulation layer 6, whereby the mini-parapet is at least a minimum height above the insulation layer 6.
At the outside top of the typical wood mini-parapet 1, there is provided a triangular element 8 with the hypotenuse of the triangular shape facing the inside of the mini-parapet. Member 8 is also of pressure treated wood, and is nailed (toenail fashion) to the upper wood layer 3 by nails 9. The triangle shaped member 8 is provided as a gravel stop where a gravel ballast is used, and/or to deflect water back toward the roof so that it does not drip excessively over the outside wall of the building.
The roof deck 2 is shown over a conventional outside wall 18, which may be of brick or block or a combination thereof. The roof deck 2 is attached to the outside wall 18 at interface 19 in the conventional manner.
The roof membrane 7 is glued or otherwise installed over the roof insulation layer 6, and continues to lap over the mini-wall parapet 1, over the gravel stop 8, and partially down the outside of the mini-wall parapet as shown. An elongated cleat 11 of corrosion resistant sheet metal is either nailed or screwed by elements 12 laterally along the length of the mini-wall parapet into the lower wood layer 3. The elements 12 can also be masonry attachments if the elongated cleat 11 is installed laterally along the length of concrete roof deck 2 into the outside edge of roof deck 2. See prior art FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B.
The bottom of the cleat 11 is bent outward slightly as shown at 13, so that a finishing cap or coping member 10 can be resiliently installed. The coping member 10 is also of corrosion resistant sheet metal and includes an inverted flange 16 which snuggly engages the outwardly bent bottom edge 13 of the cleat 11 when installed. The coping member 10 is prefabricated by bending its sheet metal in the shape shown. The coping member 10 and the cleat 16 are sufficiently flexible, as indicated by dotted portion 9, so that they can be elastically deformed when the coping member 10 is snapped over the top of member 8 and the roof membrane 7 when final installation is made. The upper end of the coping member 10 is downwardly bent at 14 so that the upper end fits snuggly over the element 8 and the roof membrane 7. The coping member 10 may have an outwardly bent lip 15. This lip minimizes the possibility that the coping member 10 might snag or even cut the roof membrane 7 when the coping member is installed. The lip 15 also minimizes injury to the installer when the coping member 10 is installed. As noted above, the coping member 10 and the cleat member 11 are sufficiently flexible so that they can be elastically deformed (see dotted depiction at 9) when the coping member 10 is installed over the top of the mini-wall parapet, without exceeding the elastic limit of any of the bends in the coping member 10 or of the cleat 11. Thus when installed, the coping member 10 snaps snugly and permanently over the elements of the mini-wall parapet 1 and the sealed edge of the roof membrane 7. Therefore, the mini-wall parapet 1 is fully protected from weather and moisture. In all of these embodiments, elements are shown with exaggerated spacing between the elements for clarity of disclosure. In actual structure, such spacing would be minimized.
Prior art FIG. 1B discloses a sheet metal variation of the mini-wall parapet 1. The wood planks 3 of FIG. 1A have been eliminated and replaced by the one-piece, generally U-shaped sheet metal structure 3. U-shaped sheet metal structure 3 can be prefabricated in the shop prior to installation at the site. The gage of the generally U-shaped structure 3 is chosen to have sufficient vertical strength to easily function as a mini-wall parapet. At the first step in its installation, the U-shaped member is still open at the top, whereby the structure can be easily attached along the roof edge at 17. As shown in FIG. 1B, the bottom wall member 22 is attached to the roof deck 2 by screws or masonry anchors 4, depending on the composition of deck 2. The lower left hand corner of the U-shaped member 3 is folded over on itself to form a double layer, and the double layer extends generally downwardly to form the cleat 11, Cleat 11 functions in the same manner as the cleat of prior art FIG. 1A. The cleat 11 is bent slightly outwardly at its lower edge as shown by element 13 in the same manner as in prior art FIG. 1A. If deemed necessary, cleat 11 can be further adhered to the edge of the roof deck 2 by the lateral fasteners 12.
At the top, opposite ends of the U-shaped element 3 are two staggered end elements 20 which are folded over as shown. The two folded over elements 20 are staggered vertically in height and sloped to receive the top member 8. The slope allows for the drainage of water toward the roof. Thus, when the top member 8 is installed, it performs the same general function as element 8 performs in prior art FIG. 1A. Top member 8 is attached to the U-shaped elements by screws 5. The top member 8 is of pressure treated plywood, and, although it can be prefabricated in the shop, it should be installed in the field to allow access to the interior of the U-shaped element 3 when it is fastened to the roof deck 2. The top member 8 can also be horizontal if desired, but such a configuration would not positively cause drainage toward the roof. The top member 8 can also be prefabricated of sheet metal, but plywood is preferred. Once the top member is installed, it provides even greater rigidity to the mini-wall parapet assembly. Further, the inner cavity of the mini-wall parapet 1 of prior art FIG. 1B can be filled with fiber glass, foam, mineral wool, or other insulation 27 to provide further thermal insulation if that is deemed necessary.
Thereafter, the membrane 7 and the coping member 10 are installed in the same manner as in FIG. 1A. The coping member 10, although of different shape from that used in FIG. 1A, is installed and functions in the same manner as coping member 10 in prior art FIG. 1A. The outward appearance of the mini-wall parapet of FIG. 1B from the ground, from an aesthetic standpoint, is virtually identical to that of FIG. 1A.

