A system and method of managing, storing, and accessing cross references between related kinds of sub-record information in a computerized engineering database. A generic cross reference table which contains all the cross reference links for all the data items in all the data tables of the engineering database, is provided. Each link in the generic cross reference table is constituted by two records (1) a forward record with a specified link from a data item in a first data table to a record or a data item in a second data table, plus (2) a reverse record (partner record) with the link from the data item in the second data table to the record or an item in the first data table. Preferably, the link record in the cross reference table contains a link type value selected from a set of pre-defined link types for the pair of link points, comments associated with the link at the time of creation, and other link-creation information such as the identification of the user who created the link.

The present invention relates to database management systems and methods, and more particularly, to a system and method for linking and displaying information records in an engineering database.
In some highly complex industrial endeavors, particularly where safety is a major concern, the designers and operators of such facilities have a need to establish and maintain current records of the design bases for the myriad systems and subsystems of the facility. As an example, nuclear power plants contain many inter-related systems, subsystems, and components which were designed according to formal as well as informal standards and criteria. With so many components in such a plant, and faced with planned and unexpected maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, managers of the plant have a clear need for capturing and maintaining information about each system, subsystem and component, in an engineering database.
Such database would typically contain a multiplicity of records, each of which has a plurality of data items which are related, for example, to a particular system, subsystem, or component. The database could be set up to have a plurality of data or record tables, e.g., a table in which each valve in the plant is listed as a distinct record having associated therewith in the table, particular data items such as the type of valve, size, and functional system in which that particular valve is situated. A conventional database system would establish a relationship between the particular record associated with a particular valve in the valve data table, and a parent relationship between the valve and a particular subsystem of which it is a part, or a child relationship with sub-components of that particular valve.
The user of such database system would in some instances, want to identify and understand, for example, what particular documents, what particular requirements, and what particular assumptions were used in specifying the type or size of a particular valve listed in the valve data table. Such need may arise, for example, during the course of designing the plant, licensing the plant with regulatory agencies, determining whether original components satisfy new regulatory or other standards, or determining whether replacement components are consistent with the original design.

System and method for handling database cross references


A series of image frames are acquired in which an MR parameter such as echo time (TE) is changed and the resulting image frames are employed to produce an MRS image of a metabolite. Scan time is reduced without sacrificing image quality by reconstructing a composite image from data acquired for a plurality of the image frames and using a highly constrained image reconstruction method with the composite image to produce each image frame.

