A user""s access patterns are accounted for in deciding to switch between a plurality of wireless networks 204, 206. A method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring a location of a wireless communication device 202 Within a region serviced by a first wireless communication network 204 and second region serviced by a second wireless communication network 206. The first and second region have an overlapping region which could be serviced by both networks. The future location of the wireless communication device 202 within the first and second regions is predicted based on the monitoring of the previous locations of the wireless communication device 202. When the wireless communication device 202 is detected as being within the overlapping region, the system determines whether to transfer an active connection between the wireless communication device 202 and one of the networks to the other network. In one embodiment, past patterns of usage of the wireless communication 202 device within the first and second region are identified and used to predict a future location based on the past pattern. In another embodiment, a calender of predetermined time-location associations is input into a controller 203 associated with the wireless communication device 202 and the prediction is based on an actual location and current time being compared with the values input into the calender.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to an improved system and method for controlling hand-offs of calls from one wireless network to another.
2. Description of the Related Art
During a call connecting a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, with another telephone, the wireless communication device may cross from the domain of one wireless network to an independent wireless network. Such networks may comprise a company""s private cellular telephone network and the public cellular telephone network, for example. Thus, to complete the call, the wireless communication device must be capable of being used in both the company""s internal wireless system and in the public system, and accommodation must be made for controlling hand-offs from one network to the other.
Hand-off of a telephone call from the domain of the first wireless network to the domain of the second wireless network may be made via a control link shared between central processing units of the two networks. Using the control link, the two wireless networks are able to negotiate feasibility and operations of hand-off as described, for example, in EIA/TIA interim standard IS42.2-B, xe2x80x9cCellular Radio Telecommunications Intersystem Operations: Intersystem Hand-Off,xe2x80x9d which is hereby incorporated by reference. While, ideally, hand-offs from one network to another are imperceptible to the user, in practice, hand-offs frequently introduce extraneous clicks and temporary loss of signal.
Frequently a user of the wireless communication device is required to travel from one company site to one or more other company sites, which can cause the wireless communication device to repeatedly switch back and forth between the public and private systems. This can cause unnecessary hand-offs, particularly since typical systems assume that a private wireless system, free of call charges, is preferable to a public system, even though the public systems typically charge a per call access fee. In such systems, a hand-off is always made to the private system, whether or not it is the most efficient in terms of cost or signal quality.
This situation is illustrated more clearly with regard to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, an exemplary two-network wireless communication system 100 is shown. A private company wireless system is installed in buildings 104, 106 and 108. As illustrated, each building 104, 106, 108 is associated with its own cell or service area 110a, 110b, and 110c, respectively. Overlapping the private wireless system is a public wireless system 102 having multiple cells, only two of which, 102a and 102b ,are shown.
As illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 1, a user can travel from building 104 to building 108, crossing through cell areas 110a, 102a, 110b, 102b and 110c. Assuming that the user begins executing a telephone call in building 104, the user""s call will be serviced by the private wireless network so long as he is within region 110a. As soon as the user leaves region 110a, he will be transferred to the public wireless carrier (so long as he is in region 102a). As the user approaches the vicinity of building 106, he will re-enter into the service area of the private wireless network as represented by cell 110b. His call will then be transferred back to the private network. As soon as the user leaves the area surrounding building 106, his call will be transferred from the private network to the public wireless network as he enters region 102b. Finally, as he approaches building 108, his call will be transferred back to the private network as enters region 110c.
By the time the user gets to building 108, he has been transferred four times, each time with a momentary loss of conversation, a change in signal quality and, with every transfer to the public wireless carrier, a new charge per call. Accordingly, a system and apparatus is desired which minimizes the number of unnecessary hand-offs between private and public wireless networks so as to minimize charges and enhance the quality of the call.
The above described problems are overcome in large part by a system and method according to the present invention in which a user""s access patterns are accounted for in deciding to switch between the private and public wireless networks. A system and method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring a location of a wireless communication device within a plurality of regions serviced by a plurality of wireless systems, e.g., a first region serviced by a first wireless communication system and a second region serviced by a second wireless communication system. The first and second regions have an overlapping region which could be serviced by both networks. The system predicts the future location of the wireless communication device within the first and second regions based on the monitoring of the previous locations of the wireless communication device. When the wireless communication device is detected as being within the overlapping region, the system determines whether to transfer an active connection between the wireless communication device and one of the networks to the other network based on the monitoring information.
In one embodiment, past patterns of usage of the wireless communication device within the first and second regions are identified and used to predict a future location based on the past pattern. In another embodiment, a calender of predetermined time-location associations is input into a controller associated with the wireless communication device, and the prediction is based on an actual location and current time being compared with the values input into the calender.
A method according to another embodiment of the invention comprises compiling a database of time-location associations of a wireless communication device within a first region serviced by a first wireless communication system and a second region serviced by a second wireless communication system. The first region and second regions have a predetermined overlapping region. The method further comprises detecting when the wireless communication device is present within the overlapping region during an active connection and predicting a future location of the wireless communication device within the first region or the second region during the active connection. Finally, the method comprises determining whether to transfer the active connection between the wireless communication device and the first or second wireless communication systems to the other when the wireless communication device is detected as being within the overlapping region.
A wireless telecommunication system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a first wireless network providing service over a first predetermined region and comprising a first switching office, and a second wireless telephone network providing service over a second predetermined region and comprising a second switching office. The first predetermined region and the second predetermined region overlap in a third predetermined region. A wireless communication device is configured for use in both networks. The second switching office comprises a memory unit configured to store a database of time-location associations related to a presence of the communication device in either the first predetermined region or the second predetermined region. The second switching office also includes a wireless switching control unit coupled to the database, and configured to access the database when the communication device is detected within the third predetermined region and to transfer an active call between the networks based on the time-location associations.

System and method for calendar-based cellular smart switching

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.


An improvement on hinges such that the side of the hinge which comes into contact with the door or door jamb is scored so as to remove a portion of the square hinge corners on the back side of the hinge to insert into a rounded hinge cut-out. The Two in One Hinge eliminates the need to manufacture rounded hinges. It eliminates the need to square off rounded hinge cut-outs so as to install a square corner hinge. It eliminates the need for the installer to utilize hand tools to square off the corners of a round hinge cut-out.

The construction, millwork and furniture industries use both round and square door hinges. The invention consists of an improvement for a hinge whereby the back side of the four square corners of the hinge are scored and a portion of the metal comprising the corner of the hinge is removed so that the square corner hinge can be installed into a rounded hinge cut-out in the door frame or door, or other means for installation such as folding partitions and furniture. It has been time consuming and costly for contractors to conform a rounded hinge cut-out to fit a full square corner hinge. Various tools have been adapted by contractors to perform this function, each of which is costly and inefficient. The present invention eliminates the need for a contractor to use an additional tool to make a rounded hinge cut-out square. A solution to this problem is to use a square hinge which is scored such that it can easily be placed in a rounded hinge cut-out and with a couple of taps of a hammer on the outside of the hinge, the squared portion of the hinge can be securely placed in the rounded hinge cut-out. The advantage of this invention is that it eliminates the need to manufacture round corner hinges because square hinges with this adjustment can be used in round corner hinge cut-out installations. As stated, it also eliminates the need for the installer to use additional tools to square out a rounded hinge cut-out and also to spend the time to perform this needless, expensive task.


