Structures with altered crystallinity beneath semiconductor devices and methods associated with forming such structures. Trench isolation regions surround an active device region composed of a single-crystal semiconductor material. A first non-single-crystal layer is arranged beneath the trench isolation regions and the active device region. A second non-single-crystal layer is arranged beneath the trench isolation regions and the active device region. The first non-single-crystal layer is arranged between the second non-single-crystal layer and the active device region.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device fabrication and integrated circuits and, more specifically, to structures with altered crystallinity beneath semiconductor devices and methods associated with forming such structures.
Bulk silicon substrates are less costly than silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Generally, an SOI substrate includes a thin device layer of silicon, a handle substrate, and a thin buried oxide (BOX) layer, physically separating and electrically isolating the device layer from the handle substrate. Devices fabricated using SOI technologies may exhibit certain performance improvements in comparison with comparable devices built in a bulk silicon substrate. For example, in contrast to an SOI substrate, a bulk silicon substrate is characterized by poor device isolation from harmonic generation.
Improved structures that provide the advantages of an SOI substrate absent the cost and methods of forming such structures are needed.

Bulk substrates with a self-aligned buried polycrystalline layer


A method for ascertaining an autonomous emergency braking operation of an ego-vehicle. The method includes picking up driving dynamics variables of the ego-vehicle, picking up distance measurement signals, and ascertaining at least one longitudinal distance of the ego-vehicle from a forward object. The method further includes determining whether an emergency braking operation is to be initiated on the basis of the driving dynamics variables and the distance measurement signals. If a decision is made to initiate an emergency braking operation, the method additionally includes ascertaining a first starting point for initiating a warning phase by outputting a warning signal without initiating a braking operation, a second starting point for initiating a subsequent partial braking phase with a lower partial-braking braking pressure, and a third starting point for initiating a subsequent emergency braking phase to initiate an emergency braking phase with a higher emergency-braking braking pressure.

Such a method and such a control device are known e.g. from EP 2 814 704 B1. Autonomous emergency braking operations serve in particular to identify an emergency braking situation when ascertaining driving state variables and further measured variables, in particular a distance measurement in relation to a forward object, and to initiate a braking process autonomously, i.e. independently. To this end, e.g. a control device of the driving dynamics system can output an external braking signal (XBR) to a braking device control device so that the latter outputs a braking signal to wheel brakes. Furthermore, such a driving dynamics system may already be integrated in the braking device. Such an emergency braking system (autonomous emergency brake system, AEBS) can therefore be used to prevent a collision with or crash into a detected forward object completely, or else to reduce an accident severity.
Such emergency braking systems or emergency braking methods can therefore involve the use of the dynamic response of the ego-vehicle, e.g. as a motion equation with a second order of time (spatial function with a second order of time) along with the present position, the ego-velocity and the ego-acceleration, and applicable values can furthermore be formed for the detected object, so that motion equations of the ego-vehicle and of the object, or else difference values, i.e. a difference distance and difference velocities, are formed. This allows a dynamic criterion to be formed in a longitudinal direction (longitudinal-dynamics criterion). Furthermore, it is also possible for a transverse-dynamic response to be heeded, which can be ascertained e.g. as an evasion criterion and heeds a possible evasive maneuver by the driver to the side.
Such braking systems can furthermore have provision for a warning phase prior to initiation of the autonomous emergency braking operation, which involves a warning signal being indicated to the driver telling him that an emergency braking operation is imminent. The driver can therefore initiate a driver braking operation or else an evasive maneuver now, e.g. independently. Further, there may also be provision for the driver to put an end to the identified emergency braking situation because he recognizes that a false detection has occurred, and the alleged object must not be rated as a real object, but rather the distance sensor has identified e.g. a bridge or other constriction as an object presenting the risk of a collision.
Furthermore, haptic warning phases are known, in which the driver is notified of the imminent initiation of an emergency braking phase haptically, i.e. as a braking jolt, by means of a light braking operation.
After the warning phases, the emergency braking phase is then carried out, preferably with a maximum braking pressure.
In this context, there can be provision for minimum periods for the warning phase or the added warning phase in order to give the driver sufficient time.

Method for determining autonomous emergency braking, method for performing the emergency braking, and control device for a driving-dynamics system


A power supply system supplies a power to a CPU with a power saving mode to a mobile information device or terminal. The power supply system includes a power supplying circuit for supplying the CPU with a prescribed supply voltage, a voltage detecting circuit for outputting a reset signal resetting the CPU when the supply voltage decreases to be less than or equal to a prescribed reset level, and a control circuit for decreasing the supply voltage to a prescribed power save level when the power saving mode is set. The control circuit decreases the supply voltage to be the prescribed power save level after decreasing the prescribed reset level to be less than or equal to the power save level when the power saving mode is set. The control circuit recovers the prescribed reset level after recovering the supply voltage when the power saving mode is terminated.

Many mobile information devices such as laptop personal computers, cellular phones, etc., include a power saving mode for the purpose of saving battery power when the devices are in a standby state.
Specifically, in a conventional cellular phone, a battery power supply VBAT, utilizing 3.6 volts is transformed by a regulator 5 into a constant voltage Vcc having 2.0 volts, and is supplied to a CPU 2, which in turn is connected to an operation key 3 and a reception section 4 as shown in FIG. 6. In such a conventional configuration, when the operation key 3 is not activated for more than a prescribed time period, the CPU 2 switches an internal circuit to a low voltage operation condition in order to save power. The CPU 2 simultaneously outputs a voltage switching signal, under a power saving mode, to the regulator 5 so as to decrease a power output from the regulator 5.
The cellular phone is generally driven by a battery power supply VBAT. When an output of the battery power supply VBAT becomes lower than or equal to 2.0 volts, an output of the regulator 5 also becomes lower than or equal to 2.0 volts. Accordingly, a voltage detecting section is generally provided to continuously output reset signals to the CPU 2 so as to deactivate the CPU 2 in order to avoid operation when the output of the regulator 5 becomes less than or equal to a prescribed reference voltage (e.g., 1.9 volts). However, when the CPU 2 of the cellular phone enters into the power saving mode under the above-mentioned procedure, the voltage detecting section also detects such a decreased voltage and outputs a reset signal to the CPU 2. As a result, the CPU 2 is deactivated.

Power supply system and method for supplying power to CPU providing power saving mode


A power chair carrier system includes a power chair having an elevating motor mounted thereon for raising or lowering the seat of the power chair and for raising or lowering the power chair drive assembly including wheels when the chair is mounted on a vehicle. A hitch assembly is removably connected to a vehicle and includes a docking structure for removably connecting to an upper portion of the power chair to permit the drive assembly and wheels of the power chair to be raised while the chair is in a docking position.

Powered wheel chairs or power chairs are presently available incorporating electric motors powered by onboard rechargeable batteries. The chairs typically are powered by an electric motor through an appropriate transmission to drive two driving wheels. Other supporting wheels are strategically positioned around the base of the chair to maintain the chair in an upright position. The controls for moving the chair forward, rearward, or for turning are typically mounted on the right or left arm of the chair to enable the occupant to direct the chair in an appropriate direction and at an appropriate speed. Usually the controls incorporate a toggle that is operated by the occupant's fingers.
There are numerous systems described in the prior art for transporting a power chair in or on a vehicle. For example, electrical or hydraulic ramps supporting a platform that extends outwardly from a van have been shown to be appropriate to provide support for a power chair that is driven onto the platform and subsequently raised and moved into the vehicle. Alternatively, similar electric/hydraulic systems have been shown wherein a platform or bracket system is attached to the rear of the vehicle to permit the power chair to be driven onto or coupled to the apparatus; the apparatus subsequently lifts the chair into a temporary storage position to permit the vehicle to be driven with the power chair mounted at the rear thereof.
The above systems for transporting a power chair have been found to be satisfactory; however, the systems all require a dedicated vehicle. That is, the vehicle upon which the power chair is to be mounted or carried must be substantially modified to permit the support and carrying of the power chair. The modification of such vehicles can be very expensive; further, if the vehicles are to be rented, an auto leasing or renting company must invest in numerous modified vehicles each of which requires extensive and expensive modification. A fleet of such vehicles may not be economically feasible and the availability of such vehicles to transport a power chair are therefore not always available. Individuals that own/operate a power chair must also have their vehicle modified to accommodate the carrying of the power chair. During times that the vehicle requires service or is disabled for some reason, the occupant/owner is effectively "grounded" until the vehicle is repaired.


The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises systems and methods of stock trading using social network sentiment. The system and method can receive a trading order entry for a stock asset having at least one condition to execute, wherein the at least one condition to execute is based on a social network sentiment. The system and method monitors the stock asset for conditions to execute and monitors a tracking social network sentiment of the stock asset. The system and method can determine if the conditions to execute satisfied. The system and method can execute a stock trade according to the trading order entry based on the determination.

