In a mobile communication system, a mobile switching center 27 changes a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from a mobile station 16 and so on to a database 11 or a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the database 11 to the mobile station 16 and so on, on a basis of a request from the mobile station 16 and so on or the database 11, individually and independently.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system which sets an asymmetrical data communication channel in which a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from a mobile station to a base station differs from a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from a base station to a mobile station.
FIG. 1 is a configuration view illustrating a conventional mobile communication system of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 8-331153. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate a mobile station installed in a movable car and so on, low speed transmission means for transmitting communication data of a low transmission rate to a base station 5, high speed reception means for receiving communication data of a high transmission rate from the base station 5, and an up-link of a data communication channel, respectively. Reference numerals 5, 6, 7 and 8 designate the base station which radio communicates with the mobile station 1 belonging to a radio covered area, low speed reception means for receiving communication data of a low transmission rate from a mobile station 1, high speed transmission means for transmitting communication data of a high transmission rate, and a down-link of the data communication line.
An operation of this mobile communication system will be described below.
For example, when the mobile station 1 need transmit communication data to a communication apparatus (not shown) connected to a public communication network, the mobile station 1 receives a control channel of the base station 5 and transmits a call through the control channel allocated to the mobile station 1.
That is, the mobile station 1 transmits control information necessary for radio communication to the base station 5 through the control channel (for example, information to the effect that the mobile station 1 transmits communication data to the base station 5 at a low transmission rate, while the mobile station 1 receives communication data from the base station 5 at a high transmission rate).
When the control information is transmitted from the mobile station 1, the base station 5 transfers the control information transmitted from the mobile station 1 to a mobile switching center and so on (not shown). After the mobile switching center and so on allow a request of the mobile station 1, the base station 5 sends information to the effect that the request has been allowed to the mobile station 1 through the control channel.
Thus, the transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the mobile station 1 to the base station 5 is set to a low transmission rate, while the transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the base station 5 to the mobile station 1 is set to a high transmission rate. Therefore, asymmetrical radio communication can be achieved in which the up-link 4 differs from the down-link 8 in the transmission rate.
Since the conventional mobile communication system is formed as described above, the asymmetrical radio communication may be achieved in which the up-link 4 differs from the down-link 18 in the transmission rate. However, means for changing the transmission rate of communication data is not provided. Thus, once the transmission rate of communication data is set, even though a data amount is changed in accordance with passed time, the transmission rate cannot be changed to a transmission rate corresponding to the changed data amount. The conventional mobile communication system has the above-described problem.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication system in which after the transmission rate of communication data is set once, the transmission rate of communication data may be changed appropriately.
In a mobile communication system of the present invention, a mobile switching center changes a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from a mobile station to a communication apparatus in accordance with a request from the communication apparatus and so forth connected to the mobile station, a public communication network or the like.
In such way, even though a data amount of communication data transmitted from the mobile station to the communication apparatus varies after the transmission rate of communication data has been set once, the transmission rate may be appropriately changed to a transmission rate corresponding to the changed data amount.
In the mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center changes a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the communication apparatus to the mobile station in accordance with a request from the mobile station or the communication apparatus.
In such way, even though a data amount of communication data transmitted from the communication apparatus to the mobile station is fluctuated after the transmission rate of communication data has been set once, the transmission rate may be appropriately changed to a transmission rate corresponding to the changed data amount.
In the mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center changes the transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the mobile station to the communication apparatus or communication data transmitted from the communication apparatus to the mobile station individually and independently in accordance with a request from the mobile station or the communication apparatus.
Thus, even though a data amount of communication data transmitted from the mobile station to the communication apparatus or from the communication apparatus to the mobile station is fluctuated after the transmission rate of communication data has been set once, the transmission rate may be appropriately changed to a transmission rate corresponding to the changed data amount.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the transmission rate changed by the mobile switching center belongs to a range of high speed data transmission.
Thus, when the data amount is markedly large, the transmission time may be shortened.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the transmission rate of communication data changed by the mobile switching center belongs to a range of medium speed data transmission.
Thus, radio communication corresponding to a data amount may be achieved.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the transmission rate of communication data changed by the mobile switching center belongs to a range of low speed data transmission.
Thus, when a data amount is small, radio communication corresponding to the data amount may be achieved.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the range of the low speed data transmission includes intermittent data transmission.
Thus, a data communication channel may be released in a period in which no communication data are transmitted.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, TDMA/TDD system, TDMA/FDD system, time-divided CDMA/TDD system, time-divided CDMA/FDD system or CDMA/TDD system is used as a transmission system of the high speed data transmission.
Thus, the high speed data transmission may be performed using the above system and so on.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, TDMA/TDD system, TDMA/FDD system, time-divided CDMA/TDD system, time-divided CDMA/FDD system or CDMA/TDD system is used as the medium speed data transmission.
Thus, the medium speed data transmission may be performed using the above system and so on.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, TDMA/TDD system, TDMA/FDD system, time-divided CDMA/TDD system, time-divided CDMA/FDD system or CDMA/TDD system is used as a transmission system of the low speed data transmission.
Thus, the low speed data transmission may be performed using the above system and so on.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when there are a plurality of mobile stations which transmit/receive communication data through the base station, the mobile switching center is provided with a transition state control processor for managing a transition state of a transmission rate for each of the plurality of mobile stations.
Thus, even though there are the plurality of mobile stations which transmit/receive communication data through the base station, the transmission rate of communication data may be accurately changed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center is provided with a priority control processor for managing a setting operation of a data communication channel by the mobile switching center and a changing operation of a transmission rate by the mobile switching center.
Thus, the setting operation and so on of the data communication channel may be surely managed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the mobile station registers a location thereof, the mobile switching center registers the kinds of the transmission rates to be handled by the mobile station and a rate switching time of the mobile station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may change the transmission rate of communication data promptly if necessary.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center stores the transmission rate to be handled by the mobile station, and is provided with an information memory for storing the rate switching time of the mobile station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may surely grasp the transmission rate and so on to be handled by the mobile station.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the mobile station and the communication apparatus start transmission of communication data, the mobile switching center selects the maximum transmission rate allowable by a data communication channel in current use from among transmission rates to be handled by the mobile station and sends transmission rate information on the maximum transmission rate to the base station and the mobile station.
Thus, the transmission time of communication data may be shortened.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center has sent the information of the transmission rate to the base station and the mobile station, and after the rate switching time of the mobile station stored in the information memory has passed, the mobile switching center sends switching timing information for ordering switching of the transmission rate to the base station and the mobile station.
Thus, the transmission rate may be changed promptly and surely.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, after having received the switching timing information from the mobile switching center, the base station and the mobile station start transmission/reception of communication data at a new transmission rate from a time slot included in a first frame after the base station and the mobile station receive the information.
Thus, the transmission rate may be changed promptly and surely.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when it is detected that a movement speed of the mobile station exceeds a range of a pedestrian""s walking speed in the case that the movement speed is laid in the range of the pedestrian""s walking speed, the mobile station sends car""s movement speed information to this effect to the mobile switching center through the base station.
Thus, the time slot may be changed so that the time slot is suited to the car""s movement speed.
A mobile communication system of the invention, when the mobile station detects that the movement speed of the mobile station falls below a range of the car""s movement speed in the case that the movement speed is laid in the range of the car""s movement speed, the mobile station sends car""s movement speed releasing information to this effect to the mobile switching center through the base station.
