The present invention provides a device and a method for accurately and efficiently controlling an access from an external network to an internal network. Both a client device connectable to the external network and an application gateway store shared secret information (Secret) including a client ID: GUID(C) as an ID generated by the client and a server ID: GUID(S) as an ID generated by the application gateway in respective storage units. In response to an access request from the client, the application gateway determines whether the client has appropriate shared secret information (Secret) so as to determine an access right. With this configuration, a right of access from the external network to the internal network, such as a home network, can be efficiently and accurately determined.

With recent popularization of a data communication network, a so-called home network is becoming prevalent in homes. In the home network, home electric appliances, computers, and other peripheral devices are connected to a network so that these devices can communicate with each other. In the home network, devices connected to the network communicate with each other so as to share a data processing function of each device and to transmit/receive content between the devices. Accordingly, the home network provides users with convenience and comfort, and thus will become more and more prevalent in the future.
As a protocol suitable for a configuration of such a home network, a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is known. The UPnP can easily establish a network without complicated operations, and allows devices connected to the network to receive a service provided by each of the devices without difficult operations and settings. Further, the UPnP does not depend on an OS (operating system) of a device and thus a device can be easily added advantageously.
In the UPnP, devices connected to the network exchange definition files compatible with an XML (extensible Markup Language) so as to identify each other. The outline of processes according to the UPnP is as follows:
(1) Addressing process of obtaining a self-device ID, such as an IP address;
(2) Discovery process of searching for devices on the network, receiving a response from each of the devices, and obtaining information included in the response, such as the type of device and a function thereof; and
(3) Service request process of requesting a service to each device based on the information obtained in the discovery process.
By performing the above-described processes, a service can be provided and received by applying network-connected devices. A device that is newly connected to the network obtains a device ID by performing the above-described addressing process and obtains information about other devices connected to the network by performing the discovery process, so that the device can request a service to another device based on the obtained information.
In this type of network, however, measures against unauthorized accesses need to be considered. Devices in a home network, for example, a server or the like, often store content requiring management of a copy right, such as private content or paid content.
Content stored in a server of the home network can be accessed from devices connected to the network. For example, the content can be obtained by a device that has performed the above-described UPnP connection, which is a simple device connecting configuration. When the content is movie data or music data, a user can see a movie or listen to the music by connecting a television set or a player or the like to the network.
An access from a device of a user having a right to use the content may be permitted. However, in the above-described network configuration, even a user who does not have a right to use the content can easily enter the network. For example, in a network configured of a wireless LAN, an unauthorized user may illegally enter the network to access a server in the home from the outside or a neighborhood by using a communication device so as to steal content. Such a configuration allowing an unauthorized access causes leakage of secrets and also provokes a serious problem in terms of management of copy rights of content.
In order to eliminate the above-described unauthorized accesses, the following configuration has been suggested. That is, a server is allowed to hold a list of clients having a right to access the server. When the server receives an access request from a client, the server performs verification by using the list so as to eliminate an unauthorized access.
For example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering has been known. In the MAC address filtering, a MAC address as a physical address unique to a network-connected device is set in an access-permitted device list. In the MAC address filtering, MAC addresses permitted to have an access right are registered in advance in a router or a gateway for isolating an internal network (subnet), such as a home network, from an external network. Then, a MAC address of a received packet is compared to the registered MAC address so as to refuse an access from a device having an unregistered MAC address. This technique is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-271154).
However, in order to register MAC addresses to limit accesses, MAC addresses of all devices connected to the network must be obtained. Further, an operator must input the obtained MAC addresses (48 bits) of the all devices to create a list. This process can be performed under a predetermined administrator when a secure environment needs to be established in a specific company or a group. However, it is not practical to request a general user to create and store a MAC list in a home network environment established in a home.
In a home network, addition of a new device often occurs. Therefore, if a user has to obtain and register a MAC address of an added device every time a device is added, ease of establishing a network is inhibited.
On the other hand, a network configuration including a personal computer and home electric appliances has being established in more homes and a so-called ubiquitous environment in which any device can access the network has being established. At the same time, an external communication device can easily invade a wireless LAN due to popularization of the wireless LAN. In such a network environment, unauthorized accesses to network-connected devices are more likely to occur, and a possibility that secret information is stolen by an unauthorized access and that content is illegally read is becoming higher and higher. Under these circumstances, demand for easily realizing an appropriate access control configuration without putting a load on users has grown.


A system and method for efficiently adding a new network resource to a digital video network, without the need to purchase costly ancillary network hardware or extensive manual configuration, is disclosed. The inventive system and method provide for a loop-through for adding new resources to a digital video network. The present invention provides for the resources to be daisy chained from the network switch, where each resource is configured simply as either a loop-through (“LT”) resource or the “last” resource in the daisy chain. Then, only upstream traffic with Media Access Control (“MAC”) addresses of upstream LT resources are transmitted out of the loop-through by the last network resource.

With the widespread acceptance of using digital networks as a delivery means for broadcast and other video content, service providers have recently been confronted with numerous issues relating to system load and associated network resources. In particular, "on-demand" video delivery is one of the most problematic areas in this regard.
As more digital video subscribers embrace on-demand services, the digital video network's resources must be scaled upward to meet cumulative subscriber demand. On-demand is more problematic than digital broadcast signals because on-demand services require a unique digital stream for each requesting subscriber.
The additional of new network resources to meet on-demand system loads is not an easy process and often requires the simultaneous addition of other ancillary network hardware, e.g., gigabit switch interfaces, gigabit switch, router, etc., which are typically very costly. For example, if an new encryption multiplexer resource must be added to a digital video network, such an addition will typically require at least a new transmitter and receiver interface at the Gigabit switch. The cost of such transmitter and receiver interfaces is cost prohibitive. (Further, the same scenario can exist at a high bandwidth router or any other type of signal routing/switching apparatus.)
Network resources can be daisy chained to eliminate the need for ancillary network hardware, however, in order to prevent a data loop, extensive manually configuration of each network resource would need to be performed by the digital video network operator/installer. Such extensive manually configuration is undesirable and inefficient.
There exists a need to enable new network resources to be added to a digital video network without the need to purchase costly ancillary network hardware or extensive manual configuration.

System and method for efficient addition of network resources


One embodiment provides a storage system. The storage system includes storage system control logic to identify at least one target storage device in response to detection of a failed storage device, request a state of a target device logical block address (LBA) from each of the at least one target storage device, and read data associated with a mapped device LBA from each target storage device and write the data to at least one replacement storage device. Another embodiment provides a storage device. The storage device includes device control logic to determine a state of a target device logical block address (LBA) in response to a request; a host interface to provide a reply to the request, the reply including a state indicator related to the state of the target device LBA; a map table including a plurality of device LBAs and respective state indicators; and non-volatile memory (NVM) including data related to at least one mapped LBA.

RAID (redundant array of independent (inexpensive) disks) systems include a plurality of storage devices configured to provide improved performance and/or fault tolerance relative to a single storage device. In redundant storage systems (e.g., RAID systems above level 0), one or more copies of data and/or parity information may be stored on a plurality of storage devices. Data stored on a failed storage device may be recovered from the cop(ies) and/or related parity information and stored on a replacement storage device. Such recovery and storage operations are known as "rebuilding". Generally, rebuilding a failed storage device includes writing an entire address space of the failed storage device from the cop(ies) to the replacement storage device. As storage capacities of storage devices increase, the time duration of rebuild operations for a failed storage device also increases.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Accelerated data recovery in a storage system


A metallurgical product consists essentially of a core aluminum alloy, purposefully tailored through chemistry and processing route to resist recrystallization during the brazing cycle to intentionally exploit the higher strengths immediately after brazing of a deformed and recovered microstructure, the core aluminum alloy being bonded on one side to an aluminum alloy interliner designed to be resistant to localized erosion, which, in turn, is bonded to a 4xxx calling alloy.