Mini-wall parapet for roof edging or coping


A scheme for redirecting data items from a messaging host system to a user's mobile device using a redirector component disposed in a wide-area data network. In one embodiment, a method comprises one or more of the following: automatically detecting receipt of a new data item from the messaging host system for a user over the wide-area data network; based on filtering rules configured for the user, determining if the new data item is to be redirected to the user's mobile device over a wireless network; and upon determining that the new data item is to be redirected, processing at least a portion of the new data item for transmission thereof to the user's mobile device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward the field of replicating information from a host system where the information is normally stored to a mobile data communication device. In particular, the system and method of the present invention provide an event-driven redirection computer program ("redirector program") operating at the host system, which, upon sensing a particular user-defined event has occurred, redirects user-selected data items (or parts thereof) from the host system to the user's mobile data communication device. The mobile data communication device is preferably coupled to the host system via a wireless network and one or more landline networks. Due to the bandwidth limitations of wireless networks, only a part of a user-selected data item is generally redirected to the user's mobile device, with the user given the option of then retrieving the entire data item (or some other part of the data item) from the host system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Present systems and methods for replicating information from a host system to a user's mobile data communication device are typically "synchronization" systems in which the user's data items are warehoused (or stored) at the host system for an indefinite period of time until the user synchronizes the mobile device to the host system. In these types of systems and methods, when replication of the warehoused data items to the mobile device is desired, the user typically places the mobile device in an interface cradle that is electrically connected to the host system via some form of local, dedicated communication, such as a serial cable or an infrared or other type of wireless link. Software executing on the mobile data communication device then transmits commands via the local communications link to the host system to cause the host to begin transmitting the user's data items for storage in a memory bank of the mobile device.
In these synchronization schemes, the mobile unit "pulls" the warehoused information from the host system in a batch-mode each time the user desires to replicate information between the two devices. Thus, the two systems (host and mobile) maintain the same data items only after a user-initiated synchronization sequence.
A general problem with these synchronization systems is the fact that the data in the mobile device is only current at the moment of synchronization with the host. Five minutes later a new message could be sent to the user, but the user would not receive that message until the next time the systems are synchronized. Thus, a user may fail to respond to an emergency update or message because the user only periodically synchronizes the system, such as once per day.
Other problems with these systems include: (1) the amount of data to be reconciled between the host and the mobile device can become large if the user does not "synchronize" on a daily or hourly basis, leading to bandwidth difficulties, particularly when the mobile device is communicating via a wireless packet-switched network; and (2) reconciling large amounts of data, as can accrue in these batch-mode synchronization systems, can require a great deal of communication between the host and the mobile device, thus leading to a more complex, costly and energy-inefficient system.
Thus, there is a general need in this field for a more automated, continuous, efficient, flexible, and reliable system of ensuring that user data items are replicated (in real time) at the user's mobile device.

System and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device


The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.

In vertebrate animals, the heart is a hollow muscular organ having four pumping chambers: the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles, each provided with its own one-way outflow valve. The natural heart valves are identified as the aortic, mitral (or bicuspid), tricuspid and pulmonary valves. The valves separate the chambers of the heart, and are each mounted in an annulus therebetween. The annuluses comprise dense fibrous rings attached either directly or indirectly to the atrial and ventricular muscle fibers. The leaflets are flexible collagenous structures that are attached to and extend inward from the annuluses to meet at coapting edges. The aortic and tricuspid valves have three leaflets, while the mitral and pulmonary valves have two.
Various problems can develop with heart valves, for a number of clinical reasons. Stenosis in heart valves is a condition in which the valves do not open properly. Insufficiency is a condition which a valve does not close properly. Repair or replacement of the aortic or mitral valves are most common because they reside in the left side of the heart where pressures and stresses are the greatest. In a valve replacement operation, the damaged leaflets are excised and the annulus sculpted to receive a replacement prosthetic valve.
In many patients who suffer from valve dysfunction, surgical repair (i.e., "valvuloplasty") is a desirable alternative to valve replacement. Remodeling of the valve annulus (i.e., "annuloplasty") is central to many reconstructive valvuloplasty procedures. Remodeling of the valve annulus is typically accomplished by implantation of a prosthetic ring (i.e. "annuloplasty ring") to stabilize the annulus and to correct or prevent valvular insufficiency that may result from a dysfunction of the valve annulus. Annuloplasty rings are typically constructed of a resilient core covered with a fabric sewing ring. Annuloplasty procedures are performed not only to repair damaged or diseased annuli, but also in conjunction with other procedures, such as leaflet repair.
Mitral valve regurgitation is caused by dysfunction of the mitral valve structure, or direct injury to the mitral valve leaflets. A less than perfect understanding of the disease process leading to mitral valve regurgitation complicates selection of the appropriate repair technique. Though implantation of an annuloplasty ring, typically around the posterior aspect of the mitral valve, has proven successful in a number of cases, shaping the surrounding annulus does not always lead to optimum coaptation of the leaflets.
More recently, a technique known as a "bow-tie" repair has been advocated. The bow-tie technique involves suturing the anterior and posterior leaflets together in the middle, causing blood to flow through the two side openings thus formed. This process was originally developed by Dr. Ottavio Alfieri, and involved placing the patient on extracorporeal bypass in order to access and suture the mitral valve leaflets.
A method for performing the bow-tie technique without the need for bypass has been proposed by Dr. Mehmet Oz, of Columbia University. The method and a device for performing the method are disclosed in PCT publication WO 99/00059, dated Jan. 7, 1999. In one embodiment, the device consists of a forceps-like grasper device that can be passed through a sealed aperture in the apex of the left ventricle. The two mitral valve leaflets meet and curve into the left ventricular cavity at their mating edges, and are thus easy to grasp from inside the ventricle. The mating leaflet edges are grasped from the ventricular side and held together, and various devices such as staples are utilized to fasten them together. The teeth of the grasper device are linearly slidable with respect to one another so as to align the mitral valve leaflets prior to fastening. As the procedure is done on a beating heart, and the pressures and motions within the left ventricle are severe, the procedure is thus rendered fairly skill-intensive.
There is presently a need for an improved means for performing the bow-tie technique of mitral valve repair.