Thus, the time slot may be changed so that the time slot is suited to the pedestrian""s walking speed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center is provided with an information memory for storing the car""s movement speed information in the case that the car""s movement speed information is sent to the mobile switching center from the mobile station through the base station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may surely grasp the fact to the effect that the movement speed of the mobile station is laid in the range of the car""s movement speed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center is provided with an information memory for storing the car""s movement speed releasing information in the case that the car""s movement speed releasing information is sent to the mobile switching center from the mobile station through the base station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may surely grasp the fact to the effect that the movement speed of the mobile station is laid in the range of the pedestrian""s walking speed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center is provided with a system setting processor for changing a time slot so that a guard time of a data communication channel is suited to the car""s movement speed in the case that the car""s movement speed information is stored in the information memory.
Thus, the guard time of the data communication channel may be held to an appropriate value.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center is provided with a system setting processor for changing a time slot so that a guard time of a data communication channel is suited to the pedestrian""s walking speed in the case that the car""s movement speed releasing information is stored in the information memory.
Thus, the guard time of the data communication channel may be held to an appropriate value.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the communication data are transmitted from the communication apparatus to the mobile station, the communication apparatus sends a data amount of the communication data to the mobile switching center.
Thus, the mobile switching center may grasp the data amount of the communication data. Therefore, when the communication apparatus transmits a large amount of communication data, the mobile switching center may judge if the mobile station may surely receive the large amount of the communication data or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the communication data are transmitted from the mobile station to the communication apparatus, the mobile station sends a data amount of the communication data to the mobile switching center.
Thus, the mobile switching center may grasp the data amount of the communication data. Therefore, when the mobile station transmits a large amount of communication data, the mobile switching center may judge if the communication apparatus may surely receive the large amount of the communication data or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the communication data are transmitted from the communication apparatus or the mobile station to another communication apparatus or another mobile station, the communication apparatus or the mobile station which transmits the communication data sends a data amount of the communication data to the mobile switching center.
Thus, the mobile switching center may grasp the data amount of the communication data. Therefore, when the communication apparatus or the mobile station transmits a large amount of communication data, the mobile switching center may judge if another communication apparatus or another mobile station may surely receive the large amount of the communication data or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center determines the practicable maximum transmission rate on a basis of the maximum transmission rate to be executed by the mobile station and a state of currently empty data communication channels, judges if the data amount sent from the communication apparatus is transmittable within a predetermined time or not when the communication apparatus starts transmitting the communication data at the maximum transmission rate, and when judging that the data amount is not transmittable within the predetermined time, the mobile switching center disallows the transmission of the communication data.
Thus, reception errors of the communication data may be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center determines the practicable maximum transmission rate on a basis of the maximum transmission rate to be handled by the mobile station and a state of currently free data communication channels, judges if the data amount sent from the mobile station is transmittable within a predetermined time or not when the mobile station starts transmitting the communication data at the maximum transmission rate, and upon judging that the data amount is not transmittable within the predetermined time, the mobile switching center disallows the transmission of the communication data.
Thus, reception errors of the communication data may be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center determines the practicable maximum transmission rate on a basis of the maximum transmission rate to be handled by the mobile station and a state of currently free data communication channels, judges if the data amount sent from the communication apparatus or the mobile station transmitting communication data is transmittable within a predetermined time or not when the communication apparatus or the mobile station starts transmitting the communication data at the maximum transmission rate, and upon judging that the data amount is not transmittable within the predetermined time, the mobile switching center disallows the transmission of the communication data.
Thus, reception errors of the communication data may be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when hand-over of the mobile station is carried out, the mobile switching center changes the transmission rate between the mobile station and a switched base station in accordance with a free data communication channel state of the switched base station.
Thus, the transmission rate of communication data may be optimized each time the hand-over of the mobile station is performed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center determines the switched base station before the hand-over of the mobile station is carried out, and judges the free data communication channel state of the switched base station.
Thus, disconnection of radio-connection caused due to the hand-over of the mobile station may be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile station detects electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from all the base stations adjacent to the base station to which the mobile station is connected at present to send the electric field strength to the mobile switching center.
Thus, the standard for selecting the optimal base station may be offered to the mobile switching center.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when receiving an instruction from the mobile switching center, the mobile station sends the electric field strength to the mobile switching center.
Thus, the mobile switching center may obtain the electric field strength if necessary.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, in case of receiving an instruction from the base station, the mobile station sends the electric field strength to the mobile switching center.
Thus, when the base station judges that the mobile switching center requires the electric field strength, the mobile switching center may obtain the electric field strength if necessary.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center compares the electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from the respective base stations with one another, and determines that a base station which transmitted a radio wave having the maximum electric field strength is made to be the switched base station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may determine the optimal base station as the switched base station.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center selects a data communication channel which may achieve the maximum transmission rate in a range of the maximum transmission rates to be handled by the mobile station from among free data communication channels of the switched base station.
Thus, the transmission rate of communication data may be optimized each time the hand-over of the mobile station is performed.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate is increased by carrying out the hand-over of the mobile station, the mobile switching center performs the hand-over before changing the transmission rate.
Thus, the hand-over of the mobile station may be performed promptly.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate is decreased by carrying out the hand-over of the mobile station, the mobile switching center performs the hand-over after changing the transmission rate.
Thus, disconnection of radio-connection caused due to the hand-over of the mobile station may be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the mobile station to the communication apparatus is increased, the mobile switching center checks for transmission power of the mobile station before increasing the transmission rate.
Thus, the mobile switching center may judge if the transmission rate of communication data may be actually increased or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the communication apparatus to the mobile station is increased, the mobile switching center checks for transmission power of the base station before such an operation.
Thus, the mobile switching center may judge if the transmission rate of communication data may be actually increased or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center checks for the transmission power of the mobile station by checking for received power of the base station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may surely confirm the transmission power of the mobile station.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center checks for the transmission power of the base station by checking for the received power of the mobile station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may surely confirm the transmission power of the base station.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center sends an instruction to enhance a transmission power level to the mobile station, and sends an instruction to send the received power to the base station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may judge if the transmission rate of communication data may be actually increased or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, the mobile switching center sends an instruction to enhance a transmission power level to the base station, and sends an instruction to send the received power to the mobile station.
Thus, the mobile switching center may judge if the transmission rate of communication data may be actually increased or not.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when an increase in the transmission power of the mobile station corresponding to the change in the transmission rate is not obtainable, the mobile switching center disallows the change in the transmission rate.
Thus, when the transmission rate cannot be increased, the occurrence of a useless process of increasing the transmission rate can be prevented, and at the same time the occurrence of a communication abnormality resulting from such a process can be prevented.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when an increase in the transmission power of the base station corresponding to the change in the transmission rate is not obtainable, the mobile switching center disallows the change in the transmission rate.
Thus, when the transmission rate cannot be increased, the useless process of increasing the transmission rate can be prevented from being caused, and at the same time communication abnormality resulting from such process can be prevented from being caused.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when an increase in the transmission power of the mobile station corresponding to the change in the transmission rate is obtainable, the mobile switching center allows the change in the transmission rate.
Thus, the transmission rate of communication data can be increased.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when an increase in the transmission power of the base station corresponding to the change in the transmission rate is obtainable, the mobile switching center allows the change in the transmission rate.
Thus, the transmission rate of communication data can be increased.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate is doubled, the mobile switching center sends an instruction to enhance the transmission power by 3 dB to the mobile station.
Thus, the transmission rate can be doubled.
In a mobile communication system of the invention, when the transmission rate is doubled, the mobile switching center sends an instruction to enhance the transmission power by 3 dB to the base station.
Thus, the transmission rate can be doubled.