An exhaust port is formed in the wall of a cylinder of a 2-cycle engine. At least one of the portions of the cylinder wall which define two vertically opposing edges of the exhaust port is projected at the circumferentially mid portion towards the opposing edge so as to provide a piston guide surface which conforms with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and which extends in such a manner as to reduce the axial height of the exhaust port. The piston guide surface serves to suppress vibration and noise caused when an upwardly moving piston falls into the exhaust port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a 2-cycle internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to an improvement in the configuration of an exhaust port of a 2-cycle internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a 2-stroke motorcycle engine having a cylinder which is inclined forwardly and which is equipped with an exhaust port of a conventional configuration. As shown in this figure, an exhaust port 11 is formed so as to open in the front portion of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 1 which is inclined forwardly. The exhaust port is connected, through an exhaust passage 12 formed in the cylinder wall, to an exhaust pipe (not shown) which is connected to a front part of the cylinder. The engine has a crankshaft 9 which rotates in the direction of arrow R.
As shown in FIG. 9 or 10, the exhaust port 11 has an elliptic or rectangular form.
Referring again to FIG. 8, the engine has a piston 5 which is shown in its upward stroke. In this state, a connecting rod 8 is inclined such that its big end is positioned at the rear side of an axis C1 of the cylinder 1. Consequently, the piston 5 also is inclined with respect to the cylinder axis C1 in the same direction as the direction of inclination of the connecting rod 8. Therefore, the front side of the piston 5 makes contact with the inner peripheral surface 3 of the cylinder at a point or portion P1 which is intermediate between the top and bottom ends of the piston 5, while the rear side of the piston 5 contacts with the cylinder inner peripheral surface 3 at the bottom end portion P2.
In operation, the portion P1 of the piston 5 falls into the exhaust port 11 immediately after it passes the lower edge of the exhaust port 11 during an upward stroke of the piston 5. The portion P1 then collides with the upper edge of the exhaust port 11 as a result of further upward movement of the piston 5. Consequently, an annoying rattling noise is generated during the operation of the engine.
FIG. 11 is a chart showing the levels of vibration and noise as measured at a position S shown in FIG. 8. The upper part of the chart shows the timing or piston position in terms of pulses generated in response to detection of TDC (Top Dead Center), while the lower part of FIG. 11 shows the level of the measured noise. The middle part of FIG. 11 shows the level of vibration.
The falling of the portion P1 of the piston 5 into the exhaust port 11 takes place when the piston is at .theta..degree. before TDC so that a vibration takes place as indicated at X in the middle part of FIG. 11. A striking noise is then generated with a slight delay after the vibration, as indicated by Y in the lower part of FIG. 11.
The impact generated as a result of falling of the piston into the exhaust port and consequent vibration and noise are large particularly in a 2-cycle motorcycle engine which has a forwardly inclined cylinder.
Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 54-156019 discloses an exhaust port configuration in which a vertical elongated rib, having a scavenging port, is provided at the center of the suction port. The piston, however, never falls into the scavenging port due to the specific relation between the port position and the direction of crankshaft rotation. Thus, the rib merely serves to provide a scavenging port, and is not intended to provide means preventing the piston from falling into an exhaust port.

Exhaust arrangement for a 2-cycle engine


A buoyant aquatic recliner device (10) comprised of a plurality of body supporting sections (11,12,13) flexibly interconnected and adapted to support a person reclined thereon. One body supporting section (11) supports the torso of the reclined person, a second section (12) supports the thighs and a third section (13) supports the lower legs. Each body supporting section comprises a pair of linear side members (21-26) of substantially equal length interconnected by pliant spacer members (30) which maintain the paired side members substantially parallel and in symmetrical relation about the longitudinal axis of the device. At least one flotation member (60) is affixed to each side member of the body supporting sections and is adjustably positioning thereon along the length of the side member to adjust the relative angles of inclination of adjoining body supporting sections to achieve a preferred body position. The number of flotation devices (60) for each body supporting section (11,12,13) may be selectively increased or decreased to control the level of submergence of each section.

Aquatic flotation devices of the type which are adapted to support a person in reclined position are of wide variety. Many of these include buoyant pads for providing buoyancy which have the disadvantage that the person supported on the buoyant pads is out of direct contact with the water and is therefore precluded from its soothing and salutary effects. Inflatable flotation devices, on the other hand, are generally more difficult to manufacture and their structural integrity is usually less reliable. Adjusting the buoyancy of a floating inflatable aquatic device, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,723, is also associated with a greater degree of risk and peril, particularly if attempted by a person when reclining thereon.


A method and network element for feedback control for adjusting a rate of message transmission over a connection in a network is provided. The connection comprises a source and destination linked by forward and backward message paths. The source has instructions for setting a message transmission rate for the connection provided by feedback messages received, each containing an explicit rate of transmission. The method comprises steps: receiving feedback messages from the backward path; extracting an explicit rate being carried by each feedback message received; storing each feedback message received in a queue; retrieving a stored feedback message and, substantially when it is transmitted, marking it with an explicit rate determined from an extracted explicit rate pertaining to another message received more recently and a rate determined from a state of congestion of the network element; and externally transmitting the feedback message over the backward message path once so marked.

