Apparatus and methods are provided for variable length encoding and transmitting a plurality of predetermined portions of digital image signals which has been encoded to compress image data therein. Each of the plurality of predetermined portions is variable length encoded to form a corresponding one of a plurality of variable length encoded portions. The amount of data in each of the portions is limited so that an amount of data contained in the corresponding variable length encoded portion is equal to or less than a predetermined target value. The variable length encoded portions are arranged in a plurality of sync blocks having a predetermined data length such that each portion is contained entirely within a respective number of sync blocks and the sync blocks are transmitted via a transmission medium.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for transmitting compressed digital image signals, such as digital image signals subjected to discrete cosine transformation (DCT) for highly efficient coding.
Digital video tape recorders (VTRs) are available for recording digital video signals on magnetic tape with the use of rotating heads. Digital video signals contain large amounts of data, so that it is desirable to employ a highly efficient coding technique for compressing such data for transmission, for example, for recording on magnetic tape. Discrete cosine transformation has been employed for this purpose.
Discrete cosine transformation carries out a transformation of image data into the frequency domain. An image provided as a frame of digital data is subdivided into blocks of data, for example, eight-by-eight pixel blocks, and each of the blocks is transformed into the frequency domain to effect an orthogonal transformation thereof. The DCT process yields blocks of frequency coefficient data in eight-by-eight format. Thereafter, the blocks of coefficient data are variable length encoded utilizing for example, run length encoding, Huffman encoding, or the like, prior to transmission. Typically, a block synchronization signal is added to the variable length encoded data at intervals of predetermined data amounts for transmission.
Digital video recording apparatus, such as digital VTRs and apparatus for recording on disc-shaped recording media, normally record each field or frame of video data entirely in a respective track or in a respective group of tracks. However, when the video data is variable length encoded, the amount of data varies from frame to frame due to variations in the informational content of the various frames. In order to record the data of each field or frame entirely in a respective track or group of tracks, it is necessary to ensure that the amount of data within each field or frame is limited so that it does not exceed a predetermined target value. For this purpose, a buffering process is carried out to control the amount of data generated for each field or frame interval. However, since the amount of data in a given field or frame is very large, both a large memory capacity and complex processing circuitry are required for this purpose.
Consequently, it is desirable to employ a buffering process which controls data amounts in predetermined data intervals which are considerably shorter than one frame. Such data intervals are referred to as "buffering units" and, as ultimately included in sync block format, as "video groups".
Each buffering unit or video group has a predetermined quantization interval for the data included therein. Often, data from different video groups are contained in the same sync block, so that respective quantization numbers representing the quantization intervals of each of the video groups should also be included in each sync block. To decrease redundancy in the data, however, only one quantization number is transmitted for each video group. Consequently, when the quantization number for a respective video group suffers an error in transmission, none of the data in the corresponding video group can be recovered.
A further problem occurs when the data is reproduced in a variable speed reproduction mode, that is, wherein the tape speed differs from that at which the data was recorded. In the variable speed reproduction mode, the scanning path of the reproducing heads does not correspond with the tracks on the tape, so that the data is not reproduced continuously. Consequently, in this mode the validity of each reproduced sync block must be determined. When the data of a video group exceeds the capacity of a sync block, the quantization number for that video group may be included in one sync block while a portion of the corresponding data may be included in one or more other sync blocks. Accordingly, an otherwise valid sync block may be reproduced in the variable speed reproduction mode, while its quantization number may be included in another sync block which was not reproduced. In that event, none of the data within the corresponding video group can be recovered. This leads generally to a overall decrease in the amount of data that can be reproduced in the variable speed reproduction mode.
If, however, the amount of data in each video group is smaller than the capacity of each sync block, the conventional sync block format may be illustrated as in FIG. 1, in which it is seen that the number of video groups in the various sync blocks varies. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each sync block includes first a block synchronization signal SYNC, then additional information AIN0, AIN1 and AIN2 each including a quantization number which identifies the quantization interval used in the buffering process for a respective video group which is contained in that sync block. Following the additional information, variable length encoded DCT coefficient data of either two or three video groups are included. Finally, parity data PT, generated as a result of error correction encoding, are included. As seen in FIG. 1, data from up to three video groups may be included in a single sync block. Consequently, each sync block includes at least three items of additional information data, that is, AIN0, AIN1 and AIN2 as shown in FIG. 1. The result is that a considerable amount of redundant information is included.
A further disadvantage of the conventional sync block format is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein a single sync block includes data from three separate video groups. It will be seen that due to the arrangement of the data in this fashion, a number of "empty" areas, designated "a", "b" and "c" in FIG. 2, result That is, because the data is variable length encoded, each group is likely to include less than a whole number of bytes, resulting in the empty area "a" at the end of the video groups as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the area "b" is provided at the beginning of the first, partial video group as a delimiter of the variable length encoded symbols continued from the previous sync block, while the area "c" is a delimiter of the variable length encoded symbols of the third video group which is continued into the following sync block.
As noted above, in the variable speed reproduction mode, data is not reproduced continuously so that the validity of each sync block must be determined. It is important, therefore, that quantization numbers for each video group present in each sync block be included therein. Consequently, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, both unnecessary data and meaningless data are contained in each sync block, so that the capacity to convey information is lessened and the amount of data which ultimately can be reproduced is decreased. It would be desirable, therefore, to include only a single quantization number in each sync block, as well as to decrease the number of video groups contained in each sync block.

Apparatus and methods for transmitting compressed digital image signals


A gear box includes a casing having an interior. A rotating component is arranged in the interior of the casing. A bearing including a rotating element, and a fixed element is connected with the casing in the interior. A submersible pump is arranged in the interior of the casing. The submersible pump includes a first housing portion extending about the rotating component fixedly mounted to the casing at the interior. A second housing portion is fixedly mounted to the casing at the interior and is aligned with the first housing portion. The first and second housing portions form a lubricant reservoir which holds lubricant. An impeller is mounted to the rotating component and arranged in the lubricant reservoir. One of the first and second housing portions includes an outlet through which the pumped lubricant is directed toward the rotating element.

