Methods and systems for streaming data in a network. Whether the network is experiencing high packet loss may be determined by a rate control module. If high packet loss is experienced, data is encoded into multiple streams by a coder using temporal domain partitioning. If high packet loss is not experienced, then data may is encoded by using frequency domain partitioning. Unequal error protection is applied to each of the streams so more important bit planes in a bit of a stream are provided with more error protection than less important bit planes. The streams are transmitted along, respectively, independent paths to a decoder. The streams are decoded, and errors in the decoded streams are corrected by using information from one or more of the other decoded streams. The decoded corrected streams are reconstructed into the data.

Video streaming over reliable channels has become commonplace. Challenging technical problems, however, remain to be solved in order to consistently support video streaming over unreliable channels such as channels having high loss rates. It can be difficult to provide a reasonable quality of service at high loss rates because, typically, video streaming applications are designed to operate in low loss environments. Therefore, many video streaming applications are not exceptionally error-resilient nor network adaptive in high loss environments like wireless networks.
In low loss environments, it is relatively simple to correct or retrieve information lost in the process of video streaming. The easiest and most common method to retrieve lost data is to simply send a message from the receiver to the transmitter requesting the lost information, and then to have the transmitter transmit the requested information to the receiver. Of course, sending the message from the receiver to the transmitter and transmitting the requested information from the transmitter to the receiver takes time.
The time required to execute the easy method of information exchange between the receiver and transmitter described above is what makes the easy method unattractive for use in high loss environments. High loss environments do not have the extra time to carry out the easy method. Wireless and other high loss environments are often utilized for "live" event broadcasts, and such broadcasts may be transmitted over a considerable distance. Accordingly, any additional delay between the transmitter and the receiver in a high loss environment can add or add to choppiness to the video broadcast. Thus, sending a message from the transmitter to the receiver requesting lost information and having the requested information transmitted to the receiver generally is not an option for retrieving lost information in a high loss environment.
To improve video broadcast where video streaming occurs in high loss environments, efforts have been made to minimize information loss by error control on the transmission side of the environment. For example, attention may be given to using appropriate video coding algorithms as part of error control. Unfortunately, most of the current video coding algorithms were developed for relatively error-free environments. High loss environments are often considered unreliable because of high error rates and highly variable load capacities. Thus, the current video coding algorithms are generally not particularly useful in high loss environments.
A constraint on error control at the transmission side of high loss environments has been addressed briefly above in the discussion of the problems associated with the use of the easy method to retrieve lost information in high loss environments. Delay in transmission of information between the transmitter and receiver in a high loss environment can add or add to choppiness of the video broadcast. For example, many wireless video streaming applications are highly sensitive to end-to-end delay. Thus, stringent delay requirements constrain any error control strategy for high loss environments.
An attempted solution to the problems of high loss environments and video streaming's sensitivity to end-to-end delay includes forward error correction (FEC). FEC allows a user to address a potential transmission problem prior to transmitting the data. FEC provides coding that serves as extra protection for the transmitted information. The provision of extra coding, however, can be a complex and time consuming endeavor. Moreover, the extra coding may cause the use of much more bandwidth than without the extra coding.
A popular method of FEC that addresses the issue of conserving bandwidth is termed unequal error protection (UEP). In sum, the more important bits of the bitstream are protected using a stronger FEC code than the less important bits.
More particularly, commonly used video compression algorithms produce bits that contribute quite differently to reconstructed picture quality. Not all of the transmitted bits in a compressed video sequence have equal importance. The theory of UEP is that the more important bits of the transmitted video are protected at a higher level than the less important information.
A limitation of UEP, however, is that it may introduce delay that does not meet the restraints imposed by the stringent end-to-end delay requirements in high loss environments. UEP may introduce delay by its employment of complex algorithms to determine what level of protection is necessary to protect the varying bits of the bitstream. The use of the complex algorithms introduces delay.
More particularly, in the previously proposed UEP, the bitstream is divided into a large number of data fragments according to the importance of the bits. A different FEC code may be assigned to each data fragment. Finding the optimal FEC code for each of the data fragments may take a relatively long time. Thus, delay is introduced. Further, a large number of different FEC codes may be generated and a large amount of overhead information may be sent to the decoder for FED decoding. Although UEP algorithm provide finer quality levels, the UEP algorithms require long execution times to find the optimal FEC codes. This large amount of information and long execution times introduce delay. Given the stringent requirements in high loss environments, the introduced delay may be too much and render use of UEP inappropriate in high loss environments.
A category of methods utilized to reduce the effect of errors in high loss environments is referred to as multi-substream partitioning, which may include multi-substream frequency domain partitioning. Multi-substream frequency domain partitioning has been utilized for wavelet-based coders. In multi-substream frequency domain partitioning, the coefficients of wavelet transforms in a group of pictures (GOP) are divided into several groups, and each group is independently encoded. Each substream is protected using a UEP method and transmitted to a receiver. Thus, errors in one substream do not affect the other substreams.
Once the substreams are decoded, the receiver reconstructs the image from the several descriptions provided by the substreams. Therefore, a missing bit in one substream is not catastrophic because information from one or more of the other substreams may be used to estimate the lost bit.
An advantage of multi-stream frequency domain partitioning is that it has high source coding efficiency. A disadvantage, however, is that correlation between the substreams in multi-stream frequency domain partitioning is not high. Yet, a high correlation between substreams is important to the recovery of lost information at the receiver. Thus, the lack of high correlation in multi-stream frequency domain partitioning argues against its use in high loss environments despite its high efficiency in source coding.
Another method to reduce the effect of errors in a high loss environment is referred to as multi-path transmission. Multi-path transmission allows multiple substreams to be transmitted, respectively, across independent paths. Accordingly, delay or high loss rate in one path does not affect a substream transmitted over a different path. Multi-path transmission is utilized primarily within the moving pictures experts group (MPEG) community.
Advantageously, the methods of multi-substream partitioning and multi-path transmission may be combined. For example, substreams may be transmitted in respective independent paths to the receiver. One of the substreams encounters a high level of loss during the transmission. Another substream encounters the least loss of the transmitted substreams. The receiver may utilize the substream with the least loss to estimate lost bits in a substream that encountered the high level of loss.
Unfortunately, utilizing the methods of multi-substream partitioning and multi-path transmission, especially in the MPEG community, may add unacceptable levels of delay. The delay may be caused by use of relatively complex algorithms in the methods. Additionally, these methods may require transmitting a large amount of additional information to the receiver, which may add to bandwidth usage and also cause delay.
In the receiver side of a high loss environment, methods of error concealment have been used to reduce the effect of errors, and such methods have been used especially by the MPEG community. Error concealment utilizes the fact that most images are smooth to estimate lost bits within a substream. Additionally, error concealment uses one substream of two or more substreams to estimate lost bits in a different substream. A drawback to error concealment is that use of such methods of error reduction, especially with MPEG transmission, often involve the use of algorithms that may be complex, require a lot of information, and time consuming in operation. Thus, the methods of error concealment also may cause more delay than acceptable for video streaming in a high loss environment.
In sum, a need exists for methods and systems that address the drawbacks of video streaming in high loss environments. Methods and systems are needed that provide error-resilient and network adaptive video streaming. Additionally, the methods and systems must efficiently and rapidly protect a bitstream prior to transmission without requiring more bandwidth than necessary. Finally, there is a need for the development of methods and systems that provide efficient error concealment once a transmission through a high loss environment is received.

Methods and systems for multiple substream unequal error protection and error concealment


An example delay circuit may include a delay block configured to receive a command signal and/or a bank address signal, a first clock signal, and a second clock signal and further configured to add an intrinsic delay to the command signal or the bank address signal and add a forward path delay greater than the intrinsic delay to the first and second clock signals.

