An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.

1. Field
The present invention relates to the field of auctions and, in particular, networked systems for conducting specialty auctions using computers.
2. Background
An important goal of anyone attempting to sell the right to attend an event, to own a product, or to perform an activity is to receive in return for that right the true market value of the right. For some rights, the market values of similar rights are all equal. For example, under normal conditions, the fair market value of two identical radios, both of the same brand and model, is the same. Thus, if a consumer were given the opportunity to purchase the right to obtain one of the radios instead of the other, there would typically be no incentive for the consumer to pay for that right. Therefore, the market value of the rights to obtain the radios are equal. However, the relative market values of some rights to similar products, services, or events are not the same, but are dependent upon a difference in some characteristic of the rights. For example, when purchasing tickets to a concert, although each of two tickets may allow the holder to see the same performer, on the same night, in the same venue, the market values of those tickets differ depending upon the location of the ticket within the venue. Therefore, the market value of the right to sit in a particular seat at a concert depends at least in part upon the characteristic of the proximity of the seat to center stage.
The right to perform an activity, or obtain a product, or attend an event wherein the difference between the market value of the right and the market value of another similar right is dependent upon the difference in some characteristic of the rights shall be referred to herein as a "priority right". A ticket is one example of a priority right used throughout the specification. However, it is to be understood that tickets are not the only priority rights applicable to the present invention.
Too often, the established methods of selling priority rights do not result in prices for these rights that are equal to their true market value. Therefore, these established methods are incapable of maximizing the revenue of those selling priority rights.
For some priority rights, the manner in which differences in the pertinent characteristic affect the market value of the right are apparent. For instance, for most sports or concert performances, the market value of the ticket rights, i.e., the right to sit in a particular seat at a particular event, is greater if the seat is closer to the stage. Thus, it may be relatively easy for a seller to rank the ticket rights prior to any sale of the rights. However, for other priority rights, although the characteristic that affects the market value of the right may itself be obvious, the manner in which variance in the characteristic affects the market value is not apparent. For example, when an individual wishes to purchase the right to play a round of golf at a particular course, the time that the round begins will likely affect the amount that the individual is willing to pay. The golfer may wish to be the first to tee off and would be willing to pay more for such a time than for any other. On the other hand, the golfer may have another commitment in the morning and be interested only in tee times in the afternoon. Therefore, the amount the individual would be willing to pay for a time in the afternoon varies greatly from the amount for a time in the morning. Due to this variability in consumer preference, any ranking of the rights to play a round of golf at particular times on a particular day by the owner of the golf course may not result in sales prices for these rights that are equal to their true market values. Therefore, a system is needed whereby the true market values of all priority rights can be achieved, including both those rights with relative values that can be easily pre-ranked and those rights with relative market values dependent upon consumer preferences that are difficult to discern prior to the commencement of sales.
Types of Priority Rights
As discussed above, the right to sit in a particular seat for a particular event is a priority right wherein the market value of similar rights can be ranked prior to the sale of the rights, by ordering the seats in large part according to their proximity to center stage. The current manner of selling the right to sit in a particular seat for a particular event involves selling tickets to the event. However, the established method of selling tickets to sporting and entertainment events involves pre-setting inflexible prices and then releasing the tickets for sale at a box office or by phone. This method has a number of shortcomings. Typically, each sale involves employees taking time-consuming individual orders and trying to describe the prices and seat locations to customers. Another shortcoming with this method is that it can be highly inconvenient and sometimes impossible for the purchaser to access the sale due to demand. This is especially true for premium or "high demand" events. Moreover, for practical reasons, prices are assigned to tickets in large blocks, while, in reality, purchasers often consider tickets within a block to have a wide ranging continuum of values; and these market values can be very hard to estimate before the tickets are sold. Largely because of these shortcomings, many premium tickets are sold for substantially less than their market value. Generally, these shortcomings exist even with new automated methods involving phone or Internet sales since the number of tickets is limited and the selling system is still fundamentally the same; with "first-come-first-served" orders taken for pre-priced tickets.
Another priority right with a relative market value that can be fairly easily determined prior to sale is the right to obtain a product for which the market demand far exceeds the supply. Occasionally, a manufacturer underestimates the demand for its product and thus creates too few units for the product's initial market release. Examples of this occurrence in the recent past include the Cabbage Patch Kids™ doll, the Tickle-Me Elmo™ doll, and the Sony PlayStation 2™ video game system. When such a situation exists, the manufacturer generally maintains a fixed selling price and offers the products on a "first-come-first-served" basis. The manufacturer not only loses revenue from the sales it could have made if it had produced more units, but it also loses revenue by selling the units it did produce at a price below their true market value. This difference between the original sales price and the market value is typically realized by an entity other than the manufacturer, e.g. one who buys the product and then resells it at a higher price. The pertinent characteristic that determines the market value of such highly desired products is the time of availability of the product to the consumer. In other words, a consumer would pay more to have the first product off the assembly line than to have the five-hundredth. Therefore, a system is needed so that when a manufacturer realizes that it has produced too few of a highly desired product, the manufacturer may maximize its revenue on those products by selling them at their true market value.
Other priority rights with market values that can be ranked prior to their sale are rights to obtain services wherein the value of those rights are dependent upon the order in which the services are received. For example, many consumers hire companies or individuals to remove snow from their property after an accumulation of snow. However, the value of this service is dependent upon the time at which the service is performed and, therefore, is dependent upon the order in which the properties are serviced. For instance, a consumer would likely be willing to pay more to be the first serviced after the accumulation of snow has stopped than to be the twentieth to receive the same service. Therefore, a system is needed wherein this discrepancy in market value may be realized by the provider of the service.
Another example of a service with a market value dependent upon the order of its performance is admittance through a toll booth. Currently, the administrator of a toll booth receives a set price for each vehicle that passes through the toll booth. That price is often dependent upon the type of vehicle, but the price does not reflect the true market value of the right to pass through the booth. The true market value depends upon how quickly the consumer is able to pass through the booth, i.e., the consumer's order in the line at the toll booth. Therefore, a system is required whereby the price of the right to pass through a toll booth is dependent upon the order in which the consumer is allowed to pass through the toll area.
Another right for which the current sales system does not return the true market value of the right is the right to obtain a certain numbered product of a limited edition series of products. For example, a popular artist may sell only 100 prints of one of her paintings. The current established method for such sales is offering all of the prints for sale at a set, inflexible price on a "first-come-first-served" basis. However, this sales approach may not achieve the full market value for all of the prints. Many consumers may be willing to pay more for the first numbered print than for the fiftieth. Therefore, because only one price is set for all of the prints, many of the prints are likely being sold at a price below their true market value. Also, by basing the availability of the prints upon "first-come-first-served." the additional profit that could be gained by selling a print to one who comes later but is willing to pay more is lost. Because the lower the number on the limited edition item, the higher its value, the relative market values of the rights to obtain items with different numbers can be determined prior to any sales activity. A system is needed whereby the true market value of limited edition items may be realized by the seller of the items.
Other markets in which the priority rights that are sold are often purchased for less than their market value are those markets containing products whose true market value depends on the product's location. For example, the rights to stay in cabins on cruise ships or hotel rooms or bungalows in vacation resorts are often assigned a sales price based on the amenities available in the room. However, among rooms containing the same amenities, the true market value of the right to stay in each room may differ depending upon the distance from the room to some desired location, such as a pool, beach, or lounge. The established method for determining the price of the right to stay in such rooms is to simply set a fixed price and make the rooms available on a "first-come-first-served" basis. A system is needed whereby the market values of these priority rights, which can be ranked according to the distance from some desired attraction or attractions, can be fully realized.
Another characteristic which determines the value of some priority rights is the time of entry into some venue. The established methods for selling these priority rights are not capable of garnering the full market value of the rights. For example, theme parks, such as Disneyland™ and Busch Gardens™, sell tickets at an inflexible price for a day's admission to the park. However, the actual time of admission to the park on any particular day is generally determined by how early the patron is willing to arrive at the park to stand in line. An earlier time of admission is desired by many patrons because the most popular attractions at theme parks often fill up quickly and maintain long lines for the entire day. The desirability of early admission is evidenced by the current practice of some theme parks, such as Walt Disney World™ in Orlando, Fla., which allow customers who stay at resorts affiliated with the theme park to enter the park earlier than customers who do not. However, this practice consists of allowing all patrons of the affiliated resort to enter the park at a set time, such as one hour prior to the admittance of the general public. This practice does not maximize the profit that may be obtained by the selling of these rights. Some of those customers who stay at the affiliated resorts may be willing to pay more to enter the park before other affiliated resort patrons. Further, this system does not account for the profit that could be gained by allowing members of the general public to purchase the right to enter the park at a time prior to other members of the general public. The relative value of these rights can be easily ranked, with earlier times of admittance having higher market values.
Another priority right with a market value dependent upon location, but for which pre-ranking of the relative market values may not gamer the true market value of the rights, is the right to sit at a particular table in a restaurant. A patron is likely to pay more to obtain a table closer to a window, for example, and is likely to pay less for a table close to the kitchen. However, individual patrons may prefer one window view to another or may desire to sit at a table in a corner for more privacy. Therefore, a complete, objective ranking of such rights to sit at a particular table may not be entirely accurate. There is a need for a system which would enable the seller of these rights to obtain their full market value.
As discussed above, the right to begin a round of golf at a particular time is a priority right for which the relative market values of related rights are difficult to determine prior to the sale of the rights. The tee time itself is the pertinent characteristic that determines the relative values of the rights to begin rounds of golf throughout a particular day. However, it is unclear prior to the sale of the rights which times are most desired by individuals wishing to play golf that day. The established method for determining tee times at a golf course is to set an inflexible price for playing a certain number of holes and then offering tee times on a "first come first served" basis. At premier golf courses, the system may be slightly different, requiring consumers to stay at a particular resort or be a member of an association in order to purchase a round of golf. However, even within these premier systems, the tee times are generally offered on a "first-come-first-serve-d" basis. These systems fail to garner the most profit for the golf course owners because individuals who attempt to reserve tee times after all the times have been reserved may be willing to pay more than the owner has currently received for a particular time. Also, some individuals may prefer to tee off at certain times of the day and, therefore, would be willing to pay more for the right to tee off at those times. For example, a golfer may wish to be the first person to tee off on a particular day, or a golfer may wish to tee off later in the afternoon to avoid the heat of the day and to view the sunset on the golf course. Therefore, the current system for selling golf tee times is sub-optimal because it does not account for individuals who would pay more to play at a particular time or for individuals who attempt to make reservations after all tee times have been reserved.
Another priority right with a relative value dependent upon individual consumer preference and, therefore, difficult to rank prior to a sale is the right to sit in a particular seat to view a movie in a theater. When viewing a movie, many individuals prefer to sit in the exact middle of the theater. However, others, such as those with small children, may wish to sit on an aisle, and others may prefer seats in the back of the theater. Therefore, the market value of the right to sit in a particular seat is not determined by some easy calculation, such as the distance from the center of the screen, but is dependent upon each potential movie-goer's personal preferences. The current system of selling tickets to the movie and then allowing admission on a "first-come-first-served" basis does not garner the full market value of the right to view the movie in a particular seat. Therefore, a system is needed whereby the full market value of the right to sit in a particular seat to see a particular movie at a particular time can be recognized by the theater owner.
