A retractable spool reel integrated inside of or attached to a waterfowl decoy comprises a spool and a locking assembly housed inside an internal compartment such that a weighted line wound around the spool may be locked in place at a desired length. The weighted line may be pulled until the locking assembly is set in the locked position. The pulling of the weighted line unwinds the spool and coils a flat spring integrated into the spool. The uncoiling of the flat spring once the line is released allows the line to retract back into the spool once the locking assembly is removed from the locked position.

Hunting is a popular pastime, with nearly 14 million people hunting annually in the United States. These hunters spend nearly $34 billion annually on various hunting equipment. Many waterfowl hunters in particular purchase decoys, as these are seen as a key piece of equipment to enable the hunter to attract waterfowl to the area being hunted. In recent years, decoys have become ever more sophisticated as a means of better attracting waterfowl to the hunter's desired hunting location.
Waterfowl decoys are designed to float on the top of the water. A well-known problem with decoys is the need to keep the decoy from floating away from the desired area due to wind or currents, which makes the decoys less effective in bringing waterfowl to the desired area, and more difficult for the hunter to recover after the hunt. To hold decoys in place, waterfowl hunters typically tie a length of line to the keel portion of the decoy, with a weight attached at the opposite end of the line. The length of the line is critical, however, since if the line is shorter than the depth of water into which the decoy is placed, then the decoy will float away, and if the line is too long for the depth of water into which the decoy is placed, then the decoys will move about excessively on the water, may become entangled with other decoys, and may not present the desired decoy "spread" intended by the hunter. For this reason, hunters are often required to carry sets of line of varying length in order to accommodate the depths of water they encounter at a desired hunting location. Since waterfowl hunters generally deploy a number of decoys, maintaining a full set of lines in all of the possible required lengths for each decoy is burdensome and expensive.
The art includes a number of efforts to construct waterfowl decoys with variable-length weighted lines in order to alleviate this problem. None of these attempts, however, have proven acceptable and thus have not gained widespread commercial acceptance. An improved method of providing a weighted line of varying length for waterfowl decoys is therefore desired.

Retractable spool and waterfowl decoy incorporating same


A composition for lining or coating surfaces, comprising at least one fluoro terpolymer and at least one acrylic resin, said fluoro terpolymer consisting essentially of, on a molar basis, of: (a) 70 to 85% of units derived from vinylidene fluoride, (b) 10 to 25% of units derived from tetrafluoroethylene, and (c) 3 to 9% of units derived from chlorotrifluoroethylene, and composites coated with such composition.

The present invention relates to surface coatings based on a fluoro terpolymer and acrylic resin.
Fluoro polymers and copolymers frequently form part of coating and paint compositions for various surfaces: metallic, plastic, wooden and similar substrates, especially because of their good mechanical properties, their imperviousness to gases and to liquids an their excellent thermal stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,054 describes the copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride with tetrafluoroethylene or with a mixture of tetrafluoroethylene and of another halogenated ethylene to produce tough, heat-stable polymers which are useful as lining and insulating materials.
However, these fluoro copolymers have some disadvantages; they do not adhere well to most substrates.
In French Patent No. 1,401,599 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,971 there have been proposed copolymers derived from vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and a monovinyl ester that can be employed as lining and insulating materials in the form of solutions in dimethylformamide.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,519 there is a description of an aqueous dispersion containing a homo- or a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride (optionally with tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropene), an emulsified epoxy resin, and an emulsifying agent for the said resin. This aqueous dispersion can be employed as a finishing coat for lining various substrates precoated with an adhesive primer.
However, none of the abovementioned compositions combines the gloss, adhesiveness and hardness properties at the same time, together with high processability.

Surface coating based on fluoro terpolymers and acrylic resins and resultant products


A semiconductor device according to an embodiment including: a semiconductor layer having a first plane and a second plane, the semiconductor layer including: a first trench on the first plane; a second trench on the second plane; a first conductivity first semiconductor region; a second conductivity type second semiconductor region between the first semiconductor region and the first plane; a first conductivity type third semiconductor region between the second semiconductor region and the first plane; a second conductivity type fourth semiconductor region between the third semiconductor region and the first plane; and a first conductivity type fifth semiconductor region provided between the second trench and the third semiconductor region in contact with the second trench; a first gate electrode in the first trench; a second gate electrode in the second trench; a first electrode on the first plane; and a second electrode on the second plane.

As an example of a power semiconductor device, there is an insulated to bipolar transistor (IGBT) having a trench gate structure. In a trench gate structure IGBT, a p-type collector region, an n-type drift region, and a p-type base region are provided, for example, on a collector electrode. Then, a gate electrode is provided in the trench penetrating the p-type base region and reaching the n-type drift region with the gate insulating film-interposed therebetween. Furthermore, an n-type emitter region connected to an emitter electrode is provided in a region adjacent to the trench on the frontside of the p-type base region.
In the above-mentioned IGBT, by applying a positive voltage higher than a threshold voltage to the gate electrode, a channel is formed in the p-type base region. Then, electrons are injected front the n-type emitter region to the n-type drift region, and holes are injected front the p-type collector region to the n-type drift region. As a result, an on-current having electrons and holes as carriers is flown between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode.
In order to realize low power consumption of the IGBT, it is preferable to reduce losses such as steady loss and turn-off loss.

Semiconductor device and semiconductor circuit

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION


To provide titania-silica glass which is transparent glass of low thermal expansion, in particular, is of a low thermal expansion coefficient over a wide range of temperatures of 0 to 100° C. (an operating temperature range) when it is used as a photomask or a mirror material in extreme ultraviolet ray lithography, and which is excellent in homogeneity within the field and stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to silica glass including titania, and particularly relates to titania-silica glass suitably used as a photomask material for extreme ultraviolet ray lithography (hereafter referred to as EUV lithography) in a manufacturing process for a semiconductor, a liquid crystal, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In high integration of a semiconductor integrated circuit in recent years, an ultra-fine processing technology plays the most important role. As the semiconductor integrated circuit is subjected to a finer process, development of optical lithography technologies is also progressing. The EUV lithography using an EUV ray for an exposure light source attracts attention as one of them.
Since this EUV ray has a wavelength of 13.5 nm or less and is absorbed by any material, a lithography system of a catoptric system is employed.
In the EUV lithography, since a photomask substrate is irradiated with a high power laser, it requires a thermal stability in the order of subnanometers.
Therefore, as a material of the photomask substrate, the glass is needed which has a thermal expansion coefficient lower than that of the silica glass used for the conventional photolithography.
As an example of such glass having a low thermal expansion coefficient, titania-silica glass is known.
For example, Published Japanese Translation (of PCT Application) No. 2003-505876 discloses that the silica glass is used which includes 5 to 10% by weight of titania and has a thermal expansion coefficient within a range of ±10 ppb at 20° C.
Generally, such titania-silica glass as described above is manufactured in such a way that a mixture of a silica precursor and a titania precursor in a steam form is hydrolyzed by a burner in an oxy-hydrogen flame, and titania-silica glass particles are deposited and melted at the same time.
However, in the above-mentioned manufacture method, a glass body is directly formed by hydrolyzing the titania precursor and the silica precursor. Thus, a titanium ion of titania which is athermal is tetravalent (Ti4+) in an oxidization atmosphere, and a titanium atom is a constituent member of a glass network where a silicon atom is replaced with the titanium atom. The glass which has such a network tends to be influenced by temperature, and its thermal expansion coefficient is larger at a higher temperature.
Thus, in the titania-silica glass of a two-part system, since its thermal expansion coefficient tends to be influenced by a titania content and temperature, it is difficult to obtain glass having a low thermal expansion coefficient which is excellent in homogeneity within a field and has excellent stability.

Abstract: Titania-silica glass is used which has 8 to 10% by weight of titania and 90 to 92% by weight of silica, where a Ti3+ concentration is 10 to 60 ppm by weight.


A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank that is equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals arranged to provide a treatment flow path isolated from a surrounding volume of the electrostatic separator section of the tank. An oil-and-water stream or mixture entering the set of electrostatic internals travels along the treatment flow path and is subjected to an electric field. The treatment flow path is in an upwardly direction toward the oil outlet section and in a downwardly opposite direction toward the water outlet section of the tank. Employing electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment.

This invention relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods used to dehydrate crude oil for storage in crude oil storage tanks of floating production storage and offloading ("FPSO") installations. More specifically, the invention relates to a process train that includes electrostatic technology housed within the storage tank.
Conventional topside oil separation trains on FPSO installations employ electrostatic separators to dehydrate crude oil for storage in crude oil storage tanks. These separators are part of the topside process train, and are typically large horizontal pressure vessels, which take up space and allowable weight.
Undertaking the dehydration of the crude oil within the crude oil storage tank, by fitting the storage tank with conventional electrostatic internals, would eliminate the requirement for a separate electrostatic pressure vessel in the process train. While this solution would save space and weight, the percentage water cut of the inlet oil steam would be limited to only about 30%. Therefore, a need exists for a more robust solution to handle water content of up to 80%.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Crude oil storage tank with electrostatic internals to dehydrate crude oil within a process train of a floating production storage and offloading installation


Easily performed exercises quickly raise the tolerance to motion sickness and do not require supervision. The exercises are comprised of a warm-up phase and a conditioning phase. The warm-up phase includes a series of rotation and tilting exercises which both warm-up the muscles and joints, and provide some degree of conditioning. The conditioning exercises are directed to specific motion sickness causing movements and provide direct and powerful conditioning to overcome motion sickness. The exercises requires about fifteen minutes each day, and provide substantial relief from motion sickness in as little as two weeks. A demonstrator may be recorded on recording media performing the exercises, and the exercises are preferably self taught by a user viewing the recorded demonstration.

