An apparatus and method for reducing the noise generated by colliding conveyor carriers is disclosed which comprises urethane bumpers and a method of attaching same to portions of the carriers that do not make contact with other carriers when the carriers are accumulated. The bumpers extend from the carriers a sufficient distance to contact a similar bumper on an adjacent carrier when one carrier rolls up against another. The bumpers do not prevent the normally contacting portions of the carriers from coming into contact, but merely absorb a portion of the kinetic energy of the moving carrier to reduce the noise generated when the contacting portions of the trolleys do meet, and the presence of these bumpers does not adversely affect the spacing of the carriers in the accumulation line.

Power and free conveyors are well known systems made up of a power track and a free track and a pair of trolleys capable of traveling along the free track and supporting a carrier. Each leading trolley in a power and free system includes a driving dog portion which extends toward the power track and which is engageable by a pusher dog carried by a moving chain on the power track. When the pusher dog and the driving dog are engaged, the trolley is pushed along the free track by the moving power chain. When the driving dog is retracted, or otherwise disengaged from the pusher dog, the trolley stops moving.
Power and free conveyors often include accumulation tracks or sections where a number of carriers can be stored in a closely spaced or contacting relationship out of the way of the main portion of the conveyor system until they are needed. In order to accumulate carriers, it is necessary to disengage the driving dogs of the trolleys supporting the carriers from the pusher dog. This is usually accomplished by having the accumulation section of the track at a different elevation than the main portion of the track so that a carrier directed into the accumulation portion will roll down and away from the pusher until it runs into a stationary object The slope must be steep enough to ensure that the carrier moves quickly away from the pusher to avoid jams and to impart a sufficiently high speed to the carrier to ensure that it continues to roll along the accumulation section of track until it contacts a stop or another carrier. Additional carriers can be accumulated in this manner until the accumulation section of track is full. However, because carriers are periodically removed from the downstream end of the accumulation section, new carriers can be continuously accumulated.
Trolleys and carriers are made of steel or similar alloys and consequently are quite heavy. Each pair of trolleys supports a carrier which is also very massive and which may be supporting a heavy workpiece at any given time. Such carriers possess large kinetic energies when they roll along the accumulation section of the conveyor track, and this energy must be dissipated in order to stop the carrier. Because the carriers and trolleys are made from metal, a significant amount of energy from each collision between carriers is dissipated as sound waves, and each impact produces a relatively loud noise. Since a given conveyor line may have multiple accumulation portions, and a plant may have multiple conveyor lines each equipped with multiple accumulators, the noise produced by the accumulation of carriers is substantial and frequent. This noise can be unpleasant to anyone in a plant where accumulators are used, and, to employees required to work in close proximity to these accumulators, the noise can have adverse health affects as well.
The high frequencies generated by this metal-to-metal contact can be particularly damaging to hearing. In addition, the trolleys are often not accumulated at regular intervals. Thus, the sound of each successive impact may come as something of a surprise to nearby employees. An employee who is startled by such sudden noises may have difficulty concentrating on his job. Attempts have been made, therefore, to reduce the noise created by these accumulations. The normal solution is to coat the metal surfaces normally making contact with rubber or a similar material which will absorb the impact of the collisions. While this can reduce the noise problem to some extent, it also increases the spacing between adjacent carriers in an accumulation line, especially when enough cushioning material is used to reduce the noise level by a noticeable amount. This increased spacing changes the location of each trolley in the accumulation line and makes it difficult for a system controller to keep track of the carriers. In addition, this altered spacing may prevent the carriers from aligning properly with other elements of the conveyor system, such as unloading platforms along the accumulation track. In addition, adding these materials to existing systems usually requires that the trolleys be modified to accommodate the cushioning. This is often cost prohibitive. It would therefore be desirable to reduce the noise generated by the accumulation of carriers in a conveyor line without adversely affecting the spacing of the carriers, and which noise reduction could be employed on existing systems without extensively modifying the carriers.

Method and apparatus for reducing noise generated by the accumulation of carriers in a conveyor system


An implantable multi-lumen, multi-conductor lead for use with an implantable medical device. The completed lead is an assembly of a polymeric lead body with several coiled conductors inserted into the lead body. The lead body includes several lumens having a generally rounded-corner triangular or "pie-shaped" cross-section. The conductors do not fill the lumens, and only contact the inner walls of the lumens at discrete points, rather than for extended sections of or all of the circumference of the conductors. Preferably the coils are sized so that they fit loosely within the lumens.

The present invention relates to an implantable multi-lumen multi-conductor lead for use with an implantable medical device.
Medical leads are used to transmit electrical signals to and from medical devices such as pacemakers. The lead body is usually made from a piece of polymeric tubing having a round cross-section exterior and a round cross-section lumen. Typically a coiled metallic electrical conductor having a round cross-section is placed in the lumen completely filing it. The tubing protects and insulates the conductor. The coiled conductor can usually receive a stylet to help position and place the lead during implantation. Such a lead is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,548.
Since both the conductor and lumen have a round shape with substantially equal diameters, assembly of the lead can be difficult due to friction between the conductor and lead. Because the lead body is flexible, and the conductor coils are substantially more rigid, this problem is not substantially reduced by the use of circular lumens slightly larger in diameter than the coils. In areas where the lead body is flexed, the result is still that the lumen wall will deform to contact a substantial percentage of the circumference of each individual coil. Assembly problems are exacerbated when this form of lead construction is extended to small diameter, multi-conductor, multi-lumen designs.
Various alternative designs have been proposed to form multi-lumen leads. U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,986 discloses a lead having an array of round lumens, but using essentially straight, uncoiled conductors. Multi-lumen tubing having non-round lumens is known in the art. See for example the advertisement by Putnam Plastics Corporation in the July/August 1990 issue of Medical Product Manufacturing News. For example, multi-lumen tubing having pie-shaped lumens is used to manufacture thermodilution catheters, which may include a twisted wire pair in one of the lumens, connected to a thermistor.


Hydroelectric generation devices, and more particularly fixed or floating paddlewheel electric generation devices that may be placed in any flowing liquid source in order to generate power, are presented. Such an overall power generating system includes a paddlewheel component that is situated within an artificial channel properly configured to increase the velocity of the flowing liquid therethrough, thereby providing a manner of generating paddlewheel rotation at a speed greater than that relative to the main body of the fluid itself. The inventive system thus permits power generation through the capture of the kinetic energy derived from the paddlewheel rotation at a level that is acceptable in relation to available hydrokinetic energy of the fluid source.