There is an increasing need for the reduction of weight and the reduction in cost for products made from aluminum brazing sheet, particularly for brazing sheet used in heat exchangers, particularly in automotive applications. Brazing sheet products that exhibit higher-post braze yield strengths are desirable, as these high-strength products allow automotive engineers to downgauge. In short, a high strength brazing sheet product would allow the heat exchanger to be made from a thinner and, therefore, lighter brazing sheet, with corresponding weight savings in the overall automotive design.
In addition, it is equally important that the brazing sheet or plate product have adequate corrosion resistance as well as adequate brazeability to allow the heat exchanger manufacturer to reliably braze the heat exchanger.
Ideally, variants of the products also must be brazeable by a variety of brazing methods, most notably, vacuum and flux-based (e.g. CAB or Nocolok™) brazing processes, to have as wide an application as possible.
Although products which exhibit a recovered, but not recrystallized, microstructure are highly desirable from a post-braze yield strength perspective, it is well known that these microstructures are highly susceptible to localized erosion during the brazing cycle. Non-homogenized 3xxx cores, in O-temper, are known to be sensitive to core erosion during brazing. Core erosion is localized melting of the core alloy in contact with the molten 4xxx cladding and generally is deleterious to corrosion resistance and cladding flow (i.e., brazeability). Localized erosion typically results from enhanced Si diffusion from the 4xxx cladding alloy into the underlying base metal in contact with the 4xxx cladding alloy. The dislocation networks (e.g., sub-grain boundaries) present in recovered, but unrecrystallized, microstructures result in demonstrably higher diffusivities for Si. The enhanced mobility of Si in the presence of a fine network of interlacing dislocations results in high local Si concentrations, which, in turn, result in localized melting of the metal in contact with the 4xxx cladding alloys during the brazing cycle. This localized melting of the core alloy enriches the cladding with aluminum, and changes in-situ the cladding alloy's composition and its flow properties. Localized melting can also alter the surface topography of the metal, which generally retards 4xxx cladding flow during the brazing cycle and results in poor brazeability. Lastly, this localized ingress of Si into the core can result in an increased susceptibility to localized corrosion.

Recovered high strength multi-layer aluminum brazing sheet products


A bobbin winding device for generating a bobbin by winding a thread or bandlet onto a bobbin core comprises fixing means (12) for holding a bobbin core (8) and rotating it around an axis of rotation (A), thread-pressing means (7) for pressing a thread (1) or bandlet against the peripheral surface of a bobbin (9) that builds up on the bobbin core (8), whereby the thread-pressing means are movable essentially radially relative to the axis of rotation (A), a traversing thread guide (10) located close to the thread-pressing means (7) for reciprocating the thread (1) or bandlet along the axis of rotation (A), and thread-support means (14) for conducting the thread supplied to the bobbin or bobbin core, respectively, in an axially stationary manner relative to the axis of rotation (A). The thread-pressing means (7) are movable essentially radially relative to the axis of rotation (A) together with the thread-support means (14) so that the distance (z) between the thread-pressing means (7) and the thread-support means (14) will remain constant.

The invention relates to a bobbin winding device for generating a bobbin by winding a thread or bandlet onto a bobbin core.
Bobbin winding devices serve for winding threads or bandlets onto a bobbin core, which usually has a cylindrical or conical shape, so as to form a bobbin. In case of a known bobbin winding device as illustrated in side view in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, a thread 1 gets to a first deflection pulley 2 of the bobbin winding device immediately upon its production. From there, the thread 1 runs on to a so-called "dancer roll" 3, which is a spring-biased, deflectable deflection pulley, and at the dancer roll it is deflected and tightened. From the dancer roll 3, the thread 1 runs on to another deflection pulley 4, and from there to a control device 5. The control device comprises thread deflection means 6, which may be configured as deflection bows, as well as a press roll 7, which at first, at the beginning of a bobbin winding process, presses the thread 1 against the peripheral surface of a bobbin core 8 and then, with a bobbin 9 building up from the supplied thread, against the periphery of the bobbin 9 that is building up. The bobbin core 8 is rotatable around an axis of rotation A. A thread guide 10 reciprocating the thread axially across the bobbin, thus providing for a regular bobbin structure in accordance with a predetermined winding pattern, is located on the control device 5 between the deflection means 6 and the press roll 7. So as to maintain a uniform pressure force of the press roll 7 against the bobbin 9 as the bobbin diameter D is increasing, the control device 5 is pivotable about a swivel axis C and is thus able to compensate for the increasing bobbin diameter. The arrow ρ(D) represents the deflection angle of the control device 5 depending on the bobbin diameter D.
The bobbin 9 or the bobbin core 8 is driven by a motor (not illustrated) at an angular velocity Ω. The tension in the thread 1 as it is being wound onto the bobbin 9 is critical for the quality of the bobbin winding. If the tension in the thread slackens, the motor speed must be increased in order to restore the desired tension. The dancer roll 3 serves for regulating the motor speed, which dancer roll already by itself provides for a certain compensation of the thread tension due to its spring bias. An increase in the motor speed is caused if the dancer roll 3 sags because of decreasing tension in the thread 1. If the dancer roll 3 rises because of an increase in the thread tension, the motor speed is reduced. Variations in the thread tension which necessitate changes in the motor speed will occur if the bobbin diameter D increases or if the thread production, and hence the supply of the thread to the bobbin winding device, accelerates or decelerates.
Another reason for variations in the thread tension is the axial movement of the thread guide 10, such as explained by way of the perspective illustration of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the path of the thread 1 from the deflection pulley 4, via a deflection means 6 shaped like a straight deflection bow, through the thread guide 10 and, via the press roll 7, onto the bobbin 9. If the thread guide 10 is at the axial ends of the bobbin 9 during its axial reciprocation, the thread 1 is guided to the bobbin edge, thereby defining a path from the deflection pulley 4 to the bobbin edge which is longer than with the thread guide 10 situated at the center of the bobbin and with the thread 1 defining the path from the deflection pulley 4 to the bobbin center (illustrated by a broken line). Due to the shortened thread path, the thread becomes loose at the center of the bobbin. As the axial movement of the thread is generally performed at a relatively high frequency, the resulting thread-tension variation cannot be compensated for by regulating the rotational speed of the bobbin drive motor, since any kind of control unit, such as a PID controller, would either be too slow or would, under such conditions, be prone to unstable oscillation, i.e. an unstable control behavior. Therefore, so far it has been possible to contain the influence of the thread paths which have different lengths at the bobbin edge and at the bobbin center, respectively, on the thread tension merely by means of an as large as possible distance between the deflection pulley 4 and the press roll 7. If the distance is larger, the angle extending between the deflection pulley 4 and the two positions of the thread 1 at the bobbin edges and hence also the factor (cosine) of longitudinal deformation will become smaller.
Again with reference to the illustration of FIG. 1, it is evident that the thread-path length x(ρ) between the stationary deflection pulley 4 and the deflection means 6 attached to the control device 5 changes depending on the bobbin diameter D, since an increase in the bobbin diameter will result in a deflection of the control device 5 in the direction of the deflection pulley 4. With a deflection of the control device 5, the distance z(ρ) between the press roll 7 located on the control device 5 and the stationary deflection pulley 4 will change as well. The distance y between the press roll 7 and the deflection means 6 remains constant irrespective of the deflection of the control device 5.
The effects of incorrect thread tensions on the quality of the bobbin are enormous. The choice of thread tension for the winding process will not be discussed in full detail now, however, in general terms it can be said that an incorrect thread tension and in particular a varying tension of the thread between the bobbin edge and the bobbin center will result in a thread that falls off the edge of the bobbin, such as illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the thread 1 has fallen off the edge of the bobbin 9 and onto the bobbin core 8 and would subsequently wind itself around the bobbin core. This falling off of the thread might have an impact on the production capacity already during the process of manufacturing the bobbin and could lead to dead halts, or might have an impact when using the bobbin later on, for example when weaving the thread, and could then lead to dead halts or breakdowns.
The fact that the thread does not fall off is thus one of the most important features of a bobbin. With the known bobbin winding devices it was, however, difficult to fulfill that criterion in a satisfactory manner. Particularly as a result of the high winding frequency, it was not possible to compensate for the varying thread tensions between the bobbin edge and the bobbin center by the use of motor control systems.


Traffic profiling in real time within a video streaming session is described. Multiple data packet flows at a lower layer of the OSI model are observed. A data packet flow pattern is obtained for each observed flow, and each obtained pattern is compared to a pre-defined characteristic streaming pattern. From the observed flows, any data packet flow that has its data packet flow pattern close to the pre-defined characteristic streaming pattern is selected as a video streaming flow. A buffer state of the video streaming flow is identified amongst a filling state, a steady state, and a depletion state, by observing a slope of accumulated data over time. Eventually, multimedia-related information of the selected video streaming flow is provided based on its data packet flow pattern.