The present invention relates to the prevention of motion sickness and more particularly to a set of exercises which condition a human to prevent the symptoms of motion sickness.
Motion sickness is a normal response by the body which occurs when the brain receives too many or conflicting messages which relate to motion. The eyes are important sensors which visually record our position in the world relative to other objects. These objects may actually exist or simply be images on a screen. In muscles and joints, are other sensors (e.g., nerves) which provide information to the brain about the position and movement of our body. Perhaps the most important sensors are the fluid filled structures called the semi-circular canals which are located in each ear. Inside these canals, there are tiny hair cells which are stimulated when the head moves. The brain continually receives messages from all of these sensors.
Normally, the brain has no difficulty in appropriately processing all of these messages, and we pursue our various activities with no ill effects. However, if the brain is overwhelmed with too much and conflicting sensory information, the body responds with the symptoms of motion sickness. These symptoms include nausea, lightheadedness and headache. Motion sickness can also occur when a continuing repetitive pattern of motion is different from that normally experienced.
Motion sickness is commonly experienced when riding in a moving vehicle such as a car, boat, airplane, or amusement park ride, and many other activities. Motion sickness symptoms can also occur when a visual perception indicates that motion is taking place but the body is not in fact moving. A good example of this is when a person is viewing a very large screen motion picture of a rider's view of a roller coaster ride, while seated in a theater such as an IMAX. There are numerous drugs and devices which have been used to reduce or eliminate motion sickness, but to date, all of these known solutions have disadvantages. For example, a commonly used patch may cause side effects such as nightmares. Some drugs cause extreme drowsiness, and most physical devices, such as pressure bracelets, are not particularly effective.
Other methods, such as visual-vestibular habituation exercises and balance training, involve exposure to the motion sickness causing conditions to develop a tolerance to such conditions. Although known methods have provided some relief, they generally require active supervision, may take months to achieve significant results, and may not provide a complete solution.

Method for conditioning to prevent motion sickness


A polyolefin-EPDM or EPM thermoplastic blend in which the bonded relation of applied organic coatings is improved by the inclusion of an oxidized or carboxylated polyolefin.

Many automotive and other articles are molded or otherwise fabricated of thermoplastic compositions which embody about equal parts by weight of (1) an interpolymer of ethylene, one or more C.sub.3 -C.sub.16 mono-olefins, preferably propylene and a polyene, preferably 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, generally referred to in the trade as an EPDM and (2) a thermoplastic polyolefin resin, preferably polypropylene. One of the problems faced by articles molded or otherwise fabricated of such TPO compositions, is the difficulty of achieving strong adherence of coatings applied to the surfaces of such articles, as in the color coating of such articles, especially with a polyurethane based coating composition.
To the present, in order to provide for a desirable adhesion of a paintable coating, it has been the practice to first apply an adhesion promoter, followed by the application of a prime coat, and then the application of the final paintable color coat. The ability to eliminate the promoter as a first coating while achieving strong adherence of the paintable color coating would materially enhance the entire process especially from the standpoint of material cost, processing time and conservation of space, equipment, and labor.

Thermoplastic polyolefin and ethylene copolymers with oxidized polyolefin


A retarding control apparatus for controlling operation of a retarder, which is connected to an automatic transmission, by operating a retarder actuating device by manipulation of a retarder changeover switch includes control unit, to which are inputted a shift position signal, a throttle opening signal and a changeover signal from the retarder changeover switch, for outputtig an operating signal to the retarder actuating device. When the control unit receives the changeover signal from the retarder changeover switch for actuating the retarder and decides that a manual downshift has taken place based upon the shift position signal and throttle opening signal, the control unit diminishes the operating signal to the retarder actuating device in such a manner that braking force produced by the retarder is reduced by a prescribed value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a retarding control apparatus operated by a manual changeover. More particually, the invention relates to a retarding control in which braking force due to a retarder is controlled depending upon the state of a manual shift or the steering angle of a wheel and slipping state.
2. Related Art
Relating to a first aspect of the present invention, a heavy vehicle often is equipped with an auxiliary brake such as an exhaust brake or hydraulic retarder in addition to a foot brake as braking means.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a conventional retarding control apparatus equipped with a hydraulic retarder. When a manually operated changeover switch 1 is turned on, an ECU 2 to which a changeover signal from the changeover switch 1 is applied outputs a current to a solenoid 3 to actuate a control valve 4 and introduce hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic retarder 5, whereby a braking force resulting from the retarder 5 is generated.

Retarding control apparatus which operates on the basis of signals such as a shift lever position signal


An occlusion catheter system includes an inflation catheter member and an occlusion balloon. The proximal and distal balloon ends are connected to the inflation catheter between the proximal and distal catheter ends. A distal pressure sensor is attached to the inflation catheter member between the proximal balloon end and the atraumatic tip. An inflatable spine is connected to the inflation catheter. The proximal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the proximal balloon end and the distal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the distal balloon end. The occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are configured to define blood flow channels with the internal surface and the external balloon surface when the occlusion catheter system is at least partially positioned in the vessel and the occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are in a partially inflated configuration.

The present invention pertains generally to vascular occlusion catheters and methods of vascular pre-conditioning while controlling occlusion and perfusion during an occlusion procedure. Pre-conditioning is employed to mitigate ischemia before, during and/or after a vascular occlusion procedure, as well as used to reduce or ameliorate the onset of hypertension during or reduce or ameliorate the onset of hypotension after a vascular occlusion procedure. Vascular occlusions may be indicated in either the venous system and/or the arterial system. Endoarterial occlusion is a procedure in which a blood vessel is at least partially occluded in order to restrict blood flow upstream or downstream of the occlusion site for purposes of a vascular procedure or repair. It is known that transient hypertension is a risk factor in arterial occlusion, particularly aortic occlusion. Transient hypertension occurs when the blood pressure upstream of the occlusion site rises to a potentially unsafe level during the time duration of the occlusion. Upon completion of a procedure requiring arterial occlusion, particularly aortic occlusion, care must be taken during the process of reestablishing blood flow to reduce or ameliorate the onset of hypotension. Thus, arterial occlusion carries with it two twin risks, hypertension during the occlusion and hypotension as the occlusion is withdrawn and blood flow restored that must be managed.
In addition to hypotension and hypertension, techniques allowing partial flow of blood and related fluids past the occlusion member may be desirable to provide at least partial blood flow to portions of the patient's body downstream of the occlusion member. At least partial perfusion past the occlusion member can provide the benefits of focusing or directing a majority of blood flow to the brain, heart and lungs or other upstream portions of the patient, but also potentially increasing the amount of time the occlusion member can be implanted in the patient, by providing at least partial blood flow to the patient's organs downstream of the occlusion member, such as to the patient's liver, digestive tract, kidneys and legs.
Referring to FIG. A, partial perfusion may be accomplished by reducing the size of an occlusion member or occlusion balloon 1 that is attached to a catheter 2. The occlusion balloon 1 may, for example, be partially deflated to allow blood to flow between outer surfaces 1a of the occlusion balloon 1 and inner surfaces 3a of a vessel 3 within which the occlusion balloon 1 is positioned. This, for example, deflation of the occlusion balloon 1 may cause the occlusion balloon 1 to lose contact with the inner surface 3a of the vessel 3, thereby causing movement of the occlusion balloon 1 and partial vibration between the vessel 3 and the occlusion balloon 1 that is undesirable. Such loss of contact with the inner surfaces 3a of the vessel 3 by the occlusion balloon 1 is represented in FIG. A, by a cylindrical channel 4 defined between the outer surface 1a of the occlusion balloon 1 and the inner surfaces 3a of the vessel 3. Loss of contact with the inner surface 3a of the vessel 3 by the occlusion balloon 1 may also result in the occlusion balloon 1 and attached catheter 2 being urged downstream in the vessel 3, thereby moving the occlusion balloon 1 out of its preferred placement. It would be desirable to design, develop and implement an occlusion balloon catheter that maintains contact with the vessel during partial perfusion to reduce or eliminate such vibrations and movement of the occlusion member during partial perfusion.
Temporary aortic occlusion as an operative method to increase proximal or central perfusion to the heart and brain in the setting of shock due to major trauma is generally known. Despite potential advantages over thoracotomy with aortic clamping, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta ("REBOA") for trauma has not been widely adopted.
Many attempts have been made at developing technologies to control non-compressible abdominal hemorrhage. For example, non-occlusive, abdominal tamponade procedures have been developed to address the problem of non-compressible hemorrhage, such as introducing an expandable, biocompatible foam into the abdominal cavity to apply pressure to the abdominal organs and vasculature. Pharmacological efforts have also been developed to address the problem of non-compressible hemorrhage. Conventional REBOA procedures are typically performed in an operating room and with the aid of fluoroscopy or other imaging.
Devices that automate inflation and deflation of a balloon are generally known. Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation catheters for blood pressure augmentation coordinated with electrocardiography signals are also known. Over-inflation safety devices are also known, such as a pressure-relief valve coupled to an inflation lumen that opens when pressure within the inflation lumen exceeds a threshold pressure, but relative pressure within the occlusion balloon is necessary to maintain occlusion of the blood vessel.
It would be desirable to design, develop and implement a system that intermittently and automatically releases an occlusion balloon or member by releasing apposition of the occlusion balloon or member against the vascular wall and allowing perfusion past the occlusion balloon or member in response to a physiological parameter, then re-establishing occlusion in response to potential changes in the physiological parameter, either during a vascular repair procedure to control hypertension or post-repair procedure to control hypotension. It would also be desirable to design, develop and implement a system that allows perfusion past the occlusion balloon or member while maintaining engagement between the occlusion balloon or member and the walls of the vasculature, preferably an artery and more preferably the aorta, to prevent vibration, movement, sliding or shifting of the occlusion balloon or member as blood flows past the occlusion balloon. In addition, it is desirable to design, develop and implement an occlusion balloon that permits relatively fine control of a pressure ratio between proximal and distal sides of the occlusion balloon and, therefore, relatively fine control of blood flow across the occlusion balloon through the vessel. The preferred embodiments of the present invention addresses certain of these limitations of the prior art occlusion systems.
In addition, it is desirable to design, develop and implement an occlusion balloon that permits relatively fine control of a pressure ratio between proximal and distal sides of the occlusion balloon and, therefore, relatively fine control of blood flow across the occlusion balloon through the vessel. Existing occlusion balloons are difficult to modulate pressure drop across the balloon. A relatively small change in balloon volume or internal pressure often results in drastic changes in blood pressure between proximal and distal sides of the occlusion balloon, resulting in full occlusion or a relatively high rate of volumetric blood flow across the balloon. It is desirable to design, develop and deploy an occlusion system that is less sensitive to slight pressure changes in the occlusion balloon and provides a more gradual change in blood flow past the occlusion balloon. The preferred present invention addresses these shortcomings of prior art occlusion balloons.

