A method for transmitting uplink control information in a communication system using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme is provided. A mobile station (MS) selects a target anchor base station (BS) with which the MS desires to communicate through a fast feedback channel, and transmits a codeword allocated to the selected target anchor BS to a current anchor BS. Upon receiving the codeword, transmitting to the MS, by the anchor BS, fast feedback channel allocation information for the selected BS corresponding to the received codeword. The MS switches to a new anchor BS corresponding to the fast feedback channel allocation information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for transmitting control information in a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a system and method for transmitting uplink control information for performing fast cell switching in a communication system using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile communication systems, originally developed to provide a voice service, are evolving into advanced systems capable of providing various multimedia services. The mobile communication systems are evolving into a 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system supporting high-speed multimedia services, following a 1st generation (1G) analog system, a 2nd generation (2G) digital system, and a 3rd generation (3G) IMT-2000 system that supports a high-speed multimedia service. In the 4G mobile communication system, a user can access a satellite network, a local area network (LAN), and an Internet network with one terminal, for example, one mobile station (MS). That is, the user can enjoy many kinds of services, such as voice, image, multimedia, Internet data, voice mail, and instant message services, with one mobile terminal.
The 4G mobile communication system aims at a data rate of 20 Mbps for a super high-speed multimedia service, and commonly uses an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme.
The OFDM scheme, a digital modulation scheme for multiplexing multiple orthogonal carrier signals, divides a single data stream into several low-speed streams and simultaneously transmits the low-speed streams using several subcarriers with a low data rate.
A multiple access scheme based on the OFDM scheme is known as an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. In the OFDMA scheme, subcarriers in one OFDM symbol are shared by a plurality of users, i.e. MSs. A communication system based on the OFDMA scheme (hereinafter referred to as an "OFDMA communication system") has separate physical channels for transmitting uplink fast feedback information, which is a typical type of uplink control information.
The uplink fast feedback information includes full Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) information, per-band differential SNR information, fast Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) feedback information, and mode selection feedback information.
The uplink fast feedback information does not transmit large amounts of data as compared to the overall communication services. However, because the uplink fast feedback information is very important information for the communication system, highly reliable transmission should be guaranteed for the uplink fast feedback information. However, it is common that only a few of the frequency-time resources are allocated to physical channels, for example, fast feedback channels, used for transmitting the uplink fast feedback information, in order to reduce an overhead rate.
Generally, a combined method using a binary channel code and coherent modulation or differential modulation is used to transmit uplink control information. However, when the uplink control information is transmitted using less frequency-time resources then optimally required, an error rate increases, thereby decreasing operation stability of the communication system. While there are sufficient pilot tones for the transmission of downlink or uplink traffic, there are insufficient traffic tones for transmission of uplink control information. The lack of pilot tones deteriorates the channel estimation performance, thereby degrading the performance of a coherent modulation/demodulation scheme. If the number of pilot tones is increased taking into consideration only the channel estimation performance, the number of data tones becomes insufficient. In addition, separation of the binary channel code and the modulation causes some of the failures in performance. Further, if many of the frequency-time resources are used for transmitting the uplink control information, for example, uplink fast feedback information, in order to increase the stability, the overhead rate increases, which reduces throughput of the communication system.
The conventional method of transmitting uplink fast feedback information uses one uplink subchannel and transmits 4-bit information. However, the 4-bit information transmission cannot guarantee sufficient accuracy for the transmission of a full SNR and can transmit per-band differential SNRs only for 4 bands. In addition, the 4-bit information transmission lacks operation flexibility, so that is difficult to freely allocate codewords for the transmission of other information, as there are no more than 16 codewords.
In the existing cellular mobile communication system using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme, a fast cell switching (FCS) scheme is used to improve system performance. In the fast cell switching scheme, an MS manages several base stations (BSs) or several sectors in its active set, selects the best BS/sector having the best link performance from among the BSs or the sectors included in the active set, and informs the selected BS/sector of its best link performance through a Walsh code, in a process referred to as a data rate control (DRC) cover. The DRC cover refers to a Walsh code uniquely allocated to each BS in an Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) system. An MS sends a DRC cover request to a BS having a desired data rate, for example, the best DRC value and link performance, through a separate DRC channel. Thereafter, the MS receives downlink data from the BS/sector having the best link performance, thereby improving downlink performance. The active set is defined as a set of BSs or sectors that currently provide radio channels for the transmission/reception of the data to the MS. That is, an MS creates an active set with BSs, downlink performances of which are greater than or equal to a predetermined level, and BSs in the active set receive a variety of unique information on the MS. The foregoing scheme enables an MS located in a cell boundary to obtain selection diversity gain.
There is difficulty in directly applying the fast cell switching method to the OFDMA communication scheme. The CDMA scheme identifies many users, or MSs, using the user-specific long codes last multiplied in a digital transmitter. Therefore, every BS/sector can receive the signals transmitted by the MSs. Further, in the CDMA scheme, each BS/sector multiplies the received signals by the user-specific long code, and thereafter, despreads the multiplication result with Walsh codes corresponding to the MSs to determine if it is selected by the MSs as the best BS/sector.
However, in the OFDMA communication scheme, each BS/sector allocates frequency-time resources to a plurality of MSs, and the MSs must transmit signals only through the allocated frequency-time resources. If every BS/sector allocates independent frequency-time resources to all of the MSs employing the fast cell switching, this will serve as heavy overhead. If the information on the best BS/sector is transmitted not through a physical channel but through an upper layer message, the cell switching speed decreases, causing a decrease in selection diversity gain and scheduling performance.
As an existing scheme for solving the problems, there has been proposed a scheme for allocating a fast feedback channel for the transmission of channel quality information (CQI) and a fast feedback channel for the transmission of best BS/sector information, to an MS desiring to perform the fast cell switching. However, the existing scheme is inefficient because the MS requires two fast feedback channels in order to perform the fast cell switching.

System and method for transmitting uplink control information in an OFDMA communication system


A data processing network has a client connected to first and second servers in which the first and second servers are operable to communicate with the network according to first and second incompatible data communication protocols. The client is operable to issue, onto the network, a first initial boot request (e.g. RPL) according to the first data communication protocol (IEEE 802.2) and the first server is operable, in response to the client request to send BOOTP bootstrap code to the client system. The BOOTP bootstrap code is loaded into client memory and when executed causes the client to issue a BOOTP request for servicing by the second server system.

In a typical network environment, multiple client computer systems (clients) are connected to one or more server computer systems (servers). In a first common arrangement, each client includes an operating system, and optionally other software, stored on a hard file within the client. On power-up or reboot, the client boots from the operating system stored on the hard file without reference to the server computer. This type of boot is called a local program load. Other application software e.g. word processing, database software etc, held on storage associated with the server system, is accessed as needed by the client.
In an alternative boot technique, the client does not boot from a locally stored operating system. One reason for this is that the client does not have a local mass storage device such as a hard file on which the operating system software can be stored. Such client systems are often referred to as `diskless` systems. Consequently, when a diskless client is powered-up, the client executes code within a read only memory (ROM) on the network card within the client which causes the server to transfer the operating system software to volatile storage in the client for use until the client system is powered-off.
There are currently two main methods used to boot a diskless client from a server over a local area network. The first of these is the Remote Initial Program Load protocol (hereinafter termed `RPL`), which is based on the IEEE 802.2 Data Link Control standard, and which is used primarily by Personal Computers (PCs) for example in Token-Ring Networks. The second method is the TCP/IP Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) which is used primarily, though not exclusively, by UNIX workstations.
Although the RPL and BOOTP methods make use of the same basic concept, they are in fact incompatible in that it is not possible to boot an RPL client from a BOOTP server or vice versa. With the growing use of TCP/IP on networks of PCs, a method of booting a PC over the network using TCP/IP is desirable. One solution to this problem would be to provide the PC customer with two separate bootstrap ROMs thereby allowing the customer to choose BOOTP or RPL depending on the type of network in which the PC is to be employed. However, if the customer wishes to change from BOOTP to RPL then it is necessary to change the ROM.
What is needed therefore is a technique allowing booting in a mixed network environment, for example to allow an RPL client to boot from a BOOTP server.

Data processing network with boot process using multiple servers

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for inducing a current in a solar cell substrate. A substrate receiving surface receives the substrate, and an array of a plurality of individually addressable light sources illuminates the substrate in a sequenced manner. A sequencer controls the sequenced manner of illumination of the substrate by the array. A front side electrical contact makes electrical contact to a front side of the substrate, and a back side electrical contact makes electrical contact to a back side of the substrate. A meter is electrically connected to the front side electrical contact and the back side electrical contact, and senses the current induced in the substrate during the sequenced illumination of the substrate.

