A smart home interaction system is presented. It is built on a multi-modal, multithreaded conversational dialog engine. The system provides a natural language user interface for the control of household devices, appliances or household functionality. The smart home automation agent can receive input from users through sensing devices such as a smart phone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer. Users interact with the system from within the household or from remote locations. The smart home system can receive input from sensors or any other machines with which it is interfaced. The system employs interaction guide rules for processing reaction to both user and sensor input and driving the conversational interactions that result from such input. The system adaptively learns based on both user and sensor input and can learn the preferences and practices of its users.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Home automation involves controlling various devices or systems that can be present in homes. Home automation technologies can allow for local and/or remote control of home automation devices. Remote control of devices has an extensive history. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 613,809 to Nikola Tesla, titled "Method of and apparatus for controlling mechanism of moving vessels and vehicle", issued over 100 years ago on Nov. 8, 1898. The work is cited primarily to establish the long history of the remote control of a machine. The work does not describe an interaction system that receives input signals from a multi-modal interface. Nor does the work describe the conversion of such input signals into queries using a location-specific normalized vocabulary.
The history of home automation has been characterized by an absence of device interface standards, high costs, and awkward user interfaces. Until recently, computer based home automation was largely for hobbyists or the very wealthy. Universal presence of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, labor saving appliances, refrigeration appliances, telecommunication devices, home entertainment systems or components, personal computers and the Internet has caused an increase in the number of mechanical and electrical devices that are required to control these various machines. User interfaces for controlling such devices remain primitive. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,998 to Bilger titled "User interface and method for home automation system", filed on Oct. 19, 2000, requires a very complex user interface far outside the scope of unsophisticated users. In addition, Bilger fails to describe use of a multi-modal interface and the conversion of input signals into queries using a location specific normalized vocabulary. Ideally, home automation interfaces would allow users to interact with the system in a seamless fashion.
Some effort has been directed to reducing the complexity of home automation interfaces. One example includes using a telephone to control home automation devices as described by U.S. Pat. No. 7,464,035 to Funk et al. titled "Voice control of home automation systems via telephone", filed Jul. 24, 2002. Another example that focuses on voice control of electrical appliances in a home is U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,070 to Kawasaki et al. titled "Voice control system for operating home electrical appliances", filed on May 11, 2001. Additional effort has been directed to controlling televisions through a voice operated remote control as described in "VoiSTV: Voice-Enabled Social TV", Bernard Renger, Harry Chang, Junlan Feng, Luciano Barbosa, AT&T Labs—Research; Ovidiu Dan; Lehigh University. While advantageous in some aspects, none of these cited works entail the conversion of input signals into queries using a location-specific normalized vocabulary.
Further progress is made toward controlling household devices through a conversational user interface as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,576 to Vander Molen titled "Conversational voice command control system for home appliance", filed on Sep. 6, 1983. Similar work using speech recognition to control networked devices in the home include U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,854 to Buchner et al. titled "Speech recognition control of remotely controllable devices in a home network environment", filed Oct. 19, 1998. However, these works also fail to describe the conversion of input signals into queries using a location specific normalized vocabulary.
Yet further progress toward natural user interfaces includes use of a virtual assistant as disclosed in U.S. Patent application publication 2007/0043687 to Bodart et. al titled "Virtual assistant", filed Aug. 19, 2005. While this work claims the use of a natural language interface, it fails to describe the conversion of input signals into queries using a location specific normalized vocabulary.
All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
There remains a significant need for improved home automation systems, methods, and technologies. Specifically, most prior efforts entail complex and difficult-to-use or learn user interfaces. Some efforts to simplify and improve user interfaces have focused on the use of speech recognition technologies. Yet all efforts have failed to deliver the benefits of an interaction system that receives input signals from a multi-modal interface. In addition, prior efforts have failed to describe the conversion of such input signals into queries using a location specific normalized vocabulary.
Thus, there is still a need for improved home automation systems, methods, and technologies.

Smart home automation systems and methods


A spatial light modulator applied to the collinear volume holographic storage system uses a hollow phase modulator to modulate the surrounding portion of an incident light to be a reference light, and the center portion of the incident light is modulated by an amplitude modulator to be a signal light. Thus, the spatial light modulator can enhance the convergence of the point spread function of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a spatial light modulator applied to a collinear volume holographic storage system, and, especially, to a spatial light modulator that can enhance the convergence of the point spread function of this system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The collinear holographic storage system is the main development in these years, since the collinear holographic technique has the features of high stability, high reliability and high miniaturability.
In the writing process, the collinear holographic storage system uses a spatial light modulator to generate a signal light and a reference light as a laser light passes the spatial light modulator. After the signal light and the reference light pass a phase modulating mask, the interference will be focused by a lens and recorded homogeneously on a recording medium. In the reading process, the laser light is modulated to a reference light and irradiates on the recording medium to restore the signal via the recorded interference. Finally, the restored light irradiates on a photo-detector and can be read.
FIG. 1a is employed to illustrate the light path of the system in the writing process. The spatial light modulator 200 modulates the incident light 100 to a signal light 110 and a reference light 120, and a lens 300 focus the interference of the signal light 110 and the reference light 120 on a recording medium 400 to be recorded.
FIG. 1b is employed to illustrate the light path of the system in the reading process. The spatial light modulator 200 modulates the incident light 100 to a reference light 120 only, and, after the reference light 120 passes the lens 300, the reference light 120 irradiates on the recording medium 400 to restore the signal light 110 and the reference light 120 via the recorded interference. The restored interference is focused on and irradiates on a photo-detector 600 and can be read.
The structure of a reflective holographic storage system is different from the transmissive system, abovementioned system, but in the similar theory. The rear face of the recording medium 400 is coated with a reflective material 410, and a splitter 700 is set in the light path. In the writing process, the signal light 110 and the reference light 120 pass the splitter 700 and lens 300 to irradiate on the recording medium 400. In the reading process, the reference light 120 is reflected by the reflective material 410 after passing the splitter 700 and lens 300 to restore the interference. The restored interference passes the splitter 700 and will be reflected to a photo-detector 600 for reading. The light paths in the writing process and reading process are shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b.
The above mentioned spatial light modulator has a disadvantage of poor convergence of the point spread function.


Methods are provided for the expression of immunoglobulin variable domains that are secreted into the culture medium. The methods provide for the production of homogeneous immunoglobulin variable domains in which the proportion of product-related variants that comprise, at the N-terminus, at least one redundant amino acid residue derived from the secretion signal is strongly reduced or absent.

For therapeutic applications, immunoglobulins must be of very high product quality. This requires, amongst others, homogeneity in structural terms. Moreover, the production costs are strongly influenced by difficulties encountered during the production process. For example, difficulties to separate structural variants of the desired protein will necessitate complex and costly purification strategies. Lack of homogeneity will impact the economics of the production process and hence, the costs for the therapeutic overall. Lack of homogeneity may also increase undesired properties of the immunoglobulin, such as the immunogenicity.
Heterologous expression of biopharmaceuticals is common. The transformation and manipulation of well-studied hosts such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae draw on many genetic tools and strains and a plethora of research into regulatory responses and protein functions. Non-conventional yeasts, in particular Pichia pastoris, have found wide application in heterologous expression because they produce very high levels of heterologous proteins, secrete proteins, or exhibit more versatile substrate utilization. However, relatively few genetic tools, engineered strains and data on the biology of these organisms are available.
When over-expressing in a host a protein destined for secretion from the host into the culture medium, the secretion of the protein can be achieved by fusing the protein to a secretion signal sequence that directs the passage of the polypeptide through the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus and that is cleaved from the polypeptide by a signal peptidase before being packaged into secretory vesicles, which fuse with the plasma membrane to release the processed protein.
A secretion signal sequence that has been used to produce a variety of secreted proteins in yeast expression systems is the signal sequence of the prepro-polyprotein precursor of the S. cerevisiae mating pheromone alpha-factor (aMF secretion signal peptide; Kurjan and Herskowitz 1982, Cell 30: 933-943; Sasagawa et al. 2011, Plasmid 65(1): 65-69).
While the use of the aMF secretion signal peptide most often results in secretion of the proteins from the yeast strains, it has been observed that the proteins are not always correctly processed. For example, WO 2002/086101 describes that the expression in Hansenula polymorpha and Saccharomyces cerevisiae of HCV envelope proteins using the alpha-mating factor leader sequence of S. cerevisiae leads to several expression products with a different amino-terminus in addition to the main product. WO 2007/148345 describes that the expression in Pichia pastoris of recombinant Exendin-4 using the alpha factor signal sequence and propeptide results, in addition to the main product, in molecules that are clipped, lacking the first two amino acids from the N-terminus.
During secretion of the alpha mating factor signal sequence from S. cerevisiae, the signal peptide is removed by two processing enzymes. The enzyme Kex2 cleaves after a specific lysine-arginine, then Ste13 clips off the dipeptides EA and EA to yield the mature alpha mating factor (Fuller et al. 1988, Annu. Rev. Physiol. 50: 345-362). Esposito et al. 2005 (Prot. Expr. and Purif. 40: 424-428) observed that while the Pichia homolog of Kex2 could cleave at the expected site, the Ste13 homolog did not, resulting in N-terminal extension of amino acid residues EAEA derived from the secretion signal sequence. They stated that inefficient Ste13 processing of the alpha mating factor signal peptide in Pichia is common.
Ghosalkar et al. 2008 (Protein Expr. Purif. 60(2): 103-109) also describe that the expression in Pichia pastoris of human interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-alpha2b) using, amongst others, the full Saccharomyces cerevisiae MF-alpha factor prepro sequence resulted, in addition to the main product, in two molecules with a different N-terminus due to inefficient processing of the secretion signal. However, the alpha prepro sequence without the EAEA repeats (i.e. with only the Kex2 cleavage site) directed the secretion of maximum amount of IFN-alpha2b into the culture medium, with the same amino terminal sequence as the native protein.
In contrast to the difficulties described above, immunoglobulin single variable domains can be readily expressed in P. pastoris. Immunoglobulin single variable domains are characterized by formation of the antigen binding site by a single variable domain, which does not require interaction with a further domain (e.g. in the form of VH/VL interaction) for antigen recognition. Production of Nanobodies, as one specific example of an immunoglobulin single variable domain, has been extensively described e.g. in WO 94/25591 and is known to result in good quality product. Moreover, as outlined in WO 2010/125187, material produced in P. pastoris is characterized by equal functionality as compared to E. coli produced material. Up to now the problem of incompletely processed product being present in the final product has not yet been observed for immunoglobulin single variable domains.