System and method for low profile occlusion balloon catheter


In a system composed of a recording apparatus that records digitized content such as a movie, or a reproduction apparatus that reproduces the digitized content, and a recording medium, a media key for use in recording or reproduction is encrypted by a plurality of device keys and recorded on the recording medium. Here, the recording apparatus or the reproduction apparatus specifies the encrypted media key that it is to decrypt, from amongst the plurality of encrypted media keys. A key management apparatus records node revocation patterns assigned to nodes in a tree structure to the recording medium in a particular order, as header information of key information, together with the encrypted media keys. The recording apparatus or the reproduction apparatus specifies the encrypted media key to be decrypted, by analyzing the node revocation patterns sequentially.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for recording a digital work on a recording medium, distributing the recording medium, and reproducing the digital work from the distributed recording medium, and in particular to a technique for managing key information for content encryption for protecting the digital work.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Accompanying developments in recent years in techniques such as digital processing, storing, and communication, services that provide digital content such as movies to users by way of sale or rental of large-capacity recording media have become widespread. In addition, systems in which digitized content is broadcast, received by a reception apparatus, stored on a recording medium such as a recordable digital optical disc, and then reproduced by a reproduction apparatus are becoming common.
In providing such a service or system, it is necessary to protect the copyright of the content, and perform reproduction, copying and so on under limitations consented to by the copyright holder, so that the content is not used illegally.
Generally, a digital work is protected in the following way from illegal copying for which the copyright holder has not consented. A recording apparatus encrypts the digital content with an encryption key, and records the encrypted content on a disc. Only a reproduction apparatus that has a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key is able to decrypt the encrypted content. An agreement for copyright protection are determined by the manufacturer of the recording apparatus and the reproduction apparatus etc. in conjunction with the copyright holder, and the manufacturer obtains the encryption key or the decryption key (hereinafter simply referred to as "the key"), on the condition that the manufacturer adheres to the agreement. The manufacturer must manage the obtained key stringently so that it is not divulged to a third party.
However, even when the manufacturer manages the key stringently, there is a possibility that a third party will obtain the key illegally. Once the key has been exposed by the third party, the third party may circulate the key, manufacture a recording and/or reproduction apparatus that uses the content illegally, or create a computer program that uses the content illegally and distribute the computer program via the Internet, without regard for the agreement consented to by the manufacturer and the copyright holder. It is desirable that in such a case the copyright holder is able to make content that is provided after the key has been exposed unusable with the exposed key.
The following is the simplest method that responds to this desire.
The key management organization (hereinafter simply referred to as "the organization") has a set of keys that consists of a plurality of device keys and a plurality of media keys. The organization assigns one of the device keys and a device key identification number respectively to each of a plurality of recording apparatuses and a plurality of reproduction apparatuses, and then provides each recording apparatus and reproduction apparatus with the respective device key and device key identification number. In addition, the organization assigns one media key to a recording medium. Next, the organization encrypts the media key, using each of the device keys assigned to the recording apparatuses and the reproduction apparatuses, to generate encrypted media keys, and stores a list of the encrypted media keys corresponding to all the device keys, and the key identification numbers on the recording medium as key information. When the recording medium is loaded into a recording apparatus or a reproduction apparatus, the apparatus extracts the encrypted media key corresponding to the key identification number assigned to the apparatus itself, from the key information in the recording medium, and decrypts the extracted encrypted media key, based on the device key that is assigned to the apparatus itself, to generate the media key. Next, the recording apparatus encrypts content using the obtained media key, and records the resulting encrypted content on the recording medium. On the other hand, the reproduction apparatus decrypts encrypted content in the same way, using the obtained media key. In this way, if a recording apparatus or a reproduction apparatus has a legitimately assigned device key, it is always able to obtain the same media key from the recording medium, thus maintaining compatibility between devices.
Here, suppose that the device key of a particular recording apparatus or reproduction apparatus has been exposed. When storing key information on a new recording medium after the device key has been exposed, the organization creates key information that does not include the exposed device key, and stores the created key information on the recording medium. In this way, an illegitimate apparatus that knows the exposed device key is unable to obtain the correct media key from the key information, because an encrypted media key encrypted using the exposed device key is not included in the key information stored in the recording medium. As a result, the illegitimate apparatus is unable to use the content illegally. For example, if the illegitimate apparatus is a recording apparatus, encrypted content recorded using that recording apparatus is not encrypted using the correct key, therefore the encrypted content cannot be decrypted using a legitimate reproduction apparatus. Furthermore, if the illegitimate apparatus is a reproduction apparatus, that reproduction apparatus is unable to obtain the correct media key, and is therefore unable to correctly decrypt encrypted content that has been recording using a legitimate recording apparatus. In this way, an exposed key can be revoked.
However, a defect in this simple method is that the size of the data of the key information is unrealistically large when there is a great number of apparatuses. For example, suppose that a particular type of digital device becomes widespread throughout the world, and billions of the particular device exist in the world. If the encryption algorithm used in generating the above-described encrypted content is the American standard encryption triple DES encryption, the length of one media key including padding will be 16 bytes. Consequently, the size of an encrypted media key will also be 16 bytes. Furthermore, if a four-byte value is used as the key identification number, the size of the key information will be 20 bytes*one billion apparatuses=20 billion bytes=20 giga bytes. This large value is unrealistic considering the capacity of current recordable optical discs.
In this kind of system it is a condition that the size of key information recorded on a recording medium be very small compared to the capacity of the recording medium.
One example of a system that meets this condition is a digital work protection key management method that uses a tree structure, disclosed in Document 1"Digital Content Hogo-you Kagi Kanri Houshiki (Key Management Method for Protecting Digital Content)", Nakano, Omori and Tatebayashi, Symposium on Cryptography and Information Security 2001, SCIS2001, 5A-5, January 2001.
Before describing the method disclosed in Document 1, a brief description is given of a tree structure.
In terms of form, the tree structure is a finite set T that is composed of at least one node, and is defined as meeting the following conditions.
(a) Only one node is designated as a root of the tree structure.
(b) Other nodes (excluding the root) are divided into sets T1, . . . , Tm that do not have m (m≧0) common parts. Each Ti(i=1, . . . , m) is a further tree structure whose height is "1" less than T. The tree structures T1, Tm are subtrees of the of the root.
Furthermore, the numbers of the levels (layers) in the tree structure T are defined in the following way. The root of T is level 0. Taking an example of a subtree Tj that is a subtree of the root T, the level of the root Tj is one greater than T.
The following describes the digital work protection key management method that uses a tree structure disclosed in Document 1.
In this key management method, the organization constructs, as one example, a binary tree structure having four layers, and generates a number of keys that is equal to the number of nodes in the constructed tree structure. Each generated device key is assigned to a node in the tree structure. The organization corresponds each player (hereinafter "player" refers to the above-described reproduction apparatuses) with a leaf in the tree structure, and distributes one set of device keys to each player that is corresponded one-to-one with one of the leaves. The set consists of a plurality of device keys that are assigned to the nodes on the path from the corresponding leaf through to the root. In this way, a different device key set is distributed to each player.
Here, when a device key set that has been assigned to one player is exposed, the organization deletes the nodes to which the device keys included in the exposed device key set are assigned. Then, the organization specifies the keys that are common to the greatest numbers of players, amongst the players whose device keys have not been exposed, as the next device keys to be used.
Document 1 shows that according to this method key information of approximately 3 MB will suffice if an arbitrary 10,000 of the billion players are to be revoked.
Document 2 "Manipulation of Trees in Information Retrieval" (G. Salton, Communication of the ACM 5, 1962), and Document 3 "Kihon Sanhou/Jouhou Kouzou (Basic Algorithms/Information Structure)", Knuth, trans. Yoneda & Kakehi, Saiensu-sha, 1978, disclose methods of expressing a tree structure linearly. The tree structure is expressed linearly by arranging each node in the tree structure according to a particular rule. For example, p. 136 of Document 3 shows the order in which the levels are arranged. According to this method, the levels are arranged in order from lowest to highest, and the nodes in each level are arranged in order from left to right. By arranging the nodes according to a specific kind of rule, the player is able to construct a tree structure from the linearly arranged information.
While the size of the key information recorded in the recording medium in this key management method for digital work protection does meet the condition of being very small compared to the capacity of the recording medium, there is a demand for the player to be able to efficiently determine the key assigned to the player in the event that the keys in the constructed tree structure include a revoked key.

