One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs register file checkpointing to support speculative execution within a processor. During operation, the system commences speculative execution of a program from a point of speculation, at which the outcome of a long latency instruction is speculatively predicted. During this speculative execution, registers are updated by checkpointing an old value of the register, if the register has not already been checkpointed, and then updating the architectural state of the register with the new value. In this way, only registers that are updated during the speculative execution are checkpointed, instead of checkpointing all of the architectural registers prior to commencing speculative execution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for improving the performance of computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing register file checkpointing in an efficient manner to support speculative execution within a computer system.
2. Related Art
Speculative execution techniques (i.e. mechanisms that allow a microprocessor to execute instructions before it is known whether they should be executed and/or what their operands are) are becoming an increasingly important means of improving the performance of microprocessors. To enable speculative execution to work correctly, current microprocessors do not allow the speculative instructions to update the architectural register state until the speculation is confirmed to be correct. The register state of the speculative instructions is instead buffered in temporary registers. However, this solution is infeasible if the speculation (e.g. value predicting a load that has to access main memory because it missed the processor's caches) takes a long time to resolve. This is because a large number of instructions (on the order of hundreds) may be speculatively executed before the speculation is resolved. Consequently, the amount of register state to be buffered is prohibitive.
In such situations, the more feasible solution is to save (i.e. checkpoint) the architectural register state of the processor at the point of speculation, and to then restore this state if the speculation turns out to be incorrect. In the interval between the speculation and its resolution, the speculative instructions are free to update the architectural register state. However, checkpointing the architectural register state is a challenging technical problem for processors with large numbers of architectural registers (such as in processors that implement register windows). This is because it can potentially take a long time and a large amount of space to checkpoint and to restore the large architectural register state.
In order to save (i.e. checkpoint) the architectural register state of the processor at the point of speculation and then restore the state if the speculation turns out to be incorrect, the common technique is to copy the contents of all the architectural registers to memory or some temporary storage area at the point of speculation, and to then copy all the architectural register state from memory or the temporary storage area back into the architectural registers when the speculation is determined to be incorrect. However, this technique is inefficient if the architectural register state is large (e.g. in a processor that implements register windows) because the copy will either take many clock cycles to accomplish or require a high bandwidth and expensive copy mechanism.
This problem is further magnified if multiple checkpoints are required to facilitate nested speculative execution. Note that if the speculation takes a long time to resolve, the program is likely to encounter additional instructions where speculation is required. In order to keep executing the program in this situation, the system must be able to support nested speculation. In nested speculative execution, we speculatively predict results of additional instructions while the speculation on an earlier instruction is pending and has not been resolved. If a particular speculation is incorrect, the architectural state immediately prior to that speculation is restored. Any state maintained with subsequent speculations (such as checkpoints) may be discarded because execution is restarted from the incorrectly predicted instruction.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for checkpointing the registers to support speculative execution without encountering the problems described above.

Method and apparatus for performing register file checkpointing to support speculative execution within a processor


Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, devices, computer program products, and methods implementing aspects of a decentralized content fabric. In some implementations, one or more processors are configured to execute a software stack to define a fabric node of a plurality of fabric nodes of an overlay network situated in an application layer differentiated from an internet protocol layer. The defined fabric node is configured to: obtain a request for digital content from a client device; obtain, from one or more of the plurality of fabric nodes, a plurality of content object parts of a content object representing, in the overlay network, at least a portion of the digital content; generate consumable media using: raw data stored in the content object parts, metadata stored in the content object parts, and build instructions stored in the content object parts; and provide the consumable media to the client device. In some instances, the consumable media is further generated using a digital contract stored in a blockchain.

Digital content consumption over the Internet is growing explosively. Many argue that value on the Internet has now shifted from data to user attention. Some projections estimate that over 80% of the traffic over the Internet in 2021 will be video. Of this, the share of live content is growing the fastest, up from an estimated 2% in 2013 to 13% by 2021, according to some projections. And, with the mainstream availability and use of gigantic social media, search, and retail platforms whose profit incentives (driven by advertising) are aligned directly with maximizing user attention, the crux of value has shifted from data to user attention.
However, against this backdrop, the elemental technology of the Internet, which is open and scalable for web data (not large form content), has not evolved significantly. Instead, the "client-server-edge-cache" architecture that emerged on top of the open packet based routing Internet to serve web data (documents) over 20 years ago has been stretched to try to support digital content. It is not difficult to appreciate the incongruence of this design: after all, digital content is typically orders of magnitude larger than web documents and creates massively higher traffic demands on the core of the Internet and devours terabytes, petabytes, and zettabytes of storage. The explosion of piecemeal digital rights management (DRM) and a potpourri of device formats means large form content is re-versioned into very many end package formats, and in combination with the edge caching requirements, has further multiplied the bytes that have to be pushed from a source through the Internet core to keep the edge caches "warm" with popular content and has multiplied the storage requirements throughout the entire supply chain. Finally, the "push and cache at the edge" model is simply too slow to keep pace with the continually changing content of interactive and live sources.
On the economic side, the existing storage and content delivery providers, largely content delivery networks (CDNs) and cloud vendors, have high revenues and some have high profit directly from this entrenched legacy architecture overheated with the consumer demand for video. According to some estimates, 71% of Internet traffic is projected to be carried by CDNs by 2021 (including cloud CDNs). Over the top Internet companies that have built their own infrastructure or Internet giants that can ride on their own large networks have successfully moved off of this economic dependence, but the large majority of content owners/providers including studios, broadcasters and new independent content creators who do not have existing Internet business-scale infrastructure to ride on currently use this legacy architecture.
This problem is highlighted in that a packet from a typical stream on a streaming service would traverse the link between the website domain server and a user's Internet service provider (ISP) millions of times because Internet routing is opaque to the actual content being carried.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A control system for an RFID-based system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery. A user enters a identification number of a surgery. The control system queries a database of surgery information and outputs a list of required surgical equipment, such as surgical instrument sets. An operator uses the list to pick instrument sets for loading into a shipping tote. Each set is tagged with an RFID inventory tag that stores identification information for that set such as a set name and ID number. The shipping tote is passed through an RFID reader and identification data read from the tags is compared against the identification data for sets required for that surgery. A status indicator is activated to alert a user as to whether the surgery is complete that is, all expected sets are present, or that exception handling is required. The control system updates a database such as an ERP system to reflect that the surgery including the required sets has shipped—and the sets are inventoried out to the intended recipient.

Surgical instrument storage and sterilization systems are known. These systems, sometimes referred to as surgical instrument trays or surgical instrument kits/sets, typically consist of metal or plastic trays that hold a variety of general purpose and/or procedure specific surgical instruments such as forceps, scissors, clamps, retractors, scalpels, etc. These trays are brought into the operating room (OR) when preparing for surgery, and also are used as a means to organize, transport and store surgical instruments in a medical facility as well as to house instruments during sterilization.
Often medical facilities do not sterilize and maintain their own surgical instrument kits. In this case, sterilization, maintenance and other instrument operations are performed at a centralized location such as an instrument company's distribution center. In order to move multiple surgical instruments trays between such distribution centers and user sites such as hospitals, universities and other medical facilities, several trays are transported in a containers known as shipping totes. A shipping tote is usually a large bin, made of plastic or other durable, lightweight material that is sized of suitable dimensions to carry two or more instrument trays inside. Carrying multiple trays in a single tote reduces the number of manual operations that must be performed in processing instrument trays. Furthermore, instrument trays intended for a particular location and/or surgical procedure may be grouped together. Shipping totes also permit transport by conventional courier, allowing processing facilities to contract out delivery and pickup to Federal Express, UPS, the USPS or other courier companies.
Before transporting a shipping tote, a bar coded shipping label is sometimes prepared that identifies certain information relevant to the shipment such as the point of origin, the destination, and possibly the contents of the tote, i.e., the identification number of each surgical instrument tray contained in the tote. The bar coded label allows the tote to be easily and efficiently tracked and entered into or out of inventory at the processing facility. These labels are sometimes referred to as "air bills."
As the cost, complexity and number and number of surgical instruments increases, businesses continue to look to automated techniques to increase efficiency and reduce operating overhead. Recently, radio frequency identification (RFID) techniques have become popular as an inventory and tracking technology because RFID does not require line of sight and is capable of storing more information than a bar code label. However, even with such technology, their exists a need for control systems that can integrate such new technologies with existing inventory and business intelligence systems.
The description herein of various advantages and disadvantages associated with known apparatus, methods, and materials is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to their exclusion. Indeed, various embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the known apparatus, methods, and materials without suffering from their disadvantages.