The field of the invention is magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) uses the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) phenomenon to produce spectra of tissue components. When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, Mz, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A signal is emitted by the excited spins, and after the excitation signal B1 is terminated, this signal may be received and processed to form a spectrum of a particular substance.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) may be used in vivo for the determination of individual chemical compounds located within a volume of interest. The underlying principle of MRS is that atomic nuclei are surrounded by a cloud of electrons which slightly shield the nucleus from any external magnetic field. As the structure of the electron cloud is specific to an individual molecule or compound, the magnitude of this screening effect is then also a characteristic of the chemical environment of individual nuclei. Since the resonant frequency of the nuclei is proportional to the magnetic field it experiences, the resonant frequency can be determined not only by the external applied field, but also by the small field shift generated by the electron cloud. Detection of this chemical shift, which is usually expressed as "parts per million" (PPM) of the main frequency, requires high levels of homogeneity of the main magnetic field B0.
Typically, MR proton spectroscopy is used to generate a one-dimensional (1D) frequency spectrum representing the presence of certain chemical bonds in the region of interest. In medical diagnosis and treatment, MRS provides a non-invasive means of identifying and quantifying metabolites from a region of interest, often the human brain. By finding the relative spectral amplitudes resulting from frequency components of different molecules, medical professionals can identify chemical species and metabolites indicative of diseases, disorders, and other pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, and the like. In this context, two nuclei are typically of particular interest, 1H and 31P. Phosphorus 31 MRS is directed to the detection of compounds involved in energy metabolism relating to membrane synthesis and degradation. Metabolites of particular interest in proton MRS studies include glutamate (Glu), glutainine (Gln), choline (Cho), creatine (Cre), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and the inositols (ml and sl). With new contrast agents such as hyperpolarized C13, metabolic processes can be observed in the human body, e.g. in the context of cancer detection, by analyzing the signal contributions from various metabolites in regions of interest. Also, much work has been done in cardiac energetics using 31P spectroscopy.
When utilizing these signals to produce spectral images, magnetic field gradients (Gx Gy and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. Each measurement is referred to in the art as a "view" and the number of views determines the resolution and quality of the image. The resulting set of received NMR signals, or views, or k-space samples, are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques. The total scan time is determined in part by the number of measurement cycles, or views, that are acquired for an image, and therefore, scan time can be reduced at the expense of image resolution and quality by reducing the number of acquired views.
The most prevalent method for acquiring an NMR data set from which an image can be reconstructed is referred to as the "Fourier transform" imaging technique or "spin-warp" technique. This technique is discussed in an article entitled "Spin-Warp NMR Imaging and Applications to Human Whole-Body Imaging", by W. A. Edelstein et al., Physics in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 25, p. 751-756 (1980). It employs a variable amplitude phase encoding magnetic field gradient pulse prior to the acquisition of NMR signals to phase encode spatial information in the direction of this gradient. In a two-dimensional implementation (2DFT), for example, spatial information is encoded in one direction by applying a phase encoding gradient (Gy) along that direction, and then a signal is acquired in the presence of a readout magnetic field gradient (Gx) in a direction orthogonal to the phase encoding direction. The readout gradient present during the spin-echo acquisition encodes spatial information in the orthogonal direction. In a typical 2DFT pulse sequence, the magnitude of the phase encoding gradient pulse Gy is incremented (Gy) in the sequence of views that are acquired during the scan. In a three-dimensional implementation (3DFT) a third gradient (Gz) is applied before each signal readout to phase encode along the third axis. The magnitude of this second phase encoding gradient pulse Gz is also stepped through values during the scan. These 2DFT and 3DFT methods sample k-space in a rectilinear pattern.
There has also been recent work using projection reconstruction methods for acquiring time-resolved MRA data as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,435. Projection reconstruction methods have been known since the inception of magnetic resonance imaging. Rather than sampling k-space in a rectilinear scan pattern as is done in Fourier imaging and shown in FIG. 2, projection reconstruction methods sample k-space with a series of views that sample radial lines extending outward from the center of k-space as shown in FIG. 3. The number of such radial projection views needed to sample k-space determines the length of the scan and if an insufficient number of views are acquired, streak artifacts are produced in the reconstructed image. The technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,435 reduces such streaking by acquiring successive undersampled images with interleaved projection views and sharing peripheral k-space data between successive images.
There are two methods used to reconstruct images from an acquired set of k-space radial projection views as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,710,686. The most common method is to regrid the radial k-space samples from their locations on the radial sampling trajectories to a Cartesian grid. The image is then reconstructed by performing a conventional 2D or 3D Fourier transformation of the regridded k-space samples. The second method for reconstructing an image is to transform the radial k-space projection views to Radon space by Fourier transforming each radial projection view. An image is reconstructed from these signal projections by filtering and backprojecting them into the field of view (FOV) as is commonly done with x-ray CT projections. As is well known in the art, if the acquired signal projections are insufficient in number to satisfy the Nyquist sampling theorem, streak artifacts are produced in the reconstructed image.
The standard backprojection method is shown in FIG. 4. Each acquired signal projection profile 10 is backprojected onto the field of view 12 by projecting each signal sample 14 in the profile 10 through the FOV 12 along the projection path as indicted by arrows 16. In projecting each signal sample 14 in the FOV 12 we have a no a priori knowledge of the subject and the assumption is made that the NMR signals in the FOV 12 are homogeneous and that the signal sample 14 should be distributed equally in each 2D or 3D pixel through which the projection path passes. For example, a projection path 8 is illustrated in FIG. 4 for a single signal sample 14 in one signal projection profile 10 as it passes through N pixels in the FOV 12. The signal value (P) of this signal sample 14 is divided up equally between these N pixels:Sn=(P×1)/N  (1)
where: Sn is the NMR signal value distributed to the nth pixel in a backprojection path having N pixels.
Clearly, the assumption that the NMR signal in the FOV 12 is homogeneous is not correct. However, as is well known in the art, if certain corrections are made to each signal profile 10 and a sufficient number of profiles are acquired at a corresponding number of different projection angles, the errors caused by this faulty assumption are minimized and image artifacts are suppressed. In a typical, filtered backprojection method of image reconstruction, 400 projections are typically required for a 256×256 pixel 2D image and 203,000 projections are required for a 256×256×256 voxel 3D image. If the method described in the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,435 is employed, the number of projection views needed for these same images can be reduced to 100 (2D) and 2000 (3D).

