To connect two divided and multiplexed streams seamlessly, a gap between video and audio playback times has to be adjusted. And, to make this adjustment, every conventional method has been required to process mass data by extracting and re-encoding the elementary streams and re-arranging the data, so that the data cannot be handled by any video cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to media and apparatuses for recording data streams, as well as a program that describes a method for recording data streams. More particularly, the present invention relates to media and apparatuses for recording multi-media data streams conforming to the MPEG, as well as programs that describe the methods for recording data streams.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to record and transmit mass digital data converted from video and audio information, there have been proposed various methods such as the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) and they have grown into such international standard encoding methods as the ISO/IEC 11172 standard and the ISO/IEC 13818 standard. Those methods have been employed widely for digital satellite broadcasting and DVDs and now very familiar even to ordinary people.
In addition, along with the progress and spread of digital video cameras, as well the appearance of such mass data recording media as DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, etc. on the market in recent years, the users come to expect strongly to cope with the processings of video and audio data recorded as digital data. Many researches and developments have been promoted to search, analyze, and edit such digital data to meet the expectation.
The ISO/IEC 13818 standard (hereinafter, to be described as the MEPG-2 standard) is one of the methods and consists of an ISO/IEC 13818-1 standard (hereinafter, to be described as the system standard), an ISO/IEC 13818-2 standard (hereinafter, to be described as the video standard), and an ISO/IEC 13818-3 standard (hereinafter, to be described as the audio standard). The system standard is employed to multiplex streams conforming to the video standard and the audio standard. A stream means a sequence of encoded video or audio data. Video data is encoded in pictures. When in editing, however, video data is handled in groups, each consisting of a plurality of pictures (hereinafter, to be described as the GOP). The GOP is a unit of estimating a movement compensation. Audio data is encoded in units of audio accesses (hereinafter, to be described as the AAU). Such encoded data is referred to as an elementary stream. Generally, video elementary streams and audio elementary streams are set in different packets and multiplexed independently of each other. A Transport Stream (TS) or the like is used to multiplex such the video and audio data. A multiplexed data stream is edited for each unit of consecutive packets between a packet that includes the start of a GOP and a packet that includes the start of the next GOP (hereinafter, to be described as the VOBU).
The MPEG-2 standard defines that an elementary stream conforming to both video and audio standards is divided into proper long blocks and a header is added to each of the blocks to be grouped as a packet. And, data is multiplexed in such packets.
On the other hand, when a multiplexed stream is resolved into video data and audio data and played back at the decoding side, video data and audio data of the stream are stored in different buffers. Video data and audio data are thus multiplexed at different timings, properly to each of them. In addition, because video data is larger than audio data in size in the same unit of playback time, the video data, when it is decoded, needs a larger buffer. Consequently, video packets are multiplexed earlier than audio packets in each multiplexed stream. FIG. 2 shows how a multiplexed stream is edited. In the case where a stream is divided at a cutting point (201), that is, a VOBU boundary, the preceding stream (202) comes to have a video playback end time, which is earlier than the audio playback end time while the following stream (203) comes to have a video playback start time, which is earlier than the audio playback start time. This is why a gap (204) occurs between those video and audio playback times.
For example, it takes thought here for a case in which a preceding stream created as described above is connected to the following stream created at another place and the connected streams are edited so that both video and audio data in the streams are played back smoothly non-stop. Such the nonstop playback is referred to as seamless playback. And, editing streams so as to play back them seamlessly is referred to as seamless connection. The MPEG-2 standard regulates conditions that both video and audio playback end times at the end of a preceding stream and both video, as well as audio playback start times at the start of the following stream must be synchronized respectively (at least, within a predetermined tolerance of one AAU playback time) to realize such the seamless connection. However, two streams created as described above come to generate a gap between the video and audio playback times and the gap disables such the seamless connection without employing some measures to eliminate the gap.
Conventionally, to realize such the seamless connection, packet headers are removed from both preceding and following streams to obtain elementary streams, then video and audio data are decoded and their playback times are adjusted to eliminate the gap between video and audio playback times. Then, the data is encoded and recorded as packets or recorded as another stream.
The JP-A No. 112944/1999 discloses a method for adjusting an audio gap between a stream broadcast from a key station and another stream held in a relay station. According to this method, at first, both video and audio elementary streams are taken out from the received transport stream, then the playback time of the audio data held in the relay station is compared with that of the received audio data. If a gap occurs between those playback times, the gap is eliminated with use of soundless audio access unit(s) and the stream is transformed into packets, which are then multiplexed to create a transport stream. This method, however, just processes elementary streams and connects a stream to each received stream, then records and transmits the connected streams as a new stream.
On the other hand, the JP-A No. 37204/1996 discloses a method for editing data in elementary streams. This method, as well as the above-described method, however, have to process a huge amount of data, since they are always required to take out elementary streams from packets, decide/re-encode streams, as well as re-arrange data files recorded on a recording medium after some data in such a file is processed. This is why it has been very difficult for those methods, as well as other conventional methods to realize the above-described seamless connection in such small devices as video cameras.
Under such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for realizing such the seamless connection only by eliminating a gap of the playback time between video data and audio data in a stream in a simple way; the method has successfully eliminated processings for removing packet headers from a multiplexed stream to take out elementary streams and decode/re-encode elementary streams and re-arrange data files recorded on a recording medium. It is also another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium for recording multiplexed streams created according to the above method, a program that describes the method for creating data packets, a data recording apparatus, and a video camera.

Recording apparatus, video camera and computer program

Abstract: However, the present invention has successfully solved the above conventional problems as follows. An audio packet disposed at the start of a following stream to be connected is replaced with a null packet if its playback start time precedes that of the video packet. Then, soundless audio packets are added at the end of the preceding stream, thereby eliminating the gap between video and audio playback times in both of the streams to realize the required seamless connection.


A beverage-holding device is disclosed. The device includes a beverage holder coupled to a glove. The beverage holder is adapted to receive and support a beverage container, and is coupled to the glove by one or more fastening mechanisms, which may be fixed or selectively releasable mechanisms. In some embodiments of the invention, the holder is pivotally coupled to the glove. When not being used to support a beverage container, the holder may be stowed in an out-of-the-way position, such as on the back of the glove.

When holding a beverage, one must be careful to maintain a firm, stable grip on the beverage to prevent dropping or spilling the beverage. When the beverage is hot or cold, this may be more difficult because the heat or cold from the beverage may be conducted through the beverage container to the user's hand. One method for preventing this heat conduction, as well as change of the beverage's temperature due to exposure to the ambient environment, is to support the beverage in a beverage holder, which may be insulated. However, use of such a holder still requires a user to maintain a firm grip on the holder and to store the holder when not currently being used.
One solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,692 to Dzierson et al., in which a glove with a detachable beverage holder is disclosed. The disclosure of Dzierson et al. is hereby incorporated by reference. In Dzierson et al., the beverage holder is secured to the glove in a defined position by a hook and loop closure mechanism extending along the length of the beverage holder. The glove further includes a snap fastener to prevent the weight of a beverage in the holder from causing the holder to be unintentionally detached from the glove. When not mounted on the palm region of the glove, the beverage holder must be stored elsewhere by the user, which is inconvenient and can easily lead to the holder being misplaced.
The invented device is a combination glove and beverage holder. Unlike the device of Dzierson et al., however, in one embodiment of the invention the holder is selectively positionable between a use position in which the holder is proximate the palm region of the glove for receiving a beverage and being gripped by the user, and a stowed position, in which the holder is retained in an out-of-the-way position, such as on the back of the glove. In other embodiments, the holder is pivotally coupled to the glove, thereby enabling the holder to be pivoted between the above positions and/or to remain in a generally vertical orientation even when the glove is not.
Many other features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of this invention are disclosed as illustrative examples only.


A filter element is particularly suitable as a “green” filter element because all of its parts are flammable for disposal of after use by incineration. The filter element has an annular pleated filter media, hard resinous end seals and compressible gaskets bonded directly to the end seals. In accordance with one embodiment, both the end seals and gaskets are applied to the ends of the filter media by sequential steps in an injecting molding machine. In accordance with another embodiment, the gasket is molded to the end cap to form an integral assembly and the end cap is then fixed to the filter media by adhesive or by heat bonding.

Green filter elements are filter elements comprised of flammable components allowing the filter elements to be disposable by incineration after use. Green filter elements do not contain metal components. Since by law, used lubricating oil from internal combustion engines is 100% recycled, it is also now becoming the practice to recycle lubricating oil filters by completely incinerating used filter elements including the oil trapped therein. Preferably, there is no waste other than ash. Consequently, filters such as cartride filters, now completely avoid metal components.
Cartride filters currently use an injected end cap to seal the ends of annular filter media and a felt gasket which is adhered to the end cap with adhesive. This is a two step process which results in increased cost due to extended production time, manual handling of filter elements and questionable seal quality. Since filter elements are produced by the millions, relatively slight reductions in cost per unit can result in substantial production savings which in turn further encourage the production of "green" filter elements, thus reducing the environmental burden of filter elements.