Control system for an RFID-based system for assembling and verifying outbound surgical equipment corresponding to a particular surgery


A user""s intention to perform a computer operation is confirmed in order to safeguard against accidental performance of the operation. The operation is initiated only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed by removing from a computer configuration a removable storage medium (i) after a program on the removable storage medium has been read and (ii) before a check for the continued presence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration is performed in accordance with the program. The user""s intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.

It is desirable when a certain operation is to be performed on a computer to require user confirmation for such operation before initiation thereof. By way of example and not limitation, such operations include, for example, operations that are potentially damaging or result in irreversible changes to the computer, such as a low-level disk formatting of the computer""s hard drive; restoring the computer to a previous, known state; reinstallation of the operating system of the computer; or performing emergency repair operations on the computer. Additional operations, for example, are set forth and discussed in the xe2x80x9cExemplary Commercial Utilizationsxe2x80x9d section below.
By confirming an intention of a user to perform an operation on the computer, the operation is xe2x80x9cprotectedxe2x80x9d from accidentally being performed. User confirmation is determined by: (1) communicating by the computer a warning to the user through a user-output device associated with the computer; and (2) in response thereto, communicating by the user a signal to the computer through a traditional user-input device associated with the computer. A user-output device includes, for example, a video display monitor, a light, or a speaker and the like. A traditional user-input device includes, for example, a keyboard, a touch screen, a mouse, or a microphone and the like.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances in which a user""s intention to perform an operation cannot be confirmed beforehand and, thus, the operation is unprotected from accidental performance. For example, a user""s intention to perform an operation cannot be confirmed when there are no traditional user-input and/or user-output devices. A user""s intention to perform an operation also cannot be confirmed when user-input and/or user-output devices associated with a computer malfunction or otherwise are disabled. A user""s intention to perform an operation also cannot be confirmed when the operation itself must be successfully performed on the computer before the associated user-input and/or user-output devices may even be initialized. Under these circumstances, allowing an operation to be performed on the computer without user confirmation is undesirable but, nevertheless, necessary.
The disadvantages of not being able to confirm a user""s intentions to perform an operation are particularly apparent when an operation is to be performed on a xe2x80x9cheadless serverxe2x80x9d using a xe2x80x9cbootstrap program.xe2x80x9d In this regard, a xe2x80x9cheadless serverxe2x80x9d is a computer that has neither monitor, keyboard, nor mouse and that functions as a server in a computer network. Headless servers are found in common computer networks. A bootstrap program is a program that automatically executes upon booting of a computer.
When an operation is to be performed on a headless server using a bootstrap program, the headless server is booted from auto-running bootstrap media, such as a floppy disk or CD having the bootstrap program, by placing the floppy disk or CD in a drive of the headless server and rebooting it. Using such auto-running bootstrap media, a headless server can be initialized with a base operating system (xe2x80x9cO/Sxe2x80x9d) or otherwise restored to an operational condition. Once running, the server then can be configured, for example, by way of a network connected terminal. The headless server then might run unattended for months or years. Unfortunately, if the bootstrap media is inadvertently left in the drive of the headless server (which frequently happens), then, upon reboot months or years later, the operation performed by the auto-running bootstrap program on the headless server automatically restarts contrary to the actual intention of the user. Such an accidental restarting of the bootstrap program (which does not seek to confirm a user""s intention to perform again the operation) often indicates deletion of or damage to data and security information on the headless server.
A solution to the xe2x80x9cforgotten mediaxe2x80x9d problem is to require a reboot after execution of the operation in order for the headless server to resume normal operations. Leaving the bootstrap media in the drive then will place the computer in an endless loop of repeatedly rebooting and running the protected program until the bootstrap media is removed or otherwise disabled. While certainly not as costly as destroying months or years of data, the requirement of a reboot nonetheless proves wasteful and frustrating when the bootstrap media is inadvertently left in the drive.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a system and method for confirming a user""s intention to perform a computer operation when there are no traditional user-input and/or user-output devices connected to a computer. A need further exists for system and method for confirming a user""s intention to perform a computer operation when user-input and/or user-output devices associated with a computer malfunction, and/or when user-input and/or user-output devices associated with a computer are disabled. A need also exists for a system and method for confirming a user""s intention to perform a computer operation when the operation itself must be successfully performed on a computer before the associated user-input and/or user-output devices may even be initialized.
Additionally, a particular need exists for a system and method for confirming a user""s intention to perform an operation on a headless computer, especially one that functions as a server in a computer network.
One or more of these needs are met by one or more embodiments of the present invention.
The field of the present invention generally relates to performance of computer operations and, in particular, to a system and method for initiating a computer operation only after a user""s intention to perform such operation is confirmed.
First Aspect of the Present invention. RSM-Resident Program Pair Initiation Sequence
Briefly described, the present invention broadly relates to a system and method in which a user""s intention to perform a computer operation is confirmed. Thus, the present invention guards against a computer operation being inadvertently
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional computer operation being performed includes the step of initiating the operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed: (a) by replacing within a computer configuration a first removable storage medium (xe2x80x9cRSMxe2x80x9d) after a first program thereon has been read with a second removable storage medium including thereon a second program, the first program including computer-executable instructions resulting in the reading and running of the second program, and the second program including computer-executable instructions resulting in the initiating of the operation; and (b) without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.
In further accordance with this aspect of the present invention, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform a computer operation includes the steps of: reading and running a first program stored on a first removable storage medium within a computer configuration; in accordance with the first program, reading and running a second program stored on a second removable storage medium substituted within the computer configuration for the first removable storage medium; and in accordance with the second program, initiating the operation. This method utilizes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
Also in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including hardware capable of accessing a particular type of removable storage media only singly, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device of a computer a user""s intention to perform a computer operation includes reading and running a first program stored on a first removable storage medium of said type within the computer configuration using the hardware. Furthermore, the method includes reading and running, in accordance with the first program, a second program on a second removable storage medium of said type using the hardware. The method also includes, in turn, initiating the operation in accordance with the second program. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
A combination in accordance with this aspect of the present invention includes first and second removable storage media, each readable by a computer and collectively having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating a computer operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device of the computer. The first removable storage medium has computer-executable instructions for reading and running a program on the second removable storage medium, and the second removable storage medium has computer-executable instructions for initiating the operation. Moreover, the computer-executable instructions on the second removable storage medium forms part of the program that is read and run in accordance with the computer-executable instructions on the first removable storage medium. The first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
Second Aspect of the Present Invention. RSM-Resident Program Initiation Sequence
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional computer operation being performed includes the step of initiating the operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed by replacing within a computer configuration a first removable storage medium with a second removable storage medium. The first removable storage medium is replaced with the second removable storage medium after a program on the first removable storage medium has been read. The program includes computer-executable instructions for determining the presence (i.e., the presence or absence) within the computer configuration of the second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium. The user""s intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.
In further accordance with this second aspect of the present invention, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform an operation includes the steps of: reading and running a program stored on a first removable storage medium within a computer configuration; in accordance with the program, determining in a check the presence within the computer configuration of a second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium; and initiating the operation only after the check indicates the presence of the second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium. This aspect of the invention also includes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
Also in accordance with this second aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including hardware capable of accessing a particular type of removable storage media only singly, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform an operation includes: reading and running a program stored on a first removable storage medium of the type within a computer configuration using the hardware; in accordance with the program, accessing a second removable storage medium of the type using the hardware; and initiating the operation only after the second removable storage medium is successfully accessed using the hardware in accordance with the first program. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
In yet further accordance with this second aspect of the present invention, a first removable storage medium that is readable by a computer has computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating an operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation on the computer is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device of a computer. The method includes the steps of: determining in a check the presence within the computer configuration of a second removable storage medium that has been substituted for the first removable storage medium; and initiating the operation only after the check indicates the presence of the second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium. The first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
Third Aspect of the Present Invention. Sequential RSM Presence Initiation Sequence
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional computer operation being performed includes the step of initiating the operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed by replacing within a computer configuration a first removable storage medium with a second removable storage medium. Additionally, the user""s intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.