Improving photovoltaic conversion efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs have been the main drivers of the solar energy industry. A majority of commercial solar cells are made from multicrystalline or single crystal silicon wafers. Other types of solar cells based on thin film technologies such as Cu(In,Ga)Se2, CdTe, and amorphous silicon have shown great growth potential due to their lower manufacturing cost. Regardless of the technology used, there is generally a gap between the efficiency of devices produced in the lab and devices produced by mass production, mainly because of various imperfections introduced during the fabrication process. Inspecting the solar cells for defects during the fabrication processes, and finding the root causes of defects can improve the production yield and reduce manufacturing costs.
Laser beam induced current has been used to investigate solar cell defects. The method can detect various types of defects that affect the solar efficiency of a solar cell. A schematic of a laser beam induced current system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. A laser beam 12 from a laser source 14 is focused to a small spot onto the surface of a substrate 16, and a scanning device, typically an XY scanning stage or chuck 18 for moving the substrate 16 and an XY scanning mirror 20, scan the laser spot across the surface of the substrate 16 in a raster scanning scheme. The current is measured by an external circuit 22, such as a current amplifier connected to the solar cell 16. The spot scanning image is a spatial map of the efficiency of the solar cell 16 in converting light into electrical current. Dark spots in the spatial map indicate that a lower current was collected by the external measurement circuit 22, which can be caused by various types of defects in the solar cell 16. These defect types typically include light blockage at the surface of the solar cell 16, low absorption of light, low quantum efficiency, and current leakage defects (shunts).
Solar cells 16 have large capacitances that slow their response time when electric measurements are taken. In a production environment where the speed of inspection and testing are more important than the raw optical resolution, these slow-downs tend to be rather expensive. The speed of high resolution spot scanning laser beam induced current measurement is limited by the solar response time, and therefore is not generally suitable for inspecting very large substrates at a high resolution. It is also not generally suitable for integration with solar current-voltage testing, which can have an advantage in overall inspection and testing throughput and cost of ownership. Other disadvantages of spot scanning laser beam induced current include the higher cost associated with lasers, spot scanning hardware, and the complexity of the mechanical moving device.
What is needed, therefore, is a system that overcomes problems such as those described above, at least in part.

Segmented optical and electrical testing for photovoltaic devices


Methods and wireless sensor nodes for aggregation-driven topology formation in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) are provided. A method for aggregation-driven topology formation in a WSN includes aggregating sensor data by one or more first sensor nodes, sending, by each of the one or more first sensor nodes, at least one activity diffusion message to each of at least one neighboring node of one or more second sensor nodes, wherein each activity diffusion message includes an activity diffusion weight, receiving, by each of the one or more second sensor nodes, respective of the at least one activity diffusion message from at least one neighboring node of the one or more first sensor nodes, accumulating, by each of the one or more second sensor nodes, activity diffusion weights included in the at least one activity diffusion message received from the at least one neighboring node of the one or more first sensor nodes, sending, by each of the one or more first sensor nodes, the aggregated data to at least one of the at least one neighboring node of the one or more second sensor nodes, and receiving, by the at least one of the at least one neighboring node of the one or more second sensor nodes, the aggregated data from respective of the one or more first sensor nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). More particularly, the present invention relates to techniques for a self-organizing activity-diffusion-based WSN.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the concept of a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has received considerable attention. A WSN typically includes a collection of low-power transceivers (henceforth referred to as sensor nodes) each having some type of sensor function for one or more properties of an environment in which they are placed. The term "environment" here has a very broad meaning and could include any object or geographical area. Likewise, the range of properties which might be sensed is wide, and includes any property that may be indirectly or directly sensed, or determined based on the sensing of one or more other properties.
Each sensor node is capable of transmitting sensor data, usually as discrete packets, to any other devices in its vicinity, usually to another sensor node. By relaying data from one sensor node to another, the data can be directed to a so-called sink node or base station. The sensor node may be fixed or mobile, and the sink nodes may be fixed or mobile. Although the precise communication standard used by the sensor nodes of a WSN is not important, one suitable standard is Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard, an implementation of which is referred to as ZigBee.
Depending upon the capabilities of the sink node, the data can be forwarded from the sink node directly or indirectly to some form of outside entity, typically via another network such as a mobile telephone network or the Internet. Where the sink node is able to communicate with another network it may also be referred to as a gateway.
In some implementations, the terms sink node, base station and gateway denote the same thing. In other implementations, the terms sink node, base station and gateway denote distinct functions, in which case, the sink node will communicate the gathered data to a separate base station and/or gateway for further transmission, possibly after some type of aggregation or other processing.
Moreover, in some implementations, the sensor nodes (or a subset thereof) are also capable of acting as the sink node. Multiple sink nodes, and multiple gateways, may be present in a WSN, but, for simplicity, a single sink node is assumed in the following description.
In the present disclosure, the terms "sink node" and "base station" are used synonymously to denote any type of data-gathering entity in a WSN, whether or not it also acts as a gateway.
The WSN differs from a wireless mesh network and an ad hoc network. Typically, the sensor nodes are unattended, have a low computational ability, and are reliant on battery power. Thus, power consumption of the sensor nodes is a major consideration and the transmission of data is typically the most power-hungry function of a sensor node. Therefore, the sensor nodes operate with severe energy constraints. However, the sensor nodes may be Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID)-based devices, which might not be reliant on battery power. Nevertheless, since the available transmission power of such devices is very low, similar considerations apply.
One technique employed to conserve battery power is to deactivate sensor nodes that are not currently engaged in sensing or communication (including relaying). Thus, sensor nodes may alternate between active and inactive states, for example, in response to the presence or absence of a sensed property or incoming data. In this way, the useful lifetime of the sensor can be prolonged.
Another technique employed to conserve battery power is to have sensor nodes only communicate with their nearest neighbors. However, by limiting the communication of sensor nodes to only their nearest neighbors, multi-hop techniques need to be used to enable sensor data to reach the sink node by several different routes. However, in employing this technique, the sensor nodes transmit data in all directions indiscriminately without knowing or caring which other nodes receive it. Accordingly, a WSN suffers from the transmission of redundant data.
Data aggregation has been put forward as a useful solution to address the limited energy constraints and redundant data. Data aggregation exploits the fact that a sensor node consumes less energy for data processing than for communication. Also, it minimizes the number of transmissions and thereby conserves energy. Instead of transmitting the packets of each individual sensor node separately, each sensor node first combines the incoming data from different sources en-route and then forwards the aggregated data to the next node when its aggregation interval is reached.
In a WSN, the interplay between topology formation and data aggregation is very important. Data aggregation schemes of the related art separate the topology formation and data aggregation from each other. In other words, a topology is formed first and then data aggregation is performed based on the topology. However, the pre-constructed topologies are not always the best structures for efficient data aggregation. An aggregation topology according to the related art will be discussed below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates an aggregation topology according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the communication paths of sensor data collected by sensor nodes N1, N2 and N3 and communicated to the sink node S1 are shown. Here, the communication paths are formed based on the shortest paths for the data to travel between the sensor nodes N1, N2 and N3 and the sink node S1. The aggregation topology employed here is referred to as a shortest path tree. By following the shortest path, the packets from sensor nodes N1, N2 and N3 are routed separately to the sink node S1 and are not able to be aggregated en-route. In this case, this topology does not yield the most efficient result. Here, it would have been more efficient to perform data-aggregation and then have the aggregated data communicated to the sink node S1.
Therefore, a need exists for a data-aggregation driven topology for efficient data aggregation.

Techniques for self-organizing activity-diffusion-based wireless sensor network


A system for switching from a programmed track of a music source to a succeeding programmed track of a music source. The system includes a detector chip for detecting a cue tone in excess of 15 kHz placeable on each programmed music track. The detector chip generates a signal causing a switch to activate a successive player to play. Additional switches pause and re-advance the previous music source to play a further succeeding programmed track.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cuing system for activating one music source from another music source and, more particularly, to a high-frequency cue tone and a sensor circuit for accomplishing the same.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Various means for cuing in a second piece of music upon the termination of a first piece of music are known in the art. This procedure is commonly employed by radio stations providing musical formats of all varieties. The purpose of the cuing system is to enable a music source to be activated simultaneously and automatically upon the termination of a prior selection. Such a cuing system minimizes dead space between musical selections thereby reducing air-time expenses and the risk of losing the listening audience.
Radio stations traditionally broadcast music recorded on reel-to-reel tapes. When a tape has finished playing, another tape must necessarily be cued-in. This is usually accomplished by the placing of an index-pointer, or a 25 hertz signal, on the first reel-to-reel tape at the point where it is desirable to cue-in the second tape. Appropriate sensing means are provided to detect the index-pointer and, in response thereto, to activate the following tape.
Employing reel-to-reel tapes, however, is a drawback in light of the newer compact disc (CD) technology and other audio-to-digital storage mediums which provide superior sound quality and greater convenience. Unfortunately, the index-pointer cuing system employed in the reel-to-reel tapes cannot be adapted for use with compact disk equipment. This is so because most compact disk players in production do not provide the necessary electronic capabilities to interpret the low frequency cue-tones and to activate secondary players in response thereto. Another drawback is the undesirability of a low-frequency cue tone itself since the tone, which is audible to the casual listener, must necessarily be transmitted over the frequency modulation (FM) radio band.