This invention relates generally to high speed semiconductor memory, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for reducing layout space, power consumption and noise reduction related to delay lines for command paths. Semiconductor memories typically include an array of memory cells, address decoding circuitry for selecting one of or a group of the memory cells for reading or writing data, sensing circuitry for detecting the digital state of the selected memory cell(s), and input/output lines to receive the sensed data and convey that information for eventual output from the semiconductor memory. Synchronous memories receive and deliver data coincident with a clock signal. Conventionally, an external clock signal is received by the device. Input signals and data are received synchronized with the external clock signal. Due to internal delays associated with the components of the memory, the phase of the external clock signal is shifted within the memory. Timing control circuits, such as delay-locked loops (DLLs) or phase locked loops (PLLs), may be provided for synchronizing the output signals and the output strobe signals with the provided external clock signal.
The timing control circuits may also be utilized by the memory due to the memory internally operating at a different clock rate than that of the external clock signal. An internal clock signal of the memory may be based on the external clock signal, half the external clock rate for example. Because the memories may operate at a clock rate that is slower than the external clock rate, commands received by the memory may be broken up and processed in parallel so that output of the memory is synchronized with the external clock and released onto output lines at an expected time. For example, an external component may request a read command from the memory and expect to receive the data at a certain number of external clock cycles after sending the command, e.g., 8 external clock cycles. Due to the break up and parallel operation of the command, however, the data may be accessed in less than 8 external clock cycles even though the memory is operating at half that rate. To ensure the data is buffered onto the output lines at the anticipated time, the timing control circuit may include internal delays that slow down the access and/or release of the data.
The internal delays may occur in various circuits of the memory, such as a DLL. The DLL may delay command signals, and the internal and external clock signals of the memory. By implementing the DLL on both the command signals and clock signals, the DLL may ensure that all those associated signals for a command are commensurately delayed so that the output is placed on the output lines at the correct time. Delaying all of those signals, however, may require additional on-die real estate since the command path may need 20 to 40 delay line replicas. In addition to the on-die real estate consumed by the delay line replicas, the power consumption may increase along with signal noise.

Apparatuses and methods to delay memory commands and clock signals


The invention provides a novel adjustable mattress and pillow system and related methods in which a sensing mat positioned on the top face of a mattress affects microprocessor-controlled optimization of the contour of the mattress and a pillow based on a user's position. In one embodiment, the novel adjustable mattress and pillow system of the invention provides real time contour optimization through use of a variety of sensing techniques that make the system particularly useful in environments such as hospital critical care facilities where proper positioning of a user on a mattress and a pillow may prove important to user's health.

Due to the contact shapes of a head and body in contact with pillow and mattress changes with sleeping pose, it is difficult to have a pillow/mattress fit and provide a comfortable support during various sleeping poses, even for a normal healthy person.
It is even worse for a person suffering from chronic back or neck pain; he or she is often is unable to sleep comfortably, and may not be able to recline on a traditional mattress and pillow without great discomfort. Even if a person suffering from such ailments is able to fall asleep, unavoidable movement during sleep can exacerbate an underlying ailment and wake the individual. Similarly, a patient suffering from trauma such as a burn, or recovering from surgery, may suffer great discomfort caused by shifting body and head position on a traditional mattress and pillow. Improper body positioning can cause serious risk to an injured or post-surgical patient, for example, by exacerbating a wound through undesirable rubbing against a mattress or pillow surface or by otherwise creating conditions that may give rise to infection. In neonatal and other critical care settings, improper patient positioning on a mattress can prove life-threatening.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,803 ("'803 Patent") discloses one of many methods or systems that attempt to provide improved means to support a body. The '803 Patent discloses a method and apparatus for supporting the body of a patient. The apparatus disclosed is a support device essentially comprising only at least one closed or controlled-release chamber together with inlet and outlet means by which a filling fluid can be fed in or removed, and an independent control device which is disposed under the support device. The control device comprises filling and emptying means for filling the chamber with filling fluid or for emptying said fluid there from and control means for controlling feeding in and removing the filling fluid. This apparatus and system is understood to measure body penetration into a support chamber and adjust such penetration independent of a user's body position. The system and apparatus of the '803 Patent are understood to use servo control techniques to control the user's body penetration.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,858 ("'858 Patent") discloses a mattress having at least one cushion element which is adapted to be inflated with a pumpable filling medium and a device for regulating the pressure of said filling medium in said cushion element, said device being equipped with a control in which at least one of filling pressure values and at least one arithmetical operation for determining a filling pressure value are predetermined or programmed.
Despite available apparatus and systems, the need continues to exist for a mattress and pillow system and related apparatus that will facilitate real-time optimization of the contour of the mattress and a pillow based on a user's position. The need for such a system and apparatus is particularly acute in the health care field, where currently available beds, mattresses, pillows, or stretchers or examining or surgical tables, may cause great discomfort to a patient. A system that facilitates real-time optimization of the contour of the mattress and a pillow based on a user's position could greatly enhance the safety of patients in neonatal and other critical care settings.


A method for controlling the system power is applied in an electronic device. The method includes detecting a sensing temperature of a system-on chip of the electronic device, comparing the sensing temperature with a presetting temperature, capturing a detected signal produced by a gravity sensor of the electronic device when determining the sensing temperature is greater than the presetting temperature, and lowering the surface temperature of the electronic device by setting the power limitation of the system-on chip to be a first preset power corresponded to a first setting status when the detected signal indicates that the electronic device is in the first setting status.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device, particularly to a method for controlling the system power and an electronic device for controlling the system power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with advances in technology, electronic devices are designed toward light weight, small size, and easy to carry. Among the portable electronic devices, such as notebooks (NB) or tablet PCs, they allow the user to be no longer limited by the bulky desktop computer because of the aforesaid characteristics and can be carried outside of the office with the use of various functions in the electronic device. Therefore, the users of the portable electronic device are growing increasingly.
The portable electronic devices are usually placed on the desktop. However, since the portable electronic device is in contact with the desktop, the heat dissipation area of the portable electronic device is reduced. Therefore, it is increasingly likely to cause the surface temperature of the portable electronic device increase easily, probably causing the portable electronic device to crash due to high temperature or reduces the life of electronic components.

Method for controlling the system power and electronic device for controlling the system power


This invention relates to methods and systems for searching. It is particularly applicable to methods of searching which enable efficient identification of compatible portfolios. Embodiments of the invention propose methods of searching which address the huge search space issue associated with identifying compatible portfolios. In particular, embodiments of the invention start their search operations simultaneously from both sides by both trying to form valid portfolios from candidate products until a valid solution is found and trying to find conflicts from the defined compatibility rules until a conflict is found which leads to the conclusion that no valid solution exists. A conclusion from either process will stop the whole searching process which can significantly reduce blind and unnecessary searching in the whole search space. In embodiments of the invention, the two sides of the search process are also connected in a way which permits two-way communications between the processes to share information about invalid search branches during the execution of the search. The shared information is then used to direct the current and later stage of search execution. Such exchange of information can also significantly reduce the search space and create more efficient searching systems and methods, particularly by stopping search agents from carrying out invalid future searches in branches that another agent has already identified as invalid.

In search terminology, portfolios consist of groups of products or sub-products which can come in many versions with different attributes. However, most versions of portfolios and attributes are not compatible. Forming portfolios of compatible products requires adherence to a set of (compatibility) rules.
For example, the available components to make up a complex electronic product such as a mobile telephone can be considered to form a portfolio. There are many possibilities for different components, such as the antenna, battery, processor, memory, SIM card holder, microphone, speaker, etc. However, many of these components are only compatible with specific ones of the other components or have attributes that mean that they are only compatible with specific ones of the other components, or with other components having specific attributes. Accordingly, only by identifying a complete portfolio of compatible components can a complete product be assembled.
Another example is the classic/antique car re-assembly industry. A complete auto restoration of a classic car could include total disassembly and re-assembly or re-build of the car or its major components such as engine. Most parts are replaced with re-claimed secondhand parts because repairing (or even re-making) is too costly or impossible, and new parts are no longer available. So it is necessary to re-use reclaimed working parts obtained from scrapyards where sometimes the part could be obtained from another car model. However, the compatibility of parts is highly dependent on the brand, model, and point of origin and generation of the production.
For a classic/antique car dealer or restorer, how to make use of the available parts from the disassembly of many old junk cars to re-assemble/restore a set of classic/antique cars in good condition can be viewed as a portfolio problem. There are many possibilities for different components, such as the body, engine parts, driveline components and related parts, and these components/parts are only compatible with specific ones of the other components/parts, or with other components/parts having specific attributes (brand, model, point of origin and generation of the production). Accordingly, only by identifying a complete portfolio of compatible components can a complete product be assembled.
Hence, making use of the available parts from disassembling many classic junk cars to re-assemble/restore as many classic/antique cars in as good condition as possible is another portfolio problem.
Current state of art for "portfolios identification" focuses on numerical combinations to maximise the overall profit (e.g. for stock and shares portfolios); however no mechanisms to handle portfolio creation based on compatibility rules have been researched. The only way to identify the comparable portfolios adhering to many rules with incompatible constraints is manually trying all possible combinations to find out a valid solution.
Unfortunately this search involves extensive searching among all possible combinations in what can be a huge search space. The above mentioned incompatible constraints can be defined by universal attribute, e.g. boolean attributes, category attributes, ordered attributes and semantic rules, which makes the solution finding even harder.
Compatibility matrices have been used to represent whether any two products are compatible or not. However no further work has been done to make use of the compatibility matrix and it's underlying information to automatically arrange/sort all products into comparable portfolios based on the compatibility rules while maximise the usability of all products.
By way of example, Cisco, Blackberry, HP etc. use compatibility matrices to represent the compatibility for different versions of hardware and software. Those companies publish and update the latest version of their products hardware and software compatibility from time to time on the websites.
However no use is made of the compatibility matrix and the underlying information to automatically arrange/sort all products into compatible portfolios based on the incompatibility rules and meanwhile maximising the usability of all products.
A compatibility matrix can also be considered as a connectivity matrix or a clique matrix, which is mapped to a unique graph clustering. A clique is a group of products which are all compatible with each other. [1] is an example of an optimisation method for graph clique operations and optimisations. However, no use is made of the complete graph clique theory to optimize the compatible portfolio combination/formation.
The idea of collaborative searching (using multiple agents working towards the same goal) is used for web searching, in order to provide an efficient and rapid way to recommend web pages for the users. The multiple agents collaborate and combine their information to speed up and improve the quality of the searches. An example of such collaborative searching is described in [3]. However, the agents used in such collaborative searches do not share information on invalid searches (and indeed are not looking for such information).
The invention seeks to provide a universal system providing automatic fast solutions for comparable portfolios formation, constrained by many incompatibility rules within the huge search space with typically millions of possible combinations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a faster and predictable way of solving portfolio problems, particularly to improve the efficiency of solving very large portfolio problems.

