An electronically accessible server receives, stores, and sends value information from customers. The server or other digital medium stores the value information generated by independent users. Triggers or interactions can be used to determine when value information would be useful for a user of a client system. The value information can include customer assessments, usage frequency, navigational pointers, executable program code, instructions, product information, and service information. A digital medium is used to store value information generated by independent users. The medium can be coupled to an electronic communication network to allow for interchange of information.

The growing speed of product development (with shorter time to market, rapid addition of new product features and transformation of products due to technological change) makes the ability to measure and deal with complexity considerably more difficulty. The rate of product evolution in many product categories has become faster than ever, so measurement methods must evolve to keep pace with the speed and scope of business decision making. Unfortunately, it still generally takes 30 days or more to run many types of types meaningful studies in areas like human factors product testing, market research and product field trials Such labor-intensive studies, conducted by degreed professionals, are also expensive. Since many product design decisions will not wait or do not have the budget, they are made without the benefit of in-depth customer-based studies that would make those decisions clearer, simpler and more accurate.
In some areas current test methods are immature and only partly assist in making crucial product decisions For example, a growing number of software and computer-integrated products (which may actually be built around a special purpose computer such as a medical monitor) aim to enhance customer performance, problem solving abilities and complex types of thinking. While learning tests are able to determine whether or not a product's users have learned the procedures for using that product, it remains difficult to assess complex thinking skills and changes in attitude toward one's tasks. Those effects must be inferred instead of measured, forcing decision makers to make crucial product decisions based on guesses instead of knowledge.
In other areas it is extremely difficult to obtain action and behavioral information during the actual use of products, services and information systems. From design and business decision making viewpoints this is essential for understanding how products or processes perform across the spectrum of situations and countries to learn their capabilities and deficiencies for actually achieving the goals for which they are purchased. There is a larger, more advanced reason that this information is required now that embedded microprocessors and software are increasingly transforming products, services and the information infrastructures used to operate many types of organizations. In-depth measurement and data are needed to dynamically trigger automatic and appropriate responses and reconfigurations in response to rapidly changing conditions and swiftly evolving situations.
In a growing number of product categories and industries one key to success is improving the full range of outcomes required by customers for their success. For example, the entire computing industry has been judged harshly for failing to significantly improve productivity measures. Similarly, the medical industry struggles to learn how to provide quality care with a lower cost-per-patient outcome. Such transformations in performance require simultaneous improvements by vendors, customers and everyday product users, which requires systemic and systematic measurement and dynamic adaptation across products, organizations, industries, markets and societies. The immediate availability of accurate and meaningful decision making and reconfiguration information is essential for improving products, business decisions and competitive performance with the speed and scale that are required by today's competitive pressures and societies.
This broad range of needs clearly calls for faster, easier, more direct and broader means for learning customer requirements, measuring actual performance, communicating that information in automatically analyzed formats, and responding to customers and users dynamically based on their group or individual objectives and performance measurements.
This Customer-Based Product Design Module invention uses a combination of computer hardware, software and communications technologies to construct a module that is built into certain products and services, to establish a network of customer-vendor-distributor interactions and communications (or a network of internal organization-wide interactions in the area of computer-based performance). These make possible new customer and user roles in the design and development of products and services, and customer-vendor relationships. Over time, this may produce a gradual transfer to customers of commercial direction and market control, both in individual cases (such as the evolution of a particular product) and in aggregate, from vendors and distributors.
One of the core purposes of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 15. This is the ability to learn interactively and iteratively from the users of products and information systems anywhere in the world while they are in use—without having to travel to their sites (or without having to bring them to a testing laboratory). Since this is a two-way link, it also offers the ability to respond meaningfully to customers and users based on worldwide, local, organizational or individual needs regardless of where they are located.
Information technology is so new that we're still figuring out what it is and what it should do for us. This technology turns the user interfaces in products, equipment, tools and toys into an interactive learning system that connects vendors, users and marketplaces worldwide. While this emerges from the built-in computing that is becoming an increasingly common part of many products, it transforms the product interface into a learning device and a learning system—for individual products, for marketplaces and potentially, for societies and economic systems.
Product interfaces are increasingly connected to built-in or embedded computing. These interfaces already surround people at work and at home on equipment (whether in business offices, doctor's offices, factories, construction sites, hospitals, etc.), computers, consumer electronics and more. These interfaces are moving into pockets and briefcases via handheld electronic organizers and PDAs (personal digital assistants). They are transforming millions of computer and TV screens via interactive services and channels. Picture a new module behind interfaces around the world. This enables them to "wake up" when these products and services are used so they ask questions based on how they are used. The module stores user answers and uploads them periodically, and its overall architecture delivers a clear and broad picture of the current state and evolutionary changes in individual and group needs. The module/architecture of this invention also downloads into products new questions, user support, or other new capabilities so that product interfaces provide continuous two-way learning, and users receive new information or features that can be delivered through the product itself.
This may help transform the increasingly everyday environment of built-in computing into a two-way system for meeting both vendor and customer needs faster, more accurately and more effectively. Since this technology is scaleable, it doesn't matter whether the focus is:                One vendor's product in one customer's hands,        All of that vendor's products in use in one country,        The marketplace for those types of products in that country, or        Multiple markets around the world.
Since this through-the-product communications may be used to transform customer-vendor relationships, results may include:                Products that can learn from and work with individuals or groups in new ways, or        Markets that employ these new built-in communications/information systems to provide new benefits such as additional market efficiencies, built-in marketwide user performance support systems, or accelerated economic growth for individual vendors or national economies.
Everyone talks back to products, but not with words they can repeat in public. Think how customers would guide products and services toward what they want if they could really talk back while they use a product, both when they have a problem and when they have an unmet need. Vendors might find an alive marketplace that helps them improve products, services and business relationships.
A number of service industries, such as market research and product testing, seek to help vendors understand their customers. This invention may enable vendors to learn directly from their customers on an ongoing basis and establish a private two-way product development relationship with them, providing a valuable addition to some current methodologies. This invention may also produce more accurate information than these measurement services because it works with larger numbers of customers, in many more markets and market niches, to learn their needs, expectations and desires during the actual everyday use of products and services.
How does this invention accomplish this? Today, microprocessors are often embedded into products as controllers. For example, many new cars have a dozen or more microprocessors inside of them. This invention uses technology to embed a customer-vendor-distributor NETWORKING MODULE into vendor-selected products and services. This technology-based Module turns the product's interface into a two-way learning device, connected to a larger learning system and architecture, so that rapid and iterative customer-based progress may become a feature of those products, services and markets. Because learning, measurement and performance improvement are interconnected, this new feature may involve customers (as individuals, in groups and marketwide) in the product evaluation and design process, and in planning business services so that they serve customer needs better than competitors can accomplish. These are strategic advantages for companies, societies and economic systems.
For products (and information systems) that contain this Module, customers may continuously inform vendors (or developers) of their current and emerging needs. The vendors of those products may have the best opportunity to respond swiftly to a much clearer view of customer problems, product problems and market opportunities than they have today. The inventor believes that within a generation it will be normal for many products and services to include this type of Module, so that customers (in aggregate, the market) comes to play a larger role in directing and controlling the commercial development of many products and services.
The closest known prior art is a combination of six areas. When combined, these six areas represent the prior art for this invention:
1 Market Research
Product and service vendors invest considerable money, employee time and corporate credibility to create their products and services. Are they as successful as they want to be? The market research industry has sprung up to answer a host of questions about customers. It is obvious that in spite of these market research efforts, customer needs that remain unknown and unfilled provide constant opportunities for creating and launching new products and services. In addition, many customers use products and services in ways that are not anticipated or fully understood by market researchers.
Why doesn't market research provide greater understanding? In market research, a variety of methodologies are used to segment groups of customers and to show the preferences and desires of the market segments. Typically, market research focuses on gathering either quantitative data (such as demographic information or numerical responses to surveys and questionnaires) or qualitative data (such as from focus groups). One of the main limitations of these research studies is that they are usually separate from the customers' actual and everyday use of the products and services being investigated.
2 On-line Surveys
In an on-line survey, a subject sits in front of a computer. Generally, this means bringing the subject to the computer that is running the survey software. At the time the subject has been told to complete the on-line survey, the survey software is run and it asks the subject questions. The subject uses a keyboard or mouse to answer the questions. The software records the subject's answers in a data file. After that subject has completed the survey, the software can report those answers. After all the subjects have been run, software can report various compilations of the data set, and provide various analyses of an individual subject, a sub-set of subjects, the entire group, or comparisons between various sub-groups. Over time, a series of on-line surveys can be compiled, and the data may be compared in various ways (such as longitudinally).
3 Field Programmable Logic Devices
Engineers now able to rapidly produce unique, custom programmed chips in their offices using "desktop silicon foundries."An engineer uses a personal computer or workstation to design the chip with commercially available software. A blank chip, in a special box attached to the desktop computer, is programmed in a few minutes. This is by far the fastest and cheapest way to create custom chips that add custom features to products. When a chip design is finished, if only a small number are needed, copies can be made in that "desktop silicon foundry." If many of these custom chips are needed, they can be mass produced in a factory.
4 Hand-Held Bar Code Readers
These devices are carried into the field by many types of employees, such as couriers for organizations like Federal Express. These devices gather data from individual products or transactions by means of reading printed bar codes. This data is held in the bar code reader until it is connected to a computer or to a device that communicates with a computer. At that time, function keys are pressed and the bar code reader's data is uploaded to the computer. During that same connection, function keys are pressed and the bar code reader may be reprogrammed by means of downloading new software into the bar code reader's memory.
5 The Calculator
The small, hand-held calculator contains a microprocessor, memory, display, power supply and input buttons. It can be mass manufactured in large enough quantities that these devices can be sold very inexpensively.
6 Smart Cards