Method for the production of immunoglobulin single variable domains


A scraping device for use on powered stone floor dressing units which includes a solid support body and a scraping blade fastened to the support body. The support body is T-shaped, made from hardened steel and is mountable to a floor dressing unit by a universal locking bracket. The scraping blade is removably attachable to the support body, has a plurality of scraping edges available for use and is usually made from a carbon alloy, thereby providing a durable tool for extended use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to scraping tools or devices. More particularly this invention relates, to scraping devices used for stone floor dressing. Even more particularly, this invention relates to scraping devices used for powered stone floor dressing units.
2. Prior Art
Scraping and cleaning floors, including stone floors, has a long history extending from manual scraping by hand to automatic scraping using powered equipment. Powered floor scrapers as stated above, have long been an established part of floor scraper history.
One of the most common powered floor scrapers has a powered rotary unit which uses a plurality of scraping tools attached to a rotating plate to scrape and clean a floor. Where such a floor scraper is used, the scraping tools are replaceable as they wear out. Earlier scraping units used scraping tools having only one scraping edge that required constant sharpening. After being sharpened several times the scraping tool was discarded and replaced by a new tool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,582, discloses a resurfacing machine which uses a single edge tool that requires constant sharpening and eventual replacement. Also, the tool can become damaged in a relatively short time period because the fastener can vibrate loose and permit the tool to turn and flop around.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,380 discloses a scraping tool which consists of several pieces and fasteners. This can result in the tool and/or parts being replaced more often than encountered in the single piece tool above. Likewise, the multiple fasteners may become loose during use. Also, the various pieses may suffer damage or become misshapened. This requires replacement of the part or the entire tool. Although the patent teaches a multi-edged scraping blade which reduces the number of times the blade will need to be replaced the balance of the tool still consists of several pieces that require frequent replacement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,879 discloses a scraping tool used to clean chimneys which welds the scraping blade to a blade support. Although this tool reduces the number of pieces to make up a tool, it still can be deformed with constant usage and still has only one scraping surface which requires constant sharpening.
It would be desirable to have a scraping tool for use with a powered rotary floor dressing device that can be easily installed, provide a blade support that will not deform and provide a multiple edge scraping blade.

Scraping device for powered stone floor dressing unit


A precious metal paste which does not cause contamination of a member, which can be uniformly coated to a member to be bonded, and which is in good condition after bonding is provided. The present invention relates to a precious metal paste for bonding a semiconductor element, of the paste including a precious metal powder and an organic solvent, in which the precious metal powder has a purity of 99.9 mass % or more and an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 μm, the organic solvent has a boiling point of 200 to 350° C., and a thixotropy index (TI) value calculated from a measurement value of a viscosity at a shear rate of 4/s with respect to a viscosity at a shear rate of 40/s at 23° C. by means of a rotational viscometer is 6.0 or more.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a precious metal paste suitable for bonding a substrate and a semiconductor element.
Description of the Related Art
A brazing material is widely used for bonding of various members, such as die bonding of a semiconductor element to a substrate, and an AuSn-based brazing material which is a fluxless brazing material is generally used. In the case where various members are bonded by using a brazing material, a method in which, after arranging a pair of members to be bonded with a brazing material sandwiched therebetween, the brazing material is fused by heating to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point (about 300° C. or higher) at which the brazing material is molten is known. However, a problem sometimes occurred, in which, when heating to such a high temperature, electrical properties are varied in a member such as a semiconductor element due to a thermal stress applied to the member after bonding.
For this reason, a material which can bond members by heating to as low a temperature as possible is desired instead of a brazing material. As such a material, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a silver paste containing a silver powder and an epoxy resin and capable of bonding at a relatively-low temperature such as 100 to 200° C. In addition, the present inventors provide, in Patent Literature 2, a gold paste containing a gold powder having a predetermined purity and particle diameter and an organic solvent.

Precious metal paste for bonding semiconductor element


The present invention is a device and method for breaking an ampoule. In particular, the device is preferably for use in an apparatus for collecting and transporting biological specimens. The device comprises a guard arrangement that surrounds a frangible ampoule. With appropriate force applied to the guard arrangement, the frangible ampoule is ruptured.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device and method for breaking ampoules. In particular the device may be used for breaking ampoules in an apparatus for collecting and transporting biological specimens.
2. Description of Related Art
An element common to most devices for collecting and transporting biological specimens is an ampoule in a container that can be broken to release medium into the container to keep the swab and sample moist. A typical collecting and transporting device has been described in several publications and most specifically in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,748.
A commercially available device for collecting and transporting biological specimens is the CULTURETTE.RTM. Collection and Transport System (trademark of Becton, Dickinson and Company) sold by Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md. The CULTURETTE device is for collecting and transporting a biological sample with a protective sleeve or skirt surrounding the container where the ampoule, which is to be broken for use, is contained.
A problem that has confronted users of collection and transport devices is maintaining the viability and preventing the contamination of any biological sample which is collected. In spite of the use of a high level of skill and care in collecting the specimen so as to prevent contamination of the specimen, viability of the microorganisms is not always assured by the use of the prior art collection devices.
With the increased emphasis on the efficacy of medical products, a need exists for an improved device and method for effectively and efficiently handling ampoules. Such a device would be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture as compared to available devices.

Device and method for breaking an ampoule


A method of wirelessly routing based on data packet type is disclosed. The method includes a wireless access node wirelessly receiving a data packet. The wireless access node classifies the data packet, and selects one of multiple node interfaces based on the classification of the data packet, and/or characteristics of the node interfaces. The wireless access node forwards the data packet over the selected node interface.

Wireless mesh networks are gaining popularity because wireless infrastructures are typically easier and less expensive to deploy than wired networks. The wireless mesh networks typically include wired gateways that are wirelessly connected to wireless nodes, or wirelessly connected directly to client devices. Many wireless nodes can collectively provide a wireless mesh, in which client devices can associate with any of the wireless nodes.
Routing paths can be selected between the nodes of the mesh network according to one or more of many possible routing selection procedures. The routing paths provide a path for data flow between a client device associated with the wireless mesh network and a gateway of the mesh network. The gateway can be wire-connected to a wired network which is connected, for example, to the internet. Due to the possibility of changing locations of the wireless nodes, and due to the typically changing link qualities of wireless connections, the best quality routing path available can vary with time. Additionally, wireless clients typically roam from one wireless node to another wireless node.
Wireless networks can be useful for providing communications for emergency services. An advantage of wireless networks is that they can provide network access in places and situations that wired networks cannot. For example, when the World Trade buildings were destroyed, or when hurricane Katrina destroyed large parts of New Orleans, much wired network infrastructure was left un-useable. However, emergency access must not be inhibited or interfered when wireless networks are shared between emergency services and general network access.
It is desirable to have wireless network that can simultaneously support routing of multiple types of data packets.