End cap and gasket assemblies for filter elements


A new variety of Hemerocallis daylily distinguished by its bloom beauty in both clarity of peach color and round, ruffled form particularly characterized by its strong short scape, thick heavy bloom substance, bloom fragrance and its reblooming habit.

This new variety of daylily plant originated as a seedling selected from a group of seedlings planted by me at my ranch in Grain Valley, Mo., and resulting from a crossing of the clonal cultivar `Martha Adams` (unpatented) with the variety Seedling No. RJR-PK3-89, the objective being to produce a plant having blooms of clear peach color borne on a scape height of about 20 to 22 inches. A further objective was to produce such a plant that would be repeat blooming, fragrant, and have blooms with heavy substance and sun resistance.
This new plant was elected for propagation because it most closely possessed the advantageous features that I sought and asexual reproduction of the selected plant was accomplished by division at the crown or basal plate which is the area where the roots and foliage meet, at Grain Valley, Mo.
During the course of propagation of this new plant on a more-or-less commercial scale at my daylily ranch in Grain Valley, Mo., I have observed that the new plant is very hardy when grown in zone 6-9 and its particularly capable of consistently beautiful blooms, on strong, short scapes.
The clumps should be divided or separated every 3 to 5 years depending on the USDA zone and the increase rate. This separation is to maintain optimum continued growth and bloom beauty. The specimens will continue to flower for many years without division although the quality of performance will be diminished. Furthermore, I have observed that the new plant has bloom fragrance, heavy bloom substance, and has a repeat blooming habit.


A power supply assembly is disclosed which includes a resonant static converter of the Zero Voltage Switching type having a mono-switch at the primary and a rectifier circuit at the secondary; it further includes an auxiliary voltage booster rectifier circuit and a starting circuit for a load such as a gas discharge lamp.

The present invention relates to a power supply assembly including a fly-back type static converter with a controlled switch associated with a voltage booster rectifier and a control circuit.
The specific application of the present invention of this converter is a gas discharge lamp supply. A purpose of the present invention is to bring improvements to the basic structure of such a static converter, more particularly in the switch control circuit, in the secondary rectifier circuit and in the transformer(s) design so that operation with constant power is achieved.
Another purpose of the present invention is to propose DC/DC or DC/AC converters of various structures arranged around the same units, for supplying a gas discharge lamp.

Assembly set including a static converter with controlled switch and control circuit


A well pumping system includes a pivotally mounted walking beam and "horsehead" connected to a downhole pump by a pump rod in the conventional manner. A hydraulic lift piston and cylinder and a pneumatic balance piston and cylinder are connected to the walking beam. A process control computer controls input signals to a hydraulic control valve for controlling the hydraulic cylinder rate and direction of travel to provide corresponding control over the motion of the walking beam. The computer receives input information from a position sensor indicating the displacement of the beam in its range of travel. The computer program also is responsive to a timer for determining actual stroke rate and acceleration of the beam. The computer monitors and controls operation of the hydraulics and pneumatics as the pumping unit produces the lift necessary to extract fluid from the well. The computer controls acceleration and deceleration of the walking beam assembly in accordance with a desired acceleration-versus-time and deceleration-versus-time waveform. Closed loop control is used to cause actual beam displacement, displacement rate and acceleration to follow a desired displacement, rate, and acceleration profile. As a result, any sudden movement or directional change is eliminated, and the system reduces energy consumption and wear and tear on the pumping equipment.

A conventional well pumping system includes a large rocker arm for reciprocating a pump rod which extends downhole for connection to a piston of a pump mounted within the well. The rocker arm typically includes a pivotally mounted "walking beam" and "horsehead" mounted on a framework adjacent the well head. The walking beam pivots to reciprocate the pump rod vertically. The walking beam is commonly driven by a complex mechanical drive system. One such drive system can include a crank connected between the walking beam and a rotating arm mounted on a drive shaft driven through a gear box from a drive motor.
It often becomes necessary, or at least desirable, to make mechanical changes to the pump drive system dynamics during use. For instance, changing the stroke length or stroke rate (strokes per minute) of the pump often requires mechanical changes which are time consuming and costly. To change the stroke length, for example, requires changing the pivot pin location on the walking beam, together with other mechanical changes in the linkage between the walking beam and the downhole pump. These changes can require special equipment and additional personnel. It can require a crane to lift the walking beam while the beam's pivot is changed, for example. At least a half day's production time can be lost when changing the stroke length and stroke rate of the pump.
Prior well pumping systems also commonly experience field conditions that produce wear and tear on the equipment and reduce operating efficiency. Substantial loads are imposed on the pump rod of conventional pumping equipment. Large shock loads, especially, are placed on the pump rod as it reciprocates in a well which can be several thousand feet deep, or more. Downhole conditions in the well are often unpredictable and can cause sudden movements or directional changes in the pumping equipment.
Wear and tear on conventional well pumping equipment is especially severe when the pump undergoes a pumping-off condition, in which lift occurs above the fluid level in the well. This condition pulls a vacuum in the production tubing and creates severe impacts on the pumping equipment if the condition is not corrected. In prior well pumping systems, a pumping-off condition is sensed and the pump is stopped. Often, steam is injected downhole to change the viscosity and flow rate of the oil in order to correct the condition.
The present invention provides a system for automatically controlling the motion of a rocker arm-driven well pump. The control system senses the actual motion of the rocker arm throughout its pumping cycle and constantly adjusts its travel in accordance with a desired pumping motion. The control system provides a number of improvements over the conventional mechanically operated well pumping equipment. For instance, the stroke length and number of strokes per minute of the rocker arm can be easily adjusted Acceleration and deceleration of the walking beam can be controlled for each upstroke independently of each downstroke of the beam. These controls are equivalent to moving the pivot of the fulcrum of a conventional pump; but such control is produced without requiring complex mechanical changes to the pumping equipment. Precise control over pumping motion throughout the pumping cycle also reduces shock loading and wear and tear on the equipment. In addition, the control system can pre-sense a pumping-off condition and quickly adjust the stroke length to maintain production while avoiding impact loading on the equipment. Thus, wear and tear on the equipment are reduced, and valuable production time is not lost.


A replacement torque converter cover designed to withstand mechanical stresses generated in the torque converter lock-up clutch of ALLISON transmissions when such transmissions are utilized with diesel engines and other high-torque truck engines. The original equipment cover includes through-drilled holes for receiving unitary threaded stud pins, which function to attach the cover to the engine crankshaft externally and to drive the lock-up clutch piston internally during operation. The present replacement cover provides a lock-up clutch piston interface wherein such through-drilled holes and unitary threaded stud pins are eliminated, which substantially reduces stress concentration and mechanical fatigue in the replacement cover. In comparison to the unitary threaded stud pins of the original equipment cover, the present replacement cover provides separate threaded stud and drive pin components respectively, which are installed at radially offset positions on opposite sides of a modified radial wall having an increased axial thickness and improved durability.

The present invention relates to automotive transmission systems and, more particularly, to a replacement torque converter cover for an ALLISON MT 600 series (hereinafter "ALLISON") transmission or other similar transmissions.
The torque converter of an automatic transmission replaces the clutch used in manual transmissions. It is the primary component for transmittal of power between the engine and the transmission in an automotive vehicle. The basic principle of torque converter operation can be observed by placing the blades of two electric fans opposite each other and turning on one of the fans. If one of the fans is turned on, the force of the air column produced will act upon the motionless blades of the other fan, which will begin turning and eventually reach a speed approaching the speed of the powered fan. The torque converter employs an analogous mechanism using automatic transmission fluid (hereinafter "ATF") to provide a fluid coupling between the engine and the transmission of an automobile, which provides for a smooth conversion of torque from the engine to the mechanical components of the transmission.
In the ALLISON transmissions a drum-shaped, torque converter cover is connected by threaded studs to the engine flywheel at its forward end and is also bolted to the torque converter impeller (hereinafter "impeller") so that the impeller will rotate at engine speed. It is known in the industry that when such ALLISON transmissions are installed in commercial duty vehicles having a high torque, diesel engine such as trucks, buses, equipment haulers, and tractors, the structural strength of the original equipment manufacture (hereinafter "OEM") torque converter cover is often inadequate and, as a result, failure of the cover often occurs during converter lock-up and other peak torque events.
In addition, such commercial vehicles are often permitted to run at idle for extended periods of time. Because such diesel engines run unevenly at low speeds, mechanical fretting of torque converter components may result in structural damage. This is a particular problem in vehicles with the ALLISON MT 600 transmission wherein the lock-up clutch in the torque converter lacks a dampening mechanism, which results in high impact loads being imparted to the torque converter cover studs.
Thus, the present invention has been developed to resolve this problem and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Replacement torque converter cover assembly


A beverage container for a carbonated beverage includes a floating hollow insert (1) comprising an upper moulding (2) and a lower moulding (3) defining a chamber for containing gas, a first one-way duck-bill type valve (4) integrally formed with the upper moulding (2) at the bottom of a down pipe (6) and arranged to allow gas to enter the chamber and a second duckbill valve (5) integrally formed with the lower moulding (3) and arranged to allow gas to exit the chamber and be jetted into the beverage upon opening the beverage container.