The Smart Card is like a calculator with additional memory and functions built into it. It is used for many types of applications, such as electronic ID systems that provide secure access throughout corporate offices, maintaining personal medical or financial account histories, and other single-purpose uses. A number of the prior art for Smart Cards and related devices demonstrate the feasibility of the present invention, including:                (a) Systems for storing and transferring data between persons based on portable electronic devices (U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,355, February 1977, Moreno and U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,524, May 1978, Moreno),        (b) A portable element of reservation systems, for receiving, storing, displaying and outputting digital data (U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,793, November 1981, Melis et al.),        (c) A credit card with a memory, including plural memory fields, for keeping accounts with predetermined homogeneous units (U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,402, January 1983, Giraud et al.),        (d) A data processing card system that may be carried by a user for insertion into external terminal devices, which actuates the data processing card system (U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,472, September 1985, Poetker et al.),        (e) A system for transferring electronic funds by means of portable modules which connect to resident units for transferring data between units or to a central computer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,276, November 1986, Benton et al.),        (f) An apparatus that accepts data from a people monitoring system (which is attached to a television set), stores the data and transmits it to a removable local unit that stores it (U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,685, February 1987, Roberts et al.),        (g) A voice recording card can record and reproduce messages, and transmit and receive messages (U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,657, June 1987, Nagata et al.),        (h) An IC card for operating machines such as automatic cash machines and ID systems, including a display for displaying stored data, an IC card reader for reading the IC card, and transmitting/receiving means for updating the data (U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,787, May 1988, Suto et al.),        (i) An intelligent card that includes a keyboard, display and IC chip, designed to provide secure identification of the card's holder (U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,982, June 1988, Rikuna et al.),        (j) A customer service system that stores customer service information in an IC card, and displays it on the card's display, based on menu selections by the person holding the card (U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,677, June 1988, Nakano et al.),        (k) An IC card system compatible with a bank account system, including account maintenance, money transfers and the functions of credit and debit cards (U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,504, June 1989, Nakano),        (l) A portable data carrier that stores more than one bank and/or credit account number and data, and provides account information by means of a display (U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,837, August 1989, Halpern),        (m) An intelligent portable interactive personal data system (U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,376, September 1989, Lessin et al.),        (n) A smart card apparatus and method of programming it, including a smart card control program and a data dictionary (U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,935, October 1989, Younger),        (o) A method and system for using facsimile machines to perform electronic funds transfer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,981, November 1990, Benton, et al.),        (p) A portable electronic keysafe system (e.g., a secure lock) that stores data, along with a stand to interface with a computer, and a computer that programs the lock (U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,987, January 1991, Barrett et        (q) A data collection system useful for trade shows employing a card containing a memory chip for recording and storing the data of individuals (U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,697, May 1991, Postman), and        (r) A portable interactive medical test selector that displays questions to a patient, stores answers and analyzes the answers to recommend appropriate medical tests (U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,374, June 1991, Roizen et al.).
This invention combines the prior art in a new distributed system whose components reside:                In products (as defined by this invention),        At vendors, and        Throughout the marketplace or throughout an enterprise (when built into its internal business and computing systems).
Some of its technology parallels include:                Bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), in which simplified local interactions with individual customers are linked to centralized systems via marketwide networks, to provide immediate personal services across markets and large geographic regions.        Automobile racing, in which key systems of a race vehicle are monitored by sensors, and combined with direct voice communications with the driver, to gain the clearest possible computer display and understanding of the driver's problems and needs, and to gain the new competitive abilities of supporting the driver so that the driver has the best possible chance to perform better than competitors.        The worldwide telephone network and linked voice mail systems, in which individual local users, who may be located anywhere, operate the global phone network and attached voice mail systems with a small keypad of ten numbers (0–9) and two buttons (# and *), illustrating how a simple means for a user to interface with a product or service may control and communicate with complex systems that are widely distributed.
What Are Products and Services?
The departure from this prior art comes from fundamental re-definitions: Physical products and many types of services are really high-level concepts that use specific physical designs of products and service concepts to engage customers and attempt to satisfy their needs, desires and expectations. This is inevitably imprecise, and customers flexibly and individually determine how they will use the products and services that they buy. Thus, any one embodiment of a physical design is temporary and subject to improvements, even though it may look permanent at any one moment.
Vendors typically use market research to discover unfilled user needs and create new product and service designs that might capture valuable market share. The resulting physical products and services are therefore the current conceptual embodiment of a vendor's current knowledge of customer and user needs. As this knowledge is improved, the physical and process designs of products and services are altered. Thus, we propose that the current designs of products and services at any time are a reflection of a vendor's knowledge of customer needs and desires.
A second redefinition is that the current concept of a product life cycle may become less precise and less meaningful as product markets become information markets. The core transformation is from a product development stage followed by a product launch stage and one or more sales campaigns with occasional product improvements when needed to meet sales and revenue objectives. As enabled by this invention, the initial development stage increasingly interpenetrates all other stages of the product life cycle, the operations of corporations, and the evolution of economic systems (i.e., capitalist economies).
As envisioned by this invention, as customers and vendor employees interact to produce continuous improvement, the marketplace may be e-engineered into an interactive development environment (i.e., research and development environment, or R&D environment) with a national or global scope. The opportunities for accelerated learning may transform:                The ability of an individual corporation to satisfy the needs of its customers,        If that company gains competitive advantages that produce additional market share, or other meaningful advantages, similar in-product communications may be adopted by competing companies, which may transform the industry or the marketplace,        As the industry or marketplace evolves to interact with its customers, the fundamental efficiencies of those markets and those industries may increase.        As the continuous improvement capabilities of particular industries in particular countries grow, the global market share of those industries and countries may transform the leading companies in those industries worldwide.
Because of the embedding of microprocessors and computing into products, some of the types of industries that may be affected include computers, software, electronics, communications, interactive entertainment, multimedia, transportation, energy, farm equipment, avionics, medical equipment, scientific instruments, etcPerceivable or measurable improvements may include customers receiving more of what they really want to buy for each dollar they spend, faster product evolution based on customer needs, increased market shares for companies that are more responsive to customer desires and more able to assist customers in achieving their goals, etc.
Thus, a technology may lead to organizational and market efficiencies that empirically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of capitalist markets. In Adam Smith's terms, the "invisible hand" of the market may be rendered "visible," accelerating the evolution of human welfare by providing greater benefits from free choice and personal freedom. In sum, the redefinitions intended may simultaneously be technological, operational (for products, organizations and economies) and political.
Today there are many approaches to competitiveness and the cost of failing to find a successful approach has mushroomed For example, some world-class corporations use new technologies to capture market share. Others use a constant launching and churning of new product models to attack their competitors' customer-vendor relationships.
This invention focuses on the competitive strategy of having companies work in a partnership with their customers to gain the greatest ability to concentrate their scarce resources on developing the products and markets that customers want most, and on serving customers in the ways that are most valuable to customers, so that these companies gain the largest increases in sales and profits. It suggests that the value of these customer-vendor relationships may be a central business advantage at this point in the emergence of a global information age, and this advantage may be explicitly captured by engaging in new types of product development partnerships that may be made possible by this invention.
Needs for this Invention
(Note: this invention's terminology is defined at the beginning of the Preferred Embodiment.)
Simply put, this invention helps vendors and customers by transforming their learning cycle: It compresses the time and steps between setting business objectives, creating effective products and services, and improving them continuously. It also alters their roles: Customers become partners in the improvement process along with vendors and distributors.
This invention's "Customer-Based Product Design Module" (CB-PD Module) generates numerous opportunities for improvements by integrating customers and employees into the design and delivery of products and services as a continuous process. The invention describes a specific new class of product feature that may be added to, or built into, many types of products and services. The CB-PD Module engages Customers in Development Interactions (DI) while products and services are being used. The customers and users provide direct, on-task understanding of their use of the products and services, and of their unfilled needs, to the product vendors, designers and developers Development Interactions (DI) will take place most often during actual uses of the product or service, which is when most unreported problems and dissatisfactions occur. The results of these Development Interactions (DI) clarify customer needs, improve products, and they may also help solve problems, control costs, and improve services and operations.
Because it automates this process and adds networking to many types of products and services, this invention may help change the cost, economics, methods and desirability of involving customers in the design and evolution of products and services. By automating this process, there are new opportunities to produce valuable customer-based information that may become low in cost and constantly available. This might transform the overall learning cycle, the very process by which products and services can be improved continuously in the future. In other words, if your customers and users are telling you directly what has value to them and what doesn't, this becomes a way to manage a business better, to select priorities more responsively, to budget scarce capital and human resources more accurately, to target the points where one's products and services make the most difference to customers, and to increase the company's revenues and profits faster than competitors.
With this CB-PD Module, because of the new customer-vendor partnerships and learning cycle it creates, the result is a different learning cycle based on new kinds of interactive feedback from customers. Over time, if one or more general purpose CB-PD Modules can be productized and modularized for rapid and affordable insertion into appropriate products and services, that will decrease its cost, accelerate the learning process for many companies, and expand management's ability to work directly with their customers to provide valuable new benefits faster than they are able to today.
From this invention's viewpoint, critical management decisions spring from the fact that vendors invest considerable money, employee time and effort to create and market their products and services. One of a vendor's most important questions is, "How can our currently available resources be leveraged to jump faster and farther toward our goals?" Potential opportunities exist at two levels. There are local decisions, such as how to design or improve a specific product or service. There are also system decisions, such as how to prioritize the relative value of different product and service investment opportunities. With multiple opportunities and limited resources, how can vendors continually identify the best available opportunities for investing in products and services, and for choosing their specific features and user interfaces?
Answering these types of questions, to improve the management of businesses, the quality of products and the satisfaction of customers, are some of the core purposes of this invention.