Wireless routing based on data packet classifications


Methods and systems for storing secret information in a digital vault include obtaining from a user answers to a number of different questions, and identifying which subsets or combinations of the questions for which correct answers later provided by an entity will enable that entity to gain access to the secret information in the vault. The number of questions in each combination is less than the total number of questions, and at least one subset has at least two questions. For each subset, a corresponding string of answers is generated, the string is hashed, and the resulting hash value is combined with the digital secret. This hides the digital secret, which is then stored in the vault. Methods and systems for registering authentication material include storing a hashed string of answers for each combination, generating “multiple authenticators.”

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) refers broadly to authentication methods that rely on private user information to secure access to a user secret or access to a remote resource. Examples of such user secrets include digital signatures, encryption keys, private computing resources, and private data such as credit card numbers. A commonly employed method of KBA hides user secrets using a password or PIN, and then requires exact reproduction of that password or PIN to recover the secret. Another KBA technique asks the user to demonstrate knowledge of recent computer activity or transactions before allowing access to further transactions. A disadvantage of the above methods is the strict requirement of the user memorizing and exactly reproducing a value that may not be memorable. In cases where the user forgets the exact password, for example, the user will typically require third-party intervention to reset or recover the password. This costs time, effort, and money. Authentication technologies employing hardware such as tokens also achieve high levels of security, but usually at an even higher implementation and support cost.
A potentially more convenient and user-friendly method of KBA asks the user a series of questions to help establish identity during an "enrollment" or initialization step. The user secret is then encrypted using the answers provided to these questions. To recall the secret the same set of questions is asked, and reproduction of the correct set of answers successfully authenticates the user. The set of questions might be personal questions for which the answers are memorable, and with answers that only the user is likely to know, e. g. "What is your mother's maiden name?" or "What was the name of your first pet?" Despite its convenience, this method of KBA may be less secure than some other data encryption technologies, making its implementation risky. The secret answers may be susceptible to dictionary attack, the answers to some user questions may be found in the public record, or the answers could be available at some cost or effort on the attacker's part.


A mobile network is disclosed in which there exists a Mobile Node (MN), the MN is managed by a first Access Router (AR), and there exists a second AR with a subnet different from the first AR. A method is provided for the MN performing a fast handoff from the first AR to the second AR, which includes receiving a Routing Advertisement (RA) message of the second AR from the first AR, generating an IP address to be used in the second AR using the RA message of the second AR if the MN recognizes that it should perform a handoff from the first AR to the second AR, performing a trigger for using the generated IP address if the movement to the second AR is completed, and transmitting/receiving a Correspondent Node (CN) and data using the IP address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a method for performing a fast handoff in a mobile network using a mobile Stream Control Transmission Protocol ("mSCTP").
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, an Internet Protocol ("IP") network, that is, an Internet network, and a wired interval in a cellular network has been simultaneously developed. Further, terminals operating within only a wired environment are also required to provide services while maintaining seamless connection in a fast wireless environment.
Because only a wireless environment is considered in the existing Internet environment, an IP address is allocated to a terminal only once. However, problems can arise where a connection is maintained through the allocated IP address and the terminal moves. This situation is exacerbated when a terminal using an IP address through which data is transmitted moves to another location and is also used in a wired interval of a mobile network environment where not only a voice communication function is available, but also a data communication function is added to the functionality of the terminal.
To solve the aforementioned problem, the Internet Engineering Task Force ("IETF") has suggested a protocol called Mobile IP ("MIP") for supporting the mobility of a terminal in a network layer. If the mobility of a terminal is supported in the network layer, a session can be maintained in a transport layer without recognizing the movement of the terminal. However, entities such as a home agent or a foreign agent should exist so as to support mobility in the network layer. The existence of such entities creates a problem in terms of overhead and inefficiency.
To address these concerns, mSCTP has been suggested as a new mobility support plan. The mSCTP is a protocol in which mobility is added to SCTP in an IETF working group. Although the SCTP was suggested as a transmission layer protocol for signal transmission, the SCTP has been currently specified as a conventional transport layer standard protocol for an IP network together with User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The SCTP is a connection-based transport protocol, similar to TCP, in which terminals located at two end-points establish a connection for communication performance. The connection is referred to as an association.
Further, the SCTP has multi-streaming and multi-homing characteristics. The multi-streaming divides data into a plurality of streams, and each of the divided streams is transmitted in accordance with the corresponding characteristic; multi-homing permits a host to have several EP addresses. Accordingly, TCP uses a combination of transmitter address, transmitter port number, recipient address and recipient port number to identify the connection, while SCTP identifies the association with transmitter IP address group, transmitter port number, recipient IP address group and recipient port number. Such multi-homing support can more flexibly cope with network defects, and provide a higher level of reliability than with an IP layer.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are network configuration views illustrating an operational process of mSCTP in a general mobile network.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a Mobile Node ("MN") 102 using mSCTP is located in an area 100 corresponding to subnet A that is within the jurisdictional area of Access Router ("AR") #1 110. MN 102 uses IP address [220.127.116.11], and a Corresponding Node ("CN") 130 with IP address [220.127.116.11], which is controlled by AR #3 140, recognizes the IP address of MN 102. Thereafter, the MN 102 may move to an overlay area where subnet A 100 and subnet B 150, controlled by AR #2 120, are overlapped with each other. Accordingly, the MN 102 adds a new IP address [184.108.40.206] (160) corresponding to subnet B 150. The MN 102 informs the CN 130 of the added IP address, the CN 130 then recognizes the newly added address. The MN 102 determines the presence of an addition of the new IP address through a process of comparing a preset critical value with reception signal intensity.
The MN 102 located in the overlay area uses the previous IP address, IP address [22.214.171.124], as the primary IP address, and the newly added IP address, IP address [220.127.116.11], as a secondary IP address. That is, the MN 102 using the mSCTP uses only the primary IP address to perform data transmission/reception, and the secondary IP address is used for data retransmission and backup.
When the MN 102 moves closer to the area of subnet B 150, the primary IP address is changed to [188.8.131.52] through comparison between a critical value and reception signal intensity. The MN 102 informs the CN 130 of the changed primary IP address (170), and the CN 130 recognizes the primary IP address of the MN 102. Further, after the MN 102 has completed the primary IP address change, IP address [18.104.22.168] is deleted (180) in the previous subnet (A), and CN 130 is informed of this completion.
FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an operational process in accordance with a handoff of MN in a conventional mobile network.
Referring to FIG. 2, MN 102 receives data from CN 130 (step 202). Thereafter, the MN 102 may move from a network in which data reception is currently possible to another network with a different subnet address. In this case, the MN 102 cannot receive data (204) transmitted from the CN 130 from a certain time point (step 206). The MN 102 completes a call setting through an Access Point ("AP") and an L2 association of the newly moved network (step 208).
Thereafter, the MN 102 receives a Router Advertisement ("RA") message periodically broadcasted from the AR 120 of the newly moved network, that is, New AR ("NAR") 120 (step 210). As the RA message is received, the MN 102 recognizes that the MN 102 itself has moved to the network using another subnet (step 212). The RA message contains 64-bit prefix information of the NAR 120.
Thus, the MN 102 obtains a new IP address from the NAR 120, and transmits an AddresS CONFiguration Change (ADDIP ASCONF) signal to the CN 130 to inform of the newly obtained address. Further, the MN 102 transmits an ASCONF-SetPrimary signal to the CN 130 to inform that the primary IP address has been changed (Step 214). The CN 130 obtains the IP address of the MN 102, and adds a corresponding mSCTP association when receiving the AddresS CONFiguration Change (ADDIP ASCONF) signal. Further, the CN 130 transmits an ASCONF-ACK signal (step 216) informing MN 102 that the primary IP address has been changed when receiving the ASCONF-SetPrimary signal (step 214).
Having received the ASCONF-ACK signal, the MN 102 can receive data transmitted from the CN 130 for the first time (step 218). Meanwhile, if it is recognized that the previous AR and IP address are no longer required, the MN 102 transmits an ASCONF-DELETEIP signal to the CN 130 to delete the IP address (step 220). The CN 130 deletes the previous IP address from a corresponding SCTP association address list, and changes the primary IP address of the corresponding SCTP association into the IP address of a new subnet. The CN 130 then transmits an ASCONF-ACK signal to the MN 102 informing that the previous IP address has been deleted (step 222).
As described above, the MN 102 cannot receive data transmitted from the CN 130 during the period of step 206 to step 216 in accordance with a handoff of the MN 102.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a data processing delay time flow in accordance with an MN handoff in a conventional mobile network.
Referring to FIG. 3, the MN cannot receive data transmitted from the CN during the time of an L2 handoff corresponding to the AP change, a time when the RA message is received from the AR of the moved network, or a time when the primary IP address is changed. The L2 handoff delay time, for example, occurs for 100 msec to 1 sec, and the RA message reception delay time, for example, occurs for 1 to 10 sec. Thus, a delay time in accordance with a handoff of the MN using mSCTP occupies most of the time delay until the RA message is received.
Although the mSCTP supports handoff as described above, the MN using mSCTP cannot receive data due to the occurrence of delay time during handoff. Particularly, when there is a ping-pong handoff in which the MN changes different subnets at any time, the delay occurrence caused by the handoff creates a large overhead. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for a solution employing a fast handoff in a next-generation mobile communication system that aims at seamless connection in a fast radio environment.