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the art of vehicles and, more particularly, to a gear box having an integrated submersible pump for a vehicle.
Vehicles include gearboxes that may transfer energy from a prime mover into another system. In a rotorcraft, a main gearbox may transmit energy from the prime mover to a main rotor system. Rotorcraft may also possess a tail gearbox that transmits energy from the prime mover to a tail rotor assembly. Many gearboxes rely on centrifugal force generated by rotating components to splash lubricant onto bearings and other surfaces in need of lubricant. Other gearboxes may rely on external pumps.
Orientation changes and other factors may contribute to a lack or near lack of lubrication on one or more rotating components. Poor lubrication leads to heat generation and excessive wear and premature failure. External pumps should meet Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Oil-Out requirements, in addition they require space which is often lacking for various gearbox configuration, particularly tail rotor gearboxes. Replacing bearings and/or other rotating components is a costly endeavor leading to lengthy down times for the vehicle impacting the usage and profitability of the aircraft. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a lubrication system that would provide a flow of lubricant to a rotating component regardless of vehicle orientation without adding to an overall footprint of a gearbox. Further it would be desirable to design such a system that could be designed into new gearboxes or that could be kitted to drop-in to present configurations.

Gearbox with integrated submersible lubricant pump


The invention relaters to a device (100) for biological analysis by measurement of photoluminescence in a fluid in a measurement tank (111). This device (100) comprises at least two light sources (121, 131) adapted to emit in different spectral areas respectively appropriate for measurement of absorption and fluorescence, and a sensor device (140) comprising a sensor (141), an optical system (142), and filter means (144), which three elements are mutualized in accordance with the invention to enable absorption and/or fluorescence to be measured. In accordance with the invention the internal gain of the sensor (141) is configurable to enable the fluorescence and absorption measurements to be executed sequentially.

The field of the present invention is that of biological analysis, in particular hematological analysis. The invention relates to the general field of devices and methods for electro-optic measurements in a fluid present in a measuring tank. Such devices and methods are intended in particular for classifying and counting microscopic objects in a fluid, for example a biological fluid.
To be more precise, the invention relates to devices that use analysis methods based on using electrical and optical measurements to count and distinguish cells present in a sample to be analyzed. In the context of the present invention, this is preferably a blood sample.
With hematopoietic cells, the person skilled in the art knows that volumetric or diffractometric morphological analysis of the cell, including the phenomena of extinction or absorption, enables discrimination of the main cell lines includes erythrocytes (red cells), thrombocytes (platelets), and leucocytes (white cells). The white cell population is itself divided into a plurality of categories such as lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.
The maturity of these cells can to some extent be determined by determining simultaneously their volume and their apparent absorption of white light, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,181 filed by the Applicant. A device using quasi-monochromatic light is described in the patent WO 2006/053960.
This assessment of cellular maturity is very important because it enables early diagnosis. Generally speaking, most cells present in the circulating blood are mature cells.
For each of the above-mentioned cell types, the various levels of maturity are known. Thus red cells, also called erythrocytes, are first produced in the form of proerythroblasts, then basophilic erythroblasts, then polychromatophilic erythroblasts which evolve into acidophilic erythroblasts, then into reticulocytes. It is these reticulocytes that finally differentiate into erythrocytes once they have entered the circulating blood.
White cells, also called leucocytes, are also first produced in the bone marrow in the preliminary myeloblast form. These myeloblasts thereafter yield the progranulocyte that is then transformed into basophilic, eosinophilic or neutrophilic granulocyte, at first non-segmented and then with a nucleus that segments increasingly with age.
The same myeloblasts are also the source of the monocyte line that yields the monoblasts, promonocytes and then monocytes that enter the peripheral circulation.
The stem cells from which the myeloblasts originate also give rise to the lymphocyte line through a differentiation in lymphoid stem cell form, part of which line continues to mature in the thymus and the ganglions (line T) and the remainder remains in the bone marrow in order to yield the B lymphocyte line. The same B lymphocytes that, once activated in the form of plasmocytes, produce the antibodies to combat pathogenic antigens.
Blood platelets, also called thrombocytes, are derived from the megacaryoblasts, themselves stemming from the myeloid progenitor from which originate the myeloblasts which, on reaching the final stage of their maturation (thrombocytogen megacaryocytes) produce platelets by splitting their cytoplasm. The recent platelets (reticulated platelets) contain RNA that is the residue of the original cell.
The diagnosis of some pathologies requires the increasingly refined counting of hematopoietic cells. In particular, it becomes necessary to be able to show up new populations such as reticulocytes and erythroblasts that are the immature versions of erythrocytes. Similarly, showing up immature cells, precursors of the leucocytes, called immature lymphocytes, monocytes or granulocytes is of great importance. Likewise, classifying and counting the activated lymphocytes or reticulated platelets would make it possible to obtain a meaningful improvement in the diagnosis of patients.
Since the mean lifetime of a red cell is 120 days, the normal regeneration rate must therefore be 0.83%. The normal mean percentage generally accepted is in the range 0.5% to 1.5%, these values being higher (from 2% to 6%) in the neonate of less than 3 weeks. Observing and counting the reticulocytes is thus an indicator of erythropoietic activity and thus a parameter that is especially useful, in particular in monitoring medullary regrowth after chemotherapy, in follow-up treatment by recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo), in the anemia exploratory balance or in searching for a hemolysis or compensated hemorrhagia.
A few examples of pathologies in which differentiating and counting cells in this way are useful are given below.
The clinical benefit of counting erythroblasts may prove important for detecting certain forms of anemia, for example. The common characteristic of hemolytic anemia is the excess destruction of adult erythrocytes that may result from extracorpuscular factors or intrinsic anomalies of the structure or function of the erythrocytes.
Erythroleukemia is a variety of acute myeloblastic leukemia that is characterized by malignant proliferation of cells of the red line and precursors of the granular line. From the cytological point of view, peripheral hyperleucocytosis is noted at the initial stage with circulating blasts present (59%). The myelemia corresponds to the passage into the circulating blood of immature elements, the granular line or the erythrocyte line.
On the subject of differentiation, reticulocytes constitute one of the most interesting cell families and numerous methods exist and are under development in automated hematological analysis. These cell lines may be counted by marking nucleic acids by means of fluorescent coloring agents, for example asymmetrical cyanines, and in particular Thiazole Orange.
This molecule has unique physico-chemical characteristics for intra-cytoplasmic detection of nucleic acids (RNA or DNA). When free in solution, this molecule exhibits very little fluorescence induced by photo-excitation. The stereochemical configuration of Thiazole Orange is such that this molecule is interleaved between the bases of the nucleic acids. In this state the molecule fluoresces. Thus detecting and measuring the level of fluorescence makes it possible to quantify intra-cytoplasmic nucleic acids. The nature of the cells may be deduced from this quantification of intracytoplasmic nucleic acids combined with a second optical or electrical measurement, thus enabling them to be counted absolutely or relatively.
Existing electro-optic devices for measuring this fluorescence are relatively complex. They use considerable hardware resources, especially if high analysis rates are expected. In this situation, it is relatively standard practice to use a laser light source with a set of sensors for measuring diffraction, generally identified by the abbreviations FSC (forward scattering) and SSC (side scattering), or extinction, generally identified by the abbreviation ALL (axial light loss).
The same laser makes it possible to induce fluorescence of the marker or markers or the coloring agent or agents present on or in the cell at the moment of crossing the laser beam. In the standard manner, fluorescence light and diffraction light are separated on the basis of their spectral properties. To this end, multi-dielectric interference optical filters are generally used, i.e. filters obtained by the alternate deposition of two or more transparent materials having different refractive indices. To measure fluorescence photomultipliers or photodiodes are used that most of the time operate in avalanche mode. These systems are relatively complex from the optical and mechanical points of view.
US patent application 2006/0219873 discloses the use of an AGC (automatic gain control) avalanche photodiode. This device is used in a flow cytometer in which the gain of the photodiode is adjusted automatically as a function of the applied voltage.
Patent application EP 1 710 558 in the name of Sysmex discloses a plurality of sensors for recovering data from each light source. This device also effects only SSC measurements.
Patent application EP 0 533 333 discloses an on-line reader device in which the cells are not analyzed when flowing. Again, even though data may be obtained (absorption, fluorescence, reflectance data), the data is not obtained with a single sensor.
Patent application WO 2008/019448 discloses an epifluorescence device with no absorption reading.
Patent application EP 0 806 664 uses a plurality of sensors if it is necessary to obtain data from a plurality of different sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,285 discloses a device capable of counting particles marked with a plurality of fluorochromes. This device has a single-wavelength light source and a plurality of sensors capable of recovering the data of each fluorescence.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,307 discloses a device able to effect FSC, SSC and fluorescence measurements using plurality of different sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,954 (Becton Dickinson and Co), describes the use of a plurality of fluorescences associated with a plurality of photosensors to count cells when flowing. The gain of each photosensor may be modulated in order to adjust it to the fluorescence detected.
None of the known devices integrates the electro-optical and opto-fluidic measuring systems necessary for differentiating and counting biological cells, in particular those in the circulating blood. The size and complexity of the existing devices make them costly and complex to operate.