System utilizing a high-frequency tone for switching from a first music source to a second music source


The present invention is to provide a tissue-specific transporter inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract and can prevent deterioration in the QOL of a patient caused by diet therapy, and a therapeutic drug for tissue dysfunction diseases and a therapeutic drug for suppressing the progress of chronic renal failure containing the inhibitor as an active ingredient. A tissue-specific transporter inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract is constructed by introducing a dipeptide which is a ligand of an oligopeptide transporter 1 into a supramolecular structure polyrotaxane wherein its structurally modified active residue is expected to be excellent in the interaction with a transmembrane transporter.

Nowadays, the number of dialysis patients are increasing, and it is presumed that the number of such patients will be enormous when taking into account the number of diabetic patients who will be in need of dialysis in the future, and the medical expenses for dialysis is estimated to be well over 1 trillion yen. Considering these situations, preventive medicine that prevents the onset of renal diseases and conservative treatments that prevent the progress of renal failure into dialysis are regarded important. Effective treatments of renal disorders in patients of chronic renal failure have not been established yet, treatments including low protein diet therapy and the administration of antihypertensive drugs such as an ACE inhibitor have been conducted so far (Am. J. Cardiol. 59, 66A-71A, 1987; Am. J. Kidney. 20, 443-57, 1992; BMJ 304, 216-20, 1992; Ann. Intern. Med. 124, 627-32, 1996). The above-mentioned low protein diet therapy is thought to be effective means to suppress the progress of chronic renal failure and is widely conducted currently. However, since dietary restriction contains problems of quality of life (QOL) and compliance of patients, a new therapeutic strategy, for example, suppression of oral protein absorption, is needed. Recently, as a new strategy for the treatment of hyperlipemia, it is reported that biosynthesis of cholesterol is suppressed by inhibiting a bile acid transporter present in the small intestine, and this report draws attention (J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 293, 315-20 2000). Likewise, it is expected that the absorption of proteins through the digestive tract can be suppressed by a specific inhibitor.
The present inventors have reported that proteins taken are digested in the digestive tract to amino acids and oligopeptides and absorbed through the small intestine, and that the absorption is conducted by a specific transporter present in the brush border membrane of a small intestine epithelial cell (Pharm. Res. 13, 963-77, 1996). The digested amino acids mentioned above are transported by multiple transporters, however, the oligopeptides are transported by an oligopeptide transporter such as PEPT 1, and absorbed dipeptide- or tripeptide-specifically (J. Biol. Chem. 270, 6456-63, 1995). As to the absorption of digestive products of proteins in the small intestine, it is known that more peptides are absorbed than amino acids (Gastroenterology 113, 332-40, 1997). Taken together, it is considered that a PEPT 1 inhibitor is capable of suppressing the absorption of proteins in the diet, and is useful for the patients whose QOL is deteriorated due to diet therapy.
Since 1994, PEPT 1 genes have been cloned from small intestines of rabbit, human and rat (J. Biol. Chem. 270, 6456-63, 1995; Nature 368, 563-6, 1994; J. Pharma. Exp. Ther. 275, 1631-7, 1995; Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1305, 34-8, 1996), and studies for transportation via PEPT 1 have been rapidly developed. The above-mentioned PEPT 1 gene derived from rat small intestine has been cloned for the first time by the present inventors (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1305, 34-8, 1996), and revealed to locate in the brush border membrane side of the small intestine epithelial cell by immunohistochemical technique (FEBS Lett. 392, 25-9, 1996). In addition, it is reported that PEPT 1 recognizes and transports compounds such as valacyclovir, an antiviral drug, that does not have a peptide bond in its molecules, as well as compounds having peptide-like structures, for example, β-lactam antibiotics (Pharm. Res. 13, 963-77, 1996; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 250, 246-51, 1998; J. Clin. Invest. 101, 2761-7, 1998; J. Biol. Chem. 273, 20-2, 1998). As mentioned above, PEPT 1 shows wide range of substrate recognition property, however, its molecular recognition property remains unknown and it is thought that the substrate recognition of PEPT 1 involves not only the recognition of partial structure but also whole molecule. Meanwhile, PEPT 2, which is cloned from the kidney (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1235, 461-6, 1995; Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1280, 173-7, 1996; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 284-9, 1996), locates in the brush border membrane side of the epithelial cell in the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney, and has a substrate recognition property similar to that of PEPT 1, and serves to reabsorbing oligopeptides and peptide-like compounds. The above-mentioned PEPT 1 is known to express in the kidney though it does not contribute very much (Am. J. Physiol. 276, F658-65, 1999). However, PEPT 2 has never been observed to express in the small intestine.
In human, it is reported that bioavailability (BA) of cefadroxil (CDX), a β-lactam antibiotic and a substrate of PEPT 1, is decreased by co administration of cephalexin (CEX), a β-lactam antibiotic similarly recognized by PEPT 1 (Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 41, 179-83, 1991). A mechanism in which AUC (Area Under the plasma concentration Curve) as an index of bioavailability is decreased by CEX includes both the absorption of CDX in the small intestine and the inhibition of reabsorption of CDX in the kidney. The reabsorption through the kidney is conducted mainly via an oligopeptide transporter (PEPT 2), and both compounds are known to be substrates for PEPT 2 (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1235, 461-6, 1995). Therefore, it is explicable that the decrease of BA of CDX caused by CEX means that CDX transportation via PEPT 1 and PEPT 2 is inhibited by CEX. Though the effect of the inhibition of PEPT 2 present in the kidney on a living organism is unknown, it seems preferable to limit to a direct inhibition of absorption via PEPT 1 from the viewpoint of diet therapy for chronic renal failure. However, since PEPT 1 and PEPT 2 show very similar substrate recognition properties, it has been presumed to be difficult to develop an inhibitor which specifically recognizes PEPT 1.
The number of dialysis patients due to renal failure are increasing, and it is presumed that the number of such patients will be enormous when taking into account the number of diabetic patients who will be in need of dialysis, and the medical expenses for dialysis is estimated to be well over 1 trillion yen in the future. Under these circumstances, preventive medicine that prevents the onset of renal diseases and conservative treatments that prevent the progress of renal failure into dialysis are important. The object of the present invention is to provide a tissue-specific transporter inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract and can prevent deterioration in the QOL of patients caused by diet therapy, and a therapeutic drug for tissue dysfunction diseases and a therapeutic drug for suppressing the progress of chronic renal failure containing the inhibitor as an active ingredient.
The present inventors have considered that it is effective to use a PEPT 1 inhibitor which is not absorbed through the digestive tract and is able to avoid recognizing PEPT 2 in order to attain the above-mentioned object, and that PEPT 1 can be selectively inhibited by designing a polymer compound having PEPT 1 recognition property because polymer compounds are not absorbed through the digestive tract in general. Therefore, the present inventors have focused on a supramolecular structure polyrotaxane (PRX) wherein its structurally modified active residue is expected to be excellent in the interaction with a transmembrane transporter, and constructed a compound wherein a dipeptide (Val-Lys) which is a ligand of the PEPT 1 mentioned above is introduced into a supramolecular structure PRX. As a result of intensive study, it has been found that the above-mentioned compound can suppress the absorption of proteins and the progress of chronic renal failure which needs limitation of protein uptake, and thus the present invention has been completed.


When the priority class is set to a mobile terminal that has moved from cell to cell and even if an HLR is in a congestion state, a communication service is provided to the mobile terminal on a priority basis. A location registration signal, which is transmitted from a mobile terminal (2) that has moved from another area, and which is to be transmitted to an HLR (30), is received, and the apparatus corresponding to the movement source area is identified based upon the content of the location registration signal. Priority class information indicating whether the transmission process to the HLR is a priority process or a non-priority process is acquired from the identified another mobile communication control apparatus (200), and whether or not the location registration signal should be transmitted to the HLR (30) is determined based upon the acquired priority class information.