System and method for performing fast handoff in mobile network


Apparatus is provided for transmitting signals between a cell phone (P), through a coaxial cable (16) through a window inner coupling (20) mounted on the inner side (I) of a window, to an outer coupling (22) on the outer side (O) of the window which connects to an antenna (24), which efficiently couples signals of both the lower cell phone frequency band of about 850 MHz and the high cell phone frequency band of about 1920 MHz that are in current use. The window coupling includes an electrically conductive inner plate (30) lying substantially facewise adjacent to the window and a conductive box device (40) lying around the inner face of the inner plate. The inner plate is of substantially rectangular shape, with a plurality of sides (111-114) extending in series around the inner plate. The length of a path (130) extending from a connection location (91) to corners (132, 134) approximately equals one-quarter wavelength of the higher cell phone frequency, while the length of a path (140) around the periphery of the plate approximately equals one-quarter wavelength of the lower cell phone frequency.

The two most commonly used frequency bands set aside for cell phone use, are the AMPS band which extends between 824 and 896 MHz, and the PCS band, which extends from 1850 to 1990 MHz. It is noted that there is also a Nextel band of 806 to 866 MHz, which primarily overlap the AMPS band. The center of the lower frequencies is about 850 MHz while the center of the higher frequencies is about 1920 MHz. Cell phones are often used in vehicles, where much of the signal is lost due to the metal vehicle body. The losses can be greatly reduced by extending a coaxial cable from a cell phone to a window mount that mounts on a window such as the rear window of an automobile, and which couples through the window to an outside antenna. The inner window coupler preferably has a resonance in the band of frequencies to be transmitted, which results in transmission of a high percentage of the signal to and from the cell phone. The window coupling must be small, as with a rectangular box of no more than about two inches on each side, to avoid blocking a substantial portion of the window that it mounts on. When mounting on a rear window with antenna and/or defrosting wires embedded therein, it is desirable that the window coupler be mounted for minimum interference.
Window couplings are available that are resonant to either the low frequency bands of about 850 MHz or to the high frequency band of about 1920 MHz. It is possible to sell two type of window couplers that are each resonant to a particular band, but cell phone users often do not know what frequency their cell phones operate on. Thus, there is a need for cell phone couplers that are resonant at both the lower frequency of about 850 MHz and the higher frequency of about 1920 MHz, so they can be used with any common cell phone. The window coupler should be of simple construction, low cost and of small size.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, inner and outer window couplers are provided for transmitting signals received through a coaxial cable from an inside cell phone or other transceiver, to an outside antenna, where the window couplers are of low cost and size and can efficiently couple two widely different frequencies. The inside or inner window coupler includes an inner metal plate for lying facewise adjacent to the window and a metal box device with a bottom wall spaced from the inner plate and facing it and with side walls extending outwardly to locations surrounding the inner plate. The inner plate has a plurality of corners and a plurality of sides extending between adjacent corners. This enable a resonance for each of two widely different frequencies, each obtained by a distance around the plate from a location where the inner conductor of the coax cable is connected to one of the corners.
In one inner window coupler, a quarter wavelength for the 1920 MHz band to obtain a resonance, approximately equals the length from the location where the inner coax conductor connects to the periphery of the plate, around a first corner and to a second corner. At the same time, a quarter wavelength for resonance at the 850 MHz band approximately equals the distance around the entire periphery of the plate. This results in a dual frequency inner window coupler of minimum size.
The outer window coupler includes a one-piece metal coupler with a plate part, a post part extending away from the plate part, and a pivot mount part. The lower end of the antenna is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis on the pivot mount part and can be clamped in any orientation.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A system, where a device and at least one information processing apparatus are connected via a network to each other, includes a configuration unit that, when receiving a request to use a service together with a device identifier of the device, stores configuration information in a relationship information storage, wherein the configuration information associates the device identifier with at least one program identifier that is stored in a service information storage in association with the service; and a transmitting unit that sends an installation request to install a program corresponding to the program identifier to the device corresponding to the device identifier that is associated by the configuration information with the program identifier.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of this disclosure relates to an information processing system, a device, and an information processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exist image forming devices to which functions can be added by installing application programs (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-079211).
Meanwhile, cloud services have been getting attention in recent years. It is possible to provide added value to users of image forming devices by linking the image forming devices with services provided via a network, such as cloud services, Web services, and application service provider (ASP) services.
Here, to link an image forming device with services provided via a network, it may be necessary to install one or more programs in the image forming device.
However, it is bothersome for a user to determine what programs need to be installed in an image forming device to use certain services, and to manually install the programs.
Such a problem applies not only to image forming devices but also to other electronic devices and general-purpose computers.

Information processing system, device, and information processing method


An apparatus for sequentially pyrolyzing a plurality of samples held in sample tubes comprises a substantially vertical passage through which tubes carrying the samples may be passed; an upper gas-tight valve for closing off the upper end of the passage; a lower gas-tight valve for holding a sample tube in the passage; a distribution valve directing purge gas and carrier gas to the top end of the passage and for passing pyrolyzed sample from the bottom of the passage to an analytical device; and an electrical heating element for heating the passage to temperatures at which a sample will be pyrolyzed.

In the laboratory analysis of specimens by any of the well-known analytical methods including infrared spectroscopy or chromatography, it is desirable to automatically submit a large number of samples or specimens to the instrument performing the analysis without constant attendance. A number of types of automatic sampling systems (referred to generally as "autosamplers") are known and have embodiments for both solids and liquids.
Discrete autosamplers have a large number of sample compartments in which the individual samples or specimens are placed. Flow is diverted from each compartment in sequence to the analysis instrument. In the case of solids and some liquids which must be analyzed in the form of vapor, the sample is pyrolyzed (rapidly heated in the absence of reacting gases) to cause vaporization of the solid or liquid.
Another type of autosampler is the carousel/stacked type wherein samples are placed in holders (for example, bottles) and the contents of the holders are sequentially transferred to a common sampling chamber. This system usually requires a heated transfer line. This type of autosampler is not suitable for solids.
Another form of autosampler is a robot system that can emulate the manual one-by-one sample transfer.
The discrete autosamplers have a number of drawbacks: namely, many expensive probes (sample holding compartments) are required; a large multi-position valve for selecting probes is required which may suffer alignment problems; calibration numbers are required for repeatability; a very high electromechanical input/output count is required to switch power and sense lines for control of the autosampler; the dead volume is large; manual loading directly to probes can cause damage to the pyrolysis coils; a heated column isolation load/unload chamber is required; and a large number of isothermal zones are required.
The carousel/stacked autosamplers also have drawbacks: namely, numerous mechanical movement commands are required to transport the sample to the sampling chamber; a large dead volume in the stand-alone unit; a heated column isolation load chamber is required; complicated means (magnetic, vacuum or tactile) are required to move the sample in and out of the sample chambers; a count of samples as loaded is required; the sample chamber must reside close to the carousel or within the range of the x-, y-, z-axes of a robot loader; a heated transfer line is required between the pyrolysis chamber and the gas chromatography inlet; and precision positioning is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,805 discloses an apparatus for pyrolysis and analysis, one sample at a time. U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,452 discloses a system in which reactor tubes are fixed in a carousel so as the carousel is rotated each tube may be connected to an input reactant line. U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,733 discloses an autosampler for a gas chromatograph wherein sample containers are covered with a pierceable cover. The containers are advanced to a heater and then the cover of the containers is pierced to capture the heated specimen.
It is an advantage, according to this invention, to provide an autosampler for a pyrolysis device that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is a further advantage that with the autosampler disclosed herein, results are repeatable due to the use of a single heating coil, no exposure of the analysis column to air during loading and unloading, and carrier flow which may be maintained at all times. Also, there is little or no carryover between samples due to the removal of the tube or container in which pyrolysis previously took place and a purge and clean cycle between runs. Also, the sample is purged to vent after the sample is loaded in the sample chamber providing an inert atmosphere prior to pyrolysis.


Compounds having the following formula (I) or a stereoisomer or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, wherein R2 is a bicyclic heterocycle, and R1, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein, that are useful as kinase modulators, including IRAK-4 modulation.

