Brackets by which the wheels of an automobile, truck, or other motor vehicle can be adapted to retain hubcaps designed for a motor vehicle wheel with a different size or style of wheels. In the preferred embodiment there is a first bracket with two tabs at opposite ends, and a second bracket with only one tab at one end. The tabs project radially outward at an angle from each other. The three equidistant tabs fit inside the rim of a hubcap to retain it on the wheel. The brackets are rubber coated, so that the brackets will not damage the surface of the wheels of a motor vehicle, as by scraping off the paint. There are large holes in the middle of each bracket to allow adequate access to the lug nuts by which the wheel is fastened onto the axle.

There has always been a problem transferring hubcaps of different sizes or styles to wheels of different sizes or styles. The present invention includes a pair of brackets by which a hubcap may be retained to wheels of different sizes or styles.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,193,106, issued on Mar. 12, 1940, to George Albert Lyon, discloses ornamental member fastening means, using spring clips, which are distinguishable from the rigid brackets of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,298,669, issued on Oct. 13, 1942, to Edward L. Wood, discloses a wheel trim securing means, using a plurality of circumferentially radially resilient retainer springs, which are distinguishable from the rigid brackets of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,386,231, issued on Apr. 23, 1943, to George Albert Lyon, discloses a wheel structure, for retaining an ornamental cover, i.e., a hubcap, with resiliently flexible cover members, which are distinguishable from the rigid brackets of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,818,304, issued on Dec. 31, 1957, to Harry J. Horn, discloses a vehicle wheel cover, with spring clips for connecting the cover to the wheel, which are distinguishable form the rigid brackets of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,638, issued on Sep. 11, 1984, to Thomas Bartylla, discloses a hubcap attachment, with a circular belt adjustable around an axle hub, which is distinguishable from the brackets of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,100, issued on Feb. 16, 1988, to Anthony J. Patti, discloses a vehicle wheel cover assembly and attachment, which the hubcap attached to a wheel cover disc fastened to the wheel using U-shaped clips. The present invention is distinguishable in that is does not require that another disc be attached between the wheel and the hubcap, and its brackets are shaped differently from the U-shaped clips.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,414, issued on Jan. 23, 1990, to Alvin R. Fleming and John Chiodo, discloses a wheel cover attachment assembly, with the engagement clip members that are attached to a hubcap, and the detent members that fit within the clip members and hold the hubcap in place by pressing outward against a wheel rim. The present invention is distinguishable in that it is bolted to the wheel, and each bracket has only one piece.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the present invention as claimed.


A system for assisting shoe selection can select and present a shoe type that fits a customer by estimating the anatomical characteristics of a foot from the state of the foot. The system includes the following: a measured data input portion for measuring and inputting data that show the state of a foot of a person to be measured; a normalization processing portion for normalizing the data input from the measured data input portion and storing the normalized data at least temporarily; a shoe catalog database for storing information of a plurality of types of shoes; and a selection portion for estimating the anatomical characteristics of the foot of the person based on the normalized data, referring to the shoe catalog database based on the anatomical characteristics, and selecting and presenting a shoe type that fits the person.

In shoe stores or the like, a system is known that measures the foot shape of a customer with measuring equipment and selects shoes suitable for the customer.
As an example of such a conventional system, JP 2002-199905 A proposes a system that measures foot shape data of a customer by using a three-dimensional foot shape measuring device and extracts a trial shoe model that is matched with or close to the foot shape data.
JP 2001-275716 A proposes a method for providing walking shoes that fit each person's feet. In this method, a foot printer or the like is located on a plane that is inclined at the same angle as the inclination angle of a shoe that a person tries. Then, the plantar pressure distribution or the arch shape of the foot of the person is examined on the plane, and an insole is inserted in accordance with the examination.
Moreover, Japanese Patent No. 3025530 proposes a system that uses a foot scanner unit to generate three-dimensional phase electronic images of feet, thereby selecting appropriate footwear for a user.
In general, shoes are mass-produced, except for, e.g., the athletic shoes that are designed specifically for top athletes. On the other hand, the foot shape differs significantly between individuals. Therefore, even if the foot shape of each person can be measured precisely in a three-dimensional fashion of the above conventional systems, it is very difficult to determine the right shoes appropriately for each person because there are various factors such as foot length, width, and instep height.

System and method for assisting shoe selection


The present invention is a novel architecture design for adjunct based architectures. The architecture is built on two key principles; routing traffic based on geographic origin and routing based on customer group. In order to implement the geographic routing, the communications network is split into regions. A method used to achieve optimal regions is described. Further realization of the geographic routing entails a design of the architecture regions, determining the number of adjuncts/region and equally distributing the loads across the adjunct sites. Also, described is the method for optimally homing traffic between the OAS and TAS A and between TAS A and TAS B. The architecture eliminates deficiencies in prior art architectures such as intertoll focusing, architecture instability and reliability.

Adjunct Based Services (ABS) are services introduced on an Adjunct based architecture containing adjunct processors. An adjunct is a well known component of the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) Architecture. In this document, the term "Adjunct" is consistent with common usage and generally refers to a system connected to a switching system that may provide, for example, service logic, DTMF detection, and announcements. As such, the term "Adjunct" here may include the AIN Adjunct functionality and Intelligent Peripheral Functionality and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Services Node functionality as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. Services are typically deployed on an Adjunct based architecture to meet cost or time-to-market requirements that cannot be achieved by other architectures (for example, switch based architectures). Numerous ABS have been offered in both the consumer and business markets. An example of an ABS is the 800 Transfer Connect Service (TCS).
800 Transfer Connect Service(TCS) is an automated call routing service provided by long distance carriers for certain customers utilizing 1-800 numbers. In general, TCS provides post answer call redirection features to a caller, for example, conferencing, consultation, blind transfer, etc. Such services are invaluable to the holders of the 800 numbers, for example large corporations, in that customer calls may be directed to any one of a number of corporate locations in an extremely efficient manner. Specifically, TCS allows the called party to redirect calls to an 800 number, POTS (plain old telephone service) number, or a predefined speed dial code.
Prior art TCS systems utilized a small scale adjunct (SSA) architecture to route a specified set of customer traffic to a primary adjunct site. Each Adjunct site is assigned a Special Service Code (SSC) which is used for routing purposes; that is, there is a one-to-one relationship between SSC and adjunct site. Routing tables provide routing to a primary adjunct site and overflow sites. The routing tables, referred to as multiple routing treatment (MRT) tables, are located at the originating switch (OAS) of the long distance carrier to route calls to a specified adjunct site. Each customer to TCS is assigned an Adjunct Routing Number (ARN) in the format SSC-AAA-XXXX. Each Adjunct site is engineered to handle the capacity of a specified set of customers.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary call flow for an ABS 10 utilized in the prior art. The ABS call flow is a key aspect of the ABS architecture; further aspects of the Adjunct Based Architecture will be discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 1, a caller dials a 1800-NXX-XXXX toll free call and the call is sent by the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) 12. The LEC performs 10-digit translation of the dialed 800 toll free number to determine the appropriate telecommunications network. The LEC then passes the call to the originating switch (OAS) 14 of the appropriate telecommunications network. As would be understood, switches, such as the OAS, provide connection control for network calls in a well-known manner. Based on digit translation of the dialed 800 toll free number, the OAS signals a customer database 16 with the dialed 800 toll free number and the Automatic Number Identifier (ANI) of the caller. The database retrieves and executes the customer record. The database returns an ARN in the format SSC-AAA-XXXX to the OAS 14. Based on 3-digit translation of the ARN (SSC) at the OAS 14, the OAS points the call to the appropriate MRT Table 17, which resides in the switch, for example.
The MRT Table 17 provides routing instructions to a primary adjunct site 19 and the overflow sites. As shown in FIG. 1, the MRT Table provides the routing instructions for the switch to route the call to the primary Adjunct site 19. The MRT Table provides the Call Type equal to Destination Switch Number and the Network Switch Number NRN) equal to 094. The OAS routes the call to the terminating switch (TAS) A 18 based on the MRT Table information. The TAS A 18 translates the first 3-digits of the ARN (SSC) and points the call to another MRT Table. The MRT Table (TAS A) 15 provides the Call Type equal to Routing Data Block and the Call Data equal to 261. The MRT Table routes the call to the primary Adjunct site based on the MRT Table information. The first route chosen is the trunk sub-group to the adjunct site. If the trunk sub-group fails/busy or the primary adjunct site 19 is down, the call is cranked back to the OAS and the OAS points the call back to the MRT Table 17. The OAS then routes the call to the second route choice which provides routing instructions to the overflow adjunct site.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplary "partial" network architecture 20 based on the previously described TCS call flow 10. This figure effectively illustrates some key disadvantages of the prior art. Specific disadvantages include: cost effectiveness, OAS to TAS A focusing leading to intertoll blocking, TAS A to TAS B focusing leading to intertoll blocking, architecture instability under fluctuations of traffic loads, and customer perceived reliability; each of these points are considered in turn.
It is well known in traffic theory that large trunk groups more efficiently handle traffic than small trunk groups (Erlang-B distribution). The prior art ABS architecture routes all originating traffic from any OAS 14 in the network to a single TAS A 18. This routing is artificial in that large volumes of traffic flow between switches that normally support minimal traffic (e.g., the community of interest between Iowa and New York is much less than between New York and Philadelphia). As a result large amounts of traffic flow along pathways with few trunks 11. This results in large numbers of calls requiring via routing (potentially blocked); via routed calls increase Post Dial Delay and require more network resources. A similar phenomena holds for the TAS A to TAS B leg of the call. For large customers, who access the network from a TAS B geographically removed from TAS A, there will be large amounts of traffic focused on small intertoll trunk groups. The OAS-TAS A and TAS A-TAS B focusing effects result in extra cost and poor performance.
The prior art architecture is also not stable under reasonable fluctuations of customer traffic (fluctuations particularly prevalent for 800 ABS). Consider an adjunct engineered to a load of X utilization of which a large customer uses wX of the capacity. Note that wX is the total network load for the customer and that it is not uncommon for w to have a value of 0.5 or greater. If, as a result of media stimulated calling by that particular customer, the load increases to double the normal load, the adjunct would be in severe congestion (150% load). This would most likely result in network congestion, intertoll blocking and lost calls. Similarly, if a given adjunct site fails (especially in the case of a failure that evades automatic detection) all of a given customers traffic is affected.
Another disadvantage of the prior art is that for each adjunct deployed in the network a new SSC code is required. There are a finite number of SSC codes available; further growth of the prior art architecture would lead to exhaustion of these codes. Accordingly, there is a need for a more flexible network architecture that effectively supports ABS traffic.