In further accordance with this fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform an operation includes the steps of: determining in a first check the presence within a computer configuration of a first removable storage medium; determining in a second check the presence within the computer configuration of a second storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium; and initiating the operation only after the first check indicates the presence of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the presence of the second removable storage medium within the computer configuration in place of the first removable storage medium. This aspect of the invention also includes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
Also in accordance with this third aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including hardware capable of accessing a particular type of removable storage media only singly, a method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform an operation includes accessing the first removable storage medium using the hardware; accessing the second removable storage medium using the hardware; and initiating the operation on the computer only after the first removable storage medium is successfully accessed and the second removable storage medium is successfully accessed. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this method.
In yet further accordance with this third aspect of the present invention, a first removable storage medium readable by a computer and has computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating an operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. Additionally, the user""s intention is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device of a computer. The method further includes the steps of determining in a first check the presence within the computer configuration of the first removable storage medium; determining in a second check the presence of a second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration; and initiating the operation only after the first check indicates the presence of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the presence of the second removable storage medium in place of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration. The first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
Fourth Aspect of the Present Invention. Bootstrap RSM Removal Initiation Sequence
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional computer operation from being performed includes the step of removing from the computer configuration a removable storage medium (i) after a program on the removable storage medium has been read and (ii) before a check for the continued presence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration is performed in accordance with the program. Moreover, the user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of the computer.
In further accordance with this fourth aspect of the present invention, a computerized method for confirming, without requiring use of a user-input device, a user""s intention to perform an operation includes the steps of: reading and running a program stored on a removable storage medium within a computer configuration; and in accordance with the first program, (i) determining in a check the continued presence within the computer configuration of the removable storage medium; and (ii) initiating the operation only after the check indicates the absence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration. This aspect of the invention also includes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
Also in accordance with this fourth aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including hardware, a computerized method for confirming, without requiring use of a user-input device, a user""s intention to perform an operation includes: reading and running a program on a removable storage medium using the hardware in a first step; and in accordance with the first program, (i) accessing the removable storage medium using the hardware in a second step, and (ii) initiating the operation only after unsuccessful access to the removable storage medium using the hardware in the second step. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
In yet further accordance with this fourth aspect of the present invention, a removable storage medium readable by a computer has computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating an operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device. The method includes the steps of: determining in a check the continued presence within the computer configuration of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration; and initiating the operation only after the check indicates the absence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration. The first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
Fifth Aspect of the Present Invention. RSM Removal Initiation Sequence
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional operation being performed includes the step of initiating the operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed by removing from the computer configuration a removable storage medium (i) after a check for the presence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration is performed and (ii) before a check for the continued presence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration is performed. The user""s intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.
In further accordance with this fifth aspect of the present invention, a computerized method for confirming, without requiring use of a user-input device, a user""s intention to perform an operation includes the steps of: determining in a first check the presence within a computer configuration of a removable storage medium; determining in a second check the continued presence within the computer configuration of the removable storage medium; and initiating the operation only after the first check indicates the presence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the absence of the removable storage medium within the computer configuration. This aspect of the invention also includes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
Also in accordance with this fifth aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including a computer and hardware capable of accessing removable storage media, a computerized method for confirming without requiring use of a user-input device a user""s intention to perform an operation includes: accessing a removable storage medium using the hardware in a first step; subsequently accessing the removable storage medium using the hardware in a second step; and initiating the operation only after the removable storage medium is successfully accessed in the first step but is unsuccessfully accessed in the second step. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
In yet further accordance with this fifth aspect of the present invention, a removable storage medium readable by a computer has computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating an operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation on the computer is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device. The method includes the steps of: determining in a first check the presence within the computer configuration of the removable storage medium; determining in a second check the continued presence within the computer configuration of the removable storage medium; and initiating the operation only after the first check indicates the presence of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the absence of the first removable storage medium within the computer configuration. In this aspect of the present invention, the first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
Sixth Aspect of the Present Invention: Combined RSM State-Change Initiation Sequence
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting against an unintentional computer operation being performed includes the step of initiating the operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user""s intention is confirmed by changing within the computer configuration the combined presence of a first removable storage medium and a second removable storage medium. The user""s intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.
In further accordance with this sixth aspect of the present invention, a computerized method for confirming, without requiring use of a user-input device, a user""s intention to perform an operation includes the steps of: determining in a first check the state of the combined presence within a computer configuration of first and second removable storage media; determining in a second check the state of the combined presence within the computer configuration of the first and second removable storage media; and initiating the operation only after the first and second checks result in a state change. The step of initiating the operation is performed when the first check indicates the combined presence of the removable storage media within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the absence of one of or both removable storage media or, alternatively, the step of initiating the operation is performed when the first check indicates the absence of one of or both removable storage media within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the combined presence of both removable storage media. This aspect of the invention also includes computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
Also in accordance with this sixth aspect of the present invention, in a computer configuration including hardware capable of accessing in parallel first and second removable storage media, a computerized method for confirming, without requiring use of a user-input device, a user""s intention to perform a computer operation includes: accessing in a first step both the first and second removable storage medium using the hardware; accessing in a second step both the first and second removable storage medium using the hardware; and initiating the operation on the computer only after accessing both media in one of the first and second steps is successful and accessing both media in the other of the first and second steps is unsuccessful. The computer configuration also may further include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of this computerized method.
In yet further accordance with this sixth aspect of the present invention, a first removable storage medium readable by a computer has computer-executable instructions for performing a method for initiating a computer operation only after a user""s intention to perform the operation is confirmed without requiring use of a user-input device of a computer. The method includes the steps of: determining in a first check the combined presence within the computer configuration of both the first and second removable storage media; determining in a second check the combined presence within the computer configuration of both the first and second removable storage media; and initiating the operation only after the first and second checks indicate a state change. The step of initiating the operation is performed when the first check indicates the combined presence of the removable storage media within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the absence of one of or both removable storage media or, alternatively, the step of initiating the operation is performed when the first check indicates the absence of one of or both removable storage media within the computer configuration and the second check indicates the combined presence of both removable storage media. In this aspect of the present invention, the first removable storage medium may be a bootstrap medium, with the computer-executable instructions forming part of a bootstrap program.
These aspects and features and other aspects and features of the present invention will be more readily understood and apparent upon consideration of the attached drawings and of the following detailed description of those drawings and the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
Further features and benefits of the present invention will be apparent from a detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein similar elements are referred to with similar reference numbers, and wherein,
FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a digital computer configuration of the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a digital computer configuration of the invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a digital computer configuration of the invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of a digital computer configuration of the invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a first preferred embodiment of a method of the invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a second preferred embodiment of a method of the invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a third preferred embodiment of a method of the invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a fourth preferred embodiment of a method of the invention;
FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a fifth preferred embodiment of a method of the invention;
FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of steps of a sixth preferred embodiment of a method of the invention; and
FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of additional steps of the sixth preferred embodiment.