The present invention relates generally to the field of data communications networks and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for source to destination flow control by means of accelerated feedback of network congestion information.
The emergence of the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking protocol is intended as a response to the demand for faster data communications and more sophisticated processing. The ATM protocol relates to a cell based switching and multiplexing technology that is designed to be a general purpose transfer mode for a wide range of traffic services. Communications networks now serve a range of new applications involving mixed media traffic comprising data, voice, still and moving images and video. The aim of the ATM networking protocol is to provide a more flexible facility for the transmission of such traffic and for the allocation of transmission bandwidth in order to efficiently utilize network resources.
The ATM networking protocol is advantageous in that it provides network administrators and end users with multiple classes of communications service. The ATM Forum Traffic Management Working Group has defined five service categories for cell transmission which are distinguished by parameter sets used to describe source behaviour and quality of service (QoS) guarantees. These service categories are identified as constant bit rate (CBR), real-time variable bit rate (rtVBR), non-real-time variable bit rate (nrtVBR), available bit rate (ABR) and unspecified bit rate (UBR), all of which are set out in the Traffic Management Specification, Version 4.0, which was published by the ATM Forum Technical Committee under document no. af-tm-0056.000 in April 1996. An addendum to this specification entitled xe2x80x9cAddendum to Traffic Management V4.0 for ABR parameter negotiationxe2x80x9d was published under document no. af-tm-077.000 in January 1997.
The ABR and UBR service categories are intended to carry data traffic which has no specific cell loss or delay guarantees. The UBR service category is the simplest of the two, as it optionally provides only a guaranteed minimum cell rate. The ABR service category provides source to destination flow control that attempts, but is not guaranteed, to achieve zero cell loss. Thus, the ABR service category offers users a relatively high quality of service in terms of cell loss probability and yet seeks to maintain high network resource utilization. Traffic management techniques such as those adopting flow control are used to protect a network and its various end-systems from congestion in order to achieve network performance and utilization objectives.
Flow control in the ABR service category is achieved by arranging for each source node of a network to send special resource management (RM) cells through the network. The RM cells are typically interleaved with data cells in the network. Each network entity or element, for instance a switch or node in the network, may indicate its congestion status by writing into the RM cell. The RM cell is then forwarded on to the next network element in the data path. At the destination network element, the RM cell is turned back towards the source. The network entities in the backward data path may mark congestion information into the RM cell, which is ultimately received by the source may then adjust its sending rate in response to the information contained in the received RM cell.
The RM cell typically contains three fields which may be written to in order to describe the congestion status of a network entity. First, the cell provides a xe2x80x9cno increasexe2x80x9d (NI) it which indicates that the source must not increase its sending rate. Second, there is provided a congestion indication (CI) bit which indicates that the source must decrease its sending rate. Third, the RM cell contains an explicit rate (ER) field which contains the minimum explicit rate of transmission as may be calculated by any network element in the data path. The concepts of an explicit rate and of algorithms for calculating explicit rates are described in greater detail below. The behaviour of a network source in response to the information contained in these three RM fields is well-known to those skilled in this art.
Various mechanisms can be used in order to achieve flow control in a network. These mechanisms can be classified broadly depending on the congestion monitoring criteria used and the feedback mechanism employed. The feedback mechanisms are either binary in nature or calculate an explicit rate of transmission. In each case flow control information is provided to the source through the RM cell, as explained in greater detail herebelow.
In one method of binary flow control, known to those skilled in this art as Binary ABR, a particular bit in each data cell is set during network congestion. The bit in question is an indicator of forward congestion and is hence known as an Explicit Forward Congestion Indicator bit, or EFCI bit. If a data cell arrives at the network destination node with its EFCI bit set, the node will set an internal variable, known as the CI_State, to a value of 1. Otherwise, the CI_State variable within the node is set to a value of 0. When a resource management cell arrives at the same destination node, and this particular node has its CI_State variable set to a value of 1, the node will set the previously mentioned CI bit in the RM cell also to a value of 1. The RM cell will make its way along the data path to the network source node and this source node will increase its rate of transmission if the CI bit of the arriving RM cell is set to 0, but will decrease its transmission rate if the CI bit of the RM cell is set to 1.
Those skilled in this art will readily appreciate that Binary ABR is a random method of exerting flow control, in that the mechanism cannot control which particular ABR connection will receive restrictive flow control information at any particular point in time. Flow control will therefore vary depending on the instantaneous traffic flow at each contention point in the network. Generally, it is thought that the Binary ABR mechanism is more susceptible to instability in larger networks. Binary feedback schemes where all the connections may share a common FIFO queue may sometimes suffer from unfairness problems depending on the network topology and the source and destination behaviour employed. Given the same level of congestion at all of the switches along a data path, connections travelling more hops have a higher probability of having their EFCI bits set than those travelling a smaller number of hops. Depending on the source and destination behaviour employed, these long hop connections get very few opportunities to increase their rates of transmission and consequently their throughputs are starved. This gives rise to what those in this art have called a xe2x80x9cbeat downxe2x80x9d problem. Potential unfairness problems in binary feedback schemes where all of the virtual connections share a common queue can be alleviated in some cases. For instance, one known enhancement in this regard is to provide separate queues for each virtual connection or for groups of virtual connections.
In explicit rate feedback schemes, a network node such as a switch will perform three important functions. First, the switch will compute the fair share of the network bandwidth that can be supported for a virtual connection. Second, the switch will determine its load. By way of example, this can be done either by monitoring queue lengths or queue growth rates associated with buffering incoming cells. Third, an actual explicit rate of transmission for the connection will be determined by the switch and this information will be sent to the source. Examples of explicit rate switch mechanisms known to those skilled in this art are the Enhanced Proportional Rate Control Algorithm (EPRCA) and two congestion avoidance schemes, namely Explicit Rate Indication for Congestion Avoidance (ERICA) and Congestion Avoidance using Proportional Control (CAPC).
Various explicit rate algorithms have been developed in order to fairly distribute bandwidth between ABR connections. Typically, an explicit rate algorithm may be deployed at every contention point in the data path, namely at every queuing point in the network where the aggregate arrival rate of cells is greater than the aggregate service rate. In the context of an ABR controlled connection, the service rate pertains to the capacity available for the ABR connection, and this capacity is generally time dependent. The ER algorithm attempts to fairly distribute bandwidth between ABR connections at each contention point. For instance, in a Max-Min fairness class of ER algorithms, the goal is to allocate bandwidth at each link in the network so that the link is fully utilized while simultaneously achieving a fair distribution of bandwidth between connections. Each connection will therefore receive an end-to-end bandwidth allocation which is equal to its fair share at the contention point in its connection path through the network where resources are most scarce. A network entity such as a switch may have one or more contention points.
On the establishment of an ABR connection, the end system will specify to the network both a maximum useable bandwidth and a minimum required bandwidth. These are designated typically as the peak cell rate (PCR) and the minimum cell rate (MCR), respectively. ABR flow control occurs between a sending end system and a receiving end system. The sending end system and the receiving end system are connected via bidirectional connections. For each such bidirectional ABR connection, every connection termination point is both a source and a destination. For the forward flow of information from source to destination there exists a control loop consisting of two RM cell flows, one in the forward direction and one in the backward direction. The same holds true for the backward information flow from destination to source.
A network source will generate forward RM cells which are turned around by the destination and sent back to the source as backward RM cells. It is these backward RM cells which carry the feedback information provided by the network elements and/or the destination back to the source. Each network element may directly insert feedback control information into the RM cells when they pass in the forward or backward direction. As well, each network element may indirectly inform the source about congestion by setting the EFCI bit in the data cell header of the cells of the forward information flow. A network element in an impending congested state or in a currently congested state may set an EFCI bit in the cell header so that this indication may be examined by the destination end system. For example, the end system may use this indication to implement a protocol that adaptively lowers the cell rate of the connection during congestion or impending congestion. A network element that is not in a congested state or an impending congested state will not modify the value of this indication. An impending congested state is a state when a network element is operating around its engineered capacity level. Where a cell header contains a set EFCI it, the destination will update the backward RM cells based on this congestion information. As alternatives to inserting feedback control information into RM cells or to the setting of EFCI bits in data cells, each network element may itself generate backward RM cells for flow control.
Like any typical negative feedback control system, the delay in the feedback loop is very important in determining the performance of the controlled system. In the case of the ABR service category which uses explicit rate marking as discussed above, nodal congestion information is marked into the in-band backward RM cell if its value is less than what is being already carried inside cell. As such, the source will always receive the lowest explicit rate values as offered by the nodes that the connection traverses. Thus, the faster the backward RM cells travel back to the source, the quicker the source can respond and hence the better the performance of the feedback mechanism.
Various techniques have been used in the prior art in order to minimize the ER information feedback delay as a backward RM cell travels through a node. One technique involves segmenting an ABR loop by the creation of virtual sources and virtual destinations. This creates a concatenation of sequential virtual ABR control loops, wherein the feedback delay is reduced in each virtual loop. Another known method of reducing ER information feedback delay involves the provision of a dedicated queue for the backward RM cells.
Other techniques for improving ER information feedback involve addressing delays experienced by backward RM cells when such cells experience queuing at various nodes along a connection path. For instance, a network switch which deploys ER based flow control will usually have cell input and output buffers for incoming and outgoing data and RM cells. The backward RM cells in such a configuration may experience unacceptable delays as they are placed in the output queue of the switch, which will normally operate according to a first-in first-out (FIFO) retrieval. These delays are especially prevalent when many virtual connections may be multiplexed into the output queue. Since the ABR service category is often used for bandwidth-on-demand data traffic which seeks to use up all available bandwidth and buffers its network resources as much as possible, congestion of output queues is much more likely with such traffic. It has therefore been proposed in the prior art that backward RM cells be permitted to advance or skip ahead of data cells in the output queues of ATM switches as a means of reducing flow control feedback delay.
Typically, known mechanisms for backward RM cell acceleration have employed a separate queue for such cells, which may be complex or costly to implement, especially where a per-VC queuing structure is to be adopted. As backward RM cells skip ahead of data cells, the intercell spacing of the backward RM cells is no longer observed. This introduces the problem of cell clumping. Thus, one can experience a burst of backward RM cells at one time interval and yet for another interval there is no backward RM cell for carrying congestion information.
There is therefore a need to provide a method and apparatus for ER information acceleration that seeks to alleviate or overcome certain of the problems associated with prior art solutions.
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, a method of feedback control for adjusting a rate of message transmission over a connection in a communications network is provided. The connection comprises a source and a destination of message transmission. A forward message path begins with the course and ends with the destination, and a backward message path begins with the destination and ends with the source to thereby form a closed loop for the feedback control. The communications network has network elements through which the forward and the backward message paths each traverse. The source is provided with instructions for setting a rate at which the source will transmit messages over the connection, the instructions being transported over the connection by feedback messages received by the source, each of the feedback messages so received containing an explicit rate of transmission each constituting a lowest of a plurality of explicit rates of transmission which correspond to those determined respectively from states of congestion associated with each of the network elements. The method of feedback control comprises the steps of: (a) receiving feedback messages from the backward message path at a network element traversed by the backward message path; (b) extracting an explicit rate of transmission being carried by each of the feedback messages received; (c) storing each of the feedback messages received in a first-in first-out order in a queue; (d) retrieving a feedback message from the head of the queue for transmission from the network element and, substantially at a time when the feedback message retrieved from the head of the queue is to be transmitted externally from the network element, marking the feedback message retrieved from the head of the queue with an explicit rate of transmission determined as a function of an extracted explicit rate pertaining to another feedback message of the feedback messages received more recently received than the feedback message retrieved from the head of the queue and a rate determined from a state of congestion associated with a contention point of the network element; and (e) externally transmitting the feedback message retrieved from the head of the queue from the network element over the backward message path once the feedback message retrieved from the head of the queue has been so marked.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, a network element for providing feedback control for adjusting a rate of message transmission over a connection in a communications network is provided. The connection comprises a source and a destination of message transmission. A forward message path of the connection begins with the source and ends with the destination and a backward message path of the connection begins with the destination and ends with the source to thereby form a closed loop for the feedback control. The communications network provides network elements through which the forward and the backward message paths each traverse. The source is provided with instructions for setting a rate at which the source will transmit messages over the connection, the instructions being transported over the connection by feedback messages received by the source, the feedback messages so received containing an explicit rate of transmission constituting a lowest of a plurality of explicit rates of transmission which correspond to those determined respectively from states of congestion associated with each of the network elements. The network element comprises: (a) an input pertaining to the backward message path, wherein the input receives feedback messages from the backward message path; (b) a first memory associated with the input of the backward message path storing the explicit rate of transmission extracted from each of the feedback messages received from the backward message path; (c) a second memory, wherein each of the feedback messages received from the backward message path is stored in said second memory in a first-in first-out order after the explicit rate of transmission is extracted therefrom; (d) an output module pertaining to the backward message path transmitting feedback messages retrieved from said second memory; and wherein a feedback message received is retrieved from the second memory in a first-in first-out order and is thereafter marked with an explicit rate of transmission determined as a function of the explicit rate stored in the first memory pertaining to another feedback message of the feedback messages received different from the feedback message retrieved and a rate determined from a state of congestion associated with a contention point of the network element, the feedback message retrieved being transmitted from the output once the feedback message for transmission has been so marked.
According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, a method of feedback control for adjusting a rate of message transmission over a connection in a communications network is provided. The connection comprises a source and a destination of message transmission. A forward message path begins with the source and ends with the destination and a backward message path begins with the destination and ends with the source to thereby from a closed loop for the feedback control. The communications network provides network elements through which the forward and the backward messages paths each traverse. The source is provided with instructions for setting a rate at which the source will transmit messages over the connection, the instructions being transported over the connection by feedback messages received by the source, the feedback messages so received each containing an explicit rate of transmission constituting a lowest of a plurality of explicit rates of transmission which correspond to those determined respectively from states of congestion associated with each of the network elements. The method of feedback control comprises the steps of (a) receiving a new feedback message from the backward message path at a network element trasversed by the backward message path; (b) extracting an explicit rate of transmission being carried by the new feedback message; (c) providing a feedback message for transmission from the network element at a time after steps (a) and (b) and prior to providing the new feedback message for transmission from the network element and marking the feedback message for transmission with an explicit rate of transmission determined as a function of the explicit rate extracted from the net feedback message and a rate determined from a state of congestion associated with a contention point of the network element substantially at a time when the feedback message for transmission is to be transmitted externally from the network element; and (d) immediately following the marking of the feedback message for transmission as aforesaid, transmitting the feedback message for transmission externally from the network element over the backward message path.