Highly constrained magnetic resonance spectroscopy image reconstruction method


Methods for forming field emission and/or field ionization structures with self-aligned gate electrode structures involve forming a cavity in a first face of a substrate and forming an oxide layer in the cavity. The oxide layer forms a mold for making a sharp field emission tip which will be exposed on a second face of the substrate. In a first method a gate electrode is formed in the substrate. The gate electrode is automatically spaced apart from and insulated from the tip by the oxide layer. The gate electrode may comprise a doped region in the substrate. In a variant method, a gate electrode is formed in a thin metal film deposited on the second face of the substrate. A photoresist mask is created by shining ultraviolet light on the first face of the substrate to expose the underside of a layer of photoresist deposited on the metal film in an area adjacent the tip mold. The mask is automatically aligned with the tip mold.

In recent years there has been a growing interest in replacing inefficient thermionic cathodes in electronic devices with much more efficient high field emission structures. A thermionic cathode causes electrons to be emitted from a cathode surface by raising the cathode surface to a very high temperature, either by passing a high electrical current through the cathode itself or through the use of a separate heater. Thermionic emission is very inefficient. Most of the energy is wasted as heat.
Field ionization and emission structures can emit electrons without being maintained at high temperatures. There are many potential applications for such structures. For example, arrays of field emission structures have been proposed for use as cathodes in flat panel displays, field-ionization type chemical detectors, vacuum microelectronic devices, electron microscopes, and high performance high frequency vacuum tubes.
Field emission structures comprise extremely sharp points (typically less then 100 nanometers in radius) of electrically conductive material. High electric fields may be achieved at the points by applying an electrical potential to the points relative to an adjacent structure. Where the point is negatively charged the electric field at the point can be sufficient to discharge large numbers of electrons from the point. When the point is positively charged then the electric field in the vicinity of the point can be sufficient to ionize gas molecules in contact with the point by causing electrons to tunnel through the potential barrier into the point.
The emission or ionization of a point may be controlled by providing a gate electrode structure adjacent the point and applying an electrical potential to the gate electrode. The effect of the potential on the gate electrode on emission or ionization at the point increases as the distance between the point and the gate electrode is reduced. Minimum gate electrode potentials can most conveniently be obtained by fabricating the gate electrode together with the field ionization and emission structures.
Gray et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,507, describe a method for manufacturing field emission cathode sources. The method involves applying a mask to an oriented wafer of single crystal material and then performing an orientation-dependent etch through holes in the mask to produce pits. The orientation dependent etch produces pits which have a pyramidal shape. The pits are the inverse of the desired shape of the points. The mask is removed and a layer of emission material is deposited to fill the pits and cover the surface of the wafer. The wafer is then etched away to expose pointed replicas of the pits, whose sharp points can be used as field ionization or emitters. The Gray et al. method is simple but it does not provide an integrated gate electrode and the points produced are not as sharp as would be desirable.
Nakamoto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,118, provides a method for fabricating field emission structures with integrated gate electrodes. The gate electrodes are deposited after field emission points are formed. The Nakamoto et al. methods require several separate masking steps. The requirement to align several masks tends to make to Nakamoto et al. methods expensive. It is especially disadvantageous that the Nakamoto et al. methods require aligning features created by masking on one face of a wafer with masks to mask features on the opposite face of the wafer. Furthermore, the Nakamoto et al. methods use equipment that is expensive and not universally available.
Other micro fabrication methods for making microminiature tips are described in Akamine, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,827, Carver, U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,002, Zimmerman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,908, Neukermans et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,647, and, Spindt A Thin Film Field-Emission Cathode, Journal of Applied Physics, V. 47, p. 5248 (1976). Jensen et al., Analytical and semi numerical models for gated field emitter arrays. I. theory, J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B 14(3), (May/June 1996) describes the desired relationship between a gate electrode and a field emitter point.
What is needed is a method for fabricating field-emission structures or arrays of field emission structures that can be practised at lower cost than currently known methods. Also needed is a lower cost method for fabricating field-emission structures or arrays of field emission structures which incorporate a gate electrode. In particular, what is needed is a method for forming a field emission point which is aligned in an aperture of a gate electrode without the necessity of precisely aligning a mask. Also needed is a method to fabricate field-emission points which are sharper than those produced by current methods.