Khalifa University of Science and Technology


In one embodiment, a method includes synchronizing to a common reference timeframe between a sender node and a plurality of receiver nodes connected over a packet-based network. The sender node sends Real-Time Protocol (RTP) frames to the receiver nodes, and also sends a RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) sender report to each receiver node that contains a rendering offset value, each receiver node rendering the RTP frames at a render time equal to a sampling time in units of the common reference timeframe plus the rendering offset value. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

The Real-Time Protocol (RTP) is a well-known standard for transmitting real-time media data such as audio or video streams. While it does not guarantee real-time delivery of data, RTP does provide mechanisms for synchronizing multiple source media streams at a single destination, i.e., a single receiver or endpoint device. These mechanisms, for example, allow an endpoint to synchronously play out received audio and video streams using media rendering devices (e.g., an audio speaker and video monitor). To facilitate the synchronous playout of multiple streams at a given destination, RTP packets typically contain RTP timestamps, which define a time at which the payload of an RTP packet was sampled, in units of the sampling clock frequency. The RTP timestamps of each stream, however, are not directly related to one another. In order to relate the RTP time bases of different streams, the sender periodically issues RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) packets, which contain information that maps the RTP timebases of each stream into a common reference or "wall clock" timebase, using the format of timestamps in the Network Time Protocol (NTP). The sender uses the same reference timebase for each stream sent to each receiver. The receiver uses this RTCP information to determine the relative mapping between multiple streams arriving from the same sender, which ensures that the audio and video streams are played out at the rendering devices with the proper relative timing relationship to achieve synchronicity.
While a receiver normally uses the sender NTP timebase to establish the relative relationship between audio and video streams, it cannot establish the absolute real-time at which the streams should playout at the rendering devices. As a result, when multiple receivers attempt to play a single source RTP stream, synchronicity is problematic. This is due to the fact that the end-to-end delays (from the sender's sampling of a media input to the receiver's rendering device) are different for each receiver. By way of example, variations in the delays may result from differences in the average input jitter buffer depth, differences in the decoding delay, and variations in the rendering delays among the different receivers.

Synchronization of one or more source RTP streams at multiple receiver destinations


A transfer apparatus for the transfer of a vehicle between a storage bay in a multilevel storage system and a transportation device, such as, a crane. The transfer apparatus is provided with one or more pairs of adjacent support members for gripping the wheels of a vehicle, the spacing between adjacent support members being adjustable.

The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring a load to and from a transportation device. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to an apparatus for the transfer of a vehicle between a storage bay in a multilevel storage system and a transportation device, and for the transfer of a vehicle between a transportation device and a deposit or a retrieval station. The invention also relates to a multilevel storage system and a method of lifting loads.
Storage facilities comprising a plurality of storage bays, each bay for accommodating a single vehicle, and a transportation device for transporting a vehicle to a position adjacent a storage bay are well known. In British Patent No. 1,412,551, each vehicle is provided with a pallet having slots to accommodate the vehicle wheels. Thus, a number of different size pallets is required to cater for a range of wheel base sizes. Such storage systems as described above and also in Denmark Patent No. 2747081 and French Patent No. 2355143 require the use of large and bulky pallets or trolleys which create their own storage problems when not in use. A large storage space, easily accessible to the transportation device, is required to store the empty pallets, or alternatively empty pallets must be returned to the storage bay, requiring an extra set of operations to retrieve a pallet prior to the pick-up of a vehicle and to return the pallet to the storage bay following delivery of the vehicle.

Transfer apparatus, multilevel storage system and method of lifting loads


A pixel module comprising a first transistor, a second transistor, and a connection line is disclosed. The first transistor is coupled to a first gate line, a source line, and a first drain line. The second transistor is coupled to a second gate line, the source line, and a second drain line. The connection line overlaps and isolates the first and the second drain lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a pixel module, and more particularly to a pixel module having a repairable structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCD) are a commonly used flat panel display technology possessing the advantages of low power consumption, thin profile, and low driving voltage. LCDs are used in a wide variety of applications including, personal computers (PC), word processors, navigation systems, video games, projectors, viewfinders, and portable apparatuses, such as watches, calculators and televisions.
The dielectric and conductive anisotropy of liquid crystal molecules allows the molecular orientation of liquid crystal molecules to be shifted by an external electrical field, thus, various optical effects are produced. Thin film transistors (TFT) serve as the active elements in LCDs as they possess the advantages of low power consumption, thin profile, and low driving voltage.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional display panel. For clarity, the conventional display panel 10 only shows two pixel units 11 and 12. The pixel unit 11 comprises a transistor 111 and a pixel capacitor 112. A scan electrode provides a scan signal S1 for turning on the transistor 111. A data electrode provides a video signal D1 to the transistor 111 for charging the pixel capacitor 112. The liquid crystal molecules of the pixel unit 11 are rotated according to a voltage stored in the pixel capacitor 112 such that light passes through the pixel unit 11.
The pixel unit 12 comprises a transistor 121 and a pixel capacitor 122. A scan electrode provides a scan signal S2 for turning on the transistor 121. A data electrode provides a video signal D1 to the transistor 121 for charging the pixel capacitor 122. The liquid crystal molecules of the pixel unit 12 are rotated according to voltage stored in the pixel capacitor 122 such that light passes through the pixel unit 12.
When the transistors 111 and 121 are normal, the pixel capacitors 112 and 122 are charged according to the video signal D1. When the transistors 111 and 121 are abnormal, the video signal D1 is unable to charge the pixel capacitors 112 and 122 via the transistors 111 and 121. Thus, liquid crystal components of the pixel units 11 and 12 do not rotate such that light cannot pass through the pixel units 11 and 12.

Pixel module and display device utilizing the same


Time information included in a document file can be efficiently shared by multiple people. A time information communication unit (260) receives time information included as a content of a document file. An ID setting unit (254) then sets a time ID for the time information. A time information storage unit (258) relates and stores the time ID and the time information. Thereafter, the time information communication unit (260) transmits the time ID. A change request communication unit (262) receives time change information for changing the time information related to the time ID. The time information communication unit (260) receives time request information for inquiring for time information. A search unit (256) finds time information from the time information storage unit (258) in response to the time request information. The time information communication unit (260) then transmits the time information thus found to the transmission source of the time request information.

In recent years, exchanging electronic information via a network has become widespread due to the spread of computers and the advance of network techniques. This has been promoting the replacement of conventional paper-based office operations by network-based operations.
In companies, knowledge management for utilizing knowledge or information of individuals for the entire organization is becoming an essential management technique. Many companies have their database systems to accumulate information from employees as electronic files therein. Employees also can access the files accumulated in the in-house database via a network. Thus, business efficiency can be improved in the whole organization.
For example, when multiple employees cooperatively work on a task (hereinafter such task is called "cooperative task"), a manager such as a project leader creates a schedule for the task. The schedule file created by the manager is then stored in an in-house database. Thereafter, persons concerned refer to the schedule file and manage their own schedules with scheduler software or the like.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-290804

Time sharing managing apparatus, document creating apparatus, document reading apparatus, time sharing managing method, document creating method, and document reading method


A method for detecting erroneously programmed memory cells of a memory, in particular for detecting overprogrammed memory cells of a flash semiconductor memory. The memory includes a plurality of memory cells, which can be subdivided into a number of blocks that can be erased as a unit, which in turn can be divided into a group of subblocks that can be programmed as a unit. The erroneous programming of a memory cell of a subblock causes each subblock of a number of subblocks that can be represented by an erroneously programmed subgroup to have a similarly erroneously programmed memory cell.