Under a cellular mobile communication system, the location registration is needed in some cases in accordance with the movement of a mobile terminal (for example, see Non-Patent Literature 1). An example is that when there are first and second cells respectively corresponding to first and second mobile switching centers and a mobile terminal located in the first cell moves to the second cell (when moving from a cell to another cell), the above mobile terminal needs to perform the location registration. That is, when the mobile terminal moves over two mobile switching centers, the location registration is needed in the second cell, which is a new location.
Referring to FIG. 10, for example, when a mobile terminal 1 of a subscriber A located in the first cell, which is a previously located cell, moves to the second cell, which is a newly located cell (S11), the mobile terminal 1 of the subscriber A transmits a location registration signal (S12).
Upon receipt of the location registration signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 1, an MSC/VLR 10 corresponding to the newly located cell acquires authentication information about the subscriber A from an MSC/VLR 20 corresponding to the previously located cell (S13). Then, an authentication process is performed at the MSC/VLR 10. In addition, the MSC/VLR 10 is capable of identifying the MSC/VLR 20 corresponding to the first cell, which is the previously located cell, based upon information included in the location registration signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 1. Then, the MSC/VLR 10 outputs to the MSC/VLR 20 a request signal for acquiring the authentication information, and the MSC/VLR 20 transmits the authentication information as a reply signal to the request signal. In this manner, the MSC/VLR 10 is capable of acquiring the authentication information about the subscriber A.
Next, the MSC/VLR 20 transmits the location registration signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to an HLR 30 (S14). As a result, the MSC/VLR 20 is capable of downloading subscriber information about the subscriber A from the HLR 30 (S15). Subsequently, the MSC/VLR 20 refers to the downloaded subscriber information, and controls an outgoing transmission and the like from the user.
It is to be noted, however, that the HLR 30 sometimes falls in a congestion state, when the mobile terminal is located in the cell corresponding to the MSC/VLR 20. The HLR in a congestion state means that the HLR apparatus itself is in a congestion state or a transmission path to reach the HLR is in a congestion state.
When the HLR 30 is in a congestion state, the MSC/VLR 20 refers to a subscriber class included in the subscriber information downloaded from the HLR 30, and performs restriction control as follows. Referring to FIG. 11, for example, the MSC/VLR 20 restricts the outgoing transmission from the mobile terminal 1 of the subscriber A having the subscriber class of "general user". According to this restriction, when the mobile terminal 1 initiates an outgoing transmission (S21a), such an outgoing transmission is restricted by the MSC/VLR 10 (S22). Therefore, an incoming reception request signal is not transmitted to the HLR 30. Thus, the outgoing transmission is restricted.
On the other hand, the MSC/VLR 20 does not restrict the outgoing transmission from a mobile terminal 2 of a subscriber B having the subscriber class of "priority user". For this reason, when the mobile terminal 2 initiates the outgoing transmission (S21b), the MSC/VLR 10 permits the outgoing transmission (S22), an access of the incoming reception request signal to the HLR 30 is permitted (S23), and the outgoing transmission process continues.
In this manner, when the HLR 30 is in a congestion state, the outgoing transmissions from some mobile terminals are restricted, whereas the outgoing transmissions from the other mobile terminals are permitted, depending on the content of the subscriber class.

Registering a mobile terminal in a visited network based on a priority class downloaded from a mobile network


A moving position detector suitable for use as a lightweight, thin mouse. Rotations generated by virtue of frictional forces generated between a bottom of a rotating body and a floor surface are detected by a rotation detecting means as the number of rotations of a rotary encoder portion and converted into an output signal corresponding to the signal from the encoder portion for output to an output means for input into a computer. The rotating body has a pressurizing point for applying loads by gravity or a mechanical element to positions other than a center on the bottom in a direction normal to a moving direction of a mouse relative to the shaft.

The present invention relates to a moving position detector for a coordinate input device for moving to an optional location a cursor that is displayed on a display of an information processor unit such as a computer for performing an input operation.
Recently, software has widely been used which uses the GUI (graphical user interface) for inputting data into a computer, and in conjunction with this tendency, also increasingly used as an input unit is a pointing device such as a mouse, joystick, impact tablet, and track ball. In particular, the mouse is practically widely used owing to its excellent operability.
With the recent miniaturization of personal computers and the advent of notebook-sized personal computers, however, a conventional mouse has been found relatively too large and causing inconvenience of carrying and this has given rise to the need of a smaller and thinner mouse.
A conventional mouse uses a normal ball, and the roll of the ball on the floor surface is converted into rotations of a rotary encoder by virtue of a frictional force and the number of rotations of the encoder is then detected for conversion into an output signal to a computer, whereby an input operation is effected.
A method is proposed as used in a conventional position detector for attaining its object without using any ball in which the rotation of a cylindrical rotating body, such as one disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2554999, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Sho. 60-225929 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Sho. 50-96246, generated by virtue of friction between an outer circumferential (rim) portion of the rotating body and the floor surface is transferred to an encoder where it is converted into rotations thereof, and in which the number of rotations of the encoder is detected and converted for input of a moving
FIG. 14 an explanatory view showing an embodiment disclosed in the aforementioned official gazette of Japanese Patent No. 255499. In this embodiment, a rotating body 30 and a rotary encoder 37 are secured to a shaft 33 held by a bearing 32 inclined to an inclination angle at which an outer circumference of the rotating body 30 comes into contact with a floor surface 31 at a single point thereon. In a device disclosed therein, when the bearing 32 is moved in a direction normal to an inclined face of the shaft 33, the rotating body 30 rotates by virtue of friction against the floor surface 31, and the number of rotations of the rotary encoder 37 which rotates as the rotating body rotates is detected by a sensor 38 and the number of rotations so detected is converted into an input signal for use in input. The lack of frictional force at the rotating body 30 is complemented by using an attraction force from an upper ring magnet 35 and a lower ring magnet 36 or any other suitable mechanism. However, a conventional mouse is constructed such that the rotation of a ball is converted into rotations of two shafts disposed in longitudinal and lateral directions so as to be brought into contact with the ball, the rotations so converted are then converted into rotations of an encoder that is fixed to the rotating shafts, and that the number of rotations of the rotary encoder is then detected and converted into a moving distance signal. With this construction, in order to maintain the sensitivity, the ball needs to have a certain weight and be treated so as to have a high friction coefficient on the floor surface thereof, and therefore this poses a limit to efforts to make it lighter in weight and thinner in thickness. In addition, in the case of the conventional ball-type mouse, the diameter of the rotary encoder must be smaller than that of the ball, and therefore when trying to make the ball smaller, there is also encountered a limit to accuracy.
Furthermore, the ball-type mouse has drawbacks that it easily takes up dust on the floor surface or that it suffers slippage or halt in function resulting from it being easily affected by the state of the contact floor surface or dust-containing interior, this leading to a failure in accurate input of data.
On the other hand, in position detectors disclosed in the official gazettes of Japanese Patent No. 2554999 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Sho. 60-225929, both examples need to have a bearing for holding inclined rotating body and rotary encoder, and this requires that the mouse needs to have a certain size in a height direction of the rotary encoder and the bearing, this construction also making it unsuitable for the realization of the thinner construction.
Moreover, as to input units other than the mouse, since they provide no intuitive input operation, practice is required to operate them smoothly, thus operational problems being caused by those input units. As to the mouse itself, there have been developed, for instance, mice for effecting signal conversions using no ball but an optical or radio system. They have, however, drawbacks that such a system makes the construction complicated and that a product so designed and manufactured becomes expensive.
An object of the present invention is to provide a moving position detector suitable for a mouse light in weight and thin in thickness.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a moving position detector suitably for use as a computer mouse that is lightweight in construction and relatively thin compared to a conventional mouse.
The invention described herein relates to a moving position detector for a coordinate input device for use in inputting a position on a display of a display device for an information processor unit comprising a rotating body adapted to rotate around a shaft normal to a floor surface, having a shaft identical to the shaft and placed such that a bottom thereof is brought into contact with the floor surface and having a pressurizing point for applying a load to a location other than the center of the bottom by gravity or by means of a mechanism element, a rotary encoder portion adapted to rotate together with the rotating body, a rotation detecting means for detecting the number of rotations of the rotary encoder portion and an output means for outputting a signal corresponding to an output from the rotation detecting means.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the invention as set forth in herein, further comprising a pair of rotating bodies, wherein pressurizing points of the rotating bodies are disposed on the floor surface, when operated, at positions normal to each other such that one of the pressurizing points is disposed in a longitudinal direction relative to shafts while the other is disposed in a lateral direction.
In one embodiment, a lever is used to pressurize the pressurizing point so that there is caused difference in pressure at points (4a, 4b, 4c, respectively) on the bottom of the rotating body. A friction-reducing roller is provided on the lever at a portion corresponding to the pressurizing point so as to reduce friction at the pressurizing point.
In another embodiment, a ball is used to pressurize the pressurizing point so as to press the rotating body down against the pressurizing point by gravity while rotating at a certain position.
In another embodiment, a magnet and a ring are used to pressurize the pressurizing point so as to generate a force to press down the rotating body by virtue of attracting forces of the magnet and ring.
The rotating body and the rotary encoder fixed to the shaft are held by either a bearing on a lower plate of a main body or a bearing on an upper plate of the main body, with the rotating body being brought into contact to the floor surface at the bottom thereof
With any of the above embodiments, when the lower plate of the main body is placed on the floor surface, the bottom of the rotating body comes into contact with the floor surface. Applied to the points (4a, 4b, 4c) on the bottom are pressures produced by the gravity of the rotating body and the rotary encoder and applied from the pressurizing point. At this moment, although the pressure from the gravity is uniform, due to the pressure from the pressurizing point, the pressure applied to the point (4a) close to the pressurizing point becomes greater than the pressure applied to the point (4b) close to the shaft, and the pressure applied to the point 4c far away from the pressurizing point becomes lower. Due to this, when the shaft is moved in a direction normal to a line connecting the shaft to the pressurizing point, there is caused a difference in frictional force at the points (4a and 4c) with a frictional force at the point (4b) being intermediate between those at the points (4a and 4c), whereby the rotating body is allowed to rotate by virtue of a moment produced by such a difference in frictional force.
The rotation of the rotating body so produced is then eventually detected by the rotation detection means and a signal is outputted from the output means to the computer, thus a position input being effected.