A composition and method for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related amyloid plaque development and reduction of amyloid plaque, amyloidosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, includes an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of phytic acid, a phytate salt, an isomer or hydrolysate of phytic acid or a phytate salt, or a mixture of any combination thereof, being administered to a person in an amount from about 0.5 grams to about 18.75 grams per day.

Phytic acid, generally accepted as having the structure myo-inositol-hexakis (dihydrogen phosphate), is a major component of plant seeds, constituting 1-3% by weight of many cereals and oil seeds. Most wheat brans contain between 4 and 5% phytic acid. Phytic acid may be prepared in pure form from various plant sources, such as wheat, corn, soybeans, sesame seeds, peanuts, lima beans, barley, oats, wild rice and sunflower seeds. It can be extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid at room temperature, precipitated with various reagents including ferric chloride, bicarbonates, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or alcohol. It is then further purified by conventional chemical techniques.
When one or more of the acidic protons of the phosphate groups in phytic acid are replaced by a counterion, the compound is usually referred to as a phytate salt. The special name phytin is used for the calcium-magnesium salt of phytate derived from plant seeds (a product of Ciba-Geigy). The present invention includes the use not only of phytic acid and phytate salts, but also various isomeric forms of phytic acid and phytate salts. While the Anderson structure for myo-inositol hexakis dihydrogen phosphate is the accepted structure for phytic acid, the present invention covers other isomers which have been previously described in the literature. These isomers include the cis, epi, allo, muco, neo, D-chiro, L-chiro, and scyllo configurations.
Also, while phytic acid contains six phosphate groups, when introduced into the digestive tract of an animal, one or more of the phosphate groups may be hydrolyzed by the action of the digestive acids and enzymes. Therefore, the present invention includes the use of hydrolysates of phytic acid and phytate salts wherein one or more of the phosphate groups have been removed.
The main uses of phytic acid include use as a food additive for preservation of foods. Studies on the use of phytic acid as a food additive show that ingestion of large doses of phytic acid elicits no physiological discomfort or symptoms of any toxicological action in humans. See Starkenstein, Biochem. Z. 30: 56 (1911). Phytic acid and its metabolites are thus not believed to be toxic or highly reactive.
Phytic Acid is the 6 phosphates ester of inositol. Inositol, chemically hexahydroxycylohexane, is any of nine stereoisomeric alcohols that closely resemble glucose in structure. It is a constituent of many cell phosphoglycerides. Meso- or myo-inositol, named for its presence in muscle tissue, is biologically the important isomer. Myo-inositol is the precursor in the phosphatidylinositol cycle, a source of two second messengers (diacylglycerol and inositol triphosphate). Inositols and their phosphates lack a hydrolytically labile glycosidic linkage and are stable to degradative enzymes in vivo. They have been used in the stable insulin mediators, inhibitors, and modulators. The phytic acid may be in a salt form, such as, for example, calcium magnesium phytate salt.
Two reports from Science Magazine of 3 Nov. 2006 support the importance of reducing Abeta plaque production as a therapeutic goal. See Goedert and Spillantini "A Century of Alzheimer's Disease", SCIENCE, Vol. 314, 3 Nov. 2006, pp 779-781. See also Roberson and Mucke, "100 Years and Counting: Proposals for Defeating Alzheimer's Disease," SCIENCE, Vol. 314, 3 Nov. 2006, pp. 781-784.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,082 (referred to herein as the '082 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,430 (referred to herein as the '430 patent) both to Sabin, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, disclose one embodiment for administration of phytic acid or equivalent phytate salt, isomer or hydrolysate as about one-half to three grams per kilogram of body weight orally per day.
Scyllo inositol, has been shown to prevent and reverse Alzheimer's Disease in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease (See Nature Medicine article) (See "A Sweet Solution to Alzheimer's Disease") (See "ALD103 May Prevent and Reverse Alzheimer's Disease") (See "Scyllo-Inositol Appears Promising for Alzheimer's Disease").
Scyllo inositol also inhibits and blocks the aggregation of amyloid-B peptide (AB) in these same transgenic Alzheimer Disease mouse studies. The '082 patent discloses scyllo inositol as an isomeric form of phytic acid. Since the '082 and '430 patents disclose a minimum oral dose of about a half a gram per kilogram/body weight per day, a 75 kilogram AD patient, would take 37.5 grams of scyllo inositol orally per day. This dose is burdensome. Additionally, phytate in food has been successfully consumed at this dose and higher.
Scyllo inositol is also disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/787,621 of McLaurin. This application discloses a litany of compounds for the treatment of disorders of protein aggregation, the most preferred compound of which is scyllo inositol.

Prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of alzheimer's disease using phytic acid and phytate to reduce amyloid beta plaque and tau protein


A fish screen is presented having a porous surface made of two or more corrugations (e.g., elongated convex shapes) having an at least partially porous surface. The incorporation of a porous area on the corrugations allows increasing the total porous surface area compared to an underlying diversion area. The porous area is a magnification of an underlying diversion area, which reduces the fluid pressure (e.g., impingement forces) acting on the porous area of the screen. The valley between each pair of corrugations is solid, not porous. The solid valley(s) provide two important functions; they provide multiple small solid surface flow channels over the screen surface. These solid channels protect small or weak swimming aquatic organisms from impingement on the screen. That is, once organisms reach the solid channel, they may move along the solid channel free of impingement until they reach the edge of the screen.

Screens are often used to filter agricultural, municipal and industrial water/flow diversions. The screens prevent debris from passing into such flow diversions. In such applications, a porous surface (e.g., mesh or fabric) covers a flow diversion allowing water to filter though the porous surface while the porous surface prevents debris from entering the flow diversion. When such screens are used to prevent aquatic species from passing into the flow diversion, the screens are commonly referred to as fish screens. The porous surface of these fish screens is sized to prevent passage of aquatic species through the porous surface into the flow diversion. In addition, it is desirable to prevent entrainment/impingement of aquatic species against the porous surface of the screen. In some areas, fish screens are required by federal and state laws to protect aquatic inhabitants from entrainment and removal from native waters. Fish screens are unique from other industrial screens because they must operate within guidelines set by biological parameters such as organism swimming ability and behavior. Accordingly, it would be desirable to design a fish screen to protect aquatic species/organisms from impingement on the screen and allow such organisms to return to their native waters.

Corrugated fish screen with continuous flow refugia


A method and apparatus for displaying real-time information objects between a wireless mobile user station and multiple information sources based upon event driven parameters and user modifiable object manifest, wherein the multiple real-time information sources and real-time event occurrences are collected, tagged and analyzed for context relevance and transmitted to a wireless mobile computer user based on personal preference and request of the wireless mobile computer user, thus providing a highly personalized experience.

From football games to horse racing to car racing, spectator and/or sporting events in general have become a favorite pastime, often attracting a plethora of die-hard, loyal fans. Although live attendance at such events provide visual stimuli adequate to satiate some fans, most fans are typically unimpressed with visual stimuli alone and often eagerly seek other avenues of stimuli to more personalize their experience. Such avenues may include written statistical data of their favorite team, player, car or racing animal, live radio broadcasts and/or televised commentary via portable television units. However, as convenient as these avenues may be, they still inherently fail to fully personalize the spectator's experience by often limiting the spectator to media-dictated coverage of information. As such, the spectator is deprived of information that he/she may deem personally essential and important to his/her full enjoyment of the event.
For instance, the sport of car racing has become an increasingly popular spectator event, attracting tens of thousands of fans who attend to not only watch racecars circle the track at immense speeds, but to also learn about the racing team itself, the driver, driving and/or car conditions that may contribute to the performance of the driver and his car, the telemetry of the car and statistical information of the car. In addition to such data, most spectators typically also enjoy watching interviews with the drivers and/or pit crews. As engaging as all this information is, it often becomes difficult for the spectator to simultaneously watch the race and effectively absorb all the information that may be relayed to him by radio broadcasts, televised commentary via portable television units, statistical data books or any other means of transmission. As such, the spectator is generally overwhelmed and unable to enjoy the event at his/her own pace. This can be especially frustrating if the spectator, while attempting to absorb one piece of information, misses a different but personally important moment of the race (i.e., the cause of a car crash, taking of the lead by another car, etc.) that the media has chosen to not replay via televised or radio transmission. Furthermore, although a spectator may be able to gather missed information in televised post-game/race highlights or via newspapers the following day, much of the spectator's excitement has usually subsided or has been lost entirely due to the lack of real-time information and the inherent spontaneity carried therewith.
Although attempts have been made to provide such real-time information, many such efforts have proven ineffective and/or typically failed in supplying a substantial variety of information and content including real-time audio and visual data, statistical information and full motion video. In addition, most available systems or methods and suppliers of sports information have generally been unable to supply information personalized for each spectator. As such, most such systems usually only provide one stream of uniformly distributed information—selected, controlled and limited by the supplier of the information (i.e., the media). These generic and uniform relays of information typically fail to consider the personal preferences and behaviors of each spectator and instead supply a broad array of information that may only facially touch on aspects of the event that spectators have deemed relevant and worthy of in-depth coverage.
For example, although wireless mobile computer users today have access to wireless content/information, such access is generally limited in the type and amount of content/information provided. Specifically, since the primary method utilized by mobile users to acquire content is through various manners of wired based synchronization between the user mobile station and base system, the content downloaded onto the user station is typically static text and still images, possibly enhanced with the inclusion of simple animated objects. Moreover, the vast majority of content acquired by the use of wired based synchronization can be material hours and even days. Such a method is clearly disadvantageous, as it fails to provide immediate, real-time full-motion video, audio or textual information.
Newly available technologies incorporating the use of 802.11, BLUETOOTH and/or 3G network protocols embedded within low cost radio transceivers have expanded the ability of wireless Internet access, thereby substantially increasing the amount of available content/information. Moreover, because such technologies provide high bandwidth data throughput to mobile computer stations, the information relayed to a wireless mobile computer user is transmitted with virtually no delay in time. As such, the mobile user is able to immediately access the current environment/conditions of an event in real-time. Systems failing to incorporate such technology are becoming obsolete due to the ability of the new technology to deliver real-time information to an individual user of a wireless mobile computer/unit.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a method and apparatus for displaying real-time information objects between a wireless mobile user station and multiple information sources based upon event driven parameters and user modifiable object manifest, wherein such real-time information includes, but is not strictly limited to visual, audio and textual data presented to a wireless mobile user in a systematic and ad hoc manner based upon the personal preferences and behavior analysis of the wireless mobile user.