Bootstrap RSM removal initiation sequence


A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; a first current collector coupled to the first electrode and including a fuse; and a second current collector coupled to the second electrode. First and second blocking members are positioned on the first current collector at a distance from each other with the fuse 10 interposed inbetween and each blocking member includes a nonconductor.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to a rechargeable battery, and more particularly, to a rechargeable battery having a fuse.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery differs from a primary battery in that it can be repeatedly charged and discharged, while the latter is not designed to be recharged.
A low-capacity rechargeable battery is used in small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders, while a high-capacity rechargeable battery can be used as a power source for driving a motor of a hybrid vehicle or the like.
Recently, a high power rechargeable battery using a non-aqueous electrolyte and having a high energy density has been developed, and the high power rechargeable battery is formed as a large-capacity rechargeable battery in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are connected in series, such that it can be used as a power source for driving a motor of a device requiring a large amount of electric power, for example, an electric vehicle or the like.
In addition, a high-capacity rechargeable battery generally includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series, and the rechargeable battery may have a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, etc.
The rechargeable battery may have a case made of metal, etc. When the internal pressure of the rechargeable battery is increased by an abnormal reaction, the rechargeable battery may explode or catch fire.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of the invention and, therefore, it may contain information that is not prior art already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A wall mountable razor holder is provided. The razor holder has two pairs of curved arms extending from a back plate and wall mounting structure, such as a suction cup. The razor holder retains a safety razor at least one of two alternate positions. A head down position will ensure adequate drainage from the razor to ensure an erodable shaving aid body member of the razor will not soften from unnecessary contact with water. A head up position will be more familiar to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to safety razors in general and, more particularly, to wall mountable holders for safety razors.
2. Background Information
Modern safety razors comprise a razor cartridge mounted to a handle. Some modern safety razors, especially those marketed for women, may be sold with a wall mountable holder so that the razor may be conveniently stored close to where it is used, for instance on the wall of a shower or bathroom.
Many existing wall mountable holders fall into three broad groups. In a first group a holder of bifurcated construction takes advantage of characteristics of the razor shape to suspend the razor. Many razors are generally T-shaped or at least have one end, most usually the razor cartridge itself or razor cartridge end of the handle, wider than the opposing end of the handle. In this first group a pair of horizontally spaced arms extends from a wall mounting structure and simply suspends the razor from the wide part of the razor and with the widest end, usually the cartridge end, at the top. Examples of this first group include holders disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,158 to Kertzman; U.S. Design Pat. No. D,333,583 to Hurd and U.S. Design Pat. No. D,294,903 to Pokorny. In a second group a simple cup extends from a wall mounting structure and the razor is simply placed in the cup, usually with the razor cartridge end of the razor at the top and facing out of the cup to prevent the razor blades of the cartridge contacting any internal part of the cup that might cause damage to the razor blades and result in an uncomfortable shave or lead to nicks and cuts for the user. Examples of this second group include U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D,464,222 and D,423,845 both to Coffin et al and U.S. Design Pat. No. D,370,375 to Murgida. In a third group a single prong extends from a wall mounting structure and this prong mates with a recess or hole in the handle to suspend the razor. In this group it is convenient to position the hole or recess in the handle at the handle end opposite the razor cartridge, consequently the razor is suspended with the razor cartridge end of the handle at the bottom. Examples of this third group are disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D,277,434 to Iten and U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D,495,179 and D,494,795 both to Bunnell et al.
In a new type of razor, a relatively large body of erodable shaving aid material is further mounted to the handle and may surround the razor cartridge. The shaving aid body softens when exposed to water for extended periods and its wear rate is dramatically increased relative to the wear rate of a non-softened shaving aid body. Consequently the useful life of the shaving aid is greatly reduced which may lead to customer dissatisfaction. A softened shaving aid body is also highly susceptible to damage if the razor is accidentally dropped. Furthermore, this new type of razor is customarily provided with a protective cover. The protective cover conveniently protects the razor cartridge and shaving aid in travel but may act to retain moisture or water vapor in the vicinity of the shaving aid body that will prematurely soften the shaving aid body and result in an increased wear rate.
A disadvantage of holders of the first and second groups when used in conjunction with a razor of this new type is that the razor is stored with the razor cartridge at the top and water may not adequately drain from the razor after use. This may prevent the shaving aid body from adequately drying between uses. A disadvantage of holders of the third group when used in conjunction with a razor of this new type is that the holder's mating to the razor occurs in a region of the handle away from the razor cartridge and shaving aid body. Consequently it is possible the user of this type of holder may store her razor with the protective cover in place as there is no adjacent interfering structure to prevent this. This can be seen in FIG. 6 of Iten '434 where it is clearly shown that the razor holder is distantly spaced from the razor cartridge part of the razor, shown in broken line therein. The protective cover will retain moisture or water vapor in the vicinity of the shaving aid body that will prematurely soften the shaving aid body. A further disadvantage of holders of this third group is that the holder's functional feature is a prong. This provides less positive retention of the razor than holders of the first two groups. If the razor is accidentally bumped it may tend to fall from the holder.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a wall mountable holder for a safety razor that will provide improved drainage for the razor; will only permit a razor to be retained without a protective cover and that will provide improved retention of the razor if the razor is accidentally bumped.


A vibration measurement and analysis system identifies faulty bearings in a machine based on spectral vibration data. The system includes vibration sensors attached to the machine that generate vibration signals. A vibration data collector generates vibration spectral data based on the vibration signals. The vibration spectral data comprises vibration amplitude versus frequency data that includes peak amplitudes at corresponding peak frequencies. At least some of the peak amplitudes are associated with vibration generated by the faulty bearings. A vibration analysis computer processes the vibration spectral data to (1) locate the largest peak amplitudes, (2) search a bearing fault frequency library to generate a list of identified bearings having bearing fault frequencies matching the peak frequencies of the largest peak amplitudes, (3) determine a normalized accuracy error for each of the identified bearings, and (4) select from the list one of the identified bearings having a smallest normalized accuracy error.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical rolling element bearing includes an outer race, an inner race, a cage region disposed between the inner and outer races, and rolling elements (balls) disposed in the cage. Such rolling element bearings have specific bearing failure modes that can be observed in vibration spectral data. Vibration spectral peak frequencies associated with bearing defects are quite different from some other vibration frequencies present in a frequency spectrum of machine vibration because bearing frequencies are defect frequencies. Each defect frequency relates to a particular component of the bearing. For instance, if the Ball Pass Frequency Outer Race (BPFO) defect frequency appears in the spectrum, there is a defect in the outer race of the bearing. If the Ball Spin Frequency (BSF) shows up in the spectrum, there is a defect in one or more of the rollers. This holds true for all of the defect frequencies except for the Fundamental Train Frequency (FTF) or Cage Frequency, which can show up in the frequency spectrum for reasons other than a defect in the cage itself.
Analyzing predictive maintenance machine vibration spectra to determine if there is a bearing fault, and then determining the kind of fault, requires knowledge of the associated fault frequencies for the bearing being monitored. If the relevant bearing properties are not known by the analyst, then accurate bearing fault determination becomes almost impossible.
What is needed is a process that determines the bearing fault frequencies that best match the spectral peaks. This would enable identification of possible bearings having faults. A prerequisite for this process is that there are actual bearing fault spectral peaks in the vibration spectrum (i.e. there is at least the onset of a bearing fault.) Otherwise it is difficult to distinguish bearing fault peaks from general noise peaks.

