A method of speech recognition processing is described based on an N-best list of recognition hypotheses corresponding to a spoken input. Each hypothesis on the N-best list is rescored based on its rank in the rescored N-best list. The rescoring may be based on a Statistical Language Model (SLM) or Dynamic Semantic Model (DSM). One or more rescoring categories may be associated with each recognition hypotheses to affect or bias the rescoring.

Operation of a typical speech recognition engine according to the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1. A speech signal 10 is directed to a pre-processor 11, where relevant parameters are extracted. A pattern matching recognizer 12 tries to find the best word sequence recognition result 15 based on acoustic models 13 and a language model 14. The language model 14 describes words and how they connect to form a sentence. It might be as simple as a list of words in the case of an isolated word recognizer, or a context-free grammar, or as complicated as a statistical language model for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition. The acoustic models 13 establish a link between the speech parameters from the pre-processor 11 and the recognition symbols that need to be recognized. Further information on the design of a speech recognition system is provided, for example, in Rabiner and Juang, Fundamentals of Speech Recognition (hereinafter "Rabiner and Juang"), Prentice Hall 1993, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
More formally, speech recognition systems typically operate by determining a word sequence, Ŵ that maximizes the following equation:
      W    ^    =      arg                                                        max            W                                    P                    (        W        )                        P                    (                  A                                ❘                              W                )            where A is the input acoustic signal, W is a given word string, P(W) is the probability that the word sequence W will be uttered, and P(A|W) is the probability of the acoustic signal A being observed when the word string W is uttered. The acoustic model characterizes P(A|W), and the language model characterizes P(W).
Rather than a single best recognition result, speech recognition applications may also give feedback to users by displaying or prompting a sorted list of some number of the best matching recognition hypotheses, referred to as an N-best list. This can be done for recognition of a spoken utterance as one or more words. This can also be done when the input is a spelled out sequence of letters forming one or more words, or a part of a word, in which case the best matching name may be identified by a spelling-matching module.
It is also known to rescore such N-best lists using additional information that was not available when the N-best list was initially constructed. Such extra information may come from various sources such as a statistical language model (SLM) that contains information about the a priori likelihood of the different recognition hypotheses. Even if the language model applied during the recognition is itself a statistical language model, the N-best list can still be rescored by means of another (typically more sophisticated) SLM. Rescoring of N-best lists based on a Statistical Language Model is described, for example, as a "Dynamic Semantic Model" in U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,562, which is incorporated herein by reference.

N-best list rescoring in speech recognition


Disclosed is a flash memory writing method associated with a computer system constituted by a main apparatus and an external apparatus detachable from the main apparatus, in which, when information stored in a memory inside the external memory is written in a flash memory inside the main apparatus, it is always directly copied regardless of the capacity of the flash memory. More specifically, the memory contents of the flash memory can be erased in units of blocks. The memory in the external apparatus is also divided into blocks, one of which stores an IPL and a flash memory rewrite program. A selector switches assignment of the address space of a CPU in response to a selector operation select signal. When the external apparatus is connected to the main apparatus including the CPU, the address space for starting the IPL is assigned to the block of the memory inside the external apparatus which stores the IPL. After the IPL starts, the flash memory rewrite program takes control. While the address space is switched by the selector, copying of data from one block of the memory inside the external apparatus to one block of the flash memory is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash memory writing method and, more particularly, to a method of writing data from an external apparatus in a flash memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A flash memory is a nonvolatile memory in which memory contents can be electrically erased or written. The flash memory is widely used as a memory for storing the program of an apparatus having a microprocessor because of a relatively low cost and a large capacity.
Operating the microprocessor requires an initial program loader (to be referred to as an IPL hereinafter). When the flash memory is used as a program memory, the IPL must be written therein before mounting on a board. The IPL is written using a memory writer corresponding to each chip of the flash memory.
When the memory contents of the flash memory are to be rewritten due to the presence of a bug in the IPL, or the like, the flash memory is first dismounted from the board, its memory contents are erased, and then memory contents are rewritten using the memory writer again. Write (rewrite) of a program in the flash memory leads to large work cost.
To reduce the work cost of program write in the flash memory, in one method an EPROM storing the IPL is arranged in addition to the flash memory, an address space for the IPL is assigned to the EPROM, and the remaining address space is assigned to the flash memory.
However, since this method uses the EPROM in addition to the large-capacity flash memory capable of providing a sufficient memory space, the part and manufacturing costs are wasted. Rewrite of the IPL itself requires works such as detachment of the EPROM from the board, ultraviolet erasing of the memory contents, data write, and attachment of the EPROM, resulting in large work cost.
In view of this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-235632 discloses a "program loading method". According to this method, an external apparatus storing an IPL is connected via a bus to an apparatus having a microprocessor, and an IPL address space is assigned to a memory in the external apparatus.
This "program loading method" will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of hardware to which the "program loading method" is applied.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are views, respectively, for explaining an example of assignment of the address space in the "program loading method".
In the hardware arrangement shown in FIG. 1, an inverter 55 outputs a memory card presence/absence signal depending on whether a memory card 53 with an EPROM storing an IPL is connected. A memory controller 54 receives a memory card presence/absence signal 57, and outputs either one of chip enable signals 58 and 59 in normal operation. For example, when no memory card is connected, an IPL address space A is assigned to a flash memory (FMEM) 52, as shown in FIG. 2A; when the memory card 53 is connected, the IPL address space A is assigned to an EPROM 53a in the memory card 53, as shown in FIG. 2B. If the memory card 53 is connected, a microprocessor 51 can start the IPL in the EPROM 53a to execute the program.
When information stored in the EPROM 53a is written (copied) in the flash memory 52, the memory controller 54 outputs both the chip enable signals 58 and 59. For example, the address space A is assigned to the EPROM 53a in the memory card 53, whereas an address space B (area not overlapping the address space A) is assigned to the flash memory (FMEM) 52, as shown in FIG. 2C. The microprocessor 51 first erases the memory contents of the flash memory 52, then reads out the IPL in the address space A, and stores it in the address space B. In this manner, write (rewrite) of the IPL in the flash memory 52 can be performed.
This method, however, can be employed only when data to be copied from the EPROM 53a in the memory card 53 to the flash memory 52 occupies 1/2 or less the whole address space. This is because the address spaces of copy source and destination may not overlap each other. Therefore, when the data to be copied occupies more than 1/2 the whole address space, the data of the EPROM in the memory card 53 is divided. The divided data are temporarily copied in a RAM 56, and copied from the RAM 56 to the flash memory 52. This method using the RAM 56 as a work area is indirect copying in which the same contents must be copied twice, requiring a processing time about twice that of direct copying. In this method, two programs must be prepared in accordance with the data amount to be copied.

Method of writing a flash memory including dynamically switching and allocating memory spaces to the flash memory blocks


The present invention discloses a method for providing an online-charging to solve a problem that a related charging can not be processed correctly for a service involving simultaneously a CS domain and an IMS. The method includes: not invoking an online charging for the user in the CS domain when the user, who subscribes for the service involving simultaneously the CS domain and the IMS and the online charging service, originates or terminates a call in the CS domain; and performing the credit control in the CS domain and/or the IMS for the user in the IMS when the call of the user is processed through the IMS. The present invention also discloses a device and a system for an online credit control.