Some priority rights are unique in that it may be relatively easy in one situation to determine the relative market value of related rights prior to their sale while in another situation it is very difficult. One example of such a priority right is the right to view an art exhibit. For highly anticipated art exhibits, many individuals would be willing to pay a premium for the right to be one of the first to view the exhibit. Therefore, the true market value of the right to enter the art exhibit is not being achieved by the current system of either issuing select invitations to a premiere night or simply allowing admission to ticket holders on a "first-come-first-served" basis. In this situation, the priority rights could easily be pre-ranked with the earliest time of admittance being the most valuable. Thus, a system is needed whereby the exhibit organizer may realize the full market value of the right to view such an exhibit.
However, on any day after the opening day of an art exhibit, the relative values of different times of admittance may vary more widely due to the schedules of potential viewers. For example, one individual may be willing to view the exhibit late in the afternoon because work precludes any other time of attendance. Therefore, to that individual, the right to view the exhibit in the late afternoon is more valuable than the right to view it in the morning. The current system of selling tickets for an art exhibit does not account for this variance in market value due to individual viewers' preferences. Therefore, there is a need for a system that does yield the full market value of the rights sold.
Priority Right Auctioning System Options
In selling priority rights where the relative market values of the priority rights can be easily pre-ranked, there also exists a need for a system that can allow the purchaser to override the pre-ranking to denote the purchaser's own personal preference. For example, although seats in the front row at a concert are widely regarded as the best seats and would be pre-ranked as the seats with the highest relative market value, an individual may wish to sit on the side of the stage to be near a particular member of the performing group. If that individual was willing to pay handsomely for the right to sit in a seat on the side, but not one in front of the stage, then the full market value of the right to sit in a seat on the side of the stage would only be captured by a system which allowed the individual to denote his own ranking of desired seats. Also, a bidder may be willing to pay a premium for the right to sit in the first few rows but not for the right to sit in all the seats in a section specified by the seller of the rights. Therefore, a system is needed whereby a bidder may personally designate one or more priority rights and then offer to pay up to a certain amount for those rights.
Additionally, when purchasing priority rights consumers often wish to designate alternative bids. For example, an individual who wished to purchase the right to sit in a seat at an event may only be interested in sitting in the first few rows if it would cost below a particular price. If that person's bid was unsuccessful for that section of priority rights, however, he may be willing to sit in one of a group of seats in another location for some lesser amount of money. The current method of selling priority rights does not accommodate this desire by the consuming public to designate individually-tailored alternative priority right bids. Therefore, there is a need for a system that satisfies this desire.
Shortcomings of Current Auctioning Systems
Logistically, auctioning of priority rights has not always been feasible due to the large quantity of unique rights and even larger quantity of buyers wishing to purchase them. A few auction systems have been developed that operate using the Internet as the communications mode. These systems have been used to auction items such as computer equipment, artwork, and special items for charity. However, these systems are not suitable for use in connection with a real-time mass auction of priority rights. With the currently operating systems, generally the items being sold are of a small quantity or individually unique. In most of the currently operating systems, the items for sale are individually listed and individually bid upon using e-mail over a period of days or weeks. While, the currently operating systems are useful for such limited purposes, they have several shortcomings.
One such shortcoming arises from the use of e-mail to place bids and to update participants of their bid status. While in theory e-mail is instantaneous, there are occasional routing delays of which the sender is often not immediately aware. In an auction of a slow, deliberate nature such as those presently operating, this is not a great concern. However, in a fast pace auction with numerous participants some bids could be lost as delayed, e-mail, unbeknownst to the participant.
An additional problem with the e-mail approach is that time may elapse before the bid information is read and applied. Therefore, the participant may not get instantaneous feedback on other bids which may be taking place simultaneously. The participant often must wait for some period of time to learn if the bid is successful. If the participant has a strategy for bidding on a very desirable item, the participant must return to the auction numerous times to follow its progression.
Most currently operating systems provide some general bid status data, usually a minimal amount of information such as "current" high bid. This "current" high bid is updated by periodically reviewing the bids received, and entering the highest bid to date. Therefore, these "current" bids are not current up to the second. Moreover, if there are many of a particular item, such as event tickets or golf tee times having a continuum of values, participants need to know considerably more than the high bid information in order to make an informed bidding decision.
Currently operating systems do not provide bid status information updates independent of solicitation of the information from participants. Once the Internet auction site is accessed, the information conveyed may become outdated as it is being viewed. Again this would be quite unfavorable for fast-paced auctions. Therefore, even with auction sites which were actually being updated real-time, a participant would need to continually re-access the site in order to keep information truly updated.
One Internet auction system, "onsale" at http://www.onsale.com/ attempts to overcome the e-mail auction problems by automatically updating its Internet site. However, like the other Internet auction sites, "onsale" conducts relatively slow, deliberate sales, and still relies on e-mail to transmit some of the bid information. In addition, although the "onsale" auction site is automatically updated, it does not automatically present this information to participants. As explained above, participants need to continually re-access the site in order to keep information truly updated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,928 details an auction system for used cars that is capable of interactive, essentially real-time auctioning. Instead of being Internet based, this used car auctioning system is constructed with a 4-level hierarchy of computers networked to a plurality of auto dealers terminals. At each level, the bids received by the computer are processed and only select bids are transmitted to the next level. The bids are raised in increments of 3000 yen and the participants may bid via a single signal indicating a "yes" in response to the bid being raised. This system is based on the traditional auction format, and is used to sell one item or lot at a time. When a car has been auctioned, a disc is loaded by each dealer into his terminal which shows the photograph of the next car to be auctioned. Bidding is limited to a predetermined group of auto dealers. Because the structure of this system is hierarchical, i.e. not on the Internet, it is not practical for use in wide-spread auctions available to consumers. Because of the methodical nature of this system, selling a progression of single items with incremented bids, it is geared for low volume sales of items with relatively high values.
Recently tickets have been made available for purchase on the Internet, for example at http://www.ticketmaster.com and http://www.tickets.com. However, at these Internet sites, sales are of the traditional pre-set pricing, "first-come-first-served" format. Some Internet sites do offer tickets in an auction format, but only a few tickets to select events sold by individuals who have purchased the tickets and are attempting to resell them. Examples of such sites are http://www.ebay.com, http://auctions.yahoo.com, http://www.allsoldout.com, and http://www.busyrhino.com.
Considering the selling of a large number of priority rights, there are unique circumstances which present challenges not manifested in selling other types of rights. Since the values of priority rights vary widely depending upon the difference in a pertinent characteristic, it is not practical to mass the priority rights into simple generic blocks to be auctioned. Nor is it practical to list and auction each priority right individually, since this could present auction participants with a prohibitively large number of individual auctions, and no practical way to obtain contiguous priority rights. In other words, if a bidder wished to purchase the right to sit in four adjacent seats at a show or movie, and the right to sit in each seat was sold in a separate auction, it would be virtually impossible for the bidder to monitor every combination of four adjacent seats and make appropriate bids. Accordingly, there exists a need for a system which can, within a single, clear format, auction a large number of rights with a continuum of values, each at its market price. Furthermore, this system needs to apply logic in sorting bids based not only on price, but on clustering requirements to ensure that within a multiple priority right bid, the priority rights are contiguous. This would require a database configuration unlike that employed by the prior art.
Moreover, given the furious pace of sales for many premium priority rights, there exists the unique and as yet, unmet challenge of providing instant, automatic, comprehensive feedback for the status of a relatively complex arrangement of standing bids. Frequently the more popular sporting and entertainment events sell all available tickets in a matter of a few minutes. The number of tickets to these events may reach into the hundreds of thousands. A practicable auction of priority rights for such an event would require a system uniquely designed to process this large volume while presenting an updated, clear and informative view of the proceedings to all participants. It would be logical to presume that efficient conveyance of bid information for a large, complex pattern of bids would require a graphical representation of the bid standings. Although some Internet auctions employ graphical representation of objects for sale, none employ graphical representation of bid status.
Another need for on-line auction systems is a method of convincing bidders to place their bids early instead of waiting to bid at the last minute before the auction closes. As mentioned previously, on-line auctions are typically conducted over a set period of time. With these systems, bidders often wait until the last possible second before auction closing to place their bids in an attempt to block subsequent bidders from making higher bids. Such actions by bidders not only keeps the price of the auctioned item undesirably low, but sometimes results in a large quantity of bids just before auction closing which the on-line system is not capable of handling. Thus, it would be advantageous for an on-line auction system that provides incentives for bidders to place their bids early in the auction rather than waiting until the last minute.
In addition, ticket auction participants occasionally need to have two or more mutually exclusive ticket purchase options available to them. Ticket purchase decisions are often made based on price and availability of seats having acceptable locations. Even the number of tickets a consumer wishes to order may be dependent on price. For example, a consumer may desire two front row tickets if they are within his budget, otherwise he desires four tickets in a different location within budget, otherwise he desires ten tickets anywhere available within budget. But with auctions of pre-ranked seats, some such information cannot be known until the auction has ended, unless the auction close is phased-out from the best to the worst seats. There exists a need to make solutions available in the form of mutually exclusive, prioritized bids simultaneously entered by a consumer in a ticket auction.
In addition, not all ticket auction customers will agree with the exact seat pre-ranking assigned for an auction. For example, a race fan may prefer seats behind his favorite driver's pit stop. An older fan at an arena concert may wish to be as close as possible without being on the floor, where he assumes fans will stand during much of the show. Again, there exists a need for mutually exclusive, simultaneous prioritized bidding in order to provide this flexibility to fans.
Another shortcoming of currently established methods for selling tickets and other priority rights is their inability to reap for the priority right seller the dramatic increases in market value of priority rights immediately prior to their usage. For example, in the days immediately preceding a popular concert or movie premiere, the market value of tickets to those events typically increase dramatically as publicity increases and the public focuses on the event. However, because a large percentage of the public must plan their schedules far in advance, it is not feasible to only sell tickets to these events in the few days before the event occurs. Therefore, tickets are sold months in advance and popular events sell out before the true market value of the rights to attend the event can be determined. A system is needed that permits individuals to reserve priority rights a sufficient amount of time in advance but that also garners for the priority right seller the full market value of those rights.
A potential negative effect of a system that places primary emphasis upon the maximum amount of money an individual is willing to pay for a particular right is that less affluent members of the consuming public will be unable to procure desired priority rights. Under current established methods for selling priority rights which offer rights on a "first-come-first-served" basis, individuals of limited means may still purchase rights if they are willing to stand in line for an extended period of time. Also, a system that only seeks the highest profit margin in priority rights sales would not permit special treatment of certain bidders, such as alumni group members, company employees, or frequent purchasers. Such special treatment may be important to the public image of a priority right seller, and, thus, its long-term economic success. Therefore, there is a need for a priority right sales system that may be modified to favor members of a selected group, such as those of limited means or company employees.
Additionally, to achieve the full market value of a group of priority rights, the administrator of a priority right sales system must be equipped with certain statistical information regarding the progress of the sale. Therefore, a system for selling priority rights should be capable of real-time statistical analysis to aid the system administrator in regulating the system to achieve optimal results.
In spite of their shortcomings, the above mentioned prior art systems are useful for their respective intended purposes. However, given their limitations, and the above noted unique circumstances for mass priority right sales, it is simply not practical or feasible to apply any of the prior art to the particular task of auctioning a large volume of priority rights.