Bearing and fault frequency identification from vibration spectral plots


An evaporator for a cooling circuit is provided, for cooling at least one heat emitting device by evaporation of a cooling fluid. The evaporator includes a top collector, a bottom collector, and an evaporator body. The evaporator body includes at least one thermoconducting wall that is thermally connectable to the at least one heat emitting device, a plurality of evaporation channels, and a plurality of return channels.

As power electronic devices utilize more power and consequently dissipate more heat, efficient cooling of such power electronic devices is important. One way of providing an efficient cooling system for such power electronic devices, for example, semi-conductor switching elements, is providing a two-phase cooling circuit. Such a cooling circuit brings a liquid into thermal contact with a device emitting heat. The liquid is heated by dissipated heat of the device and reaches a boiling temperature. As the temperature of the liquid itself will not rise above the boiling temperature, the temperature of the liquid and therefore the temperature of the electronic device is kept at a temperature of the boiling point of the liquid as a maximum.
The liquid is stored in a reservoir inside an evaporator. The evaporator is in thermal contact with the heat emitting device. The vapor of the liquid is converged through a conduit to a condenser. Within the condenser the vapor is changed into liquid by rejecting heat. For example, in the condenser the heat is rejected to a coolant fluid, such as air at ambient temperature. The vapor thus returns to its liquid phase. The condenser and the evaporator are connected via a second line in order to feed back the condensed vapor as liquid again to the liquid reservoir of the evaporator.
Such a cooling device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,577. A problem of such a cooling circuit can be that the evaporator at the same time provides the function of a liquid reservoir. Thus, the cross-section of such an evaporator can be relatively large. Consequently, the efficiency of the evaporator can be low because the introduced heat leads to boiling of the liquid which is provided in a large volume of the evaporator. This so-called "pool boiling" has poor heat transfer performance, is bulky, requires a large fluid inventory, and can be difficult to make leak proof at high pressure.
To improve the heat transfer performance of an evaporator it has been considered to use the so-called convection-boiling. In order to achieve the convection-boiling effect the cross section of the evaporator is reduced. Due to the reduction of the cross section of the evaporator a mixture of a gas phase and the liquid phase at the exit of the evaporator flows to the condenser. By introducing the vapor mixture to the condenser with the vapor containing liquid droplets, the performance of the condenser can be decreased. So the positive effect of reduction of the cross section area of the evaporator can be reduced to a large extent by the poor heat transfer performance of the condenser.
Thus, there is a need for an evaporator for a cooling circuit with an improved heat transfer without affecting the performance of a condenser of the cooling circuit. It is desirable that there is sufficient liquid phase cooling fluid available in the evaporation channels so that the evaporator does not run dry during operation.


A cargo or bulk product off-load system includes a compressor (10) that pressurizes air. The air is dried by a dryer (12, 14) and routed to a supply tank (16). From the supply tank, the air is either used to pressurize service reservoirs (24, 26) or to assist the off-load system. Air stored in the service reservoirs (24, 26) is used to pressurize purge volumes associated with the dryers (12, 14). The compressor (10) operates at a lower pressure when supplying air to assist the off-load system than when pressurizing the service reservoirs (24, 26). Controllers (30, 40) coordinate switching of airflow, and alternating purging and drying of the dryers.

The present invention relates to the automotive vehicle arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with off-loading cargo from tanker trucks or tractor trailer combination vehicles and will be described with particular reference thereto. It will be appreciated, however, that the present invention is also applicable to other fields and is not limited to the aforementioned application.
Typically, when a tanker truck is ready to off-load a bulk product, a driver applies a parking brake, and any other safety measures to keep the truck or tractor trailer stationary before off-loading. With many products, the off-load process is pressurized to assist flow of product from the tank. This quite often is a lengthy process, sometimes taking in excess of five hours.
Tanker trucks are equipped with pneumatic hardware that in normal operation is used to provide pressure for various air operated devices such as brakes. When the driver activates the pump-off mode, the pneumatic system supplies pressure to the truck bulk tank or trailer bulk tank.
To avoid complications, compressed air is dried and often filtered before it is used in pneumatic applications. Typically, the compressor is run at a constant pressure, e.g., on the order of about 85 psi or about 590 kPa, during pump-off. This pressure is required so that there is sufficient back pressure to fill purge volumes of the dryers for regenerating the desiccant that adsorbs moisture from the compressed air system. As is known, the purge volumes included in commercially available air dryers flush moisture from the dryer after it has been operating for a predetermined time. During a charge cycle, high pressure is used for adsorption and moisture is removed from the compressed air and retained by the desiccant. During the desorption process, the desiccant is regenerated at low pressure by using high pressure and expanding through an orifice. So, in a conventional system, a pressure protection valve is provided and the rest of the system backs up or builds to the level of this valve. The volume of the stored air is then expanded so that if the pressure protection valve is eliminated, then the system can operate at less than 20 psi. This is an inefficient process given that the compressor is running at an elevated level such as a constant 590 kPa when a reduced pressure, typically on the order of 20 psi or 135-175 kPa, is adequate to off-load the tank. In other words, the compressor is working harder than it needs to thereby shortening its overall life. Additionally, the compressor flow is higher when operating at lower pressures.
Pump-off systems commonly employ a pressure regulation valve. Typical tankers handle 20 psi or 135-175 kPa during the off-load process. Since the compressor is running at higher pressure to enable the dryers to be properly purged as noted above, this valve is included to reduce the pressure (e.g. to 135-175 kPa) for the pump off process.
The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus that overcomes the above referenced problems and others.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system for providing pressure to assist a cargo off-load is provided.
A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an air compressor supplying pressurized air to the associated bulk product off-load. A dryer removes moisture from the air supplied by the compressor. A brake system service reservoir(s) provides compressed air for purging the dryer of moisture, thereby allowing the compressor to operate at a reduced pressure level and increased efficiency.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of off-loading product from a tanker truck is provided. The method includes the steps of supplying pressurized, dry air to a product tank and purging the dryer with air from a service reservoir.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a tanker truck has a cargo hold for retaining a flowable bulk product and a pressurized off-load assist system. The off-load assist system alternately compresses air at high and low pressures, the high pressure being used to pressurize at least one service reservoir, and the low pressure being used to pressurize an off-load.
One advantage of the present invention resides in more efficient compressor operation.
Another advantage relates to longer compressor life.
Another advantage is realized by faster bulk product off-load times.
Still another advantage is the improved utilization of existing hardware.
Still further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the preferred embodiments.

Service reservoir purge of air dryers in pump-off mode


A manufacturing method contemplates performing vacuum-assisted resin infusion to enclose an elongated core within a cured composite laminate without employing a mold. Not relying upon an external mold enables the process to be efficiently performed for core shapes that are manufactured in low volumes. Typical resin infusion processes utilize flow media that induces bag bridging during vacuum draw in order to provide gaps facilitating resin flow. However, popular flow media also tends to impart directional aggregate forces during vacuum draw, which forces can deform the core since no mold is being used. To avoid unequal and non-dispersed directional forces from deforming the elongated core, a flow media is employed that is configured to disperse and/or reduce such forces. Some such flow media may be knitted so as to allow overlapping strands to slide over one another. Other flow media may ensure that strands are interleaved so that no one strand or group of strands is disposed outwardly of other strands along a substantial length of the strands, thus dispersing bag bridging forces in several directions and avoiding directional aggregate forces. However, such flow media may have inhibited resin flow relative to popular high-flow flow media, and thus new strategies have been developed to ensure appropriate wetting of fibrous reinforcement. An adjustable brace can also be employed to restrain the elongated core from deflecting during application of vacuum and/or resin infusion.