Network architecture for routing of adjunct based services


Provided is a process for making pulp having the steps of:. contacting an undigested cellulosic fiber material with a pretreatment liquid formulated from a mixture comprising alkali metal bicarbonate and alkali metal hydrogen sulfide as reaction components which are dissolved or disbursed in an aqueous liquid, under conditions that: PA1 digesting the sulfur enhanced, undigested cellulosic fiber material in a digester to form a pulp.. (1) the reaction components react to form H.sub.2 S, CO.sup.2 and alkali metal carbonate in situ; PA2 (2) HS.sup.- ions are formed by disassociation of H.sub.2 S and/or by disassociation of alkali metal hydrogen sulfide; and PA2 (3) at least a portion of the H.sub.2 S and/or HS.sup.- ions is absorbed or diffused into the undigested cellulosicfiber material to enhance the sulfur content of the undigested cellulosic fiber material,. to form a sulfur enhanced, undigested cellulosic fiber material, wherein the pretreatment liquid is substantially free of alkali metal hydroxide; and

White liquor consists of a water solution of the active digestion chemicals sodium hydroxide ("NaOH") and sodium hydrogen sulfide ("NaHS"), which are included in the term "alkali". The alkali in the white liquor is consumed during the digestion of cellulosic fiber material by reacting with both lignin and carbohydrates, such as cellulose and hemicellulose. The higher the concentration of sodium hydrogen sulfide compared to the concentration of sodium hydroxide, the higher the sulfidity. The sulfidity represents the weight percentage of alkaline sulfur containing compounds present based on the total weight of alkaline compounds present. The sulfidity of the white liquor is dependent upon several different factors present in a sulfate factory of the pulp plant, and a general aim is to increase the sulfidity in the white liquor. The sulfidity can be increased by various measures, such as by closing the chemical system in the factory and recovering sulfur from various gas discharges. In this way the sulfidity level can be increased from an initial level of 30% to a level of about 45%.
The sulfidity is a significant process variable and therefore research is directed to further increasing the sulfidity. An increase in sulfur or sulfur containing compounds that are capable of producing hydrogen sulfide ions ("HS.sup.- ") in the digesting liquor results in a quicker digestion process, higher pulp yield and better pulp quality. This is because HS.sup.- ions are capable of reacting with lignin through different reaction paths than hydroxyl ions so that the delignification occurs at higher speed and thus chemical attack of the carbohydrates is reduced.
Published Swedish patent application No. SE-9202996-5 discloses adding recovered hydrogen sulfide to the impregnation of wood chips prior to delignification. However, such an addition is difficult to perform because hydrogen sulfide is an exceptionally toxic gas and it must be added to a pressurized chip bed. It is also difficult to dispose of or reuse excess hydrogen sulfide after impregnation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,962 describes a method of pretreating chips with an alkali enhanced liquor. The alkali enhanced liquid is produced by crystallizing and separating Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 out of a green liquor in order to obtain an increased concentration of alkali, in particular NaHS and NaOH. The alkali enhanced liquor is supplied to the pretreatment tank, and CO.sub.2 is added to effect carbonation and the formation of NaHCO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 S in situ. After the pretreatment, a liquid is withdrawn which contains remnants of NaHCO.sub.3 and dissolved H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2. This method has the problem that it is difficult to dispose of this liquid. Furthermore, the pretreatment liquid must be made from freshly produced green liquor which requires treatment to separate the Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 followed by addition of CO.sub.2. Moreover, this method limits the desired excess of H.sub.2 S at the pretreatment stage.
A limiting factor for increasing the sulfidity in white liquor is mainly the use of a soda boiler for recovering digestion chemicals and the necessary causticizing of the green liquor produced from melt from the soda boiler.
Published Swedish patent application No. SE-B-468 600 discloses a method for obtaining white liquor of high sulfidity directly from the gasification reactor, without the need for causticizing. According to this procedure, hydrogen sulfide is recovered from gas leaving a reactor for the thermal decomposition of black liquor and the hydrogen sulfide is returned to the reactor. Such a high partial pressure of hydrogen sulfide is thus established in the gasification stage that the equilibrium reaction: EQU Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 +H.sub.2 S.revreaction.Na.sub.2 S+CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O
is displaced so far to the right that the formation of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is suppressed. The Na.sub.2 S formed is easily dissociated in water to NaOH and NaHS. The recovery of hydrogen sulfide from the gas step is accomplished by passing the gas through a gas scrubber containing an external absorption chemical, such as N-methyl pyrolidone or methyl di-ethyl amine, for selective and regenerative absorption of H.sub.2 S. This process has two significant drawbacks, (1) the need for external chemicals and (2) the requirement of a regeneration step to strip the hydrogen sulfide from the absorption chemical.
There is a need for a process of making pulp which increases the sulfidity in the digester and avoids the above problems associated with conventional pulp production processes.

Process for making sulfur enhanced undigested cellulosic fiber material and pulp


A head mounted display (HMD) is worn on a user's head for displaying an image. A HMD is a personal see-through device designed to view still or video images or data that nonetheless permits the user to view his surroundings.

A head mounted display (HMD) is worn on a user's head for displaying an image. Generally, HMDs are configured as helmets or goggles, depending on how the display is to be worn. A HMD is a personal see-through device designed to view still or video images or data that nonetheless permits the user to view his surroundings.
The critical component of any HMD is the optical display system. Currently existing technologies, such as retinal direct projection, typically make use of expensive optics and mirrors and require high-resolution displays and expensive control circuitry.