In 2016, video accounted for 60% of the global data traffic in cellular networks and this proportion is expected to increase to 78% by 2021, as found in Cisco, "Visual networking index: Global mobile data traffic forecast update, 2016-2021", White Paper, February 2017. Most of this data traffic is generated by major video-on-demand (VoD) streaming services and based on hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) adaptive streaming (HAS) techniques as standardized in dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) and specified in HTTP live streaming (HLS).
Although bitrate and real-time requirements of these services can often be supported in modern cellular networks, sparsely covered areas and the tightening requirements of new services represent a major challenge. Even the next generation of cellular network technology will struggle to meet the demands of 4K-resolution video, 360° live videos, and real-time cloud rendering services for a substantial number of users per cell.
There is now a wide consensus that stalls are the dominant quality-of-experience (QoE) factor for mobile HAS, as disruptions quickly cause viewers to abandon their video session. This high impact of the video traffic's real-time requirement, as defined by the level of the play-back buffer, is often intensified by the greedy quality selection of HAS clients. Once the video traffic is served with a higher bitrate, the HAS client will continue to increase the quality, thereby requesting a higher and higher rate from the network while increasing the risk of a stall. This combination of greediness and real-time requirements makes it challenging to provide sufficient QoE for video streaming while simultaneously satisfying other traffic types, such as voice and best-effort data, over the shared resources of a mobile network.
Interestingly, HAS traffic has fundamental characteristics that can be exploited for more efficient scheduling, as divulged in A. E. Essaili et al., "QoE-based traffic and resource management for adaptive HTTP video delivery in LTE", IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. Video Technol., vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 988-1001, June 2015 and in D. Tsilimantos, A. Nogales-Gomez and S. Valentin, "Anticipatory radio resource management for mobile video streaming with linear programming", Proceedings IEEE ICC, May 2016, pp. 1-6. Thus, schedulers with knowledge of video key parameters, such as video bit-rate and buffer level, can adjust their priority weights and improve the overall QoE in the network.
Video key parameters, such as application-layer parameters from ongoing data flows at layer 2 or 3, can be obtained based on cross-layer signaling and deep packet inspection (DPI). However, these methods come with significant drawbacks.
Cross-layer signaling has to be adopted by the operators of over-the-top (OTT) services (OTTs) and, so far, all attempts to standardize such signaling interfaces and protocols have failed. Even with such standards in place, the conflicting technical objectives between OTTs and network operators (NOs) make their adoption unlikely. OTTs aim to maximize QoE for given networks limits, whereas NOs aim to maximize network efficiency for a given QoE limit. Typically, OTTs have little or no interest in providing transparency to the lower protocol layers wherein NOs operate.
In A. Molavi Kakhki et al., "BingeOn under the microscope: Understanding T-Mobile's zero-rating implementation", Proceedings ACM SIGCOMM WS, August 2016, a rate throttling mechanism is described and used by a specific NO in order to manage video traffic in its mobile network. It is described how this approach suffers from the limits of DPI, which is technically difficult or impossible to implement with end-to-end encryption or privacy standards such as transport layer security (TLS) and secure sockets layer (SSL). Due to the common use of TLS/SSL, DPI requires NOs and OTT service providers to cooperate in order to either tag the video packet flows or to weaken end-to-end encryption. The article describes that even with such cooperation, tags can be easily falsified by an adversary to receive an economic benefit; thereby leading to an arms race between operators and malicious users. These structural problems of DPI are combined with high computational cost, since inspection has to happen in real time, at high throughput, for a large number of users. In addition to those technical problems, the usage of DPI may be restricted by legal constraints since it enables access to sensitive information (e.g., the identification of the specific video delivered to a user), which may represent a breach of privacy.

System, apparatus, and method for traffic profiling for mobile video streaming


A pressure actuated, telescoping subassembly is supported by a pipe string to axially move an attached member within a wellbore. Increasing fluid pressure to the subassembly actuates a telescoping action, axially moving the attached member but not the supporting pipe string. Motion can be used during rotary drilling or running of tubulars into a drilled borehole portion. Pressure actuation provides a way to remotely apply axial force to a member, such as a tool or drill string portion. Moving only the member instead of the entire drill string and member lowers the total force required to move members and provides a new way to chase drill bits and apply constant drilling forces. This minimizes the risk of pipe string overloading and buckling, exceeding rig weight limitations, and tool bit damage.

Many subsurface resources, such as oil bearing formations, can no longer be exploited by drilling wells having vertical boreholes from the surface. Extended reach wells, such as wells drilled from platforms or "islands" and having long non-vertical or deviated portions, are now common. A deviated hole portion is defined as one having an axis in a direction at a significant incline angle to the vertical or gravity direction. The inclined portion is typically located below an initial (top) portion which is nearly vertical. A deviated (lower) portion may have an inclined angle from the vertical that may approach 90 degrees (i.e., nearly horizontal). The result is a well bottom laterally offset from the top by a significant or extended distance.
Conventional drill bit technology can produce a borehole portion at almost any incline angle, but extended reach operations at inclined angles have experienced problems. Drilling problems are primarily caused by drag forces on the long and non-vertical drill string rotating the drill bit. More severe problems can occur when a long casing or liner strings are slid and set in highly deviated (pre-drilled) wells.
Casing or liner strings are generally larger and heavier than a rotating drill string. In an inclined well bore, the larger diameter casing and liners tend to increase contact and bearing weight, dramatically increasing drag forces. Because of this increased drag, the torsional forces that would be needed to rotate the casing or liner can be greater than the torsional strength of the pipe itself, or greater than the available rotary torque. Casing or liner strings are therefore normally run (i.e., slid) into the hole without drag reducing rotation.
This non-rotational drag problem is the result (at least in part) of the differences between the static and sliding coefficients of friction. A static coefficient of friction is almost always significantly higher than a sliding coefficient of friction. Thus, rotation during drilling creates constant (sliding) motion, preventing higher static friction even if the drill string is not moving in an axial direction. But once rotation and axial motion within the well bore stops or is interrupted, as in the cases of running casing or orienting a drill string, significantly higher forces may be required to move tubulars because of the difference between sliding and static coefficients of friction.
Drilling or completing an extended reach (or long deviated portion) borehole can exacerbate normal drag forces and problems in addition to inclined well drag forces. Interruptions in drilling or running liner/casing are more likely in an extended reach well. Risk of sticking is especially high if the incline angle exceeds a critical angle. A critical angle produces more drag force than the component of weight tending to slide the casing or liner down the hole. Even if a stuck string is avoided, the forced needed to overcome high drag may cause serious damage to the pipe. These problems create high risk for extended reach wells.
Although high risk, producing some resources through long horizontal well portions or intervals can be very profitable. Fluid production from low permeability and/or thin bed reservoirs may not be economic using near vertical wells but profitable using an extended reach well. Production from shallow resources in fields having limited surface access may not even be possible without extended reach boreholes. For example, an offshore drilling site near an offshore resource may be unlicensable. The ability to reach out to an offshore resource from an on-shore site may mean the difference between an unavailable resource and a producing reservior.
Even for fields where reservoir access or low permeability is not a problem, long, nearly horizontal well portions may be economically desirable in spite of high cost and risk. Significantly production may be possible from extended horizontal well portions in a vertically permeable layer where vertical wells produce excessive unwanted water from adjacent layers, i.e., a large coning effect occurs.
Options to mitigate high drag related problems in extended reach wells are available. For example, high drag mitigation methods can: 1) add shocks and forces to tubulars near the surface, e.g., using a bumper subassembly or adding surface weights; 2) reduce the coefficient of friction, e.g., by lubrication or conditioning of the borehole; or 3) reduce drag-inducing (normal-to-the-borehole) wall forces.
However, these mitigation options are generally costly and may not be effective for many extended reach wells. For example, only a bounded amount of added weight can be exerted at the top vertical portion of a long pipe string before structural limits are reached. Excessive downward force which would be needed for extended reach wells also tends to buckle the string, adding still further drag forces (if laterally supported in a highly deviated well bore) prior to causing structural failure. Adding weight in the inclined portions beyond the critical angle only increases drag. In addition, drilling with large added downward forces may be impractical or rig pick up weight limits may be exceeded.
Similar limits affect methods for reducing the coefficient of friction (e.g., hole conditioning, drag reducing, or lubricating). As longer pipe strings are run into an extended reach well, even a lubricated string will eventually generate unacceptable drag forces because friction is only reduced, not eliminated. The geometry and borehole wall conditions (e.g., interface surface) of some holes may also create increased sliding resistance (high drag) conditions even with lubricated strings.
A flotation method of placing a pipe string into a deviated, liquid-filled hole is also known which lowers drag by reducing forces normal to the wall. This buoyant or floatation method is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,361. After providing a means to plug a pipe string portion, the portion is filled with a low density fluid to provide a buoyant force, reducing the forces acting normal to the walls in nearly horizontal portions. However, the low density fluid normally must be removed from the pipe string after feeding the plugged string into the well bore and prior to cementing. Cementing operations are then typically accomplished without a low density fluid providing a buoyant force.
It would be desirable to further reduce the drag forces associated with moving an entire drill string or casing string. The drag forces require large weights or force application apparatus and high string strengths.