The present disclosure relates to the field of vacuum infusion of composite parts.
Vacuum-assisted resin infusion, also referred to as vacuum infusion or resin infusion, is a process for making composite laminate parts having a high fiber-to-resin ratio by using a vacuum to draw resin through a fibrous reinforcement. Currently, the vacuum infusion process often is used to make composite parts that take on the shape of an underlying rigid mold. Dry fibrous reinforcement materials, such as one or more sheets or pieces of woven and/or non-woven fiberglass, carbon fiber, and/or aramid fiber fabric are placed upon the mold surface. A release liner, such as a peel ply or perforated release film, is typically placed atop the fabric, and a resin distribution medium, referred to as a flow media, is placed atop the release layer. This stack of materials atop the mold is enclosed within a vacuum bag, and a resin delivery port and vacuum port are installed.
Once the vacuum bag setup has been completed, a vacuum is drawn, evacuating air and compressing the stack of materials, including the fibrous reinforcement. Resin is then introduced through the resin delivery port and infuses through the fibrous reinforcement as it is drawn from the delivery port toward and to the vacuum port. The flow media facilitates resin flow during the infusion process by creating gaps and paths that facilitate resin flow. When flow media is used correctly, resin is substantially evenly distributed throughout the fibrous reinforcement and flow is controlled. Such flow media typically comprises a plastic mesh-like construction. The peel ply release layer is typically a thin woven fabric through which resin can flow, and which is removable after the resin has cured so that neither the flow media nor the release layer is incorporated into the cured part.
Due to movement and deflection of the vacuum bagging materials during application of the vacuum and resin movement through the stack of materials, substantial forces can be generated which exert bending and twisting forces on the part. This is not usually a problem, as the mold typically is sufficiently rigid to offset the forces without changing shape.
Some composite parts, such as surfboards, employ a sandwich construction in which a flexible core, such as a shaped foam core, is enclosed within a composite-laminate skin. Surfboards often are available in a wide variety of shapes and lengths, and often are custom made, such that the sales volume of any particular shape and length may not justify fabrication of a dedicated rigid mold. Such parts thus are formed without using a mold, and the core alone supports the composite skin during the process of wetting the fibrous reinforcement with resin. As such, these parts typically are constructed using methods such as traditional wet layup processes, which result in a composite skin having relatively high resin content and weight, and relatively low strength. Efforts to use a variation of the vacuum infusion process for such parts are fraught with challenges. For example, since the foam core typically is much more flexible than a rigid mold, forces incident to application of vacuum and/or resin flow during infusion can distort the core and, thus, the resulting composite laminate, resulting in an unacceptably distorted part.


The present invention provides a novel naphthothiophene compound having a high lowest excited triplet level (T1).

An organic light-emitting device is a device including a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed therebetween. Electrons and holes are injected from the pair of electrodes to generate excitons of a luminescent organic compound in the organic compound layer, and light is emitted when the excitons return to the ground state.
PTL 1 and PTL 2 describe compounds A-1 and A-2 shown below, respectively, as an example of a naphthothiophene compound constituting a light-emitting layer.

These compounds have, as a substituent, naphthothiophene shown below.

Naphthothiophene compound and organic light-emitting device including the same


A method and system for automatically performing a discovery of topics within temporal ordered text document collections are provided. The method includes generating a bag of words vector for each text document collection using a predefined dictionary. The method also includes iteratively calculating, based on the generated bag of words vectors, for each text document collection, a hidden topic vector representing topics of the respective text document collection using a calculated hidden state vector memorizing a hidden state of all previous text document collections.

The present embodiments relate to a method and a system for automatic discovery of topics within temporal ordered text document collections.
Topic detection and tracking systems perform natural language processing to find topics over time in a sequence of text collections that exhibit temporal relationships. Probabilistic topic models have been used in the past to extract semantic topics from text documents. Probabilistic topic models such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation LDA have been investigated to examine the emergence of topics from a sequence of text documents. These conventional methods compute a topic distribution on all text collections to detect and track different topics. However, these conventional methods do not take into account the dependencies between different text collections over time in an evolutional process. Accordingly, conventional methods do not take into account temporal latent topic dependencies between topic collections evolving over time and forming a temporal sequence of text document collections. Consequently, conventional methods cannot capture topic trends and/or keyword trends accurately.