Since the 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 5 (3GPP R5), a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) core network is divided into three subsystems including a Circuit Switched (CS) domain, a Packet Switched (PS) domain and an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The CS domain is used for providing users with connections of circuit switched services, the PS domain is used for providing users with connections of packet switched services, and the IMS is a subsystem superimposed over the existing PS domain in the 3GPP R5. The IMS employs the PS domain as a bearer channel for the transmission of the upper layer control signaling and media data, introduces a Session Initial Protocol (SIP) as a service control protocol and provides abundant multimedia services for users by separating the service control and the bearer control and utilizing the characteristics of the SIP, i.e., simply, extensible and convenient for media combination.
Primary function entities in the IMS include: a Call Session Control Function (CSCF), configured to perform a user registration control, a session control and so on; an Application Server (AS), configured to provide various service logical control; a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), configured to manage subscription data of a user in a centralized manner; and a Media Gate Control Function (MGCF)/IMS Media Gateway (IM-MGW), configured to enable the interworking with a circuit switched network. A user may connect to the IMS through a Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF) in the visited network, then session control, service triggering control and service control interaction with an AS are performed by the serving-CSCF (S-CSCF) of the home network.
The IMS architecture defined by the 3GPP solves all the key operability problems required for providing multimedia services over an IP bearer, such as roam charging, Quality of Service (QoS) and security guarantee, and has been accepted universally in the industry. Both the 3GPP2 and the Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN) define IP multimedia network architectures and service systems based upon the 3GPP model. Also, the 3GPP has started researches on the interworking of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access with 3GPP system (I-WLAN), Fixed Broadband IMS (FBI) access, and the all-IP network (AIPN) supporting multiple access technologies. A user may be enabled to connect to the IMS according to the subscription of the user though access networks of different access technologies via a single multi-mode terminal or various types of terminals, so as to obtain uniform multimedia services, including a Voice over IP (VoIP) service. The above researches may possibly be related to a service involving the CS domain and the IMS simultaneously.
Particularly, the 3GPP Release 7 approves a work item to research on the issue of service continuity between a CS call and an IP-borne VoIP service provided by the IMS, while the IMS may be accessed though the WLAN or other IP access networks, i.e., a work item of Voice Call Continuity (VCC), including a research on a method for supporting a domain transfer between the CS call and the VoIP service provided by the IMS, so that the VCC may be achieved to accommodate the demands of network and service developments. The VCC service is a representative of services involving the CS domain and the IMS simultaneously.
In the development of 3GPP VCC, there is proposed a static anchoring and IMS centralized control method for the domain transfer. The basic idea lies in that, in the IMS home domain, the VCC user is assigned with an AS as a Call Continuity Control Function (CCCF), and control signaling of all the correlated CS calls and IMS sessions of the VCC user are routed to the AS for anchoring. The CCCF controls the above communication connection between the VCC user and a corresponding opposite user in a Third-party Call Control (3PCC) mode and accomplishes the domain transfer in accordance with a request from the VCC user. In other words, the communication connection between the VCC user and the opposite user is divided into two segments on the AS. When the VCC user decides to perform the domain transfer, the VCC user initiates to establish a connection to the AS in a transfer-in network domain. After the establishment of the new connection, the AS controls a renegotiation on the connection to the opposite user, so as to make the opposite user continue the voice communication with the VCC user over the new connection. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a CCCF controls the replacement of the two connections with the VCC user.
FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C illustrate procedures for establishing signaling and bearer connection during a domain transfer procedure from the CS domain to the IMS and a subsequent domain transfer procedure from the IMS to the CS domain for a CS originating call in the prior art. By the procedure, problems confronted by an online charging (or referred as a real-time charging) mode and a prepay service applying the online charging mode during a processing of a service simultaneously involving the CS domain and the IMS, may be shown.
Particularly, FIG. 2A illustrates a procedure for establishing signaling and bearer connection for a CS domain originating call before performing a VCC domain transfer from the CS domain to the IMS. In this procedure, the CS originating call of a VCC user is routed to a CCCF of the home IMS of the user for anchoring, and a bearer connection including a segment of CS bearer and a segment of IP bearer, segmented by an IM-MGW, are established between the VCC user and the opposite user (in FIG. 2A, it is assumed that the opposite side is at the IMS, and if the opposite user is at the PSTN, the connection from the CCCF to the opposite side may further go through an MGCF) as following.
1. The VCC user initiates a call in the CS domain at a Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC) in which the VCC user currently registers.
2. The VMSC triggers an originating side intelligent service in accordance with the subscription data of the VCC user, and sends an Initial Detection Point (IDP) message toward a GSM Service Control Function (gsmSCF) responsible for originating side's routing controlling.
3. The gsmSCF responsible for originating side's routing controlling returns a virtual roaming number pointing to the VCC user's home IMS, i.e., an IP Multimedia Routing Number (IMRN), through a Connect message, and in accordance with the Connect message, the VMSC routes the CS originating call to the CCCF assigned for the VCC user through other network elements in the CS domain, a CS/IMS interworking gateway MGCF and IMS-related network elements, and with the MGCF performing a CS-IMS interworking and converting the CS call to an IMS session, finally establishes a CS-IMS interworking session (dependent upon the IMRN, there may be actually different processing in the IMS, but this is not the focus of the present invention; as illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 2, the IMRN includes a Public Service Identity (PSI) pointing to the CCCF, and the IMS-related network elements include an Interrogating-CSCF (I-CSCF)).
4. The CCCF terminates the received session as a final called party, interacts with the HSS to obtain the S-CSCF assigned for the VCC user (not illustrated), and then in accordance with information carried in the received session establishment request, reinitiates another segment of the session to the original opposite user on behalf of the VCC user through the S-CSCF, and correlatively controls the establishment of the two segments of the session in a 3PCC (also referred to as Routing Back-to-Back User Agent, i.e., Routing B2BUA) way.
5. Finally, the CS-IMS interworking session from the VCC user to the CCCF of the VCC user's home IMS domain via the CS domain and the CS-IMS interworking gateway, and the session from the CCCF to the opposite user are established, and the CCCF correlatively controls the two segments of the session to establish the bearer connection including a segment of CS bearer and a segment of IP bearer, segmented by an IM-MGW.
FIG. 2A illustrates merely one of implementations for anchoring the initial CS originating call to the CCCF in the user's home IMS. Alternatively, the user may directly insert a prefix to a called number or use a specific number pointing to the user's home IMS as the called number in the originated call, and the VMSC controls routing in accordance with the prefix or the specific number. Meanwhile, the number or the IMRN as described above may directly point to the CCCF as illustrated in FIG. 2, or may point to another AS. If the number or the IMRN points to another AS, the AS interacts with the HSS to obtain the S-CSCF currently assigned for the user and reinitiates a session to the original opposite user on behalf of the served user in accordance with the information carried in the received session establishment request, and then the S-CSCF triggers the session to the CCCF in accordance with an initial Filtering Criterion (iFC) in the IMS subscription data of the user, and so on. These are not the focuses of the present invention, and will not be described hereinafter.
Moreover, FIG. 2A illustrates a procedure for anchoring the initial CS originating call to the user's CCCF in the prior art. In addition, a procedure for anchoring an initial CS terminating call to the user's CCCF is also proposed in the prior art. As an alternative, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) in a called user's home PLMN receives a call establishment request destined to the user, interacts with an Home Location Register (HLR) to obtain terminating side CAMEL subscription data of the user, triggers a terminating side intelligent service in accordance with the data, and interacts with a gsmSCF responsible for terminating side's routing controlling to obtain an IMRN pointing to the home IMS. The GMSC, a CS/IMS interworking gateway MGCF and IMS-related network elements route the CS-IMS interworking session to the CCCF assigned for the user for anchoring in accordance the above information. Subsequently, through various processing in the prior art, such as a domain selection, call interworking and CS call delivery, the call is delivered to the user's VCC terminal, then the CS-IMS interworking session between the VCC user and the CCCF in the VCC user's home IMS domain via the CS domain and the CS-IMS interworking gateway, and the CS-IMS interworking session between the CCCF and the opposite user via the IMS-related network elements, the CS-IMS interworking gateway MGCF and the CS domain are established, and the CCCF correlatively controls the two segments of session to establish the bearer connection including two segments of CS bearer and a segment of IP bearer, respectively segmented by the IM-MGW on the both sides. Similar, these are not the focuses of the present invention, and will be not described hereinafter.
With reference to FIG. 2B, after anchoring the initial CS originating call or terminating call to the CCCF, the user initiates a CS-to-IMS domain transfer as follows.
1. When determining to perform a domain transfer to the IMS, if no IMS registration has been performed, the terminal firstly accomplishes an IMS registration (not illustrated), and then initiates an IMS originating session establishment request to the CCCF carrying information of the initial session, where a CCCF PSI carried therein is used as a domain transfer indication for requesting the CCCF to perform an operation of domain transfer for the currently established CS domain call to the IMS.
2. The S-CSCF assigned for the user routes the session establishment request to the CCCF in accordance with an iFC in user's subscription data.
3. The CCCF executes an SIP session transfer procedure for replacing the CS access leg of the user with an IMS access leg, accomplishes a redirection of a media stream interaction through UPDATE or re-INVITE over the segment of session with the opposite end, thus an end-to-end IP bearer connection between the opposite user and the VCC user is established.
4. Upon successfully performing the transfer of the SIP session, the signaling and bearer connection corresponding to the CS access leg of the VCC user is released.
With reference to FIG. 2C, a procedure for establishing a signaling and bearer connection during a subsequent domain transfer back to the CS domain is as follows.
1. After determining that it is needed to perform a VCC domain transfer back to the CS domain, if no registration has been performed at the VMSC, the terminal firstly registers at the VMSC (perform CS domain Location Updating, not illustrated), and then initiates a CS originating call to the CCCF, with a CCCF PSI carried therein as a domain transfer indication for requesting the CCCF to execute an operation of domain transfer back to the CS domain. The CS originating call is routed to the CCCF via an MGCF and an I-CSCF or S-CSCF.
2. The CCCF performs an SIP session transfer procedure similar to that described above for replacing the IMS access leg of the user with the CS access leg.
3. After successfully performing the SIP session transfer for replacing the IMS access leg with the CS access leg, the signaling and bearer connecting corresponding to the IMS access leg of the VCC user is released.
It shall be noted that the subsequent VCC domain transfer from the IMS to the CS domain has been described as an example in the above descriptions, but actually, the procedure of initial domain transfer from the IMS to the CS domain is the same as the procedure of subsequent domain transfer back to the CS domain, in other words, a history of the domain transfer need not be learned for the control of the CCCF.
Furthermore, similar to the procedure of establishing the CS originating call as illustrated in FIG. 2A, there may be different alternatives for the VCC terminal to establish a new CS access leg between the VCC terminal and the CCCF, including: the terminal directly initiates a call to a specific number, IMRN, which points to the user's home IMS and is indicated as a domain transfer request; or, the terminal initiates a call to a specific number indicated as a domain transfer request, the VMSC where the terminal is located triggers an originating side intelligent service in accordance with user's subscription data, and interacts with a gsmSCF responsible for originating side's routing controlling to obtain the IMRN pointing to the home IMS; and the VMSC, other network elements in the CS domain, the CS/IMS interworking gateway MGCF and IMS-related network elements route the CS-IMS interworking session to the CCCF assigned for the user in accordance the above information. FIG. 2C illustrates merely one of the simplest and most efficient approaches. Similarly, these are not the focuses of the present invention, and will not be described hereinafter.
It may be seen that in such a solution of implementing the Voice Call Continuity, a great influence may be introduced on charging based upon a call connection: for an initial CS call with the VCC user as a calling or called user, since it needs to be routed to the user's home IMS, a call connection will be established through both the CS domain and the IMS before domain transfer, resulting in repetitive charging for this period of time; and for one communication with the opposite user, during the procedure of domain transfer, the user will initiate the establishment of a call connection with the CCCF alternately in the IMS and in the IMS plus the CS domain, which make it difficult to form a complete charging record. Furthermore, in accordance with the current charging criterion, the charging for several communications with short duration is usually different from the charging for one communication with a long duration even with the same total duration. Consequently, even without consideration of the repetitive charging during the domain transfer, it is difficult for the method of separate charging in the CS domain and the IMS to guarantee completeness and accuracy of the charging. Also, since differences may usually exist in the case of establishing a call connection in different network domains and in the case of the user being a calling or a called user, a more flexible charging criterion may be desirable for such a scenario where two network domains are used dynamically and flexibly to establish and maintain a call connection. Furthermore, in the solution for Voice Call Continuity, regardless of the VCC user previously being a calling or a called user to establish the initial communication with the opposite user, the call connection between the VCC user and the CCCF newly established during domain transfer is always established by the VCC user in an originating way. Therefore for guaranteeing completeness and accuracy of the charging, a correct call direction has to be confirmed firstly, and the charging will be performed in accordance with the correct call direction. Obviously from the above, during such processing of a service which involves simultaneously the CS domain and the IMS, in order to implement a correct charging, the whole charging procedure may be very complicated. Particularly, if the method for separate CS domain and the IMS charging is still adopted, an essential requirement for implementation of complete and accurate charging is that a charging correlation in the CS domain and the IMS parts shall be guaranteed, and furthermore, a corresponding processing performed on information of the two correlated parts shall be guaranteed in the charging.
Further, there also exists a real-time charging or online charging mode in current networks, and services which adopt this mode include a prepay service widely applied. A basic feature of the prepay service is that, there is no long term credit relationship between a user and a network, the user prepays some fees and the network performs an online credit control while providing a service, in other words, a real-time deduction of a required fee, and when the prepay fees are exhausted, the provision of the service for the user is terminated.
In the current CS domain, the prepay service is typically based upon the Customized Application of Mobile Network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) architecture, a primary procedure of the CAMEL is as follows: when the user originates or terminates a CS call, as the gsmSSF, a VMSC where the user is currently located (in the case that the user originates the call) or a GMSC (in the case that the user terminates the call) triggers an intelligent service in accordance with user's CAMEL subscription data, and then the VMSC or the GMSC establishes a control connection with the gsmSCF which provides a prepay service logical control. The gsmSSF reports call related information, monitors the procedure of call establishment and call continuance in accordance with an instruction of the gsmSCF and granted communication duration, and reports corresponding Basic Call Status Model (BCSM) events and Appling Charging Reports during call establishment and the call continuance. The gsmSCF performs a real-time deduction in accordance with the reported information, and judges whether to allow the user to continue with the communication in accordance with a remaining unit, so as to perform the CS domain credit control. Corresponding to the specific implementations introduced as above, before the VMSC or the GMSC routes the call to the CCCF of the user's home IMS, the prepay service implemented based upon the CAMEL is invoked in accordance with the user's subscription data, and the corresponding gsmSCF performs a real-time unit deduction during the call, and in accordance with the remaining unit, judges whether to allow or instruct a control of releasing the call so as to perform the CS domain credit control.
In the IMS, since both the service and the charging criterion are more complicated, an Online Charging System (OCS) as illustrated in FIG. 3 is adopted, which considers comprehensively different aspects with respect to a bearer, a session, an event, etc. The prepay service in the IMS may be also implemented in the architecture, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The OCS of the IMS includes a Bearer Charging Function (BCF), an Event Charging Function (ECF), a Session Charging Function (SCF), a Rating Function (RF), and an Account Business Management Function (ABMF). Based upon the above functions, the following three charging modes may be provided, including:
Immediate Event Charging (IEC): upon receiving a corresponding request, the OCS granting units to an IMS network element is performed in a single operation that also includes the deduction of the corresponding monetary units from a user account;
Event Charging with Unit Reservation (ECUR): the event charging with unit reservation includes the process of requesting, reserving, releasing and returning unused units for events. The deduction of the corresponding monetary units then occurs upon conclusion of the ECUR transaction.
Session Charging with Unit Reservation (SCUR): the session charging with unit reservation is configured for a credit control in a session, including the process of requesting, reserving, releasing and returning unused units for sessions, and the deduction of the corresponding monetary units. During a SIP session there may be repeated execution of unit reservation and debit operations.
The IMS network element may choose to apply the above different modes according to a service or a policy of an operator. In a VCC service, since the charging is for a voice communication, the mode of SCUR is adopted. During processing a session related to a corresponding user, information corresponding to the user is reported to the OCS through a Credit Control Request respectively of Initial, Update and Termination, in particularly, which can be accomplished through an interaction of the AS or S-CSCF in the IMS network with the OCS.