Method and apparatus for displaying real-time information objects between a wireless mobile user station and multiple information sources based upon event driven parameters and user modifiable object manifest


A STED-SPIM-microscope (Selective Plane Imaging Microscopy) having a y-direction illumination light source and a z-direction detection light camera. An x-scanner generates a sequential light sheet by scanning the illumination light beam in the x-direction. By optionally turning on a STED deactivation light beam the light sheet can optionally be made thinner and therefore the optical resolution can be increased.

The invention relates to a SPIM-microscope comprising a light source sending an illumination light beam from a y-direction onto an object to be imaged and a camera detecting in a z-direction as a first detection direction light emanating from the object as fluorescent light and/or as reflected light, wherein the z-direction extends substantially perpendicular to the y-direction.
In particular, biological samples should be analyzed both quickly and without damaging the sample. For many applications, it is useful to generate a 3-dimensional image. Scattering artifacts and absorption artifacts should be avoided that may occur due to interaction of the illumination light with the sample, in particular in the field of fluorescence microscopy where the illumination light has the function of an excitation light for exciting fluorescence.
For analyzing microscopic samples fast, without causing damage and with a high resolution the so-called SPIM technology is specifically suitable (Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy) where the illumination light generates a light sheet, while the detection light generated by fluorescence and reflection is detected in a perpendicular direction compared to the illumination direction by a camera.
A light sheet is an illumination volume with a substantially rectangular cross-section that is very thin in a first cross-sectional direction (here the z-direction) and significantly larger in a second cross-sectional direction (here the x-direction) in comparison to the first cross-sectional direction. The illumination direction (here the y-direction) extends substantially perpendicular to the first cross-sectional direction (here the z-direction) and substantially perpendicular to the second cross-sectional direction (here the x-direction). The light sheet is focused by a cylindrical lens and the focus or a focal length of the light sheet is to be understood as a certain range that extends in the illumination direction (here the y-direction) where the light sheet is particularly thin so that the illuminated volume has the shape of a sheet, i.e. is very thin in the z-direction and much larger in the x- and in the y-direction.
Generating a light sheet according to the prior art SPIM technology using a cylindrical lens has the disadvantage that the system is quite unflexible, for instance provides a fixed focus and therefore a predetermined illuminated volume. For achieving a high resolution, a very thin and long focus is advantageous. This focus can be scanned for obtaining a 3-dimensional image in one direction over the sample. Since an increased length also increases the width the resolution in the z-direction is decreased. This means that a long focus that results from selecting a low numerical aperture of the illumination optics has the consequence that also the thickness of the illuminated volume is high. This means that the optical resolution along the optical axis in the detection direction is likewise low. Depending on the practical application the consequence is a conflict of goals: If a high depth of penetration of the illumination light should be achieved, an elongate focus is required that does, however, result in a thicker light sheet and therefore in a lower resolution. An elongate focus is generated with a small numerical aperture of the illumination optics.
Apart from being desirable to achieve at the same time a high depth of penetration for the illumination light while also accomplishing a high resolution, it is generally further desirable to have flexibility in influencing the illumination volume. For example, some applications may require a larger illumination volume, for instance for observing chemical reactions that take place within a specific volume of the object. In contrast to that, also a smaller illumination volume might be desirable, in particular a thinner illumination volume accomplished by a thinner light sheet, for example for having a more clearly defined layer or plane, for instance for determining a diffusion velocity within the object.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A context modeler comprising a computer software graphical subsystem and a solution packaging service. The computer software graphical subsystem renders a graphical user interface, which is used to map different objects from the web application platform and set their properties, thereby creating a mapping file for use by the packaging service. The packaging service is used to automatically create a solution package file for deployment within the web application platform. The solution package file is created when the packaging service uses one or more methods to generate a set of instructions for implementing computer processor or server action, and this set of instructions is wrapped inside a solution package file recognized by the web application platform.

The present invention relates generally to the field of automatically creating and implementing solutions for enterprise management systems, platforms, and packages ("EMS"). Microsoft SharePoint is one of the most common EMS platforms, although there are many others. EMS platforms generate solutions for implementation in the enterprise's processes or business. Many of these EMS platforms are implemented through cloud computing, and they have returned a great benefit to the enterprises using them. However, current solution techniques require installation of certain modules to create and implement the application solution. Examples of such modules include SharePoint Designer and SharePoint environment. In many cases, this process requires significant configuration effort, and implementation of these solutions also requires the user to navigate into the SharePoint environment to see the application hierarchy, the relationships, and right management. This "manual" process requires significant time an effort.
The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a context modeler that creates an EMS solution application that allows the user to create and update EMS application deployable solutions for manual or automatic deployment in the EMS. The user can design a hierarchy of objects on a virtual canvas to generate the documentation and solution files for deployable solutions deployed either globally or in an isolated manner.


Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path.

Field of Invention
Aspects of this invention are related to medical device path planning, and more particularly are related to path planning for an articulatable multi-segment medical device.
Related Art
An endoscope is a medical device for visualizing the interior of a patient's body. Endoscopes have been used for a variety of medical diagnostic procedures and for a variety of medical interventional procedures.
Many different types of endoscopes are known. For example, one steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. Such an endoscope is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,203 B2, entitled "Steerable Endoscope and Improved Method of Insertion," of Amir Belson issued on Oct. 22, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In general, conventional medical device path-planning is performed using medical imaging data usually CAT, X-ray, MRI, PET of fluoroscopy imaging data. Path-planning is considered in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,025, entitled "Virtual internal cavity inspection system," issued Mar. 11, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,180, entitled "Automatic path planning system and method," issued Jan. 23, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,958, entitled "Medical-technical System," issued Apr. 30, 2002; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0091340 A1 (filed Dec. 26, 2004, disclosing "Targeted Marching"); and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0109780 A1 (filed Jun. 6, 2002, disclosing "Methods and Apparatus for Surgical Planning").