Eyewear with an image projected off of an unassisted eyewear lens to the user


A distributed feedback semiconductor laser device comprising a current blocking structure having a stripe groove, and a diffraction grating formed in the bottom of the stripe groove. The current blocking structure is formed over an active layer for laser oscillation, and it includes an etch stop layer against a groove etching in a lower potion of the current blocking structure. The refractive index distribution in transverse directions inside the stripe groove is controlled by the thickness of the optical guiding layer, enabling oscillation of the fundamental transverse mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a distributed feedback semiconductor laser device and a method of producing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, the gain of a semiconductor laser device spans a relatively broad spectral range, and even when transverse modes are controlled, a perfectly single longitudinal mode can hardly be achieved. In DC operation, it may appear that a single longitudinal mode is achieved, but in practice, the oscillation is in multi longitudinal modes because of temperature variations and other factors.
A DFB (distributed feedback) semiconductor laser device is constructed with a resonator having a wavelength selectivity. In this type of semiconductor laser device, a diffraction grating is provided adjacent to an active region for laser oscillation, to selectively reflect laser light of a single wavelength within the gain spectral range, thereby attaining laser oscillation in a single longitudinal mode.
As an example of the DFB semiconductor laser devices in which stable oscillation in both single transverse and single longitudinal modes can be obtained, there has previously been proposed a semiconductor laser device as shown in FIG. 10 (refer to Appl. Phys. Lett., 34(11), pp.752-755(1979)). This type of semiconductor laser device is called an SBH-DFB laser device since it has a stripe buried heterostructure (SBH).
As shown in FIG. 10, a stripe-shaped GaAs active layer 23 formed along the resonator direction is flanked at both sides by a p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first buried layer 30 and is sandwiched, together with an underlying n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25, between an n-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first cladding layer 22 and a p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As second cladding layer 26. A diffraction grating 34 that provides a distributed feedback configuration is formed at the interface between the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 and the p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first buried layer 30.
In the above semiconductor laser device, laser light generated in the GaAs active layer 23 seeps into the underlying n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 through which the laser light is guided. Since the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 has a greater refractive index than that of the GaAs active layer 23, a smooth refractive index distribution with an effective refractive index increasing at portions underlying the GaAs active layer 23 is formed in lateral directions perpendicular to the resonator direction. As a result, even in high output power operations, stable oscillation of a fundamental transverse mode can be obtained.
Also, the laser light that seeped into the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 interacts with the refractive index distribution formed by the diffraction grating 34 along the resonator direction, to selectively reflect laser light of the Bragg wavelength that is determined by the pitch of the diffraction grating 34. Therefore, even when the driving current increases up to a value about three times the threshold current required to initiate oscillation, the wavelength of the oscillation does not vary and stable oscillation in a single longitudinal mode can be obtained.
However, because of its complex fabrication process sequence, the above prior art SBH-DFB laser device has had the problems of a low product yield and poor reproducibility of device characteristics. The SBH-DFB laser device shown in FIG. 10 is fabricated in the following steps, for example.
First, using an epitaxial growth technique, an n-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first cladding layer 22, an n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25, a GaAs active layer 23, a p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As second cladding layer 26, and a p-GaAs contact layer 27 are sequentially grown on an n-GaAs substrate 21.
Next, using a selective etching technique, the GaAs active layer 23, the p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As second cladding layer 26, and the p-GaAs contact layer 27 are etched in a stripe pattern to form a mesa structure. Then, by a chemical etching using a photoresist mask, a diffraction grating 34 is formed over the surface of the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 exposed on both sides of the mesa structure.
Thereafter, using a liquid-phase epitaxial growth technique, a p-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first buried layer 30 and an n-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As second buried layer 31 are grown one on top of the other on both sides of the mesa structure, to cover the surface of the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 as well as to bury the mesa structure.
Finally, a dielectric layer 37 for restricting the current injection region is deposited on a prescribed region of n-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As second buried layer 31, and after forming an n-side electrode 32 on the underside of the n-GaAs substrate 21 and a p-side electrode 33 on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 37 and the current injection region, the wafer is cleaved to form the endfaces of the resonator, thus completing the fabrication of the SBH-DFB laser device shown in FIG. 10.
As described, in the above SBH-DFB laser device, the laser light that seeped into the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 is selectively reflected by the diffraction grating 34 formed at the interface between the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 and the p-Al.sub.0.35 Ga.sub.0.64 As first buried layer 30, in order to accomplish the optical feedback. The coupling efficiency of the laser light and diffraction grating 34 is dependent on the proportion of the laser light that seeped into the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 to the total amount of laser light generated in the GaAs active layer 23.
Therefore, when the refractive index difference in lateral directions perpendicular to the resonator direction is increased in order to enhance the oscillation characteristics of single transverse modes, the seeping amount of the laser light decreases, resulting in a decrease in the coupling efficiency and thus degrading the oscillation characteristics of single longitudinal modes. Conversely, when the seeping amount of the laser light is increased in order to enhance the oscillation characteristics of single longitudinal modes, oscillation stability of the fundamental transverse mode deteriorates.
To overcome such a problem, an SBH-DFB laser device as shown in FIG. 11 has been proposed. This laser device is essentially the same as the SBH-DFB laser device shown in FIG. 10, except that the diffraction grating 34 is also formed at the interface between the GaAs active layer 23 and the underlying n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25.
However, in the above configuration, after the n-Al.sub.0.36 Ga.sub.0.64 As first cladding layer 22 and the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25 have been sequentially grown on the n-GaAs substrate 21, the growth step must be stopped temporarily in order to form the diffraction grating 34 on the surface of the n-Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As optical guiding layer 25, requiring a total of three growth steps to add to the complexity of the fabrication process. Also, since the GaAs active layer 23 is grown on top of the diffraction grating 34, there is a possibility that detrimental effects may be caused to the device characteristics, such as a degradation in its crystallinity and an increase in the oscillation threshold current.
To overcome the above problems, there have been proposed DFB semiconductor laser devices that can be fabricated with only two crystal growth steps (such as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 60-145685 and 2-206191). FIG. 12 shows one of the DFB semiconductor laser devices fabricated from AlGaAs/GaAs materials. The DFB semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 12 is fabricated with two crystal growth steps using, for example, a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. The optical waveguide necessary for laser oscillation and the diffraction grating essential to the DFB configuration are formed during these two crystal growth steps. The fabrication method is described in detail below.
First, using an MOCVD technique, an n-GaAs buffer layer 301, an n-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As first cladding layer 302, a non-doped Al.sub.0.13 Ga.sub.0.87 As active layer 303, a p-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As carrier barrier layer 304, a p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As optical guiding layer 307, and an n-GaAs current blocking layer 305 are sequentially grown on an n-GaAs substrate 300, as shown in FIG. 12.
Next, using photolithography and chemical etching techniques, a portion of the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305 is selectively etched to form a stripe groove (about 4 .mu.m in width) extending in parallel to the resonator direction, thereby exposing the surface of the p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As optical guiding layer 307 in the bottom of the stripe groove. As an etchant, a mixed solution of NH.sub.4 OH, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O is used. In this chemical etching step, by appropriately adjusting the mixing ratio of NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2, a difference can be created in etch rate between the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305 and the p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As optical guiding layer 307, which makes it easier to selectively etch only the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305.
Then, using the two-beam interference exposure method and a chemical etching technique, a diffraction grating 306 is formed on the surface of the optical guiding layer 307 within the stripe groove. Thereafter, using MOCVD, a p-Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As second cladding layer 308 and a p-GaAs contact layer 309 are grown on top of the current blocking layer 305 and the optical guiding layer 307. Finally, after forming a p-side electrode 310 on top of the contact layer 309 and an n-side electrode 320 on the underside of the substrate 300, the wafer is cleaved into chips providing the desired resonator length, thus completing the fabrication of the DFB semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 12.
In the above configured semiconductor laser device, since the current blocking layer 305 is formed adjacent to the active layer 303 and outside the stripe groove extending along the resonator direction, the current blocking layer 305 functions as a light absorbing layer. As a result, a difference is created in refractive index between the inside and the outside of the stripe groove, thus providing optical confinement in horizontal directions. Laser light generated in the active layer 303 seeps into the overlying optical guiding layer 307 through which the laser light is guided. The laser light that seeped into the optical guiding layer 307 interacts with the refractive index distribution formed by the diffraction grating 306 along the resonator direction, to selectively reflect laser light of the Bragg wavelength that is determined by the pitch of the diffraction grating 306. Therefore, stable oscillation of a single longitudinal mode can be obtained. Furthermore, since the current blocking layer 305 is formed on both sides of the stripe groove that provides the current confining structure, current leakage is reduced and a reduction in the threshold current is expected.
However, the DFB semiconductor laser device involves the following disadvantages.
First, by appropriately adjusting the mixing ratio of NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2, a difference can be created in etch rate between the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305 and the p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As optical guiding layer 307, therefore, it is possible to a certain extent to selectively etch only the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305. However, when the Al mole fraction (mixing ratio) x in the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As crystals is small, the difference in etch rate between the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As crystals and the GaAs crystals is usually not very large. Therefore, the etching endpoint in the n-GaAs current blocking layer 305 is not definite, which prevents good reproducibility of the width of the stripe groove.
Second, it is extremely difficult to apply a resist to a uniform thickness on the inside of the stripe groove in order to form the diffraction grating 306 on the surface of the optical guiding layer 307 that is exposed in the bottom of the stripe groove flanked by the thick current blocking layer 305. In reality, the photoresist remains thick on the inside of the stripe groove near the side walls of the current blocking layer 305. Also, the photoresist remaining on these portions is difficult to expose because of the interference by the side walls of the current blocking layer 305. As a result, when a conventional positive resist is used for patterning the diffraction grating 306, the formation of the diffraction grating 306 is not achieved on the portions near the side walls of the current blocking layer 305, as shown in FIG. 12.
Also, as shown in (b) of FIG. 9, the thickness of the optical guiding layer 307 becomes greater at the portions near the side walls of the current blocking layer 305 (region B in FIG. 9) where the diffraction grating 306 is not formed than at the center portion of the stripe groove (region A in FIG. 9) where the diffraction grating 306 is formed. As a result, the effective refractive index in transverse directions becomes greater in region B than in region A, so that, as shown in (a) of FIG. 9, the light intensity distribution is unevenly shifted toward region B, where the diffraction grating 306 is not formed, from region A where the diffraction grating 306 is formed. As a result, the above method has a fatal disadvantage that the fundamental transverse mode suffers very large waveguide losses since the current blocking layer 305 capable of absorbing the light of oscillation wavelength is disposed adjacent to region B.
Another problem of the semiconductor laser device of an absorption area (gain guide) structure having a stripe groove is that the far-field pattern is narrower in the lateral direction than in the vertical direction and its ellipticity (i.e., the far-field pattern in the vertical direction divided by the far-field pattern in the lateral direction) is large.