Product value information interchange server


In data communication using radio communication, an inactivity timer value is changed according to various states, so that an unused time of a communication channel in a non-communication time is decreased, and channel use efficiency is raised. A unit for judging an application of packet data to be transmitted and received by a radio base station 408/a radio base station controller 405 is provided, or an inactivity timer value is set through a port number in TCP/UDP header and a traffic pattern and according to a communication content, and the set inactivity timer value is used to control a change from a connected state to a dormant state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio base station/radio base station controller (hereinafter referred to as a base station) for carrying out radio communication with a mobile station, a mobile station, and a state control method of those, and particularly to a base station, a mobile station, and a state control method of those, in which setting of an inactivity timer value is dynamically changed according to a use state to decrease an unused time of a radio channel in a non-communication time in which transmission/reception of data is not carried out and to improve the use efficiency of the radio channel. Incidentally, the inactivity timer value is, as described below, a value for determining the timing when a radio channel disconnection processing for changing a connected state to a dormant state is started (see a document "cdma 2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification, 3GPP2 C. S0024 Version 2.0, Oct. 27, 2000").
2. Description of the Related Art
From the development of a recent digital mobile communication system, radio packet data communication services have been provided in addition to voice communication services. In the radio packet data communication services, a user accesses a server apparatus through a base station, an internet network and the like, so that exchange of E-mail, browse of Web information, and the like can be carried out anytime and everywhere. However, communication resources used for radio communication, for example, frequency resources are finite, and in order to provide services to the most possible subscribers by the finite frequencies, it is very important to disconnect a radio channel in which transmission/reception of data is not carried out and to assign it to another user.
In the radio packet data communication, as disclosed in a document "Data Service Options for Spread Spectrum Systems: cdma2000 High Speed Packet Data Service Option 33, PN-4692.12 (TIA/EIA/IS-707-A-2.12), January 2000", there are a "connected state" and a "dormant state" as a state of transmission/reception of a packet. The "connected state" is a state in which a radio channel is connected between a base station and a mobile station. On the other hand, the "dormant state" is a state in which a call is brought into a suspended state and the radio channel is temporarily disconnected between the base station and the mobile station. In general use environment of the radio packet data communication, there are few cases where packets are always transmitted and received between the base station and the mobile station, and the packets are normally intermittently transmitted and received. Then, a method is adopted in which if the packet is not transmitted and received for a definite time in the connected state, the state is forcibly changed to the dormant state. For that purpose, a timer called an inactivity timer which starts to count up from the completion of packet transmission/reception is set, and in the case where new transmission/reception is not carried out in a timer set time, the state is changed to the dormant state. An inactivity timer value as a timer for changing the connected state to the dormant state is calculated on the basis of the system architecture, the traffic amount and the like, and a specific fixed value is not regulated. The above document suggests that the inactivity timer value is not set to a value of 20 seconds or less.
Besides, in general, in the radio communication, while a mobile station continues communication (connection of a radio channel), switching of a base station under communication (hand-over) is carried out. Thus, the number of mobile stations in a cell managed by a certain base station becomes fluent. Besides, since the frequency resources are finite, in order to provide services using a radio channel for many subscribers, it is necessary to assign the radio channel to the most possible users. Then, by setting the inactivity timer, the radio channel in which transmission/reception of data is not carried out is temporarily disconnected, and the radio channel is temporarily assigned to another mobile station requiring transmission/reception of data, and as a result, the radio channel can be efficiently used.
In the prior art, a fixed value is used for the set value of the inactivity timer irrespectively of the type of data to be transmitted and received. However, a transmission interval is varied according to the type of data. Thus, in the case where the set value of the inactivity timer is made the fixed value, unless the inactivity timer value is suitably set according to a traffic amount in such a manner that it is set to be short when data such as E-mail having a small size and taking a short communication time is intermittently transmitted and received, and it is set to be long when data such as stream data having a large size and taking a considerable communication time is divided into packets and is transmitted and received, there is a problem that surplus processing due to connection/disconnection of the radio channel is increased, and the use efficiency of the radio channel is lowered.
In the case where hand-over is carried out with the movement of a mobile station while a radio channel is connected, as compared with the case where the movement is made without connection of the radio channel, the processing amount of the mobile station/the radio base station/the radio base station controller is increased. This is because in the movement at the time when the radio channel is not connected, only the position registration information is transmitted from the mobile station to the radio base station/the radio base station controller, whereas if the radio channel remains connected, in order to maintain the radio channel, an exchange between the mobile station/the radio base station/the radio base station controller occurs. Thus, it is necessary to suitably set the inactivity timer value according to the traffic amount, for example, the radio channel of the mobile station in which the traffic amount is small is disconnected rather early.
As means for solving the above problem, it is also conceivable that the fixed value of the inactivity timer is calculated from a past traffic amount etc. in a certain cell. However, as long as the fixed value of the inactivity timer is used, the above problem always remains.

Radio base station/radio base station controller equipped with inactivity timer, mobile station, and state control method


A device state control method for use in an information processing apparatus that has a body, a device connectable to the body, a storage portion which stores information of a state of power supply to the device, the device state control method including: determining whether the information of state of power supply stored in the storage portion is information of power-supply OFF state or not, after instructing to shift the state of the power supply to the device from the power-supply OFF state into a power-supply ON state; and starting the power supply to the device, when the information of power-supply OFF state is stored in the storage portion.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a device state control method which controls the state of a device, and more particularly to a device state control for a device for which power supply is at a stop.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been developed a computer to which devices, for example, an optical disk drive and a hard disk drive, are connectable. With the development of such a computer, development has also been made on the control of power supply to the device which is connected to the computer.
There has heretofore been a personal computer which is capable of distinguishing the sort of an extended bay to be attached into a bay slot and then supplying correspondent voltage power (refer to JP-A-2003-330576 (page 14, FIG. 29)).

Device state control method and information processing apparatus


An exemplary keyboard is provided. The keyboard includes a light pervious base plate, a plurality of input keys, and at least one light source. The light pervious base plate has a top surface. The plurality of input keys are disposed on the light pervious base plate with bottom sides of the input keys facing the top surface of the light pervious base plate. The at least one light source is encapsulated in the light pervious base plate and optically coupled to the light pervious panel.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to keyboards, and particularly to a keyboard having a lighting system used in conjunction with a computer system.
2. Description of Related Art
A keyboard is commonly used in conjunction with a computer as an input device. Keyboards usually have a plurality of keycaps wherein alphanumeric symbols (or symbols in foreign languages) are printed on the keycaps to help users select the desired input to the computer. Under normal condition, such as under a brightly lit environment, the users typically can clearly identify the symbols on the keycaps. However, in a dark environment or in a low ambient light condition, the symbols on the keycaps may not be clearly visible to the users.
Therefore, a keyboard with a lighting system is desirable to overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Advanced Optoelectronic Technology, Inc.