Method and system for steerable medical device path definition and following during insertion and retraction


An image forming apparatus multiplies a first clock to drive the apparatus, thereby forming a second clock, and holds (1) a frequency of a third clock used by a print unit of the apparatus, (2) a magnification setting of the multiplying, (3) a resolution of the print unit, and (4) a micro zoom ratio. The apparatus sets a magnification of the multiplying based on the held values, discriminates whether a pixel is a target pixel to which a micro zoom is executed by using the held micro zoom ratio, and switches a count comparison value of the second clock formed by the multiplying based on the discrimination, thereby forming the third clock. The apparatus then forms a pixel segment based on image data of the target pixel corresponding to the discrimination and inserts the formed pixel segment based on a period of the third clock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a pixel clock generator for generating a pixel clock to switch, on a pixel unit basis, an image signal which is sent to a laser beam modulator and to an image forming method which is executed in such an apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic system for exposing an image by a laser beam, a method whereby the laser beam is irradiated to a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) and deflected and the surface of a photosensitive material is exposed by the deflected reflection light has been used. As a photosensitive material, it is desirable to use a photosensitive material having a shape which is away from a laser beam light source at an equal distance, that is, an arc shape from a reflecting surface of the polygon mirror. However, in many image forming apparatuses, a cylindrical photosensitive material is used in order to form an image after exposure.
By using the cylindrical photosensitive material, lengths of optical paths from the respective light sources to the photosensitive material differ and a difference occurs in a main scanning magnification by the laser beam. As a method of correcting the difference of the main scanning magnification, there is a construction in which an optical device such as an fθ lens or the like is provided between the light source and the photosensitive material. However, high precision is required for the correction by the optical device. Therefore, in many image forming apparatuses, the high-precision correction of the optical device is not performed but a main scanning length is divided into a plurality of areas and the magnification in the main scanning direction is adjusted by inserting or extracting a micro pixel (hereinbelow, referred to as a "pixel segment") on a division area unit basis.
A clock frequency showing the pixel segment is obtained by a method whereby a clock to transfer image data of one pixel is multiplied by a value corresponding to desired resolution. That is, assuming that the resolution is equal to 16, the clock frequency showing the pixel segment is set to a frequency which is 16 times as high as the clock frequency for transferring one pixel. If the resolution is equal to 32, the clock frequency is set to a frequency which is 32 times as high as the clock frequency for transferring one pixel.
In many cases, each of the pixel clock frequency and the clock frequency of the pixel segment differs every print unit (engine) of the electrophotographic system. That is, each of the pixel clock frequency and the pixel segment clock frequency differs every image forming apparatus of the electrophotographic system. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-237623 discloses such a mechanism that a reference clock frequency is set from the pixel clock frequency of the print unit of the electrophotographic system and the reference clock is multiplied to the clock frequency of a high frequency by a PLL (Phase Locked Loop). It is also disclosed that the apparatus uses a construction in which on the basis of a multiplication clock serving as a clock frequency of the pixel segment, three kinds of pixel clocks for controlling a micro zoom ratio in the main scanning direction are formed and selectively output to the print unit of the electrophotographic system. The three kinds of pixel clocks are a reference clock frequency to transfer one pixel, a clock frequency in which a unit time of the reference clock frequency is extended by a time corresponding to one pixel segment, and a clock frequency in which the unit time of the reference clock frequency is shortened by the time corresponding to one pixel segment. It is also disclosed that in the magnification control of every area of the main scanning length, a plurality of selection signals of time-sequential distribution for selecting the three kinds of pixel clocks are held and by synthesizing the time-sequential distribution selection signals, a selection output signal of the pixel clocks is formed.
However, in a pixel clock generator or the image forming apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-237623, as selection signals which are used to select the pixel clocks which are output to the print unit of the electrophotographic system, it is necessary to hold the selection signals of the number as many as the pixels in the main scanning direction. A construction of a memory for holding the selection signals or a holding unit corresponding to such a memory causes a circuit scale to be increased and becomes a factor of an increase in costs. Since the three kinds of pixel clocks are always formed, there is a possibility of an increase in radiation noise level of the image forming apparatus. Further, since the frequency of the reference clock which is used to form the pixel clock conforms with the print unit of the electrophotographic system constructing the image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that it differs from the clock frequency to control an image processing unit for processing the image data and serving as a transferring source. In such a case, at least two kinds of oscillators are necessary to construct the image forming apparatus and it becomes a factor of an increase in costs.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method having a pixel clock generator to switch an image signal sent to a laser beam modulator


A computer-implemented method, apparatus and software for debugging auto-attach entities is presented. A Continuity Fault Management (CFM) request for a service is received over a network at an Auto-Attach (AA) server. The AA server responds with a first response regarding the AA server on the service. The AA server also responds to the CFM request with a second response regarding any AA clients and any AA proxies on the service.

One type of network technology is known as Shortest Path Bridging (SPB). A set of standards for implementing Shortest Path Bridging is generally specified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Specifically, this standard is identified as IEEE 802.1aq. Network services, including SPB services are commonly provided using Ethernet technology. Ethernet has become a default Data Link Layer technology for data transport, that is, the default for Layer 2 (L2) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. SPB can expand Ethernet technologies to other or larger networks. For example, a network that uses IEEE 802.1aq SPB can advertise both topology and logical network membership. SPB uses a link state protocol for such advertising.
In an SPB network, packets are encapsulated at an edge node in Mac-in-Mac 802.1ah and transported only to other members of the logical network. IEEE 802.1aq supports unicast and multicast, and all routing is on symmetric shortest paths. There exist other related technologies that follow the model of a provider network (transport network) that connects two or more customer networks (access networks), where the provider network is functionally distinct from the customer network, even if a single administrator runs both networks.
The SPB network typically includes a Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) and a Backbone Core Bridge (BCB). BEBs (also known as provider network edge nodes) function as devices that enable transfer of packets to/from interfaces within the SPB network and to/from interfaces outside the SPB network.
Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) is an end-to-end per-service-instance Ethernet layer protocol that includes proactive connectivity monitoring, fault verification, and fault isolation. CFM uses maintenance points. A maintenance point is a demarcation point on an interface (port) that participates in CFM within a maintenance domain. Maintenance points on device ports act as filters that confine CFM frames within the bounds of a domain by dropping frames that do not belong to the correct level. Two classes of maintenance points exist, Maintenance Endpoints (MEPs) and Maintenance Intermediate points (MIPs).
MEPS exist at a per-maintenance domain (level) and service provider VLAN (S-VLAN). MEPs at an edge of a domain define the domain boundary. MEPs within the bounds of a maintenance domain confine CFM messages. When configured to do so, MEPs proactively transmit CFM continuity check messages (CCMs). At the request of an administrator, MEPs transmit traceroute and loopback messages.
MIPs exist at a per maintenance domain (level) and for all S-VLANs enabled or allowed on a port. MIPS are internal to a domain, not at the boundary. CFM frames received from MEPs and other MIPs are cataloged and forwarded. CFM frames at a lower level are stopped and dropped. All CFM frames at a higher level are forwarded.
Auto-attach is a proposed solution to allow devices which do not support Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) to attach to the SPBM network. To ensure the network is properly set-up and operating, the solution must ensure that there is appropriate debugging capabilities. Moreover, the network administrator must be able to confirm which devices have auto-attached to the network.

Debugging auto-attach entities (client and proxy) using connectivity fault management (CFM) and shortest path bridging MAC (SPBM) cloud


A snapout calculator, and wherein the snapout calculator determines where the reference levels for the various comparators shall be placed after each asynchronous sample is generated.