Computer-based right distribution system with password protection


An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a portion of the space, at least one window treatment for at least one opening for allowing daylight into the space, the window treatment selectively altering the amount of daylight entering the space, a plurality of electric lamps providing artificial light to supplement the daylight illumination of the space; the electric lamps being dimmable, a control system controlling the at least one window treatment and the plurality of electric lamps to maintain the desired illumination profile in the space, the control system controlling the plurality of electric lamps so that the dimming level of each lamp is adjusted to achieve the desired lighting profile and compensate for the daylight illumination in the space throughout at least the portion of the day; and the control system further operating to adjust the window treatment in the event of sun glare through the opening to reduce the sun glare and such that when the desired illumination profile within a defined tolerance is achieved, the control system stops varying the dimming levels of the lamps and the adjustment of the at least one window treatment.

The present invention relates to a system to provide sufficient and comfortable lighting within a space. In particular, the invention relates to a system for the automatic control of the light levels in a space by the control of the intensity of electric lighting and/or daylight in a space. In particular, in one embodiment, the present invention is directed to the control of the lighting level in a space, such as an interior room, by controlling both the artificial light in the space by control of the intensity of electric lighting in the space and the control of motorized window treatments in the space in order to achieve a reasonably constant illumination on task surfaces throughout the space. In addition, the invention is directed to a system to reduce or prevent sun glare, which can potentially occur at low sun angles due to sunshine through windows or other openings, e.g., skylights, surrounding the space. Such a condition is likely to occur at or near sunset or sunrise.
Further, the invention is directed to the control of electric lighting in a space in multiple zones of the space to achieve a preset lighting profile in the space. A "lighting profile" represents a desired distribution of target illumination values in various portions of the space. Additionally, the invention is directed to the control of window treatments such as shades based on light levels in the interior of the space so as to maintain a predefined illumination profile in the space and/or to minimize or eliminate sun glare through openings into the space. Further, the invention is directed to a system which performs the three functions of controlling electric lighting in the space, controlling natural lighting in the space in order to achieve a predefined illumination profile and minimizing or eliminating sun glare into the pace. The invention is thus directed to an illumination maintenance system for achieving a predefined illumination profile in a space where the light is provided by natural light or artificial light or both and further where sun glare is optionally minimized or eliminated.
One of the major problems of illumination maintenance systems, and in particular, closed loop (feedback) illumination maintenance systems, is the variation of incident light at the sensor or sensors employed for detecting the incident light due to occupants moving in the space or some other type of variation of surface reflections in the space. One of the prior art approaches to solve this problem is to average the illumination readings from multiple light level sensors. Another approach is to position or orient the field of view of the sensors such that the sensors are not influenced by the occupant traffic or other short or long term variations of the optical properties of the environment.
Further, open loop systems have been developed for illumination maintenance and daylight harvesting but such open loop systems are not suitable for window treatment control implemented based on the interior light sensors because when a shading or window treatment device is closed, access to exterior lighting conditions is prevented or restricted.
Currently available commercial solutions for daylight control of window treatments are mostly based on exterior light sensors and predictive control algorithms. Exterior light sensors cause maintenance problems and require exterior wiring. Predictive control schemes are difficult to configure. Usually a long process of measurements and computer or mechanical model simulations must be performed before the control system can be correctly configured.
Further, a conventional approach that attempts to solve the glare problem due to sunshine entering through windows at a low sun angle utilizes some form of open loop control of window treatments. In these systems, the algorithms are usually based on the use of exterior photosensors. These conventional systems employ a combination of strategies based on the exterior light level readings and a time clock in order to derive the required shade positions. A study of the expected lighting conditions is regularly performed in order to predict the times when the glare incidents are likely to occur. Some of the problems with this type of control are that it demands maintenance of exterior photo sensors exposed to the elements and there are problems with wiring and/or mounting sensors continuously exposed to the outside lighting conditions. Furthermore, preparation and creation of complex databases is required to define the lighting conditions for each space of a building throughout a year for large buildings, which is time consuming and expensive. Further, these systems require control database modifications in case exterior shading objects are added such as new buildings or plants and further, the controls cannot be fully optimized for each space of a large building and therefore do not result in optimal occupant comfort and energy savings.