Digital work protection system, key management apparatus, and user apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention concerns a filtering medium based on a photocatalytic agent and activated carbon, characterized in that it comprises a permeable support covered with a first layer based on activated carbon, then a separate second layer based on a photocatalytic agent, or vice versa. The invention also concerns a method for making such a filtering medium.

The so-called "photocatalytic" reaction, also called photocatalysis, consists in destroying the various organic and/or inorganic pollutants present in gaseous effluents, and in particular air, or in liquid effluents by photochemical reaction, which reaction is caused by the irradiation of a photocatalyst with ultraviolet radiation.
Photocatalysis is essentially initiated by activating a semiconductor solid (photocatalytic agent such as for example TiO2) with UV radiation at a wavelength of less than 380 nanometers, causing electron changes in the semiconductor and leading, in the presence of gaseous or liquid effluents, such as air or water, to the creation of oxygenated and hydroxyl radicals at the surface of the semiconductor. These radicals attack the organic compounds adsorbed on the semiconductor and, through a succession of chemical reactions, degrade the compounds up to the final stage of oxidation.
As already stated, as photocatalytic agent capable of triggering the photocatalytic reaction, it is possible to use in particular, but without limitation, titanium dioxide TiO2 anatase, which, activated by UV light, becomes electronically modified in such a manner as to lead to the formation of hydroxyl OH and oxygen O radicals capable of attacking the organic carbon chains adsorbed on TiO2, degrading them until the organic carbon is completely converted to carbon dioxide.
It is possible, however, to envisage other photocatalytic agents such as those in particular forming part of the group consisting of metal oxides, alkaline-earth oxides, actihide oxides and rare-earth oxides. In practice, the photocatalytic agents are attached by means of binding agents to supports, such as in particular natural or synthetic nonwovens, glass fibers or metal or plastic grids.
Particularly advantageous photocatalytic compositions resulting from the mixing of a photocatalytic agent and the binding agent are described in the document WO 99/51345 by the Applicant.
These compositions may be used for the treatment of air. Indeed, air can contain a large number of pollutants, among which NOx, NH3, H2S, CO, O3, chlorinated or nonchlorinated C2-C4 alkenes, chloromethane, isooctane, benzene, toluene, xylene, isopropylbenzene, saturated aliphatic C1-C4 alcohols, methyl mercaptan, chlorophenol, nitrophenol, methyl tert-butyl ether, dimethoxymethane, C1-C4 aldehydes, acetone, formic acid, acetic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, dichloroacetyl chloride, dimethylformamide, trimethylamine, acetonitrile, pyridine, methanethiol, dimethyl disulfide.
The photocatalytic compositions may also be used for the treatment of liquid effluents, in particular of water polluted with organic compounds, bacteria, viruses, microbes, and the like.
In the abovementioned document WO 99/51345, the Applicant described a filtering medium for the treatment of air or water, consisting of a support coated with a composition resulting from a mixture of binding agent, photocatalytic agent and activated carbon. As explained in this document, the aim of this type of filtering medium is:                first of all, because of the high specific surface area of activated carbon, to adsorb the polluting agents present in the pollution peaks;        and then, by photocatalytic reaction under ultraviolet radiation, to degrade the pollutants adsorbed on the activated carbon, by desorption onto the photocatalytic agent, thus allowing the regeneration of said carbon.
Although, as indicated, the intimate mixing of activated carbon and a photocatalytic agent makes it possible to increase the life of the medium, saturation of the sites of the activated carbon with the pollutant is inevitably observed because, in particular, the activated carbon present at the surface of the layer prevents the UV radiation from reaching the depth of the photocatalytic agent. In addition, nothing is indicated regarding the mass of the layer of activated carbon and the proportion of activated carbon it incorporates, which is necessary for proper depollution without saturation. In other words, the photocatalytic reaction is not sufficiently effective to allow proper regeneration of the activated carbon, such that it is necessary to replace the medium saturated with its pollutants with fresh medium relatively frequently. Quite obviously, disposal of the filtering medium charged with its pollutants is not without consequence on the environment.
The document JP-11179118 describes a filtering medium in laminated form, resulting from the combination of a layer of activated carbon with a layer of photocatalytic agent. Here again, nothing is indicated relating to the mass of activated carbon-based layer and the proportion of activated carbon necessary to allow effective depollution while avoiding saturating said activated carbon.

Filtering medium, method for making same


A muffler system for a working vehicle, particularly a lawn mower, comprising a main muffler body connected to an exhaust manifold of the engine, and a curved muffler cover covering the main muffler body from below. An exhaust pipe extends from the main muffler body laterally outwardly of the vehicle body, and defines an exhaust outlet for discharging exhaust gas in a direction away from a front wheel and the ground. Cooling air is blown by a cooling fan from the engine into the muffler cover. The muffler cover defines air exhaust openings for directing the cooling air forwardly of the vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a muffler system for a working vehicle, particularly a lawn mower, having a main muffler body connected to an exhaust manifold of an engine and disposed forwardly and downwardly of the vehicle body. Such a muffler system includes a muffler cover covering the main muffler body from below, and cooling air flows from the engine through the muffler cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known muffler system of a lawn mower as noted above, an exhaust pipe opens laterally of the vehicle body, and the muffler cover covers only the bottom face of the main muffler body. The muffler cover defines a plurality of large exhaust openings for letting out cooling air flowing from the engine to the main muffler body.
According to the known construction, part of hot exhaust gas flowing out of the exhaust pipe of the muffler system could strike a front wheel to be directed to the ground. In addition, the cooling air flowing from the engine and heated by the main muffler body tends to proceed to the ground through a space between the main muffler body and the muffler cover laterally of the main muffler body.
The lawn mower may be kept standing still for a long time with the engine idling during a grass cutting operation. On such an occasion the lawn below the main muffler body may die from the heat of the exhaust gas and cooling air blowing to the ground.


A method of environment visualization for a tele-operation, includes an augmented reality technology in which an image with various types of information is provided to a user to achieve fun and usefulness, and an apparatus and a method of environment visualization for a tele-operation, in which external factors are added to image information to be provided to an operator by using hierarchization of object characteristics so as to improve the attention of the operator, thereby maximally preventing mistakes of the operator.

As is well known, when operating a robot, a pilotless plane, a car and the like from a remote place, an operator coarsely estimates the position of a platform to be operated based on image information that is transmitted from a camera, and operates the platform.
In such a case, since the operator does not exactly recognize a relative position or direction between the platform and a surrounding environment, the platform may frequently collide with a peripheral object or may not move in a desired direction.
In order to prevent such a problem, some systems add a virtual occupation area (an area actually occupied by the platform after a predetermined time) of the platform to the image information or display the virtual occupation area on a monitor, thereby facilitating the operation of a tele-operator. A representative example is to display a virtual occupation area including several reference lines on a rear monitor when a car runs backward.

Method and apparatus of environment visualization for tele-operation through hierarchization of object characteristics

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An illumination assembly allows quick and easy access to light fixtures that are mounted extended far enough away from a catwalk of a lighted sign such as a billboard as to be inaccessible to a worker on the catwalk. An elongate tubular member is pivotally mounted on a support affixed to the catwalk. A light fixture is mounted on the distal end of the member. A control mechanism enables the member to be fixed in extended position for use in illuminating the sign. The control mechanism enables the member to pivot to a position where the light fixture is adjacent the catwalk, for changing the light bulb or other maintenance. The control mechanism is accessible from the catwalk.

Outdoor displays such as, but not limited to, billboards, building signs, and traffic displays, are often provided with electric lights. These are generally high intensity light assemblies that may weigh about sixty pounds. Billboards are generally provided with a catwalk at the display that is easily accessible. However, the lights are mounted many feet away from the surface being illuminated, too far to reach from the catwalk. When a bulb burns out, on average of once every 18 months, they are hard to reach for replacement. The worker may have to resort to a "cherry picker" crane to safely replace the bulb or make other repair. The maintenance costs involved with conventional light assemblies are consequently very high. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,393 issued May 14, 1996 to Townsend discloses a rotatable conveyor assembly to move the lights to one side for maintenance of lights over a roadway.