As used herein, the term "erroneously programmed" must be understood in the general sense, namely as the erroneous programming of a memory cell of a subblock, which causes the corresponding memory cells in a subgroup of subblocks to be erroneously programmed.
Semiconductor memories can in general be divided in table memories and function memories. The present invention concerns table memories in particular, which have a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell being assigned a certain address. Table memories may be of the read-write (RAM) or read-only (ROM) type.
EPROMs and EEPROMs are special types of ROMs, which can not only be programmed by the user, but can also be erased; EPROM memory cell blocks can be erased using ultraviolet light and selected EEPROM memory cells can be erased (e.g., by byte) with an electric voltage pulse.
Flash memories (also known as flash EEPROMs or flash RAMs) represent something in between EPROMs and EEPROMs. They can be electrically erased, not by byte-like EEPROMs, but by block-like EPROMs. However, more recent developments have allowed these erasable flash EEPROM blocks to become smaller and smaller.
Flash memories can be manufactured less expensively than EEPROMs and have a higher data density. Therefore they are particularly sought after in applications where there is little space available, e.g., in laptops, notebooks or high-performance microcontroller chips.
To make better use of the chip surface, the flash memory array is usually divided into blocks and block subgroups, known as pages.
The underlying problem to be solved by the present invention is, in general, that when parts of the flash memory are erased and programmed, errors may occur, which may result in data losses or erroneous programming in other areas of the flash memory (collective error propagation). In the case of some errors, such as overprogramming, it is difficult to detect and correct the error.
Overprogramming is elucidated with reference to a concrete example of a microcontroller.
A non-volatile memory chip in the form of a flash memory array is implemented in this microcontroller. This flash memory array is divided into 32-kB erasable blocks, and the blocks are in turn divided into 8-word-long pages (1 word=32 bits).
Thus, stored data can only be erased in the 32-kB blocks, while programming can be done in the 8-word pages.
If a memory cell (1 bit) of a page goes from a non-programmed (erased) to a programmed state, the characteristics of the memory cells, or more precisely of the respective field-effect transistors, cause this cell to reach a state that is referred to as overprogrammed. This overprogrammed state is distinguished by the fact that the cell constantly sheds its stored information outward even without additional activation of the memory cell when the respective page is read.
Due to the special structure of the flash memory array, overprogrammed memory cells also interfere with reading of the other pages. This causes data stored on the other pages to be corrupted and possibly erroneously output.
An overprogrammed memory cell can be returned to the erased state by erasing the entire 32-kB block containing the overprogrammed memory cell.
Which pages are affected by an overprogrammed memory cell depends on the structure of the memory array. Often not all the other pages are affected, but only the memory cells of the pages located in the same column of the memory array. The error then occurs at a periodic distance from the page with the overprogrammed cell in the flash memory array.
Without being familiar with the history of the flash memory array, it is not possible to detect such overprogrammed cells.

Method for detecting erroneously programmed memory cells in a memory


A chemical protective garment or ensemble is disclosed that comprises a impermeable, protective cooling laminate having a water-holding layer for holding and evaporating liquid, and a chemical barrier. The water-holding layer has a water-holding capacity of at least about 5% wt., and the suit is designed to retain sufficient liquid to provide cooling to a wearer upon evaporation of the liquid from the suit.

Applications for the use of chemical protective clothing include military, industrial, and emergency response personnel. Typical chemical/biological ("CB") protective clothing are designed to provide protection from liquids and/or vapors that may penetrate or permeate through the materials, seams, or interfaces between clothing components.
Industrial and emergency response chemical protective clothing is designed to provide protection from a broad class of chemicals and solvents. The primary materials of choice are impermeable materials that will provide liquid penetration and permeation resistance. There are two general classes impermeable materials—reusable and limited use or disposable products. The reusable products are typically laminates made from a combination of impermeable films, rubber layers, and/or coated textiles. Limited use or disposable protective clothing consists of outer impermeable film layers laminated to nonwoven textiles; inner film layers are used in some constructions. In both the reusable and limited use product lines, the garments possess smooth outer surfaces.
Due to the frequent use of chemical protective garments for industrial or emergency response applications, economics and safe operating practices are key selection criteria. Economics are achieved through the use of thermoplastic films laminated to nonwoven textiles, creating low-cost constructions necessary for disposable applications. For reusable applications, economics are achieved through more durable constructions that are able to maintain performance features through multiple uses. In the area of safe operating practices, garments constructed with smooth surfaces are perceived to be less likely to absorb or hold contaminated substances contacted during use in contaminated environments. It is also thought that these smooth outer surfaces are more easily cleaned or decontaminated after use.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("USEPA") has defined "Levels of Protection" ("LOP") based on the general types of respiratory protection used in various hazardous environments. These general respiratory classifications are provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Department ("OSHA") and the National Institute of Occupational Health ("NIOSH"). Each LOP includes general recommendations for protective clothing for different hazardous environments. Based on these guidelines, the protective clothing industry has developed garment systems suitable for the different LOP.
Level "A" is the highest level of respiratory and chemical protection and typically incorporates supplied air from a self-contained breathing apparatus ("SCBA"). Suits for Level A activities are commonly constructed from impermeable materials to insure hazardous chemical liquids and vapors do not come in contact with the wearer. These impermeable suits are designed to be fully encapsulating meaning that the wearer and respiratory protection are totally sealed within the impermeable envelope. The term "impermeable" is used in the chemical protective industry to refer to materials that have low chemical permeability to liquids and vapors including water. Because impermeable suit materials are water vapor impermeable, the wearer's own respiration causes moisture vapor to accumulate within the suit. Additionally during high workload activities, the temperature and humidity within an impermeable suit increases, resulting in wearer heat stress. As heat stress arises, the wearer's mental acuity and physical abilities decline making the use of such a suit limited to short duration activities. The fully encapsulating design of Level A suits trap heat from both the environment and the wearer.
Level "B" suits offer the next highest level of respiratory and chemical protection. These suits typically are constructed from impermeable materials and rely on SCBA respiratory protection. However, unlike the Level A suits, Level B suits are generally not a fully encapsulating ensemble. Often a Level B hood will be designed to allow the wearer's SCBA face piece to be external to the protective suit. Hands and feet are usually protected by gloves and booties which may optionally be detachable from the arms and legs of the suit, respectively. Because the majority of the wearer's body is still enclosed in an impermeable, encapsulating material, heat stress is still a critical issue in Level B protective ensembles. Similar to Level A suits, Level B suits trap heat from both the environment and the wearer and trap moisture vapor from the wearer.
Level "C" suits offer the next lower level of respiratory and chemical protection. Due to the lower level of protection required, Level "C" ensembles are non-encapsulating and designed for use with air-purifying respirators. These ensembles are offered in a range of materials from impermeable laminated films to impermeable textile composites.
Level "D" suits offer the lowest level of protection based on the OHSA recommendations. Level D suits are typically designed for use where there is no risk of respiratory exposure and the contact exposure risk is low.
As a result of the increasing threat of terrorism and the potential of more lethal chemical and biological hazards, emergency response personnel have been moving to ensembles offering higher levels of protection. In particular, the need for Level A and Level B ensembles has lead manufacturers to develop new and improved chemical protective materials. A first line of defense in most chemical protective materials is the outer most layer. This outer most layer is generally made of a liquid repelling material so that any liquid or aerosol chemical or biological hazards are repelled from the suit rather than being held in contact with the underlying barrier layers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,330 (Freund) describes a multilayered chemical protective composite wherein the outer most layer is skived polytetrafluoroethylene in order to provide protection from chemical splashes. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,664 (Suda) provides "a body garment . . . formed from a laminate which includes a first layer of material adapted to provide contamination protection by means of an outer impermeable ply of synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material." And more recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,947 describes an improved multilayer chemical protective composite based on an outer most layer of a liquid repelling, polymeric resin such as a fluorocarbon or polyester film.
The layers used in these multilayer constructions are usually designed to provide chemical protection by either absorbing or resisting the permeation and penetration of the chemical threat. To insure minimal absorption of chemicals, these suits have liquid repellant outer layers. And to insure protection against permeation, conventional CB protective materials are typically thick, multi-layer composites in which each layer provides protection against certain CB threats. Panels of such composite layers are generally sealed to each other to form a sealed, impermeable ensemble.
Due to the impermeable barriers used in Level A and Level B ensembles, evaporation of sweat and heat loss from wearer's body is inhibited. Moreover, the sealed nature of these suits causes any heat and/or water vapor generated by the body to be trapped within the ensemble; thereby creating a hot and humid, uncomfortable internal environment. The inability to remove heat from the body causes a wearer to experience heat buildup and heat stress. Prolonged activity in these sealed, impermeable Level A and Level B suits regularly leads to wearer heat stress. Mild heat stress is known to reduce comfort and thereby reduce cognitive and physical performance. Severe heat stress can lead to unconsciousness and/or death. Thus, the emergence of potential events requiring extended duration, higher activity work loads for Level A and Level B chemical protective suits has created a need to remove heat from the ensemble and cool the wearer.
In an attempt to reduce heat accumulation, moisture vapor permeable, chemical protective suits have been made. PCT Patent Application No. WO92/22354 (Jarnstrom) teaches reducing heat stress of wearers of impermeable suits. To overcome heat accumulation, a permeable laminate construct is provided which allows for moisture vapor transport through the suit to eliminate heat generated by the wearer, while claiming adequate chemical protection through the use of a reactive textile polymer (is this water adsorbing also?). While this approach may help reduce the temperature and humidity of the internal suit environment, it fails to provide a cooling means useful for high output workload activities. Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that such a permeable system would be capable of meeting the stringent chemical protection requirements for Level A or Level B ensembles where toxic industrial chemical protection is needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,424 (Farnworth) describes another chemical protective bodysuit that removes heat from the wearer by water vapor transmission through the water vapor permeable suit. As with the other existing technologies described above, Farnworth requires that all the layers be water vapor permeable for the wearer to appreciate any evaporative cooling effect.
An alternate approach to enhance cooling in a moisture vapor permeable suit is via the evaporation of liquid water from the suit surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,910 (Creagan) teaches that a vest lade with an outer layer comprising a water absorbing gel. When wet with liquid water, the wearer is cooled as the absorbed liquid water evaporates from the garment surface. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,336 (Kuramarohit) describes an outer garment comprised of perforated tubing into which water is fed. As the liquid water flows through the tubing, it exits through perforations and wets the outer textile layer. As water evaporates off the outer textile layer, a cooling effect is appreciated by the wearer. While both of these inventions teach that evaporation of water can enhance wearer cooling to the wearer of a moisture vapor permeable suit, evaporative cooling has not been used to cool the wearers of Level A and Level B chemical protective suits described above which are designed to be moisture vapor impermeable and repel liquids.
Thus, no present technology addresses the need for a high heat loss, high chemical protection, water vapor impermeable, NFPA 1994 compliant Level A or Level B or Level C type, chemical protective ensemble. The present invention meets this unique need.