Electrooptic measurement device and method intended for classifying and counting microscopic elements


Disclosed are systems and methods that generate individual semantic layers for different object types within an environment. For each object type semantic layer and for an aerial vehicle, a semantic configuration space may be formed that indicates all valid aerial vehicle configurations in which the aerial vehicle does not collide with objects of the object type that exists in the environment. Finally, a combined configuration space may be formed by overlaying multiple semantic configuration spaces for object types known to be within the environment. The resulting combined configuration space indicates a common area in which the aerial vehicle can navigate according to the configuration of the common area and not collide with any objects of the object types represented by the combined semantic configuration spaces.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) need a minimum space that is clear and accessible for landing and/or takeoff and a clear space to navigate between different locations. In unfamiliar areas, delineating these spaces requires a mapping method that either uses 2D imagery, 3D models, or a combination of both to ascertain potential locations that are clear of objects and in which the UAS can operate. These techniques, which often use three-dimensional point-clouds or mesh models, are computationally expensive and data intensive. Plus, valuable flight time may be consumed by the UAS as it images an area and processes those images in search for a clear and accessible area to land.
While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims.


A turbocharger includes a turbine housing, an annular metal plate, and a scroll passage defining plate. The metal plate defines a connecting passage in the turbine housing. The connecting passage connects a turbine chamber and a turbine scroll passage to each other. The scroll passage defining plate includes a passage defining portion that defines the turbine scroll passage and an inner circumferential edge portion that extends from the inner circumferential edge portion of the passage defining portion and along the metal plate. The scroll passage defining plate has an inner circumferential edge that is fixed between the turbine housing and the metal plate. The scroll passage defining plate is arranged in the turbine housing such that the outer circumferential edge portion of the passage defining portion is movable relative to the turbine housing.

A turbocharger includes a bearing housing, a turbine housing, and a compressor housing. The bearing housing rotationally supports an impeller shaft. The turbine housing is coupled to a first end of the bearing housing. Exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine flows inside the turbine housing. The compressor housing is coupled to a second end of the bearing housing. Intake air conducted to the internal combustion engine flows inside the compressor housing. The turbine housing has a turbine chamber. The turbine chamber accommodates a turbine impeller, which is coupled to a first end of the impeller shaft and is rotated integrally with the impeller shaft by exhaust gas drawn into the turbine chamber. The compressor housing accommodates a compressor impeller, which is coupled to a second end of the impeller shaft and is rotated integrally with the impeller. When the turbine impeller is rotated by exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine, so that the compressor impeller is rotated integrally with the turbine impeller through the impeller shaft, the intake air flowing through the compressor housing is compressed by the rotation of the compressor impeller, so that the compressed intake air is supplied to the internal combustion engine. Such forced induction of intake air into the internal combustion engine performed by the turbocharger increases the intake efficiency of the internal combustion engine, thereby improving the performance of the internal combustion engine.
The turbocharger includes a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas on the downstream side of the turbine housing in the flowing direction of the exhaust gas. When heated to a temperature higher than or equal to the activation temperature, the catalyst exerts exhaust gas purifying capability. Thus, for example, when the exhaust gas temperature is low, the catalyst is not heated to a temperature higher than or equal to the activation temperature, so that the catalyst may not sufficiently purify the exhaust gas.
Typically, since a turbine housing needs to have a sufficient stiffness, the turbine housing is formed through casting to have thick walls. Accordingly, the turbine housing has a large mass and a large heat capacity. Thus, the heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the turbine housing is removed, so that the temperature is reduced. This extends the time for the catalyst to reach the activation temperature. Therefore, under the operating condition in which there is a demand for early warm-up of the catalyst, for example, during cold start of the internal combustion engine, the catalyst cannot be heated to a temperature higher than or equal to the activation temperature at an early stage.
As such, the turbocharger of Patent Document 1 includes a turbine scroll passage that is a part of the passage for conducting exhaust gas that has flowed into the turbine housing to the turbine housing. A part of the wall surface of the turbine scroll passage is constituted by a scroll passage defining plate (a heat shield plate). The scroll passage defining plate limits the transfer of heat from the exhaust gas to the turbine housing. This limits the reduction in the temperature of the exhaust gas while the exhaust gas flows through the turbine housing.
The turbocharger of Patent Document 1 also includes nozzle vanes (a variable valve). The nozzle vanes are pivotally supported by a first plate and a second plate, which are arranged to be opposed to each other. The first plate and the second plate define a connecting passage that connects the turbine scroll passage and the turbine chamber to each other in the turbine housing. The nozzle vanes are capable of changing the flow passage area of the connecting passage and regulates the flow velocity of the exhaust gas conducted to the turbine chamber.