ER information acceleration in ABR traffic


In a parts mounting method having plural parts feed units, for setting aside a parts feed unit at a refill position if running short of a certain part in the process of mounting parts, and continuing parts mounting in other parts feed units, it is intended to reduce production stops due to parts shortage, and enhance the operation rate of the mounting machine. To achieve the object, the method of the invention comprises a step of judging if parts are refilled in the parts feed unit 4R at the refill position when parts shortage occurs while mounting parts in the parts feed unit 4L, a step of judging if all parts feed units 4L, 4R are out of the parts which are in shortage if parts are not refilled, and a step of mounting parts from the parts feed unit 4R at the refill position if shortage parts are present in the parts feed unit 4R at the refill position.

Recently, along with the advancement of electronics revolution, further enhancement of productivity is also required in electronic parts mounting machines. Conventional electronic parts mounting machines are described below while referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic constitution of an electronic parts mounting machine. Reference numeral 1 denotes a rotary head, which mounts parts by means of plural nozzles 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes an X-Y table, which fixes a board to mount parts on, and positions the board beneath the nozzles 2. Reference numerals 4L, 4R are parts feed units, and plural parts cassettes (parts feed means) 5 are mounted on each one thereof, and desired parts cassettes are positioned beneath the nozzles 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes a controller, which controls the entire electronic parts mounting machine. Reference numeral 10 is an indicator warning the shortage of parts to the operator, 11 is board carrying means, and 12 is board discharge means.
Referring now to FIGS. 3(a)(1), 3(a)(2) and 3(b)(1) to 3(b)(3), the operation of parts feed units 4L, 4R (hereinafter shown merely as L and R) is described. FIGS. 3(a)(1) and 3(a)(2) show the configuration of parts cassettes 5 in the parts feed units L, R. Both parts feed units L, R are in completely identical parts layout. This is intended to continue production by other parts feed unit R or L if parts are used up during production in one parts feed unit L or R. FIGS. 3(b)(1) and 3(b)(3) show the motion of the parts feed units L, R in the event of parts shortage during production. In the state shown in FIG. 3(b)(1), the parts feed unit L is in the process of production in the active position, while the parts feed unit R is located at the parts refill position not interfering the parts feed unit L. Herein, when parts shortage occurs, it is changed to the state shown in FIG. 2(b)(2). That is, the parts feed unit L moves to the parts refill position, and the parts feed unit R moves to the active position to continue production. The operator refills the parts feed unit L. When further parts shortage occurs, the state becomes as shown in shown in FIG. 3(b)(3). That is, the parts feed unit R moves to the parts refill position, and the parts feed unit L moves to the active position to continue production. By thus exchanging the parts feed units L and R, drop of operation rate due to parts shortage is prevented.
The conventional parts mounting method employing such plural parts feed units is specifically described below by referring to the flowchart in FIG. 4. Parts are sucked to the nozzles 2 from the parts feed unit L (step #101), and it is judged if there are parts or not (step #102), and if there are parts, parts are mounted on a board fixed on the X-Y table 3 (step #103). It is then checked if all parts to be mounted on the board by this mounting machine are completely mounted (hereinafter called EOP) or not (step #104), and the operation of steps #101 to #103 is repeated until reaching the EOP. When reaching the EOP, the mounted board is discharged, and next board is sent in (step #105).
On the other hand, if shortage of parts is detected at step #102, the parts feed unit L is moved to the refill position (step #106), and production is continued by the parts feed unit R (steps #107 to #111). Herein, steps #107 to #111 are same in processing as steps #101 to #105. In the midst of steps #107 to #111, if parts shortage occurs at step #108, the parts feed unit R is moved to the refill position (step #112), and it is judged if the parts feed unit L running short of parts in the first place is still in the process of parts refill or not (step #113), and if it is in the process of parts refill, production is stopped due to parts shortage (step #121), or if parts refill has been complete, going back to step #101, production is continued in the parts feed unit L.
In such mounting method, however, unless parts are refilled immediately by the operator, both the parts feed units L and R may be out of parts, and production may be stopped, so that the operation rate may decline. In particular, in the nighttime when the number of workers is small, it was difficult to operate continuously for a long time.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A retractable lifeline safety device usable by workers performing tasks at great heights above the ground. The mechanical components of the safety device are contained within a sealed housing that is filled with a viscous fluid. The sealed housing prevents the introduction of dirt, moisture and other foreign matter into the mechanical mechanism of the safety device, reducing the likelihood that those components may be fouled by dirt and corrosion, which in turn could greatly reduce the effectiveness of the safety device. The safety device is attached to the structure on which the worker is performing the task, and a lifeline such as a cable is withdrawn from the housing thereof, the end of which is attached to a belt or harness worn by the worker. The cable may be easily drawn out of the housing in response to the worker moving about normally in the appropriate work space, and the cable is automatically drawn back into the housing of the safety device as the worker draws closer thereto. However, should the worker fall, a brake within the safety device is automatically engaged by a centrifugal clutch, stopping the worker's descent.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to safety devices and, more particularly, to fall arresting devices including retractable lifelines.
2. Background Information
Retractable lifeline safety devices generally include a housing containing a drum with a cable or rope wound onto it. The drum is spring biased to retract any of the cable that is unwound from it once tension on the cable is reduced. Also included within the housing is a brake system for stopping rotation of the drum if cable suddenly unwinds from it at a rate greater than a predetermined maximum angular velocity. The device may be mounted to a structure on which a worker is performing a task, such as a bridge or a building, with the end of the cable or rope being attached to the worker's belt or body harness. Alternatively, the device may be mounted directly to the worker's harness, with the other end of the cable being mounted to the structure on which the worker is working. Should the worker fall from the scaffolding or other surface on which the worker is standing, the brake system would gradually but quickly stop the drum from rotating, thus preventing additional cable from being paid out and breaking the fall of the worker. However, if the worker simply requires more cable to permit a greater range of motion within the work area, cable will be paid out as necessary. Conversely, as the worker approaches the safety device, the lifeline will be wound back onto the drum automatically due to the spring biased action of the drum.
A common problem with retractable lifeline safety devices of earlier forms is that the cable tends to act as a wick, drawing dirt and other contaminated materials into the inner assembly of the housing when the lifeline is rewound onto the drum. The dirt or other contaminants, such as asbestos, may foul the braking system, which may necessitate the disposal of the entire assembly, since many prior retractable lifeline safety devices are not easily repaired. This may happen with great frequency, since it is extremely important to inspect these assemblies for contamination frequently and dispose of them immediately when necessary, because of the nature of these devices as safety devices that are depended upon to save workers and others from serious injury or even death.
Prior art devices that illustrate these problems include that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,896,912 issued to Faugier et al. on Jul. 28, 1959. The safety apparatus disclosed therein shows a drum brake having two brake shoes, and a spiral spring, both the brake and the spring being exposed to the foreign matter potentially introduced into the system by the wicking action of the cable, as well as being exposed to moisture and other airborne contaminants that could lead to rust and corrosion. U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,131 issued to Carlsson on Jun. 27, 1961, although relying on a somewhat different braking system, suffers from the same drawbacks as the earlier reference.
The retractable lifeline safety device of the present invention overcomes the difficulties described above and affords other features and advantages heretofore not available.