As the demand for energy grows, particularly in terms of energy sources that do not leave a carbon footprint or other potentially dangerous or unhealthy results, the search for alternative energy sources has likewise intensified. Coal plants generate carbon dioxide, mercury contaminants, and various other undesirable effluents that are released into the environment. Natural gas has been utilized to a certain extent to generate heat and thus power for electrical generators; however, such gas stocks are difficult to reach and their access has proven to be rather controversial on occasion. Not to mention, the high flammability of such a resource has led to disastrous consequences on occasion with pipeline leaks and other like problems. Nuclear power has merited scrutiny as the underlying technology is suspect for safety and the potential for very harmful releases due to natural disasters, let alone, potential military or other attacks. Each of these power generating methods also rely upon the building of new plants in order to increase the amount of power available to certain geographic areas that are growing in population every year. With regulations, costs, time lags, and other such logistic and practical issues, these typical and traditional power generating processes are not simple to implement. Furthermore, the fixed location of such plants leaves them susceptible to any number of natural and manmade problems, from natural disasters (such as tornados shutting down Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear plants in Alabama, or a tsunami literally destroying parts of a plant in Japan) to tragic human errors (such as the spillage of toxic coal waste in Tennessee, harming many acres of farmland and river sources, and shuttering the plant itself as a result) to worn out infrastructure issues (such as natural gas pipelines that have exploded due to earthquakes in the Middle East or due to deterioration over time in the United States, at least).
As has been quite noticeable in recent years, as well, electricity grids are highly dependent on the continual output of such coal, gas, and nuclear energy sources throughout the world. If disasters strike, as they have recently, and quite often, large swaths of populations may be left without power for unreasonable lengths of time. As the world has grown more and more dependent upon such available and relatively inexpensive energy sources for everyday activities, at least, there exists a need to provide not just cleaner sources of power around the globe, but sources that are reliable, plentiful, and inexpensive as well.
As alternatives, then, various natural, clean resources have been explored and/or revisited, albeit highly dependent upon government subsidies for implementation. For instance, wind power has proven to be relatively effective as an energy source, and more and more wind farms have been erected fairly recently as a result, at great cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, such devices generate undesirable noise problems (and thus are considered nuisances to many that live within a certain distance from such farms) and, more importantly, are also at the mercy of actual wind sources; with low wind speeds, turbines may not properly rotate, thus reducing the effectiveness and efficiency of such devices. As well, large bladed wind turbines have been found to be potentially dangerous to the environment as certain species of birds have been harmed and even killed as a result of such machines. Another possibility, solar energy, has been considered and tried for many years in this respect. Although it has proven to be somewhat effective in the past, solar energy platforms are extremely expensive to implement; the costs involved with such systems have not been found to provide the necessary degree of efficiency to justify such outlays (and, again, have been largely subsidized through governmental payments rather than personal investments). Similar to wind power issues, solar energy generation is also dependent upon consistent exposure to the sun; in certain areas of the globe such a system would not function well if the sun were not readily available for photon capture over an appreciable period of time.
Water sources remain a viable option as a means of generating power, too. Unfortunately, though, past attempts at capturing hydrokinetic power have proven rather difficult to implement as well. The water wheel has been tried for many years, although this has been primarily a means to generate mechanical power through the flow of a stream present at an elevated height in relation to the wheel itself. Thus, such prior wheels (grist mills, for instance), depended upon the actual height of the water source in terms of potential energy to generate kinetic energy through the water drop on to the wheel blades (or like components). Such energy levels were sufficient for milling purposes in the past; in terms of electric generation, such devices would not attain sufficient kinetic energy for such a purpose. Hydroelectric dams have been constructed for many years, and at great cost, to provide electricity generation in certain geographic regions, as well. The necessity of preventing riparian or other water source flow in total through the erection of a dam, unfortunately, may cause environmental or other problems (lack of access to water in certain areas) that have proven, on occasion, to be more trouble than such an energy source is actually worth. As well, constant upkeep, regulatory compliance, and static location leave such energy generating alternatives suspect as well. Furthermore, as noted above, the costs with building such a dam, the time required to implement such a project, the environmental issues with potentially damaging aquatic creatures within the underwater turbines, and numerous other problematic concerns, leave such an electrical generating alternative as rather undesirable as a water source possibility.
Paddlewheel devices have been considered as alternative electrical generators in the past, too. Such prior devices have all involved either a fixed or floating vessel with at least one wheel component configured to rotate as the flow of water contacts immersed blades configured around its periphery. These previous paddlewheel designs all have the same limitations and drawbacks in that they all depend upon the flow speed of the water source directly to produce rotation of the target wheel component. In such a configuration, the water is thus supplied to the paddlewheel as it flows specifically within the water source. Thus, the current of the water in general, as it flows in contact with the wheel blades, and as it moves away from the wheel blades is substantially the same (in actuality, due to the open flow of the water source, and the force necessary to rotate the wheel through the blades, the current at the paddlewheel would be less than that of the water source itself). Such a result would create a highly inefficient method of power generation as the water flow speed would be the determining factor in the rotational speed generation of the wheel; with a low rotational velocity, the kinetic energy available for power generation would be rather low, effectively reducing the viability, if not reliability, of the overall system as a proper energy generating alternative to those described above.
Furthermore, even with paddlewheel devices that include open channels that provide a certain degree of water flow increase therethrough, such previous configurations have not imparted increases in water velocity above those expected for open channel designs. For example, the inclusion of outwardly curved pontoon floats (or attached walls) to a buoyant paddlewheel device would provide a limited increase of water flow; however, such a resultant transfer of kinetic energy would not provide a significant increase in overall power as such a straightforward open-channel design would not accord anything over a five to ten, at most, percent rise in water flow speed. To the contrary, to be effective in terms of causing necessarily high water flow speed increases, a design or configuration that allows for not only a doubling in water speed (at least), but also a significant increase force applied to the target paddlewheel blades during operation, would be of importance to create the most efficient electrical generation capabilities for a paddlewheel-based power plant. As such, open channel devices are too limited for such a purpose.
Thus, there remains a distinct need to provide an effective, reliable, clean, environmentally acceptable, efficient means to generate electrical power. The typical methods and the past alternative (clean) processes all exhibit significant drawbacks and deficiencies, as described above. As such, the potential for a moveable power generator that can utilize a natural riparian source at virtually any flow speed (such as, as examples, a river or tidal flow source) for effective electrical generation for either individual utilization or connection to a grid, is highly desirable. Additionally, a device that would also permit transport to any permissible and available geographic area for general and/or emergency power generation, as well as potentially accord a user the ability to provide not only power production, but also other beneficial services (emergency or otherwise), would also be a great necessity throughout the world. To date, again, the power generating industry has yet to provide such a highly beneficial system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine for providing propulsion forces to wheels of the vehicle. In an electric-only propulsion mode, the engine is disabled and the electric machine acts as the power source for the wheels. In a hybrid propulsion mode, the engine is activated to act as an additional power source for the wheels. At least one controller along with a plurality of sensors and positional information devices activate an active safety control signal in response to objects surrounding the vehicle that pose a threat to a potential collision event. In response to the active safety control signal, the engine can be either automatically started or stopped to provide additional available power or a reduced available power, respectively.

In a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), either or both of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are capable of selectively supplying tractive power to the wheels of the vehicle. In an electric-only drive mode, the electric motor, battery, and inverter (and other components) provide tractive power to the wheels while the engine is disabled (i.e., "off"). In a hybrid drive mode, both the engine and the electric components combine to provide tractive power to the wheels. Available torque and power is maximized when the vehicle is operating in the hybrid drive mode and both the engine and electric motor are immediately available to provide power to the wheels.
Recently, advancements in vehicular safety have been made to better warn the driver and prepare the vehicle in case of an upcoming impact event. For instance, vehicles may provide visual and/or audible alerts to the driver in response to detected dangers on the road. Autonomous braking has developed in which the vehicle automatically applies brake pressure to the wheels in order to avoid a possible collision scenario detected in front of the vehicle. There exists a need to develop additional active safety features, specifically in HEVs.

Control strategy to alter available wheel power in a vehicle


Exemplary embodiments relate to a method and system for updating a model in a model predictive controller. The system executing a method that includes assessing the deviation of the operating performance level from the desired performance level of the process plant, and diagnosing the model predictive control for the model plant mismatch by updating the model in a model predictive controller. The step of diagnosing the model predictive controller includes determining the model prediction error in relation to model plant mismatch, quantifying the model plant mismatch, and updating the model in the model predictive controller.

In a process control industry, Advanced Process Control (APC) is employed to reduce operating costs, achieve high productivity, maintain quality, and for other similar reasons. APC allows transition from present operating schema to an improved and more productive operating schema of the process control industry, and also accommodate operating and design constraints of the process involved in the process control industry.
Known multivariable APCs can implement an advanced multivariable control scheme called Model Predictive Control (MPC) in Multivariable Predictive Controllers. MPCs use a mathematical model of the process involved in the process plant, in order to predict the future dynamic behavior of the process and accordingly provide optimal manipulated variables for the process and operation of the plant thereof. From this, it can be understood that accuracy of the model is a key element in effective and successful implementation of MPC.
Plant dynamics changes are resulting in a mismatch between the model and the plant, termed as Model Plant Mismatch (MPM). MPM leads to inaccurate predictions of the plant dynamics. Using APC having a model impacted by the MPM can degrade the MPC and overall control performance thereof, which can also alter the product quality and causes economic losses.
It becomes important to update the model upon detection of poor performance of the controller, in order to eliminate the performance degradation of the controller. Poor performance of the controller can be detected by well-established MPC performance monitoring. For instance, a simple approach could be to analyse the prediction errors, which being the difference between the model predictions and true outputs. After the detection of poor performance of the controller, cause for the same, such as poor model (e.g., MPM), unmeasured disturbance, and constraint saturation etc. can be identified and diagnosed using established diagnosis techniques.
In know systems upon identification or detection of a poor model, MPM is diagnosed by and after re-identification of the model. Re-identification of the model involves designing the perturbation signal, deciding and/or considering the operating conditions of the plant during perturbation, choosing an appropriate model and estimating model parameters. This can call for a high degree of expertise and can be time consuming. Also, it can involve a longer perturbation period, by which a large amount or number of product with low quality, usually termed as off spec product are produced during the perturbation period.

Method and system for updating a model in a model predictive controller


A group conferencing arrangement for a counseling service permits the simultaneous connection of two or more service representatives to a call-in caller, i.e. without need for one service representative to add-on the second service representative conferee. The call-in caller signifies their wishing to partake in a plural service representative call by dialing a special 800 or 900 telephone number or signifying the same via entering an appropriate response to an audio response unit. Each service representative may have a terminal equipped with a display or other means for receiving the identity of the call-in caller and the other service representative connected to the group conference call. A common controlled automatic call distributor for providing the group conferencing feature preferably includes dual tone multi-frequency receiver/decoder circuits, automatic number identification and dialed number identification circuits, audio response circuits and conference bridge circuits including automatic dialing equipment. In an enhancement, caller preference criteria is matched to service representative data prior to determining service representatives to be connected to the caller. Moreover, calls may be intentionally limited in duration or number to protect the caller, calls may be blocked if certain negative criteria is matched, certain fraud control measures taken in the event the caller is to be billed for the service and form of payment authorization obtained prior to completion of a call.

A. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of group telecommunications conference arrangements and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously conferencing a caller to plural service representatives, for example, of a psychic counseling network service such as the Yellow Pages Psychic Network (TM) service available from Zodiac Group, Inc. and to call limiting, call blocking, fraud control and payment and billing arrangements therefor. Two or more service representatives can provide better quality service as the caller receives counseling from plural service providers; for example, the caller may receive a second opinion simultaneous with the first and counseling services tailored and pre-selected to their needs.
B. Description of the Related Arts
So-called psychic network services have been in operation for several years, conferencing a service representative who may counsel on life, love and prosperity to a call-in caller to an 800 or 900 telephone number. For a nominal per minute fee, the caller can ask any question of the service representative and, generally, the psychic service representative may give counsel to the caller on any aspect of the caller's life. Such a service typically has not involved the ability to provide more than one service representative to assist the caller. Although so-called add-on conferencing is known in the art of private branch exchange systems, the add-on conference has not been used to date by the first service representative in such a service to conference in a second service representative.
Presently, a caller to the Yellow Pages Psychic Network service dials one of a plurality of telephone numbers used to gauge the quality of the advertising source, i.e., where the caller noticed the network service's telephone number. The telephone number connects the caller to the same service bureau where is typically located an automatic call distribution system. The caller hears an announcement regarding costs and charges that may be referred to as a preamble and is then offered a menu to choose from. If one knows the extension number of the psychic that they have used before, they may enter that telephone extension. The caller is also given a choice to listen to brief resumes of the presently available psychics to serve them and, if the caller decides on a particular psychic, the caller may press the * button to reach that psychic. The caller is in control of the call and can only speak to one psychic in a call.
Billing arrangements in such systems are primitive and may rely on (900) service for the service provider to bill the caller for the call. In an (800) number call, the service provider pays for the call and must assure themselves that payment will be received even more than in a (900) call. The service records credit card or other payment data manually into memory in order to properly bill for the call. Such procedures have led to many callers questioning their bills and in many instances and due to the inefficiencies of the billing procedures, callers have received free calls due to fraudulent payment schemes, improper granting of credit and the like. In a service offered by a company known as Mile High Psychics, credit cards are used for prepayment for blocks of service usage time. Credit authorization is obtained far in advance of a call. For example, the customer may purchase 25 minutes of service in advance of a call and utilize a personal identification number or code (PIN) at the time of their call to access the service.
Automatic call distribution telecommunications equipment is known for providing this service and other services. Common controlled automatic call distribution equipment, for example, is available for purchase from Lucent Technologies, Inc. and other manufacturers of common controlled switching equipment. Typically a service bureau or related organization offers services through a service bureau owned automatic call distribution system. The automatic call distributor channels a call by a call-in caller requesting service to a next available service representative of a service representative availability queue. It is always assumed that one service representative should respond to the call. Service representatives, typically equipped with displays and operator type headset for hands-free operation, typically consult databases for, for example, making travel reservations. To this end, they may be each provided with access to large computer databases of travel reservation information.
From U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,874, it is generally known to provide two types of conferencing arrangements: a so-called meet-me conference arrangement and a so-called group conferencing arrangement. The present application as well as the a '874 patent describe a group conference call. The term "group call" refers to a conference arrangement whereby one party, called the conference originator, initiates action to summon all other conferees. (The meet-me conference relates to a plurality of conferees meeting at a pre-determined time to establish a conference call.) The '874 patent further describes a conference bridge having a conferee port circuit including associated automatic dialing apparatus for initiating calls to conferees in accordance with prearranged programs. Also, the originating port circuit is equipped with a dual tone multi-frequency receiver circuit and decoder circuitry for controlling various modes of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,996 solves a problem in a service representative arrangement. Customer service representatives are provided with computer database facilities and display terminals. The agent may view a display of all phone calls waiting to be handled. Customer information may be coordinated for display with a particular call. A caller who joins a call can share information associated with the conference call.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,747 describes a "meet-me" conference arrangement. Nevertheless, the problem solved is the need for a display at a terminal of all the names and telephone numbers of participants in the meet-me conference. According to the '747 patent, a telephone terminal stores conferee identification information received from other telephone terminals and is responsive to actuation of an inspect button to display identification information for each conferee. For example, a single-line alphanumeric display can step through the identity of each of the conferees of a conference call.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,762 describes a system and method for redirecting a telephone call incoming to a first line to a selected one or ones of second lines and ringing them simultaneously. The problem solved by that invention is that a single telecommunications customer can have multiple numbers, a pager, a cellular phone, a work phone and a home phone, for example. The '762 patent suggests ringing a plurality of such numbers simultaneously under control of a processor in physical proximity to the first telephone.
Ronald A. Katz is believed to hold U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,939,773; 5,297,197 and 5,442,688, all directed to the opposite problem than that solved by the present invention. A plurality of telephone terminals T1 through Tn can be grouped, even pre-determined and preselected to form a group, for conferencing with a single primary telephone terminal Pt. A large number of terminals T can receive communication from the single primary terminal P, for example, the president of a company sending a message to its employees. The terminals T are typically equipped with a keyboard, an earpiece (speaker) and microphone, while the primary terminal may be equipped preferably with a display and controller for controlling the group of terminals T. The equipment may incorporate audio response units for assisting in the call processing by making announcements and providing voice signals to cue and inform.
Despite these prior art conferencing arrangements and schemes, there still remains a need in the art of providing services to call-in callers requesting services for a conferencing arrangement that better assists the call-in caller to provide requested services, protects the caller from utilizing the offered services too frequently, blocks unwanted calls, provides controls against credit card and other form of payment fraud and, when billing is involved, provides more efficient payment authorization and billing arrangements.

Multiple service representative conferencing apparatus and method


A Method for Interpreting Seismic Data Using Duplex Waves is described. Whereas substantially horizontal boundaries are readily identified using conventional processing methods based on primary reflections, it has been difficult or impossible to use such methods for locating substantially vertical events or boundaries. The method of the present invention uses secondary reflections to locate substantially vertical events by gathering common source or receiver traces for processing. Wave fields of these gathers are continued downward to the level of the base boundary, then at each discrete depth level, a seismic image of sub-vertical events is formed. The downward-continued gathers correspond to the travel time of the wave from when it left the source or the receiver point, was reflected from the base boundary, and arrived to the corresponding point of the discrete level of wave-field continuation. In order to increase the noise tolerance of the resulting image of the target sub-vertical event-seismic images, obtained from the common source and receiver gathers, may also be summed together or stacked.