A linking device has a bearing and is suitable for use with a weapons system. The device provides adjustable rotational resisting torque of two coaxial cylindrical parts which are rotatable relative to one another about a shared axis. The bearing includes two rings made of a resiliently deformable material and is capable of respectively engaging with the two cylindrical portions, and between which rolling elements are arranged such as to be in contact with raceways of said rings. The device further includes a controllable member for adjusting the tightening of the rings, wherein the controllable member is capable of engaging one of said parts in order to engage with said bearing.

It is known that it should be made as simple as possible to orient the firing station (which in particular comprises the electronic devices and the aiming optics), together with the ammunition thereof, relative to the stationary tripod, which is placed on the ground, about a substantially vertical axis, in particular owing to the significant axial load of the rotational assembly composed of the firing station and the ammunition thereof. However, any operator or gunner of any body shape that may use the weapons system also has to sense the rotation of the assembly in order to allow him to direct the ammunition at the target in the most accurate way and to ensure optimum comfort when aiming.
For this purpose, a cylindrical part at the base of the firing station is inserted relatively into a coaxial, cylindrical receiving part of the tripod, which part is located at the center of the tripod, thus defining a rotational connection about the vertical axis. In order to ensure the rotation of the assembly relative to the tripod substantially about the vertical axis, a connecting device having a bearing of the rolling bearing type is provided between the two parts, which device takes over the axial load and allows the firing station to rotate relative to the stationary tripod in order to orient the station.
The solutions for the connecting devices currently in use involve either generating friction in the connection (what is known as solid friction) or joining thereto an external viscous damper which is in communication with the bearing (what is known as fluid friction).
However, despite their widespread use, these connecting devices have drawbacks.
Indeed, during use, the solid friction solution generates heat and jolts when the weapon system is being used, and this affects the quality of both the guidance and the aim. Moreover, since the systems are used outside at extremely variable temperatures and humidity levels and by gunners who may have different body shapes, these drawbacks quickly become apparent and are exacerbated.
For its part, despite the quality of the connection, the fluid friction solution is disadvantageous owing to the high cost (bearing and viscous damper), the bulk and the greater weight thereof, which always has a negative impact during transport of the weapons system. In addition, regular maintenance is essential.

Linking device having a bearing and weapons system comprising such a device


A system and method for measuring video quality of a video image, wherein the system comprises a source device comprising an original video image; a receiver comprising a received video image; a storage device adapted to store video images from the source device and the receiver; a decoder connected to the receiver, wherein the decoder is adapted to compare display attributes of the received video image with creation attributes of the original video image; and a processor adapted to attribute an objective standard to the received video image based on the comparison between the display attributes and the creation attributes, wherein the objective standard comprises a video pixel size component, a video motion rating component, a video clarity rating component, and a pixel color rating component.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention generally relate to digital video, and more particularly to systems and methods for digital video duplication and transmission enhancement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, conventional techniques in digital video media technology do not provide a viable manner of measuring the quality of a digital video media duplication or transmission for display. If a media file is used on a compact disk (CD), digital video disk (DVD), or transported via a network there is generally not a viable manner of accurately measuring the video image against its original source in order to provide an ample transmission or duplication quality video image. Without this measurement the industry is left up to individual opinions as to what looks good or bad.
Current known standards generally deal solely with how video media should be packaged, encoded, compressed, or transported. Specifically, current known methods tend to measure transport quality and assume that if packets (video) are delivered, then all is well. However, there remains a need for a technique that measures the digital video media quality after it has been delivered from a source device to a destination device (i.e., measuring the initial input video against the displayable output of the video).

Digital video media duplication or transmission quality measurement


A battery protection and monitoring system includes a plurality of MAFET (Mechanically Actuated Field Effect Transistor) switches, wherein each MAFET switch among the MAFET switches is capable of switching from an open switch condition to a closed switch condition or vice versa, such that the plurality of MAFET switches are connectable to a battery. Such a system further includes one or more transistors associated with and which communicate electrically with at least one MAFET switch among the MAFET switches. A PPTC (Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient) device is also associated with the transistors and the MAFET switches, such that the PPTC device, the MAFET switches and the transistors operate in association with one another and the open switch condition or the closed switch condition of the plurality of MAFET switches to identify, monitor and thus prevent at least one dangerous condition associated with the battery.

The increasing demand for high performance, lightweight, small size portable electronic devices is also increasing the requirements of rechargeable battery performance. Therefore, the amount of energy stored in a battery is increasing. Packing more energy into a cell, however, increases safety concerns. With larger batteries, an increased amount of stored energy is present, resulting in greater hazards, such as a risk that the battery may explode, causing harm to users. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in multiple paths for monitoring the status of a battery or group of batteries during different stages such as, for example, a charging phase, an operational phase, and during and transportation of the battery or batteries. Safety issues have already reached the critical stage in the case of larger batteries used in portable electronics such as laptop computers. It is therefore believed that in the future, these issues will only become increasingly of paramount importance.
Batteries with much larger capacities and increased energy densities are expected to play a significant role in tomorrow's energy and transportation systems. From storing distributed electrical power produced using intermittent renewable resources, to plug-in hybrids cars, all-electrical or battery-fuel cells hybrid cars, extra-large batteries with a large amount of packed energy densely will likely be developed for widespread use.
For instance, one favored type of high-energy density batteries whose use is expanding is the rechargeable lithium-based battery. This type of battery requires precise monitoring during its charging, operational and transportation phases, because if something goes wrong during these stages, the potential for dangerous "venting with flame' (explosion) could occur. Under certain conditions, such as when a battery is overcharged, overheated or a short-circuit occurs, the chemical reaction can spin out of control, causing a thermal runaway situation and pressure build-up within the cell that ultimately could cause the battery to explode. Therefore, key safety challenges include preventing accidental overcharging, overheating, over-pressure, overshock and damage that could cause an internal short-circuit. Despite various and complex safety mechanisms developed, the safety issue of such batteries remains an important issue in the continued development of batteries such as those utilized in laptop computers and hybrid vehicles.

MEMS based battery monitoring technical field


An emissions recycling system is used on a vehicle towing an agricultural implement to enrich the fertility of the soil. The system includes an exhaust collector for collecting exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine of the towing vehicle and an exhaust distribution system for injecting at least a portion of the exhaust emissions collected by the exhaust collector into the ground worked by the ground working tools of the agricultural implement. Fertility of the soil is enriched by bioactivity within the soil's micro flora which consumes the greenhouse gas and emissions.

Agriculture is a large consumer of hydrocarbons fuels and fertilizers. Conversions range around 20 calories to produce 1 calorie of food. The use of industrial fixed fertilizers has and will increase yields at a high energy cost. This inhibits the natural plant micro flora CO2 relationship causing the plants to rely more on the applied fertilizers which causes imbalances in nutrient uptake and a plant's ability to control chloride uptake and pH balance. Bioactivity within the soil environment is limited by the lack of CO2, NO2 and SO2. Micro-organisms use these compounds as an energy source to digest organic matter, dissolve minerals and fix N2 from the air, breaking the N—N bond and making available various forms of nitrogen to plants.
This bioactivity is inhibited when large amounts of ammonium fertilizer are applied to the soil. Ammonium uptake by the roots causes the roots to use the CO2 from photosynthesis to make urea before transporting nitrogen to the shoots. Excess hydrogen, leftover from ammonium and carbohydrates forming urea, is secreted by the roots instead of CO2 that can feed bioactivity in the soil. Excess hydrogen makes the root zone acidic, causing problems with root growth and nutrient up take. This condition is worse in low pH soils, but can help in high pH soils if ammonium could be kept from volatilization.