A data storage system is described that provides seamless access to remote data storage areas via a global computer network. The data storage system includes one or more storage servers coupled to one or more storage devices. The storage devices provide a plurality of virtual storage areas, where each virtual storage area is assigned to a user. Access to the virtual storage areas is fully integrated with an operating system executing on a client computer such that the user, or software applications executing on the client computer, can seamlessly access the corresponding virtual storage area using standard file management routines provided by the operating system. In addition, the invention provides a wide range of other remote access methods to the virtual data storage areas including access via electronic mail.

This invention relates to storage of digital data, and more particularly to a data storage system that provides access to a remote storage area.
The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that spans over 100 countries and connects millions of computers. Reports indicate that the Internet is growing faster than all preceding information technologies including radio and television. Remote data storage over the Internet is one of the fastest growing facets of the Internet. Numerous companies provide a wide range of an Internet data storage services for remotely storing and managing data files. Many of these services, however, have limited modes for accessing the data files. For example, many require that a user load proprietary software on his computer in order to communicate data files to the remote storage. Other services only support access via a web browser or similar communication utility.
The present invention is directed to a data storage system and method capable of providing a variety of access methods. In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a plurality of storage servers coupled to a plurality of storage devices. The storage devices provide a plurality of virtual storage areas and each virtual storage area is assigned to a user. According to the invention, the assigned user can easily access the assigned virtual storage area using a client computer communicatively coupled to the storage servers via a global computer network such as the Internet. More specifically, in order to store data files within the remote virtual storage area, the user sends an electronic mail message that includes the data file as well as user information and target data file information. The storage server parses the electronic mail message and stores the data file within the storage area according to the target data file information. In addition, the user can request one or more data files from the storage area and electronically mail the data files to the user. In this manner, authorized users can easily store date files to or retrieve data files from his or her remote storage area from anywhere in the world via a global computer network such as the Internet or a private wide-area network. The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Method and system for accessing a remote storage area