System to control daylight and artificial illumination and sun glare in a space


This disclosure presents methods and systems to perform fairway analysis on a computing system to automate tasks. The automation of the fairway analysis can reduce bias and uncertainty introduced by a user using their own set of assumptions, estimations, and preferred sequencing of rules and algorithms. The described processes can receive initial input parameters describing the area of interest (AOI) and a geological age range. The processes can retrieve appropriate geological and stratigraphic parameters using the initial input parameters. The combined input parameters can then be geoprocessed using age-aware rules and a determined sequence of algorithms and rules to generate synthesized geological data that can be upscaled and transformed into one or more chance maps indicating the presence and effectiveness of various hydrocarbon elements. The chance maps can be amalgamated and processed to produce a prospective map indicating the likelihood of success of further exploration of the specified AOI.

It is important in the hydrocarbon production industry to locate new reservoirs of hydrocarbons where extraction can be profitable. Exploring areas of interest (AOI) by drilling sample wells can be costly, especially in off shore environments. Conventionally, various types of chance maps and proxy maps are created by a user, such as a geoscientist, to represent a likelihood of success of further exploration of an AOI. These chance maps are subject to user bias, user estimations, and the methodology and sequencing of algorithms and rules applied by the user. This can make comparing chance maps created by different users subject to higher uncertainties. In addition, the time taken by a user to generate a prospective map from the subterranean formation data can take days, weeks, and months depending on the complexity and assumptions made. A more consistent process for developing chance maps and prospective maps would be beneficial to hydrocarbon explorations.


A method of data transmission is provided. The method uses a differential data reverse signal to implement the differential data signal so that the number of the signal transitions can be effectively reduced in order to keep up with the data transmission rate. Further, because of using the differential data signals and the differential data reverse signal, the power consumption and the EMI can also be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a method of transmitting data, and more particularly to a method of transmitting data which reduces electro-magnetic interference and power consumption.
2. Description of Related Art
Data transmission is generally performed by a transmitter and a receiver. When transmitting data, the transmitter sends the data to the receiver. For example, in a liquid crystal display (LCD), a transmitter and receiver pair may include the panel controller (i.e., the transmitter) and source driver (i.e., the receiver). The panel controller will send the data to the source driver and the source driver will receive the data from the panel controller.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional data transmission scheme. Referring to FIG. 1, the transmitter 102 sends a plurality of data signals (Data Signal 1, Data Signal 2, . . . Data Signal N) to the receiver 104 and the receiver 104 will receive the data signals (Data Signal 1, Data Signal 2, . . . Data Signal N). Currently, most data signals are transistor-transistor logic (TTL) signals; the high level voltage of the TTL signals is about 3.5V; the low level voltage of the TTL signals is about0V. Hence, when transmitting the data signals (Data Signal 1, Data Signal 2, . . . Data Signal N), the data signals will suffer serious electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and require more power consumption, since EMI and power consumption are proportional to the voltage level of the data signals.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another conventional data transmission scheme. Compared to FIG. 1, the data transmission in FIG. 2 transmits differential data signals (Data Signal 1±, Data Signal 2±, . . . Data Signal N±) rather than the data signals (Data Signal 1, Data Signal 2, . . . Data Signal N) to reduce the EMI and power consumption. Because the voltage level of the differential data signals is lower than that of the data signals, the data transmission in FIG. 2 can reduce the EMI and power consumption.
Although the use of the differential data signals can reduce the EMI and power consumption, however when the transmission rate gets higher and a significant amount of differential data signals are in transition, the EMI and power consumption are still unacceptable. Therefore, when the transmission rate is getting higher, how to reduce the EMI and power consumption becomes an important issue.


An ion conductive material containing a compound which comprises a resonance structure group which contains an atom of the Vb group in the Periodic Table serving as an anionic site and is bonded to an electron attractive organic group through an atom of the VIb group in the Periodic Table, and a counter ion selected from the group consisting of metal ions and a hydrogen ion. This material is useful as an electrolyte of a cell since it is excellent in high voltage stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ion conductive material and an electrochemical device comprising the same. In particular, the present invention relates to an ion conductive material which is excellent in a high voltage stability such as an electrolyte, and an electrochemical device such as a cell, an electrolytic system, an electrochemical sensor, and so on.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since an electrochemical device which is represented by a manganese dioxide-lithium cell can generate a high voltage of about 3 V and has a high energy density, the demand therefor is increasing. Recently, a lithium ion secondary cell using LiCoO.sub.2 and carbon has been developed, and the demand therefor has been greatly increased, since it can generate a high voltage of about 3.6 V.
Hitherto, as an electrolyte of such type of the cell, a perchlorate compound such as LiCIO.sub.4 is used, but it is less used recently because of the problem of safety. It has been proposed to improve the safety and reliability of the device by dispersing various lithium salts including above LiCIO.sub.4 in a polymer such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) to form a solid ion conductive material. However, the formation of the solid ion conductive material will decrease the ion conductivity considerably.
It has been proposed to use an organic lithium salt such as LiB(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4, LiCF.sub.3 SO.sub.3, LiCF.sub.3 CO.sub.2, LiN(CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2, LiC(CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.3, etc. as an electrolyte instead of LiCIO.sub.4.
But, above LiB(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4 has problems that it has insufficient high voltage stability, and its storage stability is low depending on a kind of a solvent. In addition, an electrolytic solution comprising a solution of LiB(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4 dissolved in an organic solvent (a liquid ion conductive material) is discolored during storage, or some kind of the solvent is polymerized. As a result, the performance of the cell comprising such electrolytic solution decreases during the storage.
The organic lithium salts such as LiCF.sub.3 SO.sub.3, LiCF.sub.3 CO.sub.2, LiN(CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2, LiC(CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.3, etc. have better safety than LiCIO.sub.4, but have problems that oxidation stability is poor, stability at a high voltage is low, and ion conductivity is low, Additionally, they may not be used together with some materials of electrode collectors, and they are expensive.

Ion conductive material and electrochemical device comprising the same


An aircraft simulation system comprising a user interface and a simulator in communication with the user interface. The user interface is configured to interact with an operator. The simulator is configured to generate a representation of controls in an aircraft that are visible from a current field of view identified by the user interface. The simulator is further configured to display the representation of the controls on the user interface. The simulator is further configured to identify interaction by the operator with the controls from user input received by the user interface. The simulator is further configured to record a sequence of performed operations from the interaction with the controls.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft and, in particular, to operating aircraft. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for training operators to perform a sequence of operations for a task for operating an aircraft.
2. Background
In learning to operate an aircraft, pilots go through flight training. Flight training is a course of study that may include various types of training. For example, pilots may attend classroom lessons, use flight simulators, and fly aircraft under the supervision of experienced pilots. Flight training may be performed for new pilots learning to fly an aircraft or for experienced pilots learning to fly a new aircraft.
Part of learning to operate an aircraft includes learning a sequence of operations to perform a task. This sequence of operations may take the form of a flow, a procedure, a memory item, and other types of tasks. Some sequences of operations may be short and straight forward, while other sequences of operations may be longer and more complex.
Currently, pilots learn flows, procedures, memory items, and other tasks using paper materials. For example, a pilot may use a poster of an aircraft in which the poster is a mock-up of controls in the cockpit of the aircraft. The pilot may sit in a chair and visualize manipulating the different controls depicted on the poster to perform flows and procedures.
For example, a pilot may take a sheet of paper with a list of operations for a memory item for an engine fire. This list is used by the pilot with a paper mock-up of aircraft panels to go through the list of operations. This list of operations includes, for example, identifying the affected engine, pulling the thrust lever, moving the start/stop selector to "stop", pulling the fire extinguishing handle, and other operations.
The pilot performs this sequence of operations for the memory item by reading the operations and placing the pilot's hands over the item on the poster. This type of practice, however, does not provide a desired level of interaction with the controls. Oftentimes, a transition from this type of mock-up to a simulator may be difficult.
Although this type of practice may help a pilot remember the sequence of operations to perform for a flow, procedure, or memory item, this type of learning is often more time-consuming than desired. For example, many pilots may learn sequences of procedures faster when actually manipulating controls in the cockpit to perform the sequence of operations for a task. Repetition of this type of movement in a cockpit setting allows for a pilot to eventually perform the sequence of operations more quickly, and/or with less thought or concentration.
In flight training, a full flight simulator may be used to artificially recreate flight in various aspects of the flight environment. This type of flight simulator provides a physical replica of the cockpit with different controls that may be touched and manipulated by the pilot. Manipulation of these controls provides feedback that would occur if the controls were manipulated in the actual aircraft.
Using full flight simulators to learn sequences of operations may be more expensive than desired. As a result of this expense, a pilot may not learn flows and procedures until the first simulator lesson occurs. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.