Maintenance enhanced illumination assembly


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that improves the depth of focus during an optical lithography process. During operation, the system receives a mask layout. The system then selects an edge in the mask layout. Next, the system adds a notch to the edge to improve the depth of focus by helping to maintain a critical dimension associated with the edge as the optical lithography process drifts out of focus. Note that adding a notch to the edge adds a high spatial-frequency component to the mask layout. This high spatial-frequency component degrades as the optical lithography process drifts out of focus. This degradation causes the mask layout to allow more light into the pattern, which helps maintain the critical dimension, thereby improving depth of focus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the process of designing and fabricating semiconductor chips. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for improving depth of focus of a mask layout during optical lithography.
2. Related Art
Recent advances in integrated circuit technology have largely been accomplished by decreasing the feature size of circuit elements on a semiconductor chip. As the feature size of these circuit elements continues to decrease, circuit designers are being forced to rely on resolution enhancement techniques, such as assist features, to improve depth of focus during optical lithography.
Unfortunately, assist features cannot be used in certain situations. For example, certain illumination techniques, such as dipole illumination, impose strict restrictions on the pitch, which can make it impossible to find an appropriate location to place an assist feature. Similarly, it may not be possible to place assist features in fully nested line and space patterns.
Hence what is needed is a method and an apparatus to improve the depth of focus without the above mentioned problems.

Method and apparatus for improving depth of focus during optical lithography


An instrument includes a display screen which includes a bitmap graphical user interface including an on-screen menu, and a control element which enables movement of the on-screen menu corresponding to movement of the control element, enables the user to manipulate and select graphic images for executing selected instrument functions. The instrument is adapted to enable the user to focus on and select a selectable graphic image from a plurality of graphic images in the on-screen menu.

The present invention relates generally to an interface for a display screen and, more particularly, to a graphical user interface which, with a control device, enables manipulation of graphic images on a display screen.
In an instrument which includes a display screen, an on-screen menu, and a control device, a user may interact with the on-screen menu by viewing the on-screen menu, deciding to select a menu item, and manipulating the control device to generate menu movement and to enable entry of the menu selection.
The instrument may comprise a hand-held wireless telephone which includes an on-screen menu displayed in a text text-based interface on a small liquid-crystal display screen, and a jog dial control device for scrolling through the menu and for entry of a menu selection and execution of an instrument function thereby.
The small liquid crystal display screen may enable viewing of a small number of lines of text, typically two lines. The menu may include a phone book feature in which names and phone numbers may be entered, for enabling browsing and selection of an entry whereupon the phone number selected is dialed. The instrument may also include other functions, such as pager reception, two-way pager sending, or short message sending such as e-mail. However, such an instrument may require frequent selection of menu entries and instrument functions by the user through the small text-based display screen which displays a very limited number of entries. The user may choose a single item from the items displayed, and may only need to focus on the single item to be selected, but the multiple items on display increase the difficulty in selecting the single item.
Therefore, there has been a need existing for a system which enables the user of an instrument to view and manipulate an intuitive interface in the display, and to view movement in the interface which corresponds to movement of the control device. The present invention fulfills these needs.

Graphical user interface for enabling selection of a selectable graphic image


The present disclosure discloses a method for plugin loading. The method includes obtaining an identifier of a plugin component of a plugin from a threading module, recording the identifier of the plugin component, and replacing the identifier of the plugin component with an identifier of a host component of an application program. The method also includes sending the identifier of the host component to a threading module, to perform system permission verification and receiving runnable notification information when passing the verification. The method further includes in response to the received runnable notification information, replacing the identifier of the host component with the identifier of the plugin component according to the recorded identifier of the plugin component; and sending the identifier of the plugin component to the threading module, to load the plugin. The present invention further discloses an apparatus and a storage medium for plugin loading.

With the increasing development of operating systems of terminals, third-party application (App) functions are more complete, causing more App code projects, and finally causing method counts to exceed the standard. Therefore, splitting and decoupling projects have become inevitable processes for App development teams. At this time, a plugin framework solution appears and provides a perfect solution to resolve the foregoing requirement. The plugin framework solution not only can reduce tolerance of Apps, but also can push a user to update a more stable function in time, to improve user experience and enrich product dimensions to some extent.
Currently, a plugin framework solution used in an operating system of a terminal has the following problems: 1) For a conventional plugin framework solution, a plugin App needs to be modified correspondingly to meet scheduling of a host App, which greatly increases development costs; and running of a component of the plugin App is not scheduled by a system, and therefore, the plugin App does not have an attribute of a system component; 2) For a DroidPlugin plugin framework solution, there is a large risk in adaptation, that is, running is not perfect in some manufacturers and newly released versions of operating systems, and large adaptation costs are needed to complete running of the plugin App.
In can be seen that, currently there is no suitable plugin framework solution.

Plugin loading method and apparatus, terminal, and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


The invention provides luminescent material comprising E1-wSc1-x-y-u-wMyZuA2wSi2-z-uGezAluO6:Crx, wherein:                E comprises one or more of Li, Na, and K;        M comprises one or more of Al, Ga, In, Tm, Yb, and Lu;        Z comprises one or more of Ti, Zr, and Hf;        A comprises one or more of Mg, Zn, and Ni;        0<x≤0.25;        0≤y≤0.75;        0≤z≤2;        0≤u≤1;        0≤w≤1;        x+y+u+w≤1; and        z+u≤2.

Trivalent chromium comprising luminescent materials are known in the art. X. Xu, et al., Chemical Engineering Journal 383 (2020) 123108 describe that a novel broadband near-infrared (NIR) phosphor LiInSi2O6:Cr3+ (LIS:Cr3+) is successfully synthesized via solid-state reaction. Its crystal structure, photoluminescence properties as well as the application in NIR phosphor-converted LEDs (pc-LEDs) are explored. The LIS:Cr31 phosphor has two absorptions bands centered at ˜460 and 670 nm, respectively. Under 460 nm excitation, it shows the broadband NIR emission peaking at ˜840 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ˜143 nm. The optimum Cr3+ concentration is found to be ˜6 mol %, whereas the intensity decrease at further increased Cr3+ content is attributed to the radiative energy transfer process. The LIS:0.06Cr3+ phosphor has a quantum yield of ˜75% and can retain ˜77% of the initial intensity at 150° C.
Highly efficient, thermally stable and broad NIR emissions of LIS:Cr31 phosphors are caused by the Cr3+ preferential occupancy in [InO6] octahedron with weak crystal field but relatively strong rigidity. The NIR pc-LED is fabricated by combining the LIS:Cr31 phosphor with the blue LED chip, which has the NIR output power of ˜51.6 mW and the photoelectric efficiency of ˜17.8% at 100 mA drive current. The results suggest that LIS:Cr31 phosphors have great potential for applications in broadband NIR pc-LEDs.

IR emitting pyroxene phosphors and light emitting device using the same


A flow passage partition structure including a flow passage member including a flow passage space portion, a partition member partitioning the flow passage space portion into a first flow passage and a second flow passage, the partition member including a first plate and a second plate being in contact with the first plate in a state where the second plate is press-fitted in an inner circumferential surface of the flow passage space portion, the first plate including an outer circumferential surface that is out of contact with the inner circumferential surface of the flow passage space portion, and the first plate, the second plate, and the inner circumferential surface of the flow passage space portion forming a space portion that corresponds to a foreign material storage portion.

For example, a known valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine includes an OCV (oil control valve) provided at a flow passage space portion formed at a bolt fixing a driven side rotary member to a camshaft (far example, refer to US2012/097122A1 which will be hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 1). The flow passage space portion of the bolt is formed to be coaxial with the driven side rotary member, and a partition member is fitted in the flow passage space portion. The flow passage space portion is partitioned by the partition member into flow passages supplying working fluid to an advanced angle chamber or a retarded angle chamber and flow passages discharging the working fluid from the advanced angle chamber or the retarded angle chamber.
At the configuration of Patent reference 1, when the partition member is fitted into the flow passage space portion of the bolt serving as a flow passage member, the partition member moves in a sliding manner relative to an inner surface of the bolt and either the partition member or the inner surface of the bolt is scraped, and accordingly a chip may be generated. In a case where the chip enters the flow passage, an inconvenience occurs which includes a harmful influence on an operation of a valve provided at the flow passage.
A need thus exists for a flow passage partition structure which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

Flow passage partition structure and fluid control valve


For use in a wireless network, a mobile station that can selectively use the reduced slot cycle mode under the control of a first wireless network base station. The mobile station comprises: 1) a message controller for communicating in a paging channel with the first base station; and 2) a reduced slot cycle controller coupled to the message controller for causing the message controller to transmit to the first base station a first Release Order message comprising a minimum reduced slot cycle index (SCI) value requested by the mobile station. The reduced slot cycle controller is further capable of receiving from the first base station a second Release Order message comprising a selected slot cycle index (SCI) value at which the mobile station will operate.