An optical measuring device according to the present invention includes: a plane mirror (3), which has a central opening that functions as either a light entering window or a light source fitting hole (5) and an observation window 6′ that enables a photodetector (6) to take measurements; and an integrating hemisphere (2), which has its center of radius of curvature defined within the central opening of the plane mirror (3) and of which the inner wall surface functions as a light diffuse reflective surface (1). The plane mirror (3) and the integrating hemisphere (2) form an integrating space inside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical measuring device that can measure the total luminous flux of a light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among various optical measuring devices, a total luminous flux measuring device can measure the total luminous flux of a surface emitting light source such as a display with respect to a total luminous flux standard lamp, which is a cylindrical light source. A typical conventional total luminous flux measuring device includes a perfect integrating sphere, of which the inner surface is coated with a perfectly diffuse reflective material such as barium sulfate. A sample lamp, which is the object of measurement, is arranged at the center of the integrating sphere and its luminous flux is measured through an observation window, which is located on the surface of the integrating sphere. A baffle is arranged between the observation window and the sample lamp such that the light emitted from the sample lamp does not enter the observation window directly. By measuring and comparing the luminous flux of the sample lamp to the known total luminous flux of a total luminous flux standard lamp using such a sphere photometer, the total luminous flux of the sample lamp can be obtained.
In such a sphere photometer, the sample lamp needs to be lit at the center of the integrating sphere, thus requiring a supporting member to fix the sample lamp at the center of the integrating sphere. However, since such a supporting member and the lamp itself absorb light to cause a measurement error, the supporting member is often coated with the same material as that applied onto the inner surface of the integrating sphere.
According to a proposed method, a light source for measuring self-absorption is lit on the inner surface of the integrating sphere, and the self-absorption of the supporting member and the sample lamp is calculated as the ratio of the output of the measuring device with the supporting member and the sample lamp to that of the measuring device without them. Actually, however, the lamp supporting member often serves as a wire duct to light the lamp as well and is often fixed on the integrating sphere. That is why the self-absorption ratio of the only the sample lamp is usually calculated (see JIS C7607-1991, Method for Measuring the Total Luminous Flux of Light Measuring Standard Electrical Discharge Lamp, Appendix: How to Calculate Correction Coefficient, 2. How to Define Self Absorption Correction Coefficient k2 according to Various Lamp Shapes or Sizes).
On the other hand, the spatial and spectral distributions of the light emitted from the sample lamp are different from those of the total luminous flux standard light source, and therefore, the self-absorption of the lamp supporting member and the sample lamp has a non-negligible value.
To overcome such a problem, a novel total luminous flux measuring device, including a hemisphere and a plane mirror, was proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-167388 (see FIG. 1).
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-167388 (see FIG. 1) is fabricated by providing an integrating hemisphere 2, of which the inner surface is coated with a light diffuse reflective material 1 such as barium sulfate, and closing the opening of this integrating hemisphere 2 with a plane mirror 3 as shown in FIG. 8. A hole 5 has been cut through the plane mirror 3 so as to be located at the center of curvature of the integrating hemisphere and to receive a light source 4 under measurement. By lighting the light source 4 under measurement inside the integrating hemisphere 2, a virtual image of the inner wall of the integrating hemisphere 2 and the light source 4 under measurement is formed by the plane mirror 3. As a result, the light source 4 under measurement and a virtual image thereof are both lit inside an integrating sphere having the same radius as the integrating hemisphere. In this manner, the total luminous flux of the two light sources, consisting of the light source 4 under measurement and a virtual image thereof, is measured by a photodetector 6.
In this device, the lamp supporting member (lighting jig) 8 is arranged outside of the integrating space, and therefore, the total luminous flux measured is not affected by the self-absorption produced by the lamp supporting member 8. Consequently, high measuring accuracy is realized without performing any complicated process to correct the self-absorption of the lamp supporting member 8, for example. Also, since the integrating space is only a half of a full integrating sphere, the photodetector 6 can have doubled illuminance at its light receiving window. As a result, the SNR can be increased in measuring the total luminous flux.
According to the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, however, the baffle 7 needs to cut off not only the light coming directly from the light source 4 under measurement but also the light coming directly from the virtual image of the light source 4 under measurement. That is why the size of the baffle 7 has to be more than doubled compared to the situation where only the light source 4 under measurement is lit inside a full integrating sphere as will be described later. The baffle 7 inside the integrating sphere partially cuts off the optical path of the reflected light inside the integrating sphere. However, since the baffle itself absorbs light, the measurement error would increase just like the lamp supporting member arranged in the full integrating sphere.
Hereinafter, the principle of measurement to be done using the integrating sphere and the error caused due to the self-absorption of the baffle will be described in detail.
First, the principle of measurement to be done using the integrating sphere will be described with reference to FIG. 9, which shows, by way of a planar model, how the integrating sphere works.
Suppose a light source 4 is arranged at the center of an integrating sphere with a radius r and an infinitesimal surface element A on the wall of the integrating sphere has been illuminated at a luminous intensity I0(α) by the light source 4 in the direction defined by an angle α. In that case, the illuminance Ea of the infinitesimal surface element A on the integrating sphere wall is represented by the following Equation (1):Ea=I0(α)/r2  (1)
On the inner wall of the integrating sphere, perfectly diffuse reflection is produced at a reflectance ρ. Supposing the infinitesimal surface element A on the inner wall has an area dS, the luminous flux φa of the light reflected from the infinitesimal surface element A is given by the following Equation (2):φa=ρ·Ea·dS  (2)
Suppose there is an infinitesimal surface element B on the inner wall of the integrating sphere, which defines an angle θ with respect to a normal to the infinitesimal surface element A. Since the infinitesimal surface element A is a perfectly diffuse reflective surface, the luminous intensity Ia(θ) in the direction from the infinitesimal surface element A toward the infinitesimal surface element B is calculated by the following Equation (3):Ia(θ)=φa·cos θ/π  (3)
Since the surface B is located on the inner wall of the integrating sphere, the light directed toward the surface B with the luminous intensity Ia(θ) has an angle of incidence θ and the distance from the infinitesimal surface element A to the infinitesimal surface element B is 2r·cos θ. Therefore, at the surface B, the light with the luminous intensity Ia(θ) has the illuminance Eab given by the following Equation (4):
                                                                                E                  ab                                =                                                                                I                        a                                                                                (                        θ                        )                                                              ·                    cos                                                                                θ                    /                                                                  (                                                  2                                                                                r                            ·                            cos                                                                                θ                                                )                                            2                                                                                =                                                                                ϕ                      a                                        /                                          (                                              4                                                                          π                          ·                                                      r                            2                                                                                )                                                        =                                      ρ                    ·                                                                  I                        0                                                                                (                        α                        )                                                              ·                                          dS                      /                                              (                                                  4                                                                                π                            ·                                                          r                              4                                                                                )                                                                                (        4        )
As can be seen easily from Equation (4), the light reflected from the infinitesimal surface element A illuminates any portion of the inner wall of the integrating sphere with light with a uniform illuminance irrespective of the angle θ of the light that has been reflected from the infinitesimal surface element A. Since the integrating sphere has an internal surface area of 4π·r2, the very small area dS can be calculated by the following Equation (5) using a very small solid angle dΩ:dS=(4π·r2/4π)·dΩ=r2·dΩ  (5)
Thus, Equation (4) can be modified into the following Equation (6):Eab=ρ·I0(α)·dΩ/(4π·r2)  (6)
The total luminous flux φ of the light source 4 is obtained by integrating I0(α)·dΩ of Equation (6) over the entire space. Therefore, the first-order reflected light of the bundle of rays that has been emitted from the light source 4 and then reflected from the entire inner wall of the integrating sphere has an illuminance Eb1 on the surface B as represented by the following Equation (7):Eb1=ρ·φ/(4π·r2)  (7)
The first-order reflected light of the bundle of rays that has been emitted from the light source 4 and then reflected from the inner wall of the integrating sphere to have the illuminance Eb1 on the surface B is further reflected from the surface B to produce second-order reflection at a reflectance ρ. Supposing the infinitesimal surface element B has an area dS, the luminous flux φb,2 of the light reflected from the surface B is given by the following Equation (8):φb,2=ρ·Eb1·dS=ρ·Eb1·r2·dΩ  (8)
Since the surface B is a perfectly diffuse reflective surface, the luminous intensity Ib(θ) of the light reflected from the surface B at the angle θ is calculated by the following Equation (9):Ib(θ)=φb,2·cos θ/π  (9)
Supposing there is a point C that defines the angle θ with respect to the surface B, the illuminance Ebc of the light with the luminous intensity Ib(θ) on the surface B is given by the following Equation (10):Ebc=Ib(θ)·cos θ/(2r·cos θ)2=φb,2/(4·r2)=ρ·{ρ·φ·dΩ}/(4π·r2)  (10)