Such an appearance can be achieved by causing shear of the beverage. This encourages the liberation of small bubbles from the beverage and these gradually separate out to form the close-knit creamy head. It is well known that shear of the beverage can be caused by jetting fluid into the beverage in the container.
Various methods have been disclosed for jetting fluid into a beverage in a container upon opening of the container to cause shear of the beverage. GB-A-1,266,351 discloses a container which includes an inner secondary chamber which is pre-pressurised with gas. The chamber is initially sealed with a soluble plug which dissolves shortly after filling the container with beverage, when the pressure in the container is similar to that in the secondary chamber. A small orifice is included in the secondary chamber, and fluid is jetted from the secondary chamber via the orifice into the main body of the container causing the liberation of the required small bubbles in the beverage.
GB-A-2,183,592 discloses a container including a separate hollow insert having an orifice in its side wall. As the container is filled, beverage is introduced into the hollow insert through the orifice. Upon opening the container, beverage from the insert is jetted through the orifice into the beverage in the container again causing shear of the beverage.
WO-A-91/07326 discloses a system in which an insert which jets gas only into the beverage in the main body of the container is pre-pressurized with gas and includes closure means. The closure means remains sealed before filling and during the container filling operation but when the beverage container is subsequently opened, de-pressurization of the beverage container results in the insert releasing a surge of gas from a restricted orifice into the beverage to "seed" the required nucleation of dissolved gas bubbles to produce the required rich creamy foam. Since the insert is sealed at all material times before the container is finally opened by the consumer the container and insert combination can be filled as easily, simply and quickly as conventional container. Examples of the closure means includes a burst disc and a pressure responsive valve. A disadvantage of this type of system is that the insert may contain a residual pressure after the container has been emptied. There is a risk a consumer will cut open the empty container and thus be able to interfere with a pressurised insert.
WO-A-91/07326 discloses a very large number of ways in which the pressurized gas insert can be formed and mounted within the beverage container. In most examples, the insert is mounted so that, in use, it is located at a fixed position. However, an example is also described where the insert floats in the liquid in the container.
A problem which occurs with fixed inserts results from the way in which a container is handled during opening. When opening a bottle with a crown cork type closure the bottle is often tipped almost horizontally if opened using a fixed opener. Equally when opening an easy open feature, either a ring pull or a stay-on-tab on a can it is common to tilt the can on opening. In both cases, immediately after opening the closure the container is then tipped to dispense its contents. These actions can result in the restricted orifice of the insert not being immersed in the beverage whilst gas is being jetted from it. In such a case the insert does not function correctly.
GB-A-2280887 discloses a carbonated beverage container including a floating hollow insert having a first duckbill valve arranged to allow gas to enter the insert, and a second duckbill valve arranged to allow gas to be jetted from the insert. The insert is arranged to float on the beverage with the first valve in a headspace above the beverage, and with the second valve below the surface of the beverage.
The insert of GB-A-2280887 does not have to be pre-pressurized. As the insert floats on the beverage, the insert may be dropped into the container before or after filling, and therefore the assembly of the container and insert is much simpler than for containers in which the insert is fixed in the container. As the insert floats, the problems of orientation, including gas not being jetted into the beverage, and beverage entering the insert, which are associated with fixed inserts, are overcome. Further, the nature of the containers is not critical since it is not necessary to form an interference fit with them, or adapt them specifically to hold the insert at a particular location.
The use of duckbill valves through which fluid is jetted in the insert of GB-A-2280887 is particularly beneficial. The size of the aperture through which the fluid is jetted varies with the pressure difference across the valve and the nature of the fluid being jetted. This variation in the size of the aperture ensures the fluid jetting into the beverage causes optimum shear. This allows the volume of fluid required for jetting into the beverage to be reduced when compared to the volume required when jetting through a fixed size orifice.
The insert of GB-A-2280887 may be moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene, or be formed of metal such as lacquered aluminium, lacquered tin plate, polymer coated aluminium, polymer coated tin plate or tin free steel. The duckbill valves are manufactured from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), for example a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block co-polymer, and are mounted in holes in the wall of the insert. This complicates assembly of the insert and there is a danger that the valves may become separated from the insert and be swallowed. Furthermore, manufacture of duckbill valves from TPE is problematic, as described in our earlier specification GB-A-2292708. As TPE is elastic, the slit in a TPE duckbill valve cannot be formed by the usual method of mechanical splitting to form a brittle fracture. GB-A-2292708 describes a method of manufacturing TPE duckbill valves in which the slit is formed by fluid pressure.


In an apparatus and a method for interfacing a private exchange to an ISDN, the apparatus controls intralayer and interlayer entity communications to interface the private exchange to the ISDN. The apparatus is disposed in a universal card slot of a subscriber shelf of the private exchange in the form of a card to accommodate an ISDN terminal in the private exchange or connect the private exchange to an ISDN public network, thereby enabling voice and data communications.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to integrated services digital network communications, and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method for controlling intralayer and interlayer entity communications to interface a private exchange to an integrated services digital network (ISDN).
2. Related Art
Generally, a conventional telephone network or data network is a dedicated service network intended to provide only specific communication service such as telephone service or data service to terminal subscribers. Typically, key phone systems and other private exchanges are connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to provide voice communication service. In contrast to the conventional telephone network, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) offers a variety of new features including multimedia communication service such as voice, high speed data and image communication services and other additional non-voice communication services via network interfaces on the basis of digitization of the telephone network. Contemporary ISDN communication systems including private exchanges are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,248 for Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) System And Multimedia Data Connection Method In Same System issued to Matsuzaki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,312 for Apparatus For Interfacing Analog Telephones And Digital Data Terminals To An ISDN Line issued to Fornek et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,396 for Communication System And A Private Branch Exchange To Be Used In Such A Communication System issued to Havermans, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,731 for Private Exchange For ISDN issued to Dale et al.
As the ISDN communication systems become widely in use, the private exchange and its terminal stations connected to the ISDN must effectively accommodate multimedia communication services and a variety of other additional services through the ISDN. ISDN interfaces must be provided in the private exchange on the basis of network interface standards. Exemplary ISDN interfaces for an ISDN communication system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,313 for Electronic Switching System For Use In Connection To An ISDN And Method Of Setting Communication Disconnection Reasons issued to Katoh, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,486 for Telecommunication System And A Linecard issued to Maas et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,598 for Subscriber Terminal For ISDN Networks issued to Bergler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,663 for Multi-Media Communication System With Integrated And Coherent Audio-Video User Interface Allowing Flexible Image Input issued to Huang et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,301 for ISDN Audiovisual Teleservices Interface Subsystem issued to Koz et al. While these ISDN interfaces are implemented in accordance with network interface standards, I have noted that further improvement for interfacing a private exchange to an ISDN can still be contemplated.

Apparatus and method for interfacing private exchange to integrated services digital network


A spindle is mounted to a frame for rotation about the spindle axis. A core yarn package of elastic core yarn is held stationary on the spindle. Elastic core yarn is withdrawn from the core yarn package in a direction substantially along the spindle longitudinal axis. A nonelastic covering yarn is drawn from a supply package, through the spindle and along a confined yarn guide passageway from the spindle guide passageway outwardly, upwardly and inwardly around and in spaced relation to the core yarn package for confining and guiding the covering yarn, and then into wrapping engagement with the withdrawn core yarn to form a corespun yarn.

In many types of conventional wrapping apparatus for forming an elastic corespun yarn, and in some two-for-one twisting apparatus, a hollow rotating spindle carries a supply package of nylon or other nonelastic covering yarn. An elastic core yarn such as spandex is passed through the center of the hollow spindle. The nylon covering yarn is unwound from the rotating supply package and is wrapped around the elastic core yarn to form an elastic corespun yarn. The uninterrupted length of elastic corespun yarn formed by this apparatus is limited by the size of the covering yarn supply package which can be carried by the rotating spindle. Because the covering yarn is used at a much faster rate than the core yarn, the winding apparatus must frequently be stopped to replenish the covering yarn supply package.
It has been proposed to provide a longer run of elastic corespun yarn by providing a wrapping apparatus where the covering yarn is drawn from a stationary yarn supply package into surrounding, ballooning relationship with a package of elastic core yarn carried by a fixed spindle. The elastic core yarn is metered from the package and the covering yarn is wound in wrapping engagement with the drawn core yarn.
For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,737,773 and 4,309,867 to Clarkson and Ichikawa, respectively, the elastic core yarn is metered from a stationary supply package carried by a spindle. The elastic core yarn then is wrapped by the covering yarn. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,320 to Maeda, a core yarn package of elastic yarn is carried by a driven spindle while the drawn elastic core yarn is wrapped by the covering yarn. A tension device provides the proper amount of tension to the elastic core yarn during wrapping.
The aforementioned apparatus provide for the production of larger units of corespun yarn with the attendant fewer winding stops necessary for replenishing a yarn supply package of the winding yarn. These apparatus, however, mandate operation at a decreased winding speed. Operation of the apparatus at higher spindle speeds increases the centrifugal force of the covering yarn causing the covering yarn to break. Operation of this type of apparatus at high spindle speeds is also limited because of the weight of the elastic core yarn unwinding mechanism.