Method for providing on-line charging and device and system thereof


Systems and methods for pre-game and post-game video game character presentation and equipping are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a computer implemented method useful for video game play comprises: determining identities and equipment of at least some game characters for participation in game play; in a time period outside of game play, providing information for rendering the game characters with their equipment in a scene having visual characteristics of a virtual world for game play; providing game players the opportunity to change and/or purchase equipment for their game characters; and providing for game play including the game characters.

The present invention relates generally to multi-player video games, and more particularly to out-of-game play presentations supporting equipping of video game characters.
Video games are enjoyed by many, often allowing video game players to virtually participate in otherwise unavailable activities, whether due to requirements of skill, experience, or equipment availability, or simply due to inherent dangers of the activities.
In many games a video game player may control a video game character, who may have various skills and powers, and who may be equipped with various items, whether for use in the video game or merely for purposes of visual appearance in a virtual world of the game. Some games may allow for personalization of equipping of video game characters. The personalization, which may be termed equipping, may relate to clothing worn by a video game character, whether for function or fashion, and what may be broadly termed accessories. The accessories may be tools or other usable equipment carried by the video game character for the video game character's use. The personalization may also, in some embodiments, relate to the video game character's skills or capabilities, capabilities which include an ability to call upon assistance provided by capabilities of others.
In some video games some personalizations may be more desirable than others. For example, some personalizations may be appropriate for some virtual worlds, but not others. Similarly, in the context of multi-player games, some personalizations may be more desirable over others depending on the personalizations of opponents or teammates.
Unfortunately, a desired personalization of a video game character may not be known until game play commences, and depending on the nature of game play, changes in personalization during game play may not be possible, or if possible not prudent if success during game play is desired.
Traditionally, video games were generally monetized through sales of the games themselves, either as a packaged item or through an online download. These transactions were typically one-time transactions between a buyer and a seller (e.g., retailer, video game publisher, or video game developer). More recently, new monetization models have developed. For example, instead of, or in addition to, the traditional sale of the video game itself, some sellers are now monetizing video games through multiple, small, in-game transactions called microtransactions or micropayments. In some cases, users of video games may obtain the personalizations described above through such microtransactions, for free, or through some combination of microtransactions and free transactions. One challenge facing video game sellers who use microtransactions is to find effective and non-intrusive ways to further incentivize users to purchase microtransactions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pre-play and post-play video game character presentation and equipping


Inserting a woven composite layer between laminates of composite material layers where the insert layer comprises composite, carbon fibers woven in a three dimensional weave. The woven insert is injected with a resin material and partially cured prior to deposition of the composite layers. The complete blade is then molded and cured as a unit.