Consequently, the second-order reflected light from the surface B will illuminate any portion of the inner wall of the integrating sphere at a constant illuminance irrespective of the angle θ at which the light has been reflected from the surface B. That is to say, the second-order reflected light from the entire inner wall of the integrating sphere will have an illuminance on the surface B, which is calculated by integrating dΩ of Equation (10) over the entire space and represented by the following Equation (11):Eb2=ρ2·φ/(4π·r2)  (11)
Supposing the light emitted from the light source 4 directly toward the surface B has a luminous intensity I0(β) and considering high-order reflected light that follows the first-order one, the illuminance Eb of the light on the surface B is given by the following Equation (12):
                                                                                E                    b                                    =                                                                                I                        0                                                                                {                          β                          }                                                /                                                  r                          2                                                                                +                                          ρ                      ·                                              ϕ                        /                                                  (                                                      4                                                                                π                              ·                                                              r                                2                                                                                )                                                                                +                                                                  ρ                        2                                            ·                                              ϕ                        /                                                  (                                                      4                                                                                π                              ·                                                              r                                2                                                                                )                                                                                +                                                                  ρ                        3                                            ·                                              ϕ                        /                                                  {                                                      4                                                                                π                              ·                                                              r                                2                                                                                }                                                                                =                                                                                I                          0                                                                                (                          β                          )                                                                    /                                              r                        2                                                              +                                          ρ                      ·                                              ϕ                        /                                                  {                                                                                (                                                                  1                                  -                                  ρ                                                                )                                                            ·                              4                                                                                π                              ·                                                              r                                2                                                                                }                                                                                …                                    (        12        )
If the light source 4 produces a spherical spatial distribution of light, the illuminance Eb,0 of the light that has come directly from the light source 4 to have the illuminance Eb on the surface B is calculated by the following Equation (13):Eb,0=I0(β)/r2=φ/(4π·r2)  (13)
On the other hand, the illuminance Eb,r of the light that has been reflected from the inner wall of the integrating sphere to have the illuminance Eb on the surface B is calculated by the following Equation (14):Eb,r=ρ·φ/{(1−ρ)·4π·r2}  (14)
The ratio of the illuminance Eb,0 of the light that has come directly from the light source 4 to the illuminance Eb,r of the light that has been reflected from the inner wall of the integrating sphere is given by the following Equation (15):
                                                                                E                                          b                      ,                      0                                                                                :                                                                          E                                          b                      ,                      r                                                                      =                                                                                ϕ                    /                                          (                                              4                                                                          π                          ·                                                      r                            2                                                                                )                                                        :                                      ρ                    ·                                          ϕ                      /                                              {                                                                                (                                                              1                                -                                ρ                                                            )                                                        ·                            4                                                                                π                            ·                                                          r                              2                                                                                }                                                                                =                                                                  1                  :                                      ρ                    /                                          (                                              1                        -                        ρ                                            )                                                                                (        15        )
This ratio is determined by the reflectance ρ of the light diffuse reflective surface 1. For example, if the reflectance is approximately 95%, then the light that has come directly from the light source 4 will have an illuminance Eb,0 of approximately 5%. This value is obtained when the light source 4 produces a spherical spatial distribution of light and is subject to change significantly with the spatial distribution of the light to be produced by the light source 4 under measurement.
For that reason, the conventional integrating sphere has an observation window at the wall surface B of the integrating sphere. And if a photodetector 6 with corrected luminous efficacy is arranged at the observation window, the light that has come directly with the luminous intensity I0(β) from the light source 4 is cut off by the baffle 7. As a result, the photodetector 6 can measure an illuminance that is proportional to the total luminous flux of the light source 4.
Next, an error caused due to the self-absorption of the baffle will be described with reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b).
Suppose the baffle 7 is arranged between the light source 4 and the photodetector 6 as shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b). In that case, when looked through the light receiving window of the photodetector 6, the illumination will be absent from the p-q range on the inner wall of the integrating sphere as shown in FIG. 10(a). On the other hand, when looked from the light source 4, the p′-q′ range on the inner wall of the integrating sphere cannot be illuminated directly as shown in FIG. 10(b). As a result, measurement errors are likely to be caused in both of these situations. This error will increase as the baffle 7 gets bigger. However, the larger the light source 4 under measurement, the bigger the baffle 7 has to be.
According to the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the baffle 7 for cutting off the light that has come directly from the light source 4 under measurement is put on the plane mirror 3. In that case, the baffle 7 has to cut off the light that has come directly from the two light sources, namely, the light source 4 under measurement and its virtual image, as shown in FIG. 11. That is why in the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the size of the baffle 7 has to be more than doubled compared to the situation where only the light source 4 under measurement is lit in the full integrating sphere, thus increasing the magnitude of measurement errors.
In order to overcome the problems described above, the present invention provides an optical measuring device that can measure the total luminous flux highly accurately with such measurement errors due to the presence of the baffle reduced significantly by eliminating the baffle.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method is for reading a first bit cell of a static random access memory in which the static random access memory has a first plurality of bit cells including the first bit cell. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells includes a cross coupled pair of inverters for storing a logic state, optimized for being written, and powered by a read voltage during a read of the first plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells is coupled to a true read bit line and a true write bit line, and a second plurality of bit cells is coupled to a complementary read bit line and a complementary write bit line. The true and complementary read bit lines are precharged to a precharge voltage of about half the read voltage. The true read bit line is predisposed to a logic low condition. One of a group consisting of a high impedance from the first bit cell to indicate that the logic state is a logic low and a signal voltage greater than the intermediate voltage to indicate that the logic state is a logic high is output from the first bit cell to the true read bit line.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to a static random access memory (SRAM), and more specifically, to an SRAM having bit cells which are accessible by separate read and write paths.
2. Related Art
As technologies continue to scale, the supply voltage of the SRAM also scales. However, the threshold voltages of the transistors are not being scaled accordingly. Therefore, as the supply voltages are continuously be lowered, the static noise margin is also being reduced, resulting in reduced SRAM efficiency, such as with respect to reading and writing of the bit cells of the SRAM. Therefore, a need exists for an improved SRAM, such as with increased margins for reads and for writes.