Method and system for automatic discovery of topics and trends over time


A method is disclosed by which a customer places an order for the provision of a service with one of one or more vendors that utilize electronic ordering terminals to process service orders, by transmitting information between the customer's computer and a server. The disclosed method comprising the steps of associating with each vendor a plurality of coordinate points defining the vertices of a polygonal geographic region within which region the vendor provides service, receiving information from a customer indicating the location to which service is to be provided; converting the received information into a coordinate point indicating the point to which service is to be provided; selecting each of the defined polygonal geographic regions that encompass the customer coordinate point; identifying the vendors associated with the selected polygonal geographic regions; choosing the vendor with which the order is to be placed, and placing an order with the chosen vendor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the delivery of product orders. In particular, the invention relates to a system by which a delivery or pick up order can be placed over the Internet to one of a plurality of potential vendors.
2. Background Art
In recent years, the Internet has rapidly become a prominent aspect of commerce throughout many areas of the world due to its efficiency and convenience. Furthermore, the Internet offers consumers access to a breadth of information and services greater than ever before. The concept of "electronic commerce" has now become a reality whereby a consumer can purchase goods via the Internet. Consumers can view both descriptions and pictures of items offered for sale via a web browser, place an order and make payment via a web site. While sitting at a computer, within mere minutes a person can comparison shop at numerous stores across the country, and even the world.
However, certain types of commerce for which the Internet can be effectively employed still depend upon the geographic proximity between a user wishing to purchase goods and/or services and a business offering goods and services. Specifically, some services, such as the delivery of prepared food items, are provided by a business only to customers located within a specific predefined geographic area relative to the business' location. Therefore, while a user in New York could easily access a Chicago pizzeria's web site via the Internet and order a pizza for delivery to New York, such an order would not typically be fulfilled. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to identify business locations that have service areas covering the user's location.
Oftentimes, a user may wish to order a product or service from one of a chain of related businesses, such as a pizza delivery franchise, over the Internet. Franchisees are typically assigned rigidly defined market areas by the franchiser. Furthermore, a franchisee business may desire to include or exclude specific geographic regions from its assigned service area. Therefore, it is highly desirable, and an object of this invention, to allow vendors to customize and very accurately define specific geographic areas that they wish to service via orders placed over the Internet.
One prior art technique for correlating users with local service providers relies upon the user providing his postal zip code to a central computer server operated by or on behalf of the business. The central computer then determines which if any relevant businesses service the user's zip code. The list of relevant businesses identified by the server can either be returned to the user, or else the central office can automatically select one business to which the order is to be placed. However, this model is of limited utility insofar is it correlates users to local businesses by matching postal zip codes—which are arbitrarily predefined regions unrelated to typical delivery area boundaries that may be desired by a business. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for the arbitrary implementation of service area boundaries for orders placed via the Internet.
Another technique for correlating Internet consumers with local businesses is disclosed by Cupps, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,739. The Cupps et al. technique involves the generation of an arbitrary geographic grid through which the world is divided into an array of quadrilateral regions. Each region is assigned an identifier code which is a function a series of longitude and latitude coordinates. A business providing a service over a defined geographic area, such as a food delivery business, can therefore associate itself with identifier codes for each of the grid regions within its defined delivery region. When a customer desires to place an order, the customer's address is received by a central computer server, and therein associated with a specific geographic grid or region. Businesses that service the customer's location can then be rapidly identified by indexing the store delivery grid database with the customer geographic grid or area. The customer is then presented with a selection of businesses whose associated service areas include the grid in which the service is to be provided. The customer can choose a desired business, and electronically transmit an order to the central server. The central server then relays the order to the selected business via a telephone call by an interactive voice system.
Cupps et al. provides for faster correlation between customers and businesses, and increased flexibility in business service area definition, compared to the zip code matching prior art, insofar as the geographic areas associated with the service area can be smaller than postal zip codes. However, by defining the location of the customer and the business' service areas in terms of predetermined geographic areas, the Cupps et al. technique inherently introduces uncertainty and imprecision to the positional identification of both the consumer, and the borders of a business service area.
In areas of commerce with very tightly defined service boundaries, such as pizza delivery franchises, accurate and precise association of customers with store service areas is particularly important. Franchisees who provide service to areas outside of their assigned territory may violate or breach their franchise agreements and be subject to penalty or even termination of their franchise rights. Franchisers often look to police franchisee activities to protect adjacent franchisees. Because the Cupps et al. technique is based upon a predefined grid, it is susceptible to erroneous and imprecise correlation between stores and customers. One source of imprecision is that each store must define its service region in terms of the predetermined grid areas, rather than a geographic definition corresponding to the service area. A second source of error is that a customer is referenced by association with a geographic grid or area, rather than the customer's actual position. Furthermore, as grid size is reduced linearly, the complexity and inefficiency of the Cupps et al. algorithm increases geometrically due to the geometrically increasing number of quadrilateral grid areas that must be stored and searched within the service area database. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to correlate Internet customers with business service areas to a degree of accuracy limited only by the precision of commercially available mapping software.
As use of the Internet becomes increasingly prevalent, many more businesses will have digital communication network access available in-store, via either a dedicated Internet connection or a telephone line modem or other communication device capable of receiving data or information transmissions. Furthermore, stores often use electronic Point Of Sale ("POS") order systems for the electronic entry and tracking of orders placed by customers who place orders by telephone. Accordingly, it is also an object of this invention to utilize communications networks to transfer a customer's order from a central server to a store's POS for automatic entry into a selected store's order system, whereby the order is processed automatically as if it were entered in-store.
The POS order systems used by many delivery businesses incorporate street address files to identify and log locations to which orders are delivered. In implementing an Internet order delivery system for such businesses, it may be beneficial, when possible, to match a customer's location with a particular entry in the store's street address file. By correlating the customer's location to the in-store delivery area file, an order placed electronically can be automatically processed by an existing POS system according to the pre-existing order protocol. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to correlate customers with stores using a street address file defined for each store.
Many areas utilize vanity addresses, or other non-standard addresses, that may not appear in commercially available location indexing software packages. For example, a customer located on the 63rd floor of the Sears Tower, in Chicago, Ill., may enter a delivery address of 6300 Sears Tower, Chicago, Ill. Likewise, a student on a college campus may enter the room number and name of a dormitory, rather than the actual dormitory street address. Insofar as such vanity addresses are not actual street addresses, they typically may not appear in common address/geographic databases. Therefore, many prior art systems, such as the Cupps et al. system, may fail to automatically process such an order. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to allow a business to extend its definition of acceptable service areas to include non-standard addresses.
One particular object of the present invention is to provide a registration engine to enroll users and at the time of enrollment associate one or more business locations who serve the user's geographic location such that when the user logs into the system at a later time the system will recognize the user and provide the previously identified business locations from which the user may order goods or services.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a marketing engine whereby a business' POS system can update the central server with store manager specials relating to price or items or services offered to thereby provide highly customized offerings to user's who have a particular association with a business location. For example, a pizza store located near a college campus may offer "homecoming" specials while a store across town that does not deliver to the campus location may not.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a unique POS identification such that users who access a particular business's records stored on the central computer view a unique visual presentation which may differ from that offered to a user who seeks another business.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present specifications, drawings and claims.

System for placing product delivery orders through the internet


A noise canceling pickup with an electret is provided with a cylinder body having a front cover and a rear cover, said front cover is provided with sound passing holes, said cylinder body is provided with an oscillating membrane of the electret, a back electrode sheet and a back electrode base, wherein said cylinder body is composed of a front cylinder body and a rear cylinder body, said oscillating membrane is provided into said front cylinder body, said rear cover of said cylinder body is provided with at least one sound passing hole, and said rear cover is provided with electric elements therein. With the arrangement according to the present invention, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes can be made smaller. The noise canceling pickup with an electret, can be used in the higher frequency band and in a wide frequency range to cancel the noises more effectively.