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair method and apparatus


Provided is a control device for an in-cylinder injection engine which reduces an amount of fuel attaching and remaining on a piston crown surface so as to bring the first injection as advanced as possible and suppress an increase in the number of exhaust particles of PM, when fuel injection is performed a plurality of times in one cycle in the in-cylinder injection engine. At least the first fuel injection of the respective injections dividedly performed the plurality of times is performed in an intake stroke. At least the first injection start timing of the respective injections dividedly performed the plurality of times is set in accordance with an EGR amount. The first injection start timing is more advanced when the EGR amount is large than when the EGR amount is small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for an in-cylinder fuel injection type internal combustion engine.
2. Background Art
An in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine which injects fuel directly into a cylinder is widely known. The in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine performs direct fuel injection into a combustion chamber by means of a fuel injection valve, and is intended to achieve a reduction in exhaust gas substance and fuel consumption, enhancement in output, and the like.
In the in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine, the injected fuel may attach to a piston crown surface or a cylinder bore wall surface depending on a fuel injection start timing.
If an amount of fuel attaching and remaining on the cylinder bore wall surface is large, such fuel cannot be vaporized completely until ignition in some cases, so that unburned gas is apt to increase. Therefore, for example, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2009-102997 and JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2009-102998 each disclose a technology of changing, when a temperature on the cylinder bore wall surface is low, the fuel injection start timing from an injector in an intake stroke so that the fuel spreads over the piston crown surface to be easily vaporized.
In addition, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-161790 discloses a technology in which: fuel injection is performed a plurality of times in one cycle, and the fuel injection amount for each time is accordingly made smaller, to thereby reduce the fuel attachment to the cylinder bore wall surface; and an interval between one injection and the next injection is kept constant at a rough crank angle with respect to a change in operation conditions of an engine, that is, the injection interval is set to be longer as the rotation becomes lower and is set to be shorter as the rotation becomes higher, to thereby decentrally spray the fuel.
On the other hand, if an amount of fuel attaching and remaining on the piston crown surface and the cylinder bore wall surface is large, the number of exhaust particles of particulate matters (hereinafter, referred to as PM) is apt to increase. In particular, if the amount of fuel attaching on the piston crown surface is large, the number of exhaust particles of PM is apt to increase. In recent years, there is an increasing need for the in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine to reduce the number of exhaust particles of PM.

Control device for in-cylinder fuel injection type internal combustion engine


An organic light emitting-diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED includes a first substrate, a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a pixel defining layer provided on the first electrode and including a first opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode, and an organic emission layer provided on the first electrode corresponding to the first opening. The OLED display also includes a second electrode provided on the pixel defining layer and the organic emission layer, a second substrate provided on the second electrode, and a first auxiliary electrode provided below the second substrate facing the second electrode and welded to a portion of the second electrode corresponding to the pixel defining layer.

1. Field
The described technology generally relates to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and more particularly, to an OLED display for emitting light frontward and displaying an image.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are receiving attention due to their unique characteristics.
OLED displays have self luminance and do not require a separate light source, unlike liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and thus can have a reduced thickness and weight. Further, OLED displays can have high quality characteristics such as low power consumption, high luminance, and a high response speeds.
A conventional OLED display includes an OLED having a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, an organic emission layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the organic emission layer.


An anti-rollover and driver and passenger side force prevention device for a motor vehicle including a plurality of three or four wheels including a one, pair or all of driven wheels that are driven by the motor connected to transmission. A main frame and springs supports the main frame above the wheels. A pair of rotatable hubs aligned along a longitudinally extending axis with one of the hubs disposed in a forward portion of the frame and the second hub disposed in an aft part of the frame. The vehicle includes an electronic control system and a servo-motor disposed on the main frame. An upper frame which is above the lower frame and rotates or tilt to the right or left when the vehicle makes a relatively sharp turn to the right or left.

Motor vehicles with rollover prevention devices are well known and have been in use for many years. For example, an early U.S. Patent of Murphy U.S. Pat. No. 2,110,809 that issued in 1938 discloses a Balancer to prevent tilting of a motor vehicle when speeding around curves. As disclosed, the system uses a pendulum to prevent tilting by operating a control valve to adjust fluid supports.
A more recent U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,853 of Jephcott discloses a vehicle body tilting mechanism or system that is responsive to lateral acceleration of the vehicle and to steering movements. The mechanism includes a tilt actuator means and a tilt control means governed by a gravity-sensitive device and a device responsive to steering movement. The system maintains the vehicle body substantially in line with the resultant vector of gravity and centripetal acceleration while cornering. The steering input accelerates the response of the mechanism to changes of direction of the vehicle.
Finally, a U.S. Patent of Madler et al. U.S. Pat. No. 8,262,101 discloses a modular rough terrain vehicle. As disclosed the vehicle includes an elongated main frame for supporting a self-contained v-haul body, first and second forwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of the main frame. Third and fourth rearwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of the main frame with each arm having a wheel mounted thereon. Also included are first and second cross members pivotably connected to the arms and configured to enable the main frame and the frame arms to pivot about a lengthwise axis of the main frame. First and second length-adjustable members operatively connected to the first frame arm and the third frame arm and the second frame arm and the fourth frame arm, respectively. Selective movement of each length-adjustable member causes the associated arm to move up or down and a level detector for producing and applying leveling signals to each of the length-adjustable members to maintain the elongated main frame in a relatively level orientation when the vehicle encounters uneven terrain.
Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for an improved motor vehicle having an anti-rollover device. There should be a market for such vehicles because they reduce the likelihood of a rollover as a result of attempting a turn at an excessive rate of speed. Such vehicles are now quite popular and are referred to as four wheel off-road devices.

Motor vehicle having anti-rollover device

Abstract: A mechanic/electronic controlled safety system to biases and locks tilting frame to zero degree rotation or tilt in case of fail of electronic controlled servo-motor system.


A bracket for securely attaching a bicycle pump to a tubular frame member of a bicycle comprises a base having a surface curved to fit partly around a tubular frame member and a plurality of ties extending through holes in the base for securing the base to the bicycle frame member. Hooks formed of resilient, U-shaped circularly bent strips are fixed to and extend laterally in opposite directions from sides of the base so that a bicycle pump may be placed between the hooks and twisted to snap the pump body into both of the resilient hooks, which then securely press the pump body against the bracket base and resiliently hold the pump in place.