Distributed feedback semiconductor laser device and a method of producing the same


The present invention provides a compound of the formula: Formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of a compound of Formula I in combination with a suitable carrier, diluent, or excipient, and methods for treating physiological disorders, particularly congestive heart disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, comprising administering to a patient in thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula I. X-16125

This application is a 371 of PCT/US05/05240, Feb. 18, 2005.
Nuclear hormone receptors are an evolutionarily conserved class of intracellular receptor proteins which have been termed "ligand dependent transcription factors". Evans et al., SCIENCE, 240: 889 (1988). The nuclear hormone receptor gene superfamily encodes structurally-related receptor proteins for glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone), androgens, mineralocorticoids (e.g. aldosterone), progestins, estrogen, and thyroid hormone. Also included within this superfamily of nuclear receptors are receptor proteins for vitamin D, retinoic acid, 9-cis retinoic acid, as well as those receptors for which no cognate ligands have been identified ("orphan receptors") Ribeiro et al., Annual Rev. Med., 46:443-453 (1995). Steroid hormone receptors represent a subset of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. So named according to the cognate ligand which complexes with the receptor in its native state, the steroid hormone nuclear receptors include the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the androgen receptor (AR), the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), the estrogen receptor (ER), and the progesterone receptor (PR). Tenbaum et al., Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Bio., 29(12): 1325-1341(1997).
In contrast to membrane bound receptors, nuclear hormone receptors encounter their respective ligands following entry of the ligand into the cell. Once ligand binding occurs, the ligand-receptor complex modulates transcription of target genes within the cell nucleus. For example, most ligand-free nuclear receptors are bound in a complex with heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the cytoplasm. Following entry of circulating hormone into the cell, binding elicits a conformational change in the receptor, dissociating the receptor from the hsp. The ligand bound receptors translocate to the nucleus, where they as monomers as well as hetero- and homodimers in binding to particular hormone response elements (HREs) in the promoter regions of target genes. The HRE-receptor complex then, in turn, regulates transcription of proximally-located genes. (see Ribeiro et al., supra.). On the other hand, thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and other non-steroid receptors such as vitamin D receptor (VDR) and retinoic acid receptors (RAR) are bound to their respective HRE in the absence of HSPs and/or cognate ligand. Hormones released from the circulation enter the cell, binding in the nucleus to these receptors which, in turn, hetero-dimerize to other nuclear receptors such as 9-cis retinoic acid (RXR). As with the steroid hormone nuclear receptors, following ligand binding, the ligand-bound receptor complex again regulates transcription of neighboring genes.
Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids exert profound influences on a multitude of physiological functions by virtue of their diverse roles in growth, development, and maintenance of homeostasis. The actions are mediated by the MR and GR which share approximately 94% homology in their respective DNA binding regions, and approximately 57% homology in their respective ligand-binding domains. Kino et al., J. of Endocrinology, 169, 437-445 (2001). In visceral tissues, such as the kidney and the gut, MR regulates sodium retention, potassium excretion, and water balance in response to aldosterone. In addition, MR expression in the brain appears to play a role in the control of neuronal excitability, in the negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and in the cognitive aspects of behavioral performance. Castren et al., J. of Neuroendocrinology, 3, 461-466 (1993). GR, which is ubiquitously expressed in almost all tissues and organ systems, is crucial for the integrity of central nervous system function and the maintenance of cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune homeostasis. Kino et al., J. of Endocrinology, 169, 437-445 (2001).
Elevations in aldosterone levels, or excess stimulation of mineralocorticoid receptors, are linked to several physiological disorders or pathologic disease states including, Conn's Syndrome, primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism, increased sodium retention, increased magnesium and potassium excretion (diuresis), increased water retention, hypertension (isolated systolic and combined systolic/diastolic), arrhythmias, myocardial fibrosis, myocardial infarction, Bartter's Syndrome, and disorders associated with excess catecholamine levels. Hadley, M. E., ENDOCRINOLOGY, 2nd Ed., pp. 366-381, (1988); and Brilla et al., Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 25 (5), pp. 563-575 (1993). Additionally, elevated aldosterone levels have been increasingly implicated with congestive heart failure (CHF). In CHF, the failing heart triggers hormonal mechanisms in other organs in response to the attending reductions in blood flow and blood pressure seen with CHF. In particular, the kidney activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) causing an increase in aldosterone production by the adrenals which, in turn, promotes water and sodium retention, potassium loss, and further edema. Although historically it was believed that aldosterone participated in the etiology of CHF only as a result of its salt retaining effects, several recent studies have implicated elevated aldosterone levels with events in extra-adrenal tissues and organs, such as myocardial and vascular fibrosis, direct vascular damage, and baroreceptor dysfunction. Pitt et al., New Eng. J. Med., 341:709-717 (1999). These findings are particularly significant since angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which were once thought to completely abolish aldosterone production, are now believed to only transiently suppress aldosterone production which has been shown to occur in extra-adrenal tissues including the heart and vasculature. Weber, New Eng. J. Med., 341:753-755 (1999); Fardella and Miller, Annu. Rev. Nutr., 16:443-470 (1996).
The involvement of aldosterone acting via MR in CHF was confirmed in the recently completed RALES (Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study) study. Pitt et al., New Eng. J. Med., 341:709-717 (1999). The RALES study demonstrated, that the use of Aldactone™ (spironolactone), a well-known competitive MR antagonist, in combination with standard CHF therapy, reduced cardiac related mortality by 30% and frequency of hospitalization by 35% in patients suffering from advanced CHF. However, spironolactone therapy has also been associated with attending side effects such as gastric bleeding, diarrhea, azotemia, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis an type-4 renal tubule acidosis, nausea, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction, hyperkalemia, and irregular menses. Thus, the mineralocorticoid receptor represents a viable target for CHF therapy either alone or in combination with conventional CHF therapies such as vasodilators (ACE inhibitors), inotropics (digoxin), diuretics, or beta blockers. Molecules, preferably non-steroids, which bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor and modulate receptor activity without the attending side effects of current therapies would be particularly desirable.
Recently, selective aldosterone blockers have also been implicated in the treatment of atherosclerosis. S. Keider, et al., Cardiovascular Pharmacology 41 (6), 955-963 (2003). Finally, published international PCT application WO 02/17895 discloses that aldosterone antagonists are useful in the treatment of subjects suffereing from one or more cognitive dysfunctions including, but not limited to psychoses, cognitive disorders (such as memory disturbances), mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
Glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol, corticosterone, and cortisone), and the glucocorticoid receptor, have also been implicated in the etiology of a variety of physiological disorders or pathologic disease states. For example, cortisol hyposecretion is implicated in the pathogenesis of Addison's Disease and may result in muscle weakness, in creased melanin pigmentation of the skin, weight loss, hypotension, and hypoglycemia. On the other hand, excessive or prolonged secretion of glucocorticoids has been correlated to Cushing's Syndrome and may also result in obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, polyuria, and polydipsia. Hadley, M. E., ENDOCRINOLOGY, 2nd Ed., pp. 366-381, (1988). Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,013, issued Dec. 26, 2000, discloses that GR selective agents could modulate GR activity and, thus, be useful in the treatment of inflammation, tissue rejection, auto-immunity, malignancies such as leukemias and lymphomas, Cushing's syndrome, acute adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, rheumatic fever, polyarteritis nodosa, granulomatous polyarteritis, inhibition of myeloid cell lines, immune proliferation/apoptosis, HPA axis suppression and regulation, hypercortisolemia, modulation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, chronic kidney disease, stroke and spinal cord injury, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, acute adrenal insufficiency, chronic primary adrenal insufficiency, secondary adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cerebral edema, thrombocytopenia, and Little's syndrome. U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,013 also discloses that GR modulators are especially useful in disease states involving systemic inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyartitis nodosa, Wegener's granulomatosis, giant cell arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, angioneurotic edema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, tendonitis, bursitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, organ transplantation, hepatitis, and cirrhosis; and that GR modulating compounds have been used as immunostimulants, repressors, and as wound healing and tissue repair agents.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,013 also discloses that GR modulators have also found use in a variety of topical diseases such as inflammatory scalp alopecia, panniculitis, psoriasis, discoid lupus erythematosus, inflamed cysts, atopic dermatitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, eosinophilic fasciitis, relapsing polychondritis, inflammatory vasculitis, sarcoidosis, Sweet's disease, type 1 reactive leprosy, capillary hemangiomas, contact dermatitis, a topic dermatitis, lichen planus, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema nodosum, acne, hirsutism, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiform, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Thus, it is clear that a ligand which has affinity for steroid hormone nuclear receptors, and particularly for MR and/or GR, could be used to modulate (i.e. repress, antagonize, agonize, partially antagonize, partially agonize) receptor activity and target gene expression, thereby influencing a multitude of physiological functions related to alterations in steroid hormone levels and/or steroid hormone receptor activity. In this regard, such ligands could be useful to treat a wide range of physiological disorders susceptible to steroid hormone nuclear receptor modulation.
Published literature references disclose indole derivative molecules useful in a broad range of indications from electroluminescent agents to marine anti-fouling agents. Further, indole-derivative compounds have also been disclosed as having pharmacological utility as, inter alia, serotonin 5HT-6 receptor modulators, anticoagulant agents, antiangiogenics, antiparasitics, integrin inhibitors, phospholipase inhibitors, endothelian receptor antagonists, antiarrhythmics, and dopamine antagonists. Surprisingly, however, and in accordance with the present invention, applicants have discovered a series of non-steroidal indole derivative compounds, particularly bicyclic substituted indole derivatives, with affinity for steroid hormone nuclear receptors, and particularly for MR and GR. Such compounds could modulate nuclear receptor activity and, therefore, have utility in treating physiological disorders related to alterations in steroid hormone level and/or to alterations in steroid hormone nuclear receptor activity. Furthermore, such compounds could address a long felt and continuing need for safe and effective pharmaceutical interventions without the attending side effects of steroidal-type agents. The treatment of steroid hormone related disorders is hereby furthered.
The following references describe examples of the state of the art as it relates to the present invention.
Published International PCT Application WO 96/19458 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,696,130; 5,994,544; 6,017,924, and 6,121,450 disclose quinoline derivative analogs as steroid hormone receptor modulators.
Published International PCT Application WO 00/06137 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,013 disclose triphenylmethane compounds as glucocorticoid receptor modulators.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,066 discloses anti-mineralocorticoid receptor compounds for use in treating drug withdrawal syndrome.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,008,210 and 6,093,708 disclose spirolactone compounds, such as spironolactone and epoxymexrenone, with affinity for the mineralocorticoid receptor for use in the treatment of myocardial fibrosis.
Published International PCT Application WO 02/17895 discloses that aldosterone antagonists are useful in the treatment of subjects suffereing from one or more cognitive dysfunctions.
Published International PCT Application WO 02/09683 discloses aldosterone blockers useful to treat inflammation disoders.
Published International PCT Application WO 02/051832 discloses heterocyclalkylindoles as 5HT-6 ligands.
Published International PCT Application WO 02/016348 discloses indole derivatives molecules as antiangiogenic agents.
Published International PCT Application WO 02/012227 discloses nine-, and ten-membered bicylic heteroaryl molecules as angiogenesis inhibitors.
Published International PCT Application WO 01/058893 discloses indol-3-yl propionates as integrin inhibitors.
Published International PCT Application WO 99/43672 discloses indole derivatives as phospholipase enzyme inhibitors.
Published International PCT Application WO 98/42696 and related family members disclose inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase.
Published International PCT Application WO 97/43260 and related family members disclose indole derivatives useful as endothelin receptor antagonists.
Published International PCT Application WO 96/03377 and related family members disclose heterocyclic compounds useful as allosteric effectors of muscarinic receptors.
European Patent EP683166 discloses 1-(3-indolylalkyl)-4-(3-indolyl)piperidines as dopamine agonists or antagonists.
Japanese Patents JP 05339565 and JP 3229654 disclose indole derivatives for electroluminescent devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,547 discloses indole derivatives for controlling underwater fouling.
Whitehead and Whitesitt, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (1974), 17(12), 1298-304 discloses the effects of lipohilic substituents on biological properties of indoles.
Co-pending International Patent Application PCT/US04/00017 discloses indole derivative agents as mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor modulators.