Apparatus and method for forming elastic corespun yarn


A sequencing system is provided for varying the output of an inflator in a vehicle safety restraint system. The inflator has a housing including at least one combustion chamber. Gas generant for producing an inflation gas is disposed in the housing. Ignition material for igniting the gas generating means is disposed in the at least one combustion chamber. A first electric squib is disposed in the inflator housing for initially igniting the ignition material. At least one additional electric squib is disposed in the inflator housing for further igniting the ignition material. A delay sequencing unit is disposed outside of the inflator housing for activating the at least one additional electric squib after a predetermined time from the activation of the first electric squib. Upon activation of the first electric squib by an electrical pulse, an initial amount of inflation gas is generated and the electrical pulse is also received by the delay sequencing unit. After the predetermined time the electrical pulse is allowed to flow to the at least one additional electric squib and an additional amount of inflation gas is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sequencing system and method for varying the output of airbag inflators, and more particularly, to a system and method for sequencing two or more initiators in an airbag inflator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current airbag inflation technology employs rapidly expanding gases to inflate an airbag in order to reduce occupant injury. However, to prevent injury to an occupant, especially a child, the airbag should initially deploy slowly such that the occupant is pushed backward into the seat. Then after an appropriate delay, if necessary, the bag can be expanded more rapidly to further protect the occupant. A graph of pressure vs. time performance that will produce an initial gentle but firm inflation followed by a rapid inflation is commonly known as an S-curve, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
In order to produce such S-curve parameters variable stage inflators which tailor the mass flow and total gas output of the airbag inflation device are used to vary the level of inflation.
One manner of varying inflation levels is to employ separate chambers within the inflator that are capable of being activated either individually or in sequence by an individually associated initiator or squib to affect the desired gas flow rates. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,751, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The preferred method of activation is by an electrical signal that is sent through a squib in each of the separate chambers. One disadvantage with such a manner of activation is the complexity and expense of the external electronic hardware required to support the proper firing of the various squibs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,635 discloses a dual combustion chamber airbag system wherein a delayed ignition signal generator disposed in a first chamber in response to the pressure therein activates a second ignitor to increase inflation. The generator is a mechanical device located within the inflator whose delay is determined by the tension of a spring or frictional force of an activator. Thus, not only are two combustion chambers required, but the effectiveness of the generator is dependent on a potentially unreliable delay mechanism.
Another method of varying the rate of inflation of an airbag is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,545, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The inflator is divided into two chambers by a partition. Each of the chambers contain gas generant material ignitable by an individually associated initiator or squib. An impact sensor determines whether one or both of the squibs are fired on impact, and hence, the rate at which the airbag is filled with gas. If the impact is severe, both squibs will be fired. However, if the impact is less severe, only the downstream squib will be fired. The combustion of the downstream squib will proceed upstream through the partition to ignite the gas generant in the upstream chamber, the downstream squib in effect igniting both chambers of generant material. Thus, the electrical hardware is not designed to fire the second squib after a predetermined delay.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,998, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an igniter assembly which is operable to cause the combustible gas generant material in a single combustion chamber to ignite in a progressive manner so as to effect inflation of the gas bag slowly initially but more rapidly later as inflation progresses. The igniter assembly includes a solid propellant disc between two portions thereof whereby the gas generant material disposed around one portion is ignited immediately, and then, after burn through of the disc, the gas generant material disposed around the other portion is ignited. The time required to burn through the disc is the delay time.
Although the above discussed prior art provides a controlled inflation rate for an airbag, there is still a need for a less complex and inexpensive system for a variable inflation rate.

Sequencing system for variable level output inflators


Techniques for transferring data among nodes on a network are disclosed. Some example methods include a downloader-initiated random linear network coding algorithm. A downloading node may be aware of the chunks of original data held by neighboring nodes, and the downloading node can request linear combinations of chunks from the neighboring nodes that are linearly independent of any linear combinations of chunks already held by the downloading node.

In some networks, when information is sent from a source node to the destination node, the intermediate nodes (if any) along the transmission route may simply forward the information to the next node along the path: they may not alter the information or impose any coding on the information. In some networks employing network coding, intermediate nodes may apply coding on the information they are forwarding. In some networks employing network coding, the out-going message(s) from an intermediate node may be different from the incoming message(s) at that intermediate node.

Transferring data among nodes on a network


A method for wiring allocation and switch configuration in a multiprocessor computer, the method including employing depth-first tree traversal to determine a plurality of paths among a plurality of processing elements allocated to a job along a plurality of switches and wires in a plurality of D-lines, and selecting one of the paths in accordance with at least one selection criterion.

Complex computational problems can often be divided and distributed among multiple processing elements, where each processing element may work independently or in conjunction with other processing elements. A multiprocessor computer with flexible resources may group internal resources into one or more partitions, and configure and assign each partition to be responsible for a particular computational task or job.
Communication channels within a multiprocessor are often limited by geometric constraints. For example, processing elements are typically limited in their ability to communicate with other processing elements, and may only be able to communicate with those processing elements physically adjacent to them, such as in a one-dimensional row of processing elements, where each processing element has at most two neighbors with which it may communicate.
Systems that employ multi-port switches and additional network links between switches, such as wires, may provide a multiprocessor computer with more freedom to create partitions of resources that are less constrained by their geometry. What is needed is an efficient mechanism of allocation of resources in a multiprocessor computer to fully utilize this new level of flexibility.

Method for wiring allocation and switch configuration in a multiprocessor environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and systems for deploying business applications are provided. A method for deploying a business application includes receiving inputted configuration information for the business application from a user of the business application. Additional configuration information is retrieved for the business application based on the inputted configuration information. The business application is configured based on the inputted and additional configuration information.

In computer and data processing systems, user interaction is typically provided using a video display, a keyboard, and a mouse. The display is often presented through a graphical user interface (GUI). Such GUIs may provide the front-end for modules, applications, services, databases, or other local or remote processes. For example, the GUI may present data retrieved from a database in a user friendly form. In another example, the GUI may provide a front-end for an application with embedded customer relationship management (CRM), finance, and manufacturing capabilities. In such a case, this GUI may then provide a unified view of operations across CRM, manufacturing, and finance sub-systems or sub-modules. The user may through the GUI perform CRM, finance, manufacturing and other business processes with the application.

Method and system for deploying a business application


A deodorizing apparatus for suppressing odor emanating from a cigarette butt containment vessel. The cigarette butt containment vessel includes a partially enclosed basin cavity into which cigarette butts are collected. In accordance with the present invention, the deodorizing apparatus includes an odor absorption device mounted within the basin cavity of the cigarette butt containment vessel. The odor absorption device includes an absorptive material housing constructed of an air-permeable fabric or mesh that retains the odor absorptive material while permitting airflow between the basin cavity and the interior of the absorptive material housing.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of filtering or deodorizing devices, and more particularly to the field of such devices that deodorize, filter or capture odors and smoke from containers or receptacles for cigarette ashes and cigarette butts. Still more particularly, the invention relates to such devices that deodorize, filter or capture odors and smoke from cigarette butts deposited into containers or receptacles for disposal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the acknowledged dangers of cigarette smoke and in particular second hand smoke, many buildings are now designated as non-smoking buildings where smokers are not allowed to have or bring lit cigarettes inside. Often a designated outdoor smoking area is provided where employees or others may congregate to partake of a smoking break during the day. Because of these policies, it is not uncommon to find a cigarette butt disposal problem at building entrances and designated smoking areas, in that many individuals will simply drop their cigarette butts or partially smoked cigarettes on the ground, resulting in unsightly collections of large numbers of cigarette butts. Since the butts do not degrade, the areas must be cleaned often.
A common response to this situation has been to place ashtray-type trash collector devices in the needed locations. These ashtray-type devices consist of an upright cylindrical tube with a concave retainer of exposed sand on the top. Apertures for insertion of trash are placed on the side of the cylinder. These devices are not suitable for external locations where wind and rain may be encountered, and the devices are not aesthetically pleasing since the cigarette butts are simply stuck into the sand where they remain visible until the sand is cleaned.
More recently, cigarette butt containment vessels have been developed that are designed to receive the cigarette butts internally while presenting a more pleasant appearance. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,355, issued Feb. 13, 2001, to Luedcke, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Luedcke containment vessel has a housing with a receptacle base that retains a removable bucket-type container. The upper portion of the housing is a removable elongated tube that is much narrower than the receptacle base. Lateral openings are disposed near the top of the tube to receive the cigarette butts being disposed. The tube is centered over the receptacle base and bucket, such that the butts are guided into the bucket when inserted through the lateral openings. The housing is typically made of plastic, while the bucket is metal so as to be maximally resistant to heat damage.
While this design addresses the visual problem associated with cigarette butt disposal, a new problem related to odor arises with their use. The disposal of large numbers of cigarette butts results in an accumulation of smoke, nicotine and tar within the containment vessel, regardless of how often the vessel is emptied, which over time is of sufficient concentration such that a strong, foul odor is emitted through the lateral openings that is readily apparent to anyone passing by or using the containment vessel.
It can therefore be appreciated that a need exists for a solution to the problem of odorous cigarette butt containers. The present invention addresses such a need.

