A system and method for registering voice codes (xe2x80x9cVCodesxe2x80x9d) associated with stored content corresponding to the VCodes, wherein the VCode may be used to access the stored content via telephone by calling a central number and entering the VCode or verbally describing the object, attraction or subject, in which case the verbal description is associated with a VCode or collection of VCodes.

This invention relates to a system and method for registering voice codes (xe2x80x9cVCodesxe2x80x9d) associated with stored content corresponding to the VCodes, wherein the VCode may be used to access the stored content via telephone by calling a central number and entering the VCode or verbally describing the object, attraction or subject, in which case the verbal description is associated with a VCode or collection of VCodes.
Information is most useful when it is delivered to the right person at the right time. Delivery of the right information to the right person has been a problem that many businesses have attempted to solve over the years. Indeed, an entire industry of decision support technology exists to deliver information to members of a business based on massive amounts of data collected about the businesses. The World Wide Web and the Internet have provided an avenue for information delivery, but current Web-based systems still fail to adequately deliver the right information at the right time. One of the major problems with the World Wide Web is the requirement to utilize a computer and web-browser to access its contents. Although penetration of computers throughout the world has increased, that penetration is far from making information readily available to everyone wherever they happen to be.
Moreover, most computer users connect to the Web through a land line. Most users therefore do not have access to Web content when they are away from a land line. Although technology is being developed to enable World Wide Web access through other mediums, such as web-enabled personal digital assistants, for example, such technology require users to purchase new equipment to access this technology. Given the sparse penetration of personal digital assistants already, this technology does not satisfy the need for delivery of timely information.
Therefore, existing systems do not provide a readily available medium for delivery of the right information at the right time or a system for delivering that information. These and other drawbacks exist with current systems.
One aspect of the invention relates to creating a novel VCode registration system. A VCode is a code that may be assigned to a particular xe2x80x9cpagexe2x80x9d of content that can be delivered to a user via phone or other delivery device, preferably to enable the user to hear the content. A user may access the content corresponding to the VCode by entering the VCode through an interactive communications device, such as a land or mobile telephone. Also, VCodes may be input through verbal descriptions which are then associated with the desired VCode and corresponding pages or pages of content. A voice-to-text, natural language engine, and/or best fit correspondence engine may be used to interpret verbal descriptions to determine which VCode and corresponding page of content to generate for the user.
These pages of content corresponding to the VCodes are referred to herein as VPages. A VPage can consist of any grouping of content that is stored at a single location. A VPage contains both voice content and a means of structuring it. Voice content may be stored in any format. One possible format is an audio file. Another is a text file, the content of which may be subsequently converted to audio via a text to speech (TTS) engine. A VPage may reference content stored in other locations. In one implementation, VPages may be stored as files on a server""s filesystem. In another, they may be records in a database. In one implementation, they may be stored in an XML-based format such as TML (see appendix) or VoiceXML.
VCodes may also be assigned to collections of related VPages. These collections of one or more VPages are referred to herein as VBooks. Each VPage or VBook is stored on a particular server. If multiple servers are used, each server may be assigned a VCode portion to identify the server. If servers are located in different locations or are operated by different voice network access providers, VNAPs, another VCode portion may be used to designate the server location. A VPage may contain other VCodes or other links that may be presented to a user to enable the user to link from an initial VPage to another. For example, the first page of a VBook may provide an indication of other VPages in that VBook that are accessible by entering the appropriate VCode (or other input). Also, when a user accesses one or more VPages, the VPage may provide a voice menu to a user with numbers associates with each menu item to enable a user to access other VPages (in that VBook or otherwise) or other choices. Also, the user may be permitted to use verbal commands to select options within a VPage. Again, voice-to-text, natural language, and best-fit modules may be used to interpret the user""s verbal option request and act upon the request accordingly. According to another embodiment, a VPage or VBook may enable a user to be transferred to another VBook, another VNAP, or a VAdvertisement (as described below), among other things.
VCodes provide a means for addressing voice content. A VCode may be any data string that references unambiguously a single voice page. It can take on any of a number of forms. In one implementation, a VCode may be a string of DTMF values (values on a telephone keypad: 1,2,3, . . . 0,#,*). In another, a VCode may be a spoken word or series of words (an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine may be used here to interpret user input). A VCode may be in any of a number of other formats, provided it unambiguously references a single VPage.
A VCode may be a simple numeric code or an alphanumeric code (including symbols such as # and *) or any other code that may be entered via a keypad of a phone or other interactive communications device or through voice recognition technology now or in the future. For example, but without limitation, the VCode may be a seven digit number. Each unique VCode corresponds to a VPage, a VBook, or in other embodiments, other levels of information relating to a VPage or VBook (e.g., where the VBook or VPage is stored, the xe2x80x9cprovider of the content,xe2x80x9d or other information). For example, different levels of sophistication may be used for a VCode.
A VCode may comprise of one or more fields. A VCode with more than one field will be referred to as a multi-level VCode. A multi-level scheme may be used to specify various aspects of the referenced VPage. For example, a VPage stored as a file on a file server may have a VCode with one field to specify host on which the VPage resides, another to specify its directory, and another to specify its name. The fields of such a multi-level VCode can take on any of a number of forms (DTMF, speech signals, etc.) and be concatenated using any of a number of schemes (in a multi-level DTMF VCode, the fields may be separated by a xe2x80x98*xe2x80x99).
It should be noted that multiple VCodes in multiple formats may refer to the same VPage. Such a scheme may be used to allow a single page to be referenced by an easy-to-remember DTMF string (SMITHSONIAN*AIRSPACE# on the telephone keypad, e.g.), and easy-to-type DTMF string (149#), and an easy-to-say text string (xe2x80x9cthe Smithsonian air and space museumxe2x80x9d).
According to one embodiment, the VCode comprises at least two partsxe2x80x94a VBook identifier portion and a VPage identifier portion, with the portions separated by a separation character (e.g., the * key of a telephone keypad). For example, the Smithsonian Museum may have a VBook of VPages for its displays. The Smithsonian VBook number may be 38367 and Monet""s Water Lillies painting may have a VPage number of 789. To access the Smithsonian""s Monet Water Lillies VPage, the user would enter 38367*789 (VBook * VPage). Also, Van Gogh""s Sunflowers painting may have a VPage code of 790. The user may enter 38367*790 to access the voice information corresponding to that painting.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a VCode may comprise multiple portions, at least one of which may correspond to a predetermined category. For example, VPages may be categorized by content type (e.g., sports, television, retail, museum, etc.), content provider type (e.g., individual, company, organization, government), size (e.g., large, medium, small), cost (e.g., premium, discount, regular), and other methods of categorization. For example, an individual VPage may be assigned 463*123456, where 463 corresponds to an individual VPage and 123456 is the code assigned to the specific individual""s page.
If the user desires, it is also possible for the user to simply input the VBook number, whereby the system may prompt the user for a VPage identifier. Also, when the user is finished with one VPage from a VBook, the user may move to another VPage within that VBook by inputting only the VBook identifier (instead of having to input the VBook and VPage combination again). Other VCode schemes could include a portion that identifies a VCode provider or VNAP to identify a VNAP on whose server a VBook or VPage resides and/or a content provider identifier portion to identify a content provider whose content is being provided. For convenience of reference, a VCode with two or more portions will be referred to as a multi-level VCode. Each portion of a multi-level VCode may be separated by a separation character (e.g., the * key). Alternatively, different separation characters can be used to designate different portions of a VCode. Other VCode schemes may be used.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a VCode registration system. VCode registration, according to one embodiment of the invention, enables a central system for registration of VCodes or portions of VCodes. For example, if many companies provide content that is accessible through a VNAP, each company may have assigned to it one or more codes to identify that company. That company identifier code may be a portion of a multi-level VCode that permits users to access that company""s content via a VNAP. The registration system preferably stores information identifying where that company""s content is stored, so that a VNAP can retrieve such content when requested by a user. Other aspects of the VCode registration system are described below.
According to one embodiment, a VCode registry resides at the VNAP (or in communication with the VNAP). When a user enters a VCode, the VCode registry is checked to determine where the content corresponding to the VCode is stored. The VCode registry returns the address of the content for use by the VNAP to retrieve the requested content. If the VCode is a multi-level VCode, the VCode registry can resolve the various portions of the VCode to identify the content the user is requesting and its location.
Another aspect of the invention relates to storing content that may be retrieved via telephone, preferably so that the user may hear the content. The content may be stored in various formats. One convenient format for storage of certain content is a sound file format. In other cases, content may be stored in other formats. For example, content may be stored as text. In this case, when the text is retrieved, it may be passed through a text-to-speech engine to create synthesized sound for the user to hear. The content is preferably stored as separate VPages. Preferably, whenever content is stored, a VCode or multi-level VCode is assigned to it, and the VCode and any other information necessary to retrieve the content is stored in one or more registries.
According to one embodiment, content may be created by a VNAP. Thus, a single organization may both create the content and make it available to users via a VCode system. However, it may be desirable for a VNAP to encourage others to create and/or update content for the VNAP. In this case the creator of content will be referred to as a content provider, although it should be understood that a VNAP may also be a content provider as that term is used. For various reasons, including those detailed below, it may be desirable for content providers to register with a VNAP. Various procedures and protocols may be established by a VNAP to govern the posting of content to the VNAP""s VCode system. Various mechanisms by which content may be posted are detailed below.
In one embodiment, participants in the system may be permitted to create voice content to be presented in VPages through a VPage creation module that provides a user interface through which VPages may be created. That module may be accessible over the Internet (World Wide Web) or over a telephone network. The voice content that a user may create may comprise structured voice pages including audio, dialogs, menus, and links and may be stored in a variety of formats as well. The voice content may be stored as a XML-based voice file (e.g. TML or Voice XML), that references sound and text files. In this embodiment, participation is made easier by enabling users to call a VPage creation module via a telephone or log into a VPage creation module via the internet and through a series of menus, create a VPage. In one embodiment, the user records his or her voice for the module. That VPage is then be stored by the VNAP or other system for access by users of the network. For example, the VPage creation module may ask a VPage creator to input the name of the VPage, and the user is then prompted to speak the name. Next, the VPage creator may ask the user to input the subject matter of the VPage and the user is then prompted to speak the subject. Then the VPage creator may ask the user to input the body of the VPage and the user may then record the body. Prompts may then be provided to provide links to other VPages and requests for other content. The VPage creation module may also be used to modify or change an existing VPage. For example, through a web interface via the Internet a user may be presented with a depiction of the structure of a VPage. That web page interface may then present the user with a selection to generate an outgoing call to a telephone through which the user may create and store audio for inclusion in the VPage being reviewed online.