A positioning structure for auxiliary eyeglasses comprises an auxiliary eyeglass frame of auxiliary eyeglasses with an additional function, having a bridge provided with a receiving space and a through hole formed on a back wall of the receiving space. A protective strip combined to the auxiliary eyeglass frame is provided with an inserting portion extending downwardly from a central portion and having a first projection projected rearward so that the inserting portion can be inserted into the receiving space with the first projection being engaged with the through hole. A pair of second projections are provided on each end of the protective strip for being inserting into a recess formed on each end of a main eyeglass frame. Hereby the auxiliary eyeglass frame with the protective strip can be stably and speedily attached/detached to/from the main eyeglass frame.

Presently, traditional eyeglasses can be classified into nearsighted glasses for correcting the nearsightedness of nearsighted users, ornamental eyeglasses for making one fashionable, and sunglasses for blocking the strong sunlight. To increase wearing convenience, related manufacturers develop and design various attaching structures for attaching auxiliary eyeglasses having an additional function to main eyeglasses with a main function, in order to avoid additionally preparing another pair of eyeglasses having the additional function, such as the sunglasses. Attaching structures for auxiliary eyeglasses have various different designs. For example, a plurality of magnets are used as the attaching structure, wherein the magnets are provided on two extensions of a frame of main eyeglasses and two connecting arms of a frame of auxiliary eyeglasses for positioning the auxiliary eyeglasses on the main eyeglasses by the magnetically attractive force between the magnets. Alternatively, a plurality of screwing members are used as the attaching structure, wherein the screwing members are screwed through two extensions of a frame of main eyeglasses into two connecting arms of a frame of auxiliary eyeglasses for positioning the auxiliary eyeglasses on the main eyeglasses. Similarly, a pair of engaging hooks can be used as the attaching structure, wherein the engaging hooks are provided on a frame of main eyeglasses and a frame of auxiliary frame for positioning the auxiliary eyeglasses on the main eyeglasses by engaging with each other.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a positioning structure for auxiliary eyeglasses to improve the conventional attaching structures between main eyeglasses and auxiliary eyeglasses as described above, so as to simplify the manufacture of the auxiliary eyeglasses, stably position the auxiliary eyeglasses on the main eyeglasses, and easily detach the auxiliary eyeglasses from the main eyeglasses.

Positioning structure for auxiliary eyeglasses


A driving-side rotatable body includes a driving-side inner gear, which has an axial extent that does not overlap with an axial extent of a driven-side inner gear of a driven-side rotatable body. A driven-side outer gear and a driving-side outer gear of a planet gear are meshed with and are driven together with the driven-side inner gear and the driving-side inner gear, so that the planet gear changes a relative rotational phase between the driven-side rotatable body and the driving-side rotatable body. The driven-side rotatable body supports the driving-side rotatable body from a radially inner side of the driving-side rotatable body at a location, which is radially outward of the driven-side inner gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve timing adjusting apparatus that adjusts valve timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine that are opened and closed by a camshaft upon transmission of a torque from a crankshaft.
2. Description of Related Art
In one known valve timing adjusting apparatus, the valve timing is adjusted by changing a relative rotational phase between two rotatable bodies, which are rotated synchronously with the crankshaft and the camshaft, respectively. For example, DE4110195C2 discloses a valve timing adjusting apparatus, which changes a relative rotational phase between two rotatable bodies through use of a differential gear mechanism, which includes a planet gear as its main component. Specifically, in the apparatus of DE4110195C2, two inner gears are provided to the rotatable body synchronized with the crankshaft and the rotatable body synchronized with the camshaft, respectively, and axial extents of these two inner gears do not overlap with each other. These inner gears are meshed with two outer gears, respectively, of the planet gear. In this way, a large speed reducing ratio can be obtained with the compact design.
In the apparatus disclosed in DE4110195C2, an inner peripheral wall of the crankshaft side rotatable body, which is rotated synchronously with the crankshaft, is engaged with an outer peripheral wall of the camshaft, so that the crankshaft side rotatable body is supported by the camshaft from a radially inner side of the crankshaft side rotatable body. In the above structure, an appropriate clearance should be provided between the crankshaft side rotatable body and the camshaft to permit the relative rotation between the crankshaft side rotatable body and the camshaft.
However, in the apparatus disclosed in DE4110195C2, the support position of the crankshaft side rotatable body by the camshaft is axially spaced from the inner gear of the camshaft side rotatable body, which is rotated synchronously with the camshaft. In the case of the above supporting structure, when the gravity is applied to the differential gear mechanism, in which the inner gear of the camshaft side rotatable body and the inner gear of the crankshaft side rotatable body are connected with one another through the planet gear, the crankshaft side rotatable body is tilted relative to the camshaft by the amount that corresponds to the clearance between the crankshaft side rotatable body and the camshaft. In this case, the crankshaft side rotatable body is locally engaged with the camshaft, so that wearing and seizing between the crankshaft side rotatable body and the camshaft are likely to occur. Furthermore, in the above supporting structure, when an oscillating torque of the camshaft is transmitted to the differential gear mechanism, the crankshaft side rotatable body is wobbled by the amount that corresponds to the clearance between the crankshaft side rotatable body and the camshaft. In this case, the crankshaft side rotatable body is wobbled relative to the camshaft, so that noise and a damage could possibly occur.


The object of the invention is to provide a telescopic feeder which is easier to handle. A first beam is intended to be used in sliding cooperation with a second beam in a telescopic feeder for a rock drilling machine. The first beam comprises at least one guiding stud intended to be guided into a recess in the second beam as the second beam and the first beam are retracted to an end position. The guiding stud is used for locking the first beam in relation to the second beam in a fixed position as the telescopic feeder is fully retracted to an end position.