Deodorizer for cigarette butt collection containers


A component having at least one conductor path on a substrate, and a production method for fabricating such a component is provided. The component is made by providing at least one conductor path on a predefined area of the substrate. Then a dielectric insulating layer is formed over the at least one conductor path, and a an area of the substrate is completely back etched below the at least one conductor path beginning on the bottom side of the substrate in such a way that the at least one conductor path is supported across the completely back-etched area of the substrate by adhesion to the second insulating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing at least one conductor path on a substrate, and a component having at least one conductor path that is fabricated in accordance with such a method.
Although it is applicable for any conductor path, the present invention describes in detail both the basic problems associated with it in regards to a conductor path for the electrical connection of two electronic components, for example, for two passive components, which are used in a high frequency field. This requires conductor paths on the substrate that are able to provide an interference-free transmission in the high frequency field.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, undesirable parasitic interferences and electromagnetic losses occur due to interconnection contact of the conductor paths with the substrate. In addition, interferences of neighboring conductor paths can occur due to the respective couplings of the conductor paths with the substrate.
At low frequencies, the influence of the conductor paths on the component characteristics is only minimal, however, at higher frequencies, particularly in the high frequency field, the electromagnetic effects of the conductor paths on the performance of the component can no longer be ignored. In each integrated circuit, for example, active and passive components are interconnected via conductor paths, whereby the power dissipation of these conductor paths should be as minimal as possible, and the conductor paths should be integratable on a shared carrier substrate in a simple way. The dissipation sources can be divided into three categories: ohmic dissipation, dielectric dissipation, and losses due to electromagnetic emission. The development of substrate-integrated conductor paths with minimal losses is extremely important for the use of integrated circuits in the high frequency field that is based on silicon technology. In the high frequency field, the losses resulting from the coupling of the conductor paths with the substrate are of particular importance.
In conventional technology, various attempts to the reduce interference losses from substrate-integrated conductor paths have been made. For example, organic dielectric materials on the silicon substrate and organic or inorganic membranes below the conductor paths have been used to reduce coupling losses. It is known, for example, to construct a conductor path on a membrane, whereby the membrane is formed on the surface of the silicon substrate. According to the article, "Membrane-Supported CPW with Mounted Active Devices" by Wai Y. Liu, IEEE, MICROWAVE AND WIRELESS COMPONENTS LETTERS, Vol. 11, No. 4, Apr. 2001, pages 167 et sqq., the construction of a membrane-supported conductor path is described. The printed circuit is thereby constructed by using a photolithographic process on this membrane film. With selective etching processes, a decoupling of the membrane from the carrier material is achieved to reduce the interferences and losses resulting from the coupling of the membrane with the substrate.
However, the disadvantage of this approach proved to be the fact that such a production method is extremely complicated, time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, another negative fact of this approach is that in addition to the fabrication of the membrane, a covering for the top-exposed conductor path must be provided to protect it from exterior influences.

Method for producing a conductor path on a substrate, and a component having a conductor path fabricated in accordance with such a method


Method and system for maintaining digital signature integrity is provided. The method includes, creating a first electronic signature using a first set of hashing and signing algorithm; creating a second electronic signature using a second set of hashing and signing algorithms different than the first set of hashing and signing algorithms; and storing the document with the first and second electronic signatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital signatures, and more particularly, to a method and system for maintaining the integrity of an electronic document signed with digital signatures.
2. Background
Electronic documents (interchangeably referred to as "content" or "document" throughout this specification) are commonly stored, transferred, shared and viewed. Examples include e-mails, spreadsheets, text files, XML files, videos, music, executable programs, selected content within a document, and numerous other forms of digital data or content.
Encryption and digital signatures are used in the electronic world to secure electronic documents. A digital signature (interchangeably referred to as "signature" throughout this specification) can provide assurance that an electronic document is authentic. Authentic in this sense means that one knows who signed the document and that the document has not been altered since it was signed.
As is the usual practice in public key cryptography, a key pair is composed of a private key and a corresponding public key. They work only with each other, that is, something signed with one private key cannot be verified with any other key except the public key of the same key pair. Users (signers) are to keep their private signing keys secret.
The public key, on the other hand, can be made very public, but it is important to know which public key belongs to whom. This is solved by creating and publishing, or otherwise making available, public key certificates digitally signed by a Certificate Authority (CA). The certificates, or "certs", are a specialized document that binds a public key to the identity of its owner and commonly have an expiration date of two years hence. All this is common practice in most Public Key Infrastructures (PKI) and forms the basis of knowing the identity of the signer.
Just as users protect their private signing keys, users should also securely receive and store, by trusted processes, the public key certificates of the CAs they trust so they can rely on the results of the digital signature verification process.
Signing a document involves passing the document or data to be signed through a hashing algorithm to create a hash, also known as a message digest. This hash is a string of bits, sometimes viewed as a number, which represents the document. The hash is constructed in such a way that any change to the document results in a different hash value. Further, the hash algorithm is cryptographically strong, that is, the hash is a calculated in such a way that it is computationally infeasible to find a second change, perhaps indiscernible to a human reader, which would yield the same hash value. This gives high assurance that if the hash remains the same, the document remains unaltered.
The hash, along with the signer's private key, is then fed to another algorithm to produce a signature (another string of bits). The signature, along with some descriptive information, is frequently appended to the document, and should remain with the document for later verification. Digital signatures are flexible. A single signature can cover, or apply to, all combinations of single or multiple documents in their entirety, and/or single or multiple portions of documents.
Another variation makes use of transitive properties where one signature can sign other hashes and/or other signatures, depending on one's objective. For example, it is not uncommon to see a hash of a document be itself the target of a signature (where the first hash is itself hashed to create a second hash which is then provided to the signing algorithm). Signing a hash of a document can, under the right conditions, provide the same integrity protection as signing the document directly. Again, under the right conditions, a similar result can be obtained by signing another signature.
Verifying the signed document to determine its authenticity involves calculating a fresh hash of the document in question. This new hash, the signature, and the signer's public key are then provided to another algorithm which will identify whether the document is or is not authentic. The verification process continues with several steps to assure the public key certificate, from which the signer's public key was extracted, is also authentic. There are other technical attributes and functions such as ensuring the signer's key wasn't revoked and posted on a Certificate Revocation List (CRL).
Various standard techniques exist for digital signatures. For example, the Digital Signature Standard (DSS) is based on a type of public key encryption method that uses the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA). The DSS is a format for digital signatures that has been endorsed by the United States government. The DSA algorithm uses public and private keys, the internals of which are specific to that algorithm. Different algorithms typically require key pairs with different internals.
All this and more are well defined, common practices of public key cryptography and Public Key Infrastructures. They are not described in further detail here but are important foundations upon which this invention depends.
Faster computers and advances in cryptanalysis are the primary reasons algorithms used for digital signatures tend to become weak over time. Conventional digital signature schemes do not provide any assurance that over an extended period of time, a digital signature will continue to provide integrity.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system that maintains the integrity of digital signatures/signed electronic documents.


A network-to-CPU interface circuit interfaces an isochronous physical layer to an ISA bus such that a host CPU connected to the ISA bus can communicate with the isochronous physical layer. Inbound B-channel interface circuity is connectable to receive, from the isochronous physical layer, an inbound data stream which includes a plurality of B-channels time division multiplexed into time division multiplexed (TDM) frames. The TDM frames have a predetermined format that defines at least one logical stream such that each logical stream comprises those B-channels that are time division multiplexed into corresponding predetermined locations within the TDM frames. An inbound buffer portion of a memory is provided to hold the received inbound data stream, and an outbound buffer portion of the memory is provided for holding an outbound data stream which, like the inbound data stream, includes a plurality of B-channels time division multiplexed into time division multiplexed (TDM) frames. ISA bus interface circuitry is provided for channeling a selected inbound logical stream from the inbound memory buffer to the host CPU, via the ISA bus, in response to a request from the host CPU. The ISA bus interface circuitry is also for receiving a data stream from the host CPU, via the ISA bus, and for channeling that received data stream, as an outbound logical stream, to the TDM frames in the outbound memory buffer according to the predetermined format. Outbound B-channel interface circuity is provided to transmit the outbound data stream from the outbound memory buffer to the isochronous physical layer.