Composite blades developed for commercial aircraft engine fan blades may be constructed of laminated carbon/epoxy "prepreg" material. A "prepreg" is a layer of carbon fibers covered with resin and arranged to form a cloth. Prepreg cloth layers may be layered and cured to form a composite structure. The laminates may experience interlaminar separation under certain circumstances. When laminated fan blades are subject to high energy impacts (e.g., birds, or other foreign objects), the interlaminar separation can result in delamination and a reduction in the blade's structural integrity.
The shear stresses which may tend to delaminate the blade structure are generated when the composite blade is subjected to high twisting and bending loads. These loads normally result from impacts which occur on the leading edge of the blade. When the blade is subjected to an impact, the peak shear stresses tend to be transmitted to the middle of the blade, as well as the leading and trailing edges.
Previous attempts to improve resistance to delamination of composite fan blades have involved, for example, stitching a full size all prepreg blade before cure. Alternatively the blade may have been manufactured of a braided or combination braided/stitched prepreg. It is also known to use a foam or other insert to strengthen a composite blade.


A tunable spectral source includes an enclosure having first and second apertures; an optical dispersive element positioned in the enclosure; and multiple pixel source elements that are individually controllable for selectively directing one or more broadband light signals through the first aperture to irradiate the optical dispersive element. Each of the broadband light signals irradiates the optical dispersive element at a unique angle of incidence. The optical dispersive element disperses the broadband light signals into spectral component signals at dispersion angles that are dependent upon the angle of incidence of each broadband light signal that irradiates the optical dispersive element. The portions of the spectral component signals that are emitted through the second aperture are determined by selecting one or more particular pixel source elements to irradiate the optical dispersive element.

The present invention relates to spectral energy sources, and more particularly, to a tunable spectral energy source that uses the dispersive effect of electromagnetic energy to select spectral components that are emitted from the spectral source.
One type of device for isolating single spectral bands of broad band illumination sources is a monochromator. These devices isolate and emit a narrow region of a spectrum. Spectral tuning is accomplished by rotating the diffraction grating to the angle corresponding to the desired emission wavelength. Spectra can be constructed by sequentially tuning the diffraction grating through the necessary wavelength range. The intensity at each wavelength is controlled by the length of time the grating remains at the corresponding angle. Practically, the sequential nature of this procedure limits the usefulness of monochromators for simulating spectral sources because the time required to construct the spectrum may often exceed the sensor integration times.
Another type of system for isolating a particular wavelength of light in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet regions is based upon a technique known as xe2x80x9caperture filling.xe2x80x9d Basic physics principals of aperture filling state that binary amplitude gratings can be used to expand the light from an aperture to uniformly fill an aperture with a width less than or equal to 4 times the width of the small aperture. Conversely, light from a large aperture can be concentrated into a sub-aperture with a width greater than or equal to 0.25 times the width of the large aperture. This technique to concentrate red, green and blue light from a large aperture into three sub-apertures. The intensity of the light in each sub-aperture is controlled with digital micro mirror or liquid crystal devices. Aperture filling limits the number of sub-apertures to four, which in turn limits the technique to applications requiring four or less spectral bands. Because this technique is constrained to a corresponding fill factor or 0.25 or greater, only four controllable wavelength bands may be emitted at a single time.
At present there is no device that can be operated quickly and electronically to simulate random complex spectra covering a wide wavelength band. Therefore, a need exists for a tunable spectral source that can emit spectra over a wide bandwidth, particularly, optical spectra ranging from long infrared to ultraviolet light.
The present invention provides a tunable spectral source for emitting optical energy characterized by a particular bandwidth, or spectral range. The invention takes advantage of the fact that broadband light such as white light may be refracted, or broken down into it multi-spectral, or multi-colored spectral components. The tunable spectral source includes an enclosure having first and second apertures; an optical dispersive element positioned in the enclosure; and multiple pixel source elements that are individually controllable for selectively directing one or more broadband light signals through the first aperture to irradiate the optical dispersive element. Each of the broadband light signals irradiates the optical dispersive element at a unique angle of incidence. The optical dispersive element disperses the broadband light signals into spectral component signals at dispersion angles that are dependent upon the angle of incidence of each broadband light signal that irradiates the optical dispersive element. The portions of the spectral component signals that are emitted through the second aperture are determined by selecting one or more particular broadband pixel source elements to irradiate the optical dispersive element.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A CdTe or CdZnTe radiation imaging detector and high voltage bias part for applying a high voltage to the continuous electrode to ensure stable performance of the detector. The high voltage bias part includes conductors of >30 um diameter and preferably selected from a group of materials that do not oxidize easily or oxidize less than aluminium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radiation detection and to digital radiation imaging where the detected radiation energy is in excess of 5 keV and typically in the range 5 keV-1 MeV. In particular, the invention relates to a method of connecting a high voltage or a biasing voltage to the surface of a compound semiconductor radiation detector.
2. Description of Related Art
A semiconductor radiation detector requires a high/bias voltage on one of its surfaces to produce an electric field inside the semiconductor detector crystal. The electric field is necessary to ensure effective collection of the signal charge (electrons and holes) created in the crystal by incident radiation (X- or gamma rays or particle radiation). Conventionally the high voltage contact is provided with a thin aluminum wire with a thickness of typically 10-25 μm. The wire is generally attached by ultrasonic bonding. Other means of providing the high voltage connection between the detector surface and the Al wire include conductive epoxy or a metal spring which is brought into contact with the detector surface by mechanical pressure. These conventional means of contacting the high voltage work well in certain applications and for certain types of semiconductor detectors.
In applications where the incident radiation enters the detector crystal from the low voltage (ground/signal) side, the high voltage can be connected by means of conductive epoxy which provides electrical contact between the detector surface and the supporting substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB). A thin aluminum wire is perfectly suitable as a high voltage connector for detectors made of silicon which is a highly mature semiconductor of well defined and stable properties.
In applications which require the high/bias voltage surface of the detector to remain bare in order to freely receive radiation, any conventional metal springs or similar means which covers all or part of the detector surface cannot be used to connect the detector high voltage. Likewise in such applications the high voltage surface cannot be glued with epoxy to a substrate. Instead, a thin wire which covers only a very small spot of the detector high voltage surface is preferred.
An example of an application requiring the detector high/bias voltage surface to remain bare is radiation imaging with hybrid detectors consisting of a semiconductor crystal (i.e., detector) bump bonded to an integrated readout circuit.