One embodiment of the invention relates to a system and method for enabling users to use these novel VCodes to selectively access stored content via a telephone device. Based on information made available to the user, the user calls in to a VNAP and enters a VCode corresponding to the desired content. The VNAP locates the requested content (e.g., by referring to the registry) retrieves the content (e.g., the VPage or VBook) and provides the content to the user via the user""s phone, enabling the user to hear the content. In some cases, the VNAP may also provide text for display on the user""s phone, or other output to a wireless access protocol device.
A user may access a VNAP by dialing a central number for the VNAP. As detailed below the number may by a local number, a long distance number, an 800, 888, 877 (or equivalent) number, (e.g., 1-800-TALKNET, 1-800-VNET411, 1-888-88-VOICE), a 900 (or equivalent) number, or in some cases may be some other combination of keys. For example, a VNAP may arrange with one, several or even all wireless network providers to enable its customers to contact the VNAP by dialing xe2x80x9c*Vxe2x80x9d or some other easily remembered combination of characters, such as #VN, 311 or #VOICE. Also, wireless phones or other devices may be provided with a special key or input to directly access a VNAP. Also, through arrangements with the telephone company, landline telephones may access the system through a code like (*V, for example) as well. Also, a direct link on certain phones may be provided upon picking up the handset.
According to one embodiment, the following business method may be implemented. A VNAP coordinates with a VCode display host for the host to display a sign or other indicator of a VCode, preferably for an object, attraction or subject associated with a display host location. Preferably, the display comprises the VCode, a brief description of the content available for that VCode and a central number (or other directions) for contacting the VNAP. Upon seeing such a display of interest, a user places a phone call to the central number for the VNAP, and when prompted enters the VCode of interest. The VNAP provides the user with content via the user""s phone, preferably audible content corresponding to the selected VCode.
The VNAP may charge the user a fee for the content. The VNAP may bill the user in any of a number of ways as described herein. According to one embodiment, the VNAP shares a portion of the fee with one or more of the display host(s), the content provider(s) and phone network(s) over which the phone call is made. According to another embodiment, the VNAP pays a set fee to the VCode display host entity. The VCode display host may also be the content provider and therefore, may receive a share proportionally to its contribution to the system.
One example of this embodiment is as follows. The VCode display host entity may be a museum. One or more exhibits at the museum may have a VCode displayed in association therewith, along with the central number for the VNAP. If the user desires to obtain more information about the exhibit, the user dials the central number to connect to the VNAP, and when prompted, enters the VCode for that exhibit. The VNAP in turn retrieves content associated with the entered VCode and plays it for the user over the user""s phone. The VNAP charges the user a fee (e.g., per call, per code, per minute or otherwise). The revenue derived from a VCode linked to the museum is recorded by the VNAP and a predetermined portion of that revenue may be paid to the museum. This method is beneficial for several reasons. The visitors benefit because their experience can be enhanced by receiving additional information for selected exhibits. The museum benefits because its patrons are provided additional benefits without cost to the museum, and in fact, the museum may obtain additional revenue from fee sharing with the VNAP. The VNAP benefits by collecting revenue for the service it provides. The VNAP and/or museum may also benefit in other ways.
For example, according to another embodiment, the VCode system may be used to enable a user to request a transaction. For example, the museum or other organization may offer souvenirs and other products or services that can be ordered via telephone by use of a VCode or in connection with use of a VCode. For example, a VCode may be assigned to a particular transaction (e.g., the purchase of a souvenir associated with an exhibit). The VCode may be displayed in proximity to the exhibit (or elsewhere). The user may call the central number and, when prompted, may enter the VCode to indicate the desire to execute the transaction associated with the VCode. If necessary, the VNAP may collect other information from the user to complete the transaction.
According to another embodiment, if a user calls the central number and enters a VCode corresponding to a request for content, the VNAP may inform the user of available transactions during the call. For example, if a user calls a VNAP and enters a VCode associated with information or other content pertaining to an exhibit, the VNAP may provide the user with a voice menu that informs the user of related information, services or transactions. For example, if the exhibit is an art exhibit, the user may call a central number and enter a VCode to find out more information about a particular painting. One piece of information provided may be the artist""s name. According to one embodiment, the user may be given a menu option that enables the user to purchase a book or other article pertaining to that artist. The user may purchase that book by entering a number or other input as specified in the menu.
Various fee generating and billing methodologies may be implemented.
According to one option, the central number to the VNAP may be a 900 number (or similar number) so that the user is charged based on the duration of the call. According to another option, the VNAP charges the user based on the time of the call (e.g., by the minute, in six minute intervals, by the hour, etc.), on a per call basis, on a per VCode basis or on a subscription basis. For example, a VNAP may set up a service that enables a user to pay a flat fee (e.g., monthly) for limited or unlimited access to content via VCodes. If a fee is charged on a per VCode basis, different fees may be charged for different VCodes. To facilitate this model, credits may be sold by the system, wherein different VCodes may cost a different number of credits. By charging based on credits, consumers may be charged different amounts based on their purchasing history. The per unit cost may be reduced for users who use the system more. Also, by charging in credits, the actual cost is not presented as part of the consumers""purchase.
Additionally, the VNAP may charge users for calling into the VNAP and may also charge VCode providers for access to its users. The VNAP then works as an information broker, taking a commission from both sellers and buyers of that information.
According to one business model, the VNAP may make the call free to encourage users to call. In this case, the VNAP may provide general or basic information for free but once the user is connected to the VNAP, offer xe2x80x9cpremiumxe2x80x9d VCodes corresponding to more detailed or valuable information, transactions or other fee generating mechanisms. Also, if the calls are free to users, the VNAP may generate revenues by charging the VPage providers a fee for providing their information on the VNAP. The VPage providers may include vendors, manufacturers or agents, for example, to build VPages about the items that they are marketing to consumers. For example, products may be labeled with a VCode so consumers may find more information about the product prior to a purchase.
As another method of generating revenue in this system, the VNAP may also charge advertisers for including their advertisement content with VPages. The advertising revenue may be kept by the VNAP or distributed to the various VCode providers with whose pages the advertisements were associated.
As detailed below, one such fee generating mechanism may be to encourage the user to be transferred to another VPage, VBook, VAdvertisement, or other xe2x80x9clocation,xe2x80x9d whereby the VNAP is paid a fee for such transfer. According to one business model, a referral fee may be paid to the VNAP and/or content provider for referring a user to another VPage, VBook, VAdvertisement or VNAP.
One or more VPages may contain advertisements that are delivered to a user""s phone (e.g., a voice ad). A VAdvertisement may comprise a portion or a complete VPage that advertises a product or service using voice. That VAd may provide the user with the option to purchase a good or service during the interface. The VAd may be selected based on the content requested by the user. Providers of VAds may be charged to have that VAd referenced or included in a VPage. The VAd provider may pay the VNAP, the VPage content provider or both. The VAd may be played for each or selected users upon accessing the VNAP central number or at other times. The charge may be a flat fee for a period of time, a fee for each user for whom the VAd is played or otherwise. The VAd provider may make that payment as a flat fee or based on any transactions that take place as a result of the VAdvertisement.
In the case where transactions are provided, transaction processing may be performed by the VNAP or the VNAP may transfer the call to another transaction processor. The transaction processor may be an operator, an automated system, or some combination of the two that guides the user through the transaction process (e.g., with a voice menu prompting the user to enter input via the keypad of the user""s phone or otherwise).
In one embodiment, the user may be able to register with the VNAP and provide certain information, for example, name, address, billing information, phone number, etc. Other information such as personal preferences, demographics and pyschographic data may be provided during the registration process or subsequently accumulated by the VNAP. This registration and other information may be used in a variety of ways. For example, the user""s phone number (or phone numbers) may be used in connection with a caller ID or similar service to identify the user each time the user calls in. This may enable the VNAP to accumulate a transaction history for the user. The transaction histories for each user may be stored by the VNAP in a data warehouse or other convenient storage system. This registration information also facilitates the ability to conduct transactions (for example, the purchase of goods) via the VNAP. If the VNAP identifies a user based on a caller ID (or other mechanism), and the VNAP has a profile for the user including address and credit card information (among other things), transactions may be conducted without requiring a user to enter all of this information for each transaction. If desired, security codes or passwords may be used to provide extra protection for the user and VNAP. Also, voice print authentication may be used to ensure the identity of a caller, particularly for high cost usages of the system.
According to at least one embodiment, the content of a VPage is preferably an XML-based voice content file (e.g., TML or VoiceXML) that may be interpreted by a XML-based voice content interpreter and played for the user via the user""s phone. As discussed below, XML-based voice content files are structured to provide call flow. According to another embodiment, a VNAP may also maintain an index of information or other content that is available corresponding to a VCode. For example, a VNAP may store XML-based voice content VPages, each having a corresponding VCode and may also store an index of other information (in other formats), where selected index entries may be provided to the user (e.g., via a voice menu). If the user is interested in one of the indexed entries, the VNAP retrieves the information corresponding to the selected indexed entry and provide it to the user via the user""s phone. For example, the VNAP may pass the information through a text-to-speech engine to create a sound file and play the sound file for the user via the user""s phone. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, text or other content may be displayed on or output to the user""s phone or other terminal device. Dynamic VPage generation may also be provided where VPage content is generated on the fly from other content.
In one example, the other information may correspond to information available via the World Wide Web. The index may be created by the VNAP by using standard indexing techniques or bots that search the web for content related to the content of stored VPages. Real-time searches may be done by a VNAP during a user""s call to provide current information related to the VCode entered by the user based on keywords associated with the VCode. This aspect of the invention has several advantages. One advantage is that for many topics relating to content of a VPage, it would be costly and require a lot of storage to convert each xe2x80x9chitxe2x80x9d from a web search to a sound file. By using the technique described herein, only if a user desires access to other information beyond the stored sound file is it necessary to convert the other information to a sound file, which may be stored for subsequent use or not. Other databases may also be searched for related information or other content.