In bolting in narrow drifts in mines, there is often a conflict between the desired advance per round for the blast hole drilling and the feeding length in bolt drilling. If the required length for the blasting was to be drilled, the feeder would be so long that it would not be possible for it to be arranged transversely in the drift. One way of solving this problem is to use a feeder with displaceable drilling supports, another is to use a telescopic feeder. A telescopic feeder has a first beam and a second beam which is slidably arranged on the first beam. The length of the telescopic feeder may be changed so that it may be extended to the desired length in a drilling condition and retracted which results in that it may be accommodated transversely in the drift when needed.
An example of a telescopic feeder is disclosed in WO9518912. This telescopic feeder comprises a first beam and a second beam slidably arranged on the first beam. The disadvantage of this design is however that there are many slide blocks between the different moving parts of the telescopic feeder. Since the slide blocks have to be adjusted as they are worn, the maintenance work is greater on the telescopic feeder as compared to regular feeders. In particular, the adjustments of the slide blocks between the two beam profiles are difficult and time consuming to adjust correctly.

First and second beam for telescopic feeder, incorporating guiding studs, telescopic feeder, drilling device for rock drilling and a way of using a guiding stud


A computer-implemented method for aggregating event information may include 1) identifying a plurality of social networking data feeds, 2) identifying a time and a location of an event involving at least one person associated with at least one social networking data feed within the plurality of social networking data feeds, 3) mining the plurality of social networking data feeds for event data about the event, and 4) creating an event document from the event data to describe the event. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

In the information age, people increasingly organize their lives online, store their information in cloud-based applications, and connect with other people via social networking platforms. In some cases, entire events may be planned and/or recorded through social networking platforms. For example, friends may coordinate events online through electronic invitations, calendaring applications, or simply by posting messages. These friends may then use social networking platforms to "check in" at the events, store and/or share pictures and/or videos of the events, and/or post about the events before, during, and/or after the events.
Unfortunately, traditional social networking platforms may give only a narrow and fleeting view of events. For example, multiple people may chronicle an event using a variety of social networking platforms, but a social networking feed corresponding to a single person on a single social networking platform may only reflect a fraction of the data generated about the event, and that data may quickly become buried by new information in the social networking feed. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for systems and methods for aggregating event information.

Systems and methods for aggregating event information


A method and circuit for collecting memory failure information on-chip and unloading the information in real time while performing a test of memory embedded in a circuit comprises, for each column or row of a memory under test, testing each memory location of the column or row according to a memory test algorithm under control of a first clock, selectively generating a failure summary on-circuit while testing each column or row of the memory; and transferring the failure summary from the circuit under control of a second clock within the time required to test the next column or row, if any, of the memory under test.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to testing of integrated circuits, and, more specifically, to a method of collecting in real time memory failure information for memories tested using an embedded memory test controller.
2. Description of Related Art
Memory failure information can be used to monitor and improve the quality of an integrated circuit manufacturing process. This is done by diagnosing and correlating functional failures to defects in the circuit introduced during manufacturing. The defects can in turn be associated with a certain step of the manufacturing process. Modifications can be made to this manufacturing step by using different settings for temperature, duration, dust control, and the like. If these modifications are not sufficient or possible, the circuit design might have to be changed to be more tolerant of this type of defect. One type of design modification is the introduction of redundant memory cells that can be substituted for defective memory cells.
Conventional diagnosis methods transfer detailed information about all failures off-chip to a tester for analysis. It is difficult or even impossible to do so in real time because of the bandwidth required. There are two aspects of the bandwidth problem.
A first aspect relates to the amount of information to be sent. One bit of information is required for every memory bit read. Memories often have a large number of bits (16 to 256) that are read simultaneously. This number of bits is multiplied by the number of words and by the number of read operations. This large amount of detailed information could be transferred off-chip by means of a large number of pins corresponding to the number of bits in a word. However, it is not desirable or even possible to do so. As is well known in the art, it is important to minimize the number of pins in order to reduce test cost.
A second aspect of the bandwidth problem relates to the rate at which the detailed information can be exported to a tester. Memories now operate at clock rates that exceed tester interface clock rates and is one of the reasons why embedded test controllers are used to perform memory testing. Embedded test controllers can determine whether a memory is good or bad. However, raw detailed failure information cannot be transferred without transformation because the information is generated faster than a tester can accept. One possible solution is to use a demultiplexer to reduce the rate of transfer to the tester. However, this requires multiplying the number of pins used to transfer the failure information by the ratio of the memory clock rate to the tester interface clock rate. This ratio can be as high as 10.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a simple memory 10 which contains defects indicated by black squares. Memory 10 contains four bit words. The bits are organized into bit arrays, labeled Bit 0 through Bit 3, comprised of eight columns and 16 rows, providing 128 words (8 columns times 16 rows) of four bits each for a total of 512 bits. The rows are arranged into two segments, labeled Segment 1 and Segment 2. Each bit of an array is accessed by applying a row address to a row decoder 12 and a column address to a column decoder 14. Four bits are used to access one of the 16 rows and three bits are used to access one of the eight columns of each bit-array. Several memories can be grouped together to form a larger memory. Individual memories are designated as banks. Banks can be used to increase the width of the memory, i.e. to add more bits per word. In this case, no additional address bits are necessary. Banks can also be used to increase the depth of the memory, i.e., to add more words. If the memory included banks, bank address bits would be used to select which bank is accessed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that memories usually have many more rows, columns and banks than that shown in the figure and indicated above. Memory 10 illustrates one of several memory architectures and access mechanisms.
FIG. 2 shows a representative set of failure patterns that are of interest from a process monitoring point of view because each pattern can be associated with the presence of specific defects. Failure patterns generally consist of single cell failures, 2-cell failures, partial/full/two column failures and row failures. Other classifications are possible.
Chen et al, in a paper entitled "Enabling Embedded Memory Diagnosis via Test Response Compression", 19th IEEE VLSI Test Symposium (VTS 2001) (see also Chen et al. PCT Patent Application WO 01/67463 A1 published on Sep. 13, 2001 for "Method and Apparatus for Diagnosing Memory using Self-Testing Circuits"), disclose a compression technique which uses a 6-bit output per group of fail vector. Bits of the fail vectors are combined in various ways along rows (AND, OR, 2OR (2 or more failures in the word)), columns (MaskedAND, MaskedOR, Repeat) and diagonals (XOR). Primary disadvantages of the method are that the method requires high-speed outputs, and the complexity of the functions requires splitting a fail vector into many groups, thereby increasing the number of pins that need to be connected to a tester.
Schanstra et al., in a paper entitled "Semiconductor Manufacturing Process Monitoring Using BIST for Embedded Memories" and published in the Proceedings of the International Test Conference, Oct. 18-23, 1998, disclose a method which uses several registers to collect failure information during the execution of a memory test. The registers are only inspected and exported at the end of the memory test. The registers include a fault counter, a column fault capture unit, and an address capture unit for isolated faults. The drawbacks of this method are that it does not capture information respecting faulty rows and the results of a column fault capture unit are corrupted in the presence of faulty rows. The method is restricted to algorithms that use column access mode only and requires too many registers because the test controller must accumulate the failure information until the end of the test instead of sending failure information as it is available, i.e., in real time.
Clearly, a different method is needed to compress failure information that needs to be transferred without sacrificing the ability of extracting relevant failure information. The level of resolution of the information can be traded off based on the application for which the information is required. For example, for yield analysis, it is sufficient to know the failure density (e.g., the number of failures in a column or row) for any density of failures, whereas, for repair analysis, it is necessary to know the location of individual failures more precisely when the density is low. The method of the present invention supports such trade-off. As will be seen, the present invention takes advantage of the memory structure and certain characteristics of conventional memory tests to generate failure summaries.

Method and circuit for collecting memory failure information


To reduce vibrations occurring in an objective lens driving apparatus there is provided an objective lens driving apparatus used in an optical pickup that reads/writes information from or onto an optical disk using an objective lens. The objective lens driving apparatus has a lens holder that holds an objective lens in a center part thereof, and a plurality of tracking coils that are disposed on both sides of the lens holder. The mass of a pair of first tracking coils that are disposed on one of the sides is greater than the mass of a pair of second tracking coils that are disposed on the other side.

The present invention relates to an optical pickup and an objective lens driving apparatus comprised by an optical disk apparatus that records or reproduces information onto or from an optical disk.
An example of an objective lens driving apparatus that is used in a conventional optical disk apparatus is described in JP-A-2004-171662 (p. 4, FIG. 1). In the objective lens driving apparatus disclosed in this publication, tracking coils and focusing coils that are driving coils are attached to a lens holder that holds an objective lens. Further, one end of supporting members that support a moving part is fixed to a fixed part, and the other end is fixed to the lens holder. Tracking coils are disposed near the center on one side of the moving part, and on the other side of the moving part tracking coils are disposed on the outside.

Driving device for objective lens and optical pick up using the same


A rechargeable battery energized unmanned aerial vehicle having surveillance capability and an ability to clandestinely collect propulsion and other energy needs from a conveniently located and possibly enemy owned energy transmission line. Energy collection is by way of a parked vehicle engagement with the transmission line in a current flow dependent, magnetic field determined, rather than shunt, voltage dependent, conductor coupling. Surveillance during both a parked or docked condition and during aerial vehicle movement is contemplated.