A new cultivar of Leucanthemum plant named ‘Real Charmer’ that is distinguishable by vigorous basal-branching upright plant habit, mid-dark green foliage and inflorescences comprised of cream outer ray florets, yellow inner ray florets and dark orange disc florets is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum commonly known as Shasta daisy, which is grown as an ornamental plant for use in the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Leucanthemum×superbum and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name 'Real Charmer'.
Leucanthemum is a genus within the family Asteraceae in which the commonly referred to "flower" is botanically the inflorescence which is comprised of outer showy ray florets surrounding smaller disc florets.
'Real Charmer' arose and was selected from an ongoing breeding program which is conducted by the inventors at the inventors' nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The breeding program commenced in 2006 with the aim of developing new and improved commercial varieties of Leucanthemum. 'Real Charmer' is a seedling selection that resulted from the controlled pollination in 2010 of a single plant of the inventors' proprietary Leucanthemum seedling code 'L814-1' (unreleased and unpatented) as the female parent, using pollen from a single plant of the inventors' proprietary Leucanthemum seedling code 'L819-23' (unreleased and unpatented) as the male parent. The inventors selected 'Real Charmer' in 2011 based on the criteria of vigorous basal branching, upright habit and an attractive inflorescence consisting of cream-colored outer ray florets, yellow inner ray florets and dense arrangement of dark orange disc florets.
'Real Charmer' was first asexually propagated by the inventors in West Sussex, United Kingdom in 2011 using the method of vegetative division and subsequently by basal shoot cuttings. Since that time under careful observation 'Real Charmer' has been determined uniform, stable and true to type in subsequent generations of asexual propagation.


A drop away leaf pivot unit for use with a clamp in a manufacturing environment. The drop away leaf pivot unit includes a body having a plurality of orifices therethrough and a chamber defined therein. A base member is connected to the body at one side thereof. The pivot unit includes a cylinder extending from an end of the body with a cylinder having a piston and piston rod therein. A spline shaft is rotatably supported by the body and has a drive link engaged therewith. The drive link is also connected to the piston rod on the opposite end. At least one stop member is engaged with the shaft on an end. The drop away leaf pivot unit also includes an arm secured to the shaft on an outer portion of the shaft, outside of the body of the pivot unit. A cover plate is secured to both ends of the body to ensure an enclosed operating environment for certain components of the pivot unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pivot unit, and more particularly relates to a drop away leaf pivot unit for use with a clamp in a manufacturing assembly line.
2. Description of Related Art
Pivot units have been known for numerous years in the manufacturing assembly line industries. Generally, pivot units are used to pivot a clamp, holding device, tool, or other unit that is performing an operation on a product along an assembly line. The pivot unit generally will pivot the tool or clamp to a predetermined position along the manufacturing line and either hold or perform an operation on a work piece or a product along the assembly line process. Generally, the pivot action is in a circular arc and is performed such that during non-operation of that device the pivot unit will move the clamp or tool into a neutral position away from the manufacturing assembly line. Pivot units also may be used to pivot into position a clamp that will hold a work piece in a proper position along the work line for a specific workstation in the manufacturing assembly line, such as those found in an automotive assembly line.
Many of the prior art pivot units are open architecture and are vulnerable to the contaminates in the operating environment of the manufacturing process. In particular many manufacturing assembly processes include a plurality of welding robots and welding arms used to connect or place pieces into predetermined positions. Many of the robotic arms have weld units at the end thereof and perform welding operations on frames or other units, etc. in the manufacturing environment. When the weld is being placed by the robotic arm unit at the end of the pivot unit weld slag and other materials which are used to prepare the metal and provide for a proper weld is splattered and dropped at various positions along the line and even into the pivot units. This weld slag damages and reduces the operational efficiency and durability of the prior art pivot units in the current manufacturing environments. Furthermore, the prior art pivot units are bulky with complicated designs that include a plurality of rotating pneumatically operated parts designed to move only one part or tool in one predetermined arc along a manufacturing line. Therefore, the prior art pivot units have no flexibility and were designed specifically for one part at one predetermined position along a manufacturing assembly line. Therefore, the costs to design, install and repair are great for these prior art pivot units. Furthermore, the use of the prior art open architecture increases the cost to manufacturers by reducing the durability and reliability of the pivot units because of possible contamination by weld slag and other contaminates found in a robotic manufacturing assembly line. Furthermore, if a design change has to be made to the work piece being built on the manufacturing line a completely new open architecture pivot unit would have to be built thus increasing the costs to the manufacturer. Furthermore, significant design changes would have to be made and numerous parts replaced to retrofit an existing pivot unit having a predetermined stand alone architecture to accommodate any new changes to the assembly line or the work piece being manufactured along the assembly line.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a new and improved pivot unit that is enclosed such that weld slag and other contaminates of the manufacturing environment will not effect the durability or reliability of the pivot unit. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for a pivot unit that is capable of being adjustable to accommodate various manufacturing lines and pieces or products without having to rebuild a complete unit. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for a low cost pivot unit that is more robust, reliable and easily modified to accommodate numerous changes in a manufacturing environment with a short down time for the manufacturing line.


Liquid-containing photovoltaic element, comprising a platelike work electrode and a platelike counter-electrode adhered thereto by means of a vapour and liquid-tight peripheral edge, wherein the work electrode and the counter-electrode are each formed on a flat substrate provided with an electrically conductive layer and wherein a liquid is received into a space between the work electrode, the counter-electrode and the peripheral edge, wherein a system of mutually connected electrical conductors is provided on the conductive layer of each of the substrates for the work electrode and the counter-electrode, which conductors are provided with a layer of an electrically insulating material, in which layer there is provided at least one recess for an electrical contact on a conductor, and which systems of conductors have a mirror-symmetrical form relative to each other.

The invention relates to a liquid-containing photovoltaic element, comprising at least a plate-like work electrode and a plate-like counter-electrode adhered thereto by means of a vapour and liquid-tight peripheral edge, wherein a liquid is received in a space between the work electrode, the counter-electrode and the peripheral edge.
Such a liquid-containing photovoltaic element is known from the European patent application EP-A-0855726. The known photovoltaic element comprises a work electrode which is formed by a layered structure of at least a first electrically conductive layer which is deposited on a first substrate, a layer of nanocrystalline metal oxide semiconductor material deposited on the first electrically conductive layer, a counter-electrode which is formed by a transparent second electrically conductive layer deposited on a transparent second substrate, and an electrolytic liquid contained between the layer of semiconductor material and the second electrically conductive layer. In practical situations use is usually made of a glass plate for the first and second substrate.
It is a drawback of the known liquid-containing photovoltaic element that the contacts for drawing current from the element are arranged on edge zones of the element, wherein in all cases a first edge zone on a first substrate on which is formed a first contact does not extend opposite the second substrate, and vice versa, a second edge zone on a second substrate on which is formed a second contact does not extend opposite the first substrate. The substrate for the work electrode and the substrate for the counter-electrode in the known liquid-containing photovoltaic element are offset relative to each other so as to provide space for the electrical contacts. Offsetting of the substrates relative to each other results in a reduction of the available effective surface of the photovoltaic element, and thereby in a decrease, proportional to that reduction, in the maximum power of this element.

Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland


Using an undifferentiated mouse CL6 cell line, DMSO was added to induce its differentiation into cardiac muscular cells in order to obtain gene fragments whose expression elevated upon the induction. The isolated gene had zinc finger domains and showed a significant homology to the Sp1 family genes. Furthermore, a human gene corresponding to this mouse gene was isolated. The protein encoded by this gene existed in the nucleus and bonded to a GC-box. The protein was revealed to repress the transcription regulatory activity of the CMV promoter and thus serves as a transcription factor.