Bicyclic substituted indole-derivative steroid hormone nuclear receptor modulators


A fishing hook holder unit includes a holder body having a first end, a second end, and a neck portion between the first and second ends. A first engaging member is removably mounted to the first end of the holder body for engaging a fishing line from one of a fishing rod and another fishing hook holder unit. A second engaging member is removably mounted to the second end for engaging a fishing line from one of another fishing hook holder unit and a sinker. The holder unit further includes a hook-attaching member which has an engaging portion for securely engaging with the neck portion of the holder body, a mounting portion pivoted to the engaging portion, and a third engaging member removably mounted to the mounting portion for engaging with a fishing line from a hook.

The present invention relates to a fishing hook holder and, more particularly, to a fishing hook holder having a removable hook-holding member.
During fishing, the fisher usually has to change the hooks and/or baits responsive to different schools of fishes, climate, tide, and other factors. The fisher, however, has to cut the fishing line connecting the hook and the hook holder and replace it with a desired hook. The present invention provides an improved hook holder to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned drawback.


Disclosed herein is a device for detecting lift of an autonomous mobile robot. The device comprises at least one detection unit to detect lift of the main body of the robot during driving of the robot and to generate and output the lift detection signal, and a controller to control driving of the robot, and to output the driving stop signal to a driving motor after generating a driving stop signal for stopping driving of the robot according to the lift detection signal transmitted from the detection unit. When the robot is lifted by a user, the device stops driving of the motor in response to the lift of the robot, thereby eliminating additional operation of the user to stop driving of the robot as well as protecting the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an autonomous mobile robot, and, more particularly, to a device for detecting lift of an autonomous mobile robot.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pet robots, cleaning robots and the like (which will be referred to hereinafter as an "autonomous mobile robot") are well known in the art. Generally, the autonomous mobile robot is designed to autonomously move about under control of an obstacle detecting sensor, a fall prevention sensor, a pressure sensor, etc., without specific orientation control by a user.
A conventional autonomous mobile robot generally comprises an infrared sensor used as the obstacle detecting sensor. While traveling and performing a specific operation, the autonomous mobile robot generates infrared light through a light emitter of the infrared sensor. When the infrared light is reflected by the obstacle and returns back to the robot, the robot receives the infrared light through a light receiver of the sensor, and determines whether an obstacle is present or not. When it is determined that an obstacle is present, the robot changes its driving direction, and avoids the obstacle.
However, since the autonomous mobile robot as described above generally employs the sensor for detecting the obstacle in front of the robot or for preventing falling of the robot, it cannot detect lift of a body of the robot.
For example, a child may lift the main body of the robot, and in this case, it is necessary to stop driving of the robot for security of the child. In addition, the main body of the robot can be lifted by the user to prevent the robot from moving into a dangerous place such as a fireplace, and in this case, it is also necessary to stop driving of the robot. However, the conventional autonomous mobile robot does not comprise such a function to stop driving of the robot.

Device for detecting lift of autonomous mobile robot


A knowledge base is first characterized by an association-grounded semantics collapsed language. In response to the receipt of a query of the knowledge base, the collapsed language is used to determine whether there is an indication that the knowledge base contains knowledge requested in the query. Thereafter, the collapsed language can be used to carry out a full search for the knowledge much more efficiently than would otherwise be possible. Related methods, apparatus, and articles are also described.

Knowledge representation and reasoning systems embody intelligent processes that characterize stored knowledge and which can state in a formal way that the existence of some piece of knowledge implies the existence of some other, previously unknown piece of knowledge. Optimizing engines to conduct such processes requires that a number of states searched by such engines in determining the existence of a piece of knowledge is minimized. Conventional optimization techniques often rely heavily on human-input or the characterization of special cases, both of which can be difficult to extend and further optimize.

Knowledge base with clustered data objects


A debris guiding device is provided for a lawn mower of the type having a deck, an engine supported on the deck, wheels, a handle and a grass catcher bag. The debris guiding device contains a structure located at a front portion of the deck for directing lawn debris directly under the front portion of the deck. The lawn debris will be lifted, cut and sucked into the grass catcher bag, when a person gripping the handle pushes the lawn mower along to cut grass by operation of the engine.

The instant invention is the subject matter of Disclosure Document No.: 307022, filed in the PTO on Apr. 30, 1992, and it is respectfully requested that this document be retained beyond the two-year period, so that it may be relied upon as evidence of conception of the invention during the prosecution phase of this application, should the need arise.