Conventional seismic data processing methods are based on detecting primary reflections using a line (2D) or a grid (3D) of receivers placed on or near the surface of a geologic zone of interest. The position of each receiver is known relative to a source of seismic energy, which when triggered creates acoustic mechanical waves, which in turn activate electro-mechanical transducers that are an element of each receiver. Each mechanical wave can activate one or more transducers while outbound from its source, then again upon a first reflection from a subsurface interface or boundary (sometimes called an "event"), and then again upon one or more secondary or tertiary reflections. Electro-magnetic signals generated by the transducers are recorded or "gathered" (i.e. creating a seismogram to represent the primary reflected waves), then position corrected or "migrated", and later "stacked" with sibling signals recorded by the same receiver during subsequent activations of the same source in order to reduce the influence of transient noise. Using any of a number of available algorithms that accept as data such signals resulting from primary reflections, gathers are processed to generate images that reveal substantially horizontal boundaries or interfaces at different depths, which images represent events or layers against which the mechanical waves were at different times reflected and through which those waves travel at different velocities that depend in part on the properties of the surface of those events and the composition of those layers.
It is understood that information respecting primary reflections arriving at different receivers at different times from sub-horizontal events can be coordinated and interpreted to accurately identify subsurface reflectors that are instead oriented somewhat vertically (known as sub-verticals) to within a limited range of angles (normally less than 60 degrees). For these mildly vertical reflectors such extrapolation from primary reflections has been developed to filter out complex double reflections and ignore their influence on resulting images as noise. However, for more steeply vertical reflectors such techniques extrapolating from primary reflections are insufficient to generate unambiguous images so as to reveal the existence, position, and orientation of such events to an acceptable level of certainty.
Where a vertically oriented reflector is sufficiently large or otherwise distinct (e.g. well known faults that are used as reference reflectors for testing and calibrating systems), conventional technologies can gather signals strong enough for experienced users to successfully extrapolate the required vertical information from horizontal information. However, when the steeply dipping reflector is a more subtle fault, even the most skilled users are exposed to a margin of error that is unacceptably large for the purpose of deciding where to spend millions of dollars drilling into a formation, which requires a high level of confidence that the deduced image is both genuine and located where calculated.
One example of such conventional seismic data processing methods is described in Ukraine Patent #42312, G01V1/100, G01V1/40, publ. 15 Oct. 2001 Bulletin #9, issued to Maramlevsky et al. ("312") respecting a seismic reflection method for studying steeply dipping (i.e. sub-vertical) reflectors, whereby a linear group of sources is placed orthogonally to the plane of the exploration target, and the receivers are located both on the surface and in a borehole. The data is processed by multi-channel filtration to enhance primary waves that are reflected and dispersed from sub-vertical dipping and curvilinear boundaries. The seismic images of boundaries are generated based on the concurrent analysis of both the surface and the subsurface data, which determines spatial positioning and tests the validity of the constructed images. Disadvantageously, the method of 312 requires recordings from deep in a borehole, reducing its practical application, and processes only primary reflections.
Another example of conventional seismic data processing method is described in USSR Patent #894633, M. Kl. G01V1/100, publ. 30 Dec. 81 Bulletin #48, issued to Shalishov et al ("633") respecting a seismic reflection method for steeply dipping reflectors, which is based on generation and recording of reflected waves along a linear profile of several sources that are located on the dip side of the steeply dipping surface. The interval between source and receiver points is selected to be no smaller than double the distance between the source point and the projection of the edge of the target surface onto the line of the source profile. Waves are recorded from the common point of double reflection—i.e. "duplex" waves, meaning those waves (commonly referred to as "formed under conditions of a spatial corner") that have undergone double reflection—the first or primary reflection from the steeply dipping target surface and, the secondary reflection from any flat surface. The method of 633 assumes the recording of waves from points of common double reflection with certain delays, which assures in-phase summing, minimal distortion, and the maximum suppression of noise. Disadvantageously, the method of 633 requires special positioning of receivers and sources in relation to the dipping surface of the sub-vertical target, which leads to ambiguity unless there is prior data about the dip direction of the event. Further, the method of 633 provides an increased signal-to-noise ratio only for the duplex wave, without providing for a method of forming an image of the sub-vertical events ("SVE").
The development of migration procedures in recent years has permitted increased accuracy in mapping areas having complex geology, including areas having salt domes. However, precise delineation of salt stocks, tracing of faults, and other problems connected with near-salt sediments, often still result in ambiguous solutions because sub-vertical reflecting boundaries have rugose surfaces. Waves reflected only once from such boundaries, tend not to reach the surface (at least within the observation geometry) and have been studied using "vertical seismic profiles" (VSP) according to which seismic images are created using a special migration transformation. However, the practical efficiency of such an approach is limited, because in the boreholes such reflections can only be recorded at depth intervals deeper than the target boundary. However, some waves can be reflected by sub-vertical faces of salt stocks and subsequently by sub-horizontal boundaries in adjacent sediments, permitting them to be recorded on the surface if they have enough energy to be identified against the background of other reflections. In Russia such waves are known as "duplex", having undergone two reflections during propagation. Duplex waves can be formed not only under conditions of salt dome tectonics, but also at small-displacement faults, when the acoustic properties of the fault contrast significantly with those of the host rock. This commonly happens when the fault is a tectonic element of a hydrocarbon trap and, therefore, the epigenetic alterations associated with the deposit result in a significant acoustic contrast across the dislocation zone. Consequently, while it is difficult to use phase-shift analysis (due to the low resolving power of conventional seismic processing methods) duplex waves can be used to identify and trace faults with small displacements.
Typically, after "shooting" a new set of raw data—substantial work will be done to create the basic seismic data used for conventional processing of information relating to primary reflections. For example, if the soil within the observation surface (3D) or observation profile (2D) is uneven or composed of compressible material such as topsoil, then the raw data will typically be normalized or static corrections made, or filtered to remove the effects of surface waves. Such work as is used for pre-stack migration results in an output data set that is easier to use in future processing.
All such conventional processing requires a velocity model to define the propagation velocity of acoustic energy through the subject geologic medium (whether for a 3D cube or a 2D cross-section) at different depths. Sometimes the velocity model used is derived from actual well logs that directly identify what kind of medium is present at each of those different depths. Knowing or assuming a propagation velocity of acoustic energy through the subject geologic medium permits users to calculate the position over time of each point on a wave-front, which in turn permits the extrapolation of information regarding the position of any event from which that wave-front is believed to have been reflected. If the velocity model is not accurate, then position information respecting the base boundaries will be different when calculated based on primary reflections originating from different sources, which will cause the base boundary to "move" as the assumptions built-in to the velocity model are adjusted. These position errors can be used to allow an experienced user to instinctively adjust either the position or the model, to reduce the error as between different sets of assumptions. However, disadvantageously, for conventional processing of planes or cubes including sub-horizontal reflectors—only one side of each horizontal reflector is accessible from which to calculate its position such that errors in the velocity model result in errors in the position of the generated image of such horizontal reflectors, relative to their true position. It is therefore desirable to have means and a method to improve both a velocity model and the calculated position of the image of a reflector.
The prior art in the seismic data processing industry has concentrated on teaching variations of and refinements on the use of primary reflected energy, often treating multiple reflections as noise. However, even where duplex waves resulting from secondary or subsequent reflections is taken into account, the prior art relies on special configurations of the detection system. Accordingly it is desirable to have a method that uses information previously considered to be noise, and requires no special setup such that pre-existing recorded data may be reprocessed to obtain new information.
Conventional seismic acquisition and processing use primary reflected waves propagating from the surface source, then reflecting from some sub-surface event (e.g. an individual reflector, a boundary, or an interface between layers of different compositions), and then traveling back to the surface where they are observed. Disadvantageously, primary reflections from steeply dipping boundaries may reach the observation surface far outside the observation geometry or not reach it at all. Events that may be imaged using mainly primary reflections are commonly referred to as sub-horizontal boundaries, whereas steeply dipping or inclined boundaries that are difficult to identify using only primary reflections are referred to as sub-vertical boundaries or sub-vertical events ("SVE"). Waves returning to the surface from major sub-horizontal or "base" boundaries may be both reflected and refracted, which can be of practical significance since high-velocity layers (e.g. limestone) are commonly the strongest reflection boundaries on which pronounced refracted waves may be formed.
By way of definition, migration is an inversion operation during which seismic data elements are rearranged in order to plot images of reflectors at their true location, but includes the data processing and corrective adjustments necessary for the 2-D case to generate an image including the position of corrected faults. Modeling is the generation of a seismic environment based on artificial data. Imaging is used in the wider sense to include the data processing required to create an "image". Vizualization is used in the narrow sense of creating output for viewing on a screen or printout. And, Geometric place of the points ("GPP") means the position of points relating to a geometric construct. For example, a sphere is a GPP having the same distance from its center to each point on its surface. Each receiver in an observation geometry records (the amplitude of) seismic signals from a source as a function of time (t). The beginning of signal generation by a source corresponds to t=0. Seismic signals recorded by one receiver are known as a "trace" (amplitude as function of time). Traces normally are combined in a "gather". Traces may be combined in different ways, for example, traces relating to one source represent Common Source Gather ("CSG"), whereas traces relating to one receiver recording from different sources are known as a Common Receiver Gather ("CRG").

Method, system and apparatus for interpreting seismic data using duplex waves


A ferroelectric memory device includes a cell block, a bit line, and a plate line. The cell block includes a ferroelectric capacitor and a transistor switch. The bit line applies a voltage to one electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor. The plate line applies a voltage to the other electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor. In a read operation of data, a first voltage is applied to the plate line. In a write operation of data, a second voltage different from the first voltage is applied to the plate line, and a voltage which is higher or lower than the second voltage is applied to the bit line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory device using polarization inversion of a ferroelectric material.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ferroelectric memory device functions as a nonvolatile memory by a characteristic in which polarization remains even though an external electric field is made zero. The ferroelectric memory device has the following excellent characteristics in comparison with an existing rewritable nonvolatile memory. That is, a power consumption is small, and a random access speed is high. For this reason, the ferroelectric memory device is highly expected as a next-generation memory device.
Data reading from the ferroelectric memory device is destructive read. For this reason, after reading, the data must be written in a memory cell again. More specifically, after "0" is read from the memory cell, "0" is written-back in the memory cell. After "1" is read from the memory cell, "1" is written-back in the memory cell. The "0" writing and the "1" writing are independently performed. Therefore, cycle time required for a series of operations from the data reading to the writing of "0" and "1" is relatively long.
On the other hand, the following method is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-212771. That is, in a reading operation and a writing operation, a voltage of a plate line is fixed to an intermediate value between a high level and a low level, and "0" writing and "1" writing are simultaneously performed. In this method, however, write time can be shortened, but a signal amount in reading decreases to about ½, and the reliability is deteriorated disadvantageously.
For this reason, a method which can increase a signal amount in reading and shorten a write time is desired.