Public sentiment and real life events increasingly affect stock market prices. Stock share prices are determined by many factors such as company performance, earnings reports, political events, geopolitical news, economic news, new product release, bad weather, problems in supply chain, rumors, and/or the like. Many of these factors are linked to public sentiment. Public sentiment can be gauged by social media networks in view of posts, comments, articles, and/or the like. It can be difficult to monitor the public sentiment according to stock price, especially in real time in a fast changing news cycle. There is a desire to provide a solution that can help investors utilize sentiment of social networks along with traditional data such as fundamental analysis and technical analysis for trading stocks.

Stock trading platform with social network sentiment


The present principles are directed to identifying and classifying web traffic inside encrypted network tunnels. A method includes analyzing network traffic of unencrypted data packets to detect packet traffic, timing, and size patterns. The detected packet, timing, and size traffic patterns are correlated to at least a packet destination and a packet source of the unencrypted data packets to create at least one of a training corpus and a model built from the training corpus. The at least one of the corpus and model is stored in a memory device. Packet traffic, timing, and size patterns of encrypted data packets are observed. The observed packet traffic, timing, and size patterns of the encrypted data packets are compared to at least one of the training corpus and the model to classify the encrypted data packets with respect to at least one of a predicted network host and predicted path information.

Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to encryption and, in particular, to the identification and classification of web traffic inside encrypted network tunnels.
Description of the Related Art
Web traffic that is tunneled via an encrypted connection is "invisible" to standard network intrusion and analysis tools. Thus, a method and system are needed to identify and classify web traffic inside encrypted tunnels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Identification and classification of web traffic inside encrypted network tunnels

International Business Machines Corporation


The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for a minimum-implant-area (MIA) aware detailed placement. In embodiments, the present disclosure clusters a violation cell with the cells having a same threshold voltage (Vt) and determines an optimal region for a cluster to minimize the wire-length. In further embodiments, an MIA-aware cell flipping technique minimizes a design area while satisfying the MIA constraint.

Simultaneous timing and power optimization is often a tough task in modern VLSI designs. A popular method to balance these two tasks is to apply multiple threshold voltages (multi-Vt) to reduce leakage power while maintaining circuit performance. In a multi-Vt design, low threshold voltage (LVT) cells are used on critical paths to improve timing, while high threshold voltage (HVT) cells are used on non-critical paths to suppress leakage power. By properly using different Vt cells, a design can achieve high performance while meeting low power requirements. A multi-Vt design can be manufactured by controlling the dopant concentration for different Vt cells by the ion implantation method.
As minimum feature sizes decrease, design rules have become more restricted, and a minimum implant area (MIA) constraint has emerged as a new challenge for the physical design flow. The MIA constraint specifies a lower bound for the areas of implant layers (implant areas for short), and an LVT/HVT cell may incur an MIA violation if any of the two implant areas is smaller than the MIA constraints.

Systems and methods for minimum-implant-area aware detailed placement

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a magnesium alloy having controlled corrosion resistance properties, which comprises magnesium (Mg) and an alloying element and includes a magnesium phase and a phase composed of magnesium and the alloying element, wherein the difference in electrical potential between the magnesium phase and the phase composed of magnesium and the alloying element is greater than 0 V but not greater than 0.2 V.

Magnesium alloys are easily shaped, but have disadvantages of poor corrosion resistance and poor strength. Studies are continually performed with the aim of suitably changing the composition of magnesium alloys in order to improve the corrosion resistance and strength of magnesium alloys. In addition, studies have demonstrated that an increase in the amount of alloying elements in the magnesium alloy leads to an increase in the mechanical strength of the magnesium alloy. However, as the amount of alloying elements increases, several phases are formed, and an increase in the difference in electrical potential between these phases results in conditions such that a galvanic circuit, which increases the rate of corrosion of the alloy, is likely to be formed.
Therefore, there is a need for studies on a magnesium alloy, the corrosion resistance properties of which can be controlled and which has excellent corrosion resistance and strength.


The use as flocculants of ferric salt/water-soluble cationic polymer compositions having inorganic:polymer weight ratios of at least 5:1 is disclosed. These compositions are especially effective in low turbidity waters.

This invention relates to methods of flocculating, accelerating the rate of flocculation and/or accelerating the settling of solids which are suspended in aqueous media by addition thereto of a flocculating composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,092 discloses compositions useful for coagulating finely divided solids in turbid waters. These compositions are prepared by mixing inorganic water-soluble compounds such as aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride and ferric sulfate with a polymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride having a molecular weight of at least 2,000. The weight ratio of the inorganic component to the organic component ranges from 0.75:1 to about 4:1.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,627 discloses flocculating agents which are reaction products of sulfate ion-containing polymeric aluminum hydroxy chloride and one or more cationic polymers such as polyacrylic amide, polyamide amine and polyethylene imine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,165 discloses the use of low molecular weight acrylamide polymers which contain quaternized dimethylamino methyl groups for clarification of turbid waters.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,681 discloses the use of water-soluble copolymers of diacetone acrylamide as flocculating agents.
The term flocculation, as used herein, is synonymous with the term coagulation. Flocculation refers to the settling of suspended solid particles from aqueous systems. Turbidity, as used herein, is defined as the cloudiness or haziness of a solution caused by finely suspended particles. Turbidity is measured using NTU's, (nephelometric turbidity units). As used herein, low turbidity systems are systems having a low solids concentration (on a weight basis), i.e., a solids weight percent of 0.1 or less. As a general rule, this corresponds to an approximate turbidity of 50 NTU's or less, but may vary do to nature of the solids or dissolved colored matter. High solids suspensions include those systems containing in excess of 0.1 weight percent suspended solids, which generally corresponds to a turbidity of greater than 50 NTU's. While the instant compositions are especially effective in low turbidity waters, it is not intended that their use be so restricted. In fact, the instant compositions are useful in a wide variety of raw waters and in concentrated wastewaters.
Many flocculants are known, including alum (Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 X H.sub.2 O, wherein X is about 14), poly(aluminum chloride), sodium aluminate, iron compounds such as ferric chloride and ferric sulfate, lime and various cationic organic polymers, including but not limited to poly(alkaline amines), poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), poly(2-hydroxy propyl-1-N-methyl ammonium chlorides) and quaterized poly (N-N-dimethylaminomethacrylate). The novel compsitions of the instant invention are not, however, known or suggested in the art.

Flocculation of suspended solids from aqueous solutions


A damper pulley assembly has a hub; a seismic mass connected to the hub to define a dynamic torsional vibration damper; a pulley connected to the hub; elastic means for connecting the pulley in torque-transmitting mode to the hub; and one-way stop means for arresting the pulley in a first stop position with respect to the hub or the seismic mass in a first direction, when the elastic means reach a predetermined torsional load.

A damper pulley assembly normally comprises a hub connected rigidly to an internal combustion engine crankshaft; a pulley connected to the hub; and a seismic mass connected to the hub to define a dynamic torsional vibration damper.
More specifically, the pulley is connected, to rotate with respect to the hub, by an elastic member interposed between the pulley and the hub. The most commonly used elastic members are a ring of elastomeric material, or one or more metal spiral or helical springs.
Because of the increase in power absorption by the accessory devices driven by the accessory drive, the pulley is now subjected to severer stress than in the past.
When power absorption exceeds a given threshold, an elastomeric ring cannot guarantee transmission of the necessary torque, and is therefore replaced with a metal spring.
A metal spring has better heat resistance and, in particular, can be used at higher operating temperatures than an elastomeric ring.
Moreover, failure of the elastic member of a damper pulley assembly may arrest operation of the accessory drive and so endanger passengers and result in serious damage to the vehicle.

Damper pulley assembly having a safety device


A notification system, method, and/or computer program product that provides an automatic real-time notification to an owner of a property is provided. Further the notification system, method, and/or computer program determines a location with respect to an electronic lockbox associated with the property and generates a geo-fence environment with respect to the property based on the location. Then, the notification system, method, and/or computer program monitors movements of a user device with respect to the geo-fence environment to determine whether a breach of the geo-fence environment has occurred and outputs the automatic real-time notification to the property owner in response to a determination that the breach of the geo-fence environment has occurred.

The disclosure relates generally to automatic notifications of a conclusion of a real property showing based on user device detection.
A homeowner often has to leave their home when a real estate agent is showing that home to a potential buyer. Often the real estate agent forgets to communicate to the homeowner that the showing is complete or does not have a means to contact the homeowner.
In addition, while present technology for enabling the showing can require that the real estate agent pushes a button on the box, real estate agents often forget to push the button, and therefore or requiring an on premise dialer or cellular connection which may not exist at the property.

Automatic notification of a conclusion of real property showing based on user device detection


The invention relates to a method of forming a memory device comprising a memory cell array and a peripheral portion. When forming the capacitors in the memory cell array, a sacrificial layer is deposited which is usually made of silicon dioxide and which is used for defining the storage electrode above the substrate surface. The sacrificial layer is removed selectively from the array portion while being maintained in the peripheral portion. This is achieved by providing an array separation trench which acts as a lateral etch stop.