One example of how various individual features described above may be implemented is as follows. A tourist in Washington, D.C. visits the Washington Monument. The person desires to learn more information about the Washington Monument. The user notices a sign posted next to the Washington Monument which indicates a VCode, and a central number that the person may call to find out more information about the Washington Monument. Accordingly, the person places a call with a wireless phone (e.g., by dialing a central number, such as an 800 number or *V on a wireless phone network to connect to the VNAP), enters the VCode and listens to the voice content from the VPage corresponding to the VCode. At convenient times, the VNAP may present the user with a menu of additional options about or relating to the Washington Monument. The menu of options may include historical data about the Monument, how the Monument was constructed, the geographic location of the Monument, the weather forecast for the area around the Washington Monument, restaurants located near the Washington Monument, bus routes and schedules near the Washington Monument, rates for taxi cabs from the Washington Monument to another location, or any of a variety of other options. Additionally, transaction options may be provided by the VNAP. Specifically, the user may be given an option to purchase a miniature model of the Washington Monument, purchase tickets to take a guided tour of the Washington Monument, or pay to hear patriotic music while touring the monument. All of these options may be presented within a menu driven system by the VNAP based on the entry of the VCode. Because of the vast amount of information and options that may be provided, hierarchical or cascaded menus may be used.
In such a system, the National Park Service that allowed the VCode to be posted, the content provider that posted the content corresponding to the VCode(s) accessed and the VNAP may all receive a portion of any fees charged based on the user""s access to the content.
According to another embodiment, a more interactive approach may be used. For example, the VPage corresponding to the Washington Monument VCode may provide the user with general information that relates to the Washington Monument. Then, the system may say xe2x80x9cWhat else would you like to know about the Washington Monument?xe2x80x9d The user could then input a voice response which is then translated using speech recognition, natural language query technology, and/or artificial intelligence to determine the best fit of the information that is available. For example, the user may say xe2x80x9cI would like to purchase a miniature copy of the Washington Monumentxe2x80x9d and accordingly the user would be passed to the transaction processing system to perform that task. Similarly, the user may say xe2x80x9cI am at the Washington Monument, how do I get to Arlington, Virginia?xe2x80x9d In response to that request, the VPage may transfer the user to a VPage providing directions from downtown Washington to Arlington, Va.
Also, multiple voice pages may exist relating to a subject from different voice content providers. Therefore, a given object may have a number of different VCodes relating thereto. For example, Monet""s Water Lillies may have a VPage in the Smithsonian but may also have a VPage from the British Museum with different content. In the Smithsonian, the Smithsonian""s Water Lillies VCode may be displayed, but in an art book published by the British Museum, the British Museum""s VCode may be displayed. The VPages may also link to one another to provide different perspectives on the same subject. One example may be VPages about a new movie wherein different newspapers provide a different movie review for a particular movie. An advertisement for the movie may list several of the VCodes of the VPages from different newspapers that reviewed the movie and stored that review as a VPage on that newspaper""s VBook.
An overview of the system architecture for enabling a VCode system according to the various embodiments described above, and other embodiments will now be summarized. In a basic embodiment, the system comprises user telephony devices connectable over a communications network to a VCode provider (VNAP) that provides voice content over the communications network to the user, based on a VCode assigned to that content by a VCode registration system. The user system comprises a telephony device (e.g., a wireless phone) for enabling the user to input voice and/or push button input (DTMF) and to receive voice content through the speaker portion of the phone or other telephony device. Other types of devices for input and output may also be used as the user system.
The user connects to the VNAP over a communications network, such as a telephone and/or wireless telephone network or the Internet, to the VNAP by dialing a predetermined telephone number. Any suitable communications network may be used in addition to and/or alternatively to the telephone networks and any mechanism for connecting may be used for that communications network.
The VNAP receives the telephone call from the user, prompts the user for a VCode corresponding to desired information, and then delivers that desired information. The VNAP may comprise a number of modules to accomplish this functionality. According to one embodiment, users call into a call center to access VPages using a VCode. The call center processes a request through a voice browser module that uses speech recognition and text to speech modules to interpret user requests for additional VPages or transactions. Once speech is received, a XML-based voice content interpreter reviews the XML-based voice content VPage being accessed to determine an appropriate response. The interpreter passes the request to a voice server which provides security, personalization, content retrieval and billing modules to operate a safe and effective VPage retrieval and delivery system. In another embodiment, the VNAP may comprise a call center for interfacing with the communications network. An incoming call is received by the call center which may identify the user and prompt the user for authentication information. Once the user is authenticated, the user inputs information about the desired page. The user supplies the requested inputs, including the VCode corresponding to the desired content.
As used herein, the term VCode should be understood to refer to an alphanumeric identifier. The term Vname may be used to refer to a verbal identifier that may be used to request voice content through a voice input system of the present invention. Throughout this specification, if the term VCode is used, it should be understood that that VCode may be input through entry of the VCode or verbal communication of a corresponding VName. Also, the VCode and corresponding VName may be the same in some embodiments of the present invention.
The VCode is provided to a VCode identifier module to identify the VPage corresponding to the VCode and to determine where that VPage is located. The VCode identifier module determines the VPage requested and then passes the identification of the desired page to a VPage retrieval module. The VCode retrieval module accesses a VPage database in communication with the VNAP to retrieve the VPage. That VPage is then passed to a VPage execution module and VPage menu module. The VPage execution module executes the VPage in conjunction with a voice output module and optionally a voice personalization module. The voice output module generates audible output from the VPage under control of the VPage execution module and passes the audible output to the call center to relay it over the communications network to the requesting user.
The VPage menu module presents menu options to the user as part of the VPage execution and controls what information is presented in the menu. As such, the user may respond to the menus presented with a choice. The choice received from the user""s telephony device is passed by the call center to the choice interpretation module which cooperates with the VPage menu module to determine the content or transaction processing that the user desires. If a transaction is desired, then the user""s transaction request is passed to a transaction processing module which may cooperate with a transaction processing system to process the request. Additionally, the VNAP provides a billing module for tracking the user""s activity on the VNAP for use in billing and allocation of fees collected from the user for use of the system. Also, the VNAP may have a preregistration and personalization module for enabling the user to preregister with the VNAP for purposes of setting up an account and for indicating how content requested is preferred to be delivered to that particular user. A telephone number identification system (such as a caller ID system) may be used to determine the user""s identity to effectuate the selected personalizations or a user may be prompted for a password/code during the call, upon which the pre-registered personalization features may be used by the VNAP during the call session.
That module may also be responsible for authentication, which may differ by VNAP and/or VCode. Authentication may comprise caller identification and may also involve password input. Voice print identification may also be used. Authentication may be set by subscribed users and content providers for specific VPages. For example, if a content provider creates a VPage with several transactions, the content provider may want to authenticate callers with called identification and password authentication to make sure that the transactions are secure. If a user and content provider have both set up authentications, then the authentication module may select between the two, such as by selecting the most secure method.
A registration system is also provided in communication with and/or as part of the VNAP to enable the VNAP to register each VPage or VBook and have a VCode assigned thereto. Users may then input the assigned VCode to request that particular VPage and may be displayed in association with the subject of the VPage. The registration system may have a database that stores correspondence between a VPage and VCode and other information as desired. A specific VCode naming convention may be used by the registration system as described herein.
According to another embodiment, the VPages provided as content may be provided by content providers. The content providers may download the voice content to be included in a VPage through HTTP, email, direct link, FTP or any other data delivery method. The content providers may provide the information as voice files, text files, or TML/VoiceXML (Telecaster Markup Language/voiceXML Language)) coded files (described below) or any other format that may be used to generate audio output.
The VNAP may further connect to a VCode display host system which displays VCodes associated with content subjects. The VNAP may forward payment of fees to the VCode display host system based on access by users to the VNAP from VCodes posted by the VCode display host system, or based on other agreed fee sharing arrangements.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the system may comprise a plurality of VNAPs connected over a network. Therefore, VPages may be provided at each VNAP and may be accessed by users that call into another VNAP due to the unique VCode assigned to each VPage.
According to another embodiment of the invention, one or more VNAPs may connect over a communications network to one or more VPage server systems. The VPage server systems may host one or more VPages and one or more VBook. The VPage server may thus store and serve VPage information to users directly or through the VNAP. In this embodiment, when the user requests a VCode from a VNAP, the VNAP determines through the VCode identifier module whether the VPage corresponding to the VCode is hosted by a VPage server at that VNAP or by another VNAP. If the VPage is maintained by another VNAP, the VNAP connects to the other VNAP over the communications network, requests the VPage corresponding to the VCode and executes the VPage according to the above description. Because VPages may be added and revised frequently, the VCode identifier module may cooperate with a VCode resolution system that accesses a global registration system to determine the VPage and VNAP corresponding to a requested VCode.
Each VPage server may host one or more VPages or VBooks and may comprise a database system that stores each VPage or VBook. Additionally, transaction processing hosts may store transaction information in other databases.
Each VPage server may comprise a plurality of modules for performing this functionality. Specifically, the VPage server may serve identified pages over the communications network to the VNAP requesting them. Also, a VPage storage engine may be provided for storing VPages in the associated database system when received from a content provider. A VPage translation system may be provided to convert text files to voice files for storage as voice files or for delivery to users and may perform other translation functions as desired. An email/FTP processing system may be provided by the VPage server to receive email and FTP downloads of content from content providers for storage in the database and inclusion in one or more VPages. Also, a voice-to-text system may be provided to convert voice files to text, if desired. A voice recording system may also be provided to enable content providers to directly record voice content for storage and inclusion in VPages. Also, a TML engine may be provided for creating, compiling and storing TML files that are to be stored and served by that VPage server. This and other system architectures may comprise a voice network access system that connects these components to provide a community of users that are connected to a community of content providers through one or more VNAPs.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the detailed description of the invention.