The present invention relates to compositions which crosslink to give elastomers, comprising;. (A) a polyorganosiloxane (I) with at least two alkenyl groups per molecule and a metallic catalyst (IV) and PA1 (B) a polyorganosiloxane (II) with at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms and an organic sulfur compound (III).

Compositions which crosslink to give elastomers and are said to have a low compression set have already been described.
DE 41 00 217 (Degussa AG) discloses that thiocyanatopropyltrialkoxysilanes can bring about an improvement of the compression set in molding compositions which can be vulcanized using peroxides together with heat. The same disclosure describes that the organosilicon compounds can be used either separately or in combination with a filler. DE 33 19 251 (Degussa AG) discloses the use of isothiuronium compounds in place of thiourea derivatives for vulcanizable halogen rubber mixtures. The resultant vulcanizates were found to have better strength, tensile modulus, abrasion and compression set values than comparable halogen rubber mixtures without isothiuronium compounds. In EP 0 278 157 (Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), thiocarbamyl-functional organosilanes are added, in order to improve the compression set, to rubbers which are vulcanizable using organic sulfur compounds or using organic peroxides.
Other proposals for improving the compression set are based on the use of additives such as, barium peroxide, barium oxide or magnesium oxide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,261,801, U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,838 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,778), and the use of polycarbodiimidepolysiloxane copolymers (EP 0 010 708) which give strongly colored products.
The above mentioned methods for improving the compression set are relevant to rubbers which may be crosslinked to give elastomers by using organic sulfur compounds or organic peroxides.
By contrast, organopolysiloxane compositions which crosslink via an addition reaction, preferably via a hydrosilylation reaction of vinyl-containing siloxanes, are catalyzed by a number of platinum compounds. For improving the compression set in addition-crosslinking systems, iron-manganese spinels of the empirical formula Fe.sub.y Mn.sub.z O.sub.4 (Wacker Silicones: EP 582 299), triazole compounds (Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.: U.S. Pat. No. 510,49,19), vinyl-specific organic peroxides >0.2% by weight (Dow Corning Co.: EP 0 377 185), and transition metal chalcogenides (Bayer AG:EP 0 455 078) have been described.
The above mentioned compositions have the disadvantage that they do not provide addition-crosslinking compositions which are transparent and have a low compression set.

Liquid silicone rubber with improved compression set


A device for smashing empty aluminum cans that provides for holding the cans horizontally on the ground while an automobile runs over the cans in order to smash the cans into a flattened configuration for recycling. The device is comprised of a long, narrow backing and a flexible member that is secured to a top surface of the backing. The flexible member is formed into a series of parallel curved flaps for removably holding the cans across the width of the backing and in the path of travel of the automobile. The flexible flaps are resilient and they return to their original configuration after the automobile has run over the device, allowing the smashed cans to be removed from the device and the device to be reused.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for smashing aluminum cans. More specifically, the present invention is a device for holding aluminum cans so the cans can be run over by an automobile, thus smashing or crushing the cans into a flatten configuration for recycling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recycling of aluminum cans is an environmentally responsible activity and some people collect and recycle aluminum cans to earn extra money. Because aluminum cans are hollow, they are bulky and hard to handle and transport. For this reason, it is desirable to smash empty aluminum cans into a flattened configuration so that they are easier to store and transport.
Various devices have been devised for smashing aluminum cans. Some of these devices require the user to exert pulling or pushing force on a lever provided on the device in order to flatten a can contained within the device. Children and some adults may find these types of lever operated devices hard to operate.
Other devices for smashing aluminum cans are mechanized and are provided with power means for flattening a can. Each of these types of devices requires some type of motor, usually an electrically powered motor, in order for the device to function. Devices that require motors are expensive.
None of the existing devices are designed to employ a relatively free source of energy to smash cans, such as for example, the force exerted by tires and the weight of an automobile as the automobile moves. However, one problem with smashing aluminum cans by running over the cans with tires of an automobile is that the cans tend to move or be shot out from under the approaching tire.
The present invention addresses this problem by providing a device that successful holds empty aluminum cans in place in the path of an approaching automobile tire, allowing the tire to roll over the cans and smash them flat. The present device is provided with a flat surface onto which the empty cans are placed and flexible concave covers that extend over the empty cans in order to hold the cans against movement as the fire approaches. The passing tire flattens both the flexible concave covers and the aluminum cans, but the flexible concave covers return to their original configuration after the tire passes over them. The concave covers also protect the tires from being damaged by the aluminum cans as they are crushed. The cans, however, are permanently smashed into a flattened configuration and can easily be removed from the device and the device can hung vertically to make it easier to be reloaded with additional empty cans that need to be smashed.

Method and device for smashing aluminum cans


A truck-trailer for easy changeability and wider range of applicability in simplified construction to increase transportation capacity and improve changeability and applicability having the front and the rear sections of the main deck each pivoted with a retractable slope; the rear end of the main deck being disposed of a multi-sectional access slope for the access by different types of vehicles; and an elevation deck set being provided on the main deck to cope with the load of various types of vehicles to increase loading capacity.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a truck trailer, and more particularly to one for vehicle transportation in simplified construction for reduction of production cost allowing fast and diversified changeability depending on the load to increase its applicability and load volume.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
To transport semi-products of vehicles or vehicles pending issuance of license plate that are prevented from driving on the highway, a truck trailer for the transportation of those vehicles has been developed. To cope with the various types and sizes of vehicles, dedicated truck trailers are made available. However, those dedicated truck trailers fail to meet the needs of the transportation companies since the dispatch of a dedicated truck trailer just for the transportation of few vehicles would cost too much costs. Therefore, the transportation companies are always seeking for the type of truck trailer that can handle different types of vehicles and in larger transportation capacity for a single run.
In order to improve changeability and capacity, the construction of the truck trailer has become more complicated, and caused operating difficulties to result in higher production cost and the problem of insufficient strength that significantly affect the safety of the truck trailer.
The prior art as described above is generally found with the defectives of poor interchangeability, low applicability, difficult operation, higher production cost and low safety.

Truck trailer for vehicle transportation


A core pack manufacturing apparatus for preventing or substantially preventing an iron from contacting a cell or a protective circuit part in a process of soldering a connection tab of the cell to a connection terminal of the protective circuit part. A core pack manufacturing apparatus for soldering a connection tab connected to a cell to a connection terminal of a protective circuit part includes a cap including a first cover configured to cover the cell, and a second cover extending from a side of the first cover and configured to cover the protective circuit part, the second cover having an opening part configured to expose the connection tab and the connection terminal through the second cover for soldering.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a core pack manufacturing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a core pack is formed by coupling a protective circuit part to a cell, and a secondary battery includes the core pack.
The cell typically includes an electrode assembly rolled up in a jelly-roll shape, a can having an open side to accommodate the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly coupled to the open side of the can to seal the can.
The protective circuit part is a safety device that causes a short circuit to prevent a current flow when an inner temperature of a cell is greatly increased or when a voltage of a cell is increased by overcharging, so as to prevent a burning or explosion of the cell. The protective circuit part typically includes a protective circuit board in which various devices are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), and is electrically connected to a cell through a conductor referred to as a connection tab.
Typically, the connection tab electrically connected to the cell is electrically connected to a connection terminal of the protective circuit part through a soldering process. However, if an iron undesirably contacts the cell in the soldering process, the cell may be damaged or the cell may be shorted, thereby causing a defect.
Also, if the iron contacts the protective circuit part, a defect may be caused. Typically, such a defect may be caused more frequently as the distance between a cell and a protective circuit part decreases.


A receptacle connector comprises at least one receptacle contact. The receptacle contact includes a contact member and at least one spring member. The contact member is formed for receipt of a plug contact along a mating plane. The contact member is resiliently displaceable in a direction substantial lateral to the mating plane by the spring member.