The invention relates to a memory device having an array of memory cells such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cells, as well as to a method of manufacturing such a memory device.
Memory cells of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) generally include a storage capacitor for storing an electrical charge that represents an information to be stored and an access transistor which is connected with a storage capacitor. The access transistor includes a first and a second source/drain region, a channel connecting the first and the second source/drain region as well as a gate electrode controlling an electrical current flow between the first and the second source/drain region. The transistor usually is at least partially formed in the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode forms part of the word line and is electrically insulated from the channel by a gate dielectric. By addressing the access transistor via a corresponding word line, the information stored in the storage capacitor is read out to a corresponding bit line.
In the currently used DRAM memory cells, the storage capacitor can be implemented as a trench capacitor in which the two capacitor electrodes are disposed in a trench that extends in the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface.
In one implementation of the DRAM memory cell, the electrical charge is stored in a stacked capacitor, which is formed above the surface of the substrate.
FIG. 28 illustrates an exemplary plan view of a memory device, having a memory cell array II and a peripheral portion I. A boundary region III is formed between the memory cell array II and the peripheral portion I. The memory cell array II includes a plurality of memory cells 330, each of the memory cells have a storage capacitor 24 and an access transistor 30. The storage capacitor includes a first and a second capacitor electrode 17, 19, the first capacitor electrode 17 being connected with a first source/drain region 31 of the access transistor. The channel 33 is formed between the first and the second source/drain region 31, 32 and a gate electrode 34 controls the conductivity of the channel 33. The gate electrode 34 is insulated from the channel 33 by a gate insulating layer 35. By addressing the address transistor 30 via the corresponding word line 310, the information stored in the storage capacitor is read out to a corresponding bit line 320. The layout illustrated in FIG. 28 corresponds to the so-called folded bit line layout. However, as is to be clearly understood, the present invention is applicable to any kind of memory cell array layouts.
The support portion I refers to a portion at the edge of the memory cell array in which support circuits such as decoders, sense amplifiers 340 and word line drivers 350 for activating a word line 310 are located. Generally, the peripheral portion of a memory device includes circuitry for addressing memory cells and for sensing and processing the signals received from the individual memory cells. Usually, the peripheral portion is formed in the same semiconductor substrate as the individual memory cells. In addition, the boundary region is as well formed in the same semiconductor substrate. Hence, it is highly desirable to have a manufacturing process by which the components of the memory cell array and the peripheral portion can be formed simultaneously.
In particular, if the storage capacitor of the memory cell is implemented as a stacked capacitor extending above the semiconductor substrate surface, a problem arises that the whole substrate surface is covered by a thick sacrificial layer which is removed during the processing of the stacked capacitor. After completion of the capacitor, a second deposition step of a dielectric layer has to be made in order to provide an insulation for the following metal layer.
A further problem arises, that during the processing of the peripheral portion a contact for contacting the peripheral portion has to be formed by etching a contact hole through a thick layer (3 μm) of an insulating material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,239 discloses a method of forming a memory device in which bit lines in the array portion are formed simultaneously with landing plugs in the peripheral portion. In particular, according to this patent, the landing plugs are formed at a level of the first wiring layer.

Memory device and method of manufacturing a memory device


The present invention relates to a sealing apparatus for sealing foil material, the apparatus comprising a foil conveying means and a sealing means including a sealing head which has at least one sealing position for performing the foil sealing operation, an intermediate position in which the sealing head has a predetermined distance from the sealing position, and an inoperative position in which the sealing head has a second predetermined distance from the sealing position that is greater than the first distance. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding sealing method which can be carried out with the sealing apparatus, wherein the sealing head is removed from the foil material to a first distance during the further transporation of the foil material and is removed from the foil material to a second greater distance when the foil sealing operation is interrupted.

In a sealing apparatus for sealing foil material, two or more foils are fed to a sealing means and are there sealed together with the aid of a sealing head which is lowered onto the joined foils and transmits heat to the foils at the desired places. Insofar as sealing or sealing means is referred in the present text, this includes a hot bonding process in which an adhesive material is applied between the foils to join the foil materials by heat.
Such a sealing process is e.g. used in the production of foil bags, e.g. foil bags for beverages. Two foil materials are laid one upon the other to form the side foils of the foil bag. A bottom foil is possibly interposed in an edge portion. The foils are sealed together at two directly superimposed edges of the side foil material and at the third edge where the bottom foil is optionally positioned. The fourth edge of the respective foil materials is closed by sealing after the foil bag has been filled. An example of such a foil bag is e.g. shown in FIG. 3 where the weld seams 33 are formed in the first-described process and the weld seam 34 is formed after the foil bag has been filled.
In an automated production plant, foil webs are supplied for sealing purposes, with the webs being cut after the sealing process so as to form individual units. The foil webs are placed one upon the other and guided below the sealing head. The head is lowered. In doing so, it must cover a lowering distance of a few centimeters. After having been pressed onto the foil materials, the sealing head is again lifted and the foil webs are further transported by a distance corresponding to one foil bag before the sealing head is again lowered onto the foil material that has been transported further away. To achieve a high throughput, the sealing head is kept at a constantly high temperature to make time-consuming heating and cooling processes superfluous. Therefore, it is necessary that in the operative states in which no sealing operation takes place the sealing head should be so remote from the foil material that the foil material is not overheated or scorched. Such a distance is e.g. required in cases where the entire sealing apparatus has been stopped to eliminate a malfunction.
However, in an automated manufacturing plant, the lifting and lowering movement of the sealing head, which amounts to a few centimeters, takes an undesired long period of time at the throughput rates which are nowadays possible.

Apparatus and method for sealing foil material


A method and system for creating and maintaining databases of user profiles and value ratings for information sources, and for generating lists of information sources having high estimated values. User controlled systems for accessing information sources through the internet or other networks are monitored by a server. The server updates the user profiles and computes value ratings associated with the user profiles for various information sources in accordance with monitored information. Estimated values for information sources to a particular user are obtained as a function of the value ratings associated with profiles of other users and the degree of similarity between the particular user's current profile and other user profiles. Previous profiles are not deleted when updated but are retained and treated substantially as other profiles in computing value estimates. Information sources can be other users.

The present invention relates to a system and method for estimating the value of information sources. More particularly it relates to a method and system for estimating the value of information sources to a user based on similarities between the user and other users.
For any particular person the modern world holds a vast number of information sources, which may hold information that is of use or of interest to that person but of which that person is unaware. Such information sources include; databases, either local or remotely accessible over a network such as the Internet; sites, such as web pages, relating to various subjects; and other parties such as professionals or experts in various fields. In addition there is in general more information than a person can consider in a reasonable amount of time, even if they are aware of it. Further, in today's world, a person's interests and priorities are constantly changing, so that the window in which information must be found and evaluated if it is to be useful is often small.
Some existing mechanisms such as newspapers, newsgroups, and rumor mills (i.e. "the grapevine") provide loosely targeted groups of users with general information, typically with little or no attribution, so that a person does not know the support, if any, for the information. Some existing automated systems search specified databases for information, which a person suspects might exist in the specified databases. Other automated systems provide lists of sources ranked by popularity or recommendations of previous users. These systems, however, require the user to have extensive knowledge about what information is sought in order to identify the categories to be investigated. Other existing automated systems, such as banner ad placement algorithms, employ information from monitoring a vendor's systems to target selected advertising to present to on-line customers. For example, an on-line store might offer a user a list of other items purchased by other customers who have previously purchased an item being considered by a first customer. However, such systems are operated by vendors and typically exclude information that does not relate to purchase opportunities and may exclude competitors offerings; and users may be reluctant to entrust such a sales oriented and possibly biased system with extensive personal information.
Thus, though the above described system have proven useful for their intended purposes, there is a need for a method and system for thorough searching and accurate rating of a broad range of available information sources.

Method and system for creating and maintaining a database of user profiles and a related value rating database for information sources and for generating a list of information sources having a high estimated value


A method controls manipulation of a computing device. The method turns on a camera device to capture images and gestures of a manipulation owner, analyzes the gestures to get operations to control the computing device using a recognition unit of the computing device, and determines whether an additional participant gets the manipulation control of the computing device. If the additional participant gets the manipulation control of the computing device, the method stops to capture the images of the manipulation owner, and captures the images of the additional participant. If the additional participant does not get the manipulation control of the computing device, the method still captures the images of the manipulation owner.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to remote control systems and methods, and more particularly to a computing device, a storage medium, and a method for controlling manipulation of the computing device.
2. Description of Related Art
A computing device can connect to one or more remote devices through a network in a remote meeting mode. A user of the computing device can control the computing device, for example, to share documents to participants in the remote meeting mode, or operate the documents to open, close, or turn pages of the documents, for example. However, the participants except the user in the remote meeting mode cannot control the computing device. That is, it is inconvenient for the participants in the remote meeting mode to have an interactive communication.