Generally, there are two basic types of ADC converters: a) synchronous and b) asynchronous. Synchronous ADCs are sampled at fixed intervals, as in FIG. 1A; and asynchronous ADCs, such as FIG. 1B, are sampled at variable intervals. Both types of ADCs have their weaknesses.
With synchronous ADCs, such as in FIG. 1A, there is the problem with its "quantization error" regarding measuring of analog input signals. Eg. if an input signal is between levels to be sampled by the ADC, when a sampling is "forced" by a clock, the digital sample, which coincides to one the ADC levels surrounding the signal, is generated. At this instant, a small error (voltage quantization error) is introduced in to the system, and a small fraction of the signal information is "lost".
Moreover, regarding synchronous ADCs, whether the input is full scale or half-full scale or one-tenth full-scale, the amount of quantization noise is actually the same; therefore, as the signal becomes smaller, the ratio of signal energy to quantization noise energy actually gets proportionately smaller.
One way of expressing a signal to noise ratio, is that of "Effective Number of Bits" or "ENOB". ENOB expresses the signal to noise ratio in terms of bits. As the input amplitude goes down, and the noise amplitude does not go down, then the ENOB also goes down—in other words, the precision of the digital output drops as the analog input signal amplitude drops since the noise amplitude holds steady.
In a synchronous ADC, if the signal level decreases, the noise [quantization error] remains the same, so there is a loss of signal to noise ratio. If quantization noise is the only noise source, specifically signal to quantization noise ratio (SQNR) decreases. In reality, the noise has multiple components such as thermal noise, quantization noise, noise due to non-linearity of devices, etc. Even in this case with all noise sources, SNR decreases as signal amplitude goes down or any of the noise sources increase.
There is an alternative approach to analog to digital conversion, using what is known as an "asynchronous analog to digital converter" ("asynchronous ADC"), such as in FIG. 1B. With asynchronous converters, such as discussed in "A non-uniform sampling technique for A/D conversion, Circuits and Systems, 1993, ISCAS '93, 1993 IEEE International Symposium on, vol., no., pp. 1220-1223 vol. 2, 3-6 May 1993", by Sayiner, N.; Sorensen, H. V.; Viswanathan, T. R. ("Sayiner"); a digital sample is generated when the input analog signal crosses a threshold ("level"). This is advantageous, because there is no voltage quantization error when signal crosses a known "level". This means that there is no voltage quantization noise in the output samples from an asynchronous ADC by itself. Please see FIGS. 1A-2B regarding the quantization noise, as shall be explained, below.
Moreover, the output of the asynchronous ADC is not directly usable by synchronous signal processing circuits that follow the ADC. Therefore, at the time of the conversion, a "2-tuple" is generated upon crossing a threshold, that of an output level and a "timestamp", which may be used in further processing to create synchronous samples usable by standard synchronous signal processing circuits
However, the timestamp itself has quantization noise, a "time" quantization noise. This time quantization step and the associated effects are illustrated in FIG. 2A. Let us assume that the signal crosses level V2, at time "T". Now, ideally [V2, T] would be the asynchronous output. To reduce complexity the time "T" is stored in quantized form—chosen from the edges of a high resolution clock (T1, T2, T3 . . . ). So, instead of [V2, T], [V2, T2] is the 2-tuple actually stored, and hence a time quantization error ΔT=|T2−T| is introduced.
As these time grids are assumed to be finely spaced from each other, the signal in this region can be approximated by a straight line with slope dV/dT. Hence the voltage quantization error, ΔV, introduced due to this time quantization error can be approximated as ΔV=dV/dT. ΔT. This shows that this kind of quantization error is proportional to signal, and hence the Signal to quantization noise from such quantization noise sources hold constant even if signal energy drops. In systems where this noise source is dominant, the SNR (or equivalently ENOB) does not drop with decrease in signal level.
Now, a given system may have different noise sources—elastic noise sources (like SNQR due to time quantization, jitter noise, etc.) which scale with signal levels, and inelastic noise sources (like voltage quantization noise present in synchronous ADCs, thermal noise, flicker noise, etc.) which do not scale with signals. If the dominant noise source is elastic in nature, the SNR (or ENOB) does not fall even if signal amplitude falls. Asynchronous systems can be designed such that inelastic noise sources become dominant only beyond a point—and till then the SNR does not fall even if signal falls. This region where the SNRs hold steady, is called a "flat band"—after which the inelastic noise sources become dominant, and the ENOB starts falling (similar to synchronous ADCs) as signal levels fall.
Moreover, regarding SQNR, as is understood by the present inventors, SQNR is proportional to the value computed by the expression, "−log(bandwidth*time quantization error)". As the bandwidth of the asynchronous ADC goes down, and the SQNR improves, for a given time quantization error.
FIG. 2B illustrates a "flat band" for an asynchronous ADC converter. As is illustrated, a hypothetical customer requirement is proposed. When the customer seeks 11.5 effective bits at ¼ fullscale, a conventional ADC provides that using a 14 bit (13.5 effective bits) ADC whereas the asynchronous ADC (with a 2-bit flat band) can provide the same with 12 effective bits ADC. Typically lower bit requirements translate to exponentially lower power requirements.
The red line shows the decrease in ENOB for a 12 effective bits synchronous ADC, which provides only 10 effective bits at ¼ full scale, thereby not satisfying the customers' requirements. Furthermore, traditional asynchronous ADC architectures, however, each have their own drawbacks.
As alluded to above, for conventional asynchronous ADC, the sampling rate is a function of the signal amplitude, number of active levels used for level crossing detection and signal frequency. Moreover, for some signal types, classical asynchronous ADC, as reported in Sayiner's work, tend to oversample the signal. For e.g., for an 8 level asynchronous ADC, a full-scale sine wave is sampled sixteen times, which is 8-times the minimum samples ("Nyquist rate") required for signal reconstruction. A 16 level asynchronous ADC may sample the same signal thirty two times, which is sixteen times more than the minimum required. Therefore, in the prior art, one always have an extremely large amount of oversampling.
That in turn translates to large amounts of power wasted especially if most of the samples are thrown away by the signal processing chain following the ADC. In addition, another drawback of traditional asynchronous ADCs is that they produce asynchronous (non-uniformly spaced in time) samples. Since the domain of asynchronous signal processing is nascent, most applications prefer to process synchronous samples. However, converting these non-uniform samples into uniform samples is a complex and power hungry task.
Furthermore, when converting, it would be advantageous to have an asynchronous ADC that addresses at least some of these drawbacks.

Asynchronous sampling using a dynamically adustable snapback range


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for depth-aware object counting. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes processing, by the trained machine learning model, a first segment of an image and a second segment of the image, the first segment being processed using a first filter selected, based on depth information, to enable formation of a first density map, and the second segment being processed using a second filter selected, based on the depth information, to enable formation of a second density map; combining, by the trained machine learning model, the first density map and the second density map to form a density map for the image; and providing, by the trained machine learning model, an output based on the density map. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Machine learning technology enables computers to learn tasks. For example, machine learning may allow a computer to learn to perform a task during a training phase. Later, during an operational phase, the computer may be able to perform the learned task. Machine learning may take the form of a neural network, such as a deep learning neural network, a convolutional neural network (CNN), a state vector machine, a Bayes classifier, and other types of machine learning models.


An image display device includes a coordinates detection unit configured to detect a terminal device which stores image data, and to detect a coordinates of a display unit based on the detected result, a coordinates attribute extraction unit configured to extract an attribute of the coordinates detected by the coordinates detection unit, a communication unit configured to receive the image data from the terminal device, a contents attribute extraction unit configured to extract an attribute of the image data received by the communication unit, and a display control unit configured to display an image which has an attribute similar to the attribute of the coordinates extracted by the coordinates attribute extraction unit among the image data from which the attributes is extracted by the contents attribute extraction unit on a position near a position of the coordinates detected by the coordinates detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device, an image display system, an image display method, a program, and a storage medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique used for displaying contents stored in a portable terminal or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a technique for making a mobile phone in contact with a display and pasting and displaying contents stored in the mobile phone on the display has been known. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-316925)
However, when a large quantity of contents are pasted and displayed on the display, the conventional technique pastes and displays the contents while selecting the contents one by one, and it thus takes much time. Further, an operation for selecting and classifying the contents to be pasted and displayed is complicated, because a screen of the mobile phone is small and difficult to see when a user performs the operation on a portable terminal. Therefore, the conventional technique has a problem of taking time and efforts when a user performs pasting and displaying the contents.

Image display device, image display system, and image display method


A mailbox system includes a remote computing device and a mailbox. The remote computing device is configured to communicate with a user device and to receive and review user authorization information and transmit an authorization message indicating successful authorization. The mailbox has a mail piece receiving mechanism, a mailbox identifier, a label printer, a locking mechanism, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to communicate with a user device having received an authorization message, to control the label printer to print a mailing label corresponding to services selected by a user via the user device, to control the locking mechanism in response to communications from the user device to allow the user to place a mail piece in the mail piece receiving mechanism and to lock the mail piece receiving mechanism after the mail piece is placed therein, and to communicate with the remote computing device.