Detachable electrical connectors are used to temporarily connect electronic components or accessories with electronic devices. Besides providing a low-resistance electrical connection, the electrical connectors must be mechanically stable to ensure a permanent electrical connection. The demands on the reliability of the electrical connections are of particular importance if the electronic devices are used under conditions where mechanical stress or load occurs. For such electronic devices, rugged electrical connectors are required.
A typical example of an electronic device, which may experience mechanical stress, is a mobile phone. Although specific accessories such as carrying cases are available for mobile phones to reduce the risk of mechanical stress, the mobile phone could still, for example, be accidentally dropped on a floor. The high mechanical stress of such an impact could lead to severe damage of the mobile phone.
A removable battery pack, which is detachably connected with the mobile phone, is a typical example of an electronic component. An example of such a battery pack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,138 B1. This battery pack comprises an electrical connector assembly having a latch and a U-shaped contact housing. The contact housing accommodates a plurality of stacked electrical contacts. The latch, which is partially surrounded by the contact housing, engages with a housing of a mobile phone to fasten a battery cover. Each of the stacked electrical contacts comprises a non-compliant portion, which is fixed to the contact housing, and a compliant portion having a contact portion for contacting corresponding receptacle contacts of a receptacle connector fixed to the mobile phone. At the non-compliant portion, contact attachment tabs are provided, which are inserted into corresponding contact alignment slots of the contact housing. For further alignment, alignment slots are provided in walls of the contact housing. The compliant portions of the electrical contacts extend through the alignment slots so that the contact portions of the electrical contacts are exposed on an outside of the contact housing. When the battery cover is attached to the mobile phone, the contact portions are resiliently pressed against the receptacle contacts by the compliant portions of the stacked electrical contacts.
Another example of an electrical connector assembly for a battery pack of a mobile phone is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0002265 A1. This assembly comprises a base connector and a socket connector. The base connector is fixed onto a mounting surface by soldering. The socket connector is inserted into an insertion space of the base connector along a mating direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface. Plate-like contacts are arranged in the insertion space and extend substantially parallel to each other. The plate-like contacts are contacted by contacts of the socket connector. Each of contacts includes a pair of contact pieces extending substantially parallel to each other. Each of the contact pieces is provided with a contact portion. The contact portions project toward each other and engage with side walls of the plate-like contacts of the base connector. The socket connector is further connected to a conductor, which generally extends parallel to the mounting surface of the base connector when the socket connector is inserted. The socket connector and the base connector further comprise cam surfaces angled with respect to the mounting surface of the base connector to convert tensions exerted on the socket connector into a substantially perpendicularly orientated force. As a consequence, when pulling on the leads, the engaging cam surfaces redirect the acting forces into extracting forces substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface to unplug the socket connector. Shear stresses within the solder joints between the base connector and the mounting surface are thereby partially reduced.
Mechanical strains of an electrical connection can also occur within stationary electronic devices and efforts have been made to compensate for the mechanical strains and to improve the reliability of the electrical connection. Stress compensation is of particular importance when the electrical contacts of the connectors are directly soldered to a printed circuit board. A contact element with improved stress-compensation is, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,890. This contact element is used as an electrical connector for connecting a daughter board to a mother board. When soldered to a printed circuit board, the contact element extends substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the printed circuit board. The contact element comprises a base portion and first and second spring contact portions, which are supported by resilient supporting arm members integrally attached to the base portion and the spring contact portions. The first and second spring contact portions contact each other on a boundary separating line along which the spring contacts portions can slide with respect to each other to prevent overstress when the daughter board is inserted into the contact element.


A fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear for use with a fishing rod including at least one rod guide and fishing line, a rod station being formed in a rectangular configuration with an outer surface, an inner surface, two apertures and two VELCRO bands each coupled through one of the apertures, the inner surface of the rod station being positioned upon a fishing rod adjacent a rod guide, the VELCRO bands of the rod station being wrapped around the fishing rod then through the rod station and folded back and coupled to itself to secure the rod station to the rod; and at least one generally elliptical ring having a folded region and an inner surface including VELCRO loop strips coupled to the folded region, the VELCRO loop strips of the folded region of a ring being couplable to the VELCRO bands of the rod station, one ring being coupled to the apparatus during use, in an operative orientation a ring being pulled downward with a quarter turn whereby the elliptic ends of the ring engage a fishing line thereby extending the line away from the fishing rod and rod guide, the extended line enhancing a user's ability to detect bites from fish.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear and more particularly pertains to adjusting a fishing rod line to enhance a user's ability to detect bites especially when the line is engaged by the fishing reel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of fishing accessories is known in the prior art. More specifically, fishing accessories heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of accesorizing conventional fishing gear are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,928 to Deskevich discloses a fishing line rod bobber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,031 to Sousa discloses a bite indicator for fishing gear.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,318 to Durham discloses a fish strike indicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,864 to Bowles discloses a visual fishing aid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,957 to Cunningham discloses a fishing rod holder and indicator assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 326,136 to Hochstetler discloses an ice fishing line movement indicator.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear for adjusting a fishing rod line to enhance a user's ability to detect bites while the line is engaged by the fishing reel.
In this respect, the fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of adjusting a fishing rod line to enhance a user's ability to detect bites while the line is engaged by the fishing reel.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear which can be used for adjusting a fishing rod line to enhance a user's ability to detect bites while the line is engaged by the fishing reel. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Fishing rod strike indicator for increasing reaction time with the fishing reel in gear


An advancing means for a multi-coordinate measurement table including a drive unit having a friction rod and a motor for each coordinate axis (x, y). The motor contacts one side of the friction rod with its motor shaft and at least one press roller contacts the other side of the friction rod. At least one pressing means is provided biasing the press roller, the friction rod and the motor shaft against each other with a pressing force, whereby the motor shaft frictionally engages the friction rod and converts the rotational movement of the motor into a linear movement of the friction rod. A method for controlling such an advancing means is disclosed as well.

Coordinate measurement tables of the type mentioned above are used in high-precision coordinate measuring devices for measuring substrates in the semiconductor industry. A coordinate measuring device having such a coordinate measurement table is described in the article "Maskenmetrologie mit der Leica LMS IPRO für die Halbleiterproduktion" (Mask Metrology with Leica LMS IPRO for Semiconductor Production) by K.-D. Röth and K. Rinn, Mitteilungen für Wissenschaft und Technik, Vol. XI, No. 5, pp. 130-135, October 1997. This measuring device serves for high-precision measurements of the coordinates of the edges of a structural element on a substrate, for example a mask and a wafer.
German Patent No. DE 101 40 174 A1 describes an improved coordinate measurement table of the type mentioned above and a coordinate measuring device for high-precision measurement of the coordinates of the edges of a structural element on a substrate, such as a mask and a wafer. The coordinate measuring device comprises a coordinate measurement table of the type mentioned above, which is displaceable horizontally in the x-direction and in the y-direction. It serves for receiving a substrate having structures whose edge coordinates are to be measured. Furthermore, a separate interferometer optical measurement path is associated with each coordinate axis (x, y) of the measurement table. On two sides of the measurement table, which are perpendicular to each other, measurement mirrors are mounted, which are located at the ends of the two interferometer optical measurement paths. The position of the measurement table may be determined interferometrically by means of the two measurement mirrors. The coordinate measurement table comprises a drive unit having a friction rod and a motor for each coordinate axis. The motor contacts one side of the friction rod with its motor shaft, while a pressure roller contacts the other side of the friction rod. At least one spring is provided, which biases the pressure roller, the friction rod and the motor shaft against each other with a pressing force. This results in the motor shaft frictionally engaging the friction rod so that the rotational movement of the motor is converted into a linear movement of the friction rod.
A further coordinate measurement table is described in German Patent No. DE 102 36 239 A1. A drive axis with a friction rod and a motor is provided for each coordinate axis. The motor contacts one side of the friction rod with its motor shaft, and a pressure roller contacts the other side of the friction rod. Furthermore, a pressure spring serves for biasing the mentioned parts against each other, whereby the motor shaft engages the friction rod frictionally and converts the rotational movement of the motor into a linear movement of the friction rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,709 discloses a friction drive for positioning a table. The friction bar is also driven directly by the motor shaft or the friction wheel. The friction bar is supported by a support roller on one side. On the other side of the friction bar, the friction wheel is supported by two support wheels. The support rollers are biased against the friction bar by a means. Automatic adaptation of the frictional force is not possible.
German Published Application No. DE 2005 036 718 A1 discloses a friction drive. The friction drive includes a friction wheel and a counterpart which is at least intermittently in frictional engagement with the friction wheel. There is further provided a force element designed to press the friction wheel and the counterpart against each other. The force element includes an air conduit for conducting a directed air flow 60 and at least one opening in the air conduit. The conducted air flow generates an air pressure in the area of the opening, which causes the frictional engagement. This arrangement cannot guarantee either that the friction wheel will adapt to the required load changes of the table movable in the X-coordinate direction and in the Y-coordinate direction.
International Patent Application No. WO 2007/010364 A2 discloses a friction drive. However, the document does not relate in any way to a drive or a linear drive of a friction bar. It only describes two wheels co-operating with each other, wherein one drives the other by friction drive.
Japanese Patent Abstract No. 2002-310264 A discloses a method and a device for controlling a friction drive provided with a soft means. For this purpose, a wheel co-operating with the other one is provided with a movable bar pressing the wheel into closer contact with the second wheel. The document does not disclose any arrangement as it is required in the present invention.
Coordinate measuring devices of the type mentioned above serve for determining the coordinates with a reproducibility in the range of less than 5 nm. Since this measurement accuracy, as mentioned above, depends significantly on the x/y positioning accuracy and the height process accuracy of the measurement table, extremely high requirements have to be met by the construction of the measurement table. Since, for relatively large masses to be moved, the frictional connection between motor and friction rod may be partly lost, a significant part of the originally desired positioning accuracy may be lost due to the associated slip. Undesired slipping effects may also occur during very fast advancing movements and high table accelerations.