Voice code registration system and method for registering voice codes for voice pages in a voice network access provider system


As a result of intensive screening on mutations of the COL4A2 gene in 35 Japanese patients with porencephaly, it was found that the COL4A2 gene is a causative gene for familial and sporadic porencephalies. Since an identical heterozygous mutation of the COL4A2 gene was found in both a porencephaly patient and healthy individuals, this pathogenic mutation is considered to be dominantly inherited with incomplete penetrance. It can be predicted that a living body having a COL4A2 gene mutation has a high risk of occurrence of porencephaly and/or cerebral hemorrhage.

Porencephaly is a congenital disorder in which a cyst or cavity communicating with the cerebral ventricle is found in the cerebral hemisphere (Non-patent Document 1), and assumed to be caused by a disturbance of vascular supply such as infarction or hemorrhage during the fetal period (Non-patent Documents 2 and 3). Clinically, porencephaly causes hemiplegia (most often), quadriplegia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability (Non-patent Documents 4 and 5). Delivery of monozygous twins, cardiac arrest or abdominal trauma of the mother, a deficient protein C anticoagulant pathway, and cytomegalovirus infection are risk factors for sporadic porencephaly (Non-patent Documents 2 and 6).
In recent years, mutations in the gene encoding the α1 chain of type IV collagen (COL4A1, MIM 120130) were reported to be responsible for familial porencephaly (Non-patent Document 7). After that, de novo mutations in the COL4A1 gene were also reported in a sporadic case (Non-patent Documents 8 to 10), confirming involvement of abnormality of the COL4A1 gene in both sporadic and familial porencephalies. However, there still remain many cases in which no mutation in the COL4A1 gene can be identified.

Method for predicting risk of porencephaly or cerebral hemorrhage

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAMA CITY UNIVERSITY


An X-ray analyzing method for inspecting opening states of fine holes comprises the steps of: irradiating a finely converged electron beam into a first fine hole, observing an X-ray emitted from the inside of said first fine hole in order to obtain an first X-ray analysis data about the residue substance existing at the bottom of said first fine hole; irradiating a finely converged electron beam into a second fine hole, observing an X-ray emitted from the inside of said second fine hole in order to obtain an second X-ray analysis data about the residue substance existing at the bottom of said second fine hole; and comparing said first X-ray analysis data with said second X-ray analysis data, forming a judgment as to whether or not a difference between said first and second analysis data is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and using an outcome of said judgment to determine the opening states of said first and second fine holes. The X-ray observations are carried out by detecting only the X-rays emitted within the angular range -.theta. to +.theta. where notation .theta. is an angle formed with a center axis of the irradiated electron beam and so defined that tan .theta. is equal to a/d whereas notations a and d are the radius and the depth of the fine holes.

The present invention relates to a surface-analysis technique in general and to an X-ray analysis method and apparatus of residue on the surface of a specimen or a sample in particular.
In order to promote the large-scale integration of semiconductor devices, it is necessary to establish a fine-line patterning process technology at a level smaller than the deep submicron. In the manufacturing of 1-Gb DRAMs (Dynamic Random-Access Memories) , for example, a patterning process of a contact hole having a diameter of 0.16 .mu.m and a depth of 2 .mu.m is required. In order to establish such a fine-line patterning process, technologies of analysis for measuring and inspecting the accuracy of the fine-line patterning are necessary. In particular, technologies of analysis that can be used for analyzing the composition and thickness of residue are required. In this residue analysis, points to be taken into consideration are the fact that the surface of the sample (wafer) is not necessarily flat so that areas having large steps such as a small contact hole described earlier also need to be analyzed as well.
The conventional residue analysis for analyzing areas having large steps is carried out by destructing a fabricated wafer and observing the cross section of the destructed wafer by means of an SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). With this technique, however, the composition of the residue cannot be identified only by observation of the shape and, on top of that, the wafer cannot be returned to the manufacturing process after the analysis once the wafer has been destructed. Other problems with this technique include the fact that it is difficult to observe a trace of residue of the order of few nm. In the development of semiconductor integrated-circuit devices after Gb, the above problems which entail deterioration of the yield and the precision of analysis are regarded as fatal problems.
On the other hand, an X-ray analysis method, which is an analysis technique allowing analyses to be done without destructing a wafer, is available. An example of a typical X-ray analysis method is the use of charged-particle analysis equipment disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 63-243855. With this charged-particle analysis equipment, an irradiated electron beam is applied to the surface of a sample. An X-ray generated from the surface of the sample due to the application of the irradiated electron beam thereto is then observed. The X ray is observed by means of a light splitting crystal placed at an angle of about 22 degrees from the center axis of the electron beam.
In order to carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses on residue by using X-rays, the place at which a means for observing the X-rays is installed is important. Specifically, in order to prevent the X-rays generated by the surface of the sample from being absorbed by an obstacle, the means for observing the X-ray must be placed at a location where no such obstacle exists. Unfortunately, however, there has been so far no clear standard concerning the location for installing a means for observing the X-rays and no much attention has hence been paid to such an installation position. In the case of the charged-particle analysis equipment mentioned above, a light splitting crystal is positioned at an angle of 22 degrees. None the less, the absorption of the X-rays cannot be avoided in some cases. In particular, in the case of large-scale integrated memories beyond the 4-Mb DRAM which are considered to be the main semiconductor devices in the future, by merely using the charged-particle analysis equipment, it will be impossible to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of residue on the surface of a sample.