Information may be transmitted isochronously over a Local Area Network ("LAN") or a Wide Area Network ("WAN"). FIG. 1 shows a system in which a computing node 42a is connected for audio, video, and data exchange (i.e., "customer information") over a WAN and with other, perhaps similar, computing nodes (e.g., node 42b). The computing node 42a is connected by an isochronous Ethernet serial physical layer link 47 to an isochronous-capable hub 40. Alternatively, the computing node 42 may be connected to a private branch exchange ("PBX"). The hub/PBX 40 is connected to a WAN, and backbone connections provide a connection from the hub/PBX 40 to other hubs/PBX's.
When information is transmitted isochronously, it is typically carried in one or more "B-channels". A B-channel, or "Bearer Channel", is a 64 kbits/sec channel that carries customer information such as voice-calls, circuit-switched data, or packet-switched data. A B-Channel has a constant, and thus predictable, bandwidth.
In a multi-channel isochronus network, one or more B-channel "logical streams" are time division multiplexed into a single higher speed channel to carry the customer information, but the information carried by one logical stream is typically unrelated to the information carried in another logical stream. For example, one logical stream may carry video information while another logical stream may carry audio information. From a network perspective, when transferring customer information to a CPU in a computing node, it is desirable to ignore the logical stream divisions and buffer the information in the high speed channel on a frame-by-frame basis. However, since the logical streams are unrelated, it is desirable from the CPU point of view to see these logical streams as being held in separate, stand-alone, buffers.
Conventional network/CPU buffering circuits support "N" logical streams by utilizing "N" different hardware components to perform the buffering (i.e., one hardware component per logical stream). One disadvantage of the conventional network/CPU buffering circuits is that to support more than "N" logical streams, more hardware components must be provided. Conversely, it is inefficient to provide more than "N" hardware components to support less than "N" logical streams.

Circuit for logical stream sorting at CPU transfer time division for multiplexed (TDM) including bus interface circuitry


Technologies are described herein for dynamically determining and assigning parent nodes and routes for nodes in a mesh network. A host sends a command message to one or more nodes of the mesh network. The command message is configured to cause the nodes to collect communication parameters regarding neighboring nodes and to upload neighbor lists containing the communication parameters regarding the neighboring nodes to the host. The host then calculates a link score for the pairs of neighboring nodes in the mesh network based on the communication parameters in the uploaded neighbor lists and assigns one or more parent nodes to at least one of the nodes based on the calculated link scores. The host then sends a command message to the node causing the node to reconfigure based on the command message and begin communicating through the newly assigned one or more parent nodes.

Traditionally, utility meters, such as gas meters, water meters, electricity meters, and the like, were read manually by employees of the associated utility providers. Manual meter reading represented a significant cost to the typical utility provider. With the advent of wireless technology, including mesh networking, utility providers have implemented methods and systems for remote reading and control of these utility meters. Advanced Metering Infrastructure ("AMI"), also known as Advanced Metering Management ("AMM"), are systems that measure, collect and analyze utility data using advanced metering devices such as electronic water meters, gas meters and electricity meters. The metering devices combine automated data measurements with network communications capability enabling the metering devices to transmit and receive data through the AMI network.
In a typical configuration, a metering device, such as a water meter, measures and collects usage data, such as water usage data, at a customer's location. The metering device then uses a built-in communication interface to transmit the usage data through the AMI network to the utility provider's systems, referred to herein as the "host." The metering device may transmit the usage data to the host on a scheduled basis or in response to a request received from the host. In some instances, the AMI network may include a wireless network configured with a mesh networking topology, with the metering devices being amongst the many nodes of the mesh network. Other nodes may include control devices, data collection hubs, repeaters, gateways, and the like. All nodes of the mesh network may cooperate in the distribution of data through the AMI network. A metering device may transmit usage data to the host through one of a number of available paths, or "routes," through the nodes of the mesh network. Each node may be assigned one or more parent nodes with which the node may communicate directly, with the parent nodes responsible for relaying the data through other nodes of the network to the intended destination.
Routing is one of the most costly and time consuming steps in installation of a mesh network. Because the usage data must be transmitted from the metering devices to the host on a timely basis, it is important that the assigned routes be reliable. When a new node is installed in the AMI network, it is usually provided a parent node by the installer. The best parent node may be guessed based on the location of the node and proximity to other nodes in the mesh network. However such guesses based on geographic proximity can be unreliable due to the unpredictable nature of radio links.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.