Ferroelectric memory device having ferroelectric capacitor


A system and a method are disclosed for implementing distributed processing in edge nodes. In an embodiment, a respective edge node receives data from a client of the respective edge node. The respective edge node generates a prediction of a respective activity based on the data, and determines whether the prediction is valid by feeding the prediction into a validator module and receiving a validation response from the validator module. The respective edge node, in response to determining that the prediction is valid, activates a function.

Communications systems are designed with a centralized architecture for training a model and using the model to output predictions. In such systems, to train the model, as intermediate nodes and edge nodes receive or generate data, that data is propagated to a central database. The central database of such systems thus involves massive storage capacity for storing data from, e.g., a nationwide communications infrastructure, in perpetuity. The model is trained based on this wealth of data to inform and validate predictions for newly received data.
Such systems suffer from several disadvantages. First, because the model is trained using years of persistently stored data, huge amounts of storage capacity must be maintained, which may become prohibitively expensive as time passes and more data is collected. Further, such centralized systems fail to finetune for local conditions. For example, a centralized system for the state of California fails to finetune validation decisions for microclimate temperature variations (e.g., snow in Lake Tahoe and extreme heat in Death Valley), geographic-specific communications activity (e.g., cell phone use patterns in a dense city like San Francisco versus in a rural environment such as Napa), and the like. As yet another disadvantage, because these systems require years of training data to accurately validate predictions, the training data is largely a static model that does not move when sudden shifts that represent a small amount of a data pool (but a large amount of recently received data) occur.
In such implementations, it is not possible to simply take existing predictor and tuner functionality and move this functionality to edge nodes. The high computational requirements of the related art implementations require extremely high computational power (e.g., from graphical processing unit (GPU) structures) that is prohibitively expensive and impractical to implement at edge nodes. Moreover, the related art implementations cannot be applied to edge nodes because these edge nodes do not have large data lakes, and instead collect data non-persistently, and thus, validation models would be uninformed if wholesale-moved to edge nodes.

Synchronized distributed processing in a communications network


A new structure for a colored gem, generally round or oval, in which a barrel cut is employed, but which has a center top edge and transverse boundaries which increases the thickness of the stone with additional facets provided to enhance reflection and overall brilliance.

The present invention is directed to improving the brilliance of gemstones, including diamond and colored precious and semi-precious stones. A new structure is provided which increases enhanced brilliance radiated from the precious stones by increasing reflecting surface area and the thickness of the stone.
Precious and semi-precious stones are cut to provide brilliance in an economical manner. This invention preferably is directed to round or oval stones in which a flat table normally is generally provided for the top surface. In some prior art structures, a barrel cut is provided which reduces the size of the flat table, but still has a large flat top area as well as unbroken parallel edges between rows of linear facet cuts extending from end to end of the stone. The present invention's structure provides a similar cut to the barrel cut while eliminating the large flat top area and otherwise providing structural differences which enhance the brilliance of the stone. The present invention not only improves brilliance of stones, but it improves the attractive and creative qualities of precious stone jewelry.

Facet cut structure for gemstones to enhance brilliance


A computer-implemented method for enabling deduplication of attachment files within a database is described. A database file comprising data blocks of an attachment file positioned intermittently among data blocks of the database file is inspected. A first map may be generated from the inspection of the database file and the attachment file. The data blocks of the database file and the data blocks of the attachment file are identified according to the first map. The data blocks of the database file are written to a database data file. The data blocks of the attachment file are written to an attachment data file. The attachment data file is deduplicated with at least one other data file.

The use of computer systems and computer-related technologies continues to increase at a rapid pace. This increased use of computer systems has influenced the advances made to computer-related technologies. Indeed, computer systems have increasingly become an integral part of the business world and the activities of individual consumers. Computer systems may be used to carry out several business, industry, and academic endeavors. The wide-spread use of computers has been accelerated by the increased use of computer networks, including the Internet.
Many businesses use one or more computer networks to communicate and share data between the various computers connected to the networks. The productivity and efficiency of employees often requires human and computer interaction. Users of computer technologies continue to demand that the efficiency of these technologies increase. Improving the efficiency of computer technologies is important to anyone that uses and relies on computers.
Data stored on a computing device may become corrupted and inaccessible. A backup of the data may be performed in order to restore the data in the event the data becomes corrupted and inaccessible. A backup refers to making copies of the data. These copies of data may be used to restore the original data after a data loss event. Backups may be useful for many purposes. For example, backups may restore data following a disaster. This may be referred to as disaster recovery. In addition, backups may restore a small number of files that have been accidentally deleted or corrupted.
In order to conserve storage space within a storage device, duplicate data may not be stored. Deduplication techniques may be implemented so that only a single copy is stored within the storage device. Different backup processes may backup a file to the storage device. These various processes may cause deduplication techniques to be ineffective, which may lead to duplicate data being stored on the storage device. As a result, benefits may be realized by providing systems and methods for enabling deduplication of files across various backup processes.

Systems and methods for enabling deduplication of attachment files within a database


A wireless device communications mode selector dynamically establishes an optimal communication mode between wireless devices and/or access point, such that stations communicate directly with each other or indirectly through an existing AP depending upon which mode would yield higher throughput under present network conditions and configuration. In an embodiment of the invention, a measurement based mechanism is used to decide which communication mode is more efficient. If it is decided that direct communication is optimal, the two stations can either form an adhoc network or an STA can be dynamically configured to become a wireless repeater access point (soft AP).

As the use of wireless networking technologies in home environments increases, the need for ensuring high bandwidth and traffic prioritization increases. For example, much of the material transported over networks in the home environment is entertainment material, and most of this material is video and/or audio intensive. Audio and video materials require adequate average bandwidth as well as a certain level of reliable and timely transmission, perhaps ahead of other non-time sensitive information.
One way to allow interconnectivity of devices is through a wireless LAN. Wireless LANs are becoming an increasingly popular technology for interconnecting devices that are in close proximity (e.g., within the range of IEEE 802.11 technologies) to each other. The most common way to maintain a wireless LAN is in what is known as infrastructure mode. This mode entails the use of a specialized device known as an Access Point (AP). There is typically a single AP per wireless LAN and all the wireless stations (STAs) and the AP in a wireless LAN communicate using the same channel (frequency). Multiple wireless LANs may communicate with each other to form an extended wireless LAN. In addition to the AP and STAs in infrastructure mode, there may also be devices known as wireless repeater APs. A wireless repeater AP attaches to an AP as an STA but simultaneously advertises itself as another AP with the same network ID and channel number as the AP it is attached to.
An alternative manner of interconnecting wireless devices involves the use of what is known as "adhoc" mode. In this mode, there is no specialized AP device. An ad-hoc network can be formed for example when all the STAs that are to be a part of the adhoc network are configured with the same network name and security keys.
When two STAs communicate with each other through an AP (in infrastructure mode), the communication happens twice over the wireless link, once from the sending STA to the AP and then again from the AP to the receiving STA. FIG. 1 shows a networking environment 100 in which two STAs 101, 103 are communicating with each other through an AP 105. In this environment, all communications between STAs 101, 103 go over the wireless channel twice, once from the sending STA 101 to the AP 105 and then from the AP 105 to the receiving STA 103, resulting in wastage of wireless bandwidth. This can be appreciated when it is considered that a typical radio transmission is largely omnidirectional and fills the allotted channel locally. Thus, from the standpoint of channel usage, a radio transmission from an AP to an STA can be envisioned more as is shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when any radio transmission is ongoing in a particular locale, no other transmissions using the same channel in the same locale are possible. For the sake of clarity, radio transmissions will generally be illustrated herein as passing just between the parties to the communication, but it will be understood that radio transmissions are essentially omnidirectional.
The duplication of transmissions in a typical wireless LAN operating in infrastructure mode results in wastage of wireless bandwidth, e.g., data transfer capacity is approximately half of what it would optimally be. Such waste is generally undesirable, and is particularly problematic in home or other environments where the transmission of audio and/or video data requires high bandwidth and optimal channel usage.