The present invention relates to a noise-canceling pickup with an electret. Especially, the present invention relates to the first-order pressure gradient air-conduction noise canceling pickup with only one electret, in which the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes can be made smaller.
As those skilled in the art know, there are many conventional the first-order or the second-order pressure gradient air-conduction noise canceling pickups with the so called heart shape directional performance (cardioid microphone) or figure xe2x80x9c8xe2x80x9d type directional performance (bidirectional microphone). In the prior art, different pickups have different performances. Nevertheless, the moving-coil or the electromagnetic-type air-conduction noise canceling pickups have a relatively low sensitivity. The only way to obtain the required sound pressure is to increase the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes, resulting in the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes becoming too long. Furthermore, although the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes can be made smaller, such as a few millimeters, with benefits that the higher sensitivity is realized for the conventional noise-canceling pickup with the electret, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes can not be made more smaller with the limit of the inner structure of the pickup. Even the desired specifications of a single pickup are realized according to the test results, when the pickup is inserted into its housing to be used as a practical microphone, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes of the microphone cylinder becomes longer, resulting in a much lower effect to cancel the noises. Especially, the effect to cancel the noises becomes much poor in the higher frequency band. With this reason, the conventional noise-canceling microphone can only be used in the case of the ambient noise being relatively low and being in the lower frequency band. In this case, the output voice is not clear enough, and the noise can not be canceled totally. As the signal-noise ratio between the practical ambient noise and the voice source is relatively low, the ambient noise usually interferes the voice output from the voice source.
In the conventional noise canceling pickups, a sound filtering layer is additionally provided on the outer surface of the end of the pickups for receiving voice from the main voice source, in order to lower the influence to the voice receiving effect of the pickups by the speaker when he/she is speaking and breathing. However, the sound filtering layer has a certain thickness, so that when mounted into the housing, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes has to be further lengthened, resulting in a much lower effect to cancel the noises. Moreover, if the pickup is not provided any outer housing of the microphone, as the sound filtering layer is made of loose material, the sound filtering layer is very easy to be damaged. The preferred structure of the noise canceling pickup is that the acoustic arrangements/performances on the two sides of the oscillating membrane are substantially symmetrical to each other. However, as the membrane tightening ring is an essential member and must be used, it is very difficult to provide a noise canceling pickup whose acoustic arrangements/performances on the two sides of the oscillating membrane are substantially symmetrical to each other.
Moreover, in the case of the voice being identified by the computer, the voice input work must be done in the special language laboratory. When used in the communication device, the only way used to cancel the noise is to make the sensitive low. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to provide a noise canceling pickup with an electret which can cancel the noises even in the higher frequency band.
To overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, the object of the present invention is to provide a noise canceling pickup with an electret, which can be used in the higher frequency band and in a wide frequency range to cancel the noises more effectively.
According to the present invention, a noise canceling pickup with an electret is provided with a cylinder body having a front cover and a rear cover, said front cover is provided with sound passing holes, said cylinder body is provided with an oscillating membrane of the electret, a back electrode sheet and a back electrode base, wherein said cylinder body is composed of a front cylinder body and a rear cylinder body, said oscillating membrane is provided into said front cylinder body, said rear cover of said cylinder body is provided with at least one sound passing hole, and said rear cover is provided with electric elements therein.
With the arrangement according to the present invention, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes becomes shortened, therefore, a good effect of noise canceling with directional performance can be obtained, a higher signal-noise ratio can be realized, and the noise canceling pickup with an electret can be mounted onto its external supports without the outer shell.
Preferably, the membrane tightening ring is provided to abut against the oscillating membrane so as to adjust the position of the oscillating membrane.
Preferably, a damping membrane is provided within said front cylinder body to abut against the front cover thereof, said damping membrane is fixed by a damping membrane pressing sheet, and another damping membrane is provided within said front cylinder body to abut against the rear cover wall thereof.
Preferably, said damping membrane is arranged in the middle position of said front cylinder body.
Preferably, said damping membrane is arranged within said front cylinder body to abut against the rear cover wall thereof.
Preferably, the cross section of said rear cylinder body is different to that of said front cylinder body, and the connection portion between the rear cylinder body and the front cylinder body is formed so as to not prevent the sound wave from entering the rear wall sound passing holes of the front cylinder body.
Preferably, said rear cylinder body is connected to the back surface or side surface of said front cylinder body.
Preferably, said rear cylinder body is combined with a front body and a rear body, and a certain angle is arranged between the orientation of said front body and that of said rear body.
Preferably, said back electrode is output from a side wall of said front cylinder body.
Preferably, further comprising a fixing in place means which is provided on said rear cylinder body.
Preferably, said front cylinder body is provided with a partition washer which is in engagement with the damping membrane pressing sheet, a side-front washer which is in engagement with the membrane tightening ring, and a partition which is convex in the central portion thereof and is provided between said partition washer and said side-front washer, said central portion of the partition is arranged to convex to the oscillating membrane and to be projected into the membrane tightening ring, so as to form a chamber together with the oscillating membrane, and the outer surface of said convex portion is arranged to abut against the inner surface of said side-front washer and the inner surface of said membrane tightening ring.
Preferably, said front cylinder body is provided with a side-front washer which is in engagement with the membrane tightening ring, and a membrane tightening ring which is arranged between and is in engagement with said side-front washer and the oscillating membrane, wherein the membrane tightening ring is provided with a concave portion in the central portion thereof, and a chamber is formed between the concave portion and the oscillating membrane.
In a word, with the arrangement according to the present invention, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes becomes shortened, therefore, a good effect of noise canceling with the so called heart shape directional performance or figure xe2x80x9c8xe2x80x9d type directional performance can be realized, a higher signal-noise ratio can be obtained, and the noise canceling pickup with an electret can be mounted onto its external supports without the outer shell.
Above and further objects and advantages will be more easily understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the accompany drawings.

Anti-noise-electret pick-up with an electret

No. 501 Unit, Building 4, Fenghe Dong Yuan Baidi Road


Provided are methods and systems for determining the clinical significance of a genetic variant. The methods entail determining, for the variant, (a) a function score based on known impact of the variant on a biological function of a cell or protein, (b) a frequency score based on the frequency of the variant in a population, (c) a co-occurrence score based on how the variant co-occurs with a reference variant having known clinical significance relating to a clinical disease or condition, and (d) a family segregation score based on how the variant segregates with a disease or condition in a family; and aggregating, on a computer, the function score, the frequency score, the co-occurrence score, the family segregation score to generate a clinical significance score indicating the clinical significance of the genetic variant.

When a DNA sequence variant is identified in a clinical lab, its clinical significance needs be evaluated and appropriately reported. Currently, a static mutation list is assembled at time of discovery of the variant, which is not easy to update in real time. Therefore, variants of unknown clinical significance (VUS) are not routinely evaluated for pathogenicity.

Pathogenicity scoring system for human clinical genetics


The present invention relates to a multilayer thermoformable composite synthetic veneer film, furniture parts produced therefrom, and a process for producing the same. The base layer comprising polyolefin has a thickness of 100 to 500 .mu.m and a particular composition and is composed of at least three different polyolefins. The film also includes at least one intermediate layer in the form of at least one primer layer, bonding layer or bonding film or, respectively, bonding layer; an optional printing layer, coloring layer or color-printing layer arranged over part or all of the surface; at least one polyester-containing single- or multiple-layer-structure layer or film; at least one bonding layer, adhesion-promoting layer or reactant layer on the side of the base layer that is to be applied to a substrate; and a surface-covering layer on the top of the film.

The present invention relates to a thermoformable composite synthetic veneer film having more than one layer and to furniture parts produced therewith, as well as to a process for production and for use of the film.
The film comprises: at least one base film or base layer comprised at least partly of polyolefin and having a thickness of 100 to 500 .mu.m, which comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of polyolefin, from 0 to 90 parts by weight of at least one inorganic and/or organic filler, pigment or filler-pigment mixture and at least one UV stabilizer, and also the customary processing aids (antioxidants, phosphites, lubricants); at least one intermediate layer in the form of at least one primer layer, bonding layer or bonding film; and, arranged directly thereupon or onto a printing layer, coloring layer or color-printing layer arranged over part or all of the surface and, arranged directly thereupon or onto a bonding layer, at least one polyester-containing single- or multiple-layer-structure layer or film, where at least one bonding layer, adhesion-promoting layer or reactant layer has been arranged (on the side facing the working material) below the base film or base layer. According to the invention, the intermediate layers and the polyester-containing layers or films have a particular composition or, respectively, a particular structure.
EP 0 522 240 B1 discloses a composite synthetic-polymer film having more than one layer and comprising at least one base layer or base film based on at least one polyolefin, and, arranged below the base film or base layer, at least one bonding layer, bonding film, adhesion-promoting layer and/or reactant layer, and comprising, arranged above the base layer or base film, at least one upper layer or film. According to EP 0522240 the base film or base layer of polyolefin or comprising polyolefin is from 60 to 700 .mu.m in thickness and comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of polyolefin, from 5 to 150 parts by weight of at least one inorganic and/or organic filler, pigment or filler-pigment mixture, and at least one UV stabilizer and/or a heat stabilizer and/or an antioxidant, and has, arranged thereupon, at least one intermediate layer in the form of at least one primer bonding layer or bonding film and, arranged over part or all of the surface thereof, at least one printing layer, coloring layer or color-printing layer, and, arranged directly thereupon or onto one or more intermediate layers, at least one polymethyl methacrylate-containing, polyamide-containing and/or polyester-containing single- or multiple-layer-structure protective layer or protective film. The film can be used outdoors or else as a veneer film. However, it is thermoformable only at very high temperatures (150.degree. C.) and, in addition, it has a very narrow processing range (.+-.2.5.degree. C.).

Multilayer thermoformable composite synthetic veneer film for furniture and process for producing same


Briefly, according to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method and an apparatus to compensate for a closed loop response error of a transfer function of a phase locked loop unit.

Transmitters and/or receivers of wireless communication systems such as, for example, a cellular radio communication system, wireless local area network (WLAN) and the like, may include an offset phase locked loop (OPLL) unit. The OPLL may receive for example a Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) modulated signal and may upconvert the GMSK signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal. The RF signal may be transmitted by a transmitter. For example, in a cellular radio transmitter, an OPLL unit may be used to upconvert an intermediate frequency (IF) signal into the RF signal.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Method and apparatus to compensate loop error of phase locked loop