A session control apparatus, a session control method, and a session control program may maintain a quality of input data output to a processing module. The processing module has a defined condition regarding a quality of the input data. The session control apparatus includes an extraction unit, a selection unit, and a switching unit. The extraction unit extracts a plurality of candidates of devices. The selection unit selects at least one device from the plurality of candidates of devices. The switching unit switches the device that outputs the input data to the processing module to the at least one device selected by the selection unit. Each of the plurality of candidates of devices outputs input data satisfying the condition.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-45242 (Patent Literature 1) describes a virtual sensor generation apparatus that generates a virtual sensor. This virtual sensor generation apparatus detects a real sensor located within a predetermined range and generates a virtual sensor using the detected real sensor (refer to Patent Literature 1).

Session control apparatus, session control method, and program


An image of a light beam, which has been totally reflected from an interface between a dielectric material block and a thin film layer of an analysis chip for supporting a sample, is detected with photodetector and as a two-dimensional image constituted of pixels arrayed in a beam width direction and an incidence angle direction, which are perpendicular to each other. An abnormal pixel row, which contains a pixel represented by abnormal pixel data, is extracted from among pixel rows, each of which extends in the incidence angle direction, in the array of the pixels constituting the two-dimensional image and in accordance with an output of the photodetector. A position of a dark line in the light beam, which has been totally reflected from the interface, is detected from the pixel data corresponding to the pixel rows other than the abnormal pixel row.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an analysis method and apparatus utilizing attenuated total reflection, such as a surface plasmon resonance analysis method and apparatus for making an analysis of a sample by the utilization of occurrence of surface plasmon.
2. Description of the Related Art
In metals, free electrons vibrate collectively, and a compression wave referred to as a plasma wave is thereby produced. The compression wave occurring on the metal surface and having been quantized is referred to as the surface plasmon.
Various surface plasmon analysis apparatuses for analyzing characteristics of a substance to be analyzed by the utilization of a phenomenon, in which the surface plasmon is excited by a light wave, have heretofore been proposed. As one of well known surface plasmon analysis apparatuses, a surface plasmon analysis apparatus utilizing a system referred to as the Kretschman arrangement may be mentioned. The surface plasmon analysis apparatus utilizing the system referred to as the Kretschman arrangement is described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6(1994)-167443.
Basically, the surface plasmon analysis apparatus utilizing the system referred to as the Kretschman arrangement comprises (i) a dielectric material block having, for example, a prism-like shape, (ii) a metal film, which is formed on one surface of the dielectric material block and is brought into contact with a substance to be analyzed, such as a liquid sample, (iii) a light source for producing a light beam, (iv) an optical system for irradiating the light beam to the dielectric material block at various different incidence angles such that a total reflection condition may be satisfied at an interface between the dielectric material block and the metal film, and (v) a photo detecting means for detecting the intensity of the light beam, which has been totally reflected from the interface described above, and thereby detecting the state of surface plasmon resonance, i.e. the state of attenuated total reflection.
In order for the various different incidence angles described above to be obtained, a light beam having a comparatively small beam diameter may be caused to impinge upon the aforesaid interface with the incidence angle being altered. Alternatively, a light beam having a comparatively large beam diameter may be caused to impinge upon the aforesaid interface in a state of converged light or in a state of a divergent light, such that the light beam may contain components, which impinge at various different incidence angles upon the interface. In the former case, the reflected light beam, which is reflected from the interface with its reflection angle altering in accordance with the alteration of the incidence angle of the incident light beam, may be detected with a small photodetector, which moves by being interlocked with the alteration of the reflection angle, or may be detected with an area sensor extending in the direction of alteration of the reflection angle. In the latter case, the light beam may be detected with an area sensor extending in a direction such that the area sensor is capable of receiving all of the light beam components having been reflected from the interface at various different reflection angles.
With the surface plasmon analysis apparatus having the constitution described above, in cases where the light beam impinges at a specific incidence angle, which is not smaller than the total reflection angle, upon the metal film, an evanescent wave having an electric field distribution occurs in the substance to be analyzed, which is in contact with the metal film, and the surface plasmon is excited by the evanescent wave and at the interface between the metal film and the substance to be analyzed. In cases where the wave vector of the evanescent wave coincides with the wave vector of the surface plasmon, and wave number matching is thus obtained, the evanescent wave and the surface plasmon resonate, and energy of the light transfers to the surface plasmon. As a result, the intensity of the reflected light beam, which is totally reflected from the interface between the dielectric material block and the metal film, becomes markedly low. Ordinarily, the lowering of the intensity of the reflected light beam is detected as a dark line by the photo detecting means described above. The resonance described above occurs only in cases where the incident light beam is P-polarized light. Therefore, it is necessary for the incident light beam to be set previously so as to impinge upon the aforesaid metal film as the P-polarized light.
In cases where the wave number of the surface plasmon is found from the incidence angle at which the attenuated total reflection (ATR) occurs, i.e. from an attenuated total reflection angle (ATR angle) θSP, a dielectric constant of the substance to be analyzed is capable of being calculated. Specifically, the formula shown below obtains.
            K      SP                  (      ω      )        =            ω      c                                                              ɛ              m                                                  (              ω              )                                                      ɛ            s                                                              ɛ              m                                                  (              ω              )                                +                      ɛ            s                              wherein KSP represents the wave number of the surface plasmon, ω represents the angular frequency of the surface plasmon, c represents the light velocity in a vacuum, εm represents the dielectric constant of the metal, and εs represents the dielectric constant of the substance to be analyzed.
Specifically, in cases where the ATR angle θSP, which is the incidence angle associated with the lowering of the intensity of the reflected light described above, is found, the dielectric constant εs of the substance to be analyzed is capable of being calculated. Therefore, the characteristics with regard to the refractive index of the substance to be analyzed are capable of being calculated.
Such that the ATR angle θSP may be measured accurately and with a wide dynamic range, a technique has been proposed, in which array-like photo detecting means is utilized in the aforesaid type of the surface plasmon analysis apparatus. (The proposed technique for utilizing the array-like photo detecting means is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,396.) The array-like photo detecting means comprises a plurality of light receiving devices arrayed in a predetermined direction. The array-like photo detecting means is located in an orientation such that each of the light receiving devices is capable of receiving one of components of the light beam, which components have been totally reflected at various different reflection angles from the interface described above.
In such cases, the surface plasmon analysis apparatus is often provided with differentiation means for performing differentiation of signal components of a photo detection signal, each of which signal components is outputted from one of the light receiving devices of the aforesaid array-like photo detecting means, with respect to the array direction of the light receiving devices. Also, the characteristics with regard to the refractive index of the substance to be analyzed are calculated in accordance with differentiation values, which are outputted by the differentiation means.
As a similar analysis apparatus utilizing the attenuated total reflection (ATR), a leaky mode analysis apparatus has heretofore been known. (The leaky mode analysis apparatus is described in, for example, "Surface Refracto-sensor using Evanescent Waves: Principles and Instrumentations" Takayuki Okamura, Spectrum Researches, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 19-28, 1998.) Basically, the leaky mode analysis apparatus comprises (i) a dielectric material block having, for example, a prism-like shape, (ii) a cladding layer, which is formed on one surface of the dielectric material block, (iii) an optical waveguide layer, which is formed on the cladding layer and is brought into contact with a liquid sample, (iv) a light source for producing a light beam, (v) an optical system for irradiating the light beam to the dielectric material block at various different incidence angles such that a total reflection condition may be satisfied at an interface between the dielectric material block and the cladding layer, and (vi) a photo detecting means for detecting the intensity of the light beam, which has been totally reflected from the interface described above, and thereby detecting the state of excitation of a guided mode, i.e. the state of attenuated total reflection.
With the leaky mode analysis apparatus having the constitution described above, in cases where the light beam impinges at an incidence angle, which is not smaller than the total reflection angle, upon the cladding layer via the dielectric material block, only the light having a certain specific wave number, which light has impinged at a specific incidence angle upon the cladding layer, is propagated in the guided mode in the optical waveguide layer after passing through the cladding layer. In cases where the guided mode is thus excited, approximately all of the incident light is taken into the optical waveguide layer. Therefore, in such cases, the attenuated total reflection occurs, and the intensity of the light totally reflected from the aforesaid interface becomes markedly low. Also, the wave number of the guided optical wave depends upon the refractive index of the substance to be analyzed, which is located on the optical waveguide layer. Therefore, in cases where the aforesaid specific incidence angle, which is associated with the occurrence of the attenuated total reflection, is detected, the refractive index of the substance to be analyzed and characteristics of the substance to be analyzed with regard to the refractive index of the substance to be analyzed are capable of being analyzed.
In the leaky mode analysis apparatus, the array-like photo detecting means described above may be utilized in order to detect the position of the dark line occurring in the reflected light due to the attenuated total reflection. Also, the differentiation means described above is often utilized together with the array-like photo detecting means.
In the fields of pharmaceutical research, and the like, the surface plasmon analysis apparatus and the leaky mode analysis apparatus described above are often utilized for random screening for finding out a specific substance, which is capable of undergoing the binding with a desired sensing substance. In such cases, the sensing substance acting as the substance to be analyzed is fixed to the aforesaid thin film layer (the metal film in the cases of the surface plasmon analysis apparatus, or the combination of the cladding layer and the optical waveguide layer in the cases of the leaky mode analysis apparatus), and a liquid sample containing a test body in a solvent is introduced on the sensing substance. Also, at each of stages after the passage of predetermined periods of time, the aforesaid ATR angle θSP is measured.
In cases where the test body contained in the liquid sample is a substance capable of undergoing the binding with the sensing substance, the refractive index of the sensing substance alters with the passage of time. Therefore, the aforesaid ATR angle θSP is measured at each of stages after the passage of predetermined periods of time, and a judgment is made as to whether an alteration of the ATR angle θSP has been or has not been occurred. In this manner, the state of the binding of the test body with the sensing substance is capable of being detected, and a judgment is capable of being made in accordance with the result of the detection and as to whether the test body is or is not the specific substance capable of undergoing the binding with the sensing substance. Examples of the combinations of the specific substances and the sensing substances include the combination of an antigen and an antibody and the combination of an antibody and a different antibody. Specifically, for example, a rabbit anti-human IgG antibody may be fixed as the sensing substance to the surface of the thin film layer, and a human IgG antibody may be employed as the specific substance.
In order for the state of the binding of the test body with the sensing substance to be detected, the ATR angle θSP itself need not necessarily be detected. Alternatively, for example, the liquid sample may be introduced on the sensing substance, and thereafter the quantity of the alteration of the ATR angle θSP may be measured. Also, the state of the binding of the test body with the sensing substance may be detected in accordance with the quantity of the alteration of the ATR angle θSP. In cases where the array-like photo detecting means and the differentiation means described above are utilized in the analysis apparatus utilizing attenuated total reflection, since the quantity of the alteration of the differentiation value reflects the quantity of the alteration of the ATR angle θSP, the state of the binding of the test body with the sensing substance is capable of being detected in accordance with the quantity of the alteration of the differentiation value.
In the analysis method and apparatus utilizing attenuated total reflection as described above, a cup-shaped or laboratory dish-shaped analysis chip, in which the sensing substance has been fixed to the thin film layer having been formed previously on a bottom surface, is prepared. Also, the liquid sample containing the test body in the solvent is introduced into the analysis chip, and the quantity of the alteration of the ATR angle θSP is measured.
In cases where the liquid sample is introduced into the analysis chip, and the sensing substance and the test body are bound to each other, the refractive index of the sensing substance alters, and the ATR angle θSP alters. Therefore, at the time at which a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the measurement has been begun, the quantity of the alteration of the ATR angle θSP occurring after the measurement has been begun may be calculated. In this manner, a judgment is capable of being made as to whether the test body is or is not a substance capable of undergoing the binding with the sensing substance. Also, in cases where it has been judged that the test body is a substance capable of undergoing the binding with the sensing substance, the state of the binding of the test body with the sensing substance, or the like, is capable of being analyzed.
As described above, the array-like photo detecting means, which is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,396 and which is utilized for the enhancement of sensitivity comprises the plurality of the light receiving devices arrayed in the predetermined direction. The array-like photo detecting means is located in the orientation such that each of the light receiving devices is capable of receiving one of the components of the light beam, which components have been totally reflected at various different reflection angles from the interface described above. The components of the light beam, which components are taken in a beam width direction perpendicular to the reflection angle direction and with respect to each of the various different reflection angles, are received by one light receiving device. Therefore, the output obtained from each of the light receiving devices contains all of the information with respect to the beam width direction. However, in cases where the surface of the thin film layer of the analysis chip is not uniform, in cases where the sensing substance is not uniform, or in cases where staining occurs at part of the optical system, the problems often occur in that part of the dark line is deformed (for example, part of the dark line becomes dull). Therefore, with the conventional analysis apparatus provided with the array-like photo detecting means, in cases where part of the dark line is deformed due to defects, such as non-uniformity, staining, and the like, of part of the analysis chip or part of the optical system, a measurement result containing adverse effects of the deformation of part of the dark line is obtained. Accordingly, with the conventional analysis apparatus provided with the array-like photo detecting means, there is the possibility that the detection sensitivity will become low.