The present invention relates to brackets for mounting a bicycle tire pump to a bicycle frame member, and more particularly concerns a bracket that is readily and firmly fixed to a bicycle and which securely locks a bicycle pump in place while permitting ready attachment and detachment of the pump from the bracket.
Various bicycle accessories, including tire pumps, are desirably carried with the rider and affixed to the bicycle frame. Generally such items as a bicycle pump are connected to the frame by means of a holder mechanism that is bolted to the frame and has portions that can extend completely around the cylindrical pump body. Frequently some type of fastener, such as a bolt or other threaded member, is employed to attach the holder to the bicycle frame, and a manually operable fastener is employed to attach the pump body to the holder itself.
Particularly for a type of bicycle, including that known as a mountain bike, that is designed for use over rough terrain, vibration to which the pump holder and pump is subjected make common clip type holders unreliable. This is because vibration experienced in rough terrain may shake the pump and dislodge it from the holder, unless separate locking fasteners are used to securely fix the pump to the holder. The use of such fasteners is undesirable, apart from the high cost, in that additional time and effort is required in attaching and detaching the pump from the holder because of the need to manipulate the fasteners. Furthermore, unless securely attached, such fasteners may be easily misplaced or lost. Presently known holder arrangements that do not employ fasteners for securing the pump to the holder do not provide a sufficiently firm attachment of the pump to the holder to ensure against accidentally dislodging the pump.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle pump bracket for holding a pump to a bicycle tubular frame member, which bracket avoids or minimizes above mentioned problems.


A bias voltage supplying circuit for supplying a bias voltage includes first and second PNP type transistors having emitters coupled to a first power source terminal and bases connected to each other, where the first PNP type transistor has a collector coupled to the base thereof, first and second NPN type transistors having collectors respectively connected to collectors of the first and second PNP type transistors, emitters coupled to a second power source terminal and bases connected to each other, where the second NPN type transistor has the collector connected to the base thereof, and a diode part coupled between the emitter of the second PNP type transistor and the base of the second NPN type transistor. The diode part has an anode end coupled to the emitter of the second PNP type transistor and a cathode end coupled to the base of the second NPN type transistor, and the diode part has a forward voltage drop V.sub.D which is less than a voltage V.sub.S across the first and second power source terminals. The voltage V.sub.S is less than a sum of the forward voltage drop V.sub.D and a base-emitter voltage V.sub.BE of the second NPN type transistor.

The present invention generally relates to bias voltage supplying circuits, and more particularly to a bias voltage supplying circuit which supplies a bias voltage for making an internal circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit active.
Recently, various portable electronic equipments using storage cells have been developed. In such an electronic equipment, it is highly desirable that the power consumption is small so that the electronic equipment can be used for a long time with the limited power supply. On the other hand, in a semiconductor integrated circuit used in such an electronic equipment, a bias voltage supplying circuit is provided to supply a bias voltage to an internal circuit of the semiconductor integrated circuit. This bias voltage supplying circuit is activated by an independent activation circuit. In order to minimize the power consumption, it is necessary to suppress the power consumption of the activation circuit to the limit after the bias voltage supplying circuit is activated.
A conventional bias voltage supplying circuit which is provided with an independent activation circuit will now be described in conjunction with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a bias voltage supplying circuit 1 and an internal circuit 2 which receives a bias voltage from the bias voltage supplying circuit 1. In1 through In4 denote input terminals for receiving input signals, and Ou1 denotes an output terminal. The internal circuit 2 is not directly related to the problems of the bias voltage supplying circuit 1, and a description of the circuit structure and operation with regard to the internal circuit 2 will be omitted.
A power source voltage Vcc from a battery power source, for example, is applied to the bias voltage supplying circuit 1. This power source voltage Vcc is applied to bases of transistors Tr1 and Tr2 via a resistor R1 and a diode D1. Hence, the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 turn ON, thereby turning ON transistors Tr3 and Tr4. The base potential of the transistors Tr3 and Tr4 is supplied to an output terminal 3 via transistors Tr7 and Tr8, and the voltage from the output terminal 3 is supplied to the internal circuit 2 as a bias voltage. Accordingly, the resistor R1 and the diode D1 form an activation circuit 4 which activates the bias voltage supplying circuit 1.
On the other hand, when the transistors Tr3 and Tr4 turn ON, the base potential of the transistors Tr3 and Tr4 is also applied to a base of a transistor Tr5. As a result, the transistor Tr5 turns ON, thereby turning ON a transistor Tr6. In this state, the anode potential of the diode D1 becomes lower than its cathode potential and a forward current of the diode D1 is cut off. Hence, the transistors Tr5, Tr6 and Tr9 form a stop circuit 5 for stopping the operation of the activation circuit 4. After the bias voltage supplying circuit 1 is activated by the activation circuit 4, the stop circuit 5 stops the operation of the activation circuit 5 so as to remove the undesirable effects of the activation circuit 4 on the bias voltage supplying circuit 1 and to prevent unnecessary power consumption caused by an unwanted current flowing through the activation circuit 4.
However, in the bias voltage supplying circuit 1 show in FIG. 1 a collector current continues to flow through the transistors Tr5 and Tr6 of the stop circuit 5 even after the current flowing through the diode D1 via the resistor R1 is cut off by the operation of the stop circuit 5. For this reason, a power consumption occurs at a part which is not directly related to the supplying of the bias voltage, and there is a problem in that the measures taken to reduce the power consumption of the bias voltage supplying circuit 1 is still insufficient. Therefore, there is a demand for an improved bias voltage supplying circuit which has an even smaller power consumption.


A drain connector may be arranged within a trough or sump of a grease containment apparatus to separate a water component from brown water, and automatically drain same when the brown water attains a predefined level, to prevent overflowing of brown water from the grease containment apparatus. A grease containment apparatus arranged to receive grease discharged by a fan-type rooftop grease exhauster may include multiple corner sections and at least one trough disposed between the sumps, and arranged on at least one (preferably all) sides of a rooftop grease exhauster. Mounting brackets with multiple bends may flexibly support a grease containment apparatus above a roof surface. Flashing is provided to direct grease into at least one trough section. A venturi cleaning attachment may be provided to promote forced suction discharge of a grease containment system motivated by ingress of pressurized fluid.