CdTe/CdZnTe radiation imaging detector and high/biasing voltage means


A computer system, including at least one host (processor and operating system), a channel subsystem and at least one switch (together with an associated switch controller) for switchably connecting an I/O device (together with an associated I/O device control unit) to a host via said channel subsystem, in combination with means for dynamically managing I/O connectivity in said computer from each host. The I/O manager's functions are centralized at the host level across the computer system. Each host is responsible for an instance of the manager. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the computer system, I/O manager combination includes: (a) first means, located within each switch, for providing direct host access to the switch controller associated with a given switch; (b) second means, included in each host level instance of the manager, for automatically and dynamically determining the current I/O configuration and connectivity of each host; (c) third means, included in each host level instance of the manager, for performing System Integrated Switching (i.e., switching where any instance of the I/O manager can veto a proposed configuration change) and (d) fourth means, included in each host level instance of the manager, for insuring the integrity of the I/O connectivity database, through the use of an interlock mechanism, in a multiuser environment where each user can enter multiple part commands and processes concurrently.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to managing I/O in data processing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to dynamically managing I/O connectivity from the host processor level in a mainframe computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art systems for communicating between one or more host operating systems, running on all or part of a central processing complex (CPC), and a set of peripheral devices via a channel subsystem (CSS) are well known. The term "device", as used herein, is meant to include such components, whether directly addressable or not, as control units, peripheral cache memories, communications apparatus, data storage units such as direct access storage devices (DASD), tape recorders and the like.
The aforementioned systems typically use one or more control units (CUs) to control data transfer on the paths between a given CPC and a particular peripheral device. Various I/O management schemes have been developed for use in these systems to deal with I/O subsystem maintenance and reconfiguration. Users can enter maintenance and reconfiguration requests at a device CU console. This type of management scheme is referred to hereinafter as a control unit-based I/O management scheme.
An example of a data processing system that utilizes control unit-based I/O management techniques is described in copending patent application Ser. No. 251,969, filed Sep. 26, 1988, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Patent application Ser. No. 251,969 is hereby incorporated by reference.
Methods and apparatus are described in the referenced application for automatically reconfiguring a data processing system during operation such that devices can be removed from the system during maintenance with the system automatically reconfiguring itself to continue operations.
According to the teachings in the referenced application, a manually presented definition of the various paths between each CPC and each device is entered into the host system and channel subsystem when the data processing system is initialized. Configuration tables, maintained at both the host and channel subsystem level, contain data defining and identifying the channels, switches (if used), CUs and various devices. The relationship of these elements, contained in these tables, effectively define all the I/O paths between each CPC and each peripheral device.
Sometime after initialization a registration process takes place wherein each host sends information to each device CU informing the CU that it (the CPC) is a device user. It should be noted, for later reference and comparison with the present invention, that the device CU in the referenced application is not cognizant of any other devices coupled to a particular CPC.
After the registration process is complete and before any device is taken off line, the CPCs to be affected need to be notified, by the particular device CU(s) involved, of pending configuration changes. In effect, the referenced application uses a "bottom up" (from a system hierarchy point of view) notification scheme for CUs to notify CPCs of quiesce requests via the paths between a device and any affected channels.
It should be also noted that the quiescing scheme taught in the referenced application is host driven, i.e., a device CU waits for registration information from the CPCs to which it is ultimately attached. If the registration information is never supplied, e.g., if the device starts offline and will change to online (or fails), the CU does not know of any attachment to the host. Such a failure would prevent the scheme taught in the referenced application from working properly since the computer I/O configuration must be identified to the hardware and software that will use it.
Often, the identification of a system's I/O configuration is complex. That is, the definition of it is difficult and requires a lot of advanced planning. The difficulty in definition is largely due to the complexity of I/O in large installations where there are multiple processors and applications that need to concurrently share or potentially access I/O resources. In defining the I/O configuration many factors must be taken into account. Logical constraints, such as which I/O units must be accessed, the speed of the I/O units, the overhead of shared I/O protocols and interlocks, and the number of logical sessions an I/O unit can support are examples of such factors. Also, physical system constraints must be considered, such as distance from the processor, accessibility (by cables or maintenance personnel), and weight distribution of the I/O units on the floor.
Since correctly defining the I/O configuration takes such effort, other products that require an I/O definition compound that complexity. There may be only one, primary, I/O definition. That definition must be altered when either the physical configuration, or the logical requirements on the I/O are changed. If there are other, secondary, I/O definitions for use by other products which must be updated in coordination with the primary, then the task of altering the I/O definition requires more effort, is far more prone to error, and requires more planning for a coordinated execution of the change.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to query the channel subsystem from the host level of a data processing system, to dynamically determine the entire I/O connectivity attached to a processor. Such information would enable the host to create a host view (top-down view) of all paths from the host o an attached set of devices. In addition to providing a centralized view of the particular CUs attached to a given processor, a map of neighboring devices under the influence of the given processor would automatically be at hand. Such information would be useful for other I/O management tasks, such as dynamically managing connectivity, analyzing data traffic, scheduling jobs for I/O recovery, etc.
Furthermore, the ability to dynamically create an I/O connectivity database (i.e., to create a current correct system I/O configuration without additional user intervention) at the host level would eliminate the problems that would occur in a host driven registration system if a particular CU should fail to be informed of its attachment to the host. The host could automatically create the latest I/O map in real time.
As data processing needs of system users grow, the number of peripheral devices connected to and supported by data processing systems also grows. Multiple data processing applications requiring a plurality of various peripheral devices increase systemwide connectivity requirements. As a result the number of connections (and ultimately paths) to be identified, remembered and managed increases. The ability of each CU to store and process all the required data to notify multiple host processors possibly affected by configuration changes, etc., is more limited in terms of resources than the ability of each host processor to deal with I/O management.
Accordingly, it would also be desirable if instead of a device control unit-based I/O management scheme, a centralized host-based I/O management scheme could be devised to dynamically manage connectivity from any host. This would eliminate having to enter I/O management requests at the CU level particularly when the devices become numerous and widely distributed. Furthermore, a centralized host-based management scheme would eliminate the need to coordinate operator action at a system console with actions of maintenance personnel at the control units or devices.
Adding still further to the complexity of managing I/O in present day computer systems is the use of switches in the data paths between the channel subsystem and peripheral devices. The use of switches further increase device connectivity capability and flexibility by increasing the number of logical available connections while at the same time reducing the number of physical connections required. However, with this increased capability and flexibility the task of I/O management increases as the number of devices that can be connected to a CPC goes up and the number of CPCs that can be connected to a device increases.
Furthermore, space and other physical plant limitations often dictate that the peripheral devices be located further and further away from the host computing resources, making a centralized I/O management scheme even more important. Whereas prior art data processing systems needed to keep peripherals within a range of approximately 400 feet from the CPC on account of constraints related to the length of connecting electrical cables; the use of state of the art fiber optic data links has extended the range of where peripherals can be located to over a mile from the CPC.
All of the factors stated hereinabove make it even more desirable, if not essential, to be able to initiate and control I/O connectivity from a central point, preferably at the host level in the data processing system.
Given the need and desirability of performing centralized dynamic I/O connectivity management, new problems need to be addressed before the centralized management function can be performed with integrity.
In a computer I/O configuration where connectivity options are increased using switches (or even nested layers of switches), switchable I/O resources may be inadvertently removed from physical connectivity with a system or program which requires them. Such a loss of I/O resources may cause the program or system to lose its data and/or functional integrity, causing it to fail.
There are no known switching products that integrate physical switching operations with the systems' logical view of the I/O connectivity. Due to larger I/O configurations with more shared devices, more complex systems, and more automated operations environments, the manual effort required by existing switching systems to be coordinated with systems operations is more intensive and less effective. Current switching systems do not provide the ability to protect systems from accidental outages. There is a need for switching systems to provide for greater integration of switching functions within the systems where they operate in order to reduce error-prone, manual and/or redundant efforts.
System Integrated Switching, as the term is used hereinafter, is a means by which logical availability changes can be made in order to reflect physical connectivity changes. A path is logically available as long as the operating system, the subsystem that controls I/O, or other program indicates that when performing I/O requests to a device, the specific path to the device may be used for that I/O. A path is physically connected as long as there are means to perform the I/O operation.
It would be desirable if logical availability changes were made in such a way that a system could preclude the physical change when that system would be adversely affected by the physical change. Roughly, a component of the system (e.g., any host processor in a multiprocessor environment) can state, "No, don't make this change, it will remove something I need." With System Integrated Switching, a computer system complex would have the ability to maintain its data and/or functional integrity by prohibiting physical changes to its required I/O paths.
In addition, such a system could make use of resources as soon as they are physically connected without additional operator effort since physical I/O connectivity is automatically reflected in the system's view of logical availability.
A centrally operated I/O connectivity management system that includes both a System Integrated Switching capability and the ability to dynamically create an I/O connectivity database is presently unknown.
In order to implement such a system, it is necessary to be able to provide direct host access to switches (and their associated switch controllers, which is the hardware component that controls the state of the switch) that, according to the prior art, are "transparent" (as defined hereinafter) to normal system operation.
Dynamic switches are defined herein as switches which operate by making connections when they are needed, and which break connections when they are no longer needed. Connect and disconnect delimiters are utilized to operate such switches in a manner that is transparent to programming. Techniques for operating switches in this manner are described in a copending Patent Application, entitled "SWITCH AND ITS PROTOCOL FOR MAKING DYNAMIC CONNECTIONS", (IBM docket number P09-88-011), filed Oct. 30, 1989, in the name of P. J. Brown, et al, hereby incorporated by reference.
In commercially available computer systems, host processors (and if more than one operating system on a processor, each operating system) can "see" switches as they "see" other devices (e.g., disks, etc.), however the hosts are not cognizant of switches as switches, nor are the hosts cognizant of which switches lie in any given path to another device. Hence the switches are "transparent" to a host.
In known systems, a host can communicate with a switch controller on a separate link not going through the switch. It is also known that a host can communicate with a switch controller indirectly via the switch and a control unit located outside the switch. This lack of direct access to the switch controller (via the switch itself) limits the host's ability to control and manage the switch as an I/O path component. This is particularly true in a multiprocessor environment where coherency needs to be maintained across the system when, for example, a switch (or several of its ports) is taken out of service.
In order to implement a centralized dynamic I/O connectivity management system, it is necessary for the host processors to be cognizant of the switches as switches, to know the paths in which the switches lie, and to have the aforementioned direct access to switch controllers.
Means for identifying the existence of switches coupled to a channel, means for identifying the address of where channels are attached to switches, means for querying the channel subsystem to collect switch existence and address information, are used in this application, and described in detail hereinbelow.
It would be desirable to be able to provide for the aforesaid direct host access capability, in combination with the various means to make hosts cognizant of switches as switches, etc., to be able to effect the type of centralized control, management and coherency required to implement a dynamic I/O connectivity manager. Such a combination would facilitate remote control of switch functions, would enable the recording of switch error status at the host level, facilitate switch recovery, identify resources in an I/O configuration, and provide a means for interprocessor communications via each switch control unit/device that is coupled to more than one processor. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide the aforementioned switch access feature in a centrally operated I/O connectivity management system.
Finally, a user of a distributed application (i.e., an application that has peers running on separate computers, e.g., the dynamic I/O connectivity management system contemplated herein) needs to be assured that a command or set of commands are performed to completion before another user can issue a command or set of commands.
The application needs to let only one user access the application at any single point in time, and reject all other users until the first user has completed its task (of one or more commands). Rather than a manual, procedural method to communicate between multiple users to keep their efforts synchronized, it would be desirable if the application could assume the overhead and responsibility of assuring that the state of the application environment is controlled by only one user at a time. This feature (referred to hereinafter as a Floating Master Interlock) would enable centralized dynamic I/O connectivity management systems to run concurrently on a plurality of host processors and insure the integrity of critical data, for example, data stored at each of the aforementioned dynamic switch control units, etc.