Computing device, storage medium, and method for controlling manipulation of the computing device


A DGPS system using GPS almanac data for determining the locations-in-space and the DGPS corrections for GPS satellites for providing a differentially corrected location of a remote GPS user receiver. A GPS reference receiver determines almanac-based DGPS corrections from the differences between ranges that are measured to GPS satellites and ranges that are calculated to the GPS almanac-based locations-in-space of the GPS satellites from the known location of the GPS reference receiver. The GPS user receiver measures pseudoranges to the GPS satellites. Then, in a first embodiment, the GPS reference receiver radios the DGPS corrections to the GPS user receiver. The GPS user receiver uses almanac-based locations-in-space for the GPS satellites and the almanac-based DGPS corrections for differentially correcting the measured user pseudoranges for providing a differentially corrected user location. In a second embodiment, the GPS user receiver radios the measured user pseudoranges to the GPS reference receiver. The GPS reference receiver uses the measured user pseudoranges, the almanac-based locations-in-space for the GPS satellites, and the almanac-based DGPS corrections for providing the differentially corrected user location.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a differential global positioning system (DGPS) and more particularly to a DGPS system using GPS almanac data for determining the locations-in-space of GPS signal sources and the DGPS corrections for providing a differentially corrected location.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The global positioning system (GPS) is a satellite based location and time transfer system developed by the United States government and available free of charge to all users. A GPS user location is based upon one-way ranging between the user and GPS satellites. The GPS satellites transmit signals having the times-of-transmission and orbital parameters for their respective time variable locations-in-space. A GPS receiver measures the ranges to typically four satellites simultaneously in-view by correlating the incoming GPS signals to internal GPS replica signals and measuring the received phases against an internal clock. These ranges are generally called pseudoranges because they include a term for the error of the internal clock. The pseudoranges are then used in location equations having calculated quantities for the locations-in-space for several satellites and the directional cosines from the user location to the satellites. With four equations for four GPS satellites, respectively, the GPS receiver can resolve the four unknowns of a three dimensional geographical user location and a correction to the internal clock. Fewer than four satellites are required if other location information is available. However, many GPS receivers today use up to twelve GPS satellites in an overdetermined solution in order to improve location accurary.
Two types of orbital parameters are transmitted for determining locations-in-space for the satellites, almanac data and ephemeris data. The almanac data includes relatively few parameters and is generally sufficient for determining locations-in-space to a few kilometers. Each GPS satellite broadcasts the almanac data for all the GPS satellites on a twelve and one-half minute cycle. Almanac data is updated every few days and is useful for several weeks. Because of its relatively long lifetime, the almanac data is typically used by GPS receivers that have been off for more than a few hours for determining which GPS satellites are in-view. However, as the inaccuracy of the location-in-space of a GPS satellite transfers to an inaccuracy in the user location, almanac data is not used by existing GPS receivers for ranging. The ephemeris data provides relatively more parameters and is much more accurate. Typically, current ephemeris data is sufficient for determining locations-in-space to a few meters or a few tens of meters at current levels of selective availability. Each GPS satellite broadcasts its own ephemeris data on a thirty second cycle. Ephemeris data is updated each hour. However, after about two hours the accuracy of the ephemeris data begins degrading. Typically, ephemeris data that is more than about two to four hours old is not used for ranging.
A stand alone accuracy of existing commercial GPS receivers is a typically within about twenty meters or within about one-hundred meters with selective availability (SA). In order to achieve these accuracies, existing GPS receivers use the current ephemeris data for determining the locations-in-space of the GPS satellites in location equations. In order to improve the stand alone accuracy with or without SA, differential GPS (DGPS) systems use a GPS reference station having an accurately known reference location for providing DGPS corrections. The DGPS corrections are computed from the differences between the ranges that the GPS reference station measures in a conventional manner and ranges that are calculated based upon the known location. A remote GPS user receiver receives the DGPS corrections with radio signals for correcting the raw pseudoranges that it measures to the same GPS satellites at the same times as the GPS reference station. Using such DGPS corrections, GPS receivers can obtain a location accuracy within a meter or even better. Alternatively, the raw pseudoranges can be transmitted or put onto a disk and carried to another site for differential correction.
Several applications for GPS receivers require or make desirable a fast time to a first location fix after having been off or in a standby mode for more than a few hours. One of the problems in getting a fast location fix is that the GPS receiver needs to collect new ephemeris data before the location can be computed. Typically, the ephemeris data is obtained directly from the GPS satellites in the GPS signals. However, up to about thirty seconds is required to acquire ephemeris data in this manner. It has been proposed that this thirty seconds can be eliminated in one of two ways. First, if location is not needed at the remote, the solution can be computed at a network base station where current ephemeris data is available. In this case, the raw pseudoranges are sent to the base station along with the satellite identifications and times. Second, if the location is needed at the remote, the base station sends the current ephemeris data including the satellite identifications and times to the remote for location determination. These schemes are attractive for real time DGPS systems where radio equipment is already required. Unfortunately, these proposals require the transmission and reception of a relatively long data string for the ephemeris data of approximately 1500 bits per satellite or 15000 bits for ten in-view satellites. Further, the transmission and reception must be accomplished every few hours in order that the ephemeris data be up-to-date.
Hatch et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,184 discloses a method and system for post-processing DGPS system satellite positional data. Hatch recognizes that almanac data is sufficiently accurate for computation of directional cosines because the high altitude of the GPS satellites renders the directional cosines relatively insensitive to errors in satellite locations-in-space. The almanac-based directional cosines are then used in post-processing to map reference station corrections to user receiver stand-alone position information for correcting the user position. An advantage asserted by Hatch is that substantially less information is required to be saved by the user for post-processing. However, Hatch does not address the issue of the acquisition time for the user receiver for receiving ephemeris data for ranging in order to obtain the stand-alone position.
There is a need for a differential GPS system where a remote GPS user receiver has a fast time to first fix without a requirement of receiving ephemeris data.

Differential global positioning system using almanac data for a fast time to first fix


A backplane includes: a substrate, a pixel electrode, which includes a transparent conductive material, on the substrate, a capacitor first electrode formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode, a first protection layer covering the capacitor first electrode and an upper edge of the pixel electrode, a gate electrode of a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the first protection layer, a capacitor second electrode formed on the same layer as the gate electrode, a first insulating layer that covers the gate electrode and the capacitor second electrode, a semiconductor layer that is formed on the first insulating layer and includes a transparent conductive material, a second insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer, source and drain electrodes of the TFT that are formed on the second insulating layer, and a third insulating layer that covers the source and drain electrodes and exposes the pixel electrode.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a backplane for a flat panel display apparatus, a flat panel display apparatus including the same, and a method of manufacturing the backplane for the flat panel display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Flat panel display apparatuses, including organic light emitting display apparatuses and liquid crystal display apparatuses, are formed on active type backplanes that include thin film transistors (TFTs) and capacitors formed in each pixel to realize high resolution displays.
Oxide semiconductor TFTs are evaluated as optimum devices that can be applied to backplanes for flat panel display apparatuses since they have high performance characteristics and can be processed at a low temperature. However, a process for manufacturing backplanes for flat panel display apparatuses that include oxide semiconductors TFT generally includes a plurality of mask processes, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.

Backplane for flat panel display apparatus, flat panel display apparatus, and method of manufacturing the backplane


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for allocating blocks of memory in a virtual storage device based on access frequency. The method includes the steps of tracking access frequency for a plurality of blocks of memory in a virtual storage device utilizing a heat map and reallocating the plurality of blocks of memory in the virtual storage device among a plurality of blocks of memory in two or more real storage devices based on the heat map. The heat map includes at least one data structure that maps block identifiers corresponding to the plurality of blocks of memory in the virtual storage device to heat values that represent the access frequency of a corresponding block of memory.