A postage accounting system comprising: structure for accounting for postage; printing structure externally of the accounting structure, the printing structure including a printing module and computer structure for controlling the printing module, the printing module including printing apparatus and structure for sequentially feeding each item of a predetermined plurality thereof to the printing apparatus for printing thereon, the computer structure including structure programmed for sequentially transmitting variable information for each item to the accounting structure, the variable information including at least a portion of a mailing address for each item; the postage accounting structure including structure for connecting the accounting module in communication with the printing structure, the accounting structure including structure for sequentially encrypting the variable information received for each item, the accounting structure including a microprocessor, the microprocessor including structure programmed for transmitting to the printing structure a bit-mapped image of fixed information for printing on each item, and the microprocessor including structure programmed for separately sequentially transmitting to the printing structure an ASCII encoded string of characters corresponding to the sequentially encrypted information for sequentially printing on the respective items.

This invention is generally concerned with a postage accounting system and more particularly with a postage accounting and letter addressing system including a computer constructed and arranged for transmitting ASCII encoded variable information for driving an external printer.
This Patent Application is one of the following three, concurrently filed, related, Patent Applications assigned to the same assignee: U.S patent application Ser. No. 08/356,747 for a Postage Accounting System Including Means For Transmitting A Bit-Mapped Image Of Variable Information For Driving An External Printer, filed by Seestrom (Attorney Docket No. E-306); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/359,749 for a Postage Accounting System Including Means For Transmitting ASCII Encoded Variable Information For Driving An External Printer, filed by Ramadei (Attorney Docket No. E-307); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/356,748 for a Postage Metering System With Dedicated and Non-Dedicated Postage Printing Means, filed by Seestrom (Attorney Docket No. E-308).
Various data processing systems have been developed. Examples of such systems are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,010 for a Franking Machine With Variable And Fixed Thermal Printhead, filed by Gilham et. al. and issued Apr. 17, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,761 for a Method And Apparatus For Interfacing A Thermal Printer, filed by Hawkes and issued Oct. 20, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,812 for a Franking Machine, filed by Abumehdi and issued Apr. 27, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,657 for a Method For Franking Postal Matter And Device For Carrying Out the Method, filed by Gunther and issued Aug. 3, 1993; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,465 for a Franking Machine With Digital Printer, filed by Abumehdi, et al, and issued Mar. 8, 1994.
The most pertinent of the aforesaid references are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,010, which discloses a thermal printer for independently printing fixed and variable information utilizing different printheads at a single printing station; U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,761, which discloses structure for selectively strobing different lines of data which are to be printed by a printhead; U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,657, which discloses structure for transmitting essential portions of a franking image corresponding to a requested franking and completing the franking image with stored image portions; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,812, which discloses a franking machine including a communications port and including a circuit permitting the machine to configure the port to match the communication standards utilized by a given device connected to the franking machine.
However, the references are silent concerning the provision of a postage accounting system which includes a secure postage accounting module, including structure for transmitting a code, corresponding to a variable portion of a postage indicia and an address, to a non-secure printing system which is separated from the accounting module, thereby permitting the printer to make a decision, based on the code, defining the content of the information which is to be printed.
Accordingly:
an object of the invention is to provide a postage accounting system including means for transmitting a plurality of ASCII encoded strings of characters, respectively corresponding to variable information, to a printing system;
another object is to provide postage accounting structure including a communications interface connected for receiving, from an external source thereof, plain text versions of respective portions of mailing addresses of respective items, including labels and letters, means for transmitting to an external printer fixed postage indicia information once for a plurality items, to be processed by the printer, and means for transmitting a separate string of ASCII encoded characters, respectively corresponding to different variable information, for each of the plurality of items; and
another object is to provide a postage accounting system which includes postage accounting computer means having encryption structure and a communications interface, means connected to the interface for providing at least a portion of the plain text version of each of a plurality of mailing addresses for a corresponding plurality of items, including labels and items, the accounting means including means for transmitting a bit-mapped image of a fixed portion of a postage indicia for sequentially printing on each the plurality of items, and the accounting means including means for sequentially transmitting a separate ASCII encoded string of characters, respectively corresponding to an encrypted version of a portion of an address and a variable portion of the postage indicia, for sequentially printing on the respective items.

Postage accounting system including means for transmitting ASCII encoded variable information for driving an external printer


The present disclosure relates to a valve or seal of the type adapted to allow the introduction of an instrument or object therethrough. In particular, the valve disclosed herein is adapted to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with a surgical instrument and is used during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The valve disclosed herein incorporates one or more bladder members adapted to retain a fluid therein that are associated by one or more interstitial members.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a valve or seal of the type adapted for the sealed reception of an object. In particular, this disclosure relates to a valve or seal for use with a surgical portal system such as a cannula or trocar assembly.
2. Background of the Related Art
Today, many surgical procedures are performed through portal or access devices such as trocar and cannula assemblies. These devices incorporate narrow tubes or cannulas percutaneously inserted into a patient's body, through which surgical instruments are introduced and manipulated during the course of the procedure. Generally, such procedures are referred to as "endoscopic", unless performed on the patient's abdomen, in which case the procedure is referred to as "laparoscopic". Throughout the present disclosure, the term "minimally invasive" should be understood to encompass both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.
Generally, during minimally invasive procedures, prior to the introduction of a surgical instrument into the patient's body, insufflation gasses are used to enlarge the area surrounding the target surgical site to create a larger, more accessible work area. Accordingly, the maintenance of a substantially fluid-tight seal along the central opening of the access device, in both the presence and absence of a surgical instrument, is crucial so as to prevent the escape of the insufflation gases and the deflation or collapse of the enlarged surgical work area. To this end, access devices generally incorporate a valve or seal member. Various types of valves and seals are known in the art, examples of which may be seen in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,053 to Pearson, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
During the course of a minimally invasive procedure, a clinician will frequently move surgical instruments laterally within the access device, and the valve, to access different regions of the surgical site. This lateral movement may cause the valve to stretch and deform, thereby causing the leakage of insufflation gas around the instrument. In addition, a clinical will often employ instrumentation of various sizes and diameters during the course of a procedure.
While many varieties of valve are known in the art, a continuing need exists for a valve that can accommodate both the lateral movement of an instrument inserted therethrough, as well as instruments of various sizes, while maintaining the integrity of an insufflated workspace.