For decades, the mailbox system for mailing letters and packages (collectively, "mail pieces") with the United States Postal Service ("USPS") has been based on pre-paid stamps, authorized postage meter printed stamps, and payment taken and postage applied by USPS personnel at Post Office counters. This system has functioned acceptably for many years. However, it requires that physical proof of postage payment be applied to the mail piece before it enters the USPS processing and delivery system. Traditional postage stamps must be purchased by the customer (hereinafter "sender") from the USPS or a designated retail outlet. The price of mailing changes regularly and it can be difficult for senders to determine the amount of postage required.
To mail large envelopes and packages, senders typically go to a Post Office, wait in line for assistance, have their item measured and weighed, select between different delivery options with the clerk, pay for the correct postage, and finally release their mail piece to the USPS. Many business offices enter contracts with USPS-authorized third parties to obtain their own postage metering devices, also known as franking machines. These third parties can charge high rents for their devices and related services. Senders with postage meters can weigh and classify their own mail pieces, and either stamp on the required postage or print it out and apply it to the mail piece. Postage fees are tracked on their metering device and paid periodically via the senders' accounts with the authorized third party.
A more recent extension of the franking machine approach is a software-based application whereby a home-based sender or small business can print labels and postage without dedicated mailing hardware. Providers include the USPS itself (Click-N-Ship application), as well as other commercial providers such as Stamps.com, Endicia and Pitney Bowes. Payment is made via a billing account with the software provider, or by credit card, bank account debit, PayPal or other third-party payment system. While these software applications are somewhat popular with frequent senders, they still require considerable effort and administration on the part of the sender before an item can be released to the shipper.
Commercial express letter and package carriers, such as UPS and Federal Express (collectively, "shippers") offer counter-based mail piece acceptance, but rely more heavily on pre-arranged accounts with their senders. Occasional senders may also pay for postage by writing or printing credit card information and signature on the label, but the sender must first obtain the label forms of the particular shipper.
Needs exist for improved mail piece induction systems and methods.


The final position of a slideable fifth wheel hitch assembly which permits the relative positions of a tractor and its associated trailer to be adjusted is precisely controlled by a small slide stop tool which engages the rack teeth on a fifth wheel carrier slide assembly guide rail pair. The slide stop is meshed in the gap between rack teeth to provide a quickly and conveniently positioned abutment on the guide rails at the precise location desired for the fifth wheel carrier assembly sled runners.

This invention relates generally to fifth wheel assemblies for coupling semi-trailers to tractors. More particularly the invention relates to a method and apparatus for assisting the precise positionment of an adjustable fifth wheel carrier assembly.
Large highway freight trailers are usually coupled to an associated tractor by means of a fifth wheel assembly whereby the tractor rear drive axles directly support a portion of the trailer load burden. Usually, the fifth wheel couple and support point is located along the length of the tractor between the rear drive wheels and the front steering wheels thereby distributing the front trailer burden between the driver and the steering wheels. The exact percentage of load desirably placed upon the front steering wheels is a variable dependent upon many factors including the road surface, the tractor equipment, the weather, the weight of the trailer and the whim of the driver.
Some degree of control over these variables is provided by a fifth wheel receiver that is mounted on a slide carriage assembly. The carriage assembly is rail guided and includes an anchoring mechanism for securing the slidable assembly at the desired point along the tractor length between the driving and steering wheel axles.
Finding and setting the fifth wheel carriage assembly at the desired point can be tedious, time consuming, and frustrating. The general procedure is to lock the trailer brakes, release the fifth wheel carriage anchor mechanism, and then drive the tractor forward or reverse until the fifth wheel carriage is at the desired point whereupon the anchoring mechanism is reengaged to secure the fifth wheel carriage at the desired location. When the trailer is heavily loaded, stopping the tractor at the exact location desired for the fifth wheel assembly can be difficult.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to teach a method for precisely controlling the terminal point of a position changeable fifth wheel carriage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a small, conveniently carried, tool adapted for convenient positionment on a fifth wheel carriage slide rail rack as a selectively positionable abutment structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a position adjustable fifth wheel carriage assembly having convenient and rapid redistribution of trailer weight on the drive and steering axles of the tractor.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for adjusting the position of a fifth wheel slide carriage in one single, positively controlled movement of the tractor.


A preferred fire-rated dome housing assembly (10) is mountable in a space (12) formed between a ceiling (14) and a false ceiling (16) and having a height (20) as little as 8.9 cm. The housing assembly includes a housing (22) that is mountable through a hole (24) in the false ceiling, and is protected from heat by a thermal insulation blanket (32). Support straps (34) are attached to a ceiling ring (36) that surrounds the hole for securing the housing assembly to false ceiling supporting members (18). A spacing collar (50) is fastened to the ceiling ring by threaded spacers (52) that extend below the false ceiling. The housing protrudes below the false ceiling and includes a mounting flange (48) that is fastened to the spacing collar. A dome (62) is secured to the mounting flange. The housing assembly preferably encloses a video camera (102).

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to security systems, and more particularly to a fire-rated dome housing assembly for mounting a pivotable video security camera.
Dome housings for mounting video cameras employed in security systems typically include a metal housing portion and a plastic dome portion in which the housing portion is mountable through a hole in a ceiling and the dome portion is attached to the housing portion. In many installations, the ceiling is a dropped or false ceiling that is spaced apart from a structural ceiling by joists or other supporting members. The enclosed volumetric space between the structural ceiling, dropped ceiling, and adjacent supporting members often functions as an air plenum for a heating and air conditioning system.
However, there are disadvantages to currently available dome housings. The volumetric space or plenum height between the structural ceiling and the false ceiling can be as little as 8.9 cm (3.5 inch), which is less than the height of many metal housing portions. The dome housings typically mount by snap clips to the hole in the ceiling material, which is typically sheet rock or insulation panel material. At high temperatures, the combined mass of the dome housing and its enclosed device can cause a collapse of the false ceiling, thereby compromising the plenum air flow and the ceiling fire-rating.
Prior workers have addressed the ceiling collapse problem by providing metal straps for securing the housing to the joists or to the structural ceiling. For example, the model MP121/141 Recessed Housing manufactured by Videolarm of Decatur, Ga. meets fire codes and includes metal straps for securing the housing to joists. However, the MP121/141 housing is 17.9 cm (7.05 inches) high, which is too tall to fit in many air plenums.
What is needed, therefore, is a dome housing capable of being mounted in an 8.9 cm (3.5 inch) or higher volumetric space or plenum, forestalling ceiling collapse during a fire, and maintaining a ceiling fire rating.
An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a dome housing apparatus that can be mounted in an 8.9 cm (3.5 inch) or higher volumetric space or plenum.
Another object of this invention is to provide a dome housing apparatus that during a fire forestalls ceiling collapse.
A further object of this invention is to provide a dome housing apparatus that during a fire maintains the ceiling fire rating.
A preferred embodiment of a fire-rated dome housing assembly of this invention is mountable in a volumetric space formed between a structural ceiling and a false ceiling that is spaced apart from the structural ceiling by joists or supporting members. The false ceiling may be spaced apart from the structural ceiling by as little as about 8.9 cm (3.5 inch).
The housing assembly includes a housing that is mountable through a hole in the false ceiling, and is protected from heat by a thermal insulation blanket that encloses the portion of the housing that extends into the plenum. Support straps are attached to a ceiling ring that surrounds the hole for securing the housing assembly to the supporting members. The support straps pass between the ceiling ring and the false ceiling, and extend upward for attachment to the supporting members. The housing includes a lower portion that protrudes below the false ceiling and includes a mounting flange at its lower margin. Because the lower portion protrudes below the false ceiling, a spacing collar is fastened to the ceiling ring by threaded spacers that extend the protrusion distance below the false ceiling. The spacing collar is decorative and protects the housing from flame and heat.
A hemispherical LEXAN plastic dome-shaped cover piece (hereafter xe2x80x9cdomexe2x80x9d) is suspended by a trim ring that is secured to the mounting flange with tamper-resistant screws. The housing preferably encloses at least one electronic device, such as a video camera.
The housing assembly of this invention is advantageous because it meets the standard small-scale horizontal fire endurance test referred to as ASTM E119, mounts in a restricted height volumetric space or plenum, prevents false ceiling collapse in the event of a fire, and maintains a one-hour ceiling fire rating.
Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fire-rated dome housing for security cameras


An optical device includes a first region interfaced with a second region. The first region includes one or more surfaces that are formed using electron-beam lithography and the second region includes one or more surfaces that are formed using photolithography. A component crosses the interface and includes a first portion located in the first region and a second portion located in the second region. The component includes a light-signal carrying region that constrains light signals. The first portion includes a first taper that expands the light-signal carrying region as the component approaches the interface and the second portion includes a second taper that expands the light-signal carrying region as the component approaches the interface.