Wireless communication systems have become ubiquitous in society. Business and consumers use a wide variety of fixed and mobile wireless terminals, including cell phones, pagers, Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems, and fixed wireless access devices (e.g., vending machine with cell phone capability). Wireless service providers continually try to create new markets for wireless devices and expand existing markets by making wireless devices and services cheaper and more reliable. The prices of wireless devices have decreased to the point where nearly everyone can afford them. To continue to attract new customers, wireless service providers are implementing new services, especially digital data services that, for example, enable a user (or subscriber) to browse the Internet and to send and receive e-mail.
Mobile stations (e.g., cell phones, PCS handsets, portable computers, telemetry devices, and the like) frequently operate from an external power source connected to the mobile station. When the external power source is not connected, an internal battery provides a limited period of operation. Mobile stations that operate from batteries for longer periods of time offer increased value to users and competitive advantages for service providers and equipment vendors.
The duration of mobile station battery operation has often been extended using techniques that lower power consumption when the mobile station is in an idle state and not transferring voice or data traffic. A mobile station may enable one or more power saving configurations when it is in the idle state. For instance, the mobile station may disable its transmitter during the idle state, decreasing the amount of power required for idle state operation. A mobile station may further reduce its idle state power requirements by enabling a slotted mode of operation with a base station.
A mobile station enters the idle state when the mobile station is turned on, is synchronized with the system, and has no calls in progress. During the idle state, a mobile station actively listens to a paging channel for information. This information includes overhead messages, such as system parameter messages, as well as messages directly addressed to the mobile station from a base station. A mobile station in the idle state may operate from a battery or from an external power source.
During the idle state, the mobile station may communicate with a base station in a non-slotted or a slotted mode. A typical paging channel slot is an 80-millisecond time slot within a paging slot cycle. The paging slot cycle ranges from 16 time slots (1.28 seconds) to 2048 time slots (163.84 seconds). In the non-slotted mode, the mobile station monitors all paging channel slots for messages from the base station. In the slotted mode, the mobile station only monitors a selected subset of the paging channel slots for messages from the base station. During time periods when the mobile station is not monitoring the selected subset of paging channel slots, power is turned off in the mobile station RF receiver in order to save additional power. A mobile station extends the battery supply operating life by entering a slotted mode of operation with the base station because the mobile station receiver consumes power only during selected slot cycles rather than across the entire paging cycle.
In earlier wireless networks, such as Release B of cdma2000 (i.e., IS-2000-B), the mobile station could select a full slot cycle index, r, between 0 and 7 (i.e., 000-111). The slot cycle index, r, gives the period, P, of the slotted mode of operation according to the equation:P=(2)r×1.28 seconds.  [Eqn. 1]Thus, for example, if the full slot cycle index, r, is 0, the period of the slotted mode is 1.28 seconds. If the full slot cycle index, r, is 7, the period of the slotted mode is 163.84 seconds.
However, the latest generation of wireless terminals, particularly cell phones and other mobile stations, incorporate new features and applications that require very fast messaging. Many of these new features cannot operate with full cycle slotted mode periods of 1.28 seconds or greater. For example, many cell phones and other wireless mobile stations (e.g., Palm Pilot) support interactive gaming applications that enable the operator of one mobile station to play against the operator of another mobile station. However, a gaming application that requires fast, real-time interactions cannot properly operate in a slotted mode that has a minimum period of 1.28 seconds.
Another new application that is adversely affected by full cycle slotted mode operation is Push-to-Talk service, such as the Direct ConnectSM service available from Nextel. A Push-to-Talk service allows two mobile stations to operate as walkie-talkies. A call connection is set up between a first mobile station and a second mobile station. After the call connection is established, the operators may let both mobile stations enter idle states. At any point in time, the operator of the first mobile station can simply press a button on the first mobile station and say, "Hey what are you up to?" and the operator of the second mobile station can hear the voice message immediately and respond. However, a Push-to-Talk application cannot properly operate with a slotted mode that has a minimum period of 1.28 seconds.
In order to perform fast messaging in gaming applications and Push-to-Talk services, the latest generation of mobile stations are capable of entering a reduced slot cycle mode (or negative slot cycle mode) when the mobile station is in a slotted mode of operation. In reduced slot cycle mode, the mobile station selects a reduced slot cycle index, r, between −4 and 7. As before, the slot cycle index, r, gives the period, P, of the slotted mode of operation according to the equation:P=(2)r×1.28 seconds.  [Eqn. 2]Because the slot cycle index, r, can be a negative value, slot cycle periods of less than 1.28 seconds are possible. For example, if the reduced slot cycle index, r, is −4, the reduced slot cycle period of the slotted mode is 80 milliseconds. If the reduced slot cycle index, r, is −3, the reduced slot cycle period of the slotted mode is 160 milliseconds. If the reduced slot cycle index is −2, the reduced slot cycle period of the slotted mode is 320 milliseconds, and so forth.
Unfortunately, the widespread use of reduced slot cycle mode by a large number of mobile stations creates considerable scheduling problems in the base station. When paging slot cycles are 1.28 seconds or greater, the base station has the luxury of being able to flexibly schedule the transmission of paging messages to nearby mobile stations. However, when slot cycles are only 80 milliseconds long, the base station is less able to schedule transmissions in an optimal manner. Under some heavily loaded conditions, the benefits of shorter paging cycles become reduced.
Furthermore, certain applications, such as QCHAT, may require a first group of mobile stations to monitor the paging channel of a base station more frequently than a second group of mobile stations. Continually operating the second group of mobile stations in the reduced slotted mode unnecessarily drains the batteries of the second group of mobile stations and reduces battery life. However, operating the first group of mobile stations in a normal mode of operation (non-reduced slotted mode) has a negative impact on application performance.
Therefore, there exists a need for improved systems and methods of controlling the use of reduced slot cycle mode of operation by mobile stations in a wireless network.

Apparatus and method using release order messages to change the slot cycle index of a selected mobile station in a wireless network


A method for automatically determining wiring routes among terminals comprising separating the terminals to a group of two-terminal units in which the Manhattan length between two terminals in a unit is statistically shortened to the minimum, calculating a specific length L between the two terminals, roughly determining all the wiring routes connecting each two-terminal unit in which the distance between the two terminals is larger than the specific length L, dividing the routing area into a group of small areas, composing a group of medium areas which are respectively formed by combining four small areas in close proximity, roughly and simultaneously determining all wiring routes of the two-terminal units In which the distance between the two terminals is smaller than the specific length L in the medium areas conceivable as the combination of four small areas in close proximity.

1. 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for automatically determining wiring routes among terminals which are arranged on an integrated circuit, and in particular to a method for automatically determining wiring routes for designing a wiring pattern of a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. 2. Description of Background Art
Recently, to automatically design a wiring pattern of a semiconductor integrated circuit, layout CAD programs which are operated by utilizing a general-purpose computer have been developed.
The automatic design is made up of two procedures. A first procedure is a global routing procedure for roughly determining wiring routes. The global rough wiring route is called a global route. A second procedure is a detail routing procedure for precisely determining a final routing pattern according to the global routes determined by the first procedure. The final routing pattern determined by the detail routing procedure is called a detail route.
In the global routing procedure, initially, a routing area is divided into global routing cells of which the side length is larger than the interval of the actual wires. Therefore, the maximum number of detail routes which can pass through a global routing cell in parallel is determined by the side length of the cell. The maximum number is called wiring capacity. The global route is determined without exceeding the wiring capacity in the global routing procedure.
In the detail routing procedure, the final routing pattern is determined according to the global routes.
The first procedure and the second procedure for respectively determining the global route and the detail route are described as an example with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.
As shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d), a pair of numbered terminals, which are set to the same electric potential, are connected to determine the wiring routes in a routing area 210. To roughly determine the wiring route among the terminals, two typical wiring methods are known.
One is a maze method (C.Y. Lee, "An Algorithm for Path Connections and Its Applications", IRE Trans. Electron. Comput., Vol. EC-10, pp. 346-365, 1961). The other is a segment search method ( K. Mokami etc., "A Computer Program for Optimal Routing of Printed Circuit Connections", IFIPS Proc., pp. 1475-1478, 1968).
In the conventional automatic wiring methods such as the maze method or the segment search method, wiring routes 211 between like-numbered terminals are determined serially as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d). However, the above automatic wiring method increases the processing time and enlarges the circuit.
In recent semiconductor integrated circuits, many drawbacks have occurred as the complexity of integrated circuits advances. That is, the processing time required for the layout of the wiring route is rapidly increased. For example, when the number of parts integrated in the semiconductor is M, the processing time is proportional to M.sup.2. In short, the increase in processing time required for the layout is greater than the improvement in executing speed in the general-purpose computer.
To solve those drawbacks, recently, an automatic wiring route determination method for executing a wiring process by utilizing a plurality of processors in parallel has been proposed (H. Nelson Brady, "MIMD Organization for the Execution of Interconnection Routing Algorithm", IEEE Circuits and Device Magazine, pp. 39-43, 1985, first published in Japanese Patent Publications No. s62-115574, and s62-186351).
One example of the above method is described as follows with reference to FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, a palr of terminals with like numbers are connected to determine wiring routes. In this parallel wiring method, initially, a routing area 210 is divided into a plurality of small areas 220, 221, 222, 223 (four in this example) as shown in FIG. 2(b). And then, wiring routes between a pair of like-numbered terminals and is included in the same small area are determined as shown in FIG. 2(c). In this example, the routes between terminals 1, 1, terminals 2, 2, ---, and terminals 6, 6 are respectively determined. When all the wiring routes have been determined, the processing is stopped. On the other hand, when no wired terminals exist, some small areas are combined to compose a larger new small area. In FIG. 2(c), because no wired terminals 7, 8, 9, and 10 exist, the small areas 220 to 223 are combined to compose a new small area 225 (in thls example, the area 225 is the same as the routing area 210). And then, the wiring routes between the terminals included in the area 225 are determined. Moreover, when no wired terminals still exist, the combination of the small areas is repeated to determine the all wiring routes.
For example, when the routing area 210 is divided into N small areas to process by using N processors, the all N processors can be operated in a first step. That is, the processing is executed in parallel N times. Thereafter, some small areas are combined to compose a new small area before determining the wiring routes of non-wired terminals in the new small area in a second step. To simplify the wiring procedures, four (2.times.2) small areas in close proximity are combined to compose a new small area. That is, the routing area 210 is divided into N/4 small areas. Therefore, N/4 processors can be operated to determine the wiring routes in the second step. That is, the other processors are not needed. In the same manner, N/16 processors can be operated to determine the wiring routes in a third step. That is. the other (N-N/16) processors are not needed.
Accordingly, in the parallel wiring method as described in the above example, the small areas including no wired terminals are combined to compose a new small area. Therefore, the number of the divided small areas is decreased while the wiring process proceeds. That is, the number of processors operated in parallel is decreased so that the number of unused processors increases.
On the other hand, a distribution graph of a wiring number is shown in FIG. 3. The distribution is determined according to the layout of a typlcal real circuit.
As shown in FIG. 3, the abscissa corresponds to a group of cut lines 130. The cut lines 230 are positioned in the routing area 210 as shown in FIG. 4. The ordinate indicates the number of wires across a corresponding cut line 130. Judging from the distribution. the number of wires being across each cut line 130 is almost equal over the entire routing area 210.
Accordingly, in the parallel wiring method described in the above example, because the wire is necessarily across the boundary line between the small areas, the small areas in the first step must be combined step by step to finally compose the largest small area which is identical to the routing area 210 to complete the wiring process.
As mentioned above, in the conventional automatic wiring method, the wiring process of a large scale circuit can not be completed in a practical process time. Also, it is inefficient to use the above method in the parallel wiring method to solve the above drawback.
As mentioned above, in the conventional automatic wiring method, the small areas are processed one by one by using one general-purpose computer. Therefore, the layout of a large scale integrated semiconductor is impossible to be executed in a practical processing time, even using the highest speed computer now in existence.