A dart game includes a target board (22) with segments which are movably mounted between radial ribs (24) and concentric ribs (26) to receive the darts. Each segment has a switch which is actuated when a dart hits the segment and which is connected to a hit-display. The target board has at least two target fields (50 to 56), each of which is made up of segments located between adjacent radial ribs (24). A display light (60 to 66) is associated with each segment of a target field. All the lights of each target field are switched on only by hits on this target field by the first player to hit it, and the display lights of the target field concerned are not switched on by or after a subsequent hit by another player. The display lights (60, 62, 64, 66) may be disposed in more or more arrays (42, 44, 46, 48), making the progress of the game particularly easy to follow.

The invention relates to a dart game for several players, the game comprising a dart board composed of segments that are movably arranged between radial and concentric ribs so as to receive the thrown darts, each segment having an associated switch that is actuated by the impact of a dart and is connected by way of a switching device with a hit display.
Dart games are known in various embodiments. The darts are always thrown at a dart board that is divided into a number of segments. Each segment is provided with a switch which is actuated when a dart hits it. With every hit on a segment, a certain number of points is scored. The playing and scoring rules are different and frequently relatively complicated.
German Unexamined Published Patent Application DE-OS 3,341,303 discloses a dart game of the above-mentioned type in which the recording, counting and display of the points scored by each player is performed automatically. For this purpose, the dart board has an associated switching matrix that is connected with a microcomputer. A display is also provided which includes display fields for indicating the scores of the various players and the number of points scored at the moment.
The dart game disclosed in Unexamined Published Patent Application WO-OS 88/03638 includes a display for the progression and status of a game. The display provides information about the number of coins fed in and the available games and leads the player through the selection of a game and the number of players.


A voltage providing circuit includes a first voltage output end, a temperature-sensitive element, a power supply circuit and an output circuit. The power supply circuit is configured to apply a control voltage signal to a control end of the temperature-sensitive element. The temperature-sensitive element is configured to, under the control of the control voltage signal, generate a temperature-related voltage, and output the temperature-related voltage via a first end of the temperature-sensitive element, and a value of the temperature-related voltage changes along with an ambient temperature of the temperature-sensitive element. The output circuit is configured to output a temperature-adaptive voltage via the first voltage output end. A difference between a value of the temperature-adaptive voltage and the value of the temperature-related voltage is within a predetermined range.

For a conventional driving circuit of a display panel, carrier mobility of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) changes along with an ambient temperature, but an operating voltage applied to the TFT is constant, i.e., the operating voltage does not change along with the ambient temperature. Hence, the carrier mobility of the TFT is relatively low at a low temperature, and it is impossible to turn on the TFT through the constant operating voltage, i.e., a TFT-Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) cannot operate at the low temperature. In addition, the operating voltage required at a normal temperature is larger as compared with a high temperature, so it is impossible for the conventional display panel to reduce the power consumption for a Gate On Array (GOA) circuit when it operates at the high temperature, thereby it is impossible to reduce the power consumption for a logic circuit of the TFT-LCD.

Voltage providing circuit, gate driving signal providing module, gate driving signal compensation method and display panel

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A modular overfill alarm assembly is constructed and arranged to be installed in-line with a vent pipe in a vented storage tank for liquids such as waste oil or gasoline. The alarm assembly includes a vent tube having an open lower end that is threaded to be mounted to a vent opening in a vented storage tank, and an open upper end that is threaded to have a vent pipe mounted thereto, so that the vent pipe may be communicated with the vent opening as it would if it were threaded directly into the opening. The assembly further includes a support bracket mounted to the vent pipe and vent tube for supporting a commercially available alarm for actuating the alarm.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an overfill alarm assembly for a storage tank. More specifically, an assembly according to the invention is configured to be installed as an in-line module with a vent pipe in a vented storage tank for liquids such as waste oil or gasoline.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In large tanks of the type that are used to store expandable liquids such as waste oil or gasoline, such as the tank disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,637 to Webb, it is desirable to provide a vent pipe for preventing excessive pressure build-up within the tank. Venting is required in practically all states and countries.
It is further desirable in such systems to have some type of system for indicating when the liquid within the storage tank reaches a predetermined level. With such an indicating system, overfilling of the storage tank can be prevented.
To mount a vent pipe or an overfill sensing system to a storage tank, it is typically necessary to form a number of threaded openings in a top surface of the tank. However, it is generally recognized that the number of holes or openings in the tank should be kept to a minimum, particularly when storing volatile substances such as gasoline or kerosene.
Most storage tanks presently in use include a vent pipe that is threaded into an opening in the top surface of the storage tank, but do not include an overfill indicating system. It is clear that there is a need in the prior art for an overfill sensing and alarm assembly that could be used in such systems without the necessity for forming an additional hole in the storage tank.

Modular overfill alarm assembly for vented storage tanks


This invention relates to herbicidal mixtures comprising sulfonylureas together with glyphosate, herbicidal compositions of said mixtures, and a method for the use of said mixtures to control undesired vegetation.

The control of undesired vegetation is extremely important in achieving high crop efficiency. Achievement of selective control of the growth of weeds especially in such useful crops as rice, soybeans, sugar beets, corn, potatoes, wheat, barley, tomatoes and plantation crops among others is very desirable. Unchecked weed growth in such useful crops can cause significant reduction in productivity and thereby result in increased costs to the consumers. The control of undesired vegetation in noncrop areas is also important. The need for finding products that achieve such results continues to be commercially important.
Combinations of herbicides are typically used to broaden the spectrum of plant control or enhance the level of control of any given species through additive effect. Certain rare combinations surprisingly give a greater-than-additive or synergistic effect. Several such valuable combinations have now been discovered.
EP 739893-A1 discloses N-(4,6-dimethoxy-(1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-N'-[[[3-3-fluoro-propyl)-2(3H)-thiaz olylidene]amino]sulfonyl]urea as a herbicide, but this reference does not disclose its mixtures with glyphosate or their surprising utility in synergistically controlling weeds.


An anti-reflection coating is formed on an optical surface of an optical member for reducing the amount of light rays reflected from the optical surface. For light rays in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm, the anti-reflection coating has a reflectance of 0.5% or less if the light rays are incident on the optical surface at angles within a range from 0 to 25 degrees, and it has a reflectance of 3.5% or less if the light rays are incident at angles within a range from above 25 degrees to 60 degrees.

Anti-reflection coatings are provided to reduce the reflection that occurs from the difference in refractive index between the media of optical elements that are incorporated in an optical system. If such reflected light rays are allowed to reach the image plane, then a ghost or a flare can appear, severely degrading the optical performance of the system. In recent years, optical systems have been required to have increasingly higher optical performance, so the anti-reflection coatings provided on optical elements in an optical system are likewise required to provide increasingly lower degrees of reflection in a range of incident angles wider than ever before.
To meet such demands, progress has been made in the field of multilayer-film design technique, where various materials and film thicknesses are applied in combination, as well as in the field of multilayer coating technique (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-356704).
However, there has been a problem in the prior-art anti-reflection coating. If the angle of light rays incident to an optical surface where anti-reflection coating is provided increases greatly, the light rays entering obliquely, then this condition causes a rapid change in the property of the anti-reflection coating and abruptly weakens the effectiveness of the anti-reflection coating. As a result, there is an increase in the amount of light reflected. In a case where such a reflective surface exists singularly in an optical system, the reflected light is directed toward an object being observed through the system, so the above-mentioned problem does not affect directly the optical performance of the system. However, if a plurality of such surfaces are present, then the system is subject to high probability a ghost or a flare, which is caused by the reflected light reaching the image. Nowadays, lenses are fabricated to have large diameters, and this manufacturing trend contributes to increases in the angular range of light rays that are incident to optical elements. As a result, optical systems are now prone to experience ghosts and flares.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anti-reflection coating, and optical element and optical system with anti-reflection coating