Static random access memory (SRAM) having bit cells accessible by separate read and write paths


A brake assembly comprising: at least one brake spring that includes: a first arm; a second arm, the first arm and the second arm forming a first arm plane; and a body portion between and connecting to the first arm and the second arm, the body portion forming a body plane, the body plane being at an angle relative to the first arm plane; wherein the at least one brake spring is between and in communication with a pressure plate of at least two brake pads.

Typical, disc brake systems include a support bracket, two more brake pads, a caliper, and a rotor. The at least two brake pads are mounted and located adjacent to the support bracket so that the brake pads move axially towards and away from the rotor. The disc brake system may include a pad clip that attaches to the support bracket and to a portion of the one or more brake pads so that the brake pads are held in the support bracket. The disc brake system may include one or more springs that attach to the brake pads to assist in retracting the brake pads. The addition of one or more clips and/or one or more springs may require modifications to be made to the support bracket, brake pads, caliper body, or a combination thereof so that the spring and/or pad clip may be used. In addition these springs may not be used with existing braking systems because the spring does not fit without the modifications discussed above. Examples of springs and pad retraction devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,249,647; 5,511,638; 6,378,665; 7,308,974; and 7,467,693; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0189911; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/788,806; and Japanese Patent No. 56021633U all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
One problem faced by these springs is that they work with "new" brake designs, or brakes modified specifically for each design. These springs may not easily be added to existing systems when the brakes are changed so that the benefits of the spreader spring can be seen with used vehicles. These springs may require special pad clips, brake pads, pressure plates, support brackets, caliper housings, or other additional features so that the spreader spring is held in place.
Another problem faced by known springs is that they require holes to be drilled in the pressure plate of a brake pad, which makes each brake pad more expensive and time consuming to produce. Thus, a spreader spring may not be added to this braking system without adding a brake pad with a specific design.
Yet another problem of know springs is that some of the springs are "over the rotor" designs (i.e. the spring is placed directly over the rotor) and are subject to interference with moving parts such as the rotor or the wheel. For example, the spreader spring may contact the rotor, the caliper housing, or both and move out of contact with the brake pads, become damaged, or become tangled within other parts causing damage to the other parts such as the rotor, brake pads, fluid lines, tires, or a combination thereof. The over the rotor designs may require additional clips and/or support structures so that the spring does not contact other parts of the braking system, thus, adding expense to the brake system and preventing the spreader spring from being added to existing systems easily. Some over the rotor designs may require the caliper housing to be redesigned so that there is enough space for the spring to fit under the caliper housing.
Another such problem faced by known disk brake systems is lateral run out (LRO) and disk thickness variation (DTV). Each rotor will exhibit some LRO as the rotor rotates, and each rotor will have some variation in disk thickness. As the rotor moves the rotor may contact the brake pads at a high spot on the disk due to DVT, the rotor may contact the brake pads due to LRO, or both. After repeated contact with the brake pads a thin spot may be created in the disk, and this thin spot may further increase the variation in thickness across the disk otherwise known as "DVT growth." As a result of DVT growth the driver may perceive an increase in torque and pressure via pedal pulsation, steering wheel shake or "nibble," vibration of the vehicle, or a combination thereof. Thus, there is a need for a device that can be incorporated into known braking systems, which minimizes and/or eliminates DVT growth so that noise, vibration, & harshness (NVH) are reduced and/or eliminated. Thus, there is a need for a spreader spring that is light, strong, resistant to failure, and can be added into existing braking system without any modifications to the braking system and/or the spreader spring, or using other additional parts.


The present invention discloses an application of a β3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) as a marker for detecting a plurality of diseases, and an application of anti-human ADRB3 monoclonal antibody in diagnosing a disease and preparing a drug for treating the disease. The present invention finds through research that the ADRB3 is a key receptor in nerve-endocrine-immunoregulatory network, and an ADRB3-mediated signaling pathway regulates proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils, lymphocytes and tumor cells. Under normal circumstances, the ADRB3 maintains the non-specific immunocompetence and specific immunocompetence of an organism, and eliminates pathogenic microorganisms and aged organism tissues to play a role in protecting the organism and anti-aging. Under pathological conditions, excessive activation of the signaling pathway will cause systemic chronic inflammation, and destroy immune homeostasis. Therefore, the ADRB3 can be used as a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target for a plurality of diseases. Anti-human ADRB3 antibody can specifically bond with the ADRB3, regulate the activity of the ADRB3, has the functions of resisting cancer, inflammation, poisoning, shock, allergy, viral infection, autoimmune disease, disease caused by regenerative dysfunction, autoimmune disease, cachexia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and aging, regulating autophagy, treating aging disease, etc., and has important medical value and research and application prospects.

As a G protein-coupled receptor, human β3 adrenoceptor (adrenoceptor Beta3, ADRB3, B3AR, beta3 adrenoceptor and β3 receptor) is one of tissue receptors that mediate the function of catecholamine. At present, the research on ADRB3 is mainly focused on the effect on body fat, blood glucose and lipid level, insulin secretion and function.
There are no relevant researches or reports on the effect of ADRB3 in the field of disease, such as malignant tumor, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer disease, inflammation, pyohemia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, viral infection, autoimmune disease, organ transplantation immunity rejection, aging, osteoporosis, severe trauma, poisoning and cachexia.

Anti-human ADRB3 monoclonal antibody and application thereof in disease diagnosis and treatment


Method, computer program to implement method, storage medium to store the program and apparatus for computing Signal-in-Space Accuracy (SISA) parameters in a regional or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The method includes at least of: determining individual Signal-in-Space Error (SISE) vectors; mapping individual SISE vectors to a service area; accumulating empirical sample sets; processing density functions of estimations of accumulated sample sets; individually overbounding density functions in one of an overbounding sense related to the regional or GNSS or in a paired overbounding with excess mass sense; and selecting a worst case according to predefined requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for computing robust and improved Signal-in-Space Accuracy (SISA) parameters in a Regional or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
2. Discussion of Background Information
Satellite systems for global navigation allow to accurately determining the position on Earth or in the air. GNSS, such as for example the actually constructed European satellite navigation system, better known under the name "Galileo," comprise a plurality of satellites and a control system.
The accuracy of a GNSS depends on several parameters, one of which is the quality of the knowledge of the orbit of each satellite and the time error of the satellite clocks with respect to the system time. This quality is expressed by the Signal-in-Space Accuracy (SISA). While this description refers to the term SISA used in the frame of Galileo GNSS the invention is not limited to this system and the term is rather understood to be general. In particular the corresponding parameter for the NAVSTAR-GPS GNSS is referred to as User Range Error (URE). Further, additional background regarding SISA can be found in the article by Medel et al., "SISA Computation Algorithms and their applicability for Galileo Integrity," Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002), and additional information regarding Galileo can be found in the article by Werner et al., "GALILEO: Integrity Performance Assessment Results And Recommendations," ION GPS 2002: 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation; Portland, Oreg.; USA; 24-27 Sep. 2002, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
SISA is the leading parameter describing the actual quality of the navigation signals of the GNSS and is broadcast regularly by the GNSS. A safe value as small as possible with a high confidence is essential for all navigation services as user trust this parameter in a way that navigation decisions—partly even for critical operations—are based on this. A high confidence must thus be ensured for this parameter.
The classical SISA computation developed in the frame of Galileo project consists of two steps: (1) determination of Signal-in-Space Error (SISE) samples; and (2) overbounding of the resulting distribution.
However, this computation method suffers of some drawbacks:                the determination of errors is very conservative;        due to the determination procedure there are singularities (bi-modality) in the underlying probability density which prevent proper overbounding;        overbounding results are highly sensitive to the applied configuration parameters which are selected either manually or by improper methods.
It is very likely that due to the identified weaknesses it is not possible to reach the required confidence at the end.