Restaurants generate high volumes of grease that are discharged via roof mounted exhaust systems. Discharged grease may accumulate on a rooftop and lead to deterioration, as well as pose an extreme fire hazard.
Various systems have been developed to contain grease discharged via roof mounted exhaust systems; however, such systems suffer from limitations that restrict their utility.
Many conventional grease containment assemblies use filters, absorbents, and/or grease separating media disposed within a receptacle such as a duct or basin arrange to receive grease discharged (e.g., via a pipe or spout) from a roof-mounted grease exhauster. In systems utilizing grease separating and/or absorbent media, such media must be periodically changed to avoid release of grease onto a rooftop. Rooftop environments are subject to unpredictable amounts of rainfall, and incident rain may contact grease discharged by a rooftop grease exhauster. When rooftop environments are exposed to significant rainfall, a duct or basin containing grease separating media may overflow, causing grease to saturate the rooftop and pose a fire hazard. It would be desirable to minimize possibility of uncontrolled discharge of grease (e.g., overflow) from a grease containment system.
Although roof-mounted grease exhausters are intended to discharge liquid grease via a pipe or spout, in practice, significant amounts of liquid grease may also leak onto a pedestal to which a grease exhauster is mounted, and then flow from the pedestal to a rooftop (e.g., roofing) surface. It would be desirable to catch grease discharged onto a grease exhauster pedestal and prevent such grease from contacting a rooftop surface.
It can be burdensome for personnel to frequently access restaurant rooftops to check saturation status of grease separating and/or absorbent media, and such media can be expensive to change. It would be desirable to reduce the frequency with which grease containment assemblies must be accessed. It would also be desirable to minimize or eliminate the need for grease separating and/or absorbent media.
Rooftop grease exhausters are provided in numerous configurations and are installed in highly variable conditions, such as in relation to roof pitch, and in proximity to building structural elements and other rooftop-mounted mechanical equipment. It would be desirable to provide grease containment assemblies capable of accommodating highly variable rooftop grease exhauster installation conditions, without requiring shop fabrication of site-specific custom pieces (e.g., via sheet metal), and without requiring highly skilled labor to install grease containment assemblies.
Rooftop grease containment systems may be difficult to clean. It would be desirable to facilitate cleaning of rooftop grease containment systems in a simple, rapid, and effective manner.
A need therefore exist for improved grease containment systems and methods for use with rooftop mounted grease exhausters.

System and method for grease containment with water draining utility


An adapter plate for an aircraft seat may include a body configured to be positioned exterior of an armrest of the aircraft seat within a space proximate to the aircraft seat. The body may include at least one coupler configured to attach to the aircraft seat. The body may include at least one mount point. The at least one mount point of the body may be configured to attach to at least one mount bracket of the removable auxiliary aircraft accessory. The auxiliary aircraft accessory may be positioned within the space proximate to the aircraft seat when coupled to the at least one mount point of the body via the at least one mount bracket.

Select aircraft with a cabin including an aft tapered section may require one or more rows of triple seats with an increasingly-narrow width in order to not interfere with an aisle adjacent to the triple seats. The narrow width of the aft rows of triple seats may be undesired by passengers, who may not wish to be subject to the narrow width solely because they are seated in the aft of the aircraft cabin.
In addition, select aircraft include the capability for mounted auxiliary aircraft accessories including, but not limited to, bassinets. The bassinets are typically mounted up near the front of the aircraft and/or on a bulkhead or divider. Mounting the bassinets of the bulkhead or divider may allow for sound to carry through between the divider, potentially interfering with the environment of forward classes.


Systems and methods for initiating and/or facilitating a financial transaction in response to detecting and translating a spatial gesture may be provided. A payor transaction device may be capable of detecting, via a motion-detecting device, a payor spatial gesture corresponding to a payment gesture of one or more predetermined spatial gestures and, responsive to detecting the payor spatial gesture, receiving payee account information from a payee transaction device. The payor transaction device may also be capable of transmitting, to a payor computing device, transaction data comprising the payee account information and data indicative of the payor spatial gesture. The payor computing device may be capable of transmitting at least a portion of the transaction data to a financial service provider terminal to enable the financial service provider terminal to facilitate the requested transaction.

It has become increasingly common to conduct financial transactions that are facilitated by an electronic payment system. PayPal™, for example, provides an online payment system and supports electronic transactions via a mobile application. Similarly, other applications, such as Venmo™ and Square™ Cash App, also provide systems that facilitate transactions between parties. While some payment systems may provide simplified payment mechanisms, such as payment by near-field communications, these methods typically still require one or more of the users to access a user device, find and access a specific application on the user device, configure the transaction (e.g., manually enter payment amount, payment account information, identify payee account information, etc.), and manually input authentication information and/or final approval of the transaction. Such a method may be unnecessarily cumbersome and inconvenient.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for more easily initiating and/or facilitating a financial transaction. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to this and other considerations.

Systems and methods for translating a gesture to initiate a financial transaction


An extender for flexographic and other ink compositions and inks using such extender where potato starch serves as the ink carrier and an emulsion resin. The use of potato starch provides for a readily available, cost effective, substantial and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum and soy based resins.