Low-cost methods for manufacturing field ionization and emission structures with self-aligned gate electrodes


An apparatus for the detection of spectral information along a geometrical line with a dispersive element, which is suspended from an axis of rotation, for the spectral dispersion of electromagnetic radiation from a range on the geometrical line into spectral constituents, a line detector for the detection of the spectral constituents of the radiation emanating from the range on the geometrical line and a dispersive-element deflector, the deflector being designed to deflect the dispersive element on the axis of rotation, so that depending on an angle of deflection a radiation from another range of the geometrical line is incident on the line detector.

As is known, a spectrometer enables measuring light in a certain spectral range depending on wavelengths. The core pieces of each spectrometer are a dispersive element such as a grating or a prism the light, the spectral distribution of which is to be determined, is incident to and which disperses the incident light into its spectral constituents, and a respective detector for acquiring one or several of the spectral constituents. FIG. 6 shows a classical arrangement of a grating spectrometer. A moveable grating 900 is illuminated through an entrance slot and a bundling element (not shown) by a beam of light 902, the spectral distribution of which is to be determined. The movable grating 900 is hinged to an axis that runs in parallel to the grating lines. Grating 900 is adjusted quasi-statistically, typically via a stepper motor. The light 906 split according to wavelengths—more precisely a spectral constituent thereof—is detected by means of a detector element 908, while the grating 900 is moved into different positions. This way, the light 906, which is split according to wavelengths in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is sampled by means of detector 908, while the measurement signals thereof are recorded correspondingly in order to determine the spectral distribution of the beam of light 902.
Spectrometers are used, among others, in so-called spectral imaging systems. A spectral imaging system is a sensor system that simultaneously acquires spectral and spatial information, which provides the entire mechanical, electronical and optical periphery, which analyses combination data and forwards the analytical values. In the visible spectral range (380-780 nm wavelength), the demands made on spectral imaging systems may be sufficiently well met by systems with two-dimensional detector arrangements (CCD image sensors and/or so-called 2D array detectors). Here, the geometrical line to be evaluated is imaged via a fixedly mounted diffraction grating onto the detector surface. A representation is then obtained on the two-dimensional detector, wherein one direction corresponds to the geometrical component and the other to the wavelength. Thus, a spectral intensity distribution may be determined for each geometrical location of the line. Suitable detectors are available with a very large number of detector elements, presently up to the double-digit million area, for example as a chip with 3,000×5,000 elements and more.
Due to natural and technical constraints, measurements specifically in the infrared spectral range are often necessary. This is, almost without exception, indispensable especially for applications that demand measurements during the night without direct illumination by the sun or additional artificial light sources. The infrared spectral range lies above the sensitivity limit of silicon detectors (1,300 nm wavelength). In this range, the availability of suitable detectors, particularly of two-dimensional arrangements, are very limited. Monolithically integrated devices are presently very expensive. The number of detector elements is comparably low already in the case of line arrangements. Presently, lines with 256-512 elements are commercially available. Under the use of infrared spectrometers, which, as a rule, comprise InGaAs (Indium-Gallium-Arsenide) line detectors and fixedly mounted gratings, such systems may be realized by combination with a so-called sample unit for beam control. The system expenditure, however, is very high and the systems operate conditionally low with simultaneously limited picture-dot resolution. The complex technology is sensitive with regard to the adjustment of the assemblies to one another and with regard to interferences from the environment.
One conceivable realization alternative for the solution of the problem comprising an oscillating grating chip, as described in publication document WO 03069290 A1, has the disadvantage that the spectral resolution through the movement area takes place with a very fine resolution, which is, however, not advantageous due to the optical constraints, which, however, provides for the geometrical resolution by the relatively small number of detector elements. A geometrical resolution of only 256-512 dots is for a number of applications not sufficient.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.


A material sorting system is disclosed. The system has an electrical charge device arranged to produce electrical charging conditions for substantially all particles of a material sample such that an electrical charge at least partially dependent on particle capacitance is imparted to one or more particles, and a particle delivery device operably connected to the electrical charge device and arranged to cause the one or more particles to move along a flowpath. The system also has a deflection device arranged to cause each particle to deviate from the flowpath an amount at least partially dependent on the electrical charge imparted to the particle, and a collection device in fluid communication with the deflection device. The collection device is arranged to collect the one or more particles at one or more locations corresponding to the amount of deviation of the one or more particles from the flowpath. A corresponding method is also disclosed. The material sorting system and method are suitable for sorting cells according to the level of cell differentiation.