Methods and apparatus for dynamically managing input/output (I/O) connectivity

International Business Machines Corporation


An LED printer constructed with a lower body frame, an upper body frame, a process unit having an upper leading end for mounting a photo-sensitive drum in a housing, an LED frame for supporting an LED head array beneath its right end portion, a pair of through holes formed adjacent to the right end of the LED frame, a pair of blind holes formed on the LED head array facing and aligned with the pair of through holes, and a pair of threaded bolts respectively received by the pair of through holes for connecting the LED head array to the LED frame by respectively fixing the lower ends of the pair of threaded bolts in the pair of blind holes. A pair of compression springs are interposed between the LED frame and head array and enclose corresponding ones of the pair of threaded bolts in order to exert a resilient force on the LED head array. A pair of LED positioning plates formed on both upper side ends of the housing. When an image process unit is installed inside the upper body frame, the upper leading end pushes the lever so as to pivot the LED frame together with the LED head array clockwise, so that both lower side end surfaces of the LED head array respectively contact the pair of LED positioning plates under the resilient force of the pair of compression springs and thus the gap between the photo-sensitive drum and LED head array is properly established and maintained.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) printer, and more particularly, to a mechanism for changing the process unit thereof.
2. Background Art
Conventional designs of printers relying upon light emitting diode arrays have pivotally connected upper and lower frames enclosing a photosensitive drum and developer assembly, a fixer, and a paper conveying assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,436 for example, mentions a photo processing unit having a cleaning device, photo-sensitive drum, electric charger, and developer. An LED frame is manually opened and closed by pivoting upon a hinge. In order to change the process unit, the upper body frame is first opened, and then a lever on the frame is pressed so as to release a hook engaging the upper body frame. Thus, the LED frame is opened upwardly in order to remove the process unit from the unit guide.
If however, the process unit is mounted in the unit guide and the frame including the LED head array is pivoted downwardly on the hinge, the book is held by the upper body frame so that the LED head array may be positioned facing the photo-sensitive drum through an opening formed in the upper part of the unit guide at a fixed interval therebetween. Such designs fail to accommodate a range of manufacturing tolerances as well as changes of tolerances occurring during usage attributable to wear and tear of, -for example, slight manufacturing misalignment or gradual wear of the hook engaging the upper body frame. Consequently, contemporary designs do not assume maintenance of a constant gap between the light emitting diode array and the photo-sensitive drum.
Such contemporary designs of conventional LED printers are complicated, and require manual disassembly and reassembly of the related component parts in order to change the process unit.


A fixture for retaining mold pin workpieces for separate cut-off and precision grinding operations, facilitating the efficient machining of quantities of mold pins to close tolerances, when employed in combination with a machine such as a manual surface grinder, or other machining tool. The fixture includes a base pate, with a vertically upstanding cylindrical post secured to the base plate. A head assembly is slidably mounted on the post for both vertical position adjustment and rotational (angular) adjustment. A vertically-extending graticule line on the post and a graduated degree scale on the head assembly cooperate to facilitate rotational adjustment of the head assembly to particular angles. In addition, the base plate has primary side and secondary positioning reference edges oriented at precise angles. The head assembly has a pin-clamping portion extending horizontally from the post to a distal end generally along a head assembly axis perpendicular to the post. A first stationary jaw is located on a side of the pin-clamping portion adjacent to the distal end and has a horizontally-oriented V-groove facing away from the head assembly axis for orienting a workpiece pin parallel to the head assembly axis during a cut-off operation. A second stationary jaw is located at the distal end and has a vertically-oriented V-groove facing away from the post for orienting a workpiece pin perpendicular to the head assembly axis during a precision grinding operation.

The present invention relates generally to the machining of mold pins and, more particularly, to a fixture for retaining workpieces for separate cut-off and precision grinding operations, facilitating the efficient machining of quantities of mold pins to close tolerances.
Mold pins, such as punch pins, ejector pins and core pins, are employed in large numbers and in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Multiple copies of the same mold pin configuration are often required, so that the same precision machining operations are repeated over and over.
Hardened steel pin blanks, of precise diameters ranging from very small diameters to one and one-half inches, and ranging in length to twelve inches and longer, are obtained from a manufacturer. The pin blanks have an elongated cylindrical shaft, and an enlarged mounting head. The pin blanks are then precision-cut by a machinist to desired lengths. Normally, a batch of pins is made at one time. The cutting to length must be very precise, with a precise, flat grind on the end.
Making pins from a blank typically involves two steps: First, an initial rough cut is made, employing a cut-off wheel to establish the approximate length. Then, a final precision grinding operation is performed, to establish the final length and to make the end flat.
Traditionally, machinists make these pins employing a variety of clamps, but no particularly efficient technique is generally used. Typically, a simple V-block fixture is held in a vice.
Specialized fixtures for machining mold pins are disclosed for example in Jaskolski U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,379 and Lehman U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,963. While the Jaskolski and Lehman fixtures are perhaps of some benefit, there nevertheless remains a need for a fixture which facilitates efficient machining of mold pins in a wide variety of sizes and configurations.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for reporting cell information and adjusting a cell mobility parameter. The method for reporting cell information includes a connection failure occurring on a terminal and re-establishing a radio resource control RRC connection with a cell by the terminal. A cell identity of a neighboring cell of a source cell and event information of the neighboring cell that is recorded by the terminal before the connection failure occurs is sent by the terminal to a base station that controls a cell where the RRC connection is re-established. Technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present invention may help improve the accuracy of mobility parameter adjustment on a network side and further improve the terminal handover efficiency.

In a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a base station that controls a source cell of a terminal, that is, a source evolved NodeB (eNB), delivers measurement configuration information to the terminal to instruct the terminal to measure signal quality of the source cell and that of a neighboring cell of the source cell. When the signal quality of the neighboring cell meets a handover condition, the terminal reports a measurement result to the source eNB, and the source eNB determines whether to perform a handover according to a measurement report reported by the terminal. A mobility parameter of the neighboring cell in the measurement configuration information directly affects the measurement result reported by the terminal and then affects a success rate of the handover.
In the prior art, the mobility parameter of the neighboring cell is incorrectly adjusted by the source eNB, thereby affecting the terminal handover efficiency.

Method and device for reporting cell information and adjusting cell mobility parameter


The present invention provides a sorter preferably for an inserting system for sorting mailpieces into one of at least two sorting bins, the sorter having a transport device for conveying the mailpieces along a transport path. Each sorting bin includes a bending mechanism for bending the tail edge portion of a mailpiece and a final stacking roller for unbending the tail edge portion of the mailpiece such that the tail edge portion of the mailpiece is diverted into the sorting bin and away from the transport device without the occurrence of jamming of the mailpiece in the entry portion of the sorting bin.

Throughout the history of mail delivery, there has been a gradual evolution whereby the post office encourages mailers to prepare their mail in such a way as to reduce the effort required on the part of the post office for processing such mail. As an inducement to the mailer to prepare the mail in such a way so as to bring about faster mail delivery, the post office offers several levels of postage discount to mailers. The level of discount typically is based on the number of criteria met by the mailer. For example, in order to maximize such postage discounts, the post office requires that high volume mailers presort the mailpieces, apply a Zip+4 bar code to each mailpiece, and package their mail into trays with each tray tagged in accordance with the Domestic Mail Manual.
Previously, large volume mailers have performed the sorting process on conventional off-line sorting equipment, however the traying process is still performed manually. Smaller volume mailers may perform both the sorting and traying processes manually. Clearly such manual traying is not efficient for large volume mailers.
As described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,249 to Belec et al., this drawback was overcome by the direct interface of a multi-bin sorting device with an inserter system. This inserter system performs automated sorting of mailpieces in accordance with predetermined postal discount requirements. Essentially, the system consists of an inserter for assembling the mailpieces and a sorter coupled to the inserter for automatically sorting and traying the mailpieces. The sorter includes a sorter controller and a plurality of on-edge sorting bins. The system also includes means for communicating mailpiece data and configuration data to the sorter controller. The sorter controller controls the sorting of mailpieces received from the inserter into sort groups according to postal discount requirements.
In order to prevent the occasional jamming of envelopes as they are diverted into designated trays of the sorter device, the inserter system implemented an anti-jamming kicker gate. The kicker gate, when actuated, aligns with the actuated gate of a tray to allow smooth entry of a mailpiece from a transport of the inserter system into a tray of the sorting device. Upon deactuation, the kicker gate returns to its original position thereby "kicking" the tail of the mailpiece inwardly into the tray and away from the entry area of the tray. Such a kicker-gate mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,660 to Daboub. But, even though this kicker gate proved to be reliable it suffered from occasional drawbacks in that the kicking gate occasional damaged a mailpiece through its "kicking" action against a mailpiece. Additional, this anti-jamming mechanism is complex and expensive to implement because it requires an exact timing scheme for actuation of the kicker gate.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting device that can be implemented at the output end on an inserting system having an improved mechanism for preventing jamming of mailpieces being conveyed into individual sorting bins of the sorting device.