A cable, a manufacturing method, and a usage method, each facilitate product development, testing, and debugging. An illustrative embodiment of a cable manufacturing method includes: connecting a first connector plug to a first data recovery and re-modulation (DRR) device and to a first controller device; and coupling electrical signal conductors to the first DRR device to convey electrical transit signals to and from a second DRR device, the second DRR device being connected to a second connector plug. The first controller device is operable in response to a host command to initiate a debug dump by the first DRR device and to store the debug dump in a nonvolatile memory.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards Association publishes an IEEE Standard for Ethernet, IEEE Std 802.3-2015, which will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. This Ethernet standard provides a common media access control specification for local area network (LAN) operations at selected speeds from 1 Mb/s to 100 Gb/s over coaxial cable, twinaxial cable, twisted wire pair cable, fiber optic cable, and electrical backplanes, with various channel signal constellations. As demand continues for ever-higher data rates, the standard is being extended. Such extensions to the standard must account for increased channel attenuation and dispersion even as the equalizers are forced to operate at faster symbol rates. It is becoming increasingly difficult to provide affordable, mass-manufactured network hardware that assures consistently robust performance as the proposed per-lane bit rates rise beyond 50 Gbps with PAM4 or larger signal constellations over distance spans more than a couple of meters.
For distance spans of no more than 2 meters, attenuation is reasonably limited such that passive copper cable, also known as direct-attach cable or "DAC", can be employed. Data centers having larger distance spans are forced to rely on active optical cable (AOC) designs, which convert the electrical interface signals into optical signals transported by optical fiber, even though such cables come with a prohibitively high cost. Active ethernet cable (AEC) is a newly-designed cable that offers affordable high-bandwidth data transport over distance spans up to at least seven meters using hard-wired data recovery and remodulation (DRR) chips in the cable connectors. The tradeoff is that DRR chips and supporting circuitry in the cable connectors introduce additional hardware layers into the communications channel.
As increasingly sophisticated designs are created and developed into manufactured products, it is desirable to verify their operation or, if their operation fails, to determine how the products have failed. While integrated modules for built-in self-test (BIST) and debugging support offer one solution, such modules become increasingly difficult to access through the additional layers of hardware. Improved access would enable faster product verification and debugging.

Debugging arrangement for active ethernet cable


Relief portions 1c1, 1c2 are formed at the boundary regions between the guide groove 1a and the inner peripheral surface 1b, and are respectively positioned at the inner side and the inlet side taking a joint center position 0 as a reference. The relief portions 1c1, 1c2 are gradually increased toward the end portions of the guide groove 1a. Groove depths ( .theta.1, .theta.2) of the guide groove 1a at the left region and the right region are identical to each other in all cross-sections orthogonal to the groove bottom line L, and the groove depth is the largest (.theta.2) at the center region including the joint center position 0, and is gradually decreased from the center region toward the both ends. (.theta.1: .theta.2>.theta.1).

The present invention relates to a cross-groove type constant velocity joint used for propeller shaft or drive shaft of automobiles.
A cross-groove type constant velocity joint is such that each of guide groove of an outer joint member and each of guide groove of an inner joint member corresponding to each other are slewed in the circumferential direction opposite to each other, and a torque transmitting ball is retained and controlled in a track portion at which the both guide grooves are crossed, whereby since play between the torque transmitting balls and guide grooves can be decreased, the joint has widely been utilized for propeller shafts or drive shafts of automobiles where such play is not permitted.
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrates an outer joint member 11 of a cross-groove type constant velocity joint. As shown in FIG. 4(a), guide grooves 11a slewed with a cross angle .gamma. in one circumferential direction with respect to an axial line X and guide grooves 11a slewed with a cross angle .gamma. in the other circumferential direction are alternately formed in an inner peripheral surface 11b of the outer joint member 11, FIG. 4(b) is a view showing the guide groove 11a when seeing the same from the inner diametrical side. A groove bottom line L is slewed with the cross angle .gamma. in the circumferential direction. Dotted lines at both side wall surfaces of the guide groove 11a are contacting lines C between a torque transmitting ball and the guide groove 11a. The left and right contacting lines C are parallel to the groove bottom line L and equidistant therefrom. However, boundary lines N between the guide groove 11a and the inner peripheral surface 11b are not parallel to the groove bottom line L but have an appointed inclination.
FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are cross-sectional views each taken along the lines A--A, B--B, and C--C of the guide groove 11a in FIG. 4(b). The A--A cross section shown in FIG. 5A is a cross section in the direction orthogonal to the groove bottom line L of the guide groove 11a at the inner side end, the C--C cross section shown in FIG. 5C is a cross section in the direction orthogonal to the groove bottom line L of the guide groove 11a at the front side end, and the B--B cross section shown in FIG. 5B is a cross section in the direction orthogonal to the groove bottom line L of the guide groove 11a at the joint center position 0. L' shows the perpendicular line connecting the ball center position 0' to the groove bottom line L, .alpha. shows the contacting angle, and X' shows the position of the axial line X. As shown in the same figure, although the groove depth (the length of an arc from the groove bottom line L to the boundary line N) of the guide groove 11a is identical between left side region and right side region at the joint center position 0 (B--B cross-section), the difference of the groove depth between left side region and right side region is gradually increased from the joint center position 0 toward the groove end side, wherein the difference is the maximum at the groove end (A--A cross section, C--C cross section). Such a construction necessarily results from the guide groove 11a having a cross angle .gamma. with respect to the axial line X, and the construction is inherent in cross-groove type constant velocity joints.
Generally, the guide groove 11a of the outer joint member 11 described above is formed by grinding, etc. after forging. Conventionally, in these production processes, the guide groove 11a has been worked so as to secure accuracy at all regions thereof.
Although the groove depth of the guide groove 11a of the outer joint member 11 is different between the left side region and the right side region at positions apart from the joint center position 0, when the guide groove 11a is given torque by the torque transmitting ball, it is the shallow side of the guide groove 11a that there is a fear of the torque transmitting ball coming off from the guide groove 11a, and the performance and durability of joints are determined by the groove depth at a shallow portion. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a groove depth required in view of design of joint at a shallow side, as a result, an outside region D of a deep side (see the A--A cross section and C--C cross section in FIGS. 5A and 5C) will become a region which does not have any relation to the performance and durability of joints.
However, in the conventional joint, machining to secure accuracy has been carried out even at the above mentioned region D which does not relate to the performance and durability of the joint. Such machining can be said to be a so-called excessive quality machining. Furthermore, a cycle time of machining is increased since the above mentioned region D is machined, thereby causing the productivity thereof to be decreased.
Therefore, in order to achieve the above mentioned problem, the present applicant previously proposed a construction in which the groove depth of the guide groove of the outer joint member is identical between the left side region and the right side region taking the groove bottom line of the guide groove as a reference, and is regular at all regions in the lengthwise direction along the groove bottom line of the guide groove (Japanese patent application no. 216725 of 1993).
However, when this kind of constant velocity joint transmits a rotational power while taking an operating angle, the load acting on the guide groove is not uniform on all regions in the lengthwise direction, but is the largest at the central region (normal use region) including the joint center position and becomes gradually decreased from the central region toward both ends. Therefore, with the construction already proposed (Japanese patent application no. 216725 of 1993), since the groove depth is regular at all regions in the lengthwise direction, there may be a fear that the load capacity of the central region (normal use region) will become insufficient, depending upon the use conditions.

Cross-grove type constant velocity joint


An adjustable chair arm assembly is provided which can be vertically adjusted in order to readily accommodate users of different sizes. The chair arm assembly provides support members having overlapping portions which cooperate to slide vertically with respect to each other. One of the support members maintains a relatively fixed position with the chair and the other support member, having an arm rest, slides vertically with respect to the first support member to adjust the height of the arm rest.. A series of support projections are vertically disposed along the overlapping portion of one of the support members. A latch member, mounted for sliding movement along the support projections, has at least one latch projection for selectively engaging the support projections at any position therealong. Resilient member is coupled to the latch projection for urging the latch projection into engagement with the support projections thereby preventing the support members from sliding with respect to each other for supporting the arm rest in any selected height position.. A pivotable actuator is coupled to the second support member and attached to the latch projection for supporting the load created when the user leans on the arm rest, and for selectively retracting the latch projection from the support projections, thereby permitting sliding movement between the support members in order to adjust the height of the arm rest. When the actuator is released, the resilient biasing member urges the latch projection to reenage the support projections in the selected position.

Arm chairs typically have arm rests in order to provide increased comfort and to decrease fatigue by providing support for the user's arms and lateral support for the body. In some instances, the chairs have latch mechanisms which adjust the height of the arm rests to accommodate users of different sizes. In many instances, however, the latch mechanisms are complex, having numerous parts, and difficult to use.


A method for calling an application module and a mobile terminal thereof are provided in the present document, which can call the application module quickly during text editing. The method includes that: during the text editing, after the mobile terminal detects an identifier for calling an application, it determines that conditions for calling the application module are satisfied and calls the application module. The conditions include receiving a command from user to confirm calling the application. The mobile terminal includes a detecting module, a condition judging module and a calling module. The embodiments of the present invention call each application module instantly during the text inputting, and in addition, the final required data are inserted directly into the text editing position to reduce users' operation procedures, thus greatly improving friendliness of man-machine interaction, the overall efficiency, speed and convenience of input, and making users' input experience improved dramatically.