Toll/IL-1 receptor family members are important regulators of inflammation and host resistance. The Toll like receptor (TLR) family recognizes molecular patterns derived from infectious organisms including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses (reviewed in Kawai, T. et al., Nature Immunol., 11:373-384 (2010)). Ligand binding to the receptor induces dimerization and recruitment of adaptor molecules to a conserved cytoplasmic motif in the receptor termed the Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain. With the exception of TLR3, all TLRs recruit the adaptor molecule MyD88. The IL-1 receptor family also contains a cytoplasmic TIR motif and recruits MyD88 upon ligand binding (reviewed in Sims, J. E. et al., Nature Rev. Immunol., 10:89-102 (2010)).
Members of the IRAK family of serine/threonine kinases are recruited to the receptor via interactions with MyD88. The family consists of four members. Several lines of evidence indicate that IRAK4 plays a critical and non-redundant role in initiating signaling via MyD88 dependent TLRs and IL-1R family members. Structural data confirms that IRAK4 directly interacts with MyD88 and subsequently recruits either IRAK1 or IRAK2 to the receptor complex to facilitate downstream signaling (Lin, S. et al., Nature, 465:885-890 (2010)). IRAK4 directly phosphorylates IRAK1 to facilitate downstream signaling to the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6, resulting in activation of the serine/threonine kinase TAK1 with subsequent activation of the NFκB pathway and MAPK cascade (Flannery, S. et al., Biochem. Pharmacol., 80:1981-1991 (2010)). A subset of human patients was identified who lack IRAK4 expression (Picard, C. et al., Science, 299:2076-2079 (2003)). Cells from these patients fail to respond to all TLR agonists with the exception of TLR3 as well as to members of the IL-1 family including IL-1β and IL-18 (Ku, C. et al., J. Exp. Med., 204:2407-2422 (2007)). Deletion of IRAK4 in mice results in a severe block in IL-1, IL-18 and all TLR dependent responses with the exception of TLR3 (Suzuki, N. et al., Nature, 416:750-754 (2002)). In contrast, deletion of either IRAK1 (Thomas, J. A. et al., J. Immunol., 163:978-984 (1999); Swantek, J. L. et al., J. Immunol., 164:4301-4306 (2000) or IRAK2 (Wan, Y. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 284:10367-10375 (2009)) results in partial loss of signaling. Furthermore, IRAK4 is the only member of the IRAK family whose kinase activity has been shown to be required for initiation of signaling. Replacement of wild type IRAK4 in the mouse genome with a kinase inactive mutant (KDKI) impairs signaling via all MyD88 dependent receptors including IL-1, IL-18 and all TLRs with the exception of TLR3 (Koziczak-Holbro, M. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 282:13552-13560 (2007); Kawagoe, T. et al., J. Exp. Med., 204:1013-1024 (2007); and Fraczek, J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 283:31697-31705 (2008)).
As compared to wild type animals, IRAK4 KDKI mice show greatly reduced disease severity in mouse models of multiple sclerosis (Staschke, K. A. et al., J. Immunol., 183:568-577 (2009)), rheumatoid arthritis (Koziczak-Holbro, M. et al., Arthritis Rheum., 60:1661-1671 (2009)), atherosclerosis (Kim, T. W. et al., J. Immunol., 186:2871-2880 (2011) and Rekhter, M. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 367:642-648 (2008)), and myocardial infarction (Maekawa, Y. et al., Circulation, 120:1401-1414 (2009)). As described, IRAK4 inhibitors will block all MyD88 dependent signaling. MyD88 dependent TLRs have been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, sepsis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, autoimmune uveitis, asthma, allergy, type I diabetes, and allograft rejection (Keogh, B. et al., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 32:435-442 (2011); Mann, D. L., Circ. Res., 108:1133-1145 (2011); Horton, C. G. et al., Mediators Inflamm., Article ID 498980 (2010), doi:10.1155/2010/498980; Goldstein, D. R. et al., J. Heart Lung Transplant., 24:1721-1729 (2005); and Cario, E., Inflamm. Bowel Dis., 16:1583-1597 (2010)). Oncogenically active MyD88 mutations in diffuse large B cell lymphomas have been identified that are sensitive to IRAK4 inhibition (Ngo, V. N. et al., Nature, 470:115-121 (2011)). Whole genome sequencing also identified mutations in MyD88 associated with chronic lymphatic leukemia suggesting that IRAK4 inhibitors may also have utility in treating leukemias (Puente, X. S. et al., Nature, 475:101-105 (2011)).
In addition to blocking TLR signaling, IRAK4 inhibitors will also block signaling by members of the IL-1 family. Neutralization of IL-1 has been shown to be efficacious in multiple diseases including gout; gouty arthritis; type 2 diabetes; auto-inflammatory diseases including Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), TNF Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), adult onset stills; systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis; stroke; Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD); smoldering multiple myeloma; recurrent pericarditis; osteoarthritis; emphysema (Dinarello, C. A., Eur. J. Immunol., 41:1203-1217 (2011) and Couillin, I. et al., J. Immunol., 183:8195-8202 (2009)). In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, blockade of IL-1 receptor improved cognitive defects, attenuated tau pathology and reduced oligomeric forms of amyloid-β (Kitazawa, M. et al., J. Immunol., 187:6539-6549 (2011)). IL-1 has also been shown to be a critical link to adaptive immunity, driving differentiation of the TH17 effector T cell subset (Chung, Y. et al., Immunity, 30:576-587 (2009)). Therefore, IRAK4 inhibitors are predicted to have efficacy in TH17 associated diseases including multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune uveitis, and rheumatoid arthritis (Wilke, C. M. et al., Trends Immunol., 32:603-661 (2011)).
In view of the conditions that may benefit by treatment involving modulation of protein kinases, it is immediately apparent that new compounds capable of modulating protein kinases such as IRAK-4 and methods of using these compounds could provide substantial therapeutic benefits to a wide variety of patients.
The present invention relates to a new class of heterocyclic-substituted pyridyl compounds found to be effective inhibitors of protein kinases including IRAK-4.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bicyclic heterocycle substituted pyridyl compounds useful as kinase modulators


A high voltage MOSFET device (100) has a well region (113) with two areas. The first area (110) has a high dopant concentration and the second area (112) has a low dopant concentration. Inside the well region a region of a secondary conductivity type (108) is formed. The second area (110) is typically underlying a gate region (105). The lower doping concentration in that area helps to increase the breakdown voltage when the semiconductor device is blocking voltage and helps to decrease the on-resistance when the semiconductor device is in the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state. The MOSFET device further has a p-top layer (108) which is disposed on the top surface of the well region and then driven into the well region by annealing the MOSFET device at a high temperature in an inert atmosphere.

The present invention relates in general to high voltage MOSFET semiconductor devices and more specifically to a method for manufacturing a high voltage MOSFET semiconductor device with reduced on-resistance.
When designing high voltage metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices two criteria must be kept in mind. First, the semiconductor device should have a high breakdown voltage (VBD). Second, the semiconductor device, when operating, should have a low on-resistance (RDSON). One problem is that techniques and structures that tend to maximize breakdown voltage tend to adversely affect on-resistance and vice versa.
Different designs have been proposed to create semiconductor devices with acceptable combinations of breakdown voltage and on-resistance. One such family of semiconductor devices is fabricated according to the reduced surface field (RESURF) principle. Semiconductor devices with RESURF typically utilize an extended drain region, such as an nwell, to support high off-state voltage, i.e. an increase in breakdown voltage, VBD. Such RESURF semiconductor devices can have a charge in the drain area of about 1xc3x971012 atoms/cm2 before avalanche breakdown occurs. The high charge sets up a low onresistance since on-resistance is inversely proportional to the charge in the extended drain region.
In order to reduce the on-resistance, some RESURF devices incorporate a top layer of a conductivity type opposite the extended drain region, such as a p-top layer, inside the extended drain region. The addition of the p-top layer into the extended drain region permits the charge in the extended drain to increase as compared to designs without a p-top layer, which in turn decreases the on-resistance significantly. Furthermore, when the extended drain region is supporting high voltage, the p-top layer aids in the depletion of the more heavily doped extended drain region, thus allowing for high breakdown voltage.
One drawback to this approach is that a high charge under the gate region and adjacent to the channel region can lead to premature breakdown when the device is blocking voltage.

Method for manufacturing a high voltage MOSFET device with reduced on-resistance


The present invention proposes a method for transmitting data in a communication network, said communication network comprising at least one call control entity (CSCF) for controlling calls to be established from a subscriber (A, B) to a communication destination (B, A), a service control entity (SCP) for controlling services provisioned in said network for a respective subscriber, and a detection entity (DP) adapted to detect at least one of a plurality of predetermined conditions occurring in said network; said method comprising the steps of: forwarding a signaling message from said subscriber (A) to said at least one call control entity (CSCF) for being further forwarded to said destination (B), said signaling message comprising a message header and a message body, said message header including information descriptive for a content carried in the message body, detecting the occurrence of said at least one predetermined condition, and in case the occurrence of said predetermined condition has been detected, sending information concerning the content carried in the message body of said signaling message to said service control entity (SCP). Also, the present invention proposes a communication system comprising a call control entity (CSCF) controlling calls to be established from a subscriber (A, B) to a communication destination (B, A), a service control entity (SCP) controlling services provisioned in a network for a respective subscriber, wherein said system is adapted to operate according to the above method, and also a call control entity and a service control entity as such.