A method and apparatus for forming a three-dimensional image of a subsurface object utilizes an ultrasonic transducer wand to acquire ultrasonic images of an object, and a target plate attached to the wand which is optically imaged during each of a sequence of ultrasound scans, each of which is made with a different positioning of the ultrasonic scanning beam, thereby forming a sequence of quasi two-dimensional sonogram image slices of the object. Intersecting lines on the target are used to calculate a first coordinate transformation which transforms each optical image of the target plate and sensor to a normal view thereof, and each normally oriented target plate image is used to orient each sonogram image in a fixed coordinate system. A transformation matrix is then used to construct in a fixed coordinate system normalized two-dimensional sensor image slices of correct relative size, location, and orientation.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming in a three-dimensional image space two -dimensional views of an object. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for remotely measuring and recording the position and orientation of an ultrasonic imaging transducer while each of a plurality of two-dimensional image slices is obtained of an internal biological feature by the transducer, and assembling in a three-dimensional space accurately oriented scaled and proportioned views of the slices, thereby facilitating three-dimensional visualization of the feature.
B. Description of Background Art
Acquiring and viewing of two-dimensional ultrasound images has long been a useful non-invasive, non-destructive test method which yields valuable information enabling the visualization of otherwise invisible structures, in diverse fields such as medicine and materials inspection. For example, ultrasonic imaging is routinely used to acquire plan-view images of a fetus within the mother""s womb, or of the otherwise invisible honeycomb cell structure in metal panels, so constructed to provide a high rigidity/strength-to-weight ratio. However, a problem exists with existing ultrasonic imaging techniques, particularly when these technologies are used to form images of irregularly shaped objects, including internal biological features (IBF""s) such as a fetus. Thus, a three-dimensional visualization of an IBF oftentimes must be performed in real-time by a doctor or other healthcare professional who is acting as an ultrasonographer while a sequence of ultrasound scans are made on a patient. To form any ultrasonic image or sonogram of an IBF or other such feature, an ultrasonic imaging wand which contains an ultrasonic energy transducer is used. In a transmit mode, the transducer is electrically energized to transmit a fan-shaped scanning beam of ultrasonic energy; in a receive mode, the transducer receives ultrasonic signals reflected from an object and converts the ultrasonic signals to electrical signals which are used to form an image of the object on a monitor screen. The reflected signals received by the transducer are displayed on the screen in a two-dimensional pattern corresponding to the scanned beam of ultrasonic energy emitted by the transducer when the transducer is operated in the transmit mode, the brightness or color of displayed image elements or pixels on the screen being proportional to the strength of the received signals.
To form a three-dimensional visualization of an IBF or other feature of interest, a sequence of two-dimensional views or sonograms are made by varying the orientation and/or location of the ultrasound wand relative to the feature, thus causing the transmitted and received ultrasound beams to xe2x80x9cslicexe2x80x9d the feature at different angles and/or locations. Such xe2x80x9con-the-flyxe2x80x9d visualizations of the three-dimensional shape of a feature, made from a sequence of two-dimensional image slices, is problematic for a number of reasons. For one thing, it requires a substantial degree of skill and experience to perform meaningful visualization. Moreover, the procedure requires that the wand be repositioned or panned continuously in the area of interest for time periods which may be discomforting to a patient. Also, there is no practical way to preserve on-the-fly mental visualizations of an IBF. Therefore, although it is possible to record and preserve individual sonograms, it is usually impractical if not impossible for the ultrasonographer to recreate three-dimensional views of results of an examination at a later date, or to transmit 3-D views to a different healthcare professional for his or her review.
There are existing machines which are capable of tracking the position and orientation of an ultrasonic imaging wand and associating the instantaneous position of the wand with the ultrasound image acquired at that time. However, such machines are extremely expensive and do not afford a capability for retrofitting to existing ultrasound machines.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,979, issued Oct. 19, 1999, the present inventor, Geoffrey L. Taylor, disclosed with Grant D. Derksen a Method And Apparatus For Photogrammetric Assessment Of Biological Tissue. In that patent, a remote wound assessment method and apparatus was disclosed in which an oblique photographic image is made of a surface wound and a target object such as a plate containing a rectangular image and placed near the wound. Using a novel method of determining vanishing points where a photographic image of parallel lines on the target object intersect, coordinate transformations are calculated which map the oblique image of the rectangle into a normal image thereof. Using the same coordinate transformations, an oblique image of a wound adjacent to the target plate is mapped into a normal, i.e., perpendicular view thereof, allowing precise determination of the true size and outline shape of wound features. The ""979 patent also disclosed an enhancement of the novel planar feature mapping method and apparatus with three-dimensional feature mapping. Thus, according to the method, two separate images of a wound and target plate are formed by moving the camera to two different locations which provide two different oblique views from which three-dimensional topographical features of a wound surface may be measured. Although the method and apparatus disclosed in the ""979 patent have proved to be highly successful in evaluating surface features of biological tissue, the problem of conveniently forming three-dimensional views of internal biological features has been heretofore unsolved, motivating the present invention.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming from a plurality of two-dimensional image slices of an object a three-dimensional representation of the image slices.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming from a plurality of relatively thin image scans which intersect an object at different angles and/or from different vantage points a three-dimensional representation of the image slices, thus facilitating visualization of the object, including heights of various features of the object.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming from a plurality of thin image scans which intersect an object at different heights a three-dimensional representation of the image slices, thereby enabling visualization of the object including heights of various features of the object.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for remotely measuring in a three-dimensional coordinate space locations and orientations of a sensor used to gather data.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for remotely measuring the location and orientation of an ultrasonic transducer used to form ultrasound images whereby the location and orientation of features imaged by the transducer may be precisely reconstructed in a three-dimensional coordinate space.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus which photogrammetrically monitors a target plate attached to an ultrasonic imaging transducer wand, as the wand is moved relative to an object of interest, and which performs coordinate transformations of a sequence of oblique images of the target plate to thereby map a sequence of relatively thin, quasi two-dimensional ultrasound image scans of an object obtained by the transducer wand at various orientations relative to the object into a sequence of object feature images of correct relative size, shape and location within a three-dimensional coordinate system, from which a three-dimensional visualization of the object is constructed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for photogrammetrically monitoring ultrasonic image-forming scans of internal biological features, in which a target plate attached to a scanning ultrasonic transducer wand is photographically monitored to thereby determine and record the precise location and orientation of the wand during each of a sequence of scans, coordinate transformations of each oblique wand and target plate image performed to obtain a sequence of normal view images of the target plate, and, using the oblique-to-normal view transformations of target plate images, a sequence of ultrasonically formed scanned images or sonograms are assembled into a composite three-dimensional view from which internal biological features may be visualized.
Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings and claims.
It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a method and apparatus for photogrammetrically monitoring the position and orientation coordinates of a sensor being used to acquire a sequence of sensor images of an object, performing a first coordinate transformation to correctly orient the sensor images, and constructing a three-dimensional representation of the correctly oriented sensor images, thereby permitting three-dimensional visualization of the object.
According to the present invention, an optical imaging and recording instrument such as a video camera, camcorder or digital camera is used to form a sequence of photographic images, at arbitrary, typically oblique angles, of a target plate attached to an ultrasonic transducer wand while a sequence of ultrasound image scans is being made of an object of interest, e.g., a fetus within the mother""s womb. During this step, a separate recorded image of the target plate and ultrasound wand is associated with each ultrasound image scan, which is typically a relatively thin, quasi two-dimensional xe2x80x9cslicexe2x80x9d of the object. A sequence of two-dimensional ultrasound image slices is formed by changing the orientation and/or location of the ultrasound wand for each scan, thus obtaining different ultrasound views of the object.
According to the present invention, the target plate has visual features of known dimensions which permit measurement of its distance from, and orientation with respect to a fixed monitoring device such as a video camera which may be temporarily secured to a fixed structure such as a bed on which a patient is lying. For example, the target plate may contain at least one pair of lines that intersect at a known angle, and preferably contains two pairs of parallel lines that are mutually perpendicular, forming a rectangle. When photographed at an arbitrary oblique angle, the image of the target rectangle is in general a quadrilateral. A coordinate transformation and image mapping method is then used to map the intersecting lines of an arbitrary image such as a quadrilateral into the rectangular xe2x80x9creal worldxe2x80x9d shape of the target plate. A preferred method of performing the coordinate transformation and image mapping is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,979. Using the same coordinate transformation which is used to map an oblique view of the image plate into a normal view thereof, the distance of the wand from the video camera, and its angular orientation with respect to the camera, may be precisely determined for each ultrasound image scan performed by the wand. Also, since the scan pattern of ultrasonic energy emitted by the wand bears a fixed relationship to the wand, precisely determining the position and orientation of the wand precisely determines the location and orientation of each ultrasound image slice relative to a patient and object of interest. The novel method and apparatus according to the present invention utilizes that information to calculate a coordinate transformation matrix which is then used to construct a three-dimensional image representation of the sequence of two-dimensional image slices, utilizing the orientation and position of each slice relative to a fixed reference frame. This three-dimensional image representation of sensor image slices enables an object scanned by the sensor to be visualized in three dimensions.