Many modern computing systems may implement virtualization of system resources for emulating a set of hardware resources configured to execute various processes. For example, a blade server may execute a hypervisor or virtual machine monitor that manages a plurality of virtual machines within a system. Each virtual machine may emulate a different set of hardware resources that may or may not be similar to the hardware resources of the server.
Some systems may include a resource that is implemented as a block device. A block device includes a number of blocks of non-volatile memory. Hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid state drives are all examples of hardware devices that can be implemented as a block device. Many systems may include a plurality of block devices for storing programs and/or data. These block devices do not necessarily have to be the same underlying technology. For example, some block devices may be conventional magnetic hard disk drives while other block devices may be solid state drives. Each of these devices may have different characteristics of operation. For example, one device may be faster than another device. When space is allocated in different devices, certain data may be stored on one device whereas other data is stored on another device. If the data stored on a slower device is accessed much more frequently than the data stored on a faster device, then the operation of the computer system may be inefficient. Thus, there is a need for addressing this issue and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Management of block storage devices based on access frequency wherein migration of block is based on maximum and minimum heat values of data structure that maps heat values to block identifiers, said block identifiers are also mapped to said heat values in first data structure


An optical data processing network having an optical network interface is disclosed. The optical data processing network includes a first multi-processor system and a second multi-processor system. The first multi-processor system includes a first set of processors and a first set of optical network interfaces electrically coupled to the first set of processors. Similarly, the second multi-processor system includes a second set of processors and a second set of optical network interfaces electrically coupled to the second set of processors. An optical cable is connected between the first set and the second set of optical network interfaces. The first multi-processor system communicates with the second multi-processor system via the optical cable.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to computer networks in general, and in particular to optical computer networks. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a data processing network having an optical network interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, multi-processor systems are employed to solve problems that cannot be solved quickly or efficiently with single processor systems. All processors within a multi-processor system are typically interconnected to each other. Such interconnections are typically accomplished by a network switch connected to each processor that can switch signals from any processor to any other processor.
As the processing speed of processors become faster, the speed that they need to communicate with each other also increases in order to maintain optimum performance in a multi-processor system. The amount of data transferred among processors also increases as the speed of the processor increases. Thus, the network switches tend to become the bottle-neck of a multi-processor system and subsequently limit the overall performance of the multi-processor system.
Further, in some cases, the more processors there are in a multi-processor system, the more wires are needed to connect from processors to a network switch. As a result, the cabling becomes too bulky.
The present disclosure describes an improved data processing network having multi-processors.

Data processing network having an optical network interface

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A dynamic information transfer system in which there are at least two targets 110 120, one of which is a mobile target 110 and among which information can be transferred. The targets 110 120 possess systems to store, process, and use information and programs in the form of an intelligent software agent (ISA) system 130 associated with each target that is capable of initiating actions and negotiating with other agents or systems in the network. The ISA system 130 includes a personal assistant device (PAD), or the like, that interacts with the user, and performs operations on the user""s behalf. A Location Determination System (LDS) 140 is utilized to determine the user""s geographic position and the user""s direction and speed of travel, if mobile. Virtual zones 150 are used to trigger data transfers among the involved targets, events, or programs to be initiated or terminated at one of the involved targets. Virtual zones 150 are bounded areas encompassing targets that are calculated dynamically from the location, direction, speed, and current or pending user activities associated with all involved targets. A User Profile is created and maintained either manually by the user or automatically by the user""s PAD, and which specifies various user preferences related to such things as software programs, communications and messaging, entertainment, scheduling, and the degree of freedom and behavior of the PAD itself.

The present invention relates generally to the transfer of information and more particularly to the dynamic transfer of information among multiple moving and/or fixed targets.
There are currently many technologies, devices, and services that contribute to the productivity of mobile people primarily by enabling them to access information and communicate with others. Up until now, there has not existed a system that coordinates information pertaining to time, distance, and motion in order to maximize an individual""s schedule or activities. There is an opportunity heretofore unaddressed by current technologies to use information about a person who may be in transit to intelligently manage the transfer of information among multiple other entities. Transferred information is then used to coordinate and initiate events of importance while the person is in transit. Events can be initiated at a place from which the person has departed, at a destination to which the person is approaching, or even in other people""s mobile environments.
A Dynamic Information Transfer (DIT) system according to the present invention enables the use of information associated with a mobile target or information associated with a number of mobile targets for purposes of actively and autonomously transferring information for the benefit of the person associated with the target. A DIT system utilizes intelligent software agents (ISAs) to manage and coordinate network based operations, such as collecting data, transferring data, initiating events or programs, and negotiating with other ISAs in the network. One particular intelligent agent, sometimes referred to as a personal assistant device (PAD), interacts with a user through a user interface and is programmed directly or by autonomous acquisition to perform a variety of tasks on behalf of a user. A user is a person that is associated with a target. A user can move from one target to another such as when the user departs his office and enters his automobile.
A DIT system continually monitors a mobile target""s location via a Location Determination System, such as, for instance, the satellite navigation Global Positioning System (GPS) or cellular tower triangulation, and calculates the mobile target""s direction and speed based on changes of location over time. A DIT system also monitors the context and nature of the mobile target""s activities, such as the networks, applications, services, files, and data types that are in use at each moment. Information about the mobile target""s location, direction, speed, and current tasks is transmitted to other mobile targets and/or fixed targets either periodically or at the request of systems associated with the other targets. Thus, a mobile target""s location, direction, and speed might be transmitted periodically, and information about its current tasks might be transmitted only when requested by systems associated with the destination target.
In order to determine what types of information need to be transmitted and at what times, targets in a DIT system continually calculate one or more virtual zones. Virtual zones are artificial bounded areas encompassing each target. Virtual zones function as triggering mechanisms when their boundaries are crossed. Crossing into or departing a virtual zone can trigger requests for information, transfers of information, or the initiation of events or programs in other targets. The geometry or dimensions of each virtual zone are based on, among other things, the time required to complete or initiate events or programs at a target in order to synchronize the event or program with the user""s arrival, the position, direction, and speed of a target, and the nature of the tasks or activities in which a user associated with a target is engaged. For instance, tasks, events, or programs that require more time to complete are associated with larger virtual zones. Thus, when a larger virtual zone is entered into more time is allotted to perform specified functions associated with entry into that virtual zone.
When a mobile target enters a virtual zone of a second target (either mobile or fixed), the second target will perform the data transfer or program initiation operations that are associated with entry into that virtual zone. The second target may, for instance, initiate an event at its location, transfer information to the first target, or request further information from the first target. When a target system is queried for information, it may, in turn, initiate a swarming operation in a network, where one or more ISAs are dispatched to find, retrieve, and return with requested information.
As a user switches from one target to another such as when leaving work and entering an automobile or arriving home and moving from the automobile into the house, there may be activities in which the user is engaged and must be terminated, but which the user wishes to resume. In these cases, a DIT system would perform a warm transfer of information such that the context and nature of the user""s activities will be transferred to the second target and reestablished there. For example, an user may be listening to his PAD as it reads e-mail messages, and upon arriving home, the home system has already started the computer, made any necessary network connections, launched the user""s e-mail application, and opened the particular e-mail message the user was reading/listening to when the process was terminated in the first (mobile) target.
According to a first embodiment of the invention there is a system for dynamically transferring information between at least two targets, one of which is mobile. A processing device is associated with each target and communicates with a location determination system. In addition, the processing device is capable of performing data transfers with all other targets. Each processing device determines virtual zones that encompass its respective target. Moreover, each processing device contains data pertaining to events to be initiated upon entry into or departure from a virtual zone. Events are triggered when one target enters a virtual zone of another target as determined by the location determination system.
According to a second embodiment of the invention there is a method of dynamically transferring information between a mobile target and a fixed target. A location determination system determines the position of the mobile target in relation to the fixed target. A plurality of virtual zones encompassing the fixed target are determined based on specified events that are to occur at the fixed target. The mobile target""s current position is communicated to the fixed target on a periodic basis and data transfers are automatically triggered when the mobile target crosses into a virtual zone of the fixed target. The data transfers initiate the events that are to occur.
According to a third embodiment of the invention there is a computer program product for dynamically transferring information between a mobile target and a fixed target. The computer program product has a medium with a computer program embodied thereon. Computer program code determines the position of the mobile target in relation to the fixed target via communication with a location determination system. Computer program code further determines a plurality of virtual zones encompassing the fixed target. The mobile target""s current position is communicated to the fixed target on a periodic basis and computer program code automatically triggers a data transfer when the mobile target crosses into a virtual zone of the fixed target.
According to a fourth embodiment of the invention there is a method of dynamically transferring information among a plurality of mobile targets. The positions of each mobile target are determined using a location determination system. A plurality of virtual zones encompassing each mobile target are also determined. The current position of each mobile target is communicated to the other mobile targets and events are automatically triggered when one mobile target crosses into a virtual zone of another mobile target.
According to a fifth embodiment of the invention there is a method for performing a warm transfer of data between first and second targets. Data, and the context of its use, that is currently being used within the first target is saved and communicated to the second target. The second target lamches applications necessary to load the saved data such that its use may be resumed in the same context in the second target and at the same point it was last used in the first target.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Method and apparatus for dynamic information transfer from a mobile target to a fixed target that tracks their relative movement and synchronizes data between them


This application provides a method for determining a time-domain resource used for grant-free transmission. The method includes: obtaining, by a terminal device, a first time-domain period and a second time-domain period of grant-free transmission resources, where a size of the first time-domain period is P1 time units, a size of the second time-domain period is P2 time units, and P1 is greater than or equal to P2; obtaining, by the terminal device, a quantity k of grant-free transmission resources in the first time-domain period; and determining, by the terminal device based on the first time-domain period, the second time-domain period, and the quantity k of grant-free transmission resources in the first time-domain period, an index of a time unit in which a grant-free transmission resource used for grant-free transmission is located. In this way, grant-free transmission resources configured for the terminal device in two adjacent periods do not overlap.