G-rich elements, such as GC-box or GT-box, are sequences that bind to transcription factors which have been found in promoter sequences of various genes including house keeping genes as well as tissue specific genes, parentally expressing genes, etc. The G-rich elements are closely related to development and differentiation, in addition to gene expression upon the binding of transcription factors.
Sp1 has been found as a DNA-binding transcription factor that binds to the GC-box of the SV-40 promoter sequence to regulate the transcriptional activity of the promoter (Dynan, W. S., et al., Cell (1983) 35:79-87; Gidoni, D., et al., Nature (1984) 312:409-413). The Sp1 has three zinc finger domains in its C-terminal region and binds to a GC/GT-box through the domains (Kadonaga, J. T., et al., Cell (1987) 51:1079-1090). Moreover, it has been known that the Sp1 has two glutamine-rich regions required for the activation of transcription (Courey, A. J., et al., Cell (1988) 55:887-898), and yet two serine/threonine-rich regions. Transcription factor homologues, Sp2 (Kingsley, C., et al., Mol Cell Biol (1992) 12:4251-4261), Sp3, and Sp4 (Hagen, G., et al., Nucleic Acids Res (1992) 20:5519-5525), with a high homology to the Sp1 are known to exist and they comprise a family. Each transcription factor has three highly conserved zinc finger domains in its C-terminal region, and besides, a glutamine-rich region and/or a serine/threonine-rich region. While the Sp3 and Sp4, similarly to the Sp1, bind to a GC/GT-box (Hagen, G., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. (1992) 20:5519-5525; Hagen, G., et al., EMBO J. (1994) 13:3843-3851), the Sp2 is reported not to bind to a GC-box and rather binds to a GT-box in the Vα promoter region of TCR (Kingsley, C., et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1992) 12:4251-4261).
Recently, many transcription factors with high homology to the three zinc finger domains of Sp1 have been reported (Philipsen, S., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. (1999) 27:2991-3000). As in the case with Sp1, they all have been shown to have three zinc finger domains in its C-terminal regions and bind to a GC/GT-box; however, other regions share only a low homology with the Sp-family and do not have a glutamine-rich region that functions as a transcription activation region in Sp1.
These GC/GT-box binding transcription factors have been known to enhance or repress the transcriptional activity, and thus, are considered to regulate gene expression in various cells during development, differentiation, and such. Such characteristics of the GC/GT-box binding transcription factors described above presently make them remarkable as targets in developing therapeutic agents.

Transcription factor having zinc finger domains


An epicycloid planet gear cam that converts rotational movement of a driveshaft into linear movement of an output device is disclosed. An epicycloid planet gear is assembled inside a stationary housing with an internal stationary ring gear. A driveshaft eccentric is connected to a driveshaft. The driveshaft eccentric rotates freely in a mounting hole of the epicycloid planet gear. When the driveshaft rotates, the driveshaft eccentric engages the epicycloid planet gear against the stationary ring gear and causes the epicycloid planet gear to rotate. A cam follower pin attached to an output device is held, via a follower roller ball against a cam track of the epicycloid planet gear. As the epicycloid planet gear rotates, the recessed cam track depth causes the cam follower pin to move up or down thereby moving the output device.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cycloid drives. More specifically, the present invention discloses an epicycloid planet gear mounted recessed cam track for converting rotational movement of a driveshaft into linear movement of an output object while utilizing the advantageous speed reduction and torque magnification properties of a cycloid drive combined with the incline mechanical advantage of an inclined cam track.
Description of the Prior Art
A leadscrew is a screw used to translate rotary input motion into useful linear output motion. The conventional leadscrew is a threaded screw that mates with a nut. As the threaded screw rotates, the nut moves along the screw either forward or backward. A load connected to the nut moves along with the nut.
Disadvantages of a leadscrew are that thread pitches below 0.2 mm are difficult and costly to manufacture, leading to a practical limit of 0.2 mm step sizes per revolution of a rotary input device, load carrying capacities and efficiencies of such micro threads are very limited, and it is difficult to achieve anything other than a constant output motion of a driven device by varying the pitch of a leadscrew.
Another method for translating rotary motion into useful linear motion is by using a speed reduction gear train whose output gear causes a circular cam to rotate, thereby creating linear output motion of some driven component.
Disadvantages of a gear train driven cam are its complexity if large speed reductions are required, the inherent inaccuracy and higher cost of so many moving parts and the space requirements necessary to fit so many mechanical parts.
Therefore, there is need for an improved means of efficiently, compactly, accurately and economically translating high speed, low force rotational motion into low speed, increased force linear motion.

Cycloid drive epicycloid planet gear cam


In various aspects, a semiconductor light emitting device provided between a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge and emitting laser from the first edge, may include: a first clad layer of a first conductivity type having a nitride semiconductor; an active layer provided on the first clad layer and having a nitride semiconductor; a second clad layer of a second conductivity type provided on the active layer having a nitride semiconductor and a ridge waveguide, the ridge waveguide having an activation region and a first edge region which is adjacent to the activation region and is extended from the first edge in a direction from the first edge to the second edge; an upper electrode provided on the ridge waveguide in the activation region; and a dielectric layer provided on a side surface of the ridge waveguide in the activation region, wherein the ridge waveguide in the first edge region has a lower activation ratio of a second conductivity type impurity than the ridge waveguide in the activation region.

Research and development of a semiconductor laser device for next generation DVDs is proceeding. Generally, a semiconductor laser, which emits 400 nm band wavelength laser, is used and InGaAlN semiconductors are used in the semiconductor laser device for next generation DVDs.
In a conventional InGaAlN semiconductor laser, a double hetero junction is provided on a substrate, and a ridge waveguide, which is formed in an upper clad, is provided.
Generally, in the conventional semiconductor laser device made of the InGaAlN semiconductor, a front edge (emission edge) and a rear edge are mirror surfaces made by cleavage. There are numerous surface states in the front edge and the rear edge, so a non-light emitting recombination occurs. Near the front edge and the rear edge, carrier concentration is decreased and light is absorbed. So heat is generated from the edges and COD (Catastrophic Optical Damage) may occur.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A structure of an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, in which a buried layer is formed in the substrate of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit, and a sinker layer electrically connected to the buried layer and a drain is also formed therein. Thereby, when the electrostatic discharge protection circuit is activated, the current flows from a source through the buried layer and the sinker layer to the drain. The current flow path is remote from the gate dielectric layer to avoid damaging the gate dielectric by a large current, so as to improve the dielectric strength of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a structure and a fabrication method of an electrostatic discharge protection circuit. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure and a fabrication method of an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, in which a sinker layer and a buried layer are formed to provide a low resistant current path.
2. Description of the Related Art
The electrostatic discharge is an electrostatic drift phenomenon from a surface of a non-conductor that damages semiconductors or other circuit components in an integrated circuit. For example, hundreds to thousands of volts of static electricity carried by a human body walking on a blanket under a higher relative humidity can be detected. When the relative humidity is lower, more than ten thousand volts of electrostatic voltage can be detected. The equipment for packaging or testing integrated circuits also generates hundreds to thousands of volts of static electricity. When brought into contact with the above charge carriers (human body, equipment or instrument), the chips are discharged thereto. The surge caused by such electrostatic discharge may damage the integrated circuit of the chip or even cause failure of the integrated circuit.
To prevent damage to the integrated circuit of the chip, various mechanisms to suppress the electrostatic discharge have been proposed. Most commonly, hardware prevention is applied by forming an on-chip electrostatic discharge protection circuit between the internal circuit and each pad thereof.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a conventional NMOS electrostatic discharge protection circuit.
Referring to FIG. 1, a P well 102 is formed in a P-type substrate 100, and an NMOS transistor 104 and a P+ substrate-connecting region 114 are formed in the P well 102.
The above NMOS transistor 104 comprises a gate 106, a source 108, and a drain 110. The P+ substrate-connecting region 114 is isolated from the NMOS transistor 104 by a shallow trench isolation layer 112.
A guard ring 118 is formed on the substrate 100 surrounding the P+ substrate-connecting region 114. For the NMOS transistor 104, the guard ring 118 includes an N+ doped region with a conductive type opposite to that of the P well 102. The guard ring 118 and the P+ substrate-connecting region 114 are isolated from each other by a shallow trench isolation layer 116.
Referring to FIG. 2, the resistance of the substrate 100 is decreased as the voltage applied to the drain 110 is increased. When the voltage exceeds Vt1, the resistance of the substrate 100 is reduced sufficiently to switch on the PN junction near the source 108. Meanwhile, the parasitic bipolar transistor is activated to generate a snapback voltage. Such snapback voltage rapidly drops to voltage VSb and simultaneously conducts the electrostatic discharge current.
However, the flow path of the electrostatic discharge current is normally along a surface of the gate dielectric layer. When such current is large, the thermal energy generated thereby is concentrated near the flow path, that is, near the surface of the gate dielectric layer. A large thermal energy may blow the gate dielectric to cause failure of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit.

Structure and fabrication method of electrostatic discharge protection circuit


A system for training and deploying an artificial conversational entity using an artificial intelligence (AI) based communications system is disclosed. The system may comprise a memory storing machine readable instructions. The system may also comprise a processor to execute the machine readable instructions to receive a request via an artificial conversational entity. The processor may also transmit a response to the request based on a dialog tree generated from at least a model-based action generator and a memory-based action generator. The processor may further provide a training option to a user in the event the response is suboptimal. The processor may additionally receive a selection from the user via the training option. The selection may be associated with an optimal response.