The present invention is directed to a herb product comprising a comminuted herb admixed with water, a water activity controlling substance in sufficient amounts for the herb product to have a water activity less than 0.90 and an effective amount of an edible agent, said effective amount of an edible agent being an anti-oxidizing effective amount of an edible anti-oxidant or an anti-discoloring effective amount of an edible salt or mixture thereof, said herb product being present in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method of making the herb product and to food compositions containing same.

Culinary herbs together with aromatic plants such as ginger, garlic, peppers and chillies, are much prized ingredients in cooking. Fresh herbs are cultivated in home and commercial gardens and today are available fresh in many varieties. Herbs are used in the preparation of numerous traditional dishes and the aroma and color of various specific herbs are of great importance in these.
In most parts of the world, fresh herbs are seasonal. Herbs may be obtained year round in dried form. Most herbs when dried, however, lose their green color, aroma and flavor and are irreversibly altered so that they do not represent a satisfactory alternative to freshly picked herbs.
Many of the popularly used herbs contain enzymes which act very rapidly when the cell structure of the herb is disturbed resulting in loss of green color, production of dark pigments and both loss of fresh flavor and the development of off-flavors. These changes occur more rapidly at elevated temperatures such as occur in many food processing operations and in cooking. Amongst these herbs are basil, coriander (cilantro), oregano, tarragon and mint. Many studies have been made on the enzymic degradation of herbs including those by Baritaux et al., (Sciences-des-aliments 1911, 11, (1)49-62), Gerherdt, V. et al. (Fleischerei 34(5)508-208). Studies have also been made on the drying and storage stability of dried herbs, including those by Mastrocola, D. et al. (Industrie-Alimentari, 1988 27(259(341) and Paeaekkoenen, K., et al. (J Food Science 1990, 55(5)1373-1377).
Many herbs can be obtained nowadays in frozen and freeze-dried form. Frozen herbs have good flavor and color, but must be kept frozen and when thawed or used in cooking and in processed products are subject to the same enzymic action and color and flavor changes as fresh herbs. Freeze-dried herbs, which are expensive to produce, when wetted, suffer from the same enzyme action as frozen herbs.
The enzyme action in herbs can be prevented by blanching of the herbs in steam or hot water. In this way, the green color can be largely preserved but the flavor is often almost completely destroyed. Ricci in British Patent No. 1,348,266 (1974) describes production of a green food flavoring by heating basil leaves in hot water, quenching in cold water, cutting into pieces and refrigerating.
Herbs, along with other vegetables, for many ages have been traditionally preserved by pickling with salt or salt brine with or without vinegar. This method is used extensively in the pickle industry. Herbs treated in this way lose their attractive bright green color and much of the flavor is lost into the brine. Unless pasteurized these products are subject to surface molds and to salt and sugar tolerant yeasts. Coste (British patent 2,014,429, 1979) claims to have preserved chopped herbs by mixing with water activity controlling substances such as salt, glycerol and propylene glycol in such concentration that the water activity is less than 0.90. Oil up to 20% may be added to give a pasty consistency. We have observed that in following the procedures described by Coste, the resultant herb mixes developed quickly a dark olive green color. In the case of the herbs with high levels of polyphenol oxidase enzymes such as basil, mint and oregano the color that developed on storage was a dark greenish black. In all cases, the color changes were accompanied by off-flavors. Moreover, it was observed that even at water activities of 0.80, yeast and mold growth could occur on the surface of the mixes.

Processed fresh herbs and method of making


Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting oil or natural gas from a well using a portable coal reformer. In one example, the method may include reforming coal by reaction with water to generate driver gas (comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas), and injecting the driver gas into the well. The driver gas reduces the viscosity and pressurizes the oil to help extract the oil from the oil well. The coal reforming operation may include combusting coal or other combustible material with ambient oxygen to release energy, and heating coal and water with the energy released to a temperature above that required for the coal reforming reaction to proceed, thereby reforming coal and water into driver gas. The driver gas may be purified by filtering out particles and sulfur before injecting into the well. A portion of the hydrogen gas may be separated from the driver gas and used to generate electrical power.

Currently there are tens of thousands of depleted oil and natural gas wells around the world, which collectively possess significant amounts of petroleum resources that cannot currently be extracted using conventional extraction techniques.
For example, in a typical oil well, only about 30% of the underground oil is recovered during initial drilling ("primary recovery"). An additional approximately 20% may be accessed by "secondary recovery" techniques such as water flooding. In recent years, "tertiary recovery" (also known as "Enhanced Oil Recovery" or EOR) techniques have been developed to recover additional oil from depleted wells. Such tertiary recovery techniques include thermal recovery, chemical injection, and gas injection. Using current methods, these tertiary techniques allow for an additional 20% or more of the oil to be recovered.
Gas injection is one of the most common EOR techniques. In particular, carbon dioxide (CO2) injection into depleted oil wells has received considerable attention owing to its ability to mix with crude oil. Since the crude oil is miscible with CO2, injection of CO2 renders the oil substantially less viscous and more readily extractable.
Despite the potential advantages of CO2 in enhanced recovery, its use has been hampered by several factors. For instance, in order for the enhanced recovery process to be economically viable, the CO2 gas must be naturally available in copious supplies at reasonable cost at or near the site of the oil well. Alternatively, CO2 can be produced from industrial applications such as natural gas processing, fertilizer, ethanol and hydrogen plants where naturally occurring CO2 reservoirs are not available. The CO2 must then be transported over large distances via pipeline and injected at the well site. Unfortunately, such CO2 pipelines are difficult and costly to construct. Additionally, many oil sites are out of reach from such natural and industrial sources of CO2.
Another gas that can potentially be used for enhanced recovery purposes is hydrogen. Hydrogen has received considerably less attention than CO2, however. Hydrogen, although somewhat soluble with oil, is believed less so than CO2. Moreover, traditionally, hydrogen has been costly to produce and its use has not been justified from an economic standpoint.
The rising cost of crude oil, as high as $60 to $70 per barrel in recent times, has increased interest in new enhanced oil recovery technologies. Simultaneously, the low cost of coal, often lower than $30 per ton, has made coal an attractive fuel source for EOR purposes.
Accordingly, as recognized by the present inventors, what are needed are a novel method, apparatus, and system for extracting oil/petroleum from the ground or from oil wells, such as depleted oil wells, by utilizing driver gases generated from a coal source. What are also needed are a method, apparatus, and system for extracting natural gas from the ground or from natural gas wells by utilizing driver gases generated from a coal source.
Therefore, it would be an advancement in the state of the art to provide an apparatus, system, and method for generating large quantities of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and other gases from coal or a derivative of coal at low cost at or near an oil site.
It is against this background that various embodiments of the present invention were developed.

Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting petroleum using a portable coal reformer


A new design for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is proposed for the next generation 5G new radio systems. A UE receives the configuration of a default control resource set (CORESET) in MIB/SIB from its serving base station. The default CORESET contains both common search space and UE-specific search space for candidate PDCCH transmission. A PDCCH in a default CORESET is mapped to physical resource in a distributed or localized manner. Specifically, various REG-to-CCE mapping rules are proposed to improve frequency diversity gain, or frequency selectivity gain, or to reduce latency of PDCCH processing. Further, to facilitate analog beamforming in mmWave systems, the default CORESET is transmitted in a synchronization signal (SS) block associated with a corresponding analog beam direction.

A Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system offers high peak data rates, low latency, improved system capacity, and low operating cost resulting from simple network architecture. An LTE system also provides seamless integration to older wireless network, such as GSM, CDMA and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). In LTE systems, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) includes a plurality of evolved Node-Bs (eNodeBs or eNBs) communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, referred as user equipments (UEs). Enhancements to LTE systems are considered so that they can meet or exceed International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMT-Advanced) fourth generation (4G) standard. Multiple access in the downlink is achieved by assigning different sub-bands (i.e., groups of subcarriers, denoted as resource blocks (RBs)) of the system bandwidth to individual users based on their existing channel condition. In LTE networks, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is used for dynamic downlink scheduling.
A plurality of physical resource blocks (PRBs) is allocated for PDCCH transmission that carry downlink control information (DCI). In order to decode PDCCH targeted specifically to a UE, the UE needs to find out where its PDCCH is. In the so-called "blindly" decoding process, the UE must try a number of candidate PDCCHs before knowing which PDCCH is targeted for itself. The allocated radio resources of the candidate PDCCHs may be distributed or localized. In addition, the PDCCHs may constitute a common search space (CSS) or a UE-specific search space (UESS). As a result, supporting both distributed and localized PDCCH transmission in both common and UE-specific search spaces for each UE may result in excessive control signaling and increased number of blind decoding.
The signal bandwidth for next generation 5G new radio (NR) systems is estimated to increase to up to hundreds of MHz for below 6 GHz bands and even to values of GHz in case of millimeter wave (mmWave) bands. Furthermore, the NR peak rate requirement can be up to 20 Gbps, which is more than ten times of LTE. Three main applications in 5G NR system include enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine-Type Communication (MTC) under milli-meter wave technology, small cell access, and unlicensed spectrum transmission. Multiplexing of eMBB & URLLC within a carrier is also supported. Specifically, the mmWave frequency spectrum between 3G and 300 GHz is explored for the next generation broadband cellular communication networks. The mmWave wireless network uses directional communications with narrow beams and can support multi-gigabit data rate. Directional antenna can be implemented by phased array with many antenna elements. Analog beamforming and spatial multiplexing methods can be applied in multiple antenna systems.
A solution to improve the design of PDCCH structure and to support analog beamforming, COMP, and MU-MIMO in PDCCH design is sought.

Physical downlink control channel design for NR systems


A fan assembly includes a plurality of discrete platforms disposed between adjacent rotor blades extending radially outwardly from a rotor disk. Each platform includes forward and aft axially spaced apart ends, and radially upper and lower spaced apart surfaces extending between the ends. Forward and aft retainer rings capture the platform to the disk with a predetermined clearance therebetween for allowing the platform to move radially upwardly under centrifugal force for retention by the retainer rings, while also allowing the platform to move radially inwardly under a radially inwardly directed impact load on the platform, which impact load is channeled through the platform lower surface at both the forward and aft ends into the rotor disk.

A turbofan gas turbine engine used for powering an aircraft in flight includes a fan assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fan blades extending radially outwardly from a rotor disk. Ambient airflow is channeled between the blades and pressurized thereby for generating thrust for powering the aircraft in flight. A radially inner flowpath boundary for the airflow channeled between the blades is provided typically by integral platforms formed at the blade roots which circumferentially abut each other between adjacent fan blades. Since the platforms are formed integrally with the fan blades, the centrifugal loads therefrom during operation of the fan must be carried by the fan blade dovetails which requires that they be suitably large, which in turn requires a suitably large rotor disk for accommodating all of the centrifugal loads within acceptable stress limits. Additionally, for composite rotor blades it is impractical to integrally form the platforms with the blade itself.
In order to reduce the weight of the fan blades, it is known to provide discrete platforms independently joined to the rotor disk between adjacent fan blades. These separate platforms must have suitable strength for accommodating both centrifugal loads and inpact loads, such as those due to a bird strike, during operation. For example, in a wide chord fan blade configuration, the corresponding discrete platforms must have suitable strength in the axial direction to accommodate shear and bending stresses due to the centrifugal or impact loads. In one configuration, each of the platforms includes an axially extending stiffening rib which radially supports an outer flange defining the platform flowpath surface, and which has a complementary inner flange on its radially inner end. The transverse cross section, therefore, is in the form of a conventional I-beam which is a relatively rigid structure in both bending and shear between its two axial ends.
However, for larger-thrust fan assemblies having relatively long axial chords and relatively wide circumferential spacing therebetween, the platforms required to fill the space between adjacent blades are also relatively long in the axial direction and relatively wide in the circumferential direction. Using a conventional configuration such as the I-beam configuration, the resulting platform would be undesirably heavy and would require a correspondingly large rotor disk. The larger platform also has increased surface area which increases the exposure to and potential impact force resulting from a designed-for bird strike event. For a circumferentially wide platform, the top flange thereof would have a larger unsupported overhang extending from the center stiffening rib which decreases its ability to suitably accommodate the bird impact loading thereon.
Furthermore, conventional discrete platforms are typically joined to the rotor disk at both their forward and aft ends for accommodating both the centrifugal loads from the platform itself which are directed radially outwardly, and the bird impact loads which are directed radially inwardly and axially aft. Accordingly, not only must the platform itself have suitable strength, but the retention structures therefor must be suitably strong for accommodating both the centrifugal and bird impact loads.

Fan assembly having lightweight platforms


A perforating system that transfers a detonation wave between adjacent perforating guns by converting shockwave energy to electrical energy. An explosive is provided on an end of a detonating cord that is coupled to shaped charges, so that a detonation wave traveling in the detonation cord will initiate detonation in the shaped charges and then in the high explosive. The explosive is disposed adjacent a pair of members that are energized so that a magnetic field is formed between the members. When the explosive detonates, the resulting shock wave pushes one of the members into the space between the members to compress the magnetic field. Compressing the magnetic field produces an electrical potential usable to initiate a detonation wave in another detonating cord for perpetuating the detonation wave along the perforating system.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of oil and gas production. More specifically, the present invention relates to an initiation transfer between perforating guns in a perforating string.
2. Description of Prior Art
Perforating systems are used for the purpose, among others, of making hydraulic communication passages, called perforations, in wellbores drilled through earth formations so that predetermined zones of the earth formations can be hydraulically connected to the wellbore. Perforations are needed because wellbores are typically completed by coaxially inserting a pipe or casing into the wellbore. The casing is retained in the wellbore by pumping cement into the annular space between the wellbore and the casing. The cemented casing is provided in the wellbore for the specific purpose of hydraulically isolating from each other the various earth formations penetrated by the wellbore.
Perforating systems typically comprise one or more perforating guns strung together, these strings of guns can sometimes surpass a thousand feet of perforating length. In FIG. 1 a prior art perforating system 11 is shown having a perforating gun string 4 with perforating guns 6. The gun string 4 is shown disposed within a wellbore 1 on a wireline 5. The perforating guns 6 in the gun string 4 are usually coupled together by connector subs 13. A service truck 7 on the surface 9 generally accompanies perforating systems 11 for handling the upper end of the wireline 5. The wireline 5 typically is used for raising and lowering the gun string 4, as well as a communication means and control signal path between the truck 7 and the perforating gun 6. The wireline 5 is generally threaded through pulleys 3 supported above the wellbore 1. As is known, derricks, slips and other similar systems may be used in lieu of a surface truck for inserting and retrieving the perforating system into and from a wellbore. Moreover, perforating systems are also disposed into a wellbore via tubing, drill pipe, slick line, and/or coiled tubing.
Included with the perforating gun 6 are shaped charges 8 that typically include a housing, a liner, and a quantity of high explosive inserted between the liner and the housing. When the high explosive is detonated, the force of the detonation collapses the liner and ejects it from one end of the charge 8 at very high velocity in a pattern called a "jet" 12. The jet 12 perforates the casing and the cement and creates a perforation 10 that extends into the surrounding formation 2.
FIG. 2 is a prior art example of a portion of a perforating string 4 showing a connection between a connector sub 13 and perforating gun 6. A typical way of transferring a detonation wave between adjacent members of a perforating string 4 involves providing a detonating cord 15, and attaching a transfer charge 17 on its lower end that is oriented towards the perforating gun 6. A solid bulkhead 19 may sometimes be provided in the connection between adjacent members of a perforating string 4. To transfer the detonation wave into the perforating gun 6, a booster charge 21 is often set within the perforating gun 6 that faces the transfer charge 17. Per design, a jet (not shown) forms upon detonation of the transfer charge 17 that penetrates the bulkhead 19 to detonate the booster charge 21. This perpetuates travel of the detonation wave from the perforating cord 15 and the connecting sub 13 to the perforating cord 15 within the perforating gun 6. Shaped charges 8 are generally positioned adjacent the perforating cord 15, each having high explosive that explodes in response to the detonation wave traveling along the perforating cord 15.
As shown in a side sectional view in FIG. 3, in some instances adjacent perforating members 6A, 13A in a perforating string 4A may pivot with respect to one another and be oriented at an angle oblique to one another. This is sometimes accomplished by providing a spherically-shaped ball end 23, which is shown on the upper end of the perforating gun 6A, and mating the ball end 23 with a socket end 25, shown on the lower end of the connector sub 13A. The socket end 25, which is also spherically-shaped to accommodate the profile of the ball end 23, allows a pivoting action of the two perforating string members 6A, 13A. Problems associated with current transfer mechanisms include the bulkhead 19 blocking or substantially hindering the jet from the transfer charge 17 so that an insufficient amount of energy in the jet to detonate the booster charge 21. Such an instance halts transfer of the detonation wave into any perforating cord(s) 15 lower in the perforating string 4A. The swiveling connections of FIG. 2 also pose a problem in that the pivoting sometimes moves the booster charge 21 out of the path of the jet formed by the transfer charge 17, which also prevents further travel of the detonation wave within the perforating string.