Today's society has entered an information-oriented era, and people are not able to adapt to the fast-paced modern life and work without information exchange and communication. With the development of mobile communication technology, mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones have become indispensable necessities in people's lives in order to allow people to carry on with anyone at anywhere to timely and effectively exchange information. Especially, thanks to the development of next generation communication technologies such as 3G and 4G, functions and services supported by mobile terminals have also reached an unprecedented richness and diversity, in addition to traditional voice communication, data communication plays an increasingly important role in meeting people's diversified and personalized communication services, meanwhile, the enhancement of the performance of the mobile terminal hardware and the intelligence of the software make operating applications such as short message service (SMS), electronic mail (e-mail), online instant chat, micro-blog and document processing on the mobile phone become a reality and have brought significant convenience to people's lives and work. However, the variety of data services of the above-mentioned mobile terminals are inseparable from text input, and the efficiency of text input has become a key aspect that seriously affects a variety of service experience.
In text editing and inputting process, people often need to perform some incidental operations, for example, the user may need to input certain data in the process of editing a short message, and for these data, it needs to perform related calculation, the traditional way is to exit text editing interface, bring up the calculator to calculate and record the result, and then return to the editing interface and input the result; another example is that, in the editing process, the user needs to enter a friend's number or related information, the traditional way is also to exit the current editing interface, enter into the card holder module to find the relevant information such as the friend's number or address, and manually record the information and then re-enter the editing interface for editing and inputting; still another example is that, during the editing process, it needs to view and input schedule information, needs to convert units and currencies, or needs to look up world time information, etc. there are a lot of similar cases that need to call a certain application module and interrupt the current editing status. This traditional operation makes the input inefficient, and the mode of suspending the current text input interface, entering into another module, and then closing the called application module, returning back to the editing interface, and inputting the previously acquired result is too cumbersome and is easy to make mistakes during operations, thus seriously affects the user experience.

Method for calling application module and mobile terminal


The article includes a thermoplastic layer having opposing first and second side edges and a first surface bearing male fastening elements. The thermoplastic layer is plastically deformed and has a retardance profile having an average retardance along a line from the first edge to a location 500 micrometers from the first edge and a distance from the first edge where 75% of the average retardance is observed of at least 10 micrometers. In some cases, a distance between the first and second side edges is up to 50 millimeters. In some cases, the article is a fastening tab. The method includes providing a thermoplastic film having opposing first and second side edges, with a distance between the opposing side edges of up to 50 millimeters, and stretching the thermoplastic film to form the thermoplastic layer, which is plastically deformed. The first surface of the thermoplastic film bears male fastening elements.

Articles with one or more structured surfaces are useful in a variety of applications (e.g., abrasive discs, assembly of automobile parts, and disposable absorbent articles). The articles may be provided as films that exhibit, for example, increased surface area, mechanical fastening structures, or optical properties.
Mechanical fasteners, which are also called hook and loop fasteners, typically include a plurality of closely spaced upstanding projections with loop-engaging heads useful as hook members, and loop members typically include a plurality of woven, nonwoven, or knitted loops. Mechanical fasteners are useful for providing releasable attachment in numerous applications. For example, mechanical fasteners are widely used in wearable disposable absorbent articles to fasten such articles around the body of a person. In typical configurations, a hook strip or patch on a fastening tab attached to the rear waist portion of a diaper or incontinence garment, for example, can fasten to a landing zone of loop material on the front waist region, or the hook strip or patch can fasten to the backsheet (e.g., nonwoven backsheet) of the diaper or incontinence garment in the front waist region. Mechanical fasteners are also useful for disposable articles such as sanitary napkins. A sanitary napkin typically includes a backsheet that is intended to be placed adjacent to the wearer's undergarment. The backsheet may comprise hook fastener elements to securely attach the sanitary napkin to the undergarment, which mechanically engages with the hook fastener elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,642 (Buzzell et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,897,078 (Petersen et al.) disclose laminates formed from stretched thermoplastic layers having upstanding male fastening elements. Structured surfaces can be joined to a fabric to provide a laminate with higher strength, softness, and/or function in comparison to the structured surface itself. Mechanical fasteners are reported to be joinable to a second material using adhesives, extrusion lamination, thermal bonding, ultrasonic welding, and sewing.

Fastening articles and methods of making the same


The present disclosure relates to a headlamp lens for a vehicle headlamp, wherein the headlamp lens comprises a precision-molded body made of a transparent material, wherein the body comprises at least one light tunnel and a light-conducting part with at least one optically active light exit surface. The light tunnel comprises at least one light entry surface and merges with a bend in the light-conducting part to depict the sharp bend as a light/dark boundary by means of light coupled or radiated into the light entry surface. The surface of the light tunnel is at least partially convexly curved in the region of the bend.

WO 2012/072193 A1 discloses a vehicle headlight with a first light source, with at least one second light source and with a first headlight lens assigned to the first light source and comprising a monolithic body of a transparent material, wherein the monolithic body comprises at least one light tunnel and one light passage section with at least one optically effective light exit face, wherein the light tunnel comprises at least one light entry face and passes over, via a bend, into the light passage section for imaging the bend as a bright-dark-boundary by means of light coupled or irradiated into the light entry face of the first headlight lens from the first light source. The vehicle headlight furthermore comprises at least one second headlight lens assigned to the second light source and comprising a monolithic body of a transparent material, wherein the monolithic body comprises at least one light tunnel and one light passage section with at least one optically effective light exit face, wherein the light tunnel comprises at least one light entry face and passes over, via a bend, into the light passage section for imaging the bend as a bright-dark-boundary by means of light coupled or irradiated into the light entry face of the second headlight lens from the first light source.
SUMMARY The invention concerns a headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, for example, for a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the headlight lens includes an, for example, press-molded, for example, monolithic body of a transparent material, wherein the body includes at least one light tunnel and a light passage section having at least one optically effective light exit face, wherein the light tunnel comprises at least one optionally optically effective light entry face and passes over, via a bend, into the light passage section for imaging the bend as a bright-dark-boundary by means of light irradiated into the light entry face.


A fast closing remotely activated animal trap gate includes a gate with a wire mesh and a frame to hold the gate, with the gate moving within the frame between an open position and a closed position. A cable, interacting with a system of weight-reducing pulley wheels, holds the gate within the frame in an open position, and a release rod holds the cable in place. The release rod is retracted in order to allow release of the cable and consequent movement of the gate from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, low friction ball-bearing trolley wheels assist in the fast, downward fall of the gate.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains generally to gates for capturing and managing wild game and, more particularly, to game gates for wild hogs.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a need for systems and devices that permit the fast, remotely controlled closure of a gate for the purpose of trapping or controlling wild animals, for example wild hogs.


An envelope with integrated tracking labels for forwarding on important documents where proof of delivery and reception is required is described herein. The envelope has a securing flap which is provided with a receipt tear panel formed in a free end section of the flap and provided with a tracking number printed thereon. A glue strip extends longitudinally across an inner face of the securing flap. A release liner is removably retained over the glue strip. A tracking label having the same tracking number is die-cut in the securing flap over the release liner. The release liner is scored to form a tracking label release liner section adhered to the glue strip about the tracking label whereby to retain the tracking label in the securing flap. The glue strip secures the securing flap to an edge section of the other panel when folded thereon on the fold line. The tracking number is also printed on one of the panels. The tracking label is removed from the tracking label release liner of the securing flap as proof of sending or reception of the envelope.

When shipping important articles in envelopes, such as passports, computer discs, and other such important material, it is necessary to provide proof of mailing and reception of such envelope. Usually this is done by providing envelopes with detachable forms that are filled out, signed by both sender and recipient, and often by the shipper. These forms are usually adhesively secured to the package and copies are detached at the point of expedition to the point of reception. A disadvantage of such forms is that they can be damaged during transport and they require a two-step assembly when making the envelope, namely, the envelope making assembly and the form attaching step. Also, many sheets of paper are required to produce such a form and it is costly. For examples of such mail tracking products, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,120,063 and 6,133,195.
There is therefore a need to provide an envelope which is easy to produce, and preferably from a single paper sheet, and which incorporates therein tracking material to identify the envelope and provide proof of forwarding and reception of such envelope and contents placed therein.