Dialog bots are becoming increasingly popular in enterprise and personal environments. For example, organizational entities are using dialog bots (or "chatbots") to transform service delivery. In particular, dialog bots are finding value in several enterprise endeavors, such as marketing and sales, project management, vendor and supplier activities, customer service feedback, troubleshooting, and more.
Although organizational entities are spending large amounts of money and resources to create and deploy dialog bots across various segments to increase efficiencies, there are still several technical problems that continue to persist. One problem, for example, is that most dialog bot systems require editors to curate pre-canned scripts. This generally includes manually developing a dialog tree or flow chart to guide a conversation before publishing the dialog bot to end users. The main problem is that these scripts are fairly static. As a result, these static dialog trees or scripts can grow very large and become quite cumbersome. This conventional approach also presumes that editors of these dialog bots have a deep domain knowledge before authoring these dialogs or scripts, which might not always be the case. In fact, most editors typically do not understand how a conversational model will unfold in a real-world setting, which may further complicate content authoring and minimize real-bot experience.
Another technical problem is the lack of a standardized framework. For instance, a dialog tree or script developed for one implementation (e.g., troubleshooting a product) is often only useful for that single dedicated use. That dialog tree or script may not be used for another implementation (e.g., customer service activity related to another product). In other words, the conventional approach lacks an automated standardized framework to create new dialog bots or update current ones in a more streamlined and efficient way. Conventional dialog bot construction often entails various distinct customizations based on business functions. But because each scenario and use typically has its own set of requirements, it becomes rather difficult to reuse existing dialog bots across different domains when using traditional platforms. It is often a painful effort, then, to recreate another dialog or script for that other use or implementation because it may require either cold start or even for minor changes. Attempts to duplicate development efforts have often led to large amount of rework, all of which reduces efficiencies and overall productivity. Ironically, while dialog bot creation and utilization were intended to help maximize productivity and minimize human effort, conventional systems and methods have unfortunately done the opposite.
Accordingly, a more robust approach for interactive dialog training and communication using AI and example-based creation and construction may be imperative to overcome the shortcoming of conventional systems and methods.

Interactive dialog training and communication system using artificial intelligence


The invention refers to a coating device for the deposition of thin films on large area substrates comprising a process chamber, an electrode arrangement within the process chamber (2) which is adapted for generating a plasma adjacent to the electrode arrangement (4) at at least two opposing sides of the electrode arrangement, and at least two substrate holders for supporting at least two substrates (5,6) in substrate positions on opposing sides of the electrode arrangement, the electrode arrangement being located between the substrate positions and the substrates facing in the substrate positions the at least two plasma generated at the electrode arrangement, wherein the electrode arrangement comprises at least two cathodes arranged in a plane, the cathodes being able to generate a plasma at at least two sides of each cathode. The invention further refers to a method for coating substrates with thin films comprising the following steps:    providing a process chamber,    providing an electrode arrangement within the process chamber for generating a plasma adjacent to the electrode arrangement at at least two sides of the electrode arrangement, and providing at least two substrate holders for supporting at least a first and a second substrate, locating the substrates to be coated in first and second positions on opposing sides of the electrode arrangement so that the electrode arrangement is located between the first and second positions and the substrates facing the at least two plasma generated at the electrode arrangement, wherein a first substrate located in the first substrate holder is coated in the first position during a first coating process and a second substrate supported by the second substrate holder is coated in the second position during a second coating process, the first and second coating process are carried out one after the other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a coating device for the deposition of thin films on especially large-area substrates, like architectural glass or display panels. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method for coating such substrates.
2. Prior Art
Coating devices for coating of especially thin layers on substrates like glass are widely used in industrial applications, e.g. depositing of heat insulation layers on architectural glass or conductive or semiconducting layers on display panels or photovoltaic units.
In order to apply such thin films on large-area substrates, devices and methods are known from prior art. However, a permanent need for improvement exists with respect to an increase of homogeneity of layer thickness or other properties of the deposited layers over the whole coated substrate as well as an enhancement of efficiency of coating.
Since it is always difficult to find an appropriate comprise to achieve these diverging needs, an improvement in this respect is especially valuable.
From prior art sputter processes are known for carrying out coating processes mentioned above.
As can be seen from FIG. 9 showing a prior art apparatus, sputter devices have an electrode arrangement 401, 402 within a process chamber 201, 202 in order to ignite a plasma and accelerate ions of the plasma towards a target in front of a cathode of the electrode arrangement 401, 402. Magnetron cathodes comprise a magnet arrangement, which is disposed behind the target so as to lead to a confinement of electrons in front of the target and thus to a plasma concentration in this area. Thus, a high sputter yield is achieved due to the high concentration of ions impinging on the target. The material of the target is atomized and deposits on the substrate 5, 6 being disposed opposing to the magnetron cathode.
In order to achieve a high through-put of the device, a double-chamber design can be used with two process chambers 201, 202 arranged side by side to each other. Such a double-chamber 200 enables a production of the process chambers with reduced effort and allows a space saving design of the sputter apparatus. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a buffer chamber 100 for storing the substrates to be coated and a lock section 300 having two locks 301 and 301 for feeding the substrates into both process chambers 201, 202 are additionally provided for.
DE 41 26 236 C2 also describes a device for a sputter process. This device comprises a rotating magnetron cathode having a hollow cylinder target, which rotates in order to use the whole target surface for sputtering.
According to DE 41 26 236 C2 two magnet arrangements are disposed in the hollow cylinder target so as to form two plasma areas on opposing sides of the cylindrical magnetron electrode. One plasma is used for coating the substrate, the second plasma generated by the second magnet arrangement is used for cleaning of the rotating target. However, it is also possible to simultaneously deposit layers on two substrates being located at the opposing sides of the cathode. This device can however only be used for small-area coatings or a dynamic coating process wherein the substrates are passing the single sputter source.
A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,660. However, instead of a magnet arrangement inside the cylindrical electrode, a magnet arrangement disposed outside the target or cathode is used. However, this device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,660 is also a single coating source with small lateral dimensions for small-area coatings or dynamic coating processes.
In order to achieve large-area coatings with homogenous layer thicknesses, EP 15 94 153 A1 suggests to provide a plurality of cathodes in order to allow stationary coating of large-area substrate facing the plurality of cathodes. However, in order to be sure that at the margins of the substrates the same layer thickness is achieved as in the central area, the cathodes of EP 15 93 153 A1 are arranged at a curved surface. Accordingly, it is not possible to use cathodes described in DE 41 26 236 C2 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,660 having deposition areas on two sides of the cathodes, since the curved arrangement of the cathode does not allow homogenous twin-deposition from two sides of the cathode.
Other devices, e.g. described in WO 2007/051105 A2 or JP 2004 027 272 A, deal with the above-mentioned problems by providing movable magnet arrangements for magnetron electrodes. Although, this leads to an improved material usage of target material and allows for adapted deposition areas leading to an enhancement of layer homogeneity, improvements with respect to layer homogeneity of large-area depositions and improvements with respect to efficiency are still necessary.

Double-coating device with one process chamber


A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. The method according to an embodiment includes displaying, on a screen of the display unit, a first image including a plurality of items; receiving a selection of at least one item among the plurality of displayed items; indicating, on the first image, the at least one selected item as selected; while the at least one selected item is indicated as selected, receiving a user input for executing an operation that involves the screen to display an image different from the first image; executing the operation according to the user input, the executing step including displaying, on the screen, a second image associated with the operation; and after the operation is executed, re-displaying, on the screen, the first image having one or more of the at least one selected item as still selected.

1. Field of the Invention
This document relates to a mobile terminal and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and a control method thereof for maintaining a user's choice with respect to an item even when an event of changing the screen display according to a direct input from a user is generated.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As functions of terminals such as personal computers, laptop computers, cellular phones and the like are diversified, the terminals are constructed in the form of a multimedia player having multiple functions of capturing pictures or moving images, playing music, moving image files and games and receiving broadcasting programs.
Terminals can be divided into mobile terminals and stationary terminals. The mobile terminals can be classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to whether the users can personally carry the terminals.
To support and enhance the functions of a terminal, a structural part and/or a software part of the terminal may be enhanced. As a variety of terminals including the mobile terminals provide complicated and various functions, a menu structure becomes also complicated. Furthermore, a function of displaying digital documents including web pages is added to the functions of the mobile terminals.