Analysis method and apparatus utilizing attenuated total reflection


A cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone having an inclined part and adapted for separating dust and air; a first dust chamber adapted to be disposed substantially around the first cyclone and to be in fluid communication with the first cyclone; at least one second cyclone for separating dust and air adapted to be disposed above the first cyclone and to be in fluid communication with the first cyclone; and a second dust chamber adapted to be in disposed within the first cyclone and to be in fluid communication with the second cyclone.

Generally, vacuum cleaners generate a suction force to draw-in dirt from a surface to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaners are provided with a dust collecting apparatus that separates and collects dust, dirt, particulates, debris, contaminants, and other similar matter from the air drawn into the vacuum cleaner. The term "dust" will be used herein to refer collectively to dust, dirt, particulates, debris, contaminants, and other similar matter that can be entrained with the air suctioned by the vacuum cleaner.
Cyclone separating apparatuses are well known as dust collecting apparatuses for a vacuum cleaner. The conventional cyclone separating apparatus can effectively remove relatively large dust from the drawn-in air but often cannot effectively remove fine dust.
To remove fine dust more effectively, a multi-cyclone separating apparatus has been developed. The multi-cyclone separating apparatus has a first cyclone to remove relatively large dust and a plurality of second cyclones to remove fine dust from the air discharged from the first cyclone. An example of the conventional multi-cyclone separating apparatus is presented in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-25711.
However, in the conventional multi-cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, air enters and is discharged through an upper portion of the first cyclone. Because the air whirls downward and then has move upward to exit, the air path prevents high dust separating efficiency. Also, the dust separated from the first cyclone is collected in a space in fluid communication with where the air is whirling. Thus, the collected dust impedes the whirling of the air.
Therefore, there is a need for a vacuum cleaner having a cyclone separating apparatus that can more effectively separate dust from drawn-in air and that can collect dust without affecting the whirling air.

Cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner


A machine for scraping a floor covering from a floor has rear drive wheels and a forward blade assembly. Arms which each rotate independently on the frame at one end are connected to the blade assembly which independently rotate on their other ends. Thus, the blade is able to float and follow the contour of the floor even if the wheels and blade are riding on an uneven surface. The pitch and elevation of the blade assembly can be changed individually or simultaneously without inhibiting the floating motion of the blade assembly.

This invention relates generally to floor preparation machines and more particularly concerns machines for scraping floor coverings from a base floor surface.
Scraping machines for removing old carpet, tile and other floor coverings from concrete floors consist essentially of a frame with rear end drive wheels and a front end blade. These machines generally use an hydraulic drive system. On some machines the hydraulic drive system is also used to raise and lower the blade or to change the pitch of the blade.
On older machines, the blade is fixed to the frame. If irregularities in or unevenness of the floor alter the attitude of the machine, the blade attitude also changes, causing the blade to partially or completely shear the covering and ride above it. It is then necessary to back up the machine and restart the scraping process.
On newer machines, the blade is permitted to roll on a longitudinal shaft fixed to the frame. Thus, when an irregularity or unevenness of the floor occurs at the blade, the blade rolls about the fixed axis of the shaft to somewhat maintain contiguous relationship of the blade with the floor. However, since the roll axis is fixed relative to the frame, when the irregularity or unevenness of the floor is encountered by the drive wheels, the changed machine attitude also changes the roll axis alignment. The blade edge does not adequately conform to the floor contour because the roll axis is not perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the blade edge. Therefore, the blade will still shear and ride above the covering.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a floor scraping machine which is able to maintain continuous relationship with the floor when the machine attitude does not conform to the floor contour at the blade edge. Another object of this invention is to provide a floor scraping machine which has a blade which does not have a fixed roll axis. A further object of this invention is to provide a floor scraping machine which has a blade which is able to float in relation to the machine frame. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a floor scraping machine which has a floating blade which can also be raised and lowered relative to the floor. It is also an object of this invention to provide a floor scraping machine which has a floating blade which can also be pitch adjusted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Floor scraping machine with floating blade