Recently, developments concerning communication networks focus also on a communication network enabling transmission of (speech) data on the basis of the Internet Protocol (IP), known as Voice over IP (VoIP) and/or IP Telephony.
Such communication networks comprise an access network via which a subscriber's terminal gains access and/or connects to a core network. The access network is specific to a connection technology such as wireless/radio access networks or non-wireless access networks, while the core network is independent of the connection technology adopted for connection of the terminal to the network.
FIG. 1 of the drawings shows in rough outline the basic constituents of such a communication network. It is to be noted that the drawing illustration has been significantly simplified for explanatory purposes such that FIG. 1 shows only those components considered to be relevant for the understanding of the present invention.
A subscriber, i.e. a subscriber's terminal A establishes a communication path via the network NW to a communication destination B. The subscriber's terminal may be any wireless or non-wireless terminal, as long as it is adapted to co-operate with the communication network NW. Likewise, the communication destination may be a terminal of a subscriber to said network. Nevertheless, it may be any terminal and also a terminal having subscribed to another network (not shown). A terminal may be identified by its address or an address associated thereto.
The communication network NW consists of an access network AN and a core network CN. Since the access network technology is of minor interest for the present invention, a detailed description thereof is omitted. However, the access network may for example be a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) access network, a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) access network, or the like.
The core network CN in turn comprises at least one call control entity also referred to as call state control functional entity CSCF (or referred to as service switching point SSP). The call state control function CSCF comprises a serving CSCF and an interrogating CSCF. The serving CSCF is used for mobile originated communications and also to support mobile terminated communications. The serving CSCF provides a serving profile database SPD (not shown) and an address handling AH (also not shown) functionality. The serving CSCF supports the signaling interactions with a terminal. The interrogating CSCF is used for mobile terminated communications and is also used to determine how to route mobile terminated calls. The interrogating CSCF interrogates a home subscriber server HSS (not shown) for information to enable the call to be directed to the serving CSCF. The interrogating CSCF provides an incoming call gateway functionality ICGW and the address handling AH functionality. Both, the serving and interrogating CSCF components can be provided in a single CSCF if required.
Particularly, the call state control function CSCF provides a call control functionality CCF. In connection therewith, it provides among others for                call set-up/termination and state/event management        call event reporting for billing, auditing, intercept or other purposes,        receiving and processing application level registrations.
Furthermore, the call state control functional entity CSCF has an interface to a service control entity also referred to as service control point SCP. This network entity provides for the ability of the network to determine what a particular service does, for a specific invocation of that service, within the limitations of that service.
Thus, in brief, a subscriber's terminal A, upon establishing a call, communicates via the access network, the CSCF of the core network, and again via the access network with the communication destination B (terminal of subscriber B, for example), while the services provided for such a call are under control of the SCP.
In currently developed communication networks, signaling within a network as described above is based on the Session Initiation Protocol SIP. According to the Session Initiation Protocol, SIP message headers are in plain text and look similar to e-mails. Also, SIP uses a client server model similar to the Hypertext transfer protocol HTTP and many others, and is used in conjunction with other protocols such as Session Description Protocol SDP etc.
Signaling is effected by exchanging SIP messages. SIP messages can be divided into SIP request messages and SIP response messages.
SIP request messages are SIP INVITE (invites client or server to establish a session), SIP ACK (confirmation reception of a final response to an INVITE message), SIP BYE (sender wishes to close the session), SIP CANCEL (cancels pending requests), SIP OPTIONS (asks for information about capabilities before establishing a session), SIP REGISTER (informs a location server of the client's IP address).
SIP response messages are 1xx Informational, 2xx Success, 3xx REDIRECTION, 4xx CLIENT ERROR, 5XX SERVER ERROR, 6XX GLOBAL FAILURE. Such SIP response messages use a 3 digit number, e.g. 1xx. The first digit defines the category, while the next two digits allow up to 100 variations, e.g. 200 OK (successful invitation).
The call state control functional entity CSCF in connection with the SIP serves as a SIP server with which session establishment is effected according to known SIP session establishment procedures which are not described here in detail. A SIP server similar to a CSCF is a so-called call processing server CPS (not shown in FIG. 1). The difference being that a CPS is compliant to SIP (as defined in RFC 2543), while the CSCF is compliant to 3GPP specifications. It can be said that a CSCF is a subclass of call processing servers designed for mobile networks.
The above briefly described SIP standards enable the sending of different types of content within the SIP signaling, for example with the SIP INVITE message. The content is defined with content type and content length field within the SIP message, whereas the actual content is inserted into the message body. Such content to be inserted can be any content which has a MIME type definition. MIME (=Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) provide a common structure for encoding a range of electronic documents or other multimedia data. For example, such MIME type content could be text, image, audio, video, compressed file, application data, HyperText Markup Language (HTML) data, e-mail data.
Using MIME enables signaling the type of "object" being carried, associating a file name with an object, associating several independent objects for forming a multi-part object, handling data encoded in text or binary and—if necessary— re-encoding the binary as text.
However, there may arise situations in which there are conditions prevailing in the network which impede the establishment of a call connection between a caller and a called destination (callee) and which will lead to missed calls.
In order to provide data representing information concerning missed calls to the callee, call answering services as a basic value added service in today's Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) have been proposed. Such services are normally implemented using a voice mail system in connection with a call transfer function of the PLMN. In practice, a call answering service is often used for a mere recording of call/callback requests (by leaving a message such as "could you please call me back under telephone number 12345").
A call answering service is not an optimal service for call request logging although it is used for that purpose. The user (callee) must complete several phases before being able to call back the caller waiting for being called back. Namely, the callee will have to    a) receive a notification (e.g. by SMS, Short Message Service) that a voice mail has arrived for his (mobile) terminal,    b) call his voice mail box,    c) listen to the voice mail and note down the telephone number he is asked to call back,    d) terminate the call to the voice mail box    e) make a new call to the phone number obtained under step c).
Missed calls are logged in today's mobile phones (terminals) but such a phone service cannot be used extensively because there exist limitations such as    1. mobile phones can not be always switched on (because of being present in or near airplanes/hospitals etc. where there might be a danger of adverse effects due to the radio waves emitted by the mobile terminal,    2. a caller is not informed that his failed call attempt has been logged in the called phone, which often means that the caller will additionally leave a voice message using the call answering service just requesting to be called back, and    3. it is difficult for the called person to derive a knowledge of who was the caller of the logged phone number (CLI, Calling Line Identity) if the logged CLI is not registered to the phonebook of his terminal (i.e. mobile phone).
Still further, with the use of SIP messages (as described above) such as SIP INVITE for call establishment, even in case of leaving a voice message at an answering service, content already carried in the SIP message is not known to the callee and would thus have to be retransmitted later on, leading to a wasteful use of network transmission capacity.

Method for transmitting data in a communication network


Systems, methodologies, media, computing devices, network adapters, and other embodiments associated with network communications are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a multi-drop Ethernet network.