A mounting mechanism is provided for mounting a second SCUBA tank (e.g. a pony tank) to a first SCUBA tank (e.g. a main SCUBA tank). The mounting mechanism includes a bracket having a first curved outer surface for engaging the first SCUBA tank, having a second curved outer surface for engaging a second SCUBA tank, and having a connecting portion connecting the first curved outer surface to the second curved outer surface, a passage being formed in the connecting portion. A first clamp extends through the passage in the connecting portion and secures the second SCUBA tank to the second curved outer surface. A second clamp, for example the existing BCD strap of a main SCUBA tank, extends through the passage in the connecting portion and secures the second SCUBA tank to the first curved outer surface.

Mounting systems are known for securing a pony tank to a main SCUBA tank. U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,967 to Berg purports to disclose a pony tank mounting system which includes a joining bracket, a pair of hose clamps for securing the pony tank to the bracket, and a strap for suspending the joining bracket with pony tank from a valve on the main SCUBA tank.


Unless an abnormality exists in piping introducing a pressure from front and rear of DPF 22 into a differential pressure sensor 45, pulsations of pressure propagation through an exhaust passage 21 is offset in a detection value of a pressure difference of the differential pressure sensor 45, and an amplitude of the detection value of the DPF pressure difference resulting from pulsation of the pressure becomes small. If a crack exists in one of the piping 3a and 3b, the influence of a pulsation of the pressure appears in the DPF pressure difference and the amplitude of the detection value of the DPF pressure difference becomes large. The amplitude of the detection value of the DPF pressure difference is compared with the reference value and is detected as being abnormal when it is large, utilizing the phenomenon described above.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exhaust gas purification apparatus, having a particulate filter, for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention relates to an abnormality detection apparatus for detecting an abnormality in an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reduction of exhaust gas emission has been required in recent years for internal combustion engines mounted in automobiles and so forth. In a compression ignition type Diesel engine using light oil as fuel, in particular, removal of particulate matters such as soot and SOF (soluble organic fraction) in the exhaust gas has been necessary in addition to removal of CO, HC and NOx. Therefore, it has been customary to arrange a particulate filter in an exhaust passage and to trap particulate matters in the exhaust gas.
The particulate filter allows the passage of an inflowing exhaust gas through a porous partition wall and traps, thereby, the particulate matters in the exhaust gas on the surface of the partition wall and the pores. When an amount of the particulate matters so collected becomes excessively great, a back pressure on the internal combustion engine rises due to the increase in the flow resistance in the particular filter and the increase of the back pressure invites a drop in the output. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately remove the particulate matters accumulated on the particulate filter, to regenerate the particulate filter and to recover the flow capacity of the particulate filter.
A particulate filter that makes it possible to regenerate during the operation of the internal combustion engine includes the one that includes an oxide catalyst such as platinum. This filter supplies fuel to the particulate filter by means of post-injection for injecting the fuel in the exhaust stroke, and oxidizes and removes the accumulated particulate matters that are not easily oxidized in comparison with fuel injection by utilizing the combustion heat.
The fuel consumption is deteriorated when regeneration of the particulate filter is done frequently. When the interval to the next regeneration is too long, on the other hand, the amount of the particulate matters becomes excessively great at the time of the start of regeneration and the accumulated particulate matters are rapidly burnt in the regeneration processing. The particulate filter reaches an abnormally high temperature, and is likely to be broken, in this case. It is therefore desirable to detect the deposition condition of the particulate matters and to decide the regeneration timing of the particulate filter. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2003-279191 and 2003-83035 disclose a technology that detects a pressure difference by utilizing the phenomenon that the pressure difference between an inlet and an outlet of the particulate filter increases due to the flow resistance resulting from the increase of the amount of the particulate matters described above, and determines the regeneration timing when the pressure difference detected exceeds a predetermined value.
A pressure sensor for detecting the differential pressure is connected to a pressure introduction piping between upstream and downstream sides of the exhaust passage while interposing the particulate filter. This piping is generally a heat-resistant metal pipe or rubber hose. When breakage such as a crack, fall-off, clogging, etc, of the piping occurs depending on the use condition, detection accuracy of the pressure difference drops and the amount of the particulate matters cannot be known. The exhaust gas may leak to the outside when the piping is broken or falls off.

Abnormality detection apparatus for exhaust gas purification apparatus for internal combustion engine


Provided are: a method for predicting the onset of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) by precisely detecting abnormalities that occur before the onset of PIH (where such abnormalities have been impossible to detect by various conventional testing methods for PIH) while imposing less of a burden on a subject; a method for evaluating a fetus and placental functions in PIH; and a method for detecting PIH, which comprises measuring the level of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in a body fluid sample collected from a subject.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a major cause of death in pregnant and parturient women in addition to bleeding, obstetrical pulmonary embolus, and the like. A method for managing PIH is still an important issue for obstetricians. However, the cause and morbidity of PIH remain unknown. Furthermore, the definition and classification of PIH have not yet been unified worldwide. In Japan, PIH is defined by the presence of at least one of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema as symptoms during pregnancy, where these symptoms are not simple accidental complications of pregnancy. However, hypertension is absolutely the major symptom that indicates PIH. A case in which edema alone is exhibited is not said to be PIH. PIH is found in approximately 10% of pregnant women (6% to 14%).
PIH is classified into early onset type (onset before pregnancy week 32) and late onset type (onset at and after pregnancy week 32) depending on the onset timing. Classification of PIH in terms of severity is as follows. A case in which one or more of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema as symptoms are exhibited, which are all determined to be mild, is determined to constitute mild-type PIH. A case in which at least one of these symptoms, which is determined to be severe, is exhibited is determined to constitute severe-type PIH. In both early onset type and severe-type PIH, organ damage becomes rapidly worse in both the mother and the fetus, so that prognosis is bad. Thus, these types of PIH require strict management.
PIH is diagnosed by examining the symptoms of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema. Specifically, hypertension is determined to exist when systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or more and diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or more. Furthermore, proteinuria is determined to exist when 30 mg/dL or more protein is detected in 24 hour urine specimen by Esbach's method or a measurement method according thereto. Edema is determined to exist when a tibial crest remains depressed after digital compression and body weight gain of 500 g or more is observed during the most recent 1 week of pregnancy. When at least one of these symptoms is observed, a diagnosis of PIH is made (edited by Shoichi Sakamoto, et al., Pregnancy-induced hypertension, Principles of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2: MEDICAL VIEW CO., LTD., 1998: 340-60).
Furthermore, a general PIH case leads to decreased circulating blood volume and is associated with hemoconcentration. Thus, plasma protein concentration may also be measured. Furthermore, severe PIH often leads to microthrombus formation that indicates an elevated state of the coagulation system and the same with respect to the secondary fibrinolytic system. Thus, factors involved in such coagulation-fibrinolytic system, such as blood platelets and D-dimer, are also examined. Furthermore, lipids, hepatic functions, and the like are also tested if necessary (edited by Shoichi Sakamoto et al., Pregnancy-induced hypertension. Principles of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2: MEDICAL VIEW CO., LTD. 1998: 340-60).
Management of a patient with PIH and therapeutic methods therefore vary depending on severity. However, the severity of PIH is currently determined comprehensively by a combination of the above-described plurality of testing methods. Therefore, establishment of a method for conveniently and objectively determining severity is desired. Moreover, it is thought that the influence of PIH can be substantially suppressed by strict management when PIH is found at the initial stage. However, detection of PIH at the initial stage is difficult via any of the above-described testing methods. Currently, no indicator for predicting the onset of PIH has been established.
Furthermore, when PIH becomes more severe, placental functions will decrease and the nutritional and oxygen conditions of a fetus will be worse. Determination of such functions is very important in determination of delivery timing for a fetus. Accordingly, a precise indicator for evaluating fetuses and placental functions is desired.
Human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (hereinafter, L-PGDS) is an enzyme that catalyzes isomerization from PGH2, which is a common precursor of various prostaglandins, to PGD2. L-PGDS is a multifunctional protein because it also has a function of transporting small hydrophobic molecules (Urade Y. et al., Prostaglandin D synthase: Structure and Function. Vitam Horm 2000; 58: 89-120). It has been reported that elevated blood L-PGDS levels(concentrations) are detected in patients with advanced renal disease (Hoffmann A. et al., Molecular Characterization of β-trace Protein in Human Serum and Urine: A Potential Diagnostic Marker for Renal Diseases. Glycobiology 1997; 7: 499-506). Furthermore, the present inventors have revealed that L-PGDS levels are increased in the body fluids of patients with early renal disease (before the progression of renal disease) (Hamano K. et al., Blood Sugar Control Reverses the Increase in Urinary Excretion of Prostaglandin D Synthase in Diabetic Patients. Nephron 2002; 92: 77-85). The present inventors have also revealed that L-PGDS is produced in atherosclerotic plaque and that L-PGDS levels are increased in the body fluids of patients with coronary artery disease (Eguchi Y. et al., Expression of Lipocalin-Type Prostaglandin D Synthase (β-trace) in Human Heart and its Accumulation in the Coronary Circulation of Angina Patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 1997; 94: 14689-94). As described above, the relationship between L-PGDS and renal disease or vascular lesion has been revealed. However, the relationship between L-PGDS and PIH has net yet examined.
Non-patent document 1: Hoffmann A. et al., Glycobiology 1997; 7: 499-506
Non-patent document 2: Hamano K. et al., Nephron 2002; 92: 77-85
Non-patent document 3: Eguchi Y. et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 1997; 94: 14689-94