Mobile terminal and control method thereof


A parallel virtual file system for parallel processing systems including single-processor systems having multiple storage devices. The invention manages partitioned files as follows: (1) partitions of a partitioned file are stored in a set of isomorphic "data trees"; (2) an additional directory tree, called the "control tree", is used to build a model of the intended structure of the data trees; (3) the combination of a control tree and a collection of data trees is referred to as a "multifile system", with sets of files referred to as "multifile" and sets of directories referred to as "multi-directories;" data elements of a multifile or multidirectory are referred to as "data plies" and control elements of a multifile or multidirectory are referred to as "control plies"; (4) a set of multifile subroutines is provided for accessing and modifying the multifile system in such a way so as to preserve the isomorphic data structures for the partitioned data; (5) the multifile subroutines use a distributed computing environment which provides for remote procedure calls and, in one of the embodiments of the invention, for a distributed transaction processing protocol to ensure atomicity of structural changes to the multifile system; (6) interference of concurrent file system operations is prevented by creating a "transactional" lock for each file system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer processing systems, and more particularly to a parallel virtual file system for parallel processing systems including single-processor systems having multiple storage devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Computational speeds of single processor computers have advanced tremendously over the past three decades. However, many fields require computational capacity that exceeds even the fastest single processor computer. An example is in transactional processing, where multiple users access computer resources concurrently, and where response times must be low for the system to be commercially acceptable. Another example is in database mining, where hundreds of gigabytes of information must be processed, and where processing data on a serial computer might take days or weeks. Accordingly, a variety of "parallel processing" systems have been developed to handle such problems. For purposes of this discussion, parallel processing systems include any configuration of computer systems using multiple central processing units (CPUs), either local (e.g., multiprocessor systems such as SMP computers), or locally distributed (e.g., multiple processors coupled as clusters or MPPs), or remotely, or remotely distributed (e.g., multiple processors coupled via LAN or WAN networks), or any combination thereof. Further, in the context of this invention, parallel processing systems includes single-processor systems having multiple storage devices.
It is common practice to achieve high performance on parallel processing systems by the following means:
The data sets which the computer is to access are divided ("partitioned") into several disjoint sets of records and stored on a collection of storage devices. A data set which has been divided in this fashion is called a "partitioned file", and each subdivision is called a "partition." PA1 Several instances of the programs comprising an application and which process the data are run on a collection of processors, or as independent tasks on one processor. PA1 Each program-instance accesses one partition of each partitioned file being processed. PA1 Each partitioned file must be created and, eventually, deleted. PA1 Each partitioned file must be accessed by applications. PA1 Partitioned files must be organized, e.g., into file systems. PA1 Partitioned files must be administered, e.g., repaired when damaged. PA1 Each processor in the system has its own set of storage devices. PA1 Each storage device is set up with an "isomorphic" file system, i.e., a file system having the same arrangements of files and directories, with only the contents of the files differing from system to system. PA1 When an application wishes to effect some change in the partitioned files (e.g., create a file), the application invokes an instance of a program on every processor in the system, with each program instance being given the same parameters (e.g., file name). PA1 It is necessary that each instance of the program behave identically from the view point of structural alterations to the file system. For example, if one program instance creates a file, then all program instances must create the same file (i.e., a file having the same name, but within a different file system). PA1 Programs which access the data in the partitions may do so using standard file-system interfaces. PA1 The fact that all the file systems have isomorphic structures makes them no harder to administer than a single file system. This is because file system administration is primarily a matter of establishing, monitoring, and altering the structure of directories and files in a system. Since the structure of a collection of isomorphic file systems is no more complex than that of a single file system, administrating a collection of isomorphic file systems is generally no more complex than administering a single file system. PA1 Every application wishing to use such a strategy must include a "hand-crafted" implementation of this approach. PA1 If any user or application departs from the conventions noted above, then the various file systems may gradually acquire different structures. Once isomorphism has been lost, managing the system becomes much more complex, since now the administrator must understand and manage the different structures which have appeared in the various constituent file systems. PA1 If the system crashes at an inadvertent time, it is possible that certain structural changes will have been made to some of the file systems, but not to others. In order to restore isomorphism, an administrator will have to inspect each file system, looking for inconsistencies, and repair them according to the administrator's best understanding of the intended file system structure. Furthermore, if isomorphism has not been rigidly enforced, the administrator will have no way of knowing which departures from isomorphism are intentional, and which are an artifact of a system failure. PA1 Partitions of a partitioned file are stored in a set of isomorphic "data trees". PA1 An additional directory tree, called the "control tree", is used to build a model of the intended structure of the data trees. The control tree allows the computer system to "locate" (generate a path name for) data within the data trees. PA1 The combination of a control tree and a collection of data trees is referred to as a "multifile system". Files in the multifile system are referred to as "multifiles." Directories in the multifile system are referred to as "multi-directories." Data elements of a multifile or multidirectory are referred to as "data plies." Control elements of a multifile or multidirectory are referred to as "control plies." PA1 A set of multifile subroutines is provided for accessing and modifying the multifile system, e.g., making structural changes to the data trees or obtaining identifiers for data plies of a multifile or multidirectory. Where practical, the multifile subroutines have an interface mimicking that of the native file system. PA1 The multifile subroutines use a distributed computing environment which provides for remote procedure calls (RPCs) and, in one of the embodiments of the invention, for a distributed transaction processing protocol (e.g., two-phase commit) to ensure atomicity of structural changes to the multifile system. The distributed computing environment must also provide for "distributed file operations" (fileops). PA1 Interference of concurrent file system operations is prevented by creating a "transactional" lock for each file system. PA1 A central "driver program" uses the subroutine interface of the invention to effect structural changes in the multifile system. PA1 The driver program may launch multiple program instances on various processors. Typically, there will be one program instance for each data tree in the multifile system, and each program instance typically operates on the contents of one distinct data tree. PA1 The above steps may be repeated multiple times within any application. PA1 As part of an application. In this case, the multifile subroutines are included as part of the application driver. The application driver and the multifile subroutines share access to a single distributed computing system, which will invoke distributed programs on the behalf of the driver, and invoke fileops and RPCs on behalf of the multifile software. PA1 As a distributed service. In this case, the owner of the computers containing the control and data trees would need to ensure that a "multifile server" was running at all times. The subroutines explained below would then be embedded as part of the server, which would also incorporate a distributed computing environment. Applications wishing to use these services would contain "stub subroutines" which would contact the appropriate servers to perform multifile operations. Preferably, these stub subroutines would mimic the interface of the native file system interface, in order to minimize the work needed to adopt the multifile system. Communications between the driver and the program instances might then be governed by a second distributed computing environment or, alternatively, by the same distributed computing environment as is used by the multifile server. PA1 As a part of an operating system. Typically, the operating system's file system interface may be extended to recognize multifile commands and dispatch them to a multifile server via a "file system driver" interface. Many operating systems (e.g., Microsoft Corporation's NT operating system) provide interfaces which facilitate this sort of integration. Once the multifile server has been engaged, the implementation is much like the case of a distributed service.
The benefits of this practice are that simultaneous use of multiple storage devices enables high aggregate data transfer rates, and simultaneous use of multiple processors enables high aggregate processing rates.
The developer of such applications is then faced with the problem of managing and using partitioned files. Among the problems which must be faced are the following:
One solution to these problems in the prior art is to arrange for some ad hoc variant on the following scheme:
As long as these principles are adhered to, the file systems should remain isomorphic.
This prior art approach has several useful properties:
However, there are several difficulties with this approach:
If two applications simultaneously access the "isomorphic" file systems, they may interfere with each other. For example, if application program A renames a file and application program B tries to delete the same file, it is possible that, on some processors application program A will run first (the file will be renamed), but that on other processors application program B will run first (the file will be deleted). This will result in a loss of isomorphism, leading to great administrative difficulties (the two applications should probably not have been run simultaneously, but such errors are common; the loss of isomorphism is an unacceptable result for such a common error).
Thus, there is a need for a better method of managing partitioned files in parallel processing systems. The present invention provides such a method.