Measurement based mechanism to enable two wireless devices to directly communicate with each other to support traffic prioritization


The invention is an improvement in a carton of the type having a compartment for multiple containers of beverage and means for holding a coolant such as ice in heat exchange relationship to containers, e.g., cans. In the improved carton, the holding means includes a plurality of panels in stacked relationship to one another in a repose position, i.e., when the carton is in the "as sold" configuration. In such configuration, the carton main compartment is of substantially conventional size to hold, for example, twelve or twenty-four 12 oz. cans of beverage. When the user desires to chill the cans (or keep them chilled), the panels are unfolded to a utility position to form an ice bin atop the compartment. Ice is poured into the bin and cans are cooled by direct contact with the ice. By first withdrawing plural cans from the compartment, pouring in ice and then nestling the withdrawn cans back into the bin-contained ice, many or all cans are in direct cooling contact with the ice. A carton blank and method for using the improved carton are also disclosed.

Beverages such as soda and beer are commonly sold in "personal" or single-serving size containers such as 12 oz. cans or bottles. Beverage producers usually package a number of such containers together for sale as a group. "Six-packs" are an example and in this type of package, the containers are substantially fully exposed, being held together only by a plastic strap and/or plastic "necklace."
Producers also put up multiple containers, usually cans, in 12- or 24-can cartons containing, respectively, a 4.times.3 or 6.times.4 "matrix" of individual cans. The former is a particularly popular size and is sold in very high quantities. The 12-can carton is often thought to be more convenient for "portable use" since it includes sufficient cans to serve more than one or two persons but at the same time, its modest weight and bulk make it very easy to carry.
During warmer months, canned beverages (which are often cooled at the point of purchase) will quickly become warm unless consumed rather soon thereafter. In consequence, consumers who wish to keep the beverage cool for extended periods during warm weather (or to cool beverages purchased at room temperature) while at the same time retaining "portability" must repackage the cans into a larger but portable container to which ice is added. And, typically, the larger container is of styrofoam or rigid plastic, is intended for repeated use and has significant value; that is, such container is clearly not disposable.
An example of a carton which can be used to cool containers is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,337 (Krieg). The primary purpose of the illustrated waterproof carton is as a receptacle in which ice, not beverage, is packed for sale. The top of the carton folds open and locks together to form a platform with openings through which the beverage container can be inserted while the beverage is being consumed. All panels used to form the platform are folded at least once when the carton is configured for sale. And all such panels are connected to the "parent" carton beneath. The patent explains that the carton can be used to package soda and beer at the point of sale and separately-purchased ice added later.
When used as a "point of sale" package, the carton is undoubtedly closed and sealed. If ice is later added, it is received in an upper region formed when the side and end flaps are unfolded. The side flaps (which are exposed to view when the carton is closed) and the end flaps are inter-connected to form a continuous, foursided wall. Because of such interconnection, all flaps must be folded up or down simultaneously. And if the carton is used as described, i.e., folded shut to provide a can "caddy," one must manipulate the flaps to gain access to the carton interior.
Another arrangement for cooling packaged beverage cans is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,010 (Hamilton et al.). The cans are on a cardboard support and surrounded by a shrink-wrap plastic bag. The bag is sufficiently high that it can be opened, ice placed within it and the bag retied for container cooling.
A somewhat different arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,176 (Hasselhoff). This patent discloses a special receptacle in which containerized products and ice are simultaneously shipped. In its "as made" state, the volumetric capacity of the carton is significantly greater than that used to confine the product alone.
A two-piece refrigerated shipping container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,320 (Osborn et al.). The product to be cooled is placed around the perimeter of the main container and the refrigerant container is placed within the main container in a central area. When the carton flaps are folded shut, the mouth of the refrigerant container is open and accessible for reicing.
A disadvantage of the cartons or carton-like packages shown in the foregoing patents is that they are all "top loaded." Modern high speed packaging machinery used to package multiple cans or bottles of soda or beer requires a carton capable of being end loaded. That is, the individual containers are inserted horizontally, as a group, into a carton open end.
A disadvantage of the packages shown in the Krieg and Hamilton et al. patents is that when a coolant, e.g., cube ice, is in place, the interior of the main compartment is not readily accessible. That is, the user would likely need to manipulate flaps or a bag to grasp and remove a can of beverage from such compartment--a distinctly inconvenient arrangement.
Another disadvantage of the cartons shown in the Hasselhoff, Osborn et al. and Krieg patents is that the quantity of material, e.g., cardboard, used to make the carton is inordinately large. The cost is unnecessarily increased and this militates against convenient disposability.

Beverage carton with integral cooler bin


An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit capable of storing authentication information corresponding to a web service. Information is output in a web page corresponding to a first web service so as to cause a display unit to display, via a web browser, an indicator to receive an instruction to delete the authentication information stored in the storage unit. Upon receiving the instruction by the output indicator, deletion processing of authentication information corresponding to a second web service different from the first web service is executed in the storage unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an authentication information management technique.
Description of the Related Art
There exist web services (to be referred to as target web services hereinafter) on a web, which provide various functions of, for example, storing user's photos and making them open. In such a target web service handling private information, authentication processing of individual users is executed. Additionally, in a browser, it is a common practice to store user's authentication information in a file.
There also exist external web services which cooperate with the target web services and provide different functions. An external web service, for example, receives photo data from a target web service and processes the photo data, creates an album or calendar using the photo data, or prints the processing result.
A method is known in which the external web service performs authentication processing of a target web service to be used before access to user's data, and causes a browser to store authentication information (to be referred to as a Cookie hereinafter), thereby accessing user's data on the target web service. For such an external web service, a target web service that separately provides an authentication function for the external web service exists.
In a case where a plurality of users use a browser, however, there is a problem of security. That is, if a file storing a Cookie remains, users other than a user who has performed authentication can also access the user's data. Japanese Patent No. 4913227 describes a method of deleting a Cookie on the OS side when a user has terminated a browser.
In the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 4913227, however, when, for example, user switching is done, and processing is continued without terminating a browser, the Cookie cannot be deleted. Hence, to delete the Cookie at a user's desired timing, the user executes an operation of manually deleting the Cookie. However, the Cookie deletion method changes depending on the browser, and the user needs skill in browser operation.
A target web service sometimes has no authentication information deletion function even when an authentication function for an external web service is prepared. Furthermore, a web service may have a security restriction in a browser so the Cookie of another domain cannot be deleted. Hence, the Cookie of a target web service cannot be deleted from the side of an external web service.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and makes it possible to easily execute deletion of stored authentication information.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium


The electronic circuit arrangement for controlling a process device comprises a process interface circuitry and a processing circuitry, wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for receiving process signals from the process device and converting the process signals into converted signals and/or digital data, which converted signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry is designed for processing the converted signals and/or digital data and for outputting processed signals and/or digital data, which processed signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the process interface circuitry, and wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for converting the processed signals and/or digital data into control signals, which control signals are transmitted to the process device. The process interface circuitry comprises one or more first printed circuit board assemblies, and the processing circuitry comprises one or more second printed circuit board assemblies, which second printed circuit board assemblies are different from the first printed circuit board assemblies, and wherein each second printed circuit board assembly is electrically connected to at least one of the first printed circuit board assemblies. The circuit arrangement may find applications in high or medium voltage devices, in drives and in power converters.

Electronic control circuits for controlling a process device are known from the art. They receive process signals from the process device, which are converted into converted signals and/or digital data, which converted signals and/or digital data are then processed in the electronic control circuit. Processed signals and/or digital data, which result from the processing, are then converted into control signals, which control signals are then transmitted to the process device.
It is known from the art to arrange such electronic control circuits using electronic components on a printed circuit board (PCB). Such a (single) PCB with components fitted is also called a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).
During the envisaged lifetime of such an electronic control circuit, a failure of a component of the electronic control circuit may occur, whereupon that component should be replaced. Particularly in the case of long envisaged lifetimes (of the order of 10 to 30 years), a suitable component for replacement may not be available anymore, which unfortunately can make it necessary to replace the whole PCBA and therefore the whole control circuit.

Electronic circuit arrangement for control purposes


Sleep mouthpieces are provided. One such mouthpiece includes an intraoral component including first and second troughs configured to receive a user's upper and lower teeth or ridges. The troughs are separated by a distance, thereby providing an opening that can allow mouth breathing. The mouthpiece includes an extraoral component connected to the intraoral component by first and second columns. The columns can be positioned at first and second ends of the intraoral component. The columns can also be positioned at first and second ends of the opening. The columns can also be positioned between the ends of the opening and the ends of the intraoral component. The extraoral component includes first and second retention portions extending from the first and second columns away from a center of the intraoral component and away from the opening. The first and second retention portions are configured to contact the user's face.