Advancing means for a multi-coordinate measurement table of a coordinate measuring device and method for controlling such an advancing means


A digital sampling playback doorbell system has two or more doorbell buttons and a central unit with solid state memory storage for multiple digitally sampled sound files. User assignment means are provided for assigning a particular sound file to a particular doorbell button. The digital sampling playback doorbell has computer interface of RS-232, or USB, or infrared wireless connection type and relies on computer installed software to download digitally sampled sound files stored in the computer hard drive to the memory of the digital sampling playback doorbell system central unit. The digitally sampled sound files stored in the computer hard drive are obtained by accessing a web site through the Internet or capturing sound through an audio computer connection to a microphone, CD player, radio broadcast or mass music storage device using software resident in the computer. Alternatively, an IPOD can be used as a source for sounds that can be transferred or sent to play on the doorbell. Such sound transfer can take place via a blue tooth communication link, or by a docking station that resides on the doorbell. Taking advantage of the intelligence contained within the IPOD, one can then select sounds or files that have been previously converted by either the IPOD or the computer that the IPOD was previously attached to, and send them to the doorbell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a doorbell system that plays back one or more high quality digitally sampled sound files when activated by pressing one of a plurality of doorbell buttons wherein the digital sound files are either recorded or downloaded from an Internet website or a mass music storage device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many patents address issues related to doorbells and providing doorbell sounds. Several of the prior art patents disclose analog devices that use a recording device. Some of the doorbell devices are digital devices and provide digitally created sounds. None of these devices, however, incorporate digital sound files that are downloaded into the memory of a doorbell device from an Internet website or music mass storage device with the capability for recording digital sound files.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,187 to Spear discloses a door chime. It uses one or more tone bars that are electro mechanically energized and the door chime has a resonant chamber to amplify the sound. In addition, the coil energizing the tone bar is connected to an amplification system to produce audible sound in a home intercommunication system. This door chime cannot produce any sound other than that which is a tone bar frequency. The sound produced in the home communication system by the '187 patent is a monotone frequency. It does not generate music, voice and the like, when the door chime is activated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,123 to Right et al. discloses a multitone signaling device. The '123 patent discloses a compact and economical circuit for a multitone horn which includes a microcomputer, an audio amplifier, a speaker, a power supply, and start control means with a common lead and a plurality of star leads. Connecting the common lead to a predetermined one of the start leads will initiate a predetermined one of the plurality of available tones. The available tones include both percussive and non-percussive tones, and the total number of available tones may be greater than the number of start leads. The '123 patent discloses a stand alone multiple tone audible signaling device capable of selectively producing one of a plurality of 13 distinguishable signals, amplifying the signal, and producing an audible sound through a speaker using a local power supply. Devices disclosed by the '123 patent cannot produce any sound other than these specific computer generated synthesized sounds. They do not generate music, voice and the like, when they are activated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,061 to Shoff discloses a digitally driven audio effects generator. The digitally driven audio effects generator includes a source of binary information and keyboard which provides digital information to a plurality of source or sink type binary drivers. A ladder matrix is coupled to the binary drivers and provides an output signal. An audio frequency signal generator responds to the keyboard and controls an interrupting switch, which serrates the output signal at an audio frequency rate. The analog frequency sound output is generated by rapid switching of a digital signal with high and low voltage levels. This device can only produce mixtures of pure single frequency and cannot generate complex sounds like voice or music.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,022 to Patterson discloses an apparatus for generating auditory indicators. The '022 patent states that existing auditory warning systems are in general too loud and it is often difficult to distinguish between a number of different warnings. Further, under different conditions warnings may change character due to masking by varying noise. A warning system is based on a microprocessor and waveforms for each warning sound stored in a ROM. The waveforms are read out to digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) and used to drive a loudspeaker by way of programmable attenuators. Each waveform is devised to have at least four quasi-harmonically related frequency components at a power level in the range 15 to 30 dB above threshold. In this way the sounds are distinctive and do not change character with varying noise levels below threshold. The '022 patented device is designed to output a warning announcement through speakers selected from a set resident in the PROM together with noise cancellation based on noise levels measured by sensors at four different frequency values, improving the clarity of the warning message. Such a device is not a door chime but is rather a public address system with noise cancellation capabilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,214 to Angott et al. discloses a musical wireless alerting system. The musical wireless alerting system includes several detectors, which transmit RF signals to a common receiver. The detectors include manual switches to allow manual selection of a song or melody. The selection is coded in the form of an audio code, which is transmitted to the receiver. The receiver detects any RF transmissions and verifies that the received transmissions are identifiable with a receiver and reads the audio code. The audio code is compared with a plurality of stored songs or tones within memory for transmission to a speaker, which plays the tone or song. Each of the detectors sense different predefined conditions and indicate different audible indications to be played. The detectors may sense conditions such as opening of the door or depression of a doorbell. Several detectors with switch selectors for tone or song selections communicate by radio frequency to a central receiver. When the detector senses a predefined condition such as the opening of a door or the pressing of a doorbell, it communicates the predefined condition to the central receiver and also a code corresponding to the switch selection. The receiver plays an appropriate tone or song through the speaker system corresponding to the transmitted code. The songs and tones are resident in the memory of the receiver; are not changeable. They cannot be downloaded from an Internet website using a computer. Detector sensors are not hardwired to the receiver and represent several predefined conditions, not specifically a door chime mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,388 to Von Bauer et al. discloses a video doorbell system. A communication apparatus monitors sounds and images at a remote sensor station location, such as the entranceway of a dwelling. The apparatus includes a sensor station located at the entranceway, and a monitor station located within the building. A television camera and microphone at a sensing station close to the entrance of a building are triggered by pressing of a doorbell or infrared sensing of the presence of a person at the entrance doorway. The sensor station transmits the voice and video images by radio frequency to a monitoring station inside the building. The monitoring station can communicate by voice to the doorway allowing the user to speak with the person at the entrance door. This video doorbell system does not select from different tones, music or voice recordings when the doorbell is pressed. It does not have the capability of reprogramming the musical, vocal or tonal notes resident in the doorbell chiming circuitry.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,083 to Johnson discloses a doorbell/answering system. The doorbell system presents a normal doorbell alarm with an alternative speech record/playback assembly. Upon depression of the exterior button extending through an exterior housing adjacent a building entrance the system will either energize the doorbell or urge the visitor to leave a recorded message for subsequent playback. The doorbell and/or record modes are selected by the user by a switch located within an interior housing mounted adjacent a building entrance. The housing includes the appropriate components and wiring to provide the doorbell and record/playback functions. In the '083 patent, the occupant may choose to use either the doorbell or record a message mode for the visitor. The playback/ answer system prompts the visitor with instructions before initiating the recording process. This doorbell/answering system either rings a doorbell or prompts the visitor to record a voice message for the occupant. It does not play musical notes, tones, and voice messages at the moment the doorbell is pressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,039 to Housley discloses a programmable doorbell control. An audible announcement is recorded and stored by a doorbell control module using speech controller integrated circuitry. A self-contained remote module may interface with the doorbell control module by means of a wireless intercom system. When the doorbell is actuated, the remote module transmits a tone or signal that is received and detected by the doorbell control module. In response, the doorbell control module activates an internal speech controller circuitry to generate a playback of a stored audible announcement. Similarly, a visitor can easily respond by actuating a recording actuation means to activate a microphone for generating a responsive audible message that can be transmitted to the control module for encoding and storage. In this manner, the visitor's audible message is encoded, recorded and stored by the speech controller integrated circuitry of the control module for playback. The '039 patented device plays a pre-recorded digital message to the visitor when the doorbell is pressed in the automatic mode and the visitor is provided means to record a digital voice message for the occupant. The doorbell is wirelessly connected to a controller, which plays the recorded digital message provided by the occupant or digitally records the visitor's response. The programmable doorbell control does not have a multitude of digital samples of voice, music and the like that function as the sound generated by a door chime. The doorbell controller is not hardwired to the doorbell and is not capable of accessing digital samples from an Internet website.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,818 to Lam discloses a programmable sound synthesizer apparatus. The programmable sound synthesizer has specialized hardware and programming methodology, which includes filling two tables in order to represent a sound pattern. This device may be used in many electronic goods, but it is not a doorbell chime. It does not digitally record any sound, but instead synthesizes sound pattern based on entries in the two tables.