Envelope with integrated tracking labels


The present invention provides an advanced spray control system for controlling a sprayer, which comprises a plurality of scrolling means operatively connected to the sprayer, where the spray system offers added controllability and operability. Also provided is a method of controlling a sprayer using the spray control system of the present invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a novel variable rate spray control device for controlling a sprayer, particularly, an agricultural sprayer.
2. Description of Related Art
Sprayers are widely used in agriculture and horticulture for applying chemicals (e.g., insecticides and fungicides) or fertilizers to crops, to protect the crops from diseases, insects, and to facilitate the growth and harvest of the crops.
Most agriculture/horticulture sprayers are designed to be mounted on or towed by a vehicle on the ground, or carried by airplanes or helicopters. These sprayers typically include one or more storage or supply vessels, a left and a right boom or other manifold systems which carry a plurality of geometrically arranged spaced nozzles along its length, a pump for pressurizing and distributing the fluid through pipes or hoses to spray nozzles, and means to control the pump, boom, and spray nozzles.
Modern agriculture/horticulture sprayers typically have a boom with multiple spray sections that can be independently controlled. Usually a master control means is used to control the entire boom, while each section may have its own control or switch (see, e.g., FIG. 1). As sprayers get larger and the number of sections and spray nozzles to be controlled increases, the spray control system, or the switching system, tends to get more cumbersome and complex. Understanding the spray control system often is difficult, and it could take considerable effort to mastering the operation of the spray control system. In addition, using a separate switch for each section of a boom requires a considerable amount of space, which prevents ideally locating the switches in a convenient location.
It is therefore desirable to provide a relatively simple, and easy to understand and operate, spray control switching system for controlling agriculture/horticulture sprayers, particularly large, multiple section sprayers.


An improved method and apparatus for estimating driveline lash in a vehicle powertrain is provided herein. The method includes: determining if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, e.g., driver commanded torque value changes sign, and then stays between a minimum and maximum commanded torque threshold for a calibrated time; if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, determining when the driveline lash is taken up, e.g., when the transmission output acceleration exceeds a threshold minimum output acceleration, and thereafter changes sign; determining when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state, which may be inferred from the axle torque estimate behavior; determining the time difference between when the driveline lash is taken up and when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state; and updating the adaptive lash estimate if the aforementioned time difference is not equal to zero.

Most conventional motor vehicles, such as the modern-day automobile, include a powertrain (sometimes referred to as "drivetrain") that is generally comprised of an engine that delivers driving power through a multi-speed power transmission to a final drive system, such as a rear differential, axle, and wheels. Automobiles have traditionally been powered solely by a reciprocating-piston type internal combustion engine (ICE) because of its ready availability and relative cost, weight, and efficiency. Such engines include 4-stroke compression-ignited diesel engines and 4-stroke spark-ignited gasoline engines.
Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, utilize alternative power sources to propel the vehicle, minimizing reliance on the engine for power, thereby increasing overall fuel economy. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), for example, incorporates both electric energy and chemical energy, and converts the same into mechanical power to propel the vehicle and power the vehicle systems. The HEV generally employs one or more electric machines that operate individually or in concert with an internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle. Since hybrid vehicles can derive their power from sources other than the engine, engines in hybrid vehicles can be turned off while the vehicle is propelled by the alternative power source(s).
Series hybrid architectures, sometimes referred to as Range-Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs), are generally characterized by an internal combustion engine in driving communication with an electric generator. The electric generator, in turn, provides power to one or more electric motors that operate to rotate the final drive members. In other words, there is no direct mechanical connection between the engine and the drive members in a series hybrid powertrain. The lack of a mechanical link between the engine and wheels allows the engine to be run at a constant and efficient rate, even as vehicle speed changes—closer to the theoretical limit of 37%, rather than the normal average of 20%. The electric generator may also operate in a motoring mode to provide a starting function to the internal combustion engine. This system may also allow the electric motor(s) to recover energy from slowing the vehicle and storing it in the battery by regenerative braking.
Parallel hybrid architectures are generally characterized by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motor/generator assemblies, each of which has a direct mechanical coupling to the power transmission. Most parallel hybrid designs combine a large electrical generator and a motor into one unit, providing tractive power and replacing both the conventional starter motor and the alternator. One such parallel hybrid powertrain architecture comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission which utilizes an input member for receiving power from the I/C engine, and an output member for delivering power from the transmission to the driveshaft. First and second motor/generators operate to rotate the transmission output shaft. The motor/generators are electrically connected to an energy storage device for interchanging electrical power between the storage device and the first and second motor/generators. A control unit is provided for regulating the electrical power interchange between the energy storage device and motor/generators, as well as the electrical power interchange between the first and second motor/generators.
Transitions in operating states of hybrid powertrain systems can produce clunks (i.e., audible noises) and jerks (e.g., physical lurches) as slack, resulting from driveline lash in the gear train, is taken out of the driveline, and driveline components impact one another. "Driveline lash" refers to the play or slack in the rotational position of the driveline components, such as clearance between transmission splines, interleafed gearing teeth, etc. When the engine transitions from exerting a positive torque to exerting a negative torque (or being driven), the gears in the transmission or driveline separate at the zero torque transition point. Then, after passing through the zero torque point, the gears again make contact to transfer torque. Such clearance is generally necessary to accommodate build variation and thermal expansion of powertrain components.
Gear lash, clunks, and jerks have the potential to occur during vehicle operations including: when the operator changes transmission gears, e.g. from neutral/park to drive or reverse; when the operator tips into or out of the throttle; or when the vehicle is operated on an inclined surface. Lash action occurs, for example, as follows: torque-generative devices of the powertrain exert a positive torque onto the transmission input gears to drive the vehicle through the driveline. During a subsequent deceleration, torque input to the powertrain and driveline decreases, and gears in the transmission and driveline separate. After passing through a zero-torque point, the gears reconnect to transfer torque, in the form of motor braking, electrical generation, and others. The reconnection of the gears to transfer torque can result in gear-to-gear impacts, with resulting clunks and jerks, which may be perceptible to the vehicle operator, and can negatively affect powertrain and transmission durability.

Apparatus and method for determining driveline lash estimate


A method of identifying an analyte, using a chemical sensor (e.g., a piezoelectric crystal oscillator) which produces an output frequency responsive to different analytes by a characteristic change in the output frequency. The sensor is exposed to a step change (to) in concentration of the analyte and the resulting frequency characteristic measured. An expression for this characteristic is derived consisting of two exponential functions (F, S), one (F) derived from the early part of the frequency characteristic and the other (S) from the latter part. The four parameters (A.sub.2, A.sub.3, A.sub.4, A.sub.5) resulting from the functions so obtained are characteristic of the particular analyte.

This invention relates to a method of identifying fluid materials, ie analytes, and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with gaseous analytes.
It is known that some materials interact with certain gaseous analytes selectively and that this interaction can be detected from a change in the physical properties of the sensor material, for example, the mass, stiffness or, where the sensor material behaves like a liquid, viscosity. One method of detecting such change is to coat a piezo-electric component with the sensor material, drive the component to oscillate, and measure any change in the oscillation frequency. Devices which exhibit such a response, such as piezo-electric crystal oscillators and surface acoustic wave devices are referred to generically herein as chemical sensors. The change in the properties of the coated device resulting from interaction with the gaseous analyte causes gain and phase changes in the response of the piezo-electric device to applied voltage. This change may be monitored by incorporating the device in an oscillator circuit and monitoring the frequency.
The interaction effect depends upon the nature of the sensor material, ie the coating, and the gaseous analyte. Each sensor material will have a different response to different analytes according to the degree to which the sensor material absorbs, adsorbs, or otherwise interacts with, the analyte.
An important factor in this method of identifying gaseous analytes is the degree to which the interaction effect is reversible. It is important in many applications that when the sensor is withdrawn from a test material which has caused a measurement response the measurement should revert to its original value. Instead of withdrawing the sensor the analyte concentration may be reduced by a purging process, replacing the analyte carrying gas by a carrier gas (eg nitrogen). It is found that, as a general rule, the degree of reversibility varies inversely with the selectivity of the particular sensor material. Thus, if a particular sensor material responds to only a single analyte the interaction is unlikely to be reversible. Such a sensor would have a strong chemical interaction with the analyte.
The weakness and strength of interactions are dependent on thermodynamic and kinetic factors. The thermodynamic factor is to the effect that a low heat of reaction would generally indicate a weak interaction and a high heat of reaction great interaction "strength". However, in certain cases the kinetic factor may be unfavourable to reversibility despite a readily reversible thermodynamic reaction.
A strong interaction resulting from a high heat of reaction cannot of course be made weaker by unfavourable kinetic factors.
With few exceptions then, chemical selectivity for a particular analyte may only be achieved in chemical sensors at the cost of limited reversibility.
This trade-off between chemical selectivity and reversibility may be overcome by the combination of a number of chemical sensors (an array) and pattern recognition. Each sensor in the array may employ a sensor material such as to provide a weak chemical interaction with analytes of interest and therefore a reversible response, and to have a selectivity that is different, if only mildly different, from that of other members of the array. When exposed to a particular analyte the pattern of responses across the array reflects the nature of the analyte in a specific manner. Piezo-electric chemical sensors are particularly appropriate for this approach as they are low cost, easy to fabricate with different chemical selectivities and have the potential for integrating a number of sensors on a single substrate. There is nevertheless the disadvantage of having to employ a relatively complex array rather than a single sensor.