A support structure is arranged for mounting within an associated vehicle for use with a cellular phone to provide for the mounting of an aligned row of index cards readily mounted to and supported by the apparatus. A modification of the invention includes illumination as well as magnification structure for cooperation with the organization.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to cellular phone structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved cellular phone index apparatus for use with cellular phones to provide for indexing and support of various telephone information.
2. Description of the prior Art
The advent of the cellular phone within self-propelled vehicles in contemporary society has simultaneously brought forth a need to organize and maintain a manner of providing for index card selection relative to a cellular phone structure prior art structure in use with telephones is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,751 to Halm wherein a telephone index is arranged for utilizing a plurality of section keys and a spring-loaded drawer for providing index information for use with a telephone.
U.S Pat. No. 4,275,519 to Grunstad sets forth a wall mounted telephone index structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,497 to Seto, et al. sets forth a hybrid telephone directory to provide source of data therewithin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,273 to Spear, et al. sets forth the construction of a cellular phone of a type typically utilized in a portable arrangement relative to transport vehicles and the like.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved cellular phone index apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An image creation device includes: a plurality of geometry processing means for creating at least one drawing element list by performing geometry processing to express images, respectively, in parallel, said plurality of geometry processing means having at least one first geometry processing means to perform tyical geometry processing and at least one second geometry processing in cooperation with another geometry processing means; drawing means to perform drawing processing based on said drawing element list; and control means to selectively adopt a first mode which parallelizes said at least one first geometry processing means and said at least one second geometry processing means and a second mode to lead a processing result of said at least one second geometry processing means to an input of said at least one first geometry processing means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image creation device such as an entertainment device and, more particularly, to an efficient geometry processing technique when a computer graphics image is created.
1. Description of the Related Art
In computer graphics, an object to be displayed is modeled by a set of polygons. The vertexes of the polygons are expressed by homogeneous coordinates (x, y, z, w). The coordinates are converted according to the aspect coordinates, and the transparent transformation thereto or the like are performed according to a distance. For example, a distant object is converted to become small. The series of processings is called as a xe2x80x9cgeometry processingxe2x80x9d. The vertex coordinates obtained as a result of the geometry processing is called as a display list (Display List: image display instruction).
The display list is sent to the drawing processing means. The drawing processing means draws a basic figure according to the display list in a frame memory. The drawing result is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal, and is displayed on a display unit.
Since the drawing result is updated according to a video rate every {fraction (1/60)}seconds, a moving image is displayed on a screen of the display unit. A series of drawing processings by the drawing processing means is called xe2x80x9crendering processingxe2x80x9d.
Recently, the advancement of the semiconductor technology is remarkable. Since it has become possible to integrate a frame memory and the drawing processing means on an LSI and, therefor, improve the rendering processing, performance of the geometry processing has become relatively insufficient. As means for solving such a disadvantage, it is effective to connect a plurality of geometry engines (means for executing the geometry processing, and so forth) with the drawing processing means in parallel. In the drawing processing, there are a lot of parameters which should be preset, for instance, a clip area and a half transparent processing rate, etc. Thus, it becomes necessary to switch the parameters (xe2x80x9cdrawing context (Graphic Context)xe2x80x9d, or simply xe2x80x9ccontextxe2x80x9d) used in an individual geometry engine.
On the other hand, two processings with different characters may exist together when a detailed breakdown of the geometry processing is observed. One of them is a pure coordinate conversion processing, and another is a behavior calculation processing. The former is a fixed geometry processing, and the latter is an unfixed geometry processing. For example, when a game program is analyzed, calculating a behavior of a character (xe2x80x9ccharacterxe2x80x9d is not limited to man and may be applied to other objects, such as a motion of an enemy plane in a shooting game or a car in a racing game) in response to an external input, and actually calculating coordinate conversion and performing illumination processing have quite different time schedules, respectively. Although it is suffient when the former calculation is concluded on a video frame unit ({fraction (1/60)}seconds) basis, the latter calculation requires synchronization with a rendering pipeline on a polygon drawing unit basis, which is more detailed than the former calculation. Even if both of the calculations are similar, frequent context switching is required to deal with the different time axis in a single processing mode and, therefor, a serious disadvantage in the real time system arises.
Since there are processes that require the coordinate conversion processing while calculating and processes that require the coordinate conversion processing besides the behavior calculation processing as a behavior calculation processing, it is not necessarily simple. Therefore, a mechanism, which can send the result of the behavior calculation processing directly to the drawing processing means or use it for the coordinate conversion again, becomes desirable.
A main subject of the present invention is to provide an image creation device which can cancel the above-mentioned disadvantage.
To solve the above-mentioned disadvantage, an image creation device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plurality of geometry processing means to create a drawing element list by performing geometry processings to express images, respectively, in parallel, said plurality of geometry processing means having at least one first geometry processing means to perform a typical geometry processing and at least one second geometry processing means to perform an atypical geometry processing with close-coupled and in cooperative with other geometry processing means; drawing means to perform a drawing processing based on said drawing element list; and control means to selectively adopt a first mode which parallelizes said at least one first geometry processing means and said at least one second geometry processing means for a processing of a following step and a second mode to lead a processing result of at least one second geometry processing means to an input of said at least one first geometry processing means.
In a first mode, at least two drawing element lists are created in parallel. In a second mode, a drawing element list, in which the processing result of one geometry processing means is reflected to the processing result of other geometry processing means, is created. Thereby, the result of, for example, an atypical geometry processing (coordinate conversion result) is directly led to the latter step processing in the first mode, and is supplied to the coordinate conversion again in the second mode. The efficiency improvement of the entire geometry processing can be achieved by using both of them property.
The control means has a function to dynamically switch one of the first mode and the second mode to the other one thereof. As the switch reference in this case, for example, there are modes to switch according to the entire amount of the geometry processing executed in the plurality of geometry processing means and to switch according to the change in the target of the geometry processing executed in the plurality of geometry processing means. As a latter example, for example, it may be considered when the processor, which performs the atypical geometry processing, performs the retrieval of the representative point of the image which consists of the set in the plurality of vertex, the first mode is adopted, and is switched to the second mode when the retrieval ends.
Thereby, an efficient processing according to the content of the geometry processing becomes possible.
Such an image processing device can be achieved by the computer single unit, the cooperation of the computer and the program, the cooperation of the computer, and the semiconductor device used thereto.
As is clear from the above-mentioned explanation, according to the present invention, since the result of the atypical geometry processing is directly led to the drawing processing means and can be shifted to the coordinate conversion on the way thereof, the geometry processing, which flexibly corresponds to a atypical element, becomes possible.
Since the efficiency improvement of the geometry processing can be achieved entirely and the context switch also decreases, an image creation device suitable by the real time system can be achieved.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.


A method including receiving a session request associated with a user equipment (UE); selecting one or more network address pool name lists based on a type of service to be provided to the UE; selecting one or more network address pool names from the one or more network address pool name lists based on a priority associated with the one or more network address pool names; selecting one or more network addresses from the one or more network address pool names; assigning the one or more network addresses to the UE; and establishing a session with the UE.

When a user device attaches to a network, the user device is assigned a network address (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) address). The user device address assignment can involve either dynamic network addresses or static network addresses. Typically, for dynamic IP address assignment, an IP address is assigned to the user device from an IP address pool, and this IP address is used by the user device while the user device is attached to the network. When the user device detaches from the network, the IP address is returned to the IP address pool.


In the method of producing 3-chloropropyltrichlorosilane by the addition reaction of trichlorosilane to allyl chloride, [Pt(PPh.sub.3).sub.2 Cl.sub.2 ] is used as the catalyst for the reaction.. Side reactions are suppressed to give a high yield of the product.

This invention relates to a production method of 3-chloropropyltrichlorosilane.
The addition reaction of trichlorosilane to allyl chloride is disclosed in the report of J. W. Ryan [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 3601 (1960)] and Japanese patent application laid-open No. 95,023/1976, but this reaction is accompanied with many side reactions, resulting in poor yield of 3-chloropropyltrichlorosilane. Further, Japanese patent publication No. 18,844/1969 discloses a method by way of a .gamma.-ray irradiation of Co-60, but the method is commercially disadvantageous and poor in practical value because the reaction apparatus used in the method is complicated and the initial cost is high.

Method for producing 3-chloropropyltrichlorosilane


A wagon-linking structure comprises a fastening seat and a connection rod. The fastening seat is provided with a first stepped hole and a second stepped hole smaller in hole diameter than the first stepped hole. The connection rod has a shank and a semicircular body. The connection rod is engaged with the fastening seat such that the semicircular body is rotatably received in the first stepped hole of the fastening seat, and that the shank of the connection rod is jutted out of the fastening seat via the second stepped hole of the fastening seat. The fastening seat is fixed with the front end of a wagon.

The present invention relates generally to a children""s tricycle, and more particularly to a structure for linking the children""s tricycle and a wagon.
The conventional children""s tricycle is generally provided with a rack which is mounted on the rear frame of the tricycle in conjunction with an inverted U-shaped frame and a shaft such that the rack is located over the two rear wheels of the tricycle.
There is another conventional children""s tricycle which is provided with a wagon fastened thereto by a cord. The coupling of the wagon with the tricycle by means of the cord or the like is rather primitive and inconvenient in design in that the wagon is vulnerable to overturn, and that the wagon is apt to hinder the maneuverability of the tricycle.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a children""s tricycle with means to link a wagon with the children""s tricycle without the shortcomings of the conventional means described above.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a wagon coupler comprising a fastening seat and a connection rod. The fastening seat is provided with a large stepped hole and a small stepped hole. The connection rod has a shank and a semicircular body. The connection rod is joined with the fastening seat such that the semicircular body of the connection rod is rotatably received in the large stepped hole of the fastening seat, and that the shank of the connection rod is jutted out of the fastening seat via the small stepped hole. The fastening seat is fixed with the front end of a wagon such that the free end of the connection rod is fastened with a pole handle. In light of the semicircular body of the connection rod being rotatably received in the large stepped hole of the fastening seat, the shank of the connection rod is capable of turning along with the semicircular body so as to enhance the maneuverability of the tricycle with the wagon being coupled therewith.