An apparatus and method are disclosed for rebuilding a data storage array having plural communication paths. A first error detecting component detects an error at a data storage device of a data storage array. The data storage device has a plurality of ports and is operable to provide data for a preemptive rebuild. A port control component disables all but a single port of the data storage device. A preemptive rebuild component copies data from the data storage device to a spare data storage device using the single operational port. An alternative path maintenance component maintains an alternative communication path for use by other members of the data storage array and bypasses the data storage device. A second error detecting component detects an error at the data storage device during operation of the preemptive rebuild component. A device disabling component disables the data storage device after detecting a second error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for controlling array rebuild, and in particular to a technology for maintaining availability of data during a potentially failing array rebuild.
2. Description of the Related Art
In certain arrangements of Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID arrays), facilities are provided for rebuilding data from a failed disk using data from other disks in the array. This is usually achieved by distributing (striping) copies of data from each disk across the other disks in the array, so that it can be retrieved and assembled together on a spare disk if a disk fails. More recently, the concept of a preemptive rebuild has been developed. In this case, a disk that is determined to be at the point of failure (as detected by, for example, a count of transient or recoverable errors that reaches a predetermined threshold that indicates an impending total failure of the disk) is preemptively copied over to a spare before the impending failure can occur.
During RAID array rebuilds, failing hardware and firmware may encounter repetitive errors that prevent array rebuilds from completing and that may result in loss of access to data. Stated in more detail, the disk drive module firmware may indicate a predictive failure as described above, on the basis of, for example, an error thresholding mechanism. This indication in turn may be used to initiate a preemptive data rebuild from the failing component to another component, in order to improve system availability by reducing the time taken to prepare the spare disk drive module, and also to reduce the possibility of data loss—if the preemptive data rebuild is done successfully, there is no need to use the conventional technique of reading data back from all the other array components.
If, during the preemptive data migration, an error occurs that causes RAID operation failures, the recovery may be compromised. This is because, unless there is some higher level of control, the system-specified recovery action may be to continue to retry, which will merely repeat the action that failed. Such a repetition may ultimately result in loss of access to data or even in loss of the data itself.
An example of one known approach to the problem of maintaining data availability during RAID array rebuild is to delay rebuild recovery until the controlling software indicates that it is ready to allow such recovery. This approach, although it may have acceptable results in some circumstances, depends on the rebuild action itself being the cause of the error. In one alternative, it may be possible to have a mechanism wherein array components can be ignored before they have been initialized. However, this is also prone to error as the drive that has been predicted to be at the point of failure for one reason may fail for a different, unforeseen reason. A further alternative would be to bypass failing disk drive modules using out of band signaling. However, this is expensive in resource use and may not be technically possible (as would be the case, for example, if communications were routed over long fiber channel arbitrated loop ("FC-AL") cables). Using multiple controllers is also unlikely to provide any benefit because, as they are likely to be running the same code, they may be subject to the same errors. Furthermore, it would be prohibitively expensive to write completely independent solutions for use on different controllers.
It would thus be desirable to have a technological means for controlling RAID array rebuild, and in particular to have a technological means for maintaining availability of data during a potentially failing array rebuild, without incurring excessive additional development cost.

Apparatus and method for controlling raid array rebuild

International Business Machines Corporation


A circuit and method for detecting when converting a number from a floating point format to a fixed point format will result in a loss of precision. All bits but the most significant bit of the exponent of the floating point number are inverted. This results in a transformed exponent that is input to a comparator. The mantissa of the floating point number is input to a signed trailing one detector (STOD). The STOD outputs a signed number that indicates the bit position of the least significant logical "1" in the mantissa, plus a bias number. The bias number is chosen to be the number of bits in the fractional part of the fixed point format minus the number of bits in the mantissa. The output of the STOD is input to the other input of the comparator. The output of the comparator indicates whether or not a loss of precision occurs.

In a computer, or other digital electronic device, data is typically stored as a series of binary `1`s and `0`s defining a word, where each binary word is stored in a memory such as a register. Data may be stored in fixed point format wherein the position of the radix point is fixed with respect to one end of the word. Data may also be stored in floating point format wherein each number is represented as a sign, a signed exponent, and a significand, where the numerical value, if any, is the signed product of its significand and the radix raised to the power of the exponent. Several floating point formats are disclosed in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Standard for Binary Floating Arithmetic (ANSI/IEEE Std. 754-1985) which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The IEEE single precision format is shown in FIG. 1. This format is comprised of 32 bits, B0 to B31. The mantissa or fractional part 102 comprises 23 bits, B0 to B22. These bits are the significant digits of the number to be represented. The mantissa has a leading `1` that is implied by the format so the actual precision of the mantissa is 24 bits. The exponential part 104 comprises 8 bits, B23 to B30, and is a power of 2 multiplier applied to the mantissa, 102. The exponent is "biased" by adding 127. Therefore, if e is the value of the exponent field, then E is the actual value of the exponent for the number represented, e=E+127. Thus, an exponent field of "01111111" corresponding to bits B30 to B23, respectively, represents a numerical exponent of zero. A sign bit, 106, is included as the most significant bit (MSB) B31 of the entire 32-bit word and identifies the sign of the mantissa 102. Similar fields, and a corresponding exponent bias are defined for the IEEE double precision floating point format.
To convert a number in IEEE floating point format to a fixed point format, the exponent bias is subtracted from the value of the exponent field. The resulting unbiased exponent value, E, is then used to shift the mantissa (including the implied leading `1`) by E bits. A positive value of E means a left shift is necessary. A negative value of E means a right shift is necessary. A left shift which is greater than or equal to the number of bits of integer information in the fixed point number results in an overflow. A right shift which results in the rightmost `1` of the mantissa ending up in a bit position that is farther right than the last bit in the fractional portion of the fixed point format results in a loss of precision. For example, take a floating point number that has a mantissa (including implied leading `1`) of "1.00100000" and convert it to a fixed point format that has 3 bits of integer information and 5 bits of fractional information. if the unbiased exponent is -1, the resulting fixed point number would be "000.10010". However, if the unbiased exponent is -3, the resulting fixed point number would be "000.00100". The loss of precision results from discarding the rightmost `1`. The loss of precision can be illustrated by converting the resulting fixed point number "000.00100" back into floating point format. The conversion back to floating point format results in a mantissa of "1.00000000". This is not the same as the original floating point number because a loss of precision has occurred.
The accuracy of arithmetic operations performed by digital electronic devices can depend on detecting a loss of precision when converting a number from a floating point format to a fixed point format. Therefore, there is a need to for a versatile method and circuit capable of determining when converting a number from a floating point format to a fixed point format results in a loss of precision. Furthermore, determining when a trailing bit will be lost during conversion to a fixed point format is useful when rounding numbers. Such a circuit should be adaptable to conversions between a variety of floating point and fixed point formats. Such a circuit should also operate with minimal delay, be simple and inexpensive to implement, and be reliable.

Minimal circuit for detecting loss of precision in floating point numbers


A network application decentralized execution system which allows a network application developed for a centralized switched network to be applied to a decentralized switched network is disclosed. The network application decentralized execution system includes a network application server, a first terminal equipment and a second terminal equipment. Each of the first and second terminal equipments includes a detection section for detecting a variation of a connection state of the terminal equipment, a control section for controlling the connection state, and a plug-in section for plugging in an application execution script downloaded from a network application server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network application decentralized execution system wherein a network application developed for a centralized switched network can be applied to a decentralized switched network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system which provides an application programming interface (API) which abstracts and utilizes network controlling functions of a switching system is called open API of a network and serves as a platform for providing network service applications which make use of intra-network communication resources such as a switched network, a media storage and synthesis trunk and a multi-point conference control trunk.
Recently, such corporate bodies as the JAIN and the Parlay which standardize a set of such APIs as mentioned above have been organized, and a network application developed based on an API standardized by any of such corporate bodies can be utilized commonly between various switching systems of different implementation forms for which the API is ready. Thus, such network applications are generally useful for reduction of the period of development of a network application.
An interface between execution environments of an application described in an existing network API such as the JAIN or the Parlay and a switching system is conventionally implemented by connection between a server which executes the application and a control apparatus in an exchange. This makes it possible to perform detection of an event and a controlling operation from the application in response to a connection call managed in the control apparatus in the exchange.
The API set includes seven APIs given below in accordance with individual functions:
1. Event collection type API
2. State collection type API
3. Connection destination control type API
4. User interaction type API
5. Database accessing type API
6. Process calling type API
7. Process ending type API
A network application can be constructed by a suitable combination of the APIs given above.
Meanwhile, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network which is a switching service network in which the Internet protocol is used has been constructed recently, and the architecture for switched network control has begun to vary fundamentally.
In the VoIP network, each terminal equipment has a call state holding function and a mutual connection function incorporated therein so that it can establish a connection directly to another terminal equipment of the other party without intervention of an exchange using connection destination address information acquired from a directory server.
Such decentralized connection control as just described can significantly reduce the load to a server necessary for a switching network service.
However, a function module corresponding to the control apparatus of an exchange which is a destination of connection of a network application described above is decentralized and eliminated. In particular, communication in decentralized connection control is performed without intervention of an exchange, and therefore, application execution environments (refer to description hereinafter given with reference to FIG. 7) cannot control communication. Therefore, there is a problem that a network application developed for a centralized switched network cannot be applied to a decentralized switched network.

Network application decentralized execution system, terminal equipment and network application execution method therefor, and operation method for terminal equipment