Ethernet is a local area network that is described by IEEE 802.3. Ethernet is a very widely used protocol for networking devices together. Typically, cabling between devices is point-to-point where only two devices can share a physical bus. Point-to-point configurations require the use of more hardware such as switches and hubs and are less expandable than a multi-drop network configuration. A prior method of multi-drop Ethernet cabling was called 10base2 where "10" represents 10 megabytes per second, "base" represents "base band", and "2" represents a maximum single cable length of 200 meters. 10base2 was once an accepted form of networking where devices could be networked together using the same wires, creating a multi-drop network. Over time, 10baseT and 100baseT point-to-point wiring soon became favored for networks in general and 10base2 hardware became less common and more expensive. However, a multi-drop Ethernet is still useful in some cases, such as embedded networks.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A developing apparatus having: a first developer carrying member close to a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of developer; a second developer carrying member to which the developer is delivered from the first developer carrying member; and a mode for removing the toner on the surface of the second developer carrying member, in which mode, in a non-image-formation period, no toner transfer operation from the first developer carrying member to an image bearing member is substantially performed, but a toner transfer operation from the second developer carrying member to the image bearing member is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier or a laser beam printer, which employs an electrophotographic printing method or an electrostatic recording method and includes a developing apparatus for visualizing a latent image formed on an image bearing member by adhering a developer thereto.
2. Related Background Art
Heretofore, in an image forming apparatus such as a copier using an electrophotographic printing method or an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum is visualized by adhering a developer thereonto. Among developing apparatuses for use in such development, an example of one using a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is shown in FIG. 11.
In this example, in a developing apparatus 1, a first developing sleeve 8 as a first developer carrying member is disposed so as to be rotatable in an arrow direction shown in FIG. 11 in a developer container 2 for housing a two-component developer that contains a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier as a developer T. Further, a developer regulating blade 9 for regulating the magnetic brush of the developer carried on the first developing sleeve 8 is disposed.
Further, a second developing sleeve 11 as a second developer carrying member is disposed so as to be rotatable in the same direction as a rotation direction of the first developing sleeve 8 in a region under the first developing sleeve 8, which is opposed to the first developing sleeve 8.
In addition, the developer container 2 is vertically partitioned by a partition wall 7 into an upper developing chamber 3 and a lower agitating chamber 4, in which developer feed screws 5 and 6 are disposed, respectively. The developer T circulates in the developing chamber 3 and the agitating chamber 4 by the above-described screws 5 and 6.
Note that the first developing sleeve 8 is a cylindrical member made of a non-magnetic material, in the inside of which a magnet roller 8a as first magnetic field generating means is provided in a non-rotating state. The magnet roller 8a includes a developing pole S2 and magnetic poles S1, N1, N2, and N3 which feed the developer. Among them, the first magnetic pole N3 and the second magnetic pole N1 which have the same polarity are adjacent to each other to form a repulsive magnetic field therebetween, and a barrier is formed against the developer.
Further, a second developing sleeve 11 is made of a non-magnetic material, in the inside of which a magnet roller 11a as second magnetic field generating means is provided in a non-rotating state in a similar way to the first developing sleeve 8. The magnet roller 11a includes three magnetic poles S3, S4, and N4. Among them, the third magnetic pole S3 and the fourth magnetic pole S4 which have the same polarity are adjacent to each other to form a repulsive magnetic field therebetween, and a barrier is formed against the developer.
The S2 pole of the magnet roller 8a and the N4 pole of the magnet roller 11a are the developing poles. The developer which stands like the ears by the S2 pole and the N4 pole develops a latent image formed on a photosensitive drum 10 by applying a developing bias as a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage to the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11.
In such two-component development as described above, at the time of developing a white ground portion, the toner in the developer at a developing nip portion is thrust in a direction toward the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 by an electric field formed of a voltage on-the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing bias.
Specifically, the toner is developed on the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 after developing the white ground portion. In other words, the toner is attached onto the first developing sleeve. Sand the second developing sleeve 11 and the surfaces of the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 turn into a contaminated state by the toner.
When a high-density portion is developed in the state where the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 are in the contaminated state by the toner, the toner that has contaminated the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 is developed on the photosensitive drum 10. Accordingly, there has sometimes occurred a malfunction that a density is increased only in the contaminated portion with regard to the electrostatic latent image with a uniform electric field on the photosensitive drum 10, that is, a phenomenon (so-called ghost) of dragging an image of the immediately previous rotation of the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11.
Further, it is conceivable that the developer attached onto the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 for a long period of time rubs against other developers and members and is fused onto the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 owing to frictional heat.
When the toner is fused onto the surfaces of the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11, a feed amount of the developer to the developing regions of the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 is lowered to thus lower an image density, and high-resistance layers made of fused matter on the surfaces of the first developing sleeve 8 and the second developing sleeve 11 are formed. Accordingly, even if the developing bias is applied to the developing region between the first developing sleeve 8 and the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing region between the second developing sleeve 11 and the photosensitive drum 10 at the time of the development, desired electric fields are not formed. As a result, a sufficient development effect brought by the developing bias has not been obtained. Therefore, sometimes the density decreases, and an image failure such as blank areas sometimes occurs.
The toner contamination mentioned above is more prone to occur in the second developing sleeve 11 than in the first developing sleeve 8. The reason is as follows. As for the developer on the first developing sleeve 8, an amount thereof passing the developer regulating blade 9 is regulated by the developer regulating blade 9, and the developer tends to accumulate between the S1 pole and N1 pole of the magnet roller 8a. Therefore, the toner contamination attached onto the first developing sleeve 8 is scraped off easily by being rubbed with the accumulated developer. On the other hand, the second developing sleeve 11 which does not include the developer regulating blade 9 does not have the accumulated developer, and accordingly, becomes prone to be contaminated by the toner more significantly.
As measures against the problems as described above, it is necessary to always keep the surface of the second developing sleeve 11 in a state where there is no toner contamination on the developing sleeve 11 by cleaning the toner adhering onto the second developing sleeve 11. With regard to this, the following proposals have been made heretofore.
There have been proposed: a construction, in which a Mylar tape, an elastic blade, or a fur brush is attached as a member for scraping off a toner adhering onto a developing sleeve to scrape off the toner on the developing sleeve in a contact manner; and a construction, in which a conductive roller is provided in a non-contact manner with respect to a developing sleeve, a voltage is applied between the conductive roller and the developing sleeve, and a toner adhering onto the developing sleeve is made to fly toward the conductive roller side to scrape off the toner on the developing sleeve (for example, refer to JP 10-312110 A and JP 2003-173086 A).
However, in the above-described constructions, the following problem occurs.
Specifically, the member for scraping off the toner adhering onto the developing sleeve is newly provided, and accordingly, requirements for space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic printing method in recent years cannot be satisfied. It has not been preferable to provide such a scraping member in terms of design.


A laser source unit in which a laser diode is located at a focal point of a Fresnel lens using refraction and diffraction. The laser diode emits a laser beam in accordance with a control signal generated by a driving circuit. The laser diode is driven such that defocus on an image surface caused by a rise in the temperature of the laser diode can be kept in a tolerable degree.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser beam optical scanning system and to a laser printer provided with the laser beam optical scanning system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a laser beam optical scanning system which is installed in an electrophotographic laser printer to write an image on a photosensitive drum, a laser diode has been used as a light source. Since a laser beam emitted from the laser diode is a divergent pencil of rays, a convergent lens (collimator lens) is disposed in front of the laser diode so as to change the divergent pencil of rays into a parallel or a convergent pencil of rays.
A Fresnel lens has been developed. The Fresnel lens has a sawtooth surface and has a pattern of concentric circles which are pitched by microns and zones among which are alternately transparent and opaque. The Fresnel lens uses refraction and diffraction and bends incident rays at the alternately transparent and opaque zones. The Fresnel lens changes a parallel pencil of rays into a convergent pencil of rays and changes a divergent pencil of rays emitted from a focal point of the Fresnel lens into a parallel pencil of rays.
It is possible to install the Fresnel lens in a laser source unit instead of the collimator lens. In this case, however, there is a problem that a change in the optical performance (defocus) is caused by a change in the wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser diode. The wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser diode changes when the temperature of the laser diode changes. Additionally, a rise in the temperature of the circumstances lowers the emission output of the laser diode, and in order to make up for the fall in the emission output of the laser diode, the laser diode must be supplied with a larger driving current. The supply of a larger current increases the heat value of the laser diode, and consequently the laser diode emits a laser beam with a longer wavelength. Since the Fresnel lens uses diffraction, the Fresnel lens changes its focal length with a change in the wavelength of the laser beam. The change in the focal length of the Fresnel lens changes the size of the beam spot on the photosensitive drum, which degrades the picture quality.

Laser beam optical scanning system and laser printing provided with the laser beam optical scanning system


A surface mounted lighting is disclosed and includes a pair of copper foils/strips extending along a length of a removable guide tape. The copper strips are provided with adhesive on their opposite side for securement to the intended surface (e.g. ceiling, wall, etc.) in a room. One or more lights can be adhered to the surface secured copper tape, after the guide tape is removed, to create an electrical connection/communication between the tape and light(s). An electrical controller can also be adhered to the copper tape preferably similar to how the lights are secured to the copper tape to create an electrical connection/communication between the electrical controller and the copper tape and for sending power to the light(s) when the electrical controller is turned on or otherwise instructed. The electrical controller is preferably electrically connected to an electrical outlet within the room for receiving power. The disclosed lighting system is safely and easily installed without any drilling into walls or ceilings.

With conventional "pot light" and other ceiling lighting systems, installation typically requires drilling and hammering items into the ceiling and wall, and usually requires a professional electrician to perform the installation. What is needed is a ceiling lighting system that can be easily and quickly installed without tools and drilling that can be manually installed by the homeowner without the need for hiring a professional electrician. The below described novel surface mounted electrical device/lighting system is directed to overcoming the above issues with installation of current ceiling lighting systems.