Most modem-day wars are fought in urban environments. Large cities and small towns are the battlegrounds of choice by many present-day enemies. Unfortunately, this environment allows opponents to hide in numerous structures and amongst non-combatant civilians. These environments also provide a much harder and more complicated war to fight than existed in many previous conflicts. In simple terms, one reason for this is that walls tend to get in the way of today's battlefield communications and sensor technologies. One solution to this major new U.S. military problem lies in the time-honored profession of human reconnaissance and surveillance, especially with respect to enemy encounters that involve battles in urban neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it may take years before the United States can develop a capability to successfully gain information regarding this new type of enemy.
Consequently, there is little alternative except to approach a complicated problem with the use of high-technology systems, systems such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV's used for surveillance purposes. Such systems may include silent, battery-powered, mini and micro-UAVs, i.e., silent unmanned aerial vehicles. Limited battery energy is however currently a major technological hurdle for all-electric silent unmanned aerial vehicles making them unsuitable for most urban battlefield environments. Using today's "off-the-shelf" secondary battery technology, a silent unmanned aerial vehicle (depending on aerodynamic capability and DC motor size) can perform for at most, 60 minutes out in an urban environment. This capability is of course consumed over the time it takes for the silent unmanned aerial vehicle to make a round trip away from and back to a base i.e., i.e., half of the silent unmanned aerial vehicle's energy is lost on the return trip to base. From a differing perspective, this limited capability additionally means a silent unmanned aerial vehicle-using military unit must be located sufficiently close to an urban area to make the unmanned aerial vehicle effective as a surveillance tool. These considerations presently make current silent unmanned aerial vehicle technologies quite limited for real-time urban military operations.
At first blush one might be tempted to make a silent unmanned aerial vehicle smaller and lighter and thus decrease the level of the required propulsion energy. Unfortunately, however there are very severe physics limitations to the methodology of shrinking an unmanned aerial vehicle both in size and weight. Doing so creates a much more serious mission-capability dilemma in that as the size and weight of the unmanned aerial vehicle decreases, its payload capacity decreases not linearly, but exponentiallyi! (Numbers of this type refer to the list of publications at the end of this specification.) Also, the aeronautical equations dependent on a "Reynolds" number are not usable for small air vehicles of, for example, less than 18 inches in size. Thus use of current-off-the-shelf (COTS) aeronautical CAD software to help design silent unmanned aerial vehicles of these sizes is not possible and one has no recourse but to "guess" a solution and hope it flies. This situation is worsened more by the fact that various aerodynamic instabilities are magnified as the vehicle size decreasesii. This particular problem can be seen in nature while small birds are landing or fighting-off gusts of wind. These birds have to flex and twist their wings and tails to compensate for instantaneous instabilities. Thus it may be appreciated that making electric UAVs smaller presents several technological obstacles.
As a result of these difficulties, existing and pending electric silent unmanned aerial vehicles are useful for only very limited DoD missions. Moreover the personnel that use operate and maintain these vehicles must resign themselves to the fact that the battery-power problem is an existing limitation that unfortunately must be factored into the performed mission. Although a new battery technology offering significantly improved energy storage density may ultimately change this picture, it appears likely that this will not occur soon. If laptop computers are used for comparison, in view of their use of similar rechargeable batteries, it may be observed that over the last decade, battery technologies have barely progressed, progressed not nearly as rapidly as other computer related devices such as CPU speed and RAM capacity. In a similar vein of thought the electrically driven automobile is now being approached with use of hybrid electrical motor and fuel driven engine arrangements and with fuel cells but in a large part awaits the availability of rechargeable batteries of suitable energy storage density before becoming widely used.
The present invention is believed to offer at least a partial solution to these difficulties and to make the silent unmanned aerial vehicle a bit closer to being of practical value especially in a military environment. Theoretically silent unmanned aerial vehicle units made according to the present invention can operate in an urban field for an indefinite time interval (i.e., 24/7/365 capability) with infrequent "return-to-base" cycles being required. Most importantly this long term performance is available with use of presently available technology including present day secondary batteries.
The prior art shows numerous uses of inductively coupled electrical energy, energy coupled by way of a magnetic field rather than by electrical circuit continuity. These uses include for example the electric toothbrush, electrical measuring instruments and cellular telephones in the small energy quantity range and extend to submersible vehicles and other propulsion and underwater applications in the larger energy quantity range. These uses and others are included in the several prior art patents identified in the disclosure statement filed with the application of the present patent document the contents of these issued patents is hereby incorporated by reference herein. None of these energy transmission inventions appear however to have involved an airborne surveillance vehicle or the possibly surreptitious or clandestine acquisition of inductively coupled electrical energy found in the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A method, system, apparatus and machine-readable medium for transmitting a packet through a network to convey network topology is provided. The method includes the step of generating at least one link state protocol data unit (LSP) with a first identifier until reaching a maximum sequence number in a sequence assigned to a network device, represented by the first identifier. The method further includes the step of modifying the first identifier to produce a second identifier. The method also includes the step of generating at least one LSP with the second identifier, and with a sequence number that is less than or equal to the maximum sequence number in the sequence. The system for transmitting a packet through a network, to convey network topology, comprises the means for performing the above-mentioned method steps.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate in general to packet transfer in networks. More specifically, the embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for conveying network topology by transmitting packets through a network.
2. Description of the Background Art
In order to transfer data in a network, knowledge of topology of the network is required. The network topology provides information pertaining to the communication links between nodes in the network. In case of intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) intra-domain routing protocol, the nodes maintain consistency in the network topology by flooding link state protocol data unit packets (LSPs) in the network. Each node receives and stores LSPs received from other nodes in an LSP database (LSPDB), and uses LSPDB to ascertain the network topology. The node conveys a change in the network topology by transmitting LSP with a higher sequence number compared to the previous LSP until maximum sequence number is reached. After reaching the maximum sequence number, the node wraps up and starts generating LSPs with initial sequence number in the assigned sequence.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommendation 10589 specifies that whenever the LSP sequence wraps for IS-IS, that particular IS-IS node should be disabled and wait for a period at least MaxAge+ZeroAgeLifetime (20 minutes by default, but 18 hours in some cases) before it is restarted. This is to ensure that every node in the network has timed out the previous LSP with the maximum sequence number. Otherwise, the new LSP sequence, after wrapping, becomes 1, and may appear older when it is compared to the maximum sequence LSP. The neighbors that receive the LSP with sequence number 1 can subsequently flood the LSP with the maximum sequence number back to the source node. As a result, the source node will regenerate its LSP using sequence number 1. This cycle is repeated because the source node may never be able to generate an LSP that appears newer than the maximum sequence LSP until it has timed out in every node in the network.
However, disabling a node for up to 18 hours, or even 20 minutes, is not acceptable if there is no alternative node for forwarding data. Fortunately, in a normal operation, it would take 136 years before an IS-IS node reaches its maximum LSP sequence number, even if the node regenerates the LSP once every second. However, because bugs in the software, and hackers, may artificially inject bad LSPs in the network, the LSP sequence number may reach the maximum number prematurely.

Method and system to restart IS-IS when LSP wraps


An encryption apparatus divides input original data into one or more data blocks. The size of each data block is an integer multiple of the bank size of a non-volatile memory equipped in a decryption apparatus. The encryption apparatus generates authentication data from this data block. The encryption apparatus generates encrypted data after it combines the authentication data to the data block. On the other hand, a decryption apparatus executes reverse processes to decrypt original data, and writes it in a non-volatile memory.