Perforating string with magnetohydrodynamic initiation transfer


An image processing system includes a printer engine (3) corresponding to one or both of binary and multi-value data, and a plurality of memory devices (1a, 1b) for storing bit map data and supplying a binary or multi-value video signal to the printer engine, and an interface (7) for connecting the plurality of memory devices (1a, 1b) to the engine (3). Binary or multi-value data is read out from an arbitrary memory device, two different binary data, two different multi-value data, or binary data and multi-value data are synthesized, and the synthesized data is printed. Processing, which is conventionally performed by a single memory device, can be separately performed by the plurality of memory devices, thus increasing the processing speed. Various processing operations such as binary-multi-value synthesizing processing can easily be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system having a plurality of image signal generation sources each having a storage means for storing an image signal to be supplied to a single printer engine and, more particularly, to an image processing system, which can process both a character code and a multi-value image.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, a single printer engine is connected to a single image signal generation source, having a storage means, for transmitting bit map data to the printer engine, or they are integrally arranged.
However, in the prior art, since the printer engine and the image signal generation source have a one-to-one correspondence therebetween, the following problems are posed.
(1) In the case of an image signal generation source having an interpreter function for a page description language, since the single image signal generation source performs data development for one page, the processing speed is limited.
(2) When the image signal generation source can only process binary data, even when the printer engine can receive multi-value data, a print operation based on the multi-value data cannot be performed, and the performance of the printer engine cannot be sufficiently utilized.
In recent years, a printer system, which interprets codes or commands defined to express a document, image, or the like, which is created and converted by a computer, and outputs the document, image, or the like after image development corresponding to the resolution of a printer, has become popular.
However, since a printer system of this type performs the same processing for a vector-converted command image data portion such as a document, illustration, or the like in a PDL code as a code or command for defining a document or image created for a printer, and for a multi-value raster image data portion such as a natural image, these image data portions cannot be synthesized by optimal processing for generation of these images. For example, since multi-value raster image data is converted into, e.g., binary data like in character or illustration data, and is buffered in a page memory, image quality is often deteriorated.
Upon processing of the above-mentioned raster multi-value data and command image data portions, if these portions are processed in correspondence with the resolution of the raster multi-value data and the capacity of the image data, image quality can be improved. However, this method makes the arrangement of the entire system complex, and decreases the data processing speed.

Image processing system which synthesizes a generated first image signal with a second image signal selected from a plurality of input image signals


A system for enterprise information integration is described. The system is based on different layers:                the data sources,        source ontologies corresponding to the data schema of the data sources,        an integration ontology integrating the different source ontologies,        a level of query input, preferably in the form of a web service.Between the levels, mapping rules are used. These mapping rules and the entire system are based on predicate logic. The queries are answered with the help of the rules using inference based on predicate logic.

Enterprise data systems, especially for large enterprises, typically include multiple data sources that may be based on different data schemas like                relational databases,        XML documents, XML schema, XML document type definitions (DTD),        web services,        Adabas files        SGML texts,        Interface Description Language (IDL),        JAVA interface,        Resource Description Framework (RDF),        Unified Modeling Language (UML),        Ontology Web Language (OWL),        Object role modelling,        Topic maps,        etc.
As a result of several IT generations and/or mergers and acquisitions, several databases with different schemas may contain information on different areas of the business. For example, enterprise employment data may be stored in a relational database conforming to a first relational database schema and enterprise accounting data may be stored in a relational databases conforming to a second relational database schema. Often these various data sources may overlap, and it is difficult for a user to query across the enterprise data sources.
There is, thus, a need for tools for data integration or information integration and a need for a unified querying tool that enables a user to query data across data sources conforming to different data schemas. The need for a unified querying tool also arises when a single question crosses multiple data sources.

Enterprise information integration platform


A method of performance calculation and comparison is provided and includes collecting, at a central location, data relating to a performance characteristic of a machine, calculating at the central location and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine and comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to performance characteristic calculation and comparison.
Current processes for calculating performance degradation of, for example, gas turbine engines that are provided as part of a fleet of gas turbine engines use site-specific correction factors and require a substantial amount of manual effort. Generally, the processes for a particular site involve conducting a performance test at a specified interval, usually every one year, with the test engineer conducting the test at baseload operation. Performance degradation data is gathered from the test results and correction factors for the site are applied to obtain the corrected output and heat rate of the site. Percentage output and heat rate degradation values for the site are then calculated using the corrected output and heat rate values and the site-specific reference values. Degradation percentage values are then compared to contractually guaranteed outputs and heat rate degradation values to identify whether the site is performing better or worse than the guarantee. Bonus or liquidated damage (LD) amounts are then calculated using variations from the guarantee and bonus/LD rates. These processes are repeated for all required sites.
In addition, if the degradation is higher than the guarantee, a root cause analysis is performed to identify areas of improvement and recommendations may be provided to improve the performance of the assets at each site. If the improvement measures are implemented, the benefits of those measures are not realized until the next performance test.
Thus, potential problems with current processes are that information related to degradation is available only after a performance test with little to no information being available to the test engineer on the amount of degradation prior to the test. Thus, there is little to no room or opportunity for improvement during off-test periods with little to no line-of-sight between subsequent performance tests. Also, cycle time to identify and mitigate risk is high, degradation information on a whole fleet is difficult to view, identifying the most degraded machine or the machine that needs the most immediate attention is difficult and effects of intermittent maintenance actions such as water washes, leak fixes, filter cleaning, etc., cannot be identified or tracked. Finally, there is often no central database available to store test results.

Performance characteristic calculation and comparison


Systems and methods relate generally to disambiguation of printing device characteristics. In an example method thereof, a printing app has user printing priority settings. A demographics data file is generated for a best fit emulation. A best match behavior is determined for a printing device of a plurality of printing devices. The printing device with the best match behavior is selected from the plurality of printing devices. In another method thereof an emulator is initialized. The initialization includes generating a demographics data file by the emulator. The emulator performs operations including: converting input data to device primitives in a printer language to generate print job data therefor; and providing the print job data as a print job to a job manager.

Conventionally, a user selects a printing device to send a print request or print job to by providing a selection of a driver on a user's device. A driver may allow selection of one or more print job settings, such as for example paper size, color or monochrome, print media type or weight, finishing options, simplex or duplex, paper orientation (e.g. portrait or landscape), collation, and/or margins, among others.
In some instances, a printing device may support an option for a setting, but such a setting may not be installed. Users may not see such an uninstalled setting option displayed on a settings page, or a setting may be shown but indicated as not installed or not selectable. In some instances, a setting may be shown, but may do nothing when selected.

Disambiguation of printing device characteristics


A laminated coil and manufacturing method therefor are disclosed. The laminated coil comprises multiple lamination units formed after a base body is folded. The lamination unit comprises an opening, a first common edge, and a second common edge; opening directions of two adjacent lamination units are opposite; the lamination unit is separately jointed with two adjacent lamination units by means of the first common edge and the second common edge, so that the base body in a laminated state forms a spiral power-on path. The base body is sequentially folded to form multiple lamination units, so that the base body in the laminated state forms the spiral power-on path to improve energy efficiency of a rectangular coil. In addition, on the basis of the laminated coil structure, the manufacturing method provided is adopted, and high precision of laminated coil can be highly efficiently manufactured.

The electromagnetic induction devices, such as the electric motor, electric generator, transformer and inductor, all need to use the electromagnetic coil. The traditional electromagnetic coil adopts the circular wire winding technology. The air gap between the circular wires increases the thermal resistance of heat dissipation to the outside from the inside of the coil. These two factors seriously restrict the efficiency of the electromagnetic equipment.
With the increasing requirements for energy conservation and environmental protection, the technology of using a square or flat wire emerges as the times require. The direct replacement of the traditional circular wire by the square wire can receive a very considerable benefit improvement. The energy efficiency of the electromagnetic equipment using the rectangular coil is significantly higher than that of the electromagnetic equipment using the traditional circular coil with the same power. In additional, the energy efficiency of the electromagnetic equipment using the laminated coil with the wire having the rectangular cross-section can be further improved on the basis of the square coil.
However, at present, it is still the technical threshold of the present industry to wind the laminated coil with the rectangular wire. The research focuses on how to design the structure of the laminated coil and how to make the laminated coil efficiently.
The technical problem to be solved by the present application is how to improve the manufacturing efficiency of the laminated coils by designing the structure of the laminated coil.