Surface mounted lighting systems preferably for use as ceiling lighting


A collapsible cushion for integration into an automobile seat is provided. The collapsible cushion includes a first cushion plate and a second cushion plate with a plurality of springs interposed between the plates. The first plurality of springs is rotatably attached to both the first cushion plate and the second cushion plate such that each spring pivots when the collapsible seat cushion is collapsed. A seat suitable for inclusion in a automobile incorporates the collapsible cushion of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to collapsible seat cushions, and in particular to collapsible seat cushions that are integrated into an automobile seat.
2. Background Art
As the number of smaller automobiles increases, there is a growing need to devise ways of increasing the storage capacity of such vehicles. For example, minivans of current design have relatively small cargo volume behind the last row of seats when all of the seats are in place. To enlarge this volume, the vehicle seats can be disconnected and removed. This type of seating system is disadvantageous because it is necessary to disassemble, i.e., disconnect the individual vehicle seats from their anchored positions in the vehicle floor, and to store the vehicle seats that have been removed outside the vehicle, and these seats must be re-attached when additional passenger seating is required. As a result, the vehicle can be adapted only by expending considerable time to adapt to changing needs regarding passenger capacity and cargo volume.
Some existing minivans include stowable seats which are the fold-and-tumble type and can sometimes be removed from the vehicle. Their seat backs collapse forward and then the entire seat assembly tips upward and forward 90 degrees and sits up against the backs of the front seats. This provides more cargo space, but the seat still takes up some fore-aft cargo room. Moreover, although collapsible seat designs such as this exist, this is an ever present desire to decrease the amount of space such seat occupies when the seat is collapsed.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved collapsible seat assembly in which cargo storage capacity is increased.


An artificial limb. The artificial includes a finger part and a drive unit for the finger part. The drive unit includes: a drive output part, a movable part and a drive rope. The movable part is configured to be connected with the drive output part and is capable of moving under a drive of the drive output part. The drive rope is configured to be disposed in the finger part and connected with the movable part and is capable of converting a movement of the movable part into a motion of the finger part.

There are many disabled people in our country. For example, the physical disabilities of the upper or lower limbs will cause great trouble to the lives of the disabled, seriously affect their normal living and working abilities. The current artificial upper limbs mainly include decorative artificial arms, rope-controlled artificial arms, myoelectric artificial arms, etc. Although the decorative artificial arms are beautiful, they has no finger sections, cannot realize grasp strength perception and grasp strength control, and lack practicality. The finger sections of the cable-controlled artificial arm and the myoelectric artificial arm mostly perform single synchronized motion, which differ greatly from the real human hand motion, and cannot meet the daily requirements and the psychological satisfaction of the user. In addition, since the shapes of the remaining limb portion of users are different, the existing arm sleeves has poor adaptabilities, which often cause wearing discomfort. Even with the custom-made prosthetic sleeves employing online modeling technologies, the obtained prosthetic sleeves are expensive, have large technical difficulty and complex production process, and thus currently cannot be universally popularized.

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Electronic devices are typically coupled together to operate as systems that require the communication of data from one device to another. Many such devices include a ring oscillator, a circuit that generates one or more oscillating signals using a series of interconnected delay circuits. One problem with conventional ring oscillators concerns differences in the signal paths between the delay circuits. Accordingly, the present inventors devised several oscillators having unique layouts, which reduce differences in the signal paths between delay circuits. One exemplary oscillator includes a sequence of delay circuits having input-output connections between at least two pairs of non-adjacent delay circuits. Another exemplary oscillator provides two groups of delay circuits with a bus between the two groups, intercoupling the circuits. And, another exemplary oscillator arranges three or more delay circuits to form a closed loop. Applications for these oscillators include not only receivers, transmitters, and transceivers, but also programmable integrated circuits, electronic devices, and systems.

The present invention concerns data communications between electronic devices or circuits, particularly programmable phase-locked loops suitable for use in high-speed receivers, transmitters, and transceivers.
In the computer and telecommunications industries, many electronic devices are typically coupled together to operate as systems. In such systems, a common occurrence is the communication of data between two devices: a sending device and a receiving device.
The sending device generally has the data in the initial form of a set of digital words (sets of ones and zeros). In the sending device, a transmitter circuit converts each word into a sequence of electrical pulses, with each pulse timed according to a data clock, and transmits the timed sequence of pulses through a cable, circuit board, or other medium to the receiving device. The receiving device includes a receiver circuit that first determines the timing of the pulses and then identifies each of the pulses in the signal as a one or zero, enabling it to reconstruct the original digital words.
A key component in both the transmitter and the receiver is a voltage-controlled oscillatorxe2x80x94a circuit that outputs a signal that varies back and forth between two voltage levels at a frequency based on an input control voltage. In the transmitter, a voltage-controlled oscillator controls timing of the pulses output by the transmitter, and in the receiver, it facilitates reconstruction of the digital words from the transmitted pulses.
Although there are several types of voltage-controlled oscillators, one type often used in serial data transmitters and receivers is the ring oscillator. Conventionally, the ring oscillator comprises a chain of delay circuits arranged in a straight line. Each delay circuit has an input coupled to an output of the preceding delay circuit, with the output of the last delay circuit in the line coupled to the input of the first delay circuit in the line to form a loop, or ring. All the delay circuits are coupled to a common control voltage which controls how much delay is applied to signals passing through them.
One problem the present inventors recognized with this conventional straight-line arrangement for ring oscillators is that the signal-path length (that is the length of the conductive path for a signal to travel) from the output of one delay circuit to the input of the next delay circuit, can vary significantly depending on the particular pair of delay circuits. For example, in a ten-circuit line, the signal path from the first delay circuit to the second delay circuit is roughly ten times shorter than the signal path from the tenth delay circuit in the line back to the first delay circuit. Thus, the effective delay of the tenth delay circuit is longer than that of the first delay circuit.
Although signal-path differences can be largely ignored for lower-frequency communications, they cannot at higher frequencies because the margin for timing error is much stricter. At higher data frequencies, the inconsistent delays stemming from signal-path differences undermine the ability of receiver circuits to reliably recover digital data from transmitted signals.
Accordingly, there is a need for ring oscillators that have better matched signal-path lengths.
To address these and other needs, the present inventors devised several unique ring- oscillator layouts that provide improved matching of signal-path lengths. A first exemplary oscillator includes a group of at least four delay circuits arranged in a sequence, with each delay circuit having at least one adjacent delay circuit in the sequence and at least one non-adjacent delay circuit in the sequence. The exemplary oscillator further includes at least two input-output connections between non-adjacent delay circuits. In contrast, conventional ring oscillators have only one input-output connection between non-adjacent delay circuitsxe2x80x94the connection between the first and the last delay circuits. The additional non-adjacent input-output connections tend to equalize or reduce the signal-path differences between the delay circuits, thereby improving oscillator performance, particularly at higher frequencies of oscillation.
A second exemplary ring oscillator includes a group of at least three delay circuits arranged to define a closed loop. Specifically, this exemplary embodiment includes a non-collinear (non-straight-line) arrangement of at least a first, a second, and a third delay circuit, with each having respective inputs and outputs. The output of the first is coupled to the input of the second; the output of the second is coupled to the input of the third; and the output of the third is coupled to the input of the first.
A third exemplary ring oscillator includes at least two groups of sequentially arranged delay circuits and a bus positioned between them. The bus includes one line for each of the delay circuits in the two groups, with each line coupled to an input of one of the delay circuits and an output of another delay circuit.
Other aspects of the invention include a phase-locked loop, receiver, transmitter, and transceiver that incorporate the exemplary ring oscillators. Still other aspects of the invention combine one or more of these components with programmable logic devices to define a system.

Ring oscillators with improved signal-path matching for high-speed data communications


A door assembly for providing access to an enclosed space such as an airplane hangar. The door assembly includes a door panel configured to open and close an opening is provided. The door assembly includes an actuator configured to drive a rod upwardly. A first pin is fixedly mounted to the rod and rotatably mounted to the door. A link limits the upward advancement of a top portion of the door. The door is carried upward by the first pin, and rotated about the first pin as the link limits the upward advancement of the top portion of the doors.

Overhead doors for buildings, particularly airport hangar doors, which have a displaceable panel movable toward the interior of the building by means of vertical tracks are well known in the art. These doors are sometimes balanced by counterweights or springs. These doors require numerous moving parts and are expensive to assemble and manufacture. These doors also require large motors or actuators to move the door from a closed position to an open position.
There are overhead doors which include a curved track and rollers riding in the track to move the doors from the closed position to the overhead open position. These doors are subject to problems caused by the rollers jamming in the curved portions of the track. Also such constructions are costly to manufacture and maintain.
There exists a need in the art to provide a door for an airport hangar and the like which is simple to install and manufacture without requiring the use of a large motor or actuator.