Structure for coupling wagon with children""s tricycle


There is provided a process for regenerating a coked catalyst comprising a zeolite and a noble metal such as platinum. The process involves treating the coked catalyst under somewhat mild oxidation conditions, whereby a sufficient portion of the coke is removed from the catalyst to restore the hydrocarbon sorption properties of the zeolite component to the level observed in the non-coked form. Surprisingly, the original activity of the catalyst is substantially restored, even though a substantial amount of coke remains on the regenerated catalyst.

This application relates to a process for regenerating a coked catalyst comprising a zeolite and a noble metal such as platinum. The process involves treating the coked catalyst under somewhat mild oxidation conditions, whereby a sufficient portion of the coke is removed from the catalyst to restore the hydrocarbon sorption properties of the zeolite component to the level observed in the non-coked form. Surprisingly, the original activity of the catalyst, as measured in the non-coked form, is substantially restored, even though a substantial amount of coke remains on the regenerated catalyst. There is also provided herein means for monitoring the course of regenerations, as well as for mapping out conditions for subsequent regenerations.
An unwanted side reaction which often occurs in catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, especially those involving the use of catalytically active zeolites, is the formation of coke. Over time, this coke can become deposited on the zeolites in gradually increasing quantities until the activity of the catalyst is substantially reduced. When the activity of the catalyst is reduced by coke to an unsatisfactory level, it is customary to interrupt the hydrocarbon conversion process and to burn the coke off the catalyst under oxidation conditions sufficient to rapidly remove substantially all of the coke from the catalyst.
When substantially all of the coke is burned off a catalyst comprising a noble metal in combination with a zeolite, the noble metal is typically found to be in an agglomerated form. In order to fully regenerate such a catalyst, it is often necessary to subject the catalyst to further treatment, whereby the noble metal is redispersed in finely divided form to achieve maximum surface area of the noble metal on the catalyst.
Processes for redispersing noble metal on zeolite catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,874 and 4,849,385, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Regeneration of noble metal containing zeolite catalysts via partial removal of carbonaceous deposits


An optical disk player reads either thin-substrate disks or thick-substrate disks. The disk players optical system is designed for reading the thin-substrate optical disks and has an effective numerical aperture. Thick-substrate optical disks having a thicker substrate than the thin-substrate optical disk result in the laser beam reading such thick-substrate optical disks having spherical aberration sufficient to prevent reliable data detection. When thick-substrate optical disks are being read, the read portion of the optical system is automatically changed to accommodate the undesired spherical aberration. The thick-substrate disk reflected laser beam is subjected to annular filtering that reduces spherical aberration sufficiently for enabling data and servo signal detection. Annular filtering is provided in an optical read path by an effective opaque or translucent disk centrally located in a pupil of the laser beam optical filter disposed in the read portion. An apertured plate having an aperture comparable to a known diffraction limited spot size is disposed between the laser beam filter and photo detectors. The apertured plate is disposed in the focal region of a lens in the optical read path.

Optical data storage systems have employed optical disks, such as magneto-optical, ablative or other types of optical disks. Such optical disks have substrates with axial dimensions that limit areal recording densities. Efforts are continuing to increase the areal densities of such optical disks. Such increased areal densities require shorter laser beam wavelengths, larger numerical apertures in the optical system and a smaller track pitch. Such changes result in increased difficulties in disk manufacture. Such manufacturing difficulty increases disk costs. Since data storage is cost competitive, a different approach is required.
One approach for increasing areal density of optical disks is to decrease the axial thickness of the transparent substrate. Such thinner substrates result in shorter optical paths within the substrates to and from an embedded reflective magneto optical recording layer. Current transparent substrates are relatively thick, i.e. 1.2 millimeters (mm),for example, Reducing the axial thickness of the transparent substrate creates an incompatibility problem between original optical disks (termed herein thick-substrate disks) and newer axially thinner substrates having an axial thickness of about 0.6 mm. An optical system designed to operate with (read from, erase and write to) the thin-substrate optical disks results in excessive spherical aberration from thick-substrate disks preventing successfully reading from or writing to such thick-substrate optical disks. It is highly desired to provide thin-substrate optical disks for achieving greater areal recording densities while maintaining capability to access data recorded in thick-substrate disks. Such desire is termed "backward compatibility". As it turns out, read access to the older thick disks satisfies most backward compatibility requirements, i.e. maintain access to old data. It is also desired to enable automatic controls for facilitating such backward compatibility without requiring separate optical disk drives for the two types of optical disks.
An effective low-cost method and apparatus for reducing the effects of spherical aberration of reflected laser beams from thick-substrate optical disks (reading such disks) in optical devices designed for writing to and reading from thin-substrate optical disk is needed.

Reading optical disks having substrates with diverse axial thicknesses

International Business Machines Corporation


A wheelchair for the transportation of a disabled person throughout the cabin of a transportation vehicle and into a lavatory of the vehicle having a bench type toilet, the wheelchair having a seat stabilizer extendable therefrom to engage the top surface of the toilet, a translating seat assembly for the disabled person with a seat opening transferable over the toilet opening, and a slidable foot rest for the person during transportation on the vehicle and when using the toilet. To prevent sidewise tipping, stabilizer bars can be moved outwardly from the sides of the seat assembly to engage the top surface of the toilet.

Bench type toilets are commonly found in various transportation vehicles such as passenger aircraft, trains and buses and lodging facilities. In these types of vehicles, the aisles are normally very narrow and the lavatories are in very confined areas. The mobility of disabled persons has been increasing in recent years to include not only social and business life, but travel as well. Where once a disabled individual was expected to restrict travel away from home, today these special people are travelling around the world to conduct business or to vacation. The need for travel mobility felt by the disabled has been frustrated due to the lack of proper facilities and equipment aboard transportation vehicles. Over the years, seat cost per mile has become paramount in the financial success of a company and has increasingly dictated the size and shape of passenger vehicle interiors.
Hence, narrow aisles, small lavatories and restricted use of transportation vehicle facilities has limited travel by the disabled communities. While many designs for wheelchairs have been offered for use by the disabled aboard vehicles, they generally suffer from one or more disadvantages. Some require that the disabled passenger be limited to a number of seats adjacent the wide aisles, and are too large to enter a lavatory to place the occupant over a toilet. Conventional wheelchairs for toilet use, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,592,405; 4,052,087 and 4,067,409, straddle the common type toilet, and these cannot be used in vehicles with bench type toilets. The bench type toilets are enclosed in their lower extremities by a shroud which eliminates the straddling capability of wheelchairs of this type. Two wheel conveyances for the disabled must be tilted back to lift front supports off the floor and to allow forward motion. The tilting feature is objectionable to many of the disabled because the rotation of the chair transfers control from the disabled to the person navigating. Also, variation of the chair attitude due to the difficulty of controlling forward motion and position is unnerving to many.
Other special devices have been used for moving the disabled. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 635,575 to Ecole, dated July 12, 1977, there is disclosed a transfer device which moves an invalid from a bed to a wheelchair and vice-versa, by means of a platform mounted on rails. The leg support and foot rest of the device must be elevated to a horizontal position before the person may begin the transfer and the person must be in a horizontal position during this transfer. Another such device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,648,849 to N. B. Wass, et al, dated Aug. 18, 1953. This device provides a means for positioning an occupant over a bathtub to take a shower. The patient is transferred from a wheelchair to an invalid chair and then translated over the bathtub. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,667 to D. T. Swain, dated Dec. 3, 1968, describes a combination of stretcher table and chair for transporting an occupant within a hospital or similar facility. It is convertible to either a wheelchair, litter or table. However, there is no suggestion that this apparatus could be used in a toilet.


An electronic device is provided including a battery and a controller configured to: measure a present level of the battery; and adjust an operation of a hardware component of the electronic device based on the present level of the battery in order to maintain a reference battery level, wherein the reference battery level is associated with a specified time period in which the electronic device is required to remain operational.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Various embodiments relate to electronic devices and, more particularly to a method and apparatus for power management.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with the rapid growth of electronic devices, electronic devices enabling wireless voice telephony and information exchange have become the necessities of life. In the beginning of spreading of the electronic devices, it was simply recognized that the electronic devices are portable and their wireless telephony is possible. But, with the development of their technologies and the introduction of wireless Internet, the electronic devices are satisfying users' desires by significantly increasing a scope of utility such as game, remote control using short-range communication, and image taking using an installed digital camera as well as the purpose of simple telephony, schedule management or the like.
To reduce their power consumption, electronic devices can enter a low power mode. The low power mode can be an operation of applying low power to a module causing power consumption of a threshold value or more in the electronic device. For example, if no user's input is sensed during a certain time, the electronic devices can process to apply low power to a backlight module, a short-range communication module, and the like.

Method and apparatus for power management


A connecting device for attaching a lid to an insulated container. The connecting device has a barb arranged and configured to be inserted into a socket and to engage the walls of the socket upon rotation. The barb may engage the walls of the socket by displacing material or engaging receptors, such as threads, in the socket. The geometry of the barb is such that, after rotation, the barb remains connected to the body and lid without the aid of screws, rivets, or other means. The connecting device may also have a sliding or other connector for connecting the connecting device to the lid. The connector may be in the shape of a dovetail and the lid may have a recess configured to receive the dovetail.

Insulated containers, also called "coolers," are prevalent in contemporary life. Insulated containers are often used for picnics or for outdoor activities such as camping or sporting events. In addition, insulated containers are becoming more prevalent in the medical industry, where they are used to move transplant organs and other articles that need to remain cold during transport. Also, the need to transport commercial goods such as perishable food, drink, medicine, and environmental samples is becoming more important.
Some insulated containers have lids that are attached with various devices, such as hinges. One downside to current insulated containers having attached lids is that considerable labor is required to properly attach a lid to the main body of an insulated container. Often manufacturing such containers requires assembling various parts that need to be properly aligned and fitted together. For example, lids are often attached to coolers using screws that attach hinges to the cooler's main body and lid. Metal plates may be used inside the cooler's main body and lid in order to add strength to the connection between the cooler's body and lid. Considerable manufacturing tolerances must be maintained to ensure that the holes of the hinges properly align with the holes of the plate and that, once the hinges are attached, the complete assembly fits together properly.
Therefore, manufacturing coolers can involve significant amounts of labor and materials, which is expensive. Moreover, because assembled insulated containers are often too large to ship economically, labor for an insulated container may not be performed at more cost efficient labor areas, such as overseas.

Method and apparatus for attaching a lid to an insulated container


A public switched telephone network (PSTN) provides digital video signals from a video information provider or digital service bureau to one or more of a plurality of subscriber premises. Administration of orders from subscribers is carried out by a video gateway and file servers at the central office. Asymmetrical digital subscriber line interface (ADSL) units over a local loop carry the necessary signalling between the subscribers and information providers. The interface units frequency multiplex digital video information with voice information to the subscriber and support transmission of a reverse control channel from the subscriber to the central office for transmission back to the information provider. Several enhancements and special features are disclosed.

Distribution of full motion video data has evolved from early television broadcasting to meet viewer demand. Earliest video distribution was by point-to-point wiring between a camera and a video monitor. This was followed by scheduled television broadcasting of programming over the public air waves. In the 1960s, Community Antenna Television (CATV) was chartered to provide off-air television signals to viewers in broadcast reception fringe areas. Later, under FCC regulation, the CATV industry was required to provide local access and original programming in addition to off-air broadcast signal distribution.
In response, several sources of cable network programming were established. Because of the wide bandwidth available on cable television systems, additional channels were made available for the new programming. However, programming was generally prescheduled, with the viewer left to tune to the designated channel at the appointed time to view a particular program.
To increase revenues, cable television systems have initiated distribution of premium channels viewable only by subscribers having appropriate descramblers. The descramblers are tuned to receive only premium channels, descramble the video and audio information and supply a signal capable of reception on a standard television set.
Pay-per-view programs, which evolved later, include recently released movies, live concerts and popular sporting events. Subscribers wishing to view a pay-per-view program place an order with the cable operator. At the designated time, the subscriber's descrambler is activated to permit viewing of the pay-per-view programming. However, the subscriber is restricted to viewing the programming at the scheduled time. There is no capability of delivering programming to a subscriber on demand, that is, immediately or at a subscriber-specified time and date.
In the early 1980s, technological advances resulted in the proliferation of Video Cassette Recorders (VCR), establishing a second course for video programming distribution. Pre-recorded video programs are now available for sale and rental to VCR owners. Using a VCR, the viewer selects from among many titles available for sale and rental, and views the program when convenient. The VCR owner further has the capability to selectively view the programming using special functions of the VCR, such as pause, fast forward, reverse, slow motion, etc. The viewer can thus manipulate and replay portions of the program at will.
The penalty for this convenience, however, is in the necessity to travel to the local video rental/sales store, if necessary wait for a popular video program tape to become available, once the program is obtained return home to view it and then revisit the video store to return the tape.
Telephone lines have been suggested as an alternative means of video distribution in Goodman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,319 and Kleinerman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,811. However, systems using the public switched telephone network (PSTN) are often bandwidth limited, providing only still frame or video conferencing capabilities. Because telephone system carriers for the most part use the PSTN only for connectivity between subscribers, there is no capability for dynamic routing of digitized video without dedicated leased, wide bandwidth circuits. Telephone line based systems also fail to provide acceptable VCR type functional control of the programming.
Copending application Ser. No. 07/766,535, filed by the assignee of the present invention on Sep. 27, 1991, entitled PSTN ARCHITECTURE FOR VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICES and upon which the present invention is an improvement, describes a so-called Video-on-Demand service that provides video programming to subscribers over the PSTN. A menu of video programming information is accessible at the subscriber's premises. The subscriber may transmit ordering information via the PSTN to the independent video information providers. Video programming may be accessed and transmitted to the subscriber directly from a video information provider (VIP) or through a video buffer located at a central office (CO) serving the subscriber.
The VIP transmits coded digital video data over wideband PSTN supplied connectivity to a central office. The video data may be buffered at the central office for transmission over a POTS line to the subscriber. A subscriber may use either a standard telephone instrument over the PSTN or a dedicated control device over an ISDN packet network to order the video programming. Such a device is located at a television set of the subscriber and permits a display of the program menu on the television screen.
Connectivity between the central office and the subscriber for transmission of video data is provided by an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) system. ADSL interface units perform multiplexing of digital video information with voice information to be transmitted to the subscriber and support transmission on the ISDN packet data network of a reverse control channel from the subscriber to the central office.
However, video-on-demand service does not include an integral library of video program material, hence enabling only limited storage capabilities for video and audio data supplied by a VIP. Enhanced functionality is required to efficiently support multiple program storage. Furthermore, to support network management, a need remains for a system which dynamically interacts with network facilities to reconfigure network resources in real-time and in response to information requests.
Furthermore, certain operational enhancements have been found to be desirable in the video-on-demand service described in the aforementioned parent application. For example, it is occasionally desired to order a video program from the subscriber's office to be played later at the premises of the subscriber. On the other hand, the subscriber must be home and remember to turn a decoder on at the reserved time, to watch the requested program. If not, the subscriber will not have the opportunity to view the selection but will be charged for it anyway. Hence, it would be desirable to transmit the program and enable a charge to be incurred only if it can be determined that the subscriber is going to view the program.
In accordance with video-on-demand service as described in the copending application, the subscriber can order any programming from the video information provider through the telephone keypad or remote control unit. However, the unrestricted ability of anyone at the subscriber's residence to place an order for any programming is undesirable, for example, where children are involved. It would be desirable to restrict the ability of viewers to order only those types of programming they are permitted to view.
Accordingly, a broad object of the invention is to implement video programming on demand using components of the PSTN.
Another object of the invention is to enable access by a telephone subscriber to multiple sources of video programming over the PSTN.
Still another object of the invention is to enable subscribers of the PSTN to have real time control of video programming delivery to their television sets.
Another object is to enable a subscriber to select video programming from a remote location and receive the selection at the subscriber's premises.
A further object of the invention is to ensure that the video program decoder at the subscriber's premises is turned on before a previously ordered selection is transmitted.
Still another object is to establish service constraints that prevent an unauthorized requester, e.g., a child at the subscriber's premises, from ordering restricted programming.

Video-on-demand services using public switched telephone network