The use of optical and/or optoelectronic devices is increasing in communications applications. These devices are often chips having waveguides and other features. These features can be formed by etching the chip while a patterned mask is positioned on the device. The mask pattern often requires nanometer level resolution in order to reduce the optical loss associated with the chip. Photolithography and electron beam lithography are examples of methods for forming these masks.
Photolithography uses light in order to develop/pattern a photoresist that serves as the mask. As a result, photolithography is suitable for quickly patterning large regions of a mask. However, due to diffraction, the resolution of the photolithography can be below the desired levels. Electron beam lithography can provide higher levels of resolution due to the shorter wavelength electrons in the electron beam. However, the mask in electron beam lithography is formed by drawing the electron beam over an electron-beam resist (e-beam resist) by using the electron beam as a pen. As a result, using electron-beam lithography to pattern large regions of an electron-beam resist can take undesirably long periods of time. As a result, electron-beam lithography is often not suitable for fabrication of these devices.
For the above reasons, there is a need for methods of fabricating optical devices.

Forming optical device using multiple mask formation techniques


A developer unit is arranged with a replenish port for adding developer compound to the developer pan. The replenish port is arranged so that developer compound added to the replenish port falls through the port to an inclined ramp at one end of the developer pan. Further, the inclined ramp's angle of incline is arranged to exceed the developer compound's angle of repose. As a result, the added developer compound flows down the ramp and towards the agitator. The agitator, in turn, propels the developer compound towards the donor roll.

Developer units, also known as customer replaceable units or "CRU's", are known. Typically, developer units are arranged for mounting in a host printing machine to develop a latent image present on a photosensitive member. A typical developer unit comprises a donor roll (also known as a "mag roll") and contains a supply of developer compound, also known as "toner". The developer unit is arranged for supplying developer compound to the donor roll. The donor roll, in turn, is arranged to provide developer compound to the photosensitive member. Ultimately, the host printing machine produces copies of the developed latent image.
It is desirable for a developer unit to be capable of producing a large number of copies before its supply of developer compound becomes exhausted. As a result, it is thus advantageous for a developer unit to be capable of storing a large quantity of developer compound.
Once a developer unit's supply of developer compound is exhausted, the developer unit must be refilled or replenished with additional developer compound. Some developer units include a replenish port for purposes of replenishing by the user. With this arrangement, the user adds developer compound to the replenish port in order to replenish the developer unit with additional developer compound.
Typical developer units comprise internal agitators arranged to push or propel the developer compound to the donor roll. In large-capacity developer units, typically two (2) or more agitators are used in tandem. With a two-agitator developer unit design, for example, a first agitator is arranged for propelling developer compound to a second agitator. The second agitator, in turn, is arranged for propelling developer compound to the donor roll.
It is known that the developer unit business (industry) is very competitive. To gain competitive advantage, therefore, it is desirable to minimize the unit manufacturing cost of a developer unit. A developer unit's manufacturing cost is based on many cost factors, one key cost factor being the total number of components comprised by the developer unit. As a result, reducing the developer unit's total component count generally also will reduce the developer unit's manufacturing cost.
One cost limitation of a developer unit comprising multiple agitators, therefore, is the cost of the multiple agitator components. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a replenishable developer unit with one (1) agitator.
The problem, therefore, is how to reduce the number of agitators required in a replenishable developer unit, hopefully to a single (1) agitator.
As a result, there is a need for an improved replenishable developer unit.


A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a conductor including tungsten (W) or molybdenum (Mo); a first film provided between the conductor and the semiconductor substrate and including titanium (Ti) and silicon (Si); an insulating layer surrounding the conductor; and a second film provided between the conductor and the insulating layer, surrounding the conductor, and including titanium (Ti) and nitrogen (N). A first distance between the semiconductor substrate and an end portion of the second film on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate is smaller than a second distance between the semiconductor substrate and an end portion of the conductor on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate.

In a semiconductor device, for example, in order to electrically connect a semiconductor substrate and a wiring layer provided in an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a contact structure is provided. The contact structure connects the semiconductor substrate and the wiring layer to each other with a conductor provided in a contact hole formed in the insulating layer.
In order to reduce the resistance of the contact structure, for example, the inside of the contact hole is buried with a conductor to form a contact plug. In addition, in order to reduce the resistance of the contact structure, a metal silicide film is formed between the contact plug and the semiconductor substrate.

Semiconductor device, semiconductor memory device, and semiconductor device manufacturing method


A barbecue stove structure having a switch includes a support frame, multiple flow rate control valves, and multiple press plates. When the control knob is rotated, the drive rod of the flow rate control valve and the press plate may be rotated by the control knob, so that the contact and press portion of the press plate contacts and presses the signal receiving terminal of the switch, so that the control circuit of the electric power device may output a current to an igniter of each of the burner heads, so that each of the burner heads may ignite and burn.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a barbecue stove structure having a switch, and more particularly to a barbecue stove structure having a switch, wherein by provision of the press plate, the burner head may be ignited and burned easily by the switch of the barbecue stove structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional barbecue stove structure in accordance with the prior art comprises an ignition switch for igniting and burning the burner head of the barbecue stove structure. However, the ignition efficiency of the ignition switch is not excellent. In addition, the ignition switch has a complicated construction and a short lifetime, thereby increasing the cost of production.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional barbecue stove structure.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a barbecue stove structure having a switch, wherein by provision of the press plate, the burner head may be ignited and burned easily by the switch of the barbecue stove structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a barbecue stove structure having a switch, wherein by provision of the press plate, the parts of the switch of the barbecue stove structure may be simplified, so that the ignition switch may be assembled easily, and may decrease the cost of production.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a barbecue stove structure having a switch, wherein by provision of the contact and press portion of the press plate, the contact time of the press plate and the switch may be prolonged, thereby enhancing the ignition efficiency.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a barbecue stove structure having a switch, wherein by provision of the two wings of the press plate, the press plate may contact with and detach from the switch easily and rapidly, thereby enhancing the ignition efficiency.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a barbecue stove structure having a switch, comprising a support frame, multiple flow rate control valves, and multiple press plates, wherein;
the support frame is provided with a control zone for mounting an electric power device and multiple flow rate control valves, multiple burner heads are mounted in the support frame, the electric power device is provided with a control circuit for controlling output of the current of the electric power device, each of the multiple flow rate control valves is provided with a drive rod which has a distal end formed with a locking groove, each of the multiple press plates has a circular lower portion formed with a circular locking hole, and a planar upper portion formed with a contact and press portion which is provided with two opposite wings, the drive rod of each of the multiple flow rate control valves is in turn provided with a fixing plate, a press plate, an elastic member and a snap ring, and is secured with a control knob, the fixing plate of each of the multiple flow rate control valves has a top secured with a switch which includes an output terminal, and a signal receiving terminal, the electric power device has a signal line connected to the output terminal of the switch of each of the multiple flow rate control valves, so that the switches of the multiple flow rate control valves may be serially connected with each other;
when the control knob is rotated, the drive rod of the flow rate control valve and the press plate may be rotated by the control knob, so that the contact and press portion of the press plate contacts and presses the signal receiving terminal of the switch, so that the control circuit of the electric power device may output a current to an igniter of each of the burner heads, so that each of the burner heads may ignite and burn.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Barbecue stove structure having a switch