Laminated coil and manufacturing method therefor


A gas analyzer includes a detector section including a detector, a source section including a light source, and a support structure coupling the detector section with the source section and forming a flow channel defining an optical path measuring region. The gas analyzer also includes an air flow device configured to pull air through the flow channel from an intake region in the support structure to an exhaust region. Sampling is done by pulling air into the sampling cell via an intake opening or tube of wide diameter and short to medium at very fast flow rates (e.g., 10-3000 lpm or more) enabling rapid gas sampling. Fast flow rates enable the use of large volume cell for rapid gas sampling, which in turn, enables rapid measurements of many low-concentration trace gases and sticky/reactive gases (e.g., methane, ammonia, isotopes of CO2, H2O, nitrous oxide, etc.).

The present invention relates generally to gas analysis, and more particularly to systems and methods for measuring concentrations of gases, including low-concentration or trace gases in the atmosphere.
The increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other trace gases in the atmosphere and the resulting greenhouse effect and climate change have become important topics for scientific research. In order to understand the global carbon balance, it is necessary to determine the rate at which carbon dioxide, other trace gases and energy exchanges occur between the atmosphere and terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. A measurement technique called "eddy covariance" has been widely used to determine these rates. The air within a few hundred meters above the earth surface is mostly turbulent, so that turbulent structures (vortices of variable sizes) called "eddies" are responsible for the vertical transport of the most of the gases, including carbon dioxide, other trace gases, and water vapor, and also heat and momentum between the surface and the atmosphere. The rates of such transport can be calculated from simultaneous, high-frequency measurements of the vertical component of wind speed, the concentrations of carbon dioxide, or other trace gases, and water vapor and air temperature.
To measure concentrations of carbon dioxide, other trace gases, and water vapor, a gas analyzer can be used to analyze the transmittance of light in appropriate wavelength bands through a gas sample. With some gas analyzers, a sample gas containing unknown concentrations of a sampled gas and water vapor is placed in a sample cell, and a reference gas with zero or known concentrations of this gas and water vapor is placed in a reference cell. The analyzer measures the unknown gas concentrations in the sample cell from calibrated signals that are proportional to the difference between light transmitted through the sample cell and light transmitted through the reference cell. Other similar methods have also been used utilizing a non-absorbent optical filter and a chopper motor to emulate a zero (no absorbing) condition, and no reference cell then is required.
Presently, readily available laser technologies are generally not able to provide enough resolution required for sampling of low-concentration gases unless substantial averaging is applied to minimize errors and to achieve required specifications, or a significant pressure drop in the sample cell is used to spectroscopically enhance the absorption lines. Atmospheric trace gases of low concentrations (e.g., CH4, N2O, NH3, isotopes of CO2 and H2O, etc.). are therefore presently sampled in two major ways:                (I) slow sampling, when specifications are achieved by minimizing errors in measured concentrations by time-averaging; these may include flask, chamber, and mean concentration measurements; and        (II) fast sampling, when errors in measured concentrations are reduced by averaging out in a large sampling volume and/or over long optical sampling paths. In both cases a significant pressure drop in the sampling cell is typically utilized to spectroscopically enhance the absorption lines.The second, fast sampling approach is achieved in presently available instruments by either (II.a) using large sampling cell to allow the laser beam to pass through a large distance to be absorbed by a gas of interest, or (II.b) by the use of cavity ring down or related techniques that require very long optical paths (e,g, meters to kilometers) folded multiple times in a smaller high finesse cavity, which is highly sensitive to contamination, and can be impractical. The large sampling cell approach (II.a) presently requires very large flow in order to flush sample cell about 5-10 times per second (5-10 Hz) or more. Presently such flow is achieved by using a very powerful pump pulling air through the closed-path cell with a small intake opening (e.g., typically on the order of 0.5-1.0 cm) at 10-20× pressure drops. In both cases (II.a and II.b), the devices have high power demand, high maintenance requirements and unclear/uninvestigated consequences for measuring rapid gas fluctuations at 1/10 to 1/20 of the actual ambient air pressure.
In addition, reactive gases (e.g., volatile organic compounds, etc.) and "sticky" gases, (e.g., ammonia) are very difficult to sample using traditional intake tubes as are present on most prior art devices as initial information is lost due to chemical reactions or smearing while traveling through the intake tube.
Therefore it is desirable to provide systems and methods that overcome the above and other problems.

Semi-open-path gas analysis systems and methods


An LGA connector (1) includes an housing (2), a stiffener (3) surrounding the housing, a clip (5) pivotably engaged the stiffener, and a lever (4) engaged with the stiffener for pressing the clip. The housing has a supporting portion (21) and a mounting portion (22) having four mating faces surrounding the supporting portion. Each mating face includes at least one spring latch (24) extending outwardly therefrom and a cavity (241) defined on the spring latch for engaging with the stiffener.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an art of a land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically bridging two electrical interfaces such as a printed circuit board (PCB) and a central processing unit (CPU).
2. Description of Prior Arts
U.S. Pat. No. 7,179,092 issued on Feb. 20, 2007 discloses a plurality of LGA socket contacts for electrically connecting a Land Grid Package (LGP) to a printed circuit board (PCB). The LGA connector includes a housing, a number of terminals secured on the housing, a stiffener defining a middle window for receiving the housing, a clip pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener, and a lever coupled with another end of the stiffener for fastening the clip onto the housing and having an operation lever and a mounting lever. The housing comprises a supporting portion for supporting the LGP, a mounting portion received in the window of the stiffener and a plurality of protrusions extending from two opposite sides of the mounting portion for engaging with corresponding recesses defined at two opposite edges of the window. The stiffener further has a latch extending outside from one side wall for engaging with the lever.
In use, the housing is retained in the window by the interference between the protrusions of the housing and the recesses of the stiffener. The operation lever is rotated to a horizontal position and locked by the latch of the stiffener. Considerably, the stiffener is given an upward force by the lever. The stiffener is limited rigid, and opposite ends of the stiffener tend to bend upward. At the time, the corresponding ends of the housing are prone to bend upward alone with the bended end of the stiffener. That is, the engagement between the stiffener and the housing is unreliable. Additionally, When the stiffener is designed smaller to enhance the engagement between the stiffener and the housing, the stiffener is easy to have a distortion by the engagement.
Hence, it is desirable to provide an improved land grid array connector to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

Land grid array connector with latch portion


Embodiments provide an abstraction on top of virtual machine allocation APIs to expose scalable services. The services are higher level components that expose a particular set of functionalities. A deployment manager handles matching and managing virtual machine allocations in order to meet the customer demands for the managed services. A deployment service exposes a “service” as a unit of resource allocation in a distributed computing environment or cloud computing service. Client components interact with the deployment service to request new service instances to meet customer demand.

Various cloud service hosting solutions are available to customers, such as public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid clouds. Public or shared clouds allow customers to provide services to users over a network, such as the Internet, an intranet, or other public or private data network, with little or no control over the underlying technology infrastructure. Public clouds offer customers reduced complexity in testing and deploying new services. Private or enterprise clouds are deployed over a company intranet or hosted datacenter and offer private services for a company or organization. Private clouds may provide security, availability, or fault-tolerant solutions that are not possible in a public cloud because the private cloud typically does not share resources with other organizations. Hybrid clouds provide an integrated approach that combines the power of both public and private clouds. Customized rules and policies may be used to allocate activities and tasks to internal or external clouds as needed.
Each cloud type—public, private, or hybrid—may be used to provide different service types. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provides a specific service, such as an email service or a data center service, which is hosted on the cloud and allows end users to access the service over the Internet. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provides a programmable environment where code can be deployed, which allows customers to deploy their applications in the cloud without having to manage the server infrastructure. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provides customers with maximum interaction with the underlying server infrastructure. IaaS customers rent the hardware, such as servers, load balancers, firewalls, and cables, and configure them remotely with their own solutions.
Cloud service providers offer customers the ability to provision new virtual machines as needed. However, this process is cumbersome because it takes time, requires many different APIs to be called to manage operating systems and application images. For example, the customer must determine what bandwidth is required for a service, and then determine what virtual machine resources are needed to support that bandwidth under desired service-level agreements (SLA). The customer must understand the virtual machines capabilities and then deploy and manage the virtual machines. This requires specialized knowledge and resources that may be outside the customer's capabilities.