Uplink grant-free transmission is an uplink data sending method in which data is sent immediately after received. To be specific, when data arrives, instead of sending a scheduling request (SR) to a network device to request the network device to allocate an uplink transmission resource, and sending the uplink data to the network device after receiving grant information sent by the network device, a terminal device directly sends the uplink data to the network device by using a resource pre-allocated by the network device, a specified transmission parameter, and the like. In comparison with a conventional "request-grant"-based transmission method, an uplink data sending method in which data is sent immediately after received, such as uplink grant-free transmission, has obvious beneficial effects. For example, uplink grant-free transmission can greatly reduce signaling overheads, a transmission latency, and power consumption of a terminal device.
In uplink grant-free transmission, a network device needs to pre-allocate a grant-free transmission resource to a terminal device, which specifically includes: allocating, to the terminal device, a transmission resource, transmission parameters, and the like. The transmission parameters mainly include: a grant-free transmission resource time-domain period, a time-domain resource offset parameter, a time-domain resource allocation, a frequency-domain resource allocation, user-specific demodulation reference signal configuration information, a modulation and coding scheme/a transport block size, a quantity of repetitions, a power control-related parameter, and the like.
In the prior art, there is a method for configuring grant-free transmission resources based on dual periods. To be specific, grant-free transmission resources that are allocated by a network device to a terminal device have two time-domain periods, where a long time-domain period is used to configure the first grant-free transmission resource in a grant-free transmission resource group, and a short time-domain period is used to configure another grant-free transmission resource in the grant-free transmission resource group. In the existing grant-free transmission resource configuration method, a previous grant-free transmission resource group may overlap a current grant-free transmission resource group, resulting in high complexity of determining a time unit in which a grant-free transmission resource of the terminal device is located.

Method and apparatus for determining time-domain resource used for grant-free transmission


The present invention is directed toward a method and system for tracking webpage requests from web browsers without invading the privacy of the corresponding users. A server receives the webpage requests, and extracts from each of them a user-neutral identifier and URL. The server creates records of these webpage requests, and these records are used to create and update profiles for the corresponding user-neutral identifiers. Since the user-neutral identifiers are not tied to user-specific information, the profiles are made anonymous and user privacy can be protected. However, since each user-neutral identifier is tied to a particular web browser, useful information regarding individual browsing behavior can be obtained. Furthermore, the requested URL's can be categorized before being used to update the profiles, thus eliminating concerns that a user's browsing activity might be tracked from website to website.

Currently, individual websites and advertisers use "cookies" to track and collect information on users' behaviors and affinities, as well as personalize content to individual users. A cookie is a type of file stored to the user's device by the device's browser. Such files are also referred to as "web cookies," "browser cookies," and "HTTP cookies."
Essentially, cookies are pieces of data sent to the browser by a website's web server. When the user initiates a request for a web page, the browser returns these pieces of data to the server, thereby introducing a state (memory of previous events) into an otherwise stateless hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) transaction. Without cookies, each request for a webpage or component of a webpage is an isolated event. Other than being set by a web server, cookies can also be set by a script in a language such as JavaScript, if supported and enabled by the web browser.
Cookies are often used to track Internet users' web browsing habits. While this can also be done at some level by using internet protocol (IP) addresses, cookies provide greater precision and assurance of uniqueness of an individual. The general process for creating and using such cookies is described below.
The process is initiated when a browser on a client device sends a request to a website for a particular webpage. The website and webpage are identified by a uniform resource locator (URL) included in the request. After receiving such request, the website server will attempt to read any cookie previously stored on the client (e.g., by sending a request to the client for a cookie), and discover that the client contains no cookie. Lacking a cookie, the website server assumes this is the first visit by the user. Therefore, the server creates a cookie, and sends it back to the client browser together with a generic version of the requested webpage. On subsequent requests to the same website, the information collected by the cookie is automatically sent by the browser with the request, and the website server may customize the requested webpage based on the data in the cookie. In this way the website can log the cookie along with the corresponding URL requests sent to that site. By analyzing the log file, it is possible to find out which pages on the website the user has visited, and in what sequence.
However, cookies are considered more of a PC-based technology, which tends not to operate as well in a mobile environment. The use of cookies in a mobile environment can be inefficient and fraught with risks. For instance, many mobile devices do not have a browser capable of storing a cookie. Also, mobile devices commonly do not permit applications to store files in a location accessible in the manner required by a cookie. Furthermore, many mobile service providers block the use of cookies, either through management policies on the device or within the network itself. Thus many Internet sites (especially mobile sites) are unable to provide cookie functionality to mobile browsers, resulting in a sub-optimal Internet browsing experience for mobile users. This could result in an inability to gather data regarding a mobile device's browsing history or retain information about the mobile user, thus reducing or eliminating certain functionality. For example, web sites may not be able to offer a mobile user the "remember me" function, or customized and dynamic page presentation based on the user's likes and browsing history.
Since a cookie is generally implemented by a website, they only produce information based on the use of that specific site. While cross-domain cookies (cookies that work across several domain names) and "cookie exchanges" (organizations that attempt to synchronize a view of a user's affinities and behaviors by aggregating information from multiple cookies) exist, they still only collect information regarding a limited number of sites. These approaches lead to a disaggregated view of the user that significantly skews usage patterns, and thus do not accurately reflect the user's affinities, behaviors, etc.
Also, users are more and more frequently accessing websites through multiple devices, such as home and work computers, laptops, web-enabled phones, tablets, and TVs. With the use of multiple web browsers comes a proliferation of cookies, multiple views of a user's affinities and behaviors, and more entities using cookie exchange and cross-domain cookie technologies that expose the user to greater intrusions of privacy.
Risk of exposure of private information is a concern to many consumers. The operation of cookies is essentially hidden from users, and the intentions of the companies employing many of the cookies are unknown. Many mobile users are afraid of the potential exposure of private information to the cookies, and thus do not allow or tolerate cookies on their mobile devices. The propagation of cross-domain cookies and cookie exchanges adds to the lack of security and reliability of the information collected.
As an alternative to cookies, another way to track a user's behavior, affinities, and personal information is by placing a probe, or "packet sniffing" type device, in the network. Such a device can log user interactions at the network level. This technology is usually employed as a program or piece of hardware, which intercepts and logs traffic passing over a digital network. As the data flows across the network, the sniffer or probe captures each packet and, if needed, decodes the packet to reveal the values of the various fields in the packets.
Probe and packet sniffing technologies do not intrude on a device like cookies. However, they do present privacy issues in that they rely on some type of information within the network that is unique to the user such as an account ID, phone number, etc. Since this information is directly linked to an individual who can be personally identified by the network operator, this form of data gathering intrudes upon personally-identifiable information and is hence subject to strict regulatory control.
Other issues are also raised by the use of probe and packet sniffing technology. For example, such technology must be appropriately placed in the network typology in order to collect the traffic of interest. Within a mobile environment, multiple installations may be required thus increasing costs. Further, even multiple installations do not overcome the fact that many users roam outside their service provider's network, and thus have browsing traffic unseen by their home network operator. Also, since many networks are beginning to share capacity, multiple business entities would need to share information to enable a full view of a user's interactions with the Internet. This further raises privacy concerns (and also raises business concerns, e.g., whether customer information should be shared with a competitor). Moreover, today's devices feature more and more multiple access technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi. When a mobile phone user accesses the Internet via one of these alternative networks, the user's mobile operator remains blind to the traffic created by the user.

Server side mobile audience intelligence creation


Method and process plant for liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas with multicomponent refrigerant, suited for small and medium sized scale, where the plant solely is based on conventional two-flow plate heat exchangers and conventional oil lubricated compressors. By the arrangement of the heat exchangers and the compressors according to the invention it is avoided that oil from the compressors, that to some extend will follow the flow of refrigerant, may reach the coldest parts of the plant. Any freezing of oil and plugging of conduit etc. is thus avoided.