Method and apparatus for photogrammetric orientation of ultrasound images


An enclosure that includes an outer housing, a sealant assembly that defines a cable port for routing a cable into the outer housing and a port plug that passes through the cable port. The port plug includes a retention feature that is moveable between an expanded configuration and a radially compressed configuration. The retention feature has an elastic construction that allows the retention feature to move to the radially compressed configuration as the retention feature passes through the cable port and causes the retention feature to automatically expand to the expanded configuration after the retention feature passes through the cable port.

Fiber optic communication systems are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high band width communication capabilities to customers. Fiber optic communication systems often employ a network of fiber optic cables capable of transmitting large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances. A typical fiber optic network includes a system of trunk fiber optic cables each including a relatively large number of optical fibers. Optical fiber networks also include drop cables that interconnect to fibers of the trunk cables at various locations along the lengths of the trunk cables. The drop cables can be routed from the trunk cables to subscriber locations or to intermediate structures such as drop terminals.
Drop cables are often connected to the optical fibers of trunk cables via splices (e.g., fusion splices or mechanical splices). Splices are often supported within splice trays that are protected from the environment by sealed, re-enterable enclosures. Such enclosures typically include sealed ports through which the trunk cables and drop cables enter the enclosures. One example type of enclosure includes a dome and a base that are interconnected by a clamp. A gel block mounts within the base. The gel block defines a plurality of cable ports for allowing cables to be routed into the enclosure through the base. The cable ports are sealed by pressurizing the gel block with a manual actuator. Plugs are mounted within any of the cable ports that are unused. Example dome-style splice closures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,780,173; 5,446,823; and 5,323,480.
A typical fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber surrounded by a protective outer jacket. The optical fiber typically includes a glass core and cladding surrounded by one or more layers of protective coating. A typical fiber optic cable also includes a structure for reinforcing the cable with respect to tensile and/or compressive loading. For example, strength members, such as epoxy rods reinforced by glass fibers/rovings, can be incorporated into the cable to provide the cable with reinforcement with regard to both compressive and tensile loading. Other types of cables can include a strength layer formed by strength members such as aramid yarn which provide tensile reinforcement to the cables. When a fiber optic cable is routed into an enclosure, the outer jacket of the fiber optic cable is often stripped away to provide access to the internal optical fiber for splicing or connection to a fiber optic connector.
It is a common practice for telecommunication splice enclosures to allow of cables to enter and exit. This is typically done via holes that are called ports. The ports are environmentally sealed to prevent water ingress via heat shrink, gel, rubber, or other encapsulating substance. These ports sometimes require temporary plugs to be used until the port is needed. The present disclosure relates to developing port plugs that can be added or removed from rigid structures without the risk of falling out or self-ejecting from the closures. The port plug has the ability to provide retention features that hold the plug in place and prevents any movement. The port plug is advantageous when dealing with limited spaced envelopes that prevent manipulation on the inside of a closure or dismantling a closure. The port plug can be relatively easy to access for installation or removal.


A paper pressing force controller of a printer includes a pressing roller that contacts a transfer roller for receiving a paper sheet therebetween. Guide rollers supply the paper sheet between the transfer roller and the pressing roller and a pressure sensing unit senses the pressure variations according to the thickness variations of the paper sheet supplied between the guide rollers. A pressure changing unit controls a pressing force of the pressing roller against the paper sheet by moving the pressing roller vertically with respect to the transfer roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a paper pressing force controller of a printer, in which a gap between a transfer roller and a pressing roller can be controlled according to the thickness of a paper sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a laser printer prints an image by developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive belt and transferring the developed image to a paper sheet.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional laser printer 10. Referring to FIG. 1, a photosensitive belt 12 is supported by rollers 11a, 11b and 11c and circulates around the rollers 11a, 11b and 11c. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive belt 12 by laser scanning units 13, and is developed by developing devices 14. The laser scanning units 13 scan the photosensitive belt 12 with a light beam according to an image to be printed, and the developing devices 14 supply the photosensitive belt 12 with respective developers. In the case of a color printer, the color printer may be provided with a plurality of developing devices 14 and laser scanning units 13 corresponding to the respective colors, i.e., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B).
The developed image on the photosensitive belt 12 is transferred to a transfer roller 15, and the transferred image is printed on a paper sheet 17, supplied from guide rollers 16, between the transfer roller 15 and a pressing roller 18.
The pressing roller 18 is elastically biased against the transfer roller 15 at a constant pressure by a spring 19a fixed to a supporter 19b. Therefore, constant pressure is exerted on the paper sheet 17 supplied between the transfer roller 15 and the pressing roller 18.
Thus, in a conventional printer, the pressing roller 18 is pressed at a constant pressing force by the spring 19a without reference to the thickness of a supplied paper sheet. Therefore, when a paper sheet 17 is thick, the constant pressure of the pressing roller 18 is transferred to the photosensitive belt 12 via the transfer roller 15, and the developed image may become distorted.

Paper pressing force controller for a printer


A feeder/delivery board (81) includes a generally planar platform (83) made of a flexible material, and a plurality of legs (84) attached to the platform and extending downwardly for supporting the board on a printing press table (80a). A jack mechanism (88) is mounted in at least one of the legs (84) for selectively raising an area of the platform (83) relative to a remainder of the platform. The jack mechanism (88) includes a rack (89), a pinion (90) engaging the rack and a key (91) or thumbwheel (71) for rotating said pinion. The board (81) can include one of the jack mechanisms (88) mounted in each of the legs (84).

Various devices for receiving piles of sheet paper thereon have become known heretofore in the prior art. Such devices serve for making-ready for the sheet-fed press paper sheets which are to be printed. When the board provided with the pile is moved upwardly as required for this purpose, the pile of sheets resting thereon is guided by a pile guide, so that the individual sheets of paper in the pile will be in a correct position for feeding into the press.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,924 entitled "Sheet Feeder for a Sheet-Processing Machine". A sheet feeder for a sheet-processing machine having a device for automatically aligning a lateral position of a stack of sheets from which respective sheets to be individually separated are detectable by a conveyor device for transporting the sheets in a given transport direction and feedable to the sheet-processing machine, includes a stack table for carrying the stack of sheets, the stack table being movable transversely to the given transport direction of the sheets, servomotor means for moving the stack table transversely to the given transport direction in response to respective control signals from an actual sheet-position detection device disposed immediately downstream of the sheet stack as viewed in the given transport direction, the detection device having means for detecting the lateral position of the respective sheet just separated from the stack and already fed to the conveyor device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,606 entitled "Sheet Feeder". In the context of a sheet feeder comprising a stack carrying table able to be moved by a lifting device and having front and side abutments, precise positioning of the stack is facilitated in as far as the stack carrying table is composed of a supporting table adapted to be connected with a lifting member of the lifting device and of a loading stage supported on the carrying table for free movement in its own plane in substantially all directions within the plane. The sheet feeder furthermore has a clamping device which is able to detachably clamp the stage to the supporting table.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,939 entitled "Printing Platform". A platform for supporting paper and/or cardboard which is to be supplied to a printing press wherein the sheets of paper are stacked on a inner table which is mounted in an outer table for adjustable movement and wherein the outer table is driven vertically so as to lift and automatically feed the paper to a printing press or other machine and wherein the paper can be aligned in a first direction by jogging it against bars fixed to the printing press to align first edges and wherein a sensor senses the lateral position of the upper edges of the sheets of paper and controls an adjusting motor which adjusts the position of the inner table so that the lateral position of the upper sheets being fed to the printing press or at the proper position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,311 entitled "Feeder for Sheet-Feed Printing Machine". A feeder for use in a sheet-feed printing machine, in which, while a pile board loaded with a paper sheet pile on a pallet is moved upward, paper sheets are fed to the printing unit through a side register lay, comprising a sensor movable along a threaded shaft according to the rotation of the threaded shaft to detect a side edge of the paper sheet pile, which is moved an amount equal to the distance in the cross or lateral direction between a position at which the paper sheet pile is to be positioned when a left-pulling side register lay is used and a position at which the paper sheet pile is to be positioned when a right-pulling side register lay is used, and further comprising a non-interrupting paper replenishing device to insert another paper sheet pile under the paper sheet pile, or detecting means to detect the remaining amount of paper sheets and the top surface of the paper sheet pile.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,875 entitled "Device for Receiving Sheet Piles Thereon in a Sheet-Fed Printing Press". In a sheet-fed printing press, there is provided a device for receiving sheet piles thereon, including a pile table movable up and down, spacers disposed on the pile table, and pile supports of respective sizes corresponding to respective sizes or formats of the sheets disposable on the pile supports, the spacers being distributed over and locally fixed to the pile table so that the respective pile supports of varying sizes rests on a selected number of spacers sufficient for safely supporting the respective pile supports against tilting, the pile supports of respectively smaller size resting on a smaller number of the respective spacers than the pile supports of respectively larger size.
A common problem is that the sheets may not lie flat on the board thereby causing an alignment problem during feeding into the printing press. It has become known from the prior art to interpose spacers between the bottom sheet in the pile and the upper surface of the board to offset sheet curvature problems. These spaces are wedge-shaped, i.e. have the shape of angles in profile, and are displaceably disposed on the board. Problems with such spacers are that several are required correct a curvature that extends between opposite edges of the sheets and such spacers typically do not extend to the central portion of the pile.