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,591 to Schwartz et al. discloses an electronic signaling system. Said electronic signaling system comprises a base unit including an audio media player for reproducing a recorded audio signal from an inserted recorded medium, and an audio output stage for producing an audio output responsive to the occurrence of a trigger signal. A remote triggering device, such as a doorbell, includes a signal generator for communicating energy from the triggering device to the base unit. A receiving device in the base unit is provided for intercepting the energy communicated from the triggering device for reproducing the recorded audio signal. The medium may be a replaceable medium, permitting the user to select, from a variety of sound recordings, which recording is to be played back when a visitor or a guest pushes the doorbell. The replaceable medium may be recordable by a user. The audio player is preferably a player capable of reproducing sound patterns from integrated circuits containing encoded or non-encoded sound program information. A simplified electronic signaling system may be placed in a child's room. When a pushbutton outside the child's room is pressed, a pre-selected sound/audio/song/message/program is played by the base unit in the child's room. The base unit may have a slot for receiving thematic cards having artwork thereon and carrying an IC containing sounds or sound patterns consistent with the theme depicted on the thematic card. In this manner, the child may enjoy listening to one of his or her favorite sounds, songs, tunes, noises, voices, etc. while viewing, through the base unit window, a picture having the same theme as the sound recording. The '591 patented system uses a base controller connected to house power and has an antenna for receiving remote triggering signal. Upon receipt of the signal, the sound pattern stored in the clip chip module is amplified and played on a speaker connected to the base controller. The entire contents of the clip chip module, which may be analog or digital, is played and is not capable of being individually selected according to the requirements of the user. The base controller does not communicate with more than one remote trigger device. The trigger device is not hardwired to the base controller.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,595 to Xydis discloses a CD quality wireless door chime. A doorbell system having a sound memory for storing and playing a CD quality doorbell sound is disclosed. The doorbell system includes a receiver unit for receiving an indication of a doorbell button being pressed, a code detector for commanding the sound memory to output stored sound signals and sound producing means for outputting a CD quality sound. Also disclosed is a method for storing a CD quality sound into a doorbell system. In the '595 patented device the sound file is digitally recorded, filtered and converted into an analog sound and stored in a sound memory chip and played when the doorbell is pressed. It is not a digital sampling playback and the sound file is not selected from a number of sound files. The sound file is analog, not digital, and is not capable of being updated using a website.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2001/0046304 to Rast discloses a system and method for selective control of acoustic isolation in headsets. It comprises an apparatus and method for providing controlled acoustic isolation within various forms of headsets. The selective control of acoustic isolation provides manual and automatic mechanisms for changing the amount of acoustic isolation provided by the headsets. Sounds in the environment that the user wishes to be made aware of can be programmed into a set of stored sound selection characteristics. In response to correlation of the stored sound characteristics with sounds in the external environment the headset decreases acoustic isolation by coupling signals from one or more external microphones to the audio conversion elements within the earpieces. Alternatively, the apparatus can respond to sounds to be blocked by increasing acoustic isolation. A manual control may be activated by the user to decrease acoustic isolation at their discretion. The '304 device uses speech recognition to allow critical words and has means for the user to listen to environmental noises or attenuate them. The '304 patent application does not disclose a door chime which plays digitally sampled sounds according to the preference of the user.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0033214 to Mikkelsen et al. discloses a media delivery platform. The media delivery platform includes the use of sound and/or image clips, which can be snippets or full files, as alerts for a variety of electronic devices. A collection or library of uniquely selected and/or edited clips may also be provided to the consumer on conventional telephone equipment. Algorithms are provided for the delivery, storage and playback of the sound files, including a delivery method algorithm, a parametric optimization and compression algorithm, and an error correction algorithm. In contrast to the conventional ring tones or musical chimes used to ring cellular phones currently on the market, the current invention provides a method for ringing cellular phones and landline telephones with real sound recordings including real music, which may be songs lifted from copyright registered CD tracks, and may comprise human voice, various instrument sounds, and other sound effects of a high quality. A software based system for encoding the hardware of existing cellular phones at the time of manufacturing with delivery, storage, and playback capabilities is provided, such that additional hardware is not required. No disclosure is contained within the '214 patent concerning a doorbell chime system having different digitally sampled sound clips.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0043047 to Braun discloses an electronic doorbell system. Said doorbell arrangement identifies visitors. The doorbell arrangement includes a user interface that allows a visitor to indicate that he is visitor or provide a user code. The doorbell system identifies the visitor and generates response signals specific to each visitor. This response signals include audible sounds such as musical tones or voice recordings. The response signals also include radio frequency signals transmitted to remote locations. The doorbell arrangement may include a computer such as a personal computer. This '047 patent application discloses an electronic doorbell system. The visitor is identified by a user code, which is used to activate a specific musical sound or a voice announcement when the doorbell is pressed. Means are provided to record various announcement messages and associate with a specific user code. This electronic doorbell system does not import specific or digital sampling music patterns from a website. The logic circuit carries only announcement patterns according to specified visitors and any specific digital sampling music pattern is not selectable by the user. If a new visitor arrives at the door and does not have a user code, it is unclear what the system would do.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0080855 to Koneff et al. discloses a doorbell system. Said doorbell system includes first and second pushbuttons and an RF transmitter activatable by the first and second pushbuttons. An RF receiver is configured to receive RF signals from the RF transmitter. The doorbell system further includes a microphone. A first storage device of the doorbell system stores a first sound. A second storage device is configured to record a second sound through the microphone. A playback device is operatively associated with the RF receiver and the storage devices to enable a user to select one of the sounds by pressing sequentially the first pushbutton and to play the selected one of the sounds by pressing the second pushbutton. The unit does not receive digitally sampled sound files from a website.
Foreign. Patent No. DE 10032909 to Fries discloses a programmable sound generator for signaling systems in buildings such as doorbell systems. The programmable sound generator has means enabling the owner or tenant of a building or the persons installing the system to store a noise, sound, music, etc. When a signal is released, the stored sound is played. The arrangement can be integrated with an existing doorbell or with entry security systems. The system may be arranged in a removable box with plug contacts. The '909 foreign patent discloses a doorbell with a programmable sound generator wherein the programmed sound is played when doorbell is pressed. Such a doorbell has only one sound. It does not provide a selection of digital sampling playback, and it is not connected to a website for acquiring digitally sampled sound files for use in the door chime.
Foreign. Patent No. DE 19961145 to Hartmann discloses a setting call/bell signal that involves placing individually selected sounds or noises from external source into memory in sound acquisition/reproduction device for retrieval by initializing signal. The sounds or noises are acoustically retrieved when an initializing signal is fed into the sound acquisition and reproduction device, e.g. a mobile or static telephone or a doorbell. A RAM chip can be used as the storage medium. The '145 foreign patent discloses a system for placing selected sounds in a static telephone or mobile phone or doorbell. Such a system is not connected to a website for receiving digitally sampled sound files for use in a door chime.
Internet Publication "Home Security" at source(s): www.10-best-home-security.com discloses getting your wireless doorbells, decorative doorbells or programmable doorbell buttons over the Internet. 'Maybe you are looking for something a little different for your decorative doorbells. With some models you can program your wireless doorbells to play your favorite music or song when your doorbell button is pressed. There are units on the market that will allow you to record CD quality chime sounds, music or voice messages. An external jack allows you to plug into your computer, radio or CD players. Just think of the fun you can have as you record and change your 10-second doorbell chime. For creative design, reliable suppliers, state-of-the-art manufacturing and stellar products shop online today'. The units provided store a 10 second clip of song and play only one sound clip when the doorbell is activated. The Internet is used only to purchase the doorbell devices and is not used to download sound files. Further, the unit is incapable of selecting clips from a multitude of choices; and it is not connected to a website for downloading digitally sampled sound files.
Internet Publication "Programmable Doorbell" at www.timelygifts.net discloses programmable doorbells. 'Welcome to Timely Gifts, home of the famous, ONE and ONLY Musical Programmable Doorbell, the only door chime easily programmed with any tune. If you can press a button/you can program in your favorite song. Musical doorbells are not all the same! Don't be fooled by cheap-sounding imitations. Only the Programmable Musical Doorbell from Timely Gifts gives you the option to easily and quickly program ANY of your own favorite songs any time you like, from patriotic tunes to popular standards, sports charge, sport fight songs, Christmas songs, military songs, anything you want to hear! Or, choose from one of the 48 pre-programmed tunes already installed (see list at left and HEAR them now). Enhance your home's Feng Shui and enjoy lovely music when the musical chime rings in your home. What a great; unique gift! IN STOCK— . . . Only $48.95! Order Now'. The programmable doorbell is purchased through the Internet and no sound files are downloaded into the programmable doorbell using a web-based connection. This allows programming of only one song and it is not clear if it includes digital samples. Further, the unit does not have the ability to download a digitally sampled sound file from a website.
Internet publication at http://www.bintin.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=46 discloses a High-quality designer door chimes with the hi-fi sound for $109.90. A compact device is said to be connected to one or two doorbells with 11 preprogrammed melodies and Three slots (2×8 seconds, 1×40 seconds) for downloading individual melodies, sound effects or announcements from a PC to the Hi-Fi Door Chime using cables and software, which are provided. The device has only limited capacity to provide three short melodies and does not have a website to connect to for receiving sound files.
There remains a need in the art for a doorbell system that has a multitude of digital sound files stored in the memory, which can be selected by the user to assign sound files for different doorbell activators. Additionally needed is a method and means for updating the sound files easily, which includes the capability of downloading high quality sound files from an Internet web site or downloading music files from a music mass storage device as well as recording and storing specific sound files.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments of the invention provide a data storage device test method and data storage device manufacture method which allow a tester to perform an operation test of plural data storage devices connected thereto in a shorter period of time. In one embodiment, an operation test of each of plural HDDs 81-84 connected to a tester is performed by making plural HDDs 81-84 execute commands received from the tester, wherein, during a waiting period when exchange stops between the tester and, for example, HDD 81 of which operation test is being executed, the tester executes the operation test of another HDD. Such a waiting period occurs, for example, before HDD 81 becomes ready to receive a command, before a data transfer is completed and before HDD 81 becomes ready to receive the subsequent command. By using this waiting period, the tester issues a command to, for example, HDD 82 if the HDD is ready to receive a command or transfers data to the HDD if data transfer is possible.