Method for automatically determining wiring routes


A pyrotechnic slug, intended to be used by bomb squads to neutralize explosive devices, comprising a hollow cylinder, having an internal space, and having a projectile body made of non-metallic material, the projectile body having a closed front end and an open back end receiving a slug plug, the internal space containing a mixture cavity holding a pyrotechnic mixture, which upon ignition and explosion thereof is configured to create a weak pressure wave, and the pyrotechnic slug having an operating system comprising at least one selected from a list including:                a) a mechanical impact firing system; and        b) a delayed operating system;wherein the pyrotechnic slug is configured to be propelled from a barrel by one of:        a) a separate cartridge;        b) a unified slug comprising the projectile body inserted into a cartridge; and        c) a rocket motor.

Bomb squads across the world are assisted by a variety of means in the handling of suspicious objects with potential explosives.
The safest and most common manner used by these bomb squads is to attack the objects/explosives from a distance using various types of projectiles fired from a barrel (disruptors). Both means of attack and types of projectiles are greatly varied.
The most common disruptors are with 12.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 29 mm in diameter. The most common mean is the shotgun.
Shotguns are installed today onC-IED robots designated to neutralize explosives.
There is an additional configuration installed on a tripod.
The rounds are fired from the rifle and the tripod configuration, either mechanically or electrically.
Ammunition for disruptors is varied and includes the following configurations:
Metallic round, round containing sand, round containing zinc powder, water round, cement round, aluminum round, clay round.Etc.
The common denominator among these projectiles is that all of them, without exception, are inert and penetrate the suspicious object/explosive from the outside inwards. This method is effective for handling small objects/explosives, but has been found to be useless when coping with large objects/explosives, because the energy introduced into the object/explosive from the inert round is local and limited, and mostly wasted on localized breaking of the external packaging. In cases like these, there are two options:                1) Use of massive means of attack, whose peripheral damage exceeds their usefulness, in light of the quantity of explosive material required to produce a very massive round for cracking and penetrating the object sufficiently to take it apart. Utilization of this means constitutes a potential risk due to the large-range scattering of shrapnel and the scattering of shock waves in every direction, which might endanger life and property. Of course, this method is not applicable in urban/populated areas.        2) Manual handling of large explosives. This method constitutes great risk to the lives of the bomb technicians, in light of their necessary and immediate proximity to the object/explosive.
The invention presented here offers a solution to the problematics stemming from the above-stated methods. Firing of a pyrotechnical slug and its "cleaving" within the target it has penetrated, as a result of the initiation of pyrotechnic mixture within the slug, produces a weak pressure wave that is passed on to the contents of the object, propelling it while tearing/cleaving of the package and revealing its contents.
The advantages of the round are as follows:                The energy passed on to the object is under the required energy threshold for the initiation of standard explosive materials such as: C-4, PETN, SEMTEX, T.N.T, ANFO Etc.        The round splits into a number of smaller particles, which, due to their weights, are propelled for only short distances, mostly remaining in the target object. These pieces of shrapnel do not constitute any risk to human life, in light of the material from which they are constructed, their light weights and the short range of their paths, which is in the range of a few meters from the explosion point.


Disclosed herein is a method of decoding a sequence of prediction-coded video frames using a primary and a secondary state-dependent decoder. The method includes receiving an incomplete frame at the primary decoder, copying a state of the primary decoder into the secondary decoder, decoding and outputting the incomplete frame and subsequent frames at the primary decoder, receiving data restoring the incomplete frame, decoding the restored incomplete frame and subsequent frames at the secondary decoder until the secondary decoder has caught up with the primary decoder; and copying the state of the secondary decoder into the primary decoder; wherein the secondary decoder has access to the subsequent frames received after the incomplete frame.

Digital video signals may be obtained by transducing a light pattern (electromagnetic waves, for example, in the visual spectrum) into an analogue video signal using an imaging device and subsequently obtaining a digital representation of the analogue video signal by sampling.
Prediction coding methods can be used for coding sequences of video frames. By such methods, a given frame can be expressed in terms of its difference with respect to one or more of the preceding frames. This idea can be applied to many image formats such as formats based on harmonic transforms or the discrete cosine transform (DCT) and its variants. Prediction coding can exploit the correlation between consecutive frames that is inherent in realistic video data so as to provide a low-bitrate coding format. In some instances, this efficiency, however, is achieved at a certain cost: a prediction-coded video sequence may only be decoded sequentially. In other words, the prediction-coded sequence may only be decoded in the same order as it was encoded so that frames preceding the one to be decoded are known. Further, in some instances, prediction decoders may not be able to skip forward in the video sequence and omit one or more frames whilst maintaining error-free decoding. Put differently, the decoder is a state-dependent (or stateful or memoryful) device, and the way it processes information relating to a given frame can depend on the previously decoded frame(s).
Transmission services over Internet Protocol (IP) networks can be supplied on a best-effort basis. A best-effort basis can include no guarantees as to whether a data packet will reach its addressee or how soon. When prediction-coded video frames are supplied in real time over an IP network, it may happen that a video frame is lost, is delivered incomplete or contains errors. The decoding process may not be able to continue in an error-free manner until the frame has been restored.