In recent years, a system that provides data, upgrade software, and the like to users via a network has been proposed. Since these data and software often include important information, they must be protected from leakage, illicit copies, tampering, or the like.
As one of protection techniques, a MAC (message authentication code) authentication technique is known. MAC is authentication data of a short fixed length, which is generated by conventional encryption, and is normally sent while being appended to a message. This authentication technique is based on the premise that two entities A and B that engage with communications share key K. Upon sending a message from A to B, sending entity A calculates MAC=Ck(M) as a function of the message and the key, and sends the message together with the calculated MAC to receiving entity B. Receiving entity B makes an arithmetic operation of the received message using the same key and function as those used by sending entity A to calculate MAC for comparison. If the received MAC matches the calculated MAC, it is determined that the message is not tampered with or the like during sending.
According to a technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-152458, MAC is appended to whole original data such as firmware or the like, and the original data is encrypted. The obtained encrypted data is sent to a receiving terminal, which decrypts the encrypted data, and authenticates using the decrypted MAC. Then, the receiving terminal writes the decrypted data in a non-volatile ROM.
However, in the related art, authentication cannot be made unless all encrypted data in large quantity are received. In addition, the following problems are posed.
(1) A RAM area that can store all the encrypted data and all the decrypted data is required.
(2) In order to execute an authentication process, the MAC must be calculated using all the encrypted data, and it takes a long time to find tampering and the like.
(3) When the size of the original data is larger than the bank size of the non-volatile ROM, the original data cannot be written at the same time, and it complicates the writing program.
On the other hand, in the related art, when the aforementioned encrypted data is written in the non-volatile ROM as needed, the following problems are encountered.
(1) A RAM area that can store all the encrypted data is required.
(2) In order to execute an authentication process, the MAC must be calculated using all the encrypted data, and it takes a long time to find tampering and the like.
(3) Since write access to the non-volatile ROM is made as needed, if data has been tampered with, recovery requires much time.
(4) When the original data is larger than the bank size of the non-volatile ROM, the original data cannot be written at the same time, and it complicates the writing program.
It is, therefore, the object of this invention to solve the above and other problems. Note that other problems will be understood throughout the whole specification.

Encryption apparatus and decryption apparatus


A heated eyelash curler comprising a curling head having a heating element, a cover switch engaged with the heated eyelash curler, and a body enclosing operational components of the heated eyelash curler connected to the curling head. The cover switch turns the heating element “on” after exposing the curling head and turns the heating element “off” after covering the curling head instead of the current practice of manually turning the switch “on” and “off”. The engagement between the parts on the cover switch and the heated eyelash curler attaches the cover switch to the body of the heated eyelash curler. The heating element on the eyelash curler can be conventional or it can adopt wiring in a zigzag configuration housed within a conducting tube coated with a non-sticking material.

Most eyelash curler shape the eyelashes by manually pressing the eyelashes between two pinching elements, mostly arched to conform with the shape of the eyelids. U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,715 proposed the incorporation of a heating element into the pinching elements to hasten the curling process as well as result into a longer lasting curl. This invention can adopt all the features of the eyelash curler invented by the same inventor and disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/885,426 filed Jul. 7, 2004. As in the cited application, the device can have different heating systems, one controlling the temperature by an "on" and "off" switch while the other heating system maintains the temperature when the desired temperature is reached. This application can also include the pigmented silicone piece and the light emitting diode (LED) of the said cited patent application and can also incorporate a mechanism wherein the red and green LED rapidly turn "on" and "off" repeatedly when the power source is low such as when the charge on the battery is low. The claimed device herein can also adopt the converter and the heating element comprising a conducting coil or wire inserted in a conducting tube as disclosed.
A major difference of the heated eyelash curler herein is the use of the cap covering the device as the switch to turn the power "on" or "off" instead of manually turning the switch. This is done through a switch knob that can be made to traverse a knob rail incorporated on the cap. This mechanism can be adopted to any eyelash curler other than the one cited herein. The power is turned "off" when the cap covers the curling head before use and the power is turned "on" when the cap exposes the curling head ready for the operation and is turned "off" again when the cap covers the curling head again after usage. The cap adopting this special feature and function is referred herein as the cover switch.
It is an object of this invention to provide a cover that can be used to turn the power "on" or "off" instead of manually reaching for the switch.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a heated eyelash curler having a cap or cover switch that has the safety feature of immediately protecting a person from burns by turning the power "off" as soon as the cap covers the heated section of the eyelash curler.
It is also another object of this invention to show how a switch knob can be used in conjunction with a knob rail to turn the heat "on" when the eyelash curler's curling head is exposed and turn the heat "off" when the curling head is covered.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism for turning the power "off" and "on" of any eyelash curler having a heating section that can be covered by a cap.
It is also a further object of this invention to show how a cover switch of this invention can be adopted to the heated eyelash curler disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/885,426 filed Jul. 7, 2004 which discloses a curling head having a heating element surrounded by a shield to prevent skin burns, an indicator that directly touches the surface of the heating element for more accurate indication of the temperature on the curling head in addition to the LED indicators that are voltage driven, and a converter for achieving the desired curling temperature at a faster rate.


A wireless tire-pressure monitor mainly has a cylindrical body, a seal assembly, a screw and a sensor. The cylindrical body is mounted through a hole in a wheel rim wall and has an air passage, an interior thread defined in the air passage and a flange formed around the body. The seal assembly is mounted around the body on opposite sides of the wheel rim wall and abuts the flange on the body. The screw is screwed into the air passage and squeezes the seal assembly against the wheel rim wall. The sensor is mounted on the body. Therefore, the wireless tire-pressure monitor is easily and securely attached to the wheel rim to detect pressure and temperature of the wheel. Further, the sensor is positioned outside of the wheel rim to prevent the wireless detecting signals from being interfered by the wheel rim or wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless tire-pressure monitor, and more particularly to a wireless tire-pressure monitor that is easily and securely attached to a wheel rim and a sensor for detecting tire pressure and temperature positioned outside of the wheel rim to prevent the wireless detecting signals from being interfered by the wheel rim and the wheel.
2. Description of Related Art
A tire-pressure detector or monitor is mounted on each wheel to detect the wheel's pressure or temperature. Therefore, the driver can monitor the status of each wheel to increase driving safety.
With reference to FIG. 12, a conventional tire valve capable of sensing and transmitting tire pressure includes a body (80), a valve core (81), a detector (82) and a resilient outer cover (83). The body (80) has two opposite ends. The detector (82) is screwed onto one end of the body (80). The resilient outer cover (83) covers the body (80) and the detector (82), holds the tire valve in an opening (901) in a wheel rim (90) and has a tapered outer surface (831). A tool (91) inserted into the free end of the detector (82) pushes the tapered outer surface of the resilient cover (83) into a hole in the wheel rim (90) until the resilient cover (83) attaches to the wheel rim (90). The valve core (80) is positioned outside of the wheel rim (90) and the detector (82) is positioned inside of the wheel rim (90).
However, the conventional tire valve deteriorates from heat and the environment and eventually breaks off the wheel rim or must be replaced. When the tire valve must be replaced, the device to sense tire pressure must also be replaced. Again, since the detector (82) of the tire valve positioned inside of the wheel rim (90), the intensity of the wireless detecting signals from the detector (82) will be decreased or interfered by the wheel rim (90) and the wheel (not shown).
With reference to FIG. 13, another tire valve (80a) is attached to a wheel rim (90) with a wheel (92). A detector (82a) is positioned inside of the wheel rim (90) and the valve core (81a) is positioned outside of the wheel rim (90). Before the wheel (92) attached to the wheel rim (90), the tire valve (80a) is first setup on the wheel rim (90). Since the wheel (92) is attached to or detached from the wheel rim (90) along the periphery (901) of the wheel rim (901) by a specific machine (not shown), the detector (82a) of the tire valve could be damaged. Therefore, the conventional tire valve shown in FIG. 12 could be damaged by attaching or detaching the wheel (92).
Therefore, the present invention provides a wireless tire-pressure monitor that is easily and securely to a wheel rim and is not easy damaged during attaching or detaching a wheel procedure.


A system assures revenue reconciliation of customer billing and vendor settlements for multimedia services, including voice over IP, provided through a network. The system includes a data repository configured to store a plurality of tables, each table including data collected from a plurality of network elements in the network and relating to at least one of customer usage, mediation, customer billing and vendor settlement. The system also includes a processor configured to execute an alert rule based on data retrieved from at least one table stored in the data repository. The alert rule includes a comparison between the at least one table and at least one other table of the plurality of tables. The processor triggers an alert associated with the alert rule when a corresponding alert rule threshold is exceeded based on the comparison, and initiates reporting of the triggered alert.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to revenue reconciliation for providing multimedia services. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to building alert rules and generating alerts to track whether billing for services and payments to vendors are consistent with the value of services provided.
2. Background Information
The recent trend has been for network providers to offer integrated access to different types of services, including Internet, telephone, video and data services. For example, traditional telephone service providers are offering high speed Internet access, Voice over IP (VoIP) and television programming over DSL connections, while cable television providers are offering high speed Internet access, VoIP and telephony services over conventional cable connections. The variety of services and corresponding media require significant demands on tracking and billing customers with respect to their usage, as well as settling with different vendors for the various products and services not directly supplied by the network provider. The task is further complicated by consolidating the information into a single bill.
Due to this complexity, network providers are at risk of losing track of the revenue, both owed and paid to them by their customers, and owed and paid by them to their vendors. The enormous amount and different types of data and services being tracked makes it difficult to readily and efficiently identify issues related to the network providers' revenue, such as revenue leakage, data anomalies and application defects. Network providers are therefore at risk of under-billing customers, while overpaying vendors, for the multimedia services.