Snoring is a common sleep disturbance, affecting both sexes and persons of all ages. Snoring is more often observed in men but is also highly prevalent in pregnant women. Snoring is often a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder having serious comorbid symptoms. Upper airway resistance is a symptom that is often part of the continuum of OSA. OSA is characterized by repeated arousals from sleep. Symptoms of OSA, in fact, can be found in non-snorers. Edentulous people having old (worn down) dentures or people sleeping without their full denture also commonly snore and have OSA. Snorers, including pregnant women, can be screened for sleep breathing disorders. Such disorders can be treated using methods that are low cost, benign, non-invasive, drug-free and comfortable.
By the third trimester of pregnancy, 97% of women report sleep disturbances. Sharma S., Franco R., Sleep and its Disorders in Pregnancy, Wisconsin Medical Journal, 2004, 103(5) 48-52. It has been reported that as high as 46% of pregnant women snore in the third trimester. Sullivan C., Edwards N., Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Pregnancy in Randerath W J, Sanner B M, Somers V K (eds): Sleep Apnea, Prog Respir Res. Basel, Karger, 2006, vol 35, pp 224-237. "Pregnancy Associated Sleep Disorders" is now recognized as a distinct clinical entity in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders Manual (ICSD, DSM IV). American Academy of Sleep Medicine, International classification of sleep disorders, 2nd ed.: Diagnosis and coding manual, Westchester, IL: American Academy of SleepMedicine; 2005. 148-152. The spectrum of sleep disturbances in pregnant women ranges from increased incidence of insomnia, nocturnal awakening, nocturia, parasomnias (especially restless leg syndrome), to snoring and OSA. Sahota P. K., Jain S. S., Dhand R., Sleep Disorders In Pregnancy, Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, 2003; 9(6) 477-483.
It is generally agreed that pregnant women snore more than those who are not pregnant. In fact, a study reported frequent loud snoring in 14% of the pregnant women vs. 4% in the group of non-pregnant women. Loube D. I., Poceta S., Morales M. C., Peacock M. D., Mitler M. M., Self-Reported Snoring In Pregnancy: Association With Fetal Outcome, Chest, 1996; 109:885-89. Snoring may be a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Franklin K. A., Holmgren P. A., Jonsson F., Poromaa N., Stenlund H., Svanborg E., Snoring, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension, And Growth Retardation Of The Fetus, Chest, 2000 117:137-141.
Sleep disordered breathing is significantly more prevalent in obese pregnant women than pregnant women based on what is considered normal weight. Maasilta P., Bachour A., Teramo K., Polo O., Laitnen L. A., Sleep-Related Disordered Breathing During Pregnancy In Obese Women, Chest. 2001; 120(5):1448-1454. With the ongoing epidemic of obesity in the general population, obese pregnant woman may become the norm (the most common patient type).
A study has revealed that snoring pregnant women had a 2-fold greater incidence of hypertension, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and lower Apgar scores at birth. Franklin K. A., Holmgren P. A., Jonsson F., Poromaa N., Stenlund H., Svanborg E., Snoring, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension, And Growth Retardation Of The Fetus, Chest, 2000 117:137-141. Pregnancy may precipitate or worsen OSA. Kowall J., Clark G., Nino-Murcia G., Powell N., Precipitation Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea During Pregnancy, Obstet Gynecol. 1989; 74: 453-455. OSA may also be a cause of fetal compromise. Sahin F. K., Gulengal K., Cosar E., Saylan F., Fidan F., Yilmazer M., Unlu M., Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Pregnancy And Fetal Outcome, Obste & Gyne Survey, 2008(5):292-293.
It is during the third trimester of pregnancy that these respiratory changes during sleep markedly increase the incidence and severity of sleep disordered breathing Edwards N., Middleton P. G., Blyton D. M., Sullivan C. E., Sleep Disordered Breathing And Pregnancy, Thorax, 2002(57):555-558. There is a 20% reduction in functional residual capacity and maternal oxygenation is decreased. Weinberger S. E., Weiss S. T., Cohen W. R., et al. State Of The Art: Pregnancy And The Lung, Am Rev Resp Dis; 1980; 121:559-581. Increased airway collapsibility during tidal ventilation increases susceptibility to snoring and OSA. Remmers J. E., deGroot W. J., Sauerland E. K., Anch A. M., Pathogenesis Of Upper Airway Occlusion During Sleep, J. Appl. Physiol. 1978; 44:931-938. This effect is exacerbated in the supine position. Edwards N., Middleton P. G., Blyton D. M., Sullivan C. E., Sleep Disordered Breathing and Pregnancy, Thorax, 2002(57):555-558.42% of pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation reported chronic nasal congestion and rhinitis. Bende M., Gredmark T., Nasal Stuffiness During Pregnancy, Laryngoscope 1999; 109:1108-1110.
Snoring alone is not a good marker for OSA in pregnant women. Snoring alone however may decrease the overall sleep quality of the mother-to-be and be a serious detriment to good sleep quality of the sleep partner. The combination of snoring and witnessed apneas provides a more reliable diagnostic screening tool for OSA.
In light of the above, it is desirable that pregnant women be screened for sleep disordered breathing. However, a full night polysomnographic evaluation can be onerous and unduly burdensome for a woman in her third trimester. Ambulatory home polysomnographic testing is an easy and benign alternative to a night totally wired up in a sleep lab, but does not have equivalent diagnostic accuracy.
OSA related to pregnancy appears to be self-limiting to the third trimester. The snoring and OSA usually discontinue with delivery of the baby and subsequent weight loss.
Existing treatments include intraoral mouthpieces and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices. However, known intraoral mouthpieces can be bulky, may cause discomfort, are generally more expensive and usually need fitting by a dentist. Also, CPAP requires attachment to devices, thereby inhibiting frequent positional changes during sleep. Pregnant women, having a difficult time finding a comfortable position, shift around often during sleep. Pregnant women also have enough hormonal, postural and psychological burdens to deal with that CPAP usually becomes an intolerable alternative.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved snoring treatment that can provide improved comfort.


A DRAM memory array is organized hierarchically into groups of DRAM segments, bit blocks within segments, and memory cells within bit blocks, arranged in rows and columns. A control and logic circuit extends along the rows and columns and segment buses extend from the control and logic circuit to the DRAM segments. Partial decoding of the address and control signals occurs in the control and logic circuit and the partially decoded control and address signals are supplied on the segment buses. Adaptable memory operations are controlled in the control and logic circuit, such as redundant element substitution, data block addressing, multiplexing of the data bit width signals available at the DRAM segments to the width required by a system bus. This flexibility allows various physical organizations of the DRAM array.