Computing of robust and improved signal-in-space accuracy parameters in a regional or global navigation satellite system


The present invention provides a heat dissipation assembly and an electronic device, where the heat dissipation assembly includes: a shielding element, where a via hole is disposed on the shielding element, the shielding element is electrically connected to ground copper of a PCB board, and a heat-generating electronic element is disposed on the PCB board; a heat pipe, located on the via hole, where the heat pipe is electrically connected to the shielding element, and the heat pipe, the PCB board, and the shielding element form an electromagnetic shielding can that is used to accommodate the heat-generating electronic element; and an elastic thermal interface material, disposed between the heat pipe and the heat-generating electronic element and mutually fitted to the heat pipe and the heat-generating electronic element.

With rapid popularization of an LTE (Long Term Evolution, Long Term Evolution) technology, the mobile Internet provides a multimedia application with high definition and high performance, which leads to a rapid increase in mobile data services, and a significant increase in power consumption of a mobile terminal device, thereby presenting an unprecedented challenge for heat dissipation design in limited space.
In the prior art, a heat dissipation assembly used for a heat-generating chip in a mobile terminal mainly includes: a first thermal interface material, a shielding can/shielding box, a second thermal interface material, and a heat pipe, where the first thermal interface material, the shielding can/shielding box, the second thermal interface material, and the heat pipe are successively stacked on the heat-generating chip. A heat transfer path between the heat-generating chip and the heat pipe is: the heat-generating chip→the first thermal interface material→the shielding can/shielding box→the second thermal interface material→the heat pipe. Thermal resistance generated when solid bodies are in mutual contact is quite large, and therefore, in the prior art, two thermally conductive pads, that is, the first thermal interface material and the second thermal interface material, are used to reduce the thermal resistance and increase thermal conductivity rate of the heat dissipation assembly.
However, a thermal conductivity coefficient k of a thermally conductive pad is less than 30 W/m-K, and is within 1-3 W/m-K generally. After two thermally conductive pads are used, a heat transfer path in which heat of the chip is transferred to the heat pipe is long, and there is still a small quantity of heat transferred to the heat pipe. Therefore, a technical problem of poor heat dissipation performance of the heat dissipation assembly still exists in the prior art.

Heat dissipation assembly and electronic device


A system and method for automatically processing and responding to large volumes of customer requests regarding Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) and other service disruptions. The process combines manual and automated steps, and includes routing, filtering, aggregating, validating, ticketing, custom and automated responses, tracking, analyzing, and closing each validated request. The process can be used by the Customer Support Center (CSC) of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to insure that all complaints are handled successfully, that promotion of complaints is done correctly, that legal aspects of certain criminal or fraud related incidents are handled correctly, and that portions of the processing of complaints are handled automatically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the distribution of information over a computer network, and in particular, to a system and method for processing and responding to large volumes of customers request relating to unsolicited commercial email (UCE) and other service disruptions over a computer network, such as the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is fast proving to be one of the most significant technological developments of the current era. Originally developed in the United States as a cooperative effort of the United States Government known as the Advanced Research Project Agency Network (ARPANET) to tie universities and research and development organization to their military customers, the Internet has now exploded to link computer users world-wide. The Internet is an interconnected system of computer networks of varying types with terminals, usually computer stations, communicating with each other through a common communication protocol, e.g. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Through this interconnected system of computer networks, the Internet serves as the underlying infrastructure that facilitates a global system of communication known as the world wide web.
Piggy-backed input on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet is available to anyone with a telephone line and a computer with modem. Both businesses and private users are taking advantage of the Internet in rapidly increasing numbers for communications of a diverse nature.
One reason for the rapid integration of the Internet into daily activities is that the Internet provides improved efficiencies in communication. For example, messaging over the Internet is very quick, even to remote locations throughout the world. Responses are also typically very quick.
Internet communication has been minimally regulated and continues to involve lowering costs, typically requiring only the cost of a computer terminal and a periodic Internet Service Provider (ISP) fee. Additionally, Internet communications are pervasive, providing easy access from every user on the Internet to millions of other users, almost regardless of physical location.
Because of these efficiencies, one form of communication that has quickly migrated to the Internet is advertising. Advertisers are able to generate and send bulk mailings at a fraction of the cost of mail, telephone, radio, and other commonly accepted types of advertising. Programs exist that quickly merge commercial advertisement messages with reference lists of Internet user addresses and automatically send out many thousands of advertisements in a single day at almost no cost to the sender. Instead, a substantial portion of the costs is born by the intermediary transmission entities and the end users.
Unfortunately, the indiscriminate nature of broadcast advertising over the Internet has led to many problems. To deliver a message in volume and thereby take advantage of the efficiencies of the Internet, senders frequently use commercially generated reference lists of Internet user addresses. These reference lists are very labor intensive and costly to compile in any manner other than randomly. Thus, many Internet broadcasters use random lists of user addresses to send their advertising, transmitting unwanted messages to a large number of disinterested Internet users for every interested Internet user.
Internet users typically resent this random "junk mail" cluttering up their cyberspace mailboxes. Consequently, random advertising over the Internet in the form of electronic mail is commonly referred to, rather unaffectionately, as "spamming." Angry recipients of this type of Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) advertising have gone so far as to react in simultaneous, damaging, electronic backlashes aimed at particularly notorious junk mail-generating entities.
Large volumes of electronic customer requests (5,000-10,000/day) sent to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding UCE advertisements and other service disruptions are handled by a help desk or customer support center (CSC). Analysts open up each request or complaint, search for the offender's IP address and sent timestamp, then identify the account, categorize the type of incident, analyze the case, and submit a ticket. Portions of the process are done manually. Email requests usually deal with problems related to UCE, but may also include security intrusion reports.
The ISP may be required by law to respond to every complaint that pertains to its network or hosting service. The ISP must maintain a tracking system to insure that each validated complaint is properly handled. The processing is complicated by several conditions, including: 1) analysis of the complaint may involve conditions that change over time and may no longer exist at the time of analysis; 2) many complaints may deal with the same problem, but may be difficult to associate with the other complaints due to different complaint formats; and 3) the customer network itself may change during the time period since the complaint took place. Currently, the ISP has an ad hoc system that may not insure that all complaints are handled correctly, and the introduction of automation into the current environment is difficult.
Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have recognized a need for a system and method that could be used by an ISP to insure that all spamming complaints are handled successfully, that processing of complaints is done correctly, that legal aspects of certain criminal or fraud related incidents are handled correctly, and that portions of the processing of complaints are handled automatically to the extent feasible.

System and method for processing customer requests relating to unsolicited commercial email and other service disruptions