The present invention relates to a data storage device test method to check if an assembled data storage device operates normally, and a data storage device manufacture method which has a test stage to check if an assembled data storage device operates normally.
Generally, after assembly, a hard disk device (HDD) undergoes various test stages such as servo write, a function test, burn-in and a final test before shipped. For mass production of HDDs, it is preferable to be able to test (inspect) a large number of assembled HDDs in a short period of time without occupying a large space. If testers are connected to HDDs on a one for one basis, it is not possible to reduce the occupied space since as many testers as HDDs are needed to test the HDDs at a time.
In order to reduce the occupied space, it is preferable to test many HDDs as quickly as possible by one tester. Accordingly, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-64173) discloses a burn-in test method in which many HDDs under test are connected to one host computer.
In the case of the test method described in Patent Document 1, one host computer is connected to twenty test computers each of which has three dual-channel IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) adapters attached thereto. Two HDDs under test are connected to each IDE adapter. The HDDs under test, which are connected to the IDE adapters, are accommodated in a high temperature burn-in chamber while the test computers are accommodated in a control chamber. This method tests plural HDDs at a time while lowering the failure rate of the test computers since the test computers are accommodated in a room temperature chamber and not in a high temperature chamber.
The existing IDE (ATA (AT Attachment)) interface can have a maximum of four devices connected thereto. A mother board supporting the IDE interface has two IDE ports. One is called Primary while the other Secondary. To each IDE port, two IDE devices can be connected. One is called Master while the other Slave. Each device to be connected has a jumper switch by which the device is set as Master or Slave. The highest priority is given to Primary Master, followed by Primary Slave, Secondary Master and Secondary Slave in this order.
Thus, a maximum of four HDDs can be tested per tester. In a typical HDD manufacturing test, HDDs are tested by making them execute many commands. For each command, a process composed of command issuance, data transfer (when needed to process the command) and drive status confirmation is executed as a unit of test. In the case of testing four HDDs by one tester, command issuance, data transfer and status verification are done as a unit of test with the four HDDs by turns.
To test two HDDs connected to an IDE adapter connected to a test computer by the method described in Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned command issuance through status confirmation process must be done for each command as a unit of test with the two HDDs in turn. That is, although plural HDDs are connected to one test computer, the test computer issues one command to only one HDD at a time. Therefore, the test time may be long although the occupied space can be reduced as compared with a one-for-one configuration which connects one test computer to each HDD.
On the other hand, each HDD may execute one of a number of different activity sequences to process a command depending on whether an error occurs. It is therefore feasible for a test computer to issue the same command to, for example, two HDDs at the same time. If one HDD does not execute an operation as required, testing of the other HDD may continue to be impossible while the failed HDD is inspected by another command, resulting in making the test time longer on the contrary.

Multi drive test system for data storage device

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A method for compression and decompression of dithered images is disclosed. Logical units (tiles) of the binary representation are classified into equivalence classes which are then compressed. Each equivalence class represents tiles having similar gray levels (i.e. the same number of black pixels), but which may have different sequences of black and white pixels. Each equivalence class has associated with it a predefined set of rendering exemplars. Each of the exemplars has a similar gray level. Upon decompression, each instance of an equivalence class takes on the value of one of the rendering exemplars which is selected pseudo-randomly. This effectively causes the image to be re-dithered so there is no loss of critical image information on decompression

A major stumbling block to common use of digitized images is their size. An 8.5.times.11 image at 300 dots per inch (dpi) contains roughly 8,000,000 pixels. Even after binarization of a scanned image reduces the number of bits per pixel to 1, this is still 1 megabyte. Compression techniques are typically characterized as LOSSLESS or LOSSY. In LOSSLESS compression, no data is lost in the compression and subsequent decompression. In LOSSY compression, a certain amount of data is lost but it is acceptable since the essence of the compressed data is retained after decompression.
Common LOSSLESS compression techniques for binary images, like CCITT Group 3 or Group 4 or MMR can compress a binary image by factors of 10 to 20. This is still large when compared to the synthetic electronic form used to create a comparable image. Moreover, such compression techniques do not perform well for dithered images. This is because such compression techniques generally depend on the compressor's ability to predict the value of a pixel given neighboring pixels. Dithered images contain many very tiny dots which are intentionally arranged in a pseudo-random pattern. In these images, it is quite difficult to predict the value of a pixel, thus such compression techniques perform poorly.
Vector Quantization is another LOSSY based method for image compression that is well known. A vector quantizer (VQ) is a quantizer that maps k-dimensional input vectors into one of a finite set of k-dimensional reproduction vectors, or codewords. For image compression the input vector is a fixed grouping of pixels. A VQ can be divided into two parts: an encoder and a decoder. The encoder maps the input vector into a binary code representing the index of the selected reproduction vector, and the decoder maps the binary code into the selected reproduction vector. The reproduction vector becomes the decompressed value of the input vector.
Typically the decoder operates using a simple lookup table. To obtain acceptable results upon decompression, the number of reproduction vectors, and resulting lookup table, can be quite large. As the lookup table may be part of the compressed data stream, a large lookup table is undesirable.
Vector quantization is conceptually similar to a known method for performing compression on text images by grouping the symbols found into equivalence classes. In this method, symbols are extracted from the binary image and matched to templates for one or more equivalence classes. In order to get good compression, a classifier should operate with a small number of classes.
An example of image compression based on symbol matching is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/575,305 filed Dec. 20, 1995, entitled "Classification Of Scanned Symbols Into Equivalence Classes". A further example of image compression based on symbol matching is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,313 entitled "Method and Apparatus For Compression Of Images", Mark et al., issued Apr. 12, 1994 (the '313 patent). In the '313 patent an image is "precompressed" prior to symbol matching. The '313 patent describes using run-length encoding for such precompression. Symbols are extracted from the run-length representation. A voting scheme is used in conjunction with a plurality of similarity tests to improve symbol matching accuracy. The '313 patent further discloses a template composition scheme wherein the template may be modified based on symbol matches.
However, the aforementioned symbol based compression techniques do not compress particularly well with respect to pictorial images, in particular dithered images. This is because the pseudo random patterns typically causes a high number of equivalence classes to be created and because a very large number of symbols must be classified (often each dot would be interpreted as a separate symbol).

System for compressing and decompressing binary representations of dithered images