A silver-based magnesium alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. This alloy has moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Four layers are generally present in the construction of a conventional, prerecorded, optical disc such as compact audio disc. A first layer is usually made from optical grade, polycarbonate resin. This layer is manufactured by well-known techniques that usually begin by injection or compression molding the resin into a disc. The surface of the disc is molded or stamped with extremely small and precisely located pits and lands. These pits and lands have a predetermined size and, as explained below, are ultimately the vehicles for storing information on the disc.
After stamping, an optically reflective layer is placed over the information pits and lands. The reflective layer is usually made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and is typically between about 40 to about 100 nanometers (nm) thick. The reflective layer is usually deposited by one of many well-known vapor deposition techniques such as sputtering or thermal evaporation. Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed. Vol. 10, pp. 247 to 283, offers a detailed explanation of these and other deposition techniques such as glow discharge, ion plating, and chemical vapor deposition, and this specification hereby incorporates that disclosure by reference.
Next, a solvent-based or an UV (ultraviolet) curing-type resin is applied over the reflective layer, which is usually followed by a label. The third layer protects the reflective layer from handling and the ambient environment. And the label identifies the particular information that is stored on the disc, and sometimes, may include artwork.
The information pits residing between the polycarbonate resin and the reflective layer usually take the form of a continuous spiral. The spiral typically begins at an inside radius and ends at an outside radius. The distance between any 2 spirals is called the "track pitch" and is usually about 1.6 microns for compact audio disc. The length of one pit or land in the direction of the track is from about 0.9 to about 3.3 microns. All of these details are commonly known for compact audio discs and reside in a series of specifications that were first proposed by Philips NV of Holland and Sony of Japan as standards for the industry.
The disc is read by pointing a laser beam through the optical grade polycarbonate substrate and onto the reflective layer with sufficiently small resolution to focus on the information pits. The pits have a depth of about ¼ of the wavelength of the laser light, and the light generally has a wavelength in the range of about 780 to 820 nanometers. Destructive (dark) or constructive (bright) interference of the laser light is then produced as the laser travels along the spiral track, focusing on an alternating stream of pits and lands in its path.
This on and off change of light intensity from dark to bright or from bright to dark forms the basis of a digital data stream of 1 and 0's. When there is no light intensity change in a fixed time interval, the digital signal is "0," and when there is light intensity change from either dark to bright or bright to dark, the digital signal is "1." The continuous stream of ones and zeros that results is then electronically decoded and presented in a format that is meaningful to the user such as music or computer programming data.
As a result, it is important to have a highly reflective coating on the disc to reflect the laser light from the disc and onto a detector in order to read the presence of an intensity change. In general, the reflective layer is usually aluminum, copper, silver, or gold, all of which have a high optical reflectivity of more than 80 percent from 650 nm to 820 nm wavelength. Aluminum and aluminum alloys are commonly used because they have a comparatively lower cost, adequate corrosion resistance, and are easily placed onto the polycarbonate disc.
Occasionally and usually for cosmetic reason, a gold or copper based alloy is used to offer the consumer a "gold" colored disc. Although gold naturally offers a rich color and satisfies all the functional requirements of a highly reflective layer, it is comparatively much more expensive than aluminum. Therefore, a copper-based alloy that contains zinc or tin is sometimes used to produce the gold colored layer. But unfortunately, the exchange is not truly satisfactory because the copper alloy's corrosion resistance, in general, is considered worse than aluminum, which results in a disc that has a shorter life span than one with an aluminum reflective layer.
For the convenience of the reader, additional details in the manufacture and operation of an optically readable storage system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,239 to Strandjord et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,363 to Dirks et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Another type of disc in the compact disc family that has become popular is the recordable compact disc or "CD-R." This disc is similar to the CD described earlier, but it has a few changes. The recordable compact disc begins with a continuous spiral groove instead of a continuous spiral of pits and has a layer of organic dye between the polycarbonate substrate and the reflective layer. The disc is recorded by periodically focusing a laser beam into the grooves as the laser travels along the spiral track. The laser heats the dye to a high temperature, which in turn places pits in the groove that coincide with an input data stream of ones and zeros by periodically deforming and decomposing the dye.
For the convenience of the reader, additional details regarding the operation and construction of these recordable discs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,351 to Uchiyama et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,391,462; 5,415,914; and 5,419,939 to Arioka et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,767 to Harigaya et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated into this specification by reference.
The key component of a CD-R disc is the organic dye, which is made from solvent and one or more organic compounds from the cyanine, phthalocyanine or azo family. The disc is normally produced by spin coating the dye onto the disc and sputtering the reflective layer over the dye after the dye is sufficiently dry. But because the dye may contain halogen ions or other chemicals that can corrode the reflective layer, many commonly used reflective layer material's such as aluminum may not be suitable to give the CD-R disc a reasonable life span. So being, frequently gold must be used to manufacture a recordable CD. But while gold satisfies all the functional requirements of CD-R discs, it is a very expensive solution.
Recently, other types of recordable optical disks have been developed. These optical disks use a phase-change or magneto-optic material as the recording medium. An optical laser is used to change the phase or magnetic state (microstructural change) of the recording layer by modulating a beam focused on the recording medium while the medium is rotated to produce microstructural changes in the recording layer. During playback, changes in the intensity of light from the optical beam reflected through the recording medium are sensed by a detector. These modulations in light intensity are due to variations in the microstructure of the recording medium produced during the recording process. Some phase-change and/or magneto-optic materials may be readily and repeatedly transformed from a first state to a second state and back again with substantially no degradation. These materials may be used as the recording media for a compact disc-rewritable disc, or commonly known as CD-RW.
To record and read information, phase change discs utilize the recording layer's ability to change from a first dark to a second light phase and back again. Recording on these materials produces a series of alternating dark and light spots according to digital input data introduced as modulations in the recording laser beam. These light and dark spots on the recording medium correspond to 0's and 1's in terms of digital data. The digitized data is read using a low laser power focused along the track of the disc to play back the recorded information. The laser power is low enough such that it does not further change the state of the recording media but is powerful enough such that the variations in reflectivity of the recording medium may be easily distinguished by a detector. The recording medium may be erased for re-recording by focussing a laser of intermediate power on the recording medium. This returns the recording medium layer to its original or erased state. A more detailed discussion of the recording mechanism of optically recordable media can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,741,603; 5,498,507; and 5,719,006 assigned to the Sony Corporation, the TDK Corporation, and the NEC Corporation, all of Tokyo, Japan, respectively, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Still another type of disc in the optical disc family that has become popular is a prerecorded optical disc called the digital videodisc or "DVD." This disc has two halves. Each half is made of polycarbonate resin that has been injection or compression molded with pit information and then sputter coated with a reflective layer, as described earlier. These two halves are then bonded or glued together with an UV curing resin or a hot melt adhesive to form the whole disc. The disc can then be played from both sides as contrasted from the compact disc or CD where information is usually obtained only from one side. The size of a DVD is about the same as a CD, but the information density is considerably higher. The track pitch is about 0.7 micron and the length of the pits and lands is from approximately 0.3 to 1.4 microns.
One variation of the DVD family of discs is the DVD-dual layer disc. This disc also has two information layers; however, both layers are played back from one side. In this arrangement, the highly reflective layer is usually the same as that previously described. But the second layer is only semi-reflective with a reflectivity in the range of approximately 18 to 30 percent at 650 nm wavelength. In addition to reflecting light, this second layer must also pass a substantial amount of light so that the laser beam can reach the highly reflective layer underneath and then reflect back through the semi-reflective layer to the signal detector.
In a continued attempt to increase the storage capacity of optical discs, a multi-layer disc can be constructed as indicated in the publication "SPIE Conference Proceeding Vol. 2890, page 2-9, November, 1996" where a tri-layer or a quadri-layer optical disc was revealed. All the data layers were played back from one side of the disc using laser light at 650 nm wavelength. A double-sided tri-layered read-only-disc that included a total of six layers can have a storage capacity of about 26 gigabytes of information.
More recently, a blue light emitting laser diode with wavelength of 400 nm has been made commercially available. The new laser will enable much denser digital videodisc data storage. While current DVD using 650 nm red laser can store 4.7 GB per side, the new blue laser will enable 12 GB per side, enough storage space for about 6 hours of standard-resolution video and sound. With a multi-layer disc, there is enough capacity for a featured movie in the high-definition digital video format.
Recent advances in the development of high reflective and semi-reflective materials for use as both semi-reflective and highly reflective layers in DVD-9s has made it feasible to create tri-layer and even quadruple-layer optical discs with all playback information layers on the same side of the disc. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,007,889, and 6,280,811. Thus multiple-layer disc can be constructed and manufactured at low cost. Combined with objective lens having a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.60, and playback lasers having a wavelength of about 650 nm, multiple-layer optical storage devices with the capacity to store 14 gigabytes of information (DVD-14) or 18 gigabytes (DVD-18) of information storage capacity can be made.
Various formats for the next generation optical discs have been proposed. One of these is referred to so as a "Blu-ray" disc. The Blu-ray disc system is characterized by a playback laser operating at a wavelength of about 405 nm (blue light) and an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.85. The storage capacity of this device, used with one information layer, is estimated to be about 25 gigabytes for the prerecorded format. Such devices have track pitch values in the 0.32 μm range and channel bit length on the order of 0.05 μm.
Because the focal depth of an objective lens with a NA of 0.85 is typically less than one micron, the tolerance of the optical path length variation is drastically reduced relative to currently used systems. Thus a cover layer about 100 microns thick (the distance is measured from the surface of the disc to the information layer) has been proposed. The variation of the thickness of this cover layer is extremely critical to the success of this system. For example, a 2 or 3 micron thickness variation in the cover layer will introduce very high spherical aberration in the playback signal, potentially degrading the signal to an unacceptable low level.
Another major problem with the Blu-ray format is that the current generation of production equipment used for DVDs cannot be used to produce discs with the Blu-ray format, because the proposed format is too different from currently used DVD format. The need to invest in new equipment to manufacture Blu-ray discs substantially increases the cost of making the Blu-ray disc, and presents another obstacle to adopting the Blu-ray disc system as the standard for the next generation of DVD.
In part, because of the aforementioned problems associated with the Blu-ray disc, another format for the next generation of DVD has been proposed. This proposed format is sometimes referred to as the, "Advanced Optical Disc" (AOD).
The AOD format preserves some of the features of the currently used DVD, for example, an AOD comprises two 0.6 mm thick half-discs glued together to create a symmetrical structure. The proposed AOD system uses a playback laser with a wavelength of 405 nm and an objective lens with a NA of about 0.65. The storage capacity of the prerecorded type of AOD disc with one information layer is about 15 gigabytes. Although manufacturing an AOD disc is less complicated and less challenging than manufacturing a Blu-ray disc, AOD suffers one drawback. The playback signal quality of an AOD disc is strongly dependant upon the flatness of the disc. In order to deal with the variation of disc flatness introduced in the mass production of AOD discs, a tilt servo mechanism in the player is most likely required. The need for this mechanism will increase the cost of players designed to read AOD discs.
Currently, there is an interest in adapting CD-RW techniques to the DVD field to produce a rewritable DVD (DVD-RW). Some difficulties in the production of a DVD-RW have arisen due to the higher information density requirements of the DVD format. For example, the reflectivity of the reflective layer must be increased relative to that of the standard DVD reflective layer to accommodate the reading, writing, and erasing requirements of the DVD-RW format. Also, the thermal conductivity of the reflective layer must also be increased to adequately dissipate the heat generated by both the higher laser power requirements to write and erase information and the microstructural changes occurring during the information transfer process. The potential choice of the reflective layer is currently pure gold, pure silver and aluminum alloys. Gold seems to have sufficient reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance properties to work in a DVD-RW disk. Additionally, gold is relatively easy to sputter into a coating of uniform thickness. But once again, gold is also comparatively more expensive than other metals, making the DVD-RW format prohibitively expensive. Pure silver has higher reflectivity and thermal conductivity than gold, but its corrosion resistance is relatively poor as compared to gold. Aluminum alloy's reflectivity and thermal conductivity is considerably lower than either gold or silver, and therefore it is not necessarily a good choice for the reflective layer in DVD-RW or DVD+RW.
For the convenience of the reader, additional details regarding the manufacture and construction of DVD discs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,382 to Florczak et al. the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Therefore, what is needed are some new alloys that have the advantages of gold when used as a reflective layer or as a semi-reflective layer in an optical storage medium, but are not as expensive as gold. These new alloys should also have better corrosion resistance than pure silver. The current invention addresses that need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Metal alloys for the reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium


A ball and socket joint prosthesis for use in arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis includes a body for implantation at least partially within the medullary canal of a long bone. The long bone defines trabeculae in the proximal cancellous bone and lamellae in the cortical bone. The body includes a proximal portion thereof and a distal portion. The proximal portion has a medial periphery and includes surface features on a substantial portion of its proximal portion. The surface features are positioned to optimally transfer load from the prosthesis to the long bone.