The present invention relates to a method for liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas, using multicomponent refrigerant.
Liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas, is well known from larger industrial plants, so called xe2x80x9cbaseloadxe2x80x9d plants, and from peak shaving plants. Such plants have the property in common that they convert a substantial quantum gas pr time, so they can bear a significant upfront investment. The costs pr gas volume will still be relatively low over time. Multicomponent refrigerants are commonly used for such plants, as this is the most effective way to reach the sufficiently low temperatures.
Kleemenko (10th International Congress of Refrigeration, 1959) describes a process for multicomponent cooling and liquefaction of natural gas, based on use of multiflow heat exchangers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,535 describes a plant for the same purpose, based on three-flow spiral heat exchangers with a an upward flow direction for the condensing fluid and a downward flow direction for the vaporizing fluid.
A similar plant is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,685, in which however the heat exchangers are two-flow heat exchangers over two steps of pressure and with flow directions as mentioned above.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,041,745 describes a plant for liquefaction of natural gas partly based on two-flow heat exchangers, where the most volatile component of the refrigerant is condensed out in an open process. In such an open process it is required that the gas composition is adapted to the purpose. Closed processes are generally more versatile.
There is however, a need for liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas, many places where it is not possible to enjoy large scale benefits, for instance in connection with local distribution of natural gas, where the plant is to be arranged at a gas pipe, while the liquefied gas is transported by trucks, small ships or the like. For such situations there is a need for smaller and less expensive plants.
Small plants will also be convenient in connection with small gas fields, for example of so called associated gas, or in connection with larger plants where it is desired to avoid flaring of the gas. In the following the term xe2x80x9cproduct gasxe2x80x9d is used synonymously with natural gas.
For such plants it is more important with low investment costs than optimal energy optimization. Furthermore a small plant may be factory assembled and transported to the site of use in one or several standard containers.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method and a process plant for the liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas, that is adapted for small and medium sized scale liquefaction.
It is furthermore an object to provide a plant for the liquefaction of gas for which the investment costs are modest.
It is thus a derived object to provide a method and a small scale process plant for cooling and liquefaction of gas, particularly natural gas, with a multicomponent refrigerant, where the plant is solely based on conventional two-flow plate heat exchangers and conventional oil lubricated compressors. It is furthermore a derived object to provide a small scale plant for the liquefaction of natural gas, which plant may be transported factory assembled to the site of use.
With the plant according to the invention there is obtained a small scale plant for cooling and liquefaction, where the plant costs is not prohibitive of a cost-effective operation. By the way with which the components of the plant are combined, it is avoided that oil from the compressors, which to some extent will contaminate the refrigerant, follows the flow of refrigerant to the coldest parts of the plant. It is thus avoided that the oil freezes and plugs conduits etc., which is an essential part of the invention.
To obtain this it has been necessary to include equipment for distribution of refrigerant between pairs of heat exchangers in separate rows, where the heat exchangers that cool the product flow is denoted primary heat exchangers and the heat exchangers that cool/heat different components of the multicomponent refrigerant are denoted secondary heat exchangers. The primary and secondary heat exchangers may be of same type and have similar dimensions, but the number of plates will depend upon the flow rate through the heat exchangers.
Use of multicomponent refrigerant is known per se, while achieving the benefits inherent with being able to reach very low temperatures in a simple plant, based on conventional components, is not. With the plant according to the invention is also obtained a natural flow direction in the plant, namely so that evaporating fluid moves upward while condensing fluid moves downward, avoiding that gravity negatively interferes with the process.

Method and device for small scale liquefaction of a product gas


The present invention generally relates to novel bispecific antigen binding molecules for T cell activation and re-direction to specific target cells. In addition, the present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding such bispecific antigen binding molecules, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotides. The invention further relates to methods for producing the bispecific antigen binding molecules of the invention, and to methods of using these bispecific antigen binding molecules in the treatment of disease.

The selective destruction of an individual cell or a specific cell type is often desirable in a variety of clinical settings. For example, it is a primary goal of cancer therapy to specifically destroy tumor cells, while leaving healthy cells and tissues intact and undamaged.
An attractive way of achieving this is by inducing an immune response against the tumor, to make immune effector cells such as natural killer (NK) cells or cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) attack and destroy tumor cells. CTLs constitute the most potent effector cells of the immune system, however they cannot be activated by the effector mechanism mediated by the Fc domain of conventional therapeutic antibodies.
In this regard, bispecific antibodies designed to bind with one "arm" to a surface antigen on target cells, and with the second "arm" to an activating, invariant component of the T cell receptor (TCR) complex, have become of interest in recent years. The simultaneous binding of such an antibody to both of its targets will force a temporary interaction between target cell and T cell, causing activation of any cytotoxic T cell and subsequent lysis of the target cell. Hence, the immune response is re-directed to the target cells and is independent of peptide antigen presentation by the target cell or the specificity of the T cell as would be relevant for normal MHC-restricted activation of CTLs. In this context it is crucial that CTLs are only activated when a target cell is presenting the bispecific antibody to them, i.e. the immunological synapse is mimicked. Particularly desirable are bispecific antibodies that do not require lymphocyte preconditioning or co-stimulation in order to elicit efficient lysis of target cells.
Several bispecific antibody formats have been developed and their suitability for T cell mediated immunotherapy investigated. Out of these, the so-called BiTE (bispecific T cell engager) molecules have been very well characterized and already shown some promise in the clinic (reviewed in Nagorsen and Bauerle, Exp Cell Res 317, 1255-1260 (2011)). BiTEs are tandem scFv molecules wherein two scFv molecules are fused by a flexible linker. Further bispecific formats being evaluated for T cell engagement include diabodies (Holliger et al., Prot Eng 9, 299-305 (1996)) and derivatives thereof, such as tandem diabodies (Kipriyanov et al., J Mol Biol 293, 41-66 (1999)). A more recent development are the so-called DART (dual affinity retargeting) molecules, which are based on the diabody format but feature a C-terminal disulfide bridge for additional stabilization (Moore et al., Blood 117, 4542-51 (2011)). The so-called triomabs, which are whole hybrid mouse/rat IgG molecules and also currently being evaluated in clinical trials, represent a larger sized format (reviewed in Seimetz et al., Cancer Treat Rev 36, 458-467 (2010)).
The variety of formats that are being developed shows the great potential attributed to T cell re-direction and activation in immunotherapy. The task of generating bispecific antibodies suitable therefor is, however, by no means trivial, but involves a number of challenges that have to be met related to efficacy, toxicity, applicability and produceability of the antibodies.
Small constructs such as, for example, BiTE molecules—while being able to efficiently crosslink effector and target cells—have a very short serum half life requiring them to be administered to patients by continuous infusion. IgG-like formats on the other hand—while having the great benefit of a long half life—suffer from toxicity associated with the native effector functions inherent to IgG molecules. Their immunogenic potential constitutes another unfavorable feature of IgG-like bispecific antibodies, especially non-human formats, for successful therapeutic development. Finally, a major challenge in the general development of bispecific antibodies has been the production of bispecific antibody constructs at a clinically sufficient quantity and purity, due to the mispairing of antibody heavy and light chains of different specificities upon co-expression, which decreases the yield of the correctly assembled construct and results in a number of non-functional side products from which the desired bispecific antibody may be difficult to separate.
Different approaches have been taken to overcome the chain association issue in bispecific antibodies (see e.g. Klein et al., mAbs 6, 653-663 (2012)). For example, the 'knobs-into-holes' strategy aims at forcing the pairing of two different antibody heavy chains by introducing mutations into the CH3 domains to modify the contact interface. On one chain bulky amino acids are replaced by amino acids with short side chains to create a 'hole'. Conversely, amino acids with large side chains are introduced into the other CH3 domain, to create a 'knob'. By coexpressing these two heavy chains (and two identical light chains, which have to be appropriate for both heavy chains), high yields of heterodimer ('knob-hole') versus homodimer ('hole-hole' or 'knob-knob') are observed (Ridgway, J. B., et al., Protein Eng. 9 (1996) 617-621; and WO 96/027011). The percentage of heterodimer could be further increased by remodeling the interaction surfaces of the two CH3 domains using a phage display approach and the introduction of a disulfide bridge to stabilize the heterodimers (Merchant, A. M., et al., Nature Biotech. 16 (1998) 677-681; Atwell, S., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 270 (1997) 26-35). New approaches for the knobs-into-holes technology are described in e.g. in EP 1870459 A1.
The 'knobs-into-holes' strategy does, however, not solve the problem of heavy chain-light chain mispairing, which occurs in bispecific antibodies comprising different light chains for binding to the different target antigens.
A strategy to prevent heavy chain-light chain mispairing is to exchange domains between the heavy and light chains of one of the binding arms of a bispecific antibody (see WO 2009/080251, WO 2009/080252, WO 2009/080253, WO 2009/080254 and Schaefer, W. et al, PNAS, 108 (2011) 11187-11191, which relate to bispecific IgG antibodies with a domain crossover).
Exchanging the heavy and light chain variable domains VH and VL in one of the binding arms of the bispecific antibody (WO2009/080252, see also Schaefer, W. et al, PNAS, 108 (2011) 11187-11191) clearly reduces the side products caused by the mispairing of a light chain against a first antigen with the wrong heavy chain against the second antigen (compared to approaches without such domain exchange). Nevertheless, these antibody preparations are not completely free of side products. The main side product is based on a Bence Jones-type interaction (Schaefer, W. et al, PNAS, 108 (2011) 11187-11191; in Fig. S1I of the Supplement). A further reduction of such side products is thus desirable to improve e.g. the yield of such bispecific antibodies.
The choice of target antigens and appropriate binders for both the T cell antigen and the target cell antigen is a further crucial aspect in the generation of T cell bispecific (TCB) antibodies for therapeutic application. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an attractive target antigen as the prevalence of CEA expression is generally high in tumors, but low in normal tissues. Accordingly, numerous antibodies have been raised against this target, one of which is the murine antibody T84.66 (Wagener et al., J Immunol 130, 2308 (1983), Neumaier et al., J Immunol 135, 3604 (1985)), which has also been chimerized (WO 1991/01990) and humanized (WO 2005/086875). WO 2007/071426 or WO 2014/131712 describe bispecific antibodies targeting CD3 on T cells and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on target cells.
The present invention provides novel, improved bispecific antigen binding molecules designed for T cell activation and re-direction, targeting CD3 and CEA, that combine good efficacy and produceability with low toxicity and favorable pharmacokinetic properties.