Loss-robust video transmission using plural decoders


A device and method for performing sessionless reporting are provided. The device includes a memory for storing code of a Device Management (DM) Client and a Sessionless Report Configuration Management Object (MO), the Sessionless Report Configuration MO including one or more nodes, a processor for executing the code of the DM Client stored in the memory, a communications unit for sending and receiving information for the DM Client, and the DM Client for sending one or more sessionless reports to a DM server, and, while awaiting acknowledgement of the one or more sessionless reports from the DM Server in a subsequent DM Session, for controlling sessionless reporting based on criteria specified in at least one node included in the Sessionless Report Configuration MO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Device Management (DM) in a communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to techniques for sessionless reporting by a DM Client.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the growth in ubiquitous communications technologies and systems, devices are increasing in functionality and complexity. However, with the increase in the functionality and complexity of the devices, a need for the management of the devices has developed. To address that need, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) established a Device Management (DM) Working Group to specify protocols and mechanisms that achieve management of devices. The OMA-DM Working Group has developed the OMA-DM specification, which defines a two-way protocol between a DM Server and a DM Client associated with a device that is used for remote management of the device. Hereafter, a device associated with a DM Client may be referred to as an OMA-DM device. Historically, the devices have been wireless devices, but of late, OMA-DM has begun addressing the remote management needs of all types of devices. Examples of OMA-DM include the setting of initial configuration information in devices, the subsequent installation and update of persistent information in devices, the retrieval of management information from devices, and the processing of events and alarms generated by devices.
An instance of an interaction between a DM sever and a DM Client is referred to as a DM session and may be initiated by either the DM Client or the DM Server. The DM Client is typically embedded at the device and the DM Server manages the device by invoking one or more commands on the DM Client. The DM Client processes the one or more commands and communicates a response back to the DM Server. Communication between the DM Server and the DM Client is implemented via the exchange of Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML) messages. SyncML is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML). The structure of the SyncML messages is defined by the SyncML Document Type Definition (DTD), which is defined by the OMA.
An example of a communication system employing OMA-DM is described below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication system employing OMA-DM according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the exemplary communication system employing OMA-DM may include a wired network 100, a wireless network 102, a wired device 110, a wireless device 112, a DM Server 120, and a DM Authority 130. Each of the wired device 110 and the wireless device 112 has associated therewith a DM Client (not shown). In addition, the DM Authority 130 may be an Operations Support System (OSS). In FIG. 1, solid lines represent physical connectivity and dotted lines represent logical connectivity.
The exemplary communication system employing OMA-DM illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely one of a number of possible implementations. For example, one of the wired network 100 and the wireless network 102 may be omitted. Alternatively, the wired network 100 and the wireless network 102 may be combined. Further, while the DM Server 120 and the DM Authority 130 are shown as connected to the wired network 100, one or both of the DM Server 120 and the DM Authority 130 may alternatively be connected to the wireless network 102.
To facilitate OMA-DM in the communication system illustrated in FIG. 1, a two-way protocol based on the OMA-DM specification is utilized between the DM Server 120 and the DM Client associated with wireless device 112, and between the DM Server 120 and the DM Client associated with the wired device 110. The DM Authority 130 may direct the DM operations of the DM Client associated with each of the wired device 110 and wireless device 112 via the DM Server 120. Only the interaction between the DM Server 120 and a DM Client associated with each of the wired device 110 and wireless device 112, is within the scope of the OMA-DM specification.
An example of a DM Server initiated DM session with a DM Client is described below with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a signal diagram for a DM Server initiated DM session with a DM Client in a communication system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, the DM Server initiated DM session between a DM Server 202 and a DM Client 204 includes two phases. The first phase is a setup phase 210 and the second phase is a management phase 220. The setup phase 210 includes an exchange of information for authentication and device information. The exchange of information in the setup phase 210 includes one instance of each of three packages, namely Package 0 (212), Package 1 (214), and Package 2 (216). Package 0 (212) is communicated from DM Server 202 to DM Client 204 and is referred to as a Notification Message. Package 1 (214) is communicated from DM Client 204 to DM Server 202. Package 1 (214) includes client initialization information and device information. The client initialization information includes client credentials. Package 2 (216) is sent from DM Server 202 to DM Client 204. Package 2 (216) includes server initialization information and an initial management operation. The server initialization information includes one or more server credentials.
The management phase 220 includes the exchange of one or more instances of two types of packages, namely Package 3 (222), and Package 4 (224). Package 3 (222) is communicated from DM Client 204 to DM Server 202. Package 3 (222) includes client response information to the management operation triggered by Package 2 (216). Package 4 (224) is communicated from DM Server 202 to DM Client 204. Package 4 (224) includes at least one of an additional management operation and one or more additional user interaction commands, if the DM session is continued beyond the Package 2 message 216. Additional cycles of a Package 3 message 222 and a Package 4 message 224 may be transmitted between the DM Server 202 and DM Client 204 until the DM session is terminated.
The OMA-DM protocol supports the notion of DM bootstrapping. DM bootstrapping is the process by which a DM Client transitions from an un-provisioned, empty state, to a state where it is able to initiate a DM session with an authorized DM Server. A DM Client that has already been bootstrapped can be further bootstrapped to enable the DM Client to initiate a DM session with a new DM Server. An example of the OMA-DM architecture is described below with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 illustrates an OMA-DM architecture according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 3, the OMA-DM architecture includes a DM Server 340, a DM Client 310 and DM standard Management Objects (MOs) 320. The DM Client 310 and the DM standard MOs 320 are co-located in a device 300. The OMA-DM architecture may include additional structural elements. However, a description of additional structural elements of the OMA-DM architecture is omitted for conciseness.
The DM Server 340 and DM Client 310, which have been described above, communicate via interfaces DM-1 330 and DM-2 332. DM Client 310 communicates via interface DM-5 334 with the DM Standard MOs 320.
The DM protocol defines three standard Management Objects (MOs) 320 that all implementations of a DM Client 310 must support. These DM standard MOs 320 include DMAccount (DMAcc) MO 322, Device Information (DevInfo) MO 324 and Device Details (DevDetail) MO 326.
The DMAcc MO 322 is used to manage information pertaining to bootstrapped DM Server 340. There is a single instance of the DMAcc MO 322 for each bootstrapped DM Server 340. For each DM Server 340 that has been successfully bootstrapped for DM device 310, the corresponding DMAcc MO 322 maintains information on a DM Server IDentifier (ID), connectivity information, server address, server and client credentials, etc. The DevInfo MO 324 provides basic information about the device 300 associated with the DM Client 310. The basic information includes a device ID, a device manufacturer ID, a model ID, and language settings. The DevDetail MO 326 provides additional information about the device 300 associated with the DM Client 310. The additional information includes device type, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), hardware version, firmware version, software version, an indication of whether the device 300 supports optional features (e.g., large-object handling capability), maximum depth of the management tree, maximum total length of any Uniform Resource ID (URI), and maximum total length of any URI segment.
The OMA-DM standard specifies that OMA-DM MOs be represented as a tree of named nodes. An example of an OMA DMAcc MO node tree according to the related art is provided in FIG. 4 as an example of an OMA-DM MO node tree.
FIG. 4 illustrates a DMAcc MO node tree according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 4, a pictorial description of a tree of named nodes of a DMAcc MO of the related art is shown. The nodes depicted in FIG. 4 are outside the scope of the present disclosure and therefore a description of each node is omitted herein for conciseness. A description of each node depicted in FIG. 4 can be found in section 5.3.1 of version 1.2.1 of the OMA-DM Standardized Objects, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Each node in a MO is the potential target for invoking a management operation from the DM Server. In order to perform some remote management action, the DM Server executes an operation on the corresponding node. Nodes are addressed using a URI. The URI of a node is the concatenation of the names of all the nodes from the root of the management tree, using '/' as the delimiter. For example, the URI of the "Name" node of the DMAcc MO shown in FIG. 4 is "Node:<x>/Name".
Recently the OMA has set up a Task Force dedicated to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. The Task Force has observed that the current assumption about OMA-DM devices is that the OMA-DM devices have significant memory and processing power, and are connected to a fixed or wireless network. However, many of the OMA-DM devices currently being deployed in M2M solutions are microcontrollers with limited capabilities. For such microcontrollers, the OMA-DM of the related art is too heavy. To address this shortcoming, OMA-DM should be extended in terms of protocol, MOs, other network bearers, etc., to support restricted capability OMA-DM devices. Thus, there is a need for a new lightweight DM to support M2M capability-limited OMA-DM devices.
As described above, the OMA-DM Transaction Model of the related art is essentially a secure request/response protocol between a DM Server and a DM Client that runs within the context of a DM session. Once a DM session is established, the DM Server alternately sends commands to the DM Client and receives responses from the DM Client. The DM Client also informs the DM Sever about events that have occurred on the device, via unsolicited alerts. As described above, all the reporting from the DM Client to the DM Server is done within the context of a DM Session, in either Package 1 or Package 3. However, with OMA-DM version 1.3, the concept of Sessionless DM has been introduced. This allows a DM Server to send messages to previously bootstrapped DM Clients, outside the context of a DM session. The DM Client processes these messages but does not send back a response.
To extend OMA-DM to support M2M capability-limited OMA-DM devices, the Sessionless DM concept may be exploited. Accordingly, there is a need for a technique that exploits the Sessionless DM concept in order to support M2M capability-limited OMA-DM devices.

Techniques for sessionless reporting by device management client


A replacement memory page is identified by accessing a first list of page records, and if the first list is not empty, identifying a replacement page from a next page record indicator of the first list. A second list of page records is accessed if the first list is empty, and if the second list is not empty, the replacement page is identified from a next page record indicator of the second list. A third list of page records is accessed if the first and second lists are empty, and the replacement page is identified from a next page record indicator of the third list.

In the art of computing, a processor architecture has an address space that is typically larger than the amount of physical memory present in a computer having one or more of the processors implementing the processor architecture. The address space of the processor is virtualized. To manage translations from the virtual address space of the processor to the physical memory, a virtual memory system is used. The virtual memory system stores memory translations in a page table. In a paging memory management scheme, the operating system retrieves data from persistent storage in blocks called pages.
At some point, as memory pages are loaded from persistent storage, physical pages that were previously assigned a translation to virtual memory pages must be selected for replacement so that new memory pages may be loaded. Pages that are candidates for replacement may be managed as classes. For example, it is desirable to select an inactive page for replacement before an active page is selected for replacement.
Another technique known in the art is speculatively prefetching read ahead pages asynchronously from persistent storage into physical memory. Performance is increased because if a page is speculatively prefetched and is later needed, the page is already in memory and processing can continue without the need to fetch the page from persistent storage.

Identifying replacement memory pages from three page record lists

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.