Virtually all consumer products are sold in packages, such as cardboard cartons, boxes, and other types of containers. A package has two very distinguishing features: a structural design and a graphical design. The structural design of a package is defined by the package's structural features, such as the dimensions, geometric shape, and material of the package. The graphical design of a package is defined by the colors, artwork, and other images applied thereto. The graphical design preferably identifies the packaged product in a manner which is aesthetically appealing to potential consumers.
A package is typically formed from a sheet of corrugated board, carton board, or other work material upon which a graphical design is applied. The graphical design may be applied by many known processes. For example, a sheet having a design may be laminated to the package, or the package itself may be printed.
One common printing method is that of flexography. A flexographic print is made by creating a positive mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. Flexographic plates can be created with analog and digital platemaking processes. The image areas are raised above the non-image areas on the rubber or polymer plate. The ink is transferred from the ink roll which is partially immersed in the ink tank. Then it transfers to the anilox roll (or meter roll) whose texture holds a specific amount of ink since it's covered with thousands of small wells or cells that enable it to meter ink to the printing plate in a uniform thickness evenly and quickly (the number of cells per linear inch can vary according to the type of print job and the quality required). To avoid getting a final product with a smudgy or lumpy look, it must be ensured that the amount of ink on the printing plate is not excessive. This is achieved by using a scraper, called a doctor blade. The doctor blade removes excess ink from the anilox roller before inking the printing plate. The substrate is finally sandwiched between the plate and the impression cylinder to transfer the image.
Components of the composition of a flexographic ink may include but are not limited to: a vehicle such as a solvent or water; a coloring element such as a pigment, pigment grinding, and letdown vehicles in colloidal, solution, or emulsion form; and other components which may include but are not limited to wax, pH control agents, viscosity modifiers, antifoamers, dispersants, antimicrobial agents, ink transfer agents, and drying speed modification agents. The vehicle may contain a combination of acrylic, maleic, fumaric, or other resins.
Water based flexographic inks typically contain acrylic polymers to give the ink good transfer, stability, and resolubility when applied to a substrate, such as corrugated board on constituent linerboard. The acrylic polymers are conventionally produced from petroleum feedstock. Use of such acrylic polymers introduce several concerns, including: 1) the supply and pricing of petroleum is quite volatile and subject to disruption from external events 2) petroleum is a fossil fuel available in finite quantities, i.e., it is a non-renewable resource and its supply cannot be sustained indefinitely 3) the use of fossil fuels increases carbon footprint and subsequent environmental damage.
Alternative polymers to petroleum based acrylic polymers used in inks are available and known in the industry. One prime example of a non-petroleum based ink polymer is soy protein. However, use of soy protein as a biofuel and foodstuff compete with its use in flexographic inks and such other uses are economically preferred. As with petroleum based polymers, this also gives rise to significant fluctuations in supply and pricing.
Therefore, there exists a need for a polymer that is renewable and otherwise environmentally friendly, can be easily sourced and is not sensitive to fluctuations in pricing due to supply and demand from other uses.

Ink extenders and inks utilizing organic based resins


A headphone includes a headphone assembly which includes a head band, two joining structures and two in-ear components pivoted to two ends of the head band by the joining structures, and a sensor module which is disposed in the headphone assembly and includes an upper part, a lower part and a press sensor disposed between the upper part and the lower part and having a sensing face. The upper part and the lower part are designated with inner structures of the head band or the in-ear components. The press sensor detects states of the headphone by judging whether the sensing face is pressed by the upper or lower part by virtue of elastic deformation or movement of the upper part and the lower part at the head band and the joining structure while wearing and removing the headphone. The headphone uses signals from the press sensor to control actions thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a headphone, and more particularly to a headphone capable of proving intelligent services.
2. The Related Art
For users who are demanding at music quality, headphones are an optical choice to listen to music, because of good sound field and sound insulation effects thereof. However, the headphone needs to be temporarily removed when the user is affected by surrounding environment in the process of listening to music, while the music still keeps running in the meantime. As a result, the music played up situation has changed and the feeling of user for music is inevitably influenced after the headphone is worn by the user again.
Therefore, some users will take off the headphones after pausing the music. So although the music is still interrupted, but after the headphone is worn again, the user can also recall the anterior period of the feeling of the music and keep up with the mood before pausing the music, and then continue to enjoy the music down the mood. However, the user has not always remembered to pause the music before every time removing the headphone. As a result, the feeling of user for music will be still influenced after the headphone is worn by the user again if the user forgets pausing the music.
With the development of electronic technology, electronic products having intelligent services are more and more popular, such as smart phones and smart appliances. They can automatically provide convenient services for the users depending on the demands of the users. In view of this, for solving the foregoing problems, an improved headphone capable of providing intelligent services is required.


A communication device used as a first communication device in a wireless communication system including the first communication device, a second communication device communicating with the first communication device, and a user equipment communicating with the first communication device, includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a parameter used for performing a random access procedure from the second communication device; and a control unit configured to transmit, in the case of receiving a random access preamble from the user equipment in a random access channel indicated by the parameter, information indicating that the random access preamble indicated by the parameter is received from the user equipment to the second communication device.

In a wireless communication system of long term evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advance (LTE-A), in order to efficiently support an area like a hot spot with high traffic, a technique called a centralized radio access network (C-RAN) capable of accommodating a large number of cells while reducing device costs is known.
The C-RAN is configured with one or more radio units (RUs) which are remote-installed base stations and a digital unit (DU) which is a base station for centrally controlling the RUs. The DU has the functions of Layer 1 to Layer 3 provided in the base station, and an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal generated by the DU is sampled and transmitted to the RUs and is transmitted from a radio frequency (RF) function unit provided in the RU.

Communication device and random access control method


A bicycle rim is basically provided with an outer rim portion and an inner rim portion. The outer rim portion has a ring shape of a first material. The inner rim portion is joined to the outer rim portion. The inner rim portion has a ring shape of a second material with an internal residual stress distribution resulting from the ring shape being formed by spinning of the second material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle rim. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle rim for tensioned spokes.
2. Background Information
Bicycle wheels are continually undergoing design modifications to make them easier to manufacture and assemble, as well as stronger, lighter and more aerodynamic. Various types of bicycle wheels are being sold on the market at present. Most bicycle wheels include a hub, a plurality of spokes and an annular rim. The hub is rotatably mounted to a part of the bicycle frame. The inner end of each spoke is connected to the hub and the spokes extend outward from the hub. The annular rim is connected to the outer ends of the spokes and includes an outer circumferential part that supports a pneumatic tire.
In the mid 1990's, bicycle manufacturer began producing aerodynamic bicycle wheels with a deep cross sectional profile that has a high aspect ratio (i.e., a large rim height relative to the rim width). Some of these aerodynamic bicycle wheels were manufactured by extruding a metal material into a tubular metal member with the desired deep cross sectional profile. Then, the tubular metal member is rounded into a hoop and the ends are butt welded together. During this conventional process, special technical skill is needed to produce a rim with a high aspect ratio from an extruded tubular metal member.