A distributed feedback semiconductor laser comprises a semiconductor substrate, a waveguiding structure, provided on the semiconductor substrate, including a diffraction grating, an active layer and a top layer for ohmic contact, a first electrode provided on the top layer, a second electrode attached to the semiconductor substrate, and means for compensating spatial nonuniformity of a carrier density caused by spatial hole burning. The means changes an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the active layer, corresponding to a spatial distribution of photon density along the waveguiding structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a single longitudinal mode distributed feedback semiconductor laser and, more particularly, to a distributed feedback semiconductor laser for performing optical feedback by a diffraction grating formed along an optical waveguide.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a DFB (Distributed Feedback) semiconductor laser has been used as a light source for an optical communication system. This laser includes the diffraction grating along the optical waveguide to realize the single longitudinal operation by the wavelength selectivity. More specifically, the DFB laser using a GaInAsP/InP material is practically used as the light source of long-distance, high-speed optical communication.
In general, a semiconductor laser, e.g., a Fabry-Perot laser, has both facets used as reflection mirrors to provide the optical feedback. In contrast, the DFB laser includes the diffraction grating having the wavelength selectivity to perform the optical feedback. Therefore, the DFB laser may not basically require the optical reflection between the facets. However, in the DFB laser, the single longitudinal mode oscillation depends on the depth and configuration of the diffraction grating, the magnitude of the reflection at the facets, and the phase of the diffraction grating. Therefore, the single longitudinal mode oscillation is not necessarily obtained.
A phase shift DFB laser has been also proposed. The phase shift DFB laser has a structure in which the reflectivity of the cleaved facets is decreased, and the central portion of the cavity has a discontinuous (phase shift) portion (shifted by a phase corresponding to 1/4 the waveguide wavelength .lambda.) of the period of the diffraction grating. Since the laser having the .lambda./4 shift structure has a large oscillation threshold gain difference in the longitudinal mode, it is very advantageous in the single mode operation.
The diffraction grating having the phase shift is usually formed by a two-beam interferometric exposure technique using positive and negative resist materials (e.g., Utaka et al, 29p-ZB-15, Extended Abstract, The 32nd Spring Meeting 1985, The Japan Society of Applied Physics), and the two-beam interferometric exposure technique using a phase mask (e.g., Shirasaki et al, 311 National Conference Record 1984, Semiconductor Devices and Materials, The Institute of Electronics Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) of Japan) and (e.g., Shirasaki et al, Research Report, OQE85-60, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) of Japan), or the like. In these techniques, it is difficult to optimize reproducibly a kind of resist materials, exposure conditions, design of phase masks, and reduction of unwanted reflection. Therefore, it is difficult to provide the diffraction grating having the phase shift region.
A phase shift DFB laser having a GaInAsP/InP buried heterostructure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. A first-order diffraction grating 51 is formed on an n-type InP substrate 50, using the two-beam interferometric exposure technique. A .lambda./4 phase shift 52 is then provided in the diffraction grating 51. An n-type GaInAsP waveguide layer 53 (.lambda.=1.3 .mu.m band composition), an undoped GaInAsP active layer 54 (.lambda.=1.55 .mu.m band composition), a p-type InP cladding layer 55 and a p.sup.+ -type GaInAsP ohmic contact layer 56 (.lambda.=1.15 .mu.m band composition) are sequentially grown on the diffraction grating 51, and these layers are mesa-etched in the form of a stripe. Thereafter, a p-type InP buried layer 57, an n-type InP buried layer 58, and an undoped GaInAsP cap layer 59 (.lambda.=1.15 .mu.m band composition) are successively grown on either side of the mesa-stripe to complete the buried structure. A p-type electrode is provided on the top of the structure, and an n-type electrode is formed on the bottom of the structure. At this time, since a current is blocked by a reverse-biased pn junction in the buried regions, the carriers are effectively injected in only the GaInAsP active layer 54. In addition, the reflectivity of the cleaved facets of the structure is decreased by AR (Anti-Reflection) coating 62.
Since the reflection at the facets is greatly lowered in the phase shift DFB laser, the phase of the facets is not almost affected, and single longitudinal mode oscillation is easily obtained. However, the phase shift DFB laser has the following drawbacks.
(1) It is difficult to provide the actual phase shift.
(2) Although the phase shift must be approximately located at the center of the cavity, the position of the phase shift cannot be visually observed after the crystal growth.
In order to eliminate the above drawbacks, there has been proposed a method of forming an equivalent phase shift. According to the method, an equivalent phase shift region having different dimensions such as the width and thickness of the waveguide layer from the peripheral portion is provided instead of forming the actual phase shift in the diffraction grating. Since the equivalent refractive index of the equivalent phase shift region is different from that of the peripheral portion, the phase of the propagating light relative to the grating is changed after passing through the phase shift region. This means that the phase shift is equivalently provided in the diffraction grating. Therefore, the fabrication process requires only the uniformly formed grating without any of actual phase shifts.
A conventional equivalent phase shift DFB laser will be described below with reference to FIG. 8. This laser has an equivalent phase shift region 63 obtained by decreasing the width of the GaInAsP active layer 54 in the central region of the cavity. A stripe pattern mask having a narrow stripe width in the central region of the resonator is formed, and the resultant structure is mesa-etched, thereby easily obtaining the stripe. Particularly such a manufacturing process is not required for a specific process for making the phase shift structure, and the equivalent phase shift structure has characteristics equal to or better than those of a simple phase shift structure (e.g., Matsuyama et al, 30a-SA-17, Extended Abstract, The Spring Meeting 1990, The Japan Society of Applied Physics).
However, in the equivalent phase shift DFB laser, when the thicknesses of the n-type GaInAsP waveguide layer 53 and the undoped GaInAsP active layer 54 vary in every wafers, the variation in the equivalent refractive index may occur. As a result, the length of the equivalent phase shift region 63 for realizing a desired amount of phase shift is changed. Therefore, the amount of the phase shift is varied. In addition, several kinds of masks having different lengths of the phase shift regions are required corresponding to the change in thickness of these layers.
Since a hole burning phenomenon along the cavity direction occurs in the phase shift DFB laser, the single longitudinal mode property is often impaired after the laser oscillation (e.g., Soda et al, Research Report, OQE87-7, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) of Japan). That is, when the value of a normalized coupling coefficient .kappa.L (L: cavity length) is larger than 1.25, guided light is concentrated at the position of the .lambda./4 phase shift 52 (solid line) as shown in FIG. 9A. Such a large deviation in the optical intensity distribution along the cavity direction changes the distribution of the relative carrier density in the GaInAsP active layer 54 (broken line). In addition, the refractive index of the waveguide is changed corresponding to the distribution. Due to the change in the waveguide structure, a large gain difference between longitudinal modes is decreased. That is, the single longitudinal mode property is greatly impaired.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the value of .kappa.L is smaller than 1.25, the relative density of guided light is decreased at the central portion of the cavity (solid line). For this reason, the relative carrier density is increased at the central portion (broken line). Therefore, the refractive index at the central portion is decreased. In this case, since the optimal value (.lambda./4) of the phase shift is canceled, the gain difference is decreased. As a result, the single longitudinal mode property is remarkably impaired.
The effect of the hole burning phenomenon to laser characteristics will be described below. After oscillation is performed, a so-called superlinear curve in which slope efficiency is continuously increased is drawn. Since such a superlinear behavior gives a serious distortion to an output signal, the laser cannot be applied to analog communication systems. A laser having a good linear I-L (current-light output) characteristic is desired. Further, after such a strong nonlinearity, a kink, i.e., a discontinuity in the I-L curve often occurs, resulted in a mode-jump.
Since the equivalent phase shift DFB laser with the narrow width has the reduced optical confinement effect in the equivalent phase shift region to render the relatively small change in the equivalent refractive index, it is not almost affected by hole burning (e.g., Nakano et al, 6p-ZC-7, Extended Abstract, The 49th Autumn Meeting 1988, No. 3, The Japan Society of Applied Physics). However, this effect is not satisfactory.
For compensating the hole burning in the axial direction, a nonuniformed current injection technique has been proposed (e.g., Usami et al, C155, 1988, Autumn National Convention Record, The Institute of Electronics Information and Communication Engineers (IECIE) of Japan). According to the technique, an electrode of the laser is axially divided into a plurality of electrodes which are capable of injecting the current into the active layer separately. The current increasingly injected into the active region having a lower carrier density compensates the nonuniformity to suppress the nonlinearity and the resultant mode jump (caused by the hole burning). However, it is necessary to employ variable resistors corresponding to the number of the divided electrodes. A control system including the adjustment of the variable resistors is complicated, and the cost of the module is increased.
As described above, in the phase shift DFB laser, it is difficult to form the phase shift, and the position of the phase shift cannot be visually observed whether it is located at the cavity center or not. Further, although there is provided the method of forming the equivalent phase shift, it requires several kinds of masks having different phase shift lengths corresponding to change in thickness of the active layer and the waveguide layer. Therefore, such a method takes much time.
In addition, the hole burning phenomenon axially occurs in the phase shift DFB laser, and the single longitudinal mode property is often impaired after oscillation. In the equivalent phase shift DFB laser having the narrow width, the effect of hole burning cannot be sufficiently eliminated. For this reason, the nonuniformed current injection technique is used to compensate the hole burning. However, in order to supply the current to separated electrodes, variable resistors having the same number as that of the divided electrodes are required to complicate the control system.

Distributed Feedback semiconductor laser with controlled phase shift