Method for predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension


A combined heat and electricity generating unit is suitable for use in single family homes and the like. When it is operating it provides heat for heating the home and electricity for use by the electricity consuming devices in the home and the excess is available for sale to the power utility. It includes an air compressor, a fuel pump, a turbine driven by heated combustion products and an electric motor-generator for driving the fuel pump and air compressor and converting energy produced by the turbine to electricity. In an alternate embodiment the electric motor-generator is replaced by an electric motor and an electric generator. In the case where gaseous fuel is used the fuel pump may be a positive displacement gas compressor. The pressurized combustion products enable a particularly efficient and inexpensive heat exchanger. The air compressor maintains a slight vacuum in the housing thereby eliminating risk of combustion products escaping.

It is well known to locate electric power plants in close proximity to a facility requiring heat whereby the waste heat from the generation of electricity may be utilized with minimum transportation cost and minimum loss in the heat distribution system. Such cogeneration plants are commonly found in large facilities such as large buildings or complexes of buildings. They generate electricity for their own use and, at times when an excess is produced, the excess power is sold to the power utility for distribution to its other customers.
Heretofore such cogeneration plants have not been successfully applied in the single family home or small apartment building. The potential advantages resulting from generating electricity from even a small fraction of the fuel presently consumed for heating and supplying domestic hot water in small buildings are substantial. That fuel which is converted to electricity is converted at about one hundred percent efficiency in a well designed cogeneration plant whereas modern hydrocarbon burning central power generating stations may waste sixty five percent of the fuel burned. The reason there is no waste is because the cogeneration system of the invention operates only when heat is needed so none of the energy in the fuel is wasted. Central power plants and long distance distribution equipment also require very substantial capital investment.
Heretofore no combined power and heat generating plant has been successfully applied to heating such as single family residences. Many attempts have been made to adapt the designs that work well in larger sizes to the home but formidable problems have prevented commercial success. These attempts typically involve an internal combustion engine driving an electric generator with means to utilize the heat produced for space heating. One problem is that internal combustion engines generate noise levels that are difficult to insulate to the degree required at acceptable cost. Another problem is that much of the heat generated by an internal combustion engine is not easily applied to domestic heating. This is because heat from the engine coolant, heat from the engine exhaust, and heat from the exterior surface of the engine must be contained and transferred to where the heat is needed. This requires complex heat exchange apparatus which adds to the cost. Containing heat from the exterior surface of the engine is typically accomplished by insulating the engine which results in high temperatures which increases cost and reduces reliability. In domestic heating plants where heat is distributed as hot air the air to be heated cannot be in direct contact with the engine because this provides a noise conduit between the engine and the residential areas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,111, issued Apr. 5, 1988 to Linden teaches the making of a unit that minimizes heat radiation of the engine but the cost of doing so is significant and acoustic isolation and tight sealing are required. The prior art is more fully discussed in the aforementioned patent issued to Linden.
It is also known to use a hydrocarbon burning turbine as a prime mover. This solves a number of the aforementioned problems but known turbines are expensive. One contributor to that cost is the need to inject the correct amount of fuel into the combustor. Also, a low cost and highly efficient heat exchanger for removing heat from turbine exhaust requires a large pressure drop in the heat exchanger which requires a high pressure ratio in the compressor stage which is not easily achieved in small turbines.
Heretofore it has not been recognized that a highly efficient prime mover is not required for cogeneration plants used in small buildings. Further, it has not been heretofore recognized that low efficiency prime movers typically reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems. Further, it has not been heretofore recognized that application of turbines to small cogeneration systems can be practicable when high efficiency is not important. Further, in the case of a turbine, if the compression is accomplished by a positive displacement pump and only the expansion is done in a turbine the problems of obtaining the correct fuel to air ratio are eliminated. Further, it has not been heretofore recognized that a prime mover comprising a positive displacement compressor in combination with a turbine expander has low noise when its exhaust is directed to a heat exchanger having a high pressure drop. Further, it has not been heretofore recognized that a prime mover comprising a positive displacement compressor and a positive displacement fuel pump inherently mixes the fuel and air in the proper proportions. Further, it has not been heretofore recognized that prime movers of low thermal efficiency operate at relatively low temperatures and have low internal stresses and are, therefore, low in cost and particularly suitable for domestic use. Finally, it has not been heretofore recognized that the turbines developed for the automotive industry for use in turbochargers provide a low cost and readily available means for converting pressurized combustion products to rotary motion in a domestic cogeneration system.

Small heat and electricity generating plant


A portable crafting frame includes carding strips to releasable support fabric while stretched across a window opening to allow access to opposite sides of the cloth. Front and back pairs of legs are pivotally supported by notches in upstanding walls in a hollow interior of the crafting frame at the underside and facing toward a base where the legs snap in notches formed in walls. The crafting frame is restrained against forward and aft movement by abutment walls in the frames and base that engage the legs in an operative positions. The legs can be released from the base pivoted against the bottom of the crafting frame to allow storage of the crafting frame in the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements to a crafting apparatus of the type used to present a tautly stretched base sheet of cloth material for rug hooking and needle working and, more particularly, the invention relates to a transportable crafting apparatus embodying a construction and arrangement of parts to allow a compact storage arrangement between a crafting frame and a support base for transportation purposes and to establish a rigid, supported interconnection between the base and the crafting frame so as to enhance the usefulness of such apparatus for crafting operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The construction of textile crafts is a popular hobby. For many textile crafts, the use of a frame is indispensable to provide a stable work area necessary to hold the textile in place and thereby avoid annoying distractions to the hobbyist engaged in rug hooking and needlework operations.
Previously, the use of such a crafting frame involved the placing of the textile on a frame which was part of a stand that was a free standing floor supported structure. Such a frame included devices such as rollers to spread the textile worked upon tightly. The existing frame designs are generally heavy and bulky thereby prohibiting fast and easy removal from one location to another. In addition, such existing frames generally involved protruding tension control arms to hold such textiles taut.
Examples of frame structures used to support fabric during rug hooking and needlework operations can be found in U. S. Pat. No. 773,577 of Mallory; U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,171 of Batey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,804 of Batey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,515 of Hinson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,645 of Knox; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,197 of Hinson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,409 of Bell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,521 of Thorpe; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,775 of Riley. In this body of prior art, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,832,171; 4,315,645; and 4,922,804 disclose a construction of a crafting frame to stretch the cloth material after attachment by carding strips to the frame so as to tension the cloth material across a window like opening of the frame. The parts necessary to tension the cloth material in this manner unduly complicate and enlarge the size of the crafting frame structure to such an extent that there is precluded the opportunity for reducing the gross size of a crafting frame assembly to a size to allow storage in a compact form and for transporting from place to place. Compact storage is not only important with respect to transportation and use at diverse sites but also use at diverse times at the same general site, i.e., a craft area in a room.
The rug hooking frame as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,804 exemplifies the use of a rigid frame formed by legs extending to a floor engaging frame part. Such a frame assembly requires an inordinate amount of space and therefore present a storage problem.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved crafting apparatus to overcome the shortcomings and disadvantages arising out of the construction of known crafting apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crafting frame construction that can be simply and easily transformed from a rigid lightweight frame assembly to a compact transportable assembly that not only protectively houses normally delicate fabric hooking strips but also eliminates the need for any loose pieces that might otherwise become lost.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a crafting frame apparatus changeable from a compact transportable arrangement to a form ready for use wherein a crafting frame is interconnected with a base structure by rigid legs so engaged in the assembly to impart reliable rigidity and ease of transformation to the assembly to retain the stability of a larger, heavier crafting frame assembly.

Collapsible crafting frame with storage compartment base