It is described a method of operating a base station and a base station which uses a communication channel depending on channel state related information and time information e.g. a prediction time. In this way, problems due to outdating of the channel state related information may be overcome and a feedback overhead may be reduced. According to other embodiments, other parameters like a used prediction method, a prediction horizon, etc. are used to provide a better scenario adaption. Other embodiments relate to combined long term prediction and short term prediction and respective timing settings. Other embodiments relate to a method of operating a user equipment and a user equipment which is adapted for communicating the required time information between the base station and the user equipment.

For advanced wireless communication networks, channel state information is of increasing importance. For example, in LTE Advanced (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution Advanced), a so called coordinated multi point transmission (CoMP) has been proposed. Herein, data to be transmitted to a particular user equipment (UE) are precoded, referred to as joint precoding, and transmitted over at least two base stations (BS) so as to generate constructive interference at the particular UE, thereby improving data transmission. Usually, precoded data are transmitted from several eNBs simultaneously to several UEs. Ideally every frequency may be used in each cell while achieving the same capacity as in a network without interferences.
For effective joint precoding, channel information is of high importance. For example, cell specific reference signals may be transmitted from the base stations to the UE, allowing the UE to estimate the downlink channels from the surrounding base stations. However, distributing channel state information is resource demanding.
In view of the above-described situation, there exists a need for an improved technique that enables to provide a communication network with improved characteristics, while substantially avoiding or at least reducing one or more of the above-identified problems.

Resolving channel state information outdating


A thermal barrier coating (TBC) for a component intended for use in a hostile environment, such as a component of a gas turbine engine. The TBC exhibits improved impact and erosion resistance as a result of being a composite material consisting essentially of particles of a ceramic reinforcement material dispersed in a ceramic matrix material. The ceramic reinforcement material has a yield strength greater than the ceramic matrix material at about 1100° C., and the particles of the ceramic reinforcement material have an average maximum dimension of greater than five micrometers.

This invention relates to coatings for components exposed to high temperatures, such as the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. More particularly, this invention is directed to a thermal barrier coating (TBC) that exhibits improved impact and erosion resistance as a result of being a composite material containing a ceramic reinforcement material embedded in a ceramic matrix material.
Components within the hot gas path of a gas turbine engine are often protected by a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system. TBC systems include a thermal-insulating ceramic topcoat, referred to as the TBC, typically bonded to the component with an environmentally-protective bond coat. Bond coat materials widely used in TBC systems include overlay coatings such as MCrAlX (where M is iron, cobalt and/or nickel, and X is yttrium or another rare earth or reactive element such as hafnium, zirconium, etc.), and diffusion coatings such as diffusion aluminides, notable examples of which are NiAl and NiAl(Pt). Ceramic materials and particularly binary yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are widely used as TBC materials because of their high temperature capability, low thermal conductivity, and relative ease of deposition by plasma spraying, flame spraying and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques.
TBC's employed in the highest temperature regions of gas turbine engines are often deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD), which yields a columnar, strain-tolerant grain structure that is able to expand and contract without causing damaging stresses that lead to spallation of the TBC. Similar columnar microstructures can be produced using other atomic and molecular vapor processes, such as sputtering (e.g., high and low pressure, standard or collimated plume), ion plasma deposition, and all forms of melting and evaporation deposition processes (e.g., cathodic arc, laser melting, etc.). In contrast, plasma spraying techniques such as air plasma spraying (APS) deposit TBC material in the form of molten "splats," resulting in a TBC characterized by flat (noncolumnar) grains and a degree of inhomogeneity and porosity that reduces heat transfer through the TBC.
While YSZ TBC's are widely employed for their desirable thermal and adhesion characteristics, they are susceptible to damage within the hot gas path of a gas turbine engine. For example, YSZ coatings are known to be susceptible to thinning from damage by particles of varying sizes that are generated upstream in the engine or enter the high velocity gas stream through the air intake of a gas turbine engine. The damage can be in the form of erosive wear (generally from smaller particles, lower particle velocities, and/or lower impingement angles) and impact spallation (generally from larger particles, greater particle velocities, and/or greater impingement angles). Impact damage and the resulting loss of TBC particularly occur along the leading edges of components such as turbine blades, while erosion is more prevalent on the concave and convex surfaces of the blades, depending on the particular blade design. Both forms of damage not only shorten component life, but also lead to reduced engine performance and fuel efficiency.
In commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,825 to Bruce et al., an erosion-resistant TBC is disclosed in which alumina (Al2O3) or silicon carbide (SiC) is deposited as a protective coating on a TBC, or co-deposited with the TBC material to form a dispersion of particles in the TBC. Other examples of strengthening a TBC material through precipitate or particle dispersions include commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,049 to Darolia et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,983 to Darolia et al., which disclose the inclusion of fine precipitates or particles on the order of up to five micrometers in diameter to provide a dispersion-hardening effect. Another use for fine precipitates in a TBC is taught in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,665 to Rigney et al., who disclose a TBC containing small amounts of alumina precipitates dispersed throughout its grain boundaries and pores to inhibit grain sintering and coarsening and pore coarsening that would lead to increased thermal conductivity.
Notwithstanding the above advances, there is still an ongoing need for TBC's that exhibit improved resistance to impact spallation and erosion for more demanding engine designs.