The invention relates to implantable articles and methods for manufacturing such articles. More particularly, the invention relates to bone prosthesis and processes for manufacturing the same.
There are known to exist many designs for and methods for manufacturing implantable articles, such as bone prosthesis. Such bone prosthesis include components of artificial joints, such as elbows, hips, knees, and shoulders. An important consideration in the design and manufacture of virtually any implantable bone prosthesis is that the prosthesis has adequate fixation when implanted within the body.
Early designs of implantable articles relied upon the use of cements such as polymethylmethacrylate to anchor the implant. The use of such cements can have some advantages, such as providing a fixation that does not develop freeplay or does not lead to erosion of the joining bone faces postoperatively. However, the current trend is to use these cements to a lesser extent because of their tendency to lose adhesive properties over time and the possibility that the cement contributes to wear debris within a joint.
Recently, implantable bone prosthesis have been designed such that they encourage the growth of hard tissue (i.e., bone) around the implant. The bone attachment usually occurs and growth is promoted when the surface of the implantable bone prosthesis is irregular or textured. The interaction of newly formed hard tissue in and around the textured surface of the implantable bone prosthesis has been found to provide a good fixation of the prosthesis within the body. A greater degree of bone fixation can usually be achieved where bone-engaging surfaces of an implantable bone prosthesis are more porous or irregular.
Porous or irregular surfaces can be provided in implantable articles by a variety of techniques. In some instance, an irregular surface pattern or surface porosity is formed in an implantable bone prosthesis by embossing, chemical etching, milling or machining.
Another problem which has been observed in the use of known hip joint systems relates to the proper distribution of stresses within the prosthesis and throughout the surrounding bone. If too little stress is applied to the bone, resorption can occur leading to atrophy of the affected area. Too much stress may also lead to resorption and atrophy, or may result in an undesirable hypertrophy of the affected area. In some prior art, femoral stem designs excessive forces are transmitted through the relatively rigid stem to the distal portion, resulting in hypertrophy of the bone surrounding the distal portion, and atrophy of the bone surrounding the proximal portion of the stem. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved hip joint prosthesis which addresses these needs and other problems of prior hip joint designs.
Attempts have been made to provide for proximal loading of the prosthesis within the bone. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,075 to Vermeire a series of parallel spaced apart linear grooves 28 were positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22 of the neck of the prosthesis. A second set of parallel spaced apart linear grooves 29 were positioned generally perpendicular to the grooves 28. These grooves serve to provide support in the proximal region of the stem of this prosthesis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,608 to Brooker, Jr. a series of spaced apart parallel grooves 24 and 24′ were positioned along the outer periphery of the opposite sides of the proximal portion of the stem. The grooves were positioned at an angle of approximately 70 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stem.
In total hip arthroplasty, initial and long term success are achieved through the use of a device which is designed to provide at least two features. The first of these features is the stable initial or immediate postoperative fixation within the femur. The second feature is the means to provide an optimal environment for a long-term stability in the femur. In the past, fixation has been achieved through the use of bone cement, porous coatings and bio-ceramics. Bio-ceramics includes such compositions as hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphates. Many of these cements, coatings and bio-ceramics have provided good clinical outcomes, however, none have addressed the biomechanics of load transmission through the proximal femur.
Methods of achieving femoral fixation in the prior art have met with some success. These methods include simple press fit, surface roughness, porous coating, and bio-ceramics. Many devices have included texturing to transfer load in favorable mechanical modes. However, none of the prior art devices have designed the texturing (steps) to transfer load along the natural load paths of the proximal femur. The Brooker patent has angled steps on the anterior and posterior face, however, on the medial edge, the steps are longitudinal. This design will not appropriately transmit load to the medial calcar. The Vermeire patent has no steps on the medial edge, posing a similar problem.
A commercially available product from Stryker Howmedica Osteonics known as the Omni Fit Femoral Stem has normalization features which transmit load directly vertical. This load path is not natural. This device has no medial steps. A commercially available product from DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., the JMP S-ROM transmits axial loads, but again, does not follow the natural load path.

Prosthesis with feature aligned to trabeculae


A novel diabetic supplement bar which includes about 10-60% by weight simple carbohydrate, about 1-25% by weight protein, about 2-40% by weight lipid and about 1-60%, preferably about 5-35% by weight complex carbohydrate. This formulation is particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of nighttime hypoglycemia in diabetic patients who require insulin injections.

The present invention relates to the control of nighttime hypoglycemia in diabetics who require insulin injections. The invention utilizes a food bar which can be administered at bedtime to control blood glucose levels.
The results of a major study (Diabetes Control and Complication Trial)(Dawson, Clinical Diabetes 11:88-96, 1993), including over 1,400 diabetic patients who require regular insulin administrations, have indicated that patients who maintain blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal have fewer complications resulting in neuropathy, retinopathy, and kidney disease. To accomplish this result, many patients with diabetes today follow a strict regimen, known as the "tight control" regimen. This regimen requires that the patients closely monitor their blood sugar levels (e.g., multiple tests/day), judiciously use insulin in multiple doses, and strictly adhere to their diet. The unwanted side effect of tight glucose control is, however, that patients following this regimen have a three-fold increase in hypoglycemic events, more than half of which occur at nighttime.
Hypoglycemia is a dangerous condition which develops quickly and can cause neurologic damage as well as cause a patient to go into an unconscious state, and, in rare instances, a coma. Physicians want patients to be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia, e.g., coldness, shakiness, palpitations, and altered mentation, in order to avoid this condition. However, during sleep, the patients are not aware that they are developing hypoglycemia, so it is crucial to develop a treatment which can prevent this condition from developing at nighttime.
Today, patients with diabetes usually take a snack before they retire at night in attempt to avoid hypoglycemia in conjunction with a nighttime injection of insulin. The insulin is administered in order to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible during sleep. Traditional snacks available today provide a carbohydrate source (usually sucrose and complex carboxydrates) which is released into the bloodstream after ingestion and is taken up by cells under the influence of insulin for use as energy or storage in the form of glycogen or fat. Because of the rapid release of some of these forms of carbohydrate into the bloodstream after the ingestion, some active insulin is left over in the body during the remainder of the night. This left over insulin has no more sources of carbohydrate to interact with due to a reduction in glucose release, thus resulting in nighttime hypoglycemia.
Thus, a need still exists for an improved bedtime snack which can provide a continual release of glucose during the nighttime into the bloodstream to interact with insulin, thereby maintaining normal glucose levels, and can prevent nighttime hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel diabetic supplement bar which allows constant bloodstream glucose level during the night, thus preventing nighttime hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of preventing or treating nighttime hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient by administering the diabetic supplement bar of the invention.
A further object of the invention is to control nighttime blood sugar levels of diabetic patients by administering the diabetic supplement bar of the invention near bedtime which provides phased release of glucose in the bloodstream.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the claims.


A system for making computer software consumable is provided. The software comprises a set of units, each of the units being an interactive activity between the program and the user which can be separately completed from the interactive activities of the other units in the set. The completion of units is monitored by means of a copy-protected region of a recording medium and when all units have been completed, further access to the software is denied. Among the applications for the system are academic tests composed of different subject categories, games having different levels of difficulty, and workbooks having different tasks to be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to copy protection and usage control systems for computer software.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various copy protection systems for computer software have been developed in the art. See, for example, Chandra et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,644,493 and 4,903,296.
The basic form of these systems prevents a user from making a copy of a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, embodying the software which is to be protected. Other protection systems have been developed which restrict the us of the software to a single computer system. For example, software has been sold in combination with a hardware device which must be plugged into the computer's communication port before the software can be run. See, for example, Chou et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,306. Encryption of codes stored in a ROM or secure coprocessor built into the user's computer have also been used for this purpose. See, for example, Karp, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,769.
Variations of the foregoing techniques have allowed software distributors to control the length of time or the number of times a user can run protected software. See, for, example, Comerford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,413, and William. U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,890. These techniques have been developed to provide a trial period during which a potential purchaser can decide whether or not he or she wants to buy the software. After the trial period, either new software without the usage control system has been provided or instructions have been given to the user to disable the usage control system.
Although these approaches have to some extent imparted a limited life to computer software, they have not provided truly consumable software in the sense that a student workbook, a cross-word puzzle book, a game book, or a scholastic test is consumable. Consumable software would be of great value to the software industry, as well as to software purchasers, since it would allow software to be marketed on a finite usage basis rather than an unlimited usage basis. This would allow the purchaser to acquire only the amount of usage necessary to satisfy his or her needs, and would allow the software distributor to adjust the cost of the software to reflect the limited usage being provided.

Usage control system for computer software