A DRAM is a memory element which typically holds and supplies information for use by electronic computing and logic elements, such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, logic arrays, and the like. In a computer system, the DRAM delivers information to, and receives information from, a processor, typically a microprocessor, over electrical conductors of a system bus. The information stored in the DRAM is used by the microprocessor for computation and control.
The typical DRAM comprises thousands of individual memory cells arranged in a matrix-like configuration and control logic for controlling the memory operations. The cells of the matrix are addressed by address signals generated by the microprocessor and supplied on word lines, and by signals sensed or read from, or by signals selectively supplied or written on, selectively-addressed bit lines. The word lines extend along horizontal rows of cells and intersect vertical columns of cells in the matrix. The bit lines extend along vertical columns of cells and intersect horizontal rows of cells in the matrix. In concept, by energizing a selected word line and reading or writing only on selected bit lines, individual cells at the intersections of the selected word and bit lines are written or read. In this manner, unique memory "addresses" represent specific word line and bit line combinations which access the information located at the cells identified by the address. Memory cell control and data address signals are generated by the microprocessor.
Control logic of the memory performs the read and write operations on the DRAM memory cells. The control logic receives control signals from the microprocessor requesting a read or write operation, and receives address signals indicating the memory cell addresses where the read or write operation is to be performed. The control logic then carries out the read or write operation. For a write operation, the microprocessor also provides the data to be stored in the addressed memory cells. For a read operation the data obtained from the addressed DRAM cells is supplied to the microprocessor.
The microprocessor based system may be a general purpose computer system or may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a system-level integrated circuit (SLIC). An ASIC or a SLIC is a single IC which includes a combination of various electronic components, such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, logic gates, registers, amplifiers and the like, all of which have been selected, connected and integrated together to perform specific functions for a specific application. Examples of SLICs are controllers for computer memory disc drives, graphics controllers, LAN switches, fuel injector control systems for internal combustion engines, global positioning systems, and control devices for a wide variety of consumer products, among many other things. SLICs are desirable for use in mass produced products because of the enormous amount of functionality which can be created at a very low effective cost. These types of SLICs are sometimes referred to as a "system on a chip," because of the complete functionality obtained from the single chip or IC.
DRAMs have only recently been incorporated as part of SLICs. Previously, when the SLIC required memory to function, separate memories or DRAM chips were provided on a printed circuit board. Embedding DRAM in a SLIC avoids the additional cost of a separate memory chip. Avoiding the cost of the separate DRAM chip is attractive because separate DRAM chips are relatively costly and of considerable memory size. The embedded DRAM portion of the SLIC usually represents a relatively small portion of the overall size of the typical SLIC. If this were not the case, it would be more cost effective to use a separate DRAM chip in combination with the SLIC.
Typically a SLIC manufacturer will have a "library" of standard component designs which can be incorporated together in creating the SLIC, because of the wide variety of different circuitry which may be required in different SLICs. The standard library designs will include, for example, arrays of logic gates, microprocessors, DRAMs and the like. The cost effectiveness of competing in the SLIC fabrication market depends on the ability to integrate the standard library designs together in creating the SLIC, without specifically having to redesign each component each time it is used in a different SLIC. In the case of a memory, each SLIC may require a different amount of memory. Therefore, to avoid specifically designing a memory for each different SLIC, the memory design should accommodate different sizes without redesign of the memory functional components.
Generally, successfully integrating different standard designs will require the ability to physically reposition the standard components on the chip to accommodate differing customer requirements for the SLIC. The cost of an integrated circuit such as a SLIC is directly dependent upon the amount of area consumed by the circuit elements, and not necessarily related to the complexity or amount of circuitry on the chip. Thus, every effort is made to efficiently use all of the available space on the chip to keep the cost of the SLIC as low as possible.
Laying out or configuring the DRAM array on a SLIC chip may require that the regular rectangular matrix-like array of memory cells be altered to accommodate the irregular areas of available space. The regular repetitive nature of the matrix of memory cells makes the DRAM memory array theoretically attractive to break into portions and distribute the portions in spaces not occupied by other SLIC components. However, even changing the regular, repetitive nature of a DRAM memory configuration may introduce unintended errors. Correcting the errors may add considerable cost to the SLIC.
In addition to the physical constraints of integrating a DRAM memory array into a SLIC, there are many different functional requirements which also must be accommodated among various different SLICs that may be fabricated. For example, in some SLICs of modest functionality, the bit width of words communicated on the system bus may be 8 or 16 bits. On more sophisticated or high-performance systems, the bit width may be 32, 64 or 128 bits. Since the basic memory cell aspects of the DRAM will be the same in all types of systems, additional component features must be incorporated to adapt the standard DRAM memory cells to accommodate a variety of different functional requirements. These additional component features may require additional space to integrate into the SLIC, may increase the number of standard designs in the design library, may increase the cost of fabricating the chip because the cost of the additional designs must be accounted for and because extra space may be consumed by the additional designs, and may increase the risks of design and fabrication errors when the SLIC is fabricated.
It is with respect to these and other considerations relating to creating DRAM memory arrays embedded in SLICs that the present invention has evolved.

Hierarchical, adaptable-configuration dynamic random access memory


A blade mounting bracket includes a blade mounting part and a handle connecting part. A blade mounted on the blade mounting bracket defines a strip-shaped hole. The strip-shaped hole includes a mounting section and a tightening section. A width of the mounting section is greater than a width of the tightening section. The blade mounting part includes a base and a fixing piece connected with the base. An upper surface of the fixing piece is matched with the mounting section. An upper portion of the fixing piece extends downwards to connect with the base. Grooves are formed between the upper surface of the fixing piece and the base. The fixing piece includes a fixing block matched with the mounting section. The grooves and the fixing block fix the blade in a plane in which the blade is located.

A multifunctional folding knife or a tactical knife with a replaceable blade can also improve the use efficiency and the service life of the knife in outdoor or wild-field survival or some tactical scenes, so that the knife with the replaceable blade has a wide application prospect. In similar application scenarios, such as surgical knives used in surgery, there is also a need to replace or change blades, and currently the blade replaceable knives are primarily applied in these scenarios.
The blade replaceable knife should meet at least the following requirements: firstly, it is convenient to replace the blade, the steps are convenient and simple, the safety of a user can be ensured as far as possible during replacement, and accidental cuts are avoided; secondly, the knife before and after blade replacement can be normally used, the stability of the integral structure of the original knife is not damaged, and once again, the knife can have wide adaptability, namely, the knife can adapt to various types of blades within a certain size range of the blade/knife.
Chinese invention patent with publication number "CN103786170B" discloses a blade replaceable knife, comprising: a blade comprising a cutting edge part and a fixing part, a root portion of the cutting edge part being provided with a hole; a left gasket and a right gasket for clamping the blade, the left gasket or the right gasket being provided with a clamping nail for being matched with the hole on the cutting edge part; and a button capable of contacting a hole for driving the left gasket or the right gasket and separating the clamping nail from the root portion of the cutting edge part. The blade is locked by the clamping nail on the gasket under the action of the elastic force of the metal. By means of deformation of the elastic sheet, a button on the knife body is pressed to unlock, so that a user can change the knife conveniently. However, the traditional cutting edge is divided into four pieces, two pieces are used for clamping, one piece is used for fixing, and the other piece is the cutting edge for cutting. Although replacement is facilitated, the structure is complicated, and the manufacturing cost is high. Although the process of dismounting the cutting edge is simple, the process of reassembling a new cutting edge is also relatively complicated.

Blade mounting bracket and blade replaceable knife


A system is disclosed for an insole for use in an article of footwear. The insole includes a bottom cushion layer; a lower intermediate layer; a middle flexible layer; an upper intermediate layer; and an upper cushion layer. The layers are coupled together by either lamination or gluing. The lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer are respectively embedded with a first array of magnet elements and a second array of magnet elements, such that the first array of magnet elements and the second array of magnet elements generate a repelling magnetic field that results in a repelling mechanical force that pulls the upper intermediate layer away from the lower intermediate layer. This invention is not affected by material fatigue due to prolonged pressure or temperature stress that is common in insoles for use in articles of footwear.

The present invention relates generally to a structure of an insole, and more particularly to an insole that is implemented with strong elasticity and excellent retention properties and is inserted into an article of footwear to provide a user of the article of footwear with superior cushioning and comfort.
Many activities pertaining to daily lives generate shock to the human feet. Such activities include "normal" walking while commuting or shopping, jogging, training athletically, physiotherapeutic rehabilitation by persons suffering from injuries or handicaps, and many other situations. Over an extended period of time, such shock to the human feet may cause injury. In order to reduce injury brought about from such shock, shoe insoles, which are materials cut into the shape of a human foot and inserted into an article of footwear, are designed with good shock absorption properties to provide the human feet with more cushioning and support.
To obtain good shock absorption properties, some existing insole designs provide a plurality of flexible layers. Each of these layers is typically made of a separate material, a unique slope, a unique thickness, as well as other factors. Inventions related to insoles and shoes are common. However, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,665, Suenaga disclosed a shock absorbing and humidity reducing insole for a shoe having a thickness that increases gradually from an arch portion toward a heel portion. The insole comprises a sealed chamber defined by a recess and several grooves that are formed within the insole to provide shock buffering effect when some ventilation holes are covered by user's foot during movement.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,931, Vermeulen disclosed a shock absorber which may be used as an insole or as a midsole for an article of footwear. The shock absorber is made of a rubber-type material such as a multi-cell membrane which may be embedded in a flexible envelope or which may be used itself as a one-piece multi-cell membrane insole or midsole.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,914 discloses an air circulating sole structure with a layer of moldable material, a system of intersecting channels, and a shock absorbing material. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,637 provides a sole structure having a plurality of semi-rigid and substantially parallel stabilizing members having a plurality of stiffness and movable elements relative to each other. In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,611 provides a sole structure with a lattice structure, which attenuates and distributes ground reaction forces by providing a plurality of connectors coupled with a plurality of masses. In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,501 provides a sole structure having at least three layers further having variable extensions, and made of different materials with variable density ratings. In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,699 provides a four-layer sole with a cross-linked polyethylene layer and a polyethylene terephthalate sheet.
These conventional insoles provide various means to provide shock absorption and protection, but because they require utilizing foamed or foamed-like material for providing shock absorption, they are more prone to material fatigue over time, which may result in the insole's inability to retain its shape and provide the necessary cushioning and perform shock absorption. Simpler insole designs such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,601 exist, but they are not effective in providing shock absorption.
Desirable in the art of shoe insole designs is a simple shoe insole with an ability to retain its shape that may be inserted within any shoe commonly available in the market to provide a human foot with superior comfort and support.

Insole cushioning device with repelling magnetic field