Composite thermal barrier coating with improved impact and erosion resistance


The invention provides a fastener stringer for a concealed type slide fastener, wherein the fastener stringer comprises: a fastener tape having a tape main body portion and an element attaching portion; and fastener element row, a side edge of the tape main body portion being folded back into a U shape and a coupling head of the fastener element row being projected outward, the element attaching portion being provided with plural upper and lower fixing warp yarns running on upper and lower leg portions of an element and plural tightening warp yarns running to stride over the leg portions alternately while intersecting one another between the leg portions, a total fineness of the lower fixing warp yarns on a coupling head side with respect to the tightening warp yarns is higher than that of the upper fixing warp yarns on the same side with respect to the tightening warp yarns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fastener stringer for a concealed type slide fastener whose fastener element rows in a coupled state are not seen from a tape surface when the fastener element rows in a continuous shape woven along element attaching portions of a pair of right and left fastener tapes are coupled with each other.
2. Description of Related Art
A concealed type slide fastener has a concealing performance of making fastener element rows invisible by coupling the fastener element rows woven along right and left fastener tapes. For this reason, the concealed type slide fastener has been used preferably in various kinds of clothes, shoes and the like by taking an advantage that the concealed type slide fastener does not hamper a design feature due to the concealing performance thereof.
Examples of such a concealed type slide fastener have been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3414110 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open publication (JP-U) No. 2-132419. In a concealed type slide fastener 54 described in Japanese Patent No. 3414110, as shown in FIG. 5, a fastener tape 42 is woven with a foundation warp yarn 48 and a foundation weft yarn 49, and a coil type fastener element row 41 is woven in an element attaching portion 47 of the fastener tape 42 with a fixing warp yarn 51 and a fixing weft yarn 52 such that coupling heads 44 face inward of the fastener tape 42.
According to Japanese Patent No. 3414110, a plurality of core threads 50 pass on a side of a connecting portion 45 of the fastener element row 41 so that the fixing warp yarn 51 runs over an upper leg portion 46 of the fastener element row 41 and entangles with the foundation weft yarn 49 so as to sandwich the core thread 50 between the upper and lower leg portions 46. Further, the fixing weft yarn 52 is entangled with the fixing warp yarn 51 running between the core threads 50, and runs on an outer face of a core thread 50 on a side of the engaging head 44 so as to be entangled with the foundation weft yarn 49.
A side of a tape main body portion 55 of the fastener tape 42 in which the fastener element row 41 is woven into the element attaching portion 47 is folded back, and with the coupling head 44 of the fastener element row 41 projecting from that folded-back portion, right and left fastener element rows 41 are inserted into a guide path of a slider member 53 so as to constitute the concealed type slide fastener 54. As a result, the fastener element row 41 can be fixed firmly to the fastener tape 42 with simple weaving means, and further, a pitch between elements of the fastener element row 41 can be stabilized.
On the other hand, in a fastener stringer 61 for a concealed type slide fastener described in JP-U-2-132419, as shown in FIG. 6, a fastener tape 62 is woven with foundation warp yarn 78 and foundation weft yarn 79, and a coil-like fastener element row 63 is woven into an element attaching portion 80 formed on a side edge of the fastener tape 62 such that a coupling head 65 faces inward of the fastener tape 62.
In the fastener stringer 61 of JP-U-2-132419, the fastener element row 63 is woven into the fastener stringer 61 with tightening warp yarns 72, 73 running while being entangled with upper and lower leg portions 70, 71 of each element 68, a plurality of upper fixing warp yarns 76 and lower fixing warp yarns 77 running in a warp direction on each of a top surface 74 of the upper leg portion 70 and a bottom surface 75 of the lower leg portion 71 of each element, and a foundation weft yarn 79. The core threads as mentioned in Japanese Patent No. 3414110 are not disposed. According to JP-U-2-132419, the tightening warp yarns 72, 73 are disposed between the respective upper fixing warp yarns 76 and between the respective lower fixing yarns 77, and each of the upper fixing warp yarn 76 and the lower fixing warp yarn 77 is disposed on a coupling head 65 side with respect to the tightening warp yarns 72, 73.
By constructing the concealed type slide fastener using such a fastener stringer 61, an interval between the respective elements 68 of the fastener element row 63 is stabilized so as to prevent breaking of engagement of the chain, and a portion in which the fastener element row 63 is woven can be formed thinner, thereby providing a flexible concealed type slide fastener.
In recent years, the concealed type slide fastener has been more and more widely used due to its advantages, for example, in not only various kinds of clothes and bags but also seat covers for automobile seats and train seats. Thus, the concealed type slide fastener has been demanded to secure a high performance such as concealing performance, flexibility and high coupling strength even if it is used in diversified environments or under diversified conditions.
For example, if specifically speaking of a case where the concealed type slide fastener is used in an automobile seat cover, the seat cover generally covers a cushion body formed in a predetermined shape. At this time, the seat cover is formed in a smaller size than an external dimension of the cushion body, and the cushion body is covered in a compressed state to suppress generation of looseness and deformation in the external shape as much as possible.
Thus, if the concealed type slide fastener is used in the seat cover, fastener tapes of fastener stringers receive a strong lateral pulling force of being pulled from both right and left sides when fastener element rows are coupled with each other or in a coupling state. Therefore, the concealed type slide fastener is demanded not to lose the concealing performance even when the slide fastener receives such a lateral pulling force. The concealed type slide fastener is demanded to have flexibility or constructed with a smaller slider member for a cushion performance or for avoiding losing a tactile feeling of the cushion body.
However, the concealed type slide fastener 54 described in Japanese Patent No. 3414110 lacks flexibility because, as described above, the concealed type slide fastener 54 is constructed so that a plurality of core threads 50 pass in the fastener element row 41, thereby increasing a thickness of the fastener element row 41. Further, a size of the slider member 53 through which the fastener element rows 41 pass is increased, thereby giving a feeling of disharmony in the cushion performance and tactile feeling of the seat cushion.
On the other hand, the fastener stringer 61 of the concealed type slide fastener described in JP-U-2-132419 has an excellent flexibility because a thickness of the fastener element row 63 is small. However, when fastener tapes 62 receive a strong lateral pulling force of being pulled from both right and left sides, a gap is likely to be generated between the fastener tapes 62 on right and left sides. Consequently, the fastener element row 63 is visible on a front surface side, thereby deteriorating the concealing performance inherent in the concealed type slide fastener, which is a problem to be solved.

Fastener stringer of concealed type slide fastener