Bispecific T cell activating antigen binding molecules


A continuous countercurrent flow process for converting FGD gypsum to ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate including countercurrent flows with internal recycle of liquids to maximize the purity of reaction products while minimizing reaction times, and further include embodiments of the process that provide a yield of both ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate to be 97 to 100%, and embodiments that provide for processes having a total time of reaction being 8 to 12 minutes, the invention further including processes for removing contaminants from the FGD gypsum employing an acid rinse process and/or a slurry tank reactor process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate from gypsum obtained from flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems located at electric power plants. While FGD gypsum provides a cheap source of gypsum, the physical structure of the gypsum crystalline particles may have characteristics that make it difficult to react with other chemicals. The process of the present invention overcomes this problem and other difficulties to result in an economically viable method to produce ammonium sulfate of high purity and yield.
FGD gypsum is a synthetic product resulting from sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission control systems used at fossil fuel and particularly, coal combustion power plants to remove sulfur from the combustion gases using "scrubber" devices. The sulfur dioxide is derived from any sulfur containing compounds in the fuels. A wet scrubber uses lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) or more typically, limestone (calcium carbonate) to react with sulfur dioxide gas to remove the sulfur in a solid form. The reaction in wet scrubbing uses a limestone (CaCO3)-water slurry to produce calcium sulfite (CaSO3) according to the following chemical reaction:CaCO3 (solid)+SO2 (gas)→CaSO3 (solid)+CO2 (gas)
In the above chemical reaction, the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) causes a potential detrimental release of carbon dioxide into the flue gas which may lead to violation of air quality regulations and possibly lead to a greater atmospheric greenhouse effect.
To partially offset the cost of the FGD installation, the CaSO3 (calcium sulfite) may be further oxidized (known as forced oxidation) to produce CaSO4.2H2O (FGD gypsum) according to the following chemical reaction:CaSO3 (solid)+H2O (liquid)+½O2 (gas)→CaSO4 (solid)+H2O Hydration CaSO4.½H2O+1½H2O→CaSO4.2H2O
FGD gypsum consists of small, fine, crystalline particles and is chemically nearly identical to mined natural gypsum. However, FGD gypsum produced at different power plants may differ slightly in chemical composition and in crystalline structure. Most chemical differences are due to impurities from the employed fuel. Structurally, however, some FGD gypsum may be composed of crystalline particles that have less surface area and are thus less reactive than other FGD gypsum crystalline particles. FGD crystals that are thicker and more spherical have less reactive surface area. Thus, a process that employs FGD gypsum as a starting material, must be able to accommodate the less reactive FGD gypsum particles as well as FGD gypsum crystalline particles resulting from other FGD installations that produce particles having flatter, more disc like structure with greater reactive surface area.
The process of the present invention employs a chemical reaction of FGD gypsum with ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3) to produce ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Both the ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate products are commercially valuable materials and are produced by the present process in high purity and high yield.
Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S) is used most commonly as a chemical fertilizer for alkaline soils. When applied to damp soil, an ammonium ion is released which creates a small amount of acid, that lowers the pH balance of the soil. In the soil, the ammonium ions are converted to nitrate by soil bacteria which contributes nitrogen to the soil and aids in plant growth. Ammonium sulfate dissolves relatively slowly (ammonium sulfate—74.4 g/100 ml (20° C.), urea—107.9 g/100 ml (20° C.), ammonium nitrate—150 g/100 ml (20° C.)), which makes for more efficient use and thus reduces cost compared to some other artificial fertilizers.
Common nitrogen fertilizers include anhydrous ammonia (82% N), urea (46% N), urea and ammonium nitrate solutions (28-32% N), ammonium sulfate (21% N) and ammonium nitrate (34% N). Ammonium sulfate (21%) is a nitrogen source with little or no surface volatilization loss when applied to most soils. It is easy to store and is not as hygroscopic as ammonium nitrate. Ammonium sulfate is a good source of sulfur when it is needed to correct or prevent a sulfur deficiency. In areas with high pH soils, the sulfur in ammonium sulfate helps lower soil pH levels.
In addition to use as fertilizer, ammonium sulfate is used as an agricultural spray adjuvant for water soluble insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. In this capacity, it functions to bind iron and calcium cations that are present in both well water and plant cells. It is particularly effective as an adjuvant for 2,4-D (amine), glyphosate, and glufosinate herbicides.
Ammonium sulfate is used in flame retardant materials because it lowers the combustion temperature and increases the production of residues or chars.
In biochemistry, ammonium sulfate precipitation is a common method for purifying proteins by precipitation. As such, ammonium sulfate is also listed as an ingredient in many vaccines used in the United States. The DTap vaccine, which protects children from diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, uses ammonium sulfate for this purpose.
Fine calcium carbonate results as precipitated particles from the process of the present invention and is useful in many industries.
High purity calcium carbonate is used as dietary calcium supplement to help ensure healthy bones and teeth. Calcium carbonate supplement is effective to treat certain medical disorders related to calcium deficiency such as osteoporosis and to reduce acid in the stomach and relieve indigestion and heartburn. For irritable bowel syndrome, a calcium carbonate supplement may be taken to reduce or relieve diarrhea. Calcium carbonate is used in the production of toothpaste and as an inert substance in pharmaceutical or dietary supplement tablets.
Fine calcium carbonate is the most preferred mineral in the paper industry, used for filling and coating paper. It helps in production of the best quality printing papers. Precipitated calcium carbonate is used as a filler in paper because it is cheaper than wood fiber wherein printing and writing paper can contain 10-20% calcium carbonate. In North America, calcium carbonate has begun to replace kaolin in the production of glossy paper. Europe has been practicing this as alkaline or acid-free papermaking for several decades. Precipitated calcium carbonate is especially useful compared to ground calcium carbonate because of having a very fine and controlled particle size, on the order of 2 micrometers in diameter, which is of particular utility in producing coatings for paper.
In the oil industry, calcium carbonate is added to drilling fluids as a formation-bridging and filter cake sealing agent and can also be used as a weighting material to increase the density of drilling fluids to control the down-hole pressure.
Additionally, with respect to the above described production of carbon dioxide by scrubbing the flue gas which ultimately produces FGD gypsum, the ammonium carbonate used in the process of the present invention will be produced by removing the carbon dioxide created by the scrubber and reacting it with ammonia in a separate reactor and process to produce the ammonium carbonate. Thus, a complete recycle of the scrubber carbon dioxide will be achieved by employing it in the form of ammonium carbonate to feed back into the process of the present invention. This would help lead to compliance with air quality regulations and possibly lead to less atmospheric greenhouse effect.
2. Description of Related Art
Because of increasingly stringent flue gas environmental standards for coal fired, electric power plants, the amount of solid waste, such as FGD gypsum, generated by flue gas scrubbers has increased to a very large volume. While others have previously attempted to make useful products from the FGD gypsum or similar gypsum waste products, they have failed to employ processes that can produce ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate of the high purity and efficiency of yield provided by the process of the present invention.
For example, the publication, WO 2005/11822A discloses a process for treating phosphogypsum that produces calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate, but the calcium carbonate is impure due to the process failure to include a procedure to remove ammonium sulfate or ammonium carbonate from the produced calcium carbonate. The disclosed process also fails to include procedures for purifying the incoming gypsum feedstock.
In the British patent, GB 437,278, a process is disclosed for the treatment of combustion and distillation gases from gas works and coke ovens by contacting the gases with calcium carbonate to recover calcium sulfate (gypsum) and react it with ammonia and carbon dioxide from the gases to make ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. However, the produced calcium carbonate is contaminated with calcium sulfate and the conversion of reactants to products is incomplete.
The German patent no. 610786 discloses a process for continuous conversion of calcium sulfate and ammonium carbonate to ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. This patent shows the difficulty in obtaining reaction products, such as calcium carbonate of high purity due to the difficulty of separating the small precipitated crystals of calcium carbonate from the ammonium sulfate. In this process, seed crystals of calcium carbonate are added to the produced ammonium sulfate solution to grow large crystals of calcium carbonate which can be more effectively filtered and removed from the ammonium sulfate product.
German patent no. 612806 disclosed a process for continuous conversion of calcium sulfate and ammonium carbonate to ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. Significantly, the disclosed process is co-current and not countercurrent as in one embodiment of the present invention and the time required for conversion is about five hours which is much slower than the conversion by the present countercurrent process which is about ten minutes. While the disclosed conversion yield is 97%, the conversion yield of the present countercurrent process is as high as approximately 100%.

Process for converting FGD gypsum to ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate