An image enhancement device is obtained which is capable of extracting, as regions of interest, still objects or objects with smaller motion vectors, or regions located out of the central area of an image. An image processing module (22) applies memorized-color correction to image data, and then stores, in an SDRAM (7) through a memory interface (26), information about the positions of the memorized-color-corrected pixels and information about the application levels (correction levels) applied to the memorized-color-corrected pixels. A mask signal generating module (23) refers to the positional information stored in the SDRAM (7) to extract the memorized-color-corrected regions of the image data as regions of interest. Also, the mask signal generating module (23) refers to the information about the correction levels stored in the SDRAM (7) to set priorities of the regions of interest in such a way that higher priorities are assigned to regions of interest that are memorized-color-corrected at higher levels (i.e., with larger amounts of correction).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image enhancement device that enhances portions of an image by assigning larger amounts of code to regions of interest extracted from the image data.
2. Description of the Background Art
Images, particularly multi-valued images, contain huge amounts of information so that storing or transmitting images involves storage or transmission of huge amounts of data. Accordingly, high-efficiency coding is used to reduce the amounts of data by, e.g., removing redundancy of images or altering the contents of images to such an extent that the deterioration of image quality is visually unrecognizable.
On the other hand, uniformly applying the high-efficiency coding to the entire image undesirably lowers image quality of highly significant regions in the image. It is therefore desirable to apply the high-efficiency coding only to less significant regions in the image so as to reduce the total amount of data while avoiding deterioration of image quality of highly significant regions.
As a next-generation high-efficiency image data coding scheme, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector) provide the JPEG 2000 (Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000) system. As compared with the currently dominating JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) system, the JPEG 2000 system has superior functions and is characterized in that it adopts the DWT (Discrete Wavelet Transform) as orthogonal transform and the EBCOT (Embedded Block Coding with Optimized Truncation), implementing bit-plane coding, as entropy coding.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a compression coding device 100 that performs a compression image coding based on the JPEG 2000. Now, referring to FIG. 9, the compression coding procedure according to the JPEG 2000 system will be briefly described.
An image signal inputted to the compression coding device 100 undergoes, as needed, DC level shifting in a DC level shifting block 102, and is then inputted to a color space transform block 103. The color space transform block 103 applies color space transform to the image signal provided from the DC level shifting block 102. For example, an RGB signal inputted to the color space transform block 103 is transformed into a YCbCr signal (a signal composed of a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr).
A tiling block 104 divides the image signal provided from the color space transform block 103 into a plurality of rectangular-shaped region components called "tiles". A DWT block 105 applies an integer type or real-number type DWT on a tile basis, to the image signal inputted from the tiling block 104, and the DWT block 105 outputs the resultant transform coefficients. The DWT adopts one-dimensional filters to divide a two-dimensional image signal into a high-band component (high-frequency component) and a low-band component (low-frequency component) in each of vertical and horizontal directions. The JPEG 2000 basic system adopts an octave division scheme that recursively band-divides only a band component that has been divided into the low band both in vertical and horizontal directions. The number of recursive band-divisions is called a decomposition level.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a two-dimensional image 120 that has undergone a DWT with cubic decomposition levels according to the octave division scheme. At the decomposition level 1, the two-dimensional image 120 is divided into four band components including HH1, HL1, LH1, and LL1 (not shown) through sequential applications of the above-mentioned one-dimensional filters in vertical and horizontal directions. Where, "H" indicates a high-band component and "L" indicates a low-band component. For example, HL1 is a band component composed of a high-band component H in the horizontal direction and a low-band component L in the vertical direction at the decomposition level 1. The notation is generalized as "XYn" (X, Y are H or L, and n is an integer of 1 or more), which indicates a band component composed of a band component X in the horizontal direction and a band component Y in the vertical direction at a decomposition level n. At the decomposition level 2, the low-band component LL1 is band-divided into HH2, HL2, LH2, and LL2 (not shown). At the decomposition level 3, the low-band component LL2 is further band-divided into HH3, HL3, LH3, and LL3. While FIG. 10 shows an example of DWT of cubic decomposition levels, the JPEG 2000 system generally adopts decomposition levels of degree three to degree eight.
Referring to FIG. 9, a quantization block 106 applies, as needed, a scalar quantization to the transform coefficients inputted from the DWT block 105. The quantization block 106 also has a function of performing bit shifting to give priority to image quality of regions of interest (ROIs) having greater significance in the image, on the basis of a signal input from an ROI block 107. The scalar quantization in the quantization block 106 is not done when a reversible (lossless) transform is performed. The JPEG 2000 system prepares two kinds of quantization means including the scalar quantization by the quantization block 106 and a post-quantization (truncation) described later.
As for methods for extracting regions of interest, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. 2004-200739 and 2001-119696 disclose techniques of comparing a plurality of images to extract objects with larger motion vectors as regions of interest. Also, there is a simple method that extracts tiles in a central portion of an image as a region of interest on the assumption that the central portion of the image is important. Furthermore, there is a method in which, with a plurality of templates prepared for various objects, a matching is performed between a taken image and the templates, and when the taken image includes an object matching with a template, that object is extracted as a region of interest.
Typical usage of ROI includes a Max-shift scheme as an optional function of the JPEG 2000.
The Max-shift scheme specifies ROI portions in an arbitrary manner and compresses those portions with higher image quality while compressing the non-ROI portion with lower image quality. Specifically, first, the wavelet transform is applied to an original image to obtain a distribution of wavelet coefficients, and a value Vm of the largest wavelet coefficient in the coefficient distribution corresponding to the non-ROI portion is obtained. Then, a number of bits, S, is obtained so that S>=max (Vm), and only the wavelet coefficients of the ROI portions are shifted by S bits in the increasing direction. For example, when the value of Vm is "255" in decimal (i.e., "11111111" in binary), then S=8, and when the value of Vm is "128" in decimal (i.e., "10000000" in binary), then S=8, too, in which cases the wavelet coefficients of the ROI portions are shifted by S=8 bits in the increasing direction. Thus, the compression ratio is set lower for the ROI portions than for the non-ROI portion, whereby compressed data of higher image quality can be obtained about the ROI portions.
Transform coefficients outputted from the quantization block 106 undergo a block-based entropy coding by a coefficient bit modeling block 108 and an arithmetic coding block 109 according to the EBCOT mentioned above, which is followed by rate control by a code rate control block 110. Specifically, the coefficient bit modeling block 108 divides the band components of the input transform coefficients into a plurality of regions, called "code blocks", of, e.g., 16×16, 32×32, or 64×64, and further decomposes each code block into a plurality of bit planes composed of two-dimensional arrangements of bits.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the two-dimensional image 120 that has been divided into a plurality of code blocks 121. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating n bit planes 1220 to 122n-1 (n: a natural number) that forms a code block 121. As shown in FIG. 12, when the binary value 123 of the transform coefficient at a point in the code block 121 is "011 . . . 0", individual bits forming the binary value 123 are decomposed so that they belong respectively to the bit planes 122n-1, 122n-2, 122n-3, . . . , 1220. The bit plane 122n-1 is the most significant bit plane composed only of the most significant bits (MSBs) of the transform coefficients and the bit plane 1220 is the least significant bit plane composed only of the least significant bits (LSBs) of the transform coefficients.
The coefficient bit modeling block 108 performs a context judgment of each bit in each bit plane 122k (k=0 to n−1), and as shown in FIG. 13, it decomposes a bit plane 122k into three kinds of coding passes, i.e., SIG pass (SIGnificance propagation pass), MR pass (Magnitude Refinement pass), and CL (CLeanup pass), according to the significance of each bit (the results of judgement). The algorithm of the context judgement about each coding pass is defined by the EBCOT. According to the definition, "significant" means a state in which it is known in the preceding coding process that a target coefficient is not zero, and "insignificant" means a state in which the coefficient value is zero or may be zero.
The coefficient bit modeling block 108 performs bit-plane coding using the three kinds of coding passes, including the SIG pass (a coding pass of insignificant coefficients around which there is a significant coefficient or coefficients), the MR pass (a coding pass of significant coefficients), and the CL pass (a coding pass of the remaining coefficient information not corresponding to the SIG pass and MR pass). The bit-plane coding is achieved by scanning the bits of each bit plane on a 4-bit basis, starting from the most significant bit plane to the least significant bit plane, and judging whether there are significant coefficients. The number of bit planes composed only of insignificant coefficients (0 bits) is recorded in a packet header and the actual coding is started at a bit plane where a significant coefficient appears first. The coding-starting bit plane is coded only with the CL pass and the bit planes below that bit plane are sequentially coded with the three kinds of coding passes.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an R-D curve that represents a relation between rate (amount of code; R) and distortion (D). In FIG. 14, R1 shows the rate before bit-plane coding, R2 shows the rate after bit-plane coding, D1 shows the distortion before bit-plane coding, and D2 shows the distortion after bit-plane coding. Also, A, B, C are labels representing the above-described coding passes. As to the route from the starting point P1 (R1, D1) to the end point P2 (R2, D2), it is preferable, for more efficient coding, to adopt the route of concave-shaped curve A-B-C than the route of convex-shaped curve C-B-A. It is known that such a concave-shaped curve can be implemented by coding from the most significant bit plane to the least significant bit plane.
Referring to FIG. 9, according to the results of the context judgement, the arithmetic coding block 109, using an MQ coder, applies arithmetic coding on a coding-pass basis to the rows of coefficients inputted from the coefficient bit modeling block 108. There is also a mode of bypass processing in which part of the rows of coefficients inputted from the coefficient bit modeling block 108 are not arithmetic-coded.
The code rate control block 110 applies post-quantization of truncating lower-order bit planes of the code rows inputted from the arithmetic coding block 109, so as to control the final amount of code. The bit stream generating block 111 multiplexes the code rows inputted from the code rate control block 110 and additional information (header information, layer structure, scalability information, quantization tables, etc.) to generate a bit stream, which is outputted as a compressed image.
As mentioned above, methods of extracting regions of interest include a method of extracting objects with larger motion vectors, a method of extracting a central portion of an image as a region of interest, and a method of performing object template matching.
However, according to the method of extracting objects with larger motion vectors as regions of interest, it is difficult to extract still objects and objects with smaller motion vectors (e.g., plants and scenery) as the regions of interest. Moreover, obtaining motion vectors requires comparing at least two successive images, which leads to increased circuit scale and more complex processing.
According to the method of extracting a central portion of an image as a region of interest, a significant object cannot be extracted as a region of interest when the significant object is not contained in central tiles of the image.
Also, the method of adopting object template matching requires increased circuit scale because this method requires previously storing a huge amount of template data about various objects in memory.


A method and apparatus for relating a device name to a physical location of a device (202) on a network is provided. The network may be a serial loop network, for example a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network. The network includes a plurality of devices (202) on or connected to the network (201) and a control device (205) with control over at least one of the devices (202). Each device (202) has a check output (204) independent of the network (201) with connection means (206) to a control device (205). The method includes the step of sending a device name from the check output (204) of a device (202) to the control device (205). The check output (204) of a device (202) is also connected to an external indication means for indicating the failure of the device (202).

Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) architecture is a member of the Fibre Channel family of ANSI standard protocols. FC-AL is typically used for connecting together computer peripherals, in particular disk drives. The FC-AL architecture is described in NCITS working draft proposal, American National Standard for Information Technology "Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL-2) Revision 7.0", 1 Apr. 1999.
Electronic data systems can be interconnected using network communication systems. Area-wide networks and channels are two technologies that have been developed for computer network architectures. Area-wide networks (e.g. LANs and WANs) offer flexibility and relatively large distance capabilities. Channels, such as the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), have been developed for high performance and reliability. Channels typically use dedicated short-distance connections between computers or between computers and peripherals.
Fibre Channel technology has been developed from optical point-to-point communication of two systems or a system and a subsystem. It has evolved to include electronic (non-optical) implementations and has the ability to connect many devices, including disk drives, in a relatively low-cost manner. This addition to the Fibre Channel specifications is called Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL).
Fibre Channel technology consists of an integrated set of standards that defines new protocols for flexible information transfer using several interconnection topologies. Fibre Channel technology can be used to connect large amounts of disk storage to a server or cluster of servers. Compared to Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), Fibre Channel technology supports greater performance, scalability, availability, and distance for attaching storage systems to network servers.
Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) is a loop architecture as opposed to a bus architecture like SCSI. FC-AL is a serial interface, where data and control signals pass along a single path rather than moving in parallel across multiple conductors as is the case with SCSI. Serial interfaces have many advantages including: increased reliability due to point-to-point use in communications; dual-porting capability, so data can be transferred over two independent data paths, enhancing speed and reliability; and simplified cabling and increased connectivity which are important in multi-drive environments. As a direct disk attachment interface, FC-AL has greatly enhanced I/O performance.
Devices are connected to a FC-AL using hardware which is termed a "port". A device which has connections for two loops has two ports or is "dual-ported".
The operation of FC-AL involves a number of ports connected such that each port's transmitter is connected to the next port's receiver, and so on, forming a loop. Each port's receiver has an elasticity buffer that captures the incoming FC-AL frame or words and is then used to regenerate the FC-AL word as it is re-transmitted. This buffer exists to deal with slight clocking variations that occur. Each port receives a word, and then transmits that word to the next port, unless the port itself is the destination of that word, in which case it is consumed. The nature of FC-AL is therefore such that each intermediate port between the originating port and the destination port gets to 'see' each word as it passes around the FC-AL loop.
FC-AL architecture may be in the form of a single loop. Often two independent loops are used to connect the same devices in the form of dual loops. The aim of these loops is to provide an alternative path to devices on a loop should one loop fail. A single fault should not cause both loops to fail simultaneously. More than two loops can also be used.
FC-AL devices typically have two sets of connections allowing them to be attached to two FC-ALs. Thus, in a typical configuration, two independent loops exist and each device is physically connected to both loops. When the system is working optimally, there are two possible loops that can be used to access any dual-ported device.
A FC-AL can incorporate bypass circuits with the aim of making the FC-AL interface sufficiently robust to permit devices to be removed from the loop without interrupting throughput and sacrificing data integrity. If a disk drive fails, port bypass circuits attempt to route around the problem so all disk drives on the loop remain accessible. Without port bypass circuits a fault in any device will break the loop.
In dual loops, port bypass circuits are provided for each loop and these provide additional protection against faults. A port can be bypassed on one loop while remaining active on the dual loop.
A typical FC-AL may have one or two host bus adapters (HBA) and a set of approximately six disk drive enclosures or drawers, each of which may contain a set of tell to sixteen disk drives. There is a physical cable connection between each enclosure and the HBA in the FC-AL. Also, there is a connection internal to the enclosure or drawer, between the cable connector and each disk drive in the enclosure or drawer, as well as other components within the enclosure or drawer, e.g. SES device (SCSI Enclosure Services node) or other enclosure services devices.
Components in a loop can be categorised as "initiators" or "targets", or both depending on their function in the loop. For example, a host bus adapter is an initiator and a disk drive is a target. Initiators can arbitrate for a communication path in the loop and can choose a target. A target can request the transfer of a command, data, status, or other information to or from the initiator.
If there is a single initiator in a loop, the initiator will login with all the targets in the loop. Targets may accept or reject this login attempt. At any later stage a target can log out with any logged in initiator. In a multi-initiator environment, an initiator operates as both a sender and recipient login attempts.
FC-AL products have a 7-bit hard address setting for the FC-AL devices. Other loop topologies may have other number of bits. Some of the bits are used to identify the enclosure and the remaining bits of the address identify the devices within that enclosure. There must be sufficient bits for all the devices in an enclosure to be identified individually. In one example of a typical FC-AL system, an enclosure address switch sets the most significant 3 bits of the address and the least significant 4 bits of the address are used to differentiate between the 16 devices within the enclosures. The resultant address is of the form [enc-number, slot-number].
If two enclosures within the same FC-AL loop have the same address switch setting, there will be a bus conflict. The FC-AL addressing scheme is quite sophisticated, so in this case the Loop Initialisation Primitive (LIP) process will result in some of the devices using a method called "soft addressing".
The nature of FC-AL is that almost all error detection and recovery is on a loop or connection basis. There is almost no link level error recovery. This means that an individual faulty device or link can inject noise into the loop or even break it altogether, rendering it useless for data transfer. In order to overcome this shortcoming, most FC-AL systems are configured using the dual loop arrangement previously described. In such a system, if one loop is rendered inoperative the other loop can be used to recover the system. The failing loop is recovered by arranging for the faulty nodes to by bypassed or electrically removed from the loop.
The algorithm that determines which nodes should be bypassed on the loop is typically implemented by one or more "controlling agents" which might reside in an "outboard controller", a SCSI enclosure services (SES) device, a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) or a host device driver. For the purposes of this disclosure it is assumed that there is only one controlling agent, residing in an HBA. In order to actually bypass a device, the controlling agent must send a SCSI command to the SES node in the enclosure containing the node, since it is the SES node which has the electrical connection which triggers the bypass circuit. The issue which complicates this task is one of addressing.
Each port in a loop network has a port identifier called a "World Wide Port Name" (WWPN). Each node on a loop in the form of devices or host bus adapters also has a World Wide Node Name (WWNN). These World Wide Names are referred to as Node Names and Port Names. To ensure that the WWPN and WWNN are unique they may contain, for example, a unique identifier of the manufacturer of the device including the port and the manufacturer's serial number of the device. The WWPN is too long (usually 64 bits) to be used for source and destination addresses transmitted over the network and therefore the AL_PA (Arbitrated Loop Physical Address) is used as a temporary address that is unique to the configuration of the network at any given time.
Every device has a World Wide Node Name (WWNN) which never changes and which is known to the HBA. The loop initialisation procedure sequence results in the HBA also knowing the arbitrated loop ID of a faulty device which is it's FC-AL address known as the Arbitrated Loop Physical Address (AL_PA).
The SES node however does not know this address; it knows the devices only by the slot number they occupy. Thus the command sent to the SES node to bypass the faulty device is addressed to [ses-node, slot-number] and so the controlling agent must have a reliable means at its disposal to translate from the AL13 PA or WWNN to [ses-node, slot-number].
The problem of mapping between AL13 PA or WWNN and [ses-node, slot-number] is made more difficult by the possibility of "non-participating devices". A non-participating device is one which looks to the SES controller as if it exists on the arbitrated loop but which has decided not to participate in arbitration and therefore has not acquired an AL13 PA. The presence of non-participating nodes renders unsafe any topology based scheme using the physical topology of the loop reported by the Loop Initialisation Loop Position (LILP) phase of the loop initialisation.
If the controlling agent uses an unreliable scheme to map AL_PA to [ses-node, slot-number] when it sends the command to the SES controller, the result is that the wrong device is fenced out. In that situation there would be two devices which cannot be addressed. This is disastrous in a RAID environment because any data stored in the devices cannot be accessed.
If the controlling agent had an accurate table which mapped the identity of each device to an identifiable enclosure number and slot number then the fencing out process would be much more reliable.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a method which allows a controlling agent to map the device name in the form of the World Wide Name or AL_PA of all devices on a loop to their physical location.

Method and apparatus for relating device name to physical location of device on a network

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a process for recovering styrene from a feedstock containing at least styrene, ethylbenzene, and one or more aromatic or non-aromatic hydrocarbon compounds which includes separating said feedstock into a first stream relatively more concentrated in styrene than said feedstock and a second stream relatively more concentrated in ethylbenzene than said feedstock, recovering styrene from said first stream to produce a styrene product stream, dehydrogenating the ethylbenzene of said second stream to produce additional styrene, and recovering said additional styrene. The feedstock may be separated into said first and second streams by a process selected from the class consisting of extractive distillation, azeotropic distillation, distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, chemical complex formation, membrane separation, and combinations thereof, and the additional styrene may be recovered by recycling it into said feedstock.

In the course of refining petroleum to produce fuel, lubricant, and petrochemical starting material products, there are various streams of intermediates created. Some of these streams are high in C.sub.8 's, and contain in particular some styrene and/or some ethylbenzene, which is a material related to styrene in that hydrogenation of styrene will produce ethylbenzene, and dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene will produce styrene. Because of its tendency to dimerize and polymerize, styrene is considered to be a troublesome component of gasoline stock intended ultimately for fuel use. Furthermore, use of styrene in fuel is not as high an economic use for the product as other petrochemical uses, such as a starting material for making polystyrene. In addition, there is a growing demand for polystyrene type products, and hence a growing demand for styrene as a starting material or precursor of such products.
In the above-mentioned parent application from which the present application is a continuation-in-part, there are disclosed techniques for separating styrene from other materials commonly found in pyrolysis gasoline, especially mixed xylenes and ethylbenzene.

Process including extractive distillation and/or dehydrogenation to produce styrene from petroleum feedstock including ethyl-benzene/xylene mixtures


A memory card has a plurality of non-volatile memories and a main controller for controlling the operation of the non-volatile memories. The main controller performs an access control to the non-volatile memories in response to an external access instruction, and an alternate control for alternating an access error-related storage area of the non-volatile memory with other storage area. In the access control, the speeding up of the data transfer between flash memories is achieved by causing the plurality of non-volatile memories to parallel access operate. In the alternation control, the storage areas is made alternative for each non-volatile memory in which an access error occurs.

The present invention relates to a memory card having a non-volatile memory mounted thereon, and a memory controller which is applied to a non-volatile memory card, and in particular to a technology which is effective to apply to a memory card having a hard disc compatible flash memory mounted thereon.
A memory card using an electrically erasable and writable non-volatile memory such a flash memory comprises a non-volatile memory and a memory controller which performs an access control for the memory and an external interface control, which are mounted on a card substrate. Although the number of bits of data transferred between the non-volatile memory and the memory controller may be equal to the number of bits of data of the input and output of the non-volatile memory, the efficiency of the data transfer may be low. Accordingly, it is possible to connect a plurality of non-volatile memories to a memory controller in parallel for increasing the number of parallel bits of data to be transferred. Prior art which focuses on this includes a parallel-writing technique disclosed in JP-A-6-342399 and JP-A-7-36787, and an interleave-writing technique for two flash memories which is disclosed in JP-A-10-187359.
The present inventors have searched a parallel access technique using a plurality of non-volatile memories. The first matter which has been considered is a relation between the storage areas and the alternate control function when an access error has occurred. When an access error such as write error has occurred in, for example, a hard disc compatible memory disc, the alternation (substitution) of storage areas is performed in unit of sector. If the alternation is performed in unit of sector when data of one sector is distributed over a plurality of non-volatile memories, the storage area of a flash memory in which no writing error has occurred may be alternated. This wastes the storage area of the non-volatile memories, resulting in a shortened period of time which is taken for the memory to become non-alternative.
The second matter which has been considered is a relation between the operation of the memory and an error detecting and correction operation which is performed by an ECC and the like. A technique like ECC usually performs addition of an error detection code to write data, and error detection and correction for read data. It has been found from the study of such an error detection and correction that only parallel access to non-volatile memory by the memory controller is insufficient. Even when data is read at a high rate by a memory controller accessing to the plurality of non-volatile memories in a parallel manner, speeding up of access as a whole of a memory card could not be achieved unless the operation of the ECC circuit which conducts the error detection and correction for the read data follow the parallel access operation and/or unless the generation of an error detection code to be added to write data is not fast.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus and method provides identification of a failed subscriber unit (102) in a wireless communication system (100). In a first embodiment, the subscriber unit (102) performs a self test to detect a failure (302) of at least a portion of the subscriber unit (102). If a failure is detected, a message, stored (203) in the subscriber unit (102) is produced. In a second embodiment, the wireless communication system (100) includes a subscriber unit (102) including a receiver (102) communicating with a transmitter (101). The subscriber unit (102) has a unique code selectable by the transmitter (101). The subscriber unit (102) performs a self test to detect a failure (402) of at least a portion of the subscriber unit (102). If a failure is detected, a generic code is substituted (404) for the unique code. The transmitter (101) pages (406) the subscriber unit (102) with its generic code and transmits (407) an indication of the detected failure to the paged subscriber unit (102).

Wireless communication systems generally include subscriber units supported by an infrastructure. Subscriber units, such as selective call receivers (i.e. pagers) and radiotelephones, operating in the wireless communication systems are well known in the art and widely used. A person contacts a user of a subscriber unit by calling the subscriber unit's unique phone number. Of course, the user waiting to receive the call has no indication of when a call will be received by the subscriber unit.
Suppose now, for instance, that the subscriber unit has failed. The user waiting to receive a call doesn't know whether the subscriber unit is functioning properly and no calls were initiated or that the subscriber unit has indeed failed. Hours and even days may pass before the user discovers that the subscriber unit has failed. The user may periodically call their own subscriber unit to verify its functionality, but this procedure places the burden on the user to determine when a random failure would occur.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an automatic indication to the user that the subscriber unit has failed such that the user can take the necessary steps to have the subscriber unit repaired or replaced. Thus, the subscriber unit would incur less down time in the communication system and result in greater user satisfaction.

Apparatus and method for identifying a failed subscriber unit in a wireless communication system


A method for fabricating a paper lithium ion cell including depositing a first lithium-metal oxide composition onto a first electrically conducting microfiber paper substrate to define a cathode, depositing a second, different lithium-metal oxide composition onto a second electrically conducting coated microfiber paper substrate to define an anode, separating the cathode and the anode with a barrier material, infusing the cathode and the anode with electrolytes, and encapsulating the anode, the cathode, and the barrier material in a housing.

Lithium-Ion batteries are well known in the art. They have been a reliable energy source for many electronics and appliances. Typically, lithium ion batteries have good shelf and cycle life, and thus are used in a wide array of electronics. Their durability and reliability are a primary reason for the mobile use of smartphones and tablets. However, there are drawbacks that come with conventional lithium ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are rigid and prone to fracture, which often results in catastrophic failure, fire and even explosions. Lithium ion batteries are typically packaged in stiff metal or plastic casings, add bulk weight. Lithium ion batteries that have been developed with a focus to make them less rigid do so at the expense of durability, cycle life, and reliability; these drawbacks manifest themselves almost immediately. Thus, there is a need for a lithium ion battery that is less prone to brittle fracture and failure, but still remains durable and reliable. The present novel technology addresses this need.

Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation


There is disclosed a stringed musical instrument of the type having a neck projecting from a body, and strings arranged alongside each other and extending along the neck and a face of the body in use. In one form, the instrument is provided with support means moveable from a retracted condition to an extended condition and incorporating a strap for providing support for a user or the instrument itself. In another form, the instrument is provided with at least one display plate moveable from a retracted position whereby a width of the instrument is minimized to an extended position to thereby increase the width of the instrument.

Stringed musical instruments such as electric guitars by their very nature are bulky and difficult to transport. Indeed, during transportation or storage such guitars are commonly placed in hardened cases which due to their function requires them to be larger than the instrument they carry thereby exacerbating transportation and storage problems. The combined weight of the instrument and the case is also a disincentive for musicians to carry their guitar with them while travelling.
When travelling by aircraft or other modes of transportation such as road coach, musicians are often forced to check in their guitars as part of their luggage as it is usually not allowable for them to be carried on board the aircraft or coach with the musician. The need to check in guitars at airports also generally means that the instrument is counted as part of the weight allowance for the musicians luggage and indeed, may require the musician to pay excess luggage costs if the weight allowance is exceeded as a result. The collection of instruments at luggage carousels at the relevant destination is also time consuming and bothersome.
The bulkiness and weight of conventional guitars provides a particular problem for backpackers and like persons that generally travel with minimal luggage forcing many to leave their guitar behind as it is just too great a burden to take it with them. However, musicians commonly wish to have their guitars handy when travelling should the opportunity to play with other musicians arise or simply, so that they can play and work on any new tunes that may come to mind.
There is, therefore, a need for compact stringed musical instruments that are able to be readily transported and stored but which in use, can be handled in the same manner as conventionally known instruments.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,079 discloses a stringed instrument provided with a plurality of legs arranged on a rear face of the instrument's body. Each of the legs has a foot and is swingable outwardly from the body to provide support for the user. However, the body of the instrument is quite bulky due to the nature of the legs and their location. The legs are also unwieldy and visually, are not appealing.
In addition, as the positioning of the feet of the legs is variable it is necessary for each of the legs to be individually arranged in the desired position each time the instrument is to be used. Legs spaced apart from each other along the instrument also needs to be separately fixed in their desired positions. As such, the arrangement is also cumbersome and annoying to use.


Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide proactive directional control for a mobile structure. A proactive directional control system may include a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a mobile structure. The logic device is adapted to determine a steering angle disturbance estimate based on environmental conditions associated with the mobile structure, and the steering angle disturbance estimate is used to adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of the mobile structure. The logic device may also be adapted to receive directional data about a mobile structure and determine nominal vehicle feedback from the directional data, which may be used to adjust and/or stabilize the directional control signal provided to the actuator.

Directional control systems and methods are used to provide automated and/or supplemented control for planes, watercraft, and, more recently, automobiles. A significant drawback to conventional directional control systems is that they typically need to be designed and/or configured for a particular vehicle, and once configured, cannot easily be used to provide directional control for a different vehicle. Thus, manufacturing directional control systems and methods for a number of different vehicles, even if they are of the same type, such as different makes of ships, can be expensive due to extensive testing and adjustment procedures performed for each individual vehicle.
Adaptive control techniques have been developed to address manually performing the adjustment and testing procedures, but conventional adaptive techniques typically take too long to train to a particular vehicle dynamic under normal operating conditions. Furthermore, conventional adaptive techniques typically train to a very limited set of vehicle states and or dynamics, and directional controllers based on these techniques are known to drastically lose their accuracy and/or stability as conditions vary even subtly outside previous training conditions.
In addition, even advanced adaptive directional control techniques typically fail to address disturbances effecting directional control proactively, and so common interactions with a real world environment (e.g., gusts of wind, waves on an ocean, ruts in a road) can relatively easily result in unsafe conditions for a mobile structure controlled by an autopilot. Thus, there is a need for improved proactive directional control methodologies.

Proactive directional control systems and methods


The present invention relates to a process for preparing tetrahydropyran-4-one represented by the formula (1):

Heretofore, as a process for preparing pyran-4-one, there have been known, for example, a method in which 4-methoxy-3-buten-2-one and methyl formate are reacted in ether in the presence of sodium methoxide to precipitate a sodium salt of a formyl derivative, then, a methanol solution of hydrogen chloride is reacted thereto, neutralized and distilled under reduced pressure to give a mixture containing 1,5,5-trimethoxy-1-penten-3-one as a main component, further, the mixture is allowed to stand in conc. hydrochloric acid overnight, then neutralized and extracted to prepare pyran-4-one (for example, see Patent literature 1). However, according to this method, a sodium salt of a formyl derivative which is an intermediate must be once precipitated, and, a methanol solution of hydrogen chloride which is difficult to handling must be used, a reaction operation is complicated and a reaction time is extremely long, so that it is not advantageous as an industrial process for preparing pyran-4-one.
Moreover, as a process for preparing tetrahydropyran-4-one from pyran-4-one, there has been disclosed, for example, a method in which pyran-4-one and hydrogen are reacted in the presence of Raney nickel, under normal pressure in ethanol at room temperature for 3 hours to prepare tetrahydropyran-4-one with yield of 58% (for example, see Non-Patent literature 1) or a method in which pyran-4-one and hydrogen are reacted in the presence of palladium/scandium carbonate under pressure in methanol at 20° C. for 30 minutes to prepare tetrahydropyran-4-one with yield of 75% (for example, see Non-Patent literature 2).
However, in the processes for preparing pyran-4-one, there are problems that a sodium salt of a formyl derivative which is an intermediate must be once precipitated, and, a methanol solution of hydrogen chloride which is difficult to handling must be used, a reaction operation is complicated and a reaction time is extremely long, and in a method for preparing tetrahydropyran-4-one from pyran-4-one, minute operation such as adjustment of catalyst activity shall be carried out to improve yield of the objective compound, so that it is not advantageous as an industrial process for preparing tetrahydropyran-4-one.
[Patent literature 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho. 47-29512
[Non-Patent literature 1] Bulletin de la Societe Chimique de France, 1959, 36.
[Non-Patent literature 2] Helv. Chim. Acta., 31, 65(1948)

Processes for preparing tetrahydropyran-4-one and pyran-4-one

Abstract: which comprises reacting at least one kind of dihydropyran-4-one and pyran-4-one represented by the formula (2):

Abstract: wherein  represents a single bond or a double bond,and hydrogen(a) in the presence of a metal catalyst, in a mixed solvent of an aprotic solvent and an alcohol solvent, or(b) in the presence of an anhydrous metal catalyst in which a hydrated metal catalyst is subjected to dehydration treatment, in a hydrophobic organic solvent.


A plurality of partially-decoded codewords that have been processed at least once by a first and a second error correction decoder is stored. A plurality of metrics associated with how close a corresponding partially-decoded codeword is to being successfully decoded is stored. From the plurality of partially-decoded codewords, a codeword having a metric indicating that that codeword is the closest to being successfully decoded by the first error correction decoder and the second error correction decoder is selected. The selected codeword is output to the first error correction decoder.

Turbo equalization systems use two soft output decoders to process encoded codewords (e.g., they take turns processing a given codeword). Since the two decoders may operate at different speeds, buffers are used to store partially decoded codewords while the two decoders are busy with other codewords. Sometimes, the size of such buffers is fixed (e.g., because the turbo equalization system is implemented in hardware, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other semiconductor device). Under certain conditions, these buffers may overflow. For example, if one of the soft output decoders is performing multiple local iterations on a particular codeword (e.g., because there is a lot of noise or errors in that particular codeword) then a buffer may become full and additional codewords cannot be stored in the buffer, resulting in buffer overflow. Techniques for managing buffers that store partially decoded codewords in turbo equalization systems would be desirable.

Buffer management in a turbo equalization system


Disclosed is a charge-pump phase-locked loop based on a unipolar thin film transistor, a chip, and a method. The phase-locked loop may include: a phase-frequency detector, configured to detect a phase difference and a frequency difference between a clock Fref and a clock Fn and generate control signals UP and DOWN; a logic control module, configured to output logic state signals; a charge pump, configured to convert the logic state signals into a charging/discharging current signal; a low-pass filter, configured to output a direct-current analog control signal Vctrl; a voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to adjust an output clock frequency Fvco; and a divide-by-four circuit, configured to perform frequency division to obtain the clock Fn.

Currently, flexible electronic products are booming. They have many new characteristics. For example, they can be completely bent to the diameter of hair, and are stretchable, foldable, transparent, ultra-light, and economical. Therefore, compared with silicon electronic products, they are potentially integrated into our environment and life. The latest progress in performance of flexible transistors now makes application thereof in wireless communication systems possible.
Although a thin film technology has many advantages, currently, a metal oxide thin film transistor (TFT) technology only covers high-performance n-type transistors, but does not cover any high-performance p-type device complementary to the n-type transistor. In most cases, circuit design is challenged due to the lack of high-performance complementary devices. In this case, TFT circuits can be implemented only based on unipolar transistors, and a conventional CMOS phase-locked loop circuit design technology is no longer applicable. Most unipolar phase-locked loop circuits have several shortcomings such as large charge pump mismatch, phase noise, poor stray and jitter performance, and large clock offset.

Charge pump phase-locked loop based on unipolar thin film transistor, chip, and method


A selector circuit outputs one of a first input voltage or a second input voltage via an output terminal. A first transistor and a second transistor are provided in series between a first input terminal and the output terminal. A third transistor and a fourth transistor are provided in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A control unit controls the ON/OFF operations of the first transistor through the fourth transistor. The back gates of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected such that at least one body diode of the first transistor M1 and at least one body diode of the second transistor are arranged in opposing directions. The back gates of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected in the same way.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a selector circuit which receives multiple input voltages, selects one of the input voltages thus received, and outputs the voltage thus selected.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronic devices are known that receive power supply voltage from an external power supply and charge a built-in secondary battery using the power supply voltage. In some cases, such an electronic device includes multiple power supply input terminals for receiving the external power supply. For example, a cellular phone terminal includes a power supply input terminal for a cradle (desktop holder) and another power supply input terminal for an adapter, separately.
Such an electronic device requires a selector circuit which selects one of the power supply voltages supplied to the multiple power supply input terminals, and outputs the voltage thus selected to a charging circuit. For example, a technique is disclosed in Patent document 1, in which two diodes are provided such that the cathodes are connected to each other in the form of a common terminal, and the anodes of the two diodes are used as the power supply input terminals.
With such a circuit, the highest voltage is selected from among multiple power supply voltages, and the highest voltage thus selected is output. Furthermore, in a case in which a voltage is applied to one power supply input terminal and the other power supply input terminal is grounded, such a circuit prevents reverse current flow.    [Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H9-284994    [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2002-218645
However, the circuit described in Patent document 1 has a problem in that the output voltage is reduced from that of the input voltage by the forward voltage Vf of the diode. Furthermore, in a case in which the diodes are provided in the form of external components, such a circuit has another problem of an increase in the circuit area and an increased number of components.


The present invention provides frozen confectionery (sherbet and frozen confectionery containing ice) containing a specific amount of isomaltodextrin that is easy to loosen without affecting a flavor.

Cold food products such as ice cream, sherbet and shaved ice (hereinafter referred to as "frozen confectionery") are widely relished. Usually, the frozen confectionery is stored in a freezer of −18° C. or lower. Immediately after being taken out from the freezer, the frozen confectionery is frozen tightly and is poor in ease of loosening (disintegrative property), and such inconveniences occur that a spoon is not easily penetrated when eating. In addition, in recent years, there are increasing number of products that are eaten in a state of frappe which is prepared by pouring and mixing beverage such as coffee and milk in frozen confectionery. In the product, it is necessary for the beverage to be distributed evenly in the frozen confectionery, when the beverage is poured onto the frozen confectionery, and for this purpose, the ease of loosening (disintegrative property) of the frozen confectionery is important.
As means for blending necessary for improving the ease of loosening (disintegrative property) of the frozen confectionery, such means are known as to devise a blending ratio of sugar in the frozen confectionery and/or add a sugar alcohol, glycerin, salts and the like. However, these means exert a great influence upon a taste of the frozen confectionery, and the taste and flavor are lowered.
Various studies have been made so as to improve the texture of the frozen confectionery or ice confectionery (Patent Literatures 1, 2 and 3).
Patent Literature 1 discloses an agent for lifestyle-related diseases containing a specific branched α-glucan (isomaltodextrin), and an oral composition and a high fat food containing the same; and discloses that frozen confectionery (gelato) to which 5% of the branched α-glucan (isomaltodextrin) is added has a smooth texture (paragraph 0196).
Patent Literature 2 discloses an agent for improving physical properties and the texture of foods and drinks, containing α-1,4-glucan enzymatically synthesized by glucan phosphorylase, as an effective component, and foods and drinks containing the same; and discloses that frozen confectionery (ice candy) to which 1% of the α-1,4-glucan is added has a moderated hardness and a crispy texture (paragraph 0034).
Patent Literature 3 discloses a method for producing a frozen confectionery that imparts functions such as overrunning properties and shape retainability which are required for a stabilizer for the frozen confectionery, without giving a heavy texture, and can impart a soft and refreshing texture, to the frozen confectionery, and can impart the light texture such as brittleness, to the ice confectionery; and discloses that when water-soluble hemicellulose (soy bean polysaccharide) is added to the frozen confectionery, the friability and the penetration of the spoon are improved.
However, in conventional techniques, an effect of improving the ease of loosening of the frozen confectionery has been insufficient, and furthermore, a satisfactory result has not been obtained also in terms of the flavor.

Frozen confectionery easy to loosen and method for producing the same


Embodiments of methods and apparatus for transferring service flow context are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

The 802.16 family of standards were developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) to provide for fixed, portable, and/or mobile broadband wireless access (BWA) networks (e.g., the IEEE std. 802.16, published 2004). The Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) forum facilitates the deployment of broadband wireless networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standard. In particular, the WiMAX forum ensures the compatibility and inter-operability of broadband wireless equipment. For convenience, the terms "802.16" and "WiMAX" may be used interchangeably throughout this disclosure to refer to the IEEE 802.16 suite of air interface standards.
The WiMAX technology may support multimedia applications with multiple wireless connections characterized by quality of service (QoS) parameters. For example, the 802.16 family of standards provide packet classifiers to map the multiple wireless connections with user applications and/or interfaces such as an Ethernet network, an Internet protocol (IP) network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a virtual local area network (VLAN), etc. To establish the multiple wireless connections of broadband services for a mobile subscriber station, service flow context such as service flow, QoS, classifier, and/or other suitable parameters may need to be provided and/or transferred during initial registration and/or handoff of the mobile subscriber station.

Methods and apparatus for transferring service flow context of mobile broadband wireless access networks


A method for assembling a compressor for use with a turbine is provided. The method includes coupling at least a first stator ring to a second stator ring via at least one fastener sized to extend through at least one stator ring opening. The method further includes coupling a shield assembly to at least one of the first stator ring and the second stator ring to facilitate reducing convection and aerodynamic bleed losses of the at least one stator ring. The shield assembly includes a downstream surface, a retaining portion, and a contoured upstream surface extending from the downstream surface to the retaining portion.

This invention relates generally to turbine engines, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing convection and aerodynamic bleed losses in turbine engines.
The efficiency of at least some known turbines is at least partially affected by the clearances defined between the rotating components and stationary components. Specifically, the magnitude of steady state clearances and transient radial clearances between the components may affect the turbine efficiency and/or operability margin. For example, a large transient clearance, or a clearance with significant variation around the circumference of the rotating component may adversely decrease the turbine efficiency and may result in engine stalls.
As described above, clearances may be affected by the rotor and the stator's transient thermal responses. Generally, known stators are built to be as lightweight as possible to meet engine weight metrics. This low stator weight makes the stator's transient thermal response typically faster than that of known rotors. Since the stator expands faster than the rotor, rotor tip clearances may increase transiently. Known stator assemblies include a plurality of stator rings coupled together. Specifically, such stator rings are coupled to each other with fasteners which extend through flanges, spaced about the outer circumference of the stator rings. To facilitate slowing the transient thermal response of the stator rings, at least some known turbine assemblies include U-shaped shields that cover the flanges. The shields accomplish this by reducing the convective film coefficients of the stator rings such that the stator rings experience a slower temperature-displacement response.
However, because such U-shaped shields are positioned adjacent the flowpath, the shields may adversely impact engine efficiency, specifically, such shields may increase aerodynamic losses associated with the compressor bleed flow. In some known compressors, aerodynamic losses are incurred because of windage, convection, and/or pressure losses due to the discharge of the air flow in a large cavity and the turbulence of the flow associated therewith.

Method and apparatus to facilitate reducing losses in turbine engines


In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based transmission network, call control signaling information associated with a first telecommunications signaling protocol, such as an N-ISDN system 7 signaling protocol, is bound to bearer control signaling information associated with a Q.aal2 signaling protocol, where both call control signaling information and bearer control signaling information are required to set-up and maintain an ATM network connection. Binding the call control signaling information and the bearer control signaling information is accomplished as a function of the circuit identification code associated with the call control signaling information, where the circuit identification code is transferred from the N-ISDN system 7 signaling protocol to the Q.aal2 signaling protocol. The call control signaling information and the bearer control signaling information are then independently transported from a source node in the transmission network to a destination node, over an ATM/ATM adaptation layer type 5 transmission link, in accordance with the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol and the Q.aal2 signaling protocol respectively. At the destination node, the call control signaling information and the bearer control signaling information are aligned as a function of the circuit identification code, and an ATM network connection is established.

The present invention relates to signaling protocols in telecommunications networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a telecommunications network that employs an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signaling protocol to transport bearer control signaling messages and a synchronous transfer mode (STM) signaling protocol to transport call control signaling messages.
Typically, networking systems employ what is known as a layered architecture. In a layered architecture, data and/or signaling messages are transferred between peer entities at the same level of the layered architecture with the help of the services provided by the underlying layers. The messages exchanged between the peer entities are generated, formatted, transmitted, received and otherwise transported according to the rules described in a protocol specification.
A simple layered architecture may include, among other layers, an application layer, a network layer, a data link layer and a physical layer. The general function of the application layer is to generate, process and format data and/or signaling that is required to support a particular user application (e.g., a cellular voice service). The general function of the network layer is to manage the links and end-to-end relationships between various network entities, for example, the various mobile switching centers, radio network controllers, and base station units in the cellular radio network. The data link layer provides for the transfer of data and signaling between adjacent nodes in the network. The physical layer provides services which are required to interface with the physical environment, such as encoding, modulating, transmitting and receiving signals.
A layered architecture, as described above, may also include a signaling layer. The signaling layer would likely be part of the application or, alternatively, the network layer. The general purpose of a signaling layer is to generate and receive signaling messages, in accordance with a particular signaling protocol. As stated previously, a signaling protocol actually defines the rules which govern the generation and format of signaling messages, which are used, for example, to set-up, maintain and release network connections (e.g., mobile telephone calls) between network entities.
The narrowband integrated services digital network (N-ISDN) user part (ISUP) system 7 is an example of a signaling protocol that is widely employed and well-known in the art. The ISUP system 7 signaling protocol generally supports synchronous transfer mode (STM) based network connections. More specifically, the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol defines a set of rules for transporting call control messages within the network, wherein call control involves functions such as, though not necessarily limited to, billing, call forwarding and caller identification.
As the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol is widely employed throughout the world, there are many national and international variations of the protocol. Accordingly, each variation differs in the specific messages and parameters used for call control. However, regardless of the variation, all include a routing label comprising an originating point code (OPC), a destination point code (DPC), signaling identifier octet (SIO) and a circuit identification code (CIC). The CIC in particular defines the time slot in a STM data frame that has been allocated to the corresponding call control message. Hence, the CIC implicitly defines the corresponding call.
The AAL2 signaling protocol Q.aal2 is another example of a signaling protocol. Unlike the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol, the Q.aal2 signaling protocol is neither widely employed nor well-known. Further in contrast with the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol, the Q.aal2 signaling protocol defines a set of rules governing the transportation of bearer control messages, wherein bearer control involves the establishment and release of network connections, particularly connections through an AAL2 transmission network.
The Q.aal2 signaling protocol also has associated with it a number of basic codes, for example, a virtual circuit connection identifier (VCCI) code and a channel identification (CID) code. In combination, the VCCI code and the CID code uniquely identify the bearer servicing the AAL2 served user at a given instant in time.
The Q.aal2 signaling protocol is incapable of independently supporting call control signaling messages. Accordingly, when transmitting calls over an AAL2 based transmission network, it would be highly desirable to utilize the call control signaling information available through other signaling protocols, such as the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol, rather than redesign the Q.aal2 signaling protocol so that it is capable of independently supporting call control messages.
The present invention involves a technique which provides call control signaling support for calls being transported over an AAL2 based transmission network. In general, the present invention accomplishes this by binding the call control signaling information, available through other signaling protocols, such as the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol, with the bearer control signaling information associated with the Q.aal2 signaling protocol, wherein both call control information and bearer control information are required to set-up, maintain, and release calls. Moreover, the present invention links the call control signaling information and the bearer control signaling information without any need to redevelop the Q.aal2 signaling protocol or the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide call control signaling information for calls being transported over an AAL2 based transmission network connection.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide call control signaling information for calls being transported over an AAL2 based transmission network connection, supported by a Q.aal2 signaling protocol, without the need to modify or otherwise redesign the Q.aal2 signaling protocol.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention these and other objectives are achieved by a method for setting up and maintaining an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection. The method involves detecting an identification code associated with call control signaling information, wherein the call control signaling information is formatted in accordance with a first telecommunications signaling protocol. The identification code is then transferred to a second telecommunications signaling protocol, wherein the second telecommunications signaling protocol is an ATM adaptation layer type 2 (AAL2) signaling protocol, and wherein the AAL2 signaling protocol is associated with the formatting of AAL2 bearer control signaling information. Once the identification code is transferred, the call control signaling information and the identification code are transported from a source node in the telecommunications network to a destination node in the telecommunications network in accordance with the first telecommunications signaling protocol, and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information and the identification code are transported from the source node to the destination node in accordance with the second telecommunications signaling protocol. At the destination node, the call control signaling information and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information are bound together as a function of the identification code, and the ATM connection is set-up as a function of the call control signaling information and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention these and other objectives are achieved by a method for binding call control signaling information and ATM adaptation layer type 2 (AAL2) bearer control signaling information, wherein the call control signaling information and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information are required to set-up and maintain a corresponding ATM voice connection. The method involves defining a system 7 user part at a source node in the ATM based telecommunications network as an AAL2 served user, wherein the system 7 user part is supported by an integrated services digital network user part (ISUP) system 7 signaling protocol which is employed for formatting the call control signaling information. Next, the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol invokes a Q.aal2 signaling protocol, wherein the Q.aal2 signaling protocol is responsible for formatting the AAL2 bearer control signaling information. A circuit identifier code (CIC) from the system 7 user part is then transferred to the Q.aal2 signaling protocol, wherein the CIC uniquely identifies the call control signaling information. Next, the call control signaling information and the CIC are transported from the system 7 user part in the source node to a peer system 7 user part at a destination node in accordance with the ISUP system 7 signaling protocol, and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information, the CIC, and a connection identifier (CID) code are transported from the source node to the destination node in accordance with the Q.aal2 signaling protocol, wherein the CID code identifies the ATM voice connection. At the destination node, the CIC is transferred from the Q.aal2 signaling protocol to the system 7 user part, and the system 7 user part is informed that an AAL2 transmission connection has been established. Finally, the call control signaling information and the AAL2 bearer control signaling information are aligned, thereby establishing the ATM voice connection as a function of the CIC and the CID.

Use of CIC to identify calls when using ISUP in conjunction with AAL type 2 signaling protocol


A wafer level packaging structure for image sensors and a wafer level packaging method for image sensors are provided. The wafer level packaging structure includes: a wafer to be packaged including multiple chip regions and scribe line regions between the chip regions; pads and image sensing regions located on a first surface of the wafer and located in the chip regions; first dike structures covering surfaces of the pads; a packaging cover arranged facing the first surface of the wafer; and second dike structures located on a surface of the packaging cover. Projections of the second dike structures onto the first surface of the wafer are included in the scribe line regions. The packaging cover and the wafer are jointed fixedly via the second dike structures, while tops of the first dike structures and the surface of the packaging cover are contacted.

Due to a decreasing size of an image sensor and an increasing number of pads, the space between the pads gets smaller. Accordingly, higher requirements are set for packaging the image sensor.
Conventionally, the image sensor is generally packaged through a Wire Bonding. With the rapid development of integrated circuits, a size of a product cannot meet expectations due to long wires. Therefore, a Wafer Level Packaging (WLP) gradually takes the place of the Wire Bonding and becomes a common packaging method. In a WLP technology, an entire wafer is packaged, tested, and then cut into individual finished chips. The size of a packaged chip is same as that of a bare chip, which confirms to market requirements for lighter, smaller, shorter, thinner and cheaper microelectronic products.
In the case that image sensors are packaged with a conventional WLP technology, it is usually required to form a packaging cover at photosensitive regions of the image sensors to protect the photosensitive regions from being damaged and contaminated in a packaging process. The transmission of light may be affected even with a transparent packaging cover. The light may not be smoothly received and emitted at the photosensitive regions of the image sensors, thereby affecting overall performances of the chips. Hence, the packaging cover needs to be separated from the wafer at the end of the packaging process.

Wafer level packaging structure for image sensors and wafer level packaging method for image sensors


In an example embodiment, a method is illustrated to determine multi-column indexes, the method including receiving one or more structured query language (SQL) queries, the one or more SQL queries defining a workload. A database index analysis tool may be used to determine a plurality of index configurations for executing the workload. Further, leading index configurations may be determined, leading index configurations including a subset of the plurality of index configurations. Also, a statistics database may be updated with complete statistics for the leading index configurations.

Physical database design is often an essential step to implementing a high performance data warehouse. During this process, users must make decisions regarding the physical characteristics of their relational tables and columns. One of the decisions is the selection of columns on which to define indexes to improve query performance.

Multi-column statistics usage within index selection tools


The installation includes two needling apparatuses (2, 3) which succeed each other on one side of the path (1) for the fleece to be needled. The needles (47) have an “elliptical” movement, i.e. their reciprocating movement of penetration is combined with a reciprocating movement parallel to the direction of progression. The two mechanisms are actuated at the same speed but with a phase shift of 180° between them. The installation is used for balancing horizontal vibrations.

This invention relates to a method and an installation for needling a fibre fleece using at least two needle bars placed successively on the path of the fleece, wherein the first of the needle bars may be more particularly but not limitatively intended to carry out a pre-needling step.
More specifically, the invention relates to a needling system in which the needle bars are operated with an "elliptical"-type movement, i.e. having a reciprocating penetration movement component, typically vertical, and a reciprocating progressive movement component, typically horizontal.
The progression component is synchronized with the penetration component in such a way that the needles in penetration position in the fleece accompany the progressive movement of the fleece through the needle loom. Thus, the needles can help to drive the fleece through the needle loom. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to stop the progression of the fleece when the needles are in their penetration phase.
On the other hand, the progression component constitutes an additional alternating movement affecting in particular the movable structure carrying the needle bar. Given the weight of this assembly, this results in vibrations parallel to the direction of progression, in particular at the high strike rates currently required by the users.
It is, admittedly, known to compensate for the effects of the vibrations by suitably orientated rotating counterweights, or by other means. But these compensation means are imperfect, heavy and expensive.

Method and an installation for needling a fibre fleece using two needle bars


An imager and an analog to digital converter yield a series of digital signals from successive frames of images of scenes in which selected types of high-speed events may take place. The signals are sampled, and changes in the sampled signals typically indicative of such events are detected. Random access memory temporarily stores a sequence of the signals including each such changed signal. Analytic circuitry determines whether the sequence contains a record of such an event, and, if it does, provides a videotape record of the event.

Engineers, scientists, and photographers often require electro-optical instrumentation systems that can capture images during high-speed random or catastrophic events, and produce the resulting data in minutes or even seconds. Examples of such events are explosive tests and material stress tests where the time of explosion or failure is not predictable. Near real-time playback of the recorded data is often needed to verify that the instrumentation set up is adequate.
High-speed film cameras can capture high-speed events if a pre-event trigger is available to allow the camera to ramp up to speed before the crucial event takes place, but the film must be developed and further processed in order to obtain any data. The common technique for recording these events with high-speed film cameras is to attempt to start the recording before the event occurs and to record long enough to capture the event. Since 10,000 frames-per-second film cameras can record for less than 5 seconds, this technique does not permit recording events with uncertainty in occurrence time.
High-speed video cameras are available that can collect images at frame rates up to 2,000 frames per second, and partial frames up to 12,000 segments per second but also require external triggers. These video cameras do not process the images on the fly for automatic event triggering and the storage medium is nonstandard video tape of limited length. The equipment requires a large amount of space.
A patent of interest for its teaching in this area to Cooper, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,894, discloses a motion analyzer which records scene information at a high frame rate and plays back such information at a slower frame rate, thereby allowing slow motion analysis of a moving object. Full frames of video information from two video imagers are recorded in interleaved fashion on magnetic tape. The device is stated to have a recording frame rate of 30 to 1,000 frames per second. In the background discussion a Kodak SP2000 Motion Analysis System is discussed having a frame rate of 60 to 2,000 frames per second.
A further patent of interest to Bixby, U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,752, discloses area image sensor apparatus and methods for readout of solid-state image sensors at fast frame rates. In a preferred embodiment where photosites are arranged in rows and columns, the sensor is read out in "blocks" of photosites, with each block being comprised of a plurality of adjacent photosite rows. A block of photosites is enabled by the application of an enablement signal to the photosites within the block; and a column address signal is sequentially applied to the photosite columns to effect column-wise readout of the photosite rows within the enabled block. The output signal so produced is, therefore, comprised of block information in a "serial" format, while the information content of each block is comprised of a plurality of line signals in a "parallel" format, such line signals corresponding to the individual photosite rows within that block. Other block readable sensors are disclosed in patents to Lee et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,638 and to Anagnostopoulos et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,796.
A further patent of interest to Colles et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,995 discloses a fast frame recorder apparatus for providing slow motion replay.
A further patent of interest to Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,943, discloses an electronic camera for electronically recording and displaying a plurality of images, having a selection feature for proofing the images of each display frame to retain only those images desired by the photographer. One embodiment provides an imaging means of one or more displays for forming an image from an optical scene. A converter coupled to the imager converts the image into digital signals. Associated with each display device is a selecting means for selecting the image associated with the device for more permanent storage in a larger addressable memory. An optional transmitting feature unloads selected images from the addressable memory for transmission to a viewer or printer. The invention described provides for proofing, viewing, storing, a plurality of still pictures simultaneously.
A further patent of interest to Zoeller et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,897, discloses a system for the monitoring and analysis of large amounts of data, and particularly to a web defect detection and analysis system. A continuous process is monitored using digital signal processing to provide a continuous flow of first digitized signals. Means are provided continuously and in parallel upon the first digital signals for reducing the first digital signals into a continuous flow of second digital signals occurring at a reduced rate from the rate of flow of the first digitized signals. These second digital signals represent predetermined events in the process, such as critical parameters and defects in a web, when the process is the production of webs of high quality. Finally, means are provided which are responsive to and operative continuously upon the second digital signals for providing outputs representing the analysis of certain effects in the process represented by the events, for example outputs representing statistical quality control information as to the categories location and even the source of the events (e.g. the defects or imperfections in the web).
The present invention comprises a solid state high-speed video camera with automatic event detection and recording of images for playback of selected images within minutes of the event. For example, a prototype has been developed which operates at up to 12,000 frames per second, detects events asynchronously, stores 4,096 images for each event and displays selected images on a PC computer system. These and other advantages of the invention will be evident from the more detailed description herein of the method and apparatus of this invention. Additional details are contained in the Appendix including a report entitled "High-Speed, Video Camera/Event Detector/Recording System".


A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source, a reflective assembly, and a condensing lens defining an optical axis. The first light source includes a first lamp and a first reflector reflecting light beams generated by the first lamp as first parallel light beams. The second light source includes a second lamp and a second reflector reflecting light beams generated by the second lamp. The first light source, the reflective assembly and the condensing lens are arranged in order along the optical axis. The second light source corresponds to the reflective assembly deviated from the optical axis. The reflective assembly reflects light beams reflected by the first reflector back to the first reflector, and reflects light beams from the second reflector to the condensing lens. The condensing lens condenses the first parallel light beams and the light beams reflected by the reflective assembly.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to projection technology and, particularly, to a light source device and a projector having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light source devices, such as high pressure mercury lamps, metal halide lamps, or xenon lamps, used in projectors are configured for generating white light beams and, in cooperation with a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) and a color wheel, to project a color image. To obtain a projected image with high brightness, it is required to increase the power of the light source devices. However, when a projector is constructed using a single light source device, the brightness of the projected image is limited.
Therefore, what is needed is a light source device and a projector using the same which can overcome the described limitations.

Light source device and projector having same


A printer, a printing system, and a printing method of the printing system where the printer is provided with a keyboard function, and the printer is connected with a computer via a Universal Serial Bus and includes a key operation section provided with a plurality of keys. The printer further includes: a switching key to select a keyboard function and a printer function; a Universal Serial Bus module to transmit keyboard equipment information and printer equipment information to the computer according to the selection by the switching key; and a key control section to map the keys of the key operation section to those of the keyboard or the those of the printer according to the selection via the switching key. Accordingly, the invention makes printing convenient by directly issuing a command from the printer to the computer to perform a task as requested by a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer connected to a computer to perform printing, a printing system, and a printing method using the printing system, and in particular, to a printer connected to a computer via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and having a keyboard function, a printing system, and a printing method using the printing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, computer-readable files prepared by using various computer application programs, for example, word processors, graphics programs etc., including application programs that use different alphabets such as Hangul and Hunmin Jeongeum may be printed on paper by using a printer.
An example of a printing system used to print computer-readable files prepared by using a computer is illustrated in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system comprises a computer 10 and a printer 20. The computer 10 further comprises an application program 12 that contains data, such as documents to be printed, and a printer driver 14 to convert the data to be printed into data capable of being printed by the printer 20. The printer 20 is connected to the computer 10 via a parallel port or a USB port to receive data to be printed transmitted from the printer driver 14, and performs the printing on paper. In addition, the computer 10 is connected to a keyboard 30, through which at least one command can be inputted into the computer 10 in order to execute a specific application program, and to select and print a specific file.
A description of how a user prints a file using the printing system described above is provided in the following paragraphs.
First, a user prepares a document using an application program as exemplified by the application program 12 in FIG. 1. Thereafter, a print command from a menu option of the respective application program 12 is executed in order to print the document. Then, the contents of the document are converted to data capable of being printed via the printer driver 14. Next, the printer driver 14 transmits the print data through a port connected to the printer. Then, the printer 20 prints the document on paper in accordance with the transmitted print data.
However, according to the printing system described above, the printing operation is not performed unless the user uses a print command of the application program to execute the print command via the computer. Therefore, if the user is not familiar with the use of the application program, the user may have difficulty printing. Further, in a case where the computer and the printer are located apart from each other, the user may need to go back and forth between the printer and the computer to check the ready status of the printer and/or fix the printer when the user wants to print. For example, if the printer runs out of printing paper, although the user may issue a print command using the computer, the printing operation would not be performed. In that event, the user is inconvenienced as the user is required to go to the printer, load at least the required amount of paper to complete the printing into the printer, return to the computer, and then issue the print command again. Accordingly, there has been a need to develop a printer having a keyboard function, which allows a command to be issued to the computer directly from the printer.
In addition, in recent times, a variety of portable storage devices have been provided to adapt to the daily changing network circumstances, and appear to meet requests for convenient data maintenance, administration, and mobility.
When a user wishes to print a portable file stored in a portable storage apparatus, the user must first open the file using a compatible program on a computer connected to a printer, and input a print command into the computer. Therefore, the printing operation is prolonged and a user who desires to print the file within a short time is presented with a problem. The user is presented with an additional problem, as the user is required to locate and use a computer to perform the printing operation.

Printer having keyboard function, a printing system and printing method using the printing system


An ink composition suitable for ink jet printing comprises a polymeric colorant in a carrier, the colorant containing at least one hydrophilic portion and at least one hydrophobic portion, wherein the composite log Kow of the polymeric colorant is more positive than −0.7.

Ink jet printing is a non-impact method for producing printed images by the deposition of ink droplets in a pixel-by-pixel manner to an image-recording element in response to digital signals. There are various methods that may be utilized to control the deposition of ink droplets on the image-recording element to yield the desired printed image. In one process, known as drop-on-demand ink jet, individual droplets are projected as needed onto the image-recording element to form the desired printed image. Common methods of controlling the ejection of ink droplets in drop-on-demand printing include thermal bubble formation (thermal ink jet (TIJ)) and piezoelectric transducers. In another process known as continuous ink jet (CIJ), a continuous stream of droplets is generated and expelled in an image-wise manner onto the surface of the image-recording element, while non-imaged droplets are deflected, caught and recycled to an ink sump. Ink jet printers have found broad applications across markets ranging from desktop document and photographic-quality imaging, to short run printing and industrial labeling.
Ink compositions used in ink jet printers can be classified as either pigment-based in which the colorant exists as pigment particles suspended in the ink composition, or as dye-based in which the colorant exists as a fully solvated dye species that consists of one or more dye molecules. A sub-class of dye-based inks may contain polymeric colorants in which a chromophore is covalently bound to a polymer structure. Pigment-based inks are often preferred over dye-based inks because they possess better resistance to light and gas, especially ozone, as compared to printed images with dye-based inks.
Pigment-based inks have a number of drawbacks. Great lengths must be undertaken to reduce a pigment to a sufficiently small particle size and to provide sufficient colloidal stability to the particles. Pigment-based inks often require a lengthy milling operation to produce particles in the sub-micron range needed for most modern ink applications. If the pigment particles are too large light scattering can have a detrimental effect on optical density and gloss in the printed image. Pigment inks are also difficult to jet through ink jet print heads having small nozzle diameters, for example, less than 25 μm and numerous approaches have been taken to formulate pigment based inks for piezo and thermal ink jet print heads.
Self-dispersed carbon black pigment-based ink compositions lacking a film-forming polymer binder offer high optical density on untreated bond papers that approach electrophotographic-printing quality, with values of about 1.4. The colorant, however, is readily re-dispersed by wet rub abrasion, resulting in undesirably low durability. Polymer-dispersed carbon black pigment ink compositions of the art offer excellent water-fastness, wet rub durability, and dry rub abrasion on all substrates, but optical density suffers on plain papers, where the colorant apparently wicks along the cellulose fibers into the interior of the paper, leading to grayish appearing printed text.
Continuous ink jet printing has related needs for improved ink compositions. High-speed continuous ink jet printing is used in commercial market applications and generally involves printing variable information for transactional documents such as invoices and credit card billing statements, and also scratch-off lottery tickets. Variable-data imprinting sub-systems, consisting of a printhead, control electronics, an ink reservoir, an ink pump and an ink delivery system, can be added to an existing high-speed press system for black text printing in labeling or mailing applications. Commonly used dye-based inks can provide adequate optical density on the normal mix of paper substrates, such as plain bond papers, surface-treated papers, or coated and calendared business gloss papers or heavy-stock covers. Dye-based inks, however, suffer poor waterfastness on all substrates, and low durability on glossy papers against wet rub abrasion that can render text and universal packaging code information illegible.
Water-fast polymeric colorants made from polyethyleneimines are known in the art of inks and ink jet printing such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,664,708 and 4,375,357. U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,052 discloses aqueous inkjet inks containing polymeric colorants comprised of polyamidoamines bonded with a reactive dye through an amino group. U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,079 discloses aqueous inks containing emulsion particles of a polymeric dyestuff prepared by reacting an anionic dye or a reactive dye with a water-insoluble polymer containing amino groups. U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,107 discloses aqueous inkjet inks containing an ammonium zirconium polymer and a reactive dye which, upon dehydration, crosslink to form a waterfast dye complex. U.S. Pat. Appl. 2004/0147631 discloses aqueous inkjet inks containing a polymeric colorant made from a dye linked into a polymer skeleton. The copolymer colorant consists of a hydrophobic monomer and a hydrophilic nonionic monomer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,439 discloses aqueous inkjet inks containing both a pigment and a polymeric dye where the polymeric dye has an average molecular weight of 5,000 to 15,000 and contains carboxylate groups which are preferred from a standpoint of convenience of production. U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,185 discloses a method of printing polymeric colorants onto a paper stock having therein polyvalent metal cations resulting in water fast images. U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,697 discloses polymeric colorants where the polymer backbone is a copolymer of acrylamide monomers and maleic anhydride. These colorants are further functionalized to enable covalent bonding to biological materials. EP 1 489 144 A1 discloses styrene maleic anhydride based copolymeric dyes that are designed for ink jet inks and have good fabric and skin washability. However, these polymeric dyes are not designed to be water-fast on an ink jet receiver.
Polymeric colorants based on copolymers of styrene and maleic anydride comprising a dye, a pigment and a dispersant functionality covalently attached to the polymer backbone, are disclosed in United States Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0089421 and 2006/0089422.
There remains a need to provide a polymeric colorant that can be utilized in an ink composition that results in high density and good water-fastness when printed onto a wide range of receivers including uncoated or plain paper. In addition, there remains a need to provide a polymeric colorant which can be utilized in an ink composition for ink jet printing which is stable over long periods of time and does not adversely affect the performance of an ink jet nozzle.

Polymeric colorant-based ink compositions


A paper-sheet handling system includes a plurality of paper-sheet handling units each configured to handle a paper sheet. The paper-sheet handling system includes a display unit configured to display information related to one or more paper-sheet handling unit/units. When the display unit displays a part of a plurality of the paper-sheet handling units, the display unit displays the information related to the paper-sheet handling unit/units per each unit.

There has been conventionally known a paper-sheet handling system configured to handle a paper sheet. As such a paper-sheet handling system, there is known a paper-sheet handling system including a display unit which is configured to display, when an error such as a jam occurs, a location where the error has occurred and/or to display a procedure for cancelling the error that has occurred (see WO2008/044279).
However, the display unit of the conventional paper-sheet handling system as disclosed in WO2008/044279 displays the overall paper-sheet handling system, and thus a location that is actually desired to be displayed, such as a location where an error has occurred, is displayed only at a small scale.
In order to cope with this, it can be considered that the location desired to be displayed is displayed in an enlarged scale. However, when the location desired to be displayed is merely enlarged, there is a possibility that only a part of a paper-sheet handling unit is displayed. In this case, it may be difficult for an operator to intuitively know which paper-sheet handling unit is displayed.
In addition, when there are a number of possible combinations of paper-sheet handling units in a paper-sheet handling system, there is a problem in that image data corresponding to an actual combination is prepared for each time.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a paper-sheet handling system in which, when information related to a part of a plurality of paper-sheet handling units is/are displayed, it is easy to intuitively know which paper-sheet handling unit/units is/are displayed, among a plurality of the paper-sheet handling units, and a paper-sheet handling method using such a paper-sheet handling system.

Paper-sheet handling system and paper-sheet handling method