Adjustable feeder/delivery board for printing press


A wireless communication device receives targeted information and/or advertisements. The wireless communication device is preprogrammed with a generic network address only. To communicate over a network, the wireless communication sends an activation request message to the network, including its generic network address (GNA) and information indicative of the base station via which communication is taking place. Knowing the geographical location of the base station, it is possible to send to the wireless communication device via its GNA, or a subsequently provided unique network address (UNA), information or advertisements targeted to the geographical location or particular wireless device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for activating a wireless device. More particularly, the present invention provides for an automated process for managing an over-the-air activation, deactivation, or change of service for a two-way wireless communication device, e.g., a radio modem such as a pager or a wireless phone. The over-the-air operations are performed via a wireless subscription management network.
The present invention is also directed to a method and system for conducting market research using wireless subscription management and, where appropriate, exploiting that market research to deliver to wireless device users targeted information and/or advertising.
2. Background of the Invention
A conventional wireless electronic communication device, for example a radio modem such as a two-way pager, is traditionally put into service for a customer through a service provider. The service provider may be a different entity than a network provider, i.e., the entity providing the wireless communications infrastructure, such as a MOBITEX network (the de facto international standard for two-way wireless data communications). As is known in the art, a basic MOBITEX network includes base stations, local switches, national switches, and a network control center.
The activation process for a particular communication device generally requires that, once the service provider determines that the customer should be authorized for service, the service provider contacts the network provider. The determination if and how to activate the communication device can be based on a number of factors, such as user provided information (for example, the user""s credit report, service area, type of services requested and price option). The service provider then provides to the network provider, for example, the serial number assigned by the manufacturer of the communication device and a unique network address of the device (UNA), also assigned by the manufacturer. The network provider then activates the device.
The activation process itself is performed manually, i.e., the required user information must be provided to and then processed by the service provider and subsequently forwarded to the network provider. Further, the activation process is not generally performed in real-time. The activation process also presumes a number of different operations that are performed by the manufacturer at the time the device is manufactured, such as the manual programming of a unique network address (UNA) for each communication device. Thus, the activation process can be labor-intensive and costly.
Every conventional wireless device has a unique network address, e.g., a unique phone number or equivalent identifier so that signals can be directed to a particular device. As indicated above, the manufacturer must assign this unique network address to the device at the time of assembly. Even if the communication device, such as a radio modem, is not activated at the time of manufacture, the device is nevertheless assigned a unique network address from a limited pool of such addresses. The manual assignment of a unique address at the time of manufacture increases the cost of manufacturing each wireless device, and requires that careful records be kept of network addresses used to avoid any duplication.
UNAs assigned to manufacturers will become increasingly difficult to manage as the volume of units required to fulfill market requirements grows. The current manual process of multiple services will become cost prohibitive. Assigning UNAs begins with the allocation of a range of UNAs to a radio modem manufacturer. The manufacturer then programs a UNA into each radio modem and records the UNA and manufacturer serial number pair. An electronic copy of a list with the UNAs is provided to the network operator who will provide service for the devices. Since there are different operators and various ranges assigned to each operator, activation of each device is typically a manual (and therefore error-prone process). Similarly, changing the UNA from a local to regional or international UNA, or to the address range of another operator also requires a manual change process. For example, user and operator exchange of account and device information, address, and manufacture number, are done via fax, voice call, or E-mail. The information is then manually entered into an account management system. Such a process is not only costly and time consuming, but also yields a relatively high number of errors that also need to be corrected via manual trouble shooting and resolution procedures. For high volume, low margin markets, such as paging, the current method of operation is cost prohibitive.
Further, the finite address space and international numbering plan needed to support MOBITEX creates an added level of complexity, cost, and security risk resulting in the proliferation of radio modem programming tools. This is another problem that must be addressed. Since UNA space is limited, controlled allocation and reprogramming of UNAs is necessary. The variety of tools and skills required to program radio modems also represents a sales impediment in addition to the security risk and potential for error. Further, limiting the access to tools that permit reprogramming of UNAs increases system security and decreases the rate of errors while improving customer satisfaction and convenience.
Further still, there are many wireless device applications for which it may not be desirable to assign a unique network address (UNA) to a wireless device that identifies that device for its entire life. For example, in some applications a wireless device might be used only periodically, e.g., once per day, week or month. In view of the limited number of available UNAs, it is wasteful and uneconomical to assign a UNA to a wireless device that operates periodically sporadically.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wireless subscription management system and a method for an automated, over-the-air process of managing and administering wireless communication devices. Further, the present invention minimizes manual process and data entry error in addition to simplifying the distribution, production and programming of wireless devices.
Further still in accordance with the present invention there is provided a wireless subscription management system and method that dynamically assigns unique network addresses. More specifically, a wireless device queries the service provider for a UNA and thereafter registers with a service provider for only a limited period of time after which the UNA that was associated with that wireless device is returned to a pool of UNAs from which individual UNAs are pulled for dynamic association with or allocation to other wireless devices. This aspect of the present invention is advantageously used with wireless devices associated with fixed sites including, for example, (i) xe2x80x9cintelligentxe2x80x9d vending machines that may alert an owner that merchandise inventory has fallen below a predetermined threshold, (ii) burglar/fire alarms that only need to send information when the alarm is tripped or (iii) television set-top boxes via which pay-per-view programming or even products and/or services can be offered for sale and bought.
Also in accordance with the present invention, the service provider (or other entity, such as a host, in collaboration with the service provider) can detect and monitor which base station was used for wireless device registration. Accordingly, it is possible to determine (at least temporarily) where, geographically, the wireless device is located. This information can then be used to send targeted information or advertising to the wireless device via that base station or node. In other words, it is possible in accordance with the present invention to gather market research data regarding the location of the wireless devices that obtain UNAs using the wireless subscription management system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for dynamically associating a unique network addresses (UNA) to a wireless device upon request initiated by the wireless device.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for dynamic UNA allocation for wireless devices associated with fixed sites.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for dynamically allocating a UNA to a wireless device, wherein the wireless device is associated with a vending machine, alarm system, television, television set-top box and/or any other appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher or air conditioning system.
It is still another object of the present invention to detect the node or base station via which a wireless device has registered and thereafter deliver targeted information and/or advertising to that wireless device via that node using a unique network address assigned to the wireless device or using only the wireless device""s generic network address.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Market research using wireless subscription management

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


A turbine unit for a hydraulic installation, and more in particular it deals with the hub of the turbine unit. The present invention proposes to provide means for adjusting a gap extent formed between the hub and the inner edge of the blade, this way dramatically increasing the performance of the turbine.

Hydraulic installations using double-regulated-type turbines (such as Kaplan or Bulb or Deriaz turbines) are nowadays widely known and used. In this kind of installations the turbine comprises a hub onto which several blades are fitted. The rotation of the hub about its longitudinal axis caused by the interaction of the flow of water and the blades determines the production of electricity, as the hub is suitably connected to an electric generator. Furthermore, each turbine blade is pivotally connected to the hub such to be rotatable about an axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the hub. The regulation of the angular position of the blade relative to the hub is used to improve the efficiency of the energy-conversion process. It is also well known that between the inner edge of the blade and the hub a gap is created. It is a common conception that such gaps create detrimental effects, as they may cause cavitation and/or may kill or injure fishes as they might be sucked and directed through the gap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,679 addresses such problem providing a turbine for hydraulic installations having the feature of being fish-friendly. To this aim, with specific reference to column 7 lines 1-26 and FIG. 21, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,679 proposes to insert raised areas between the blade and the surface of the hub to shield the gaps. Therefore, the aim of the teaching of said patent is to provide a turbine where the extent of the gap is reduced to zero or at least minimised to a constant value such to improve the survivability of fishes.
With reference to FIG. 1, it is schematically shown the geometry of such arrangement belonging to the prior art, given in terms of extent, or size, of a gap formed between the raised area and an inner edge of the blade as a function of angle α, which represents the angular position of blade when rotated versus the hub. In particular, the graph shows that the shape of the outer surface of the raised area is such that the extent of the gap, as a function of the blade angle α, has a constant value.