Materials such as cells can be sorted by detecting differences between the cells and selectively sorting the cells according to the differences. Some such sorting techniques require that cells are modified by attachment of a suitable marker, with the marker being subsequently used to detect the differences and sort the cells.
This type of sorting system tends to suffer from low throughput, low yields and cell damage among others.

Material sorting system and method of sorting material


A winding apparatus winds a wire around the circumference of a circular former and lays out the wire in an arrangement of columns and rows to form a bead ring. A roller for pressing a wire positioned on the circumference of the former is located on an apparatus frame and movable in a direction along the columns of the wire and a direction along the rows of the wire. A circular cam having cam surfaces is supported by a camshaft that rotates in synchronism with rotation of the former. A cam follower is engaged with the cam surfaces of the cam and moved integrally with the roller in the direction along the columns of the wire and the direction along the rows of the wire. Thus, the cam surfaces act to move the roller in the direction along the columns of the wire.

Generally, in this type of winding apparatus, a roller, which restricts the position of the wire to a location corresponding to the circumference of the former, is movable in the axial direction and radial direction of the former, that is, a direction along the columns of the wire and a direction along the rows of the wire. Whenever the former is rotated once and a single winding of the wire is wound around the circumference of the former, the roller is moved one pitch in the direction along the columns of the wire by an actuator.

Fuji Seiko Co., Ltd. and Fuji Shoji Co., Ltd.


A first traffic flow directed to a first wireless device is received. A second traffic flow directed to a second wireless device is received. These traffic flows comprise at least a first service flow classification and a second service flow classification. The first traffic flow and the second traffic flow are scheduled based on the first service flow classification and the second flow classification. This produces first and second device scheduled flows. The first and second device scheduled flows are classified into a plurality of flow classes. The plurality of flow classes comprises at least a first flow class and a second flow class. The first scheduled flow and the second scheduled flow are scheduled based on the first flow class and the second flow class. This produces an aggregate traffic flow.

Wireless communication may be used as a means of accessing a network. Wireless communication has certain advantages over wired communications for accessing a network. One of those advantages is a lower cost of infrastructure to provide access to many separate locations or addresses compared to wired communications. This is the so-called "last mile" problem. Another advantage is mobility. Wireless communication devices, such as cell phones, are not tied by wires to a fixed location. To use wireless communication to access a network, a customer needs to have at least one transceiver in active communication with another transceiver that is connected to the network.
To facilitate wireless communications, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has promulgated a number of wireless standards. These include the 802.11 (WiFi) standards and the 802.16 (WiMAX) standards. Likewise, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has promulgated standards to facilitate wireless communications. This includes TIA-856, which is also known as Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO). The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has also promulgated a standard known a long term evolution (LTE). Additional standards such as the fourth generation communication system (4G) are also being pursued. All of these standards pursue the aim of providing a comprehensive IP solution where voice, data and streamed multimedia can be given to users on an "anytime, anywhere" basis. These standards also aim to provide higher data rates than previous generations. All of these standards may include specifications for various aspects of wireless communication with a network including processes for registering on the network, carrier modulation, frequency bands of operation, and message formats.
Overview
A method of managing network traffic is disclosed. A first traffic flow directed to a first wireless device is received. A second traffic flow directed to a second wireless device is received. These traffic flows comprise at least a first service flow classification and a second service flow classification. The first traffic flow is scheduled based on the first service flow classification and the second flow classification. This produces a first device scheduled flow. The second traffic flow is schedule based on the first service flow classification and the second flow classification. This produces a second device scheduled flow.
The first device scheduled flow and the second device scheduled flow are classified into a plurality of flow classes. The plurality of flow classes comprise at least a first flow class and a second flow class. The first scheduled flow and the second scheduled flow are scheduled based on the first flow class and the second flow class. This produces an aggregate traffic flow.
A method of scheduling backhaul traffic to a plurality of wireless devices is disclosed. A first packet and a second packet that are directed to a first wireless device are received. The first packet is of a first traffic class. The second packet is of a second traffic class. The first packet is placed into a first queue based on the first traffic class. The second packet is placed into a second queue based on the second traffic class. The first packet is removed from the first queue and the second packet is removed from the second queue in an order that is based on at least the first traffic class, the second traffic class, and an amount of space left in at least the first queue.
The first packet is classified into a first flow classification. The second packet is classified into a second flow classification. The first packet is placed into a first flow class queue based on the first flow classification. The second packet is placed into a second flow class queue based on the second flow classification. The first packet and the second packet are sent to a backhaul link in an order that is based on at least the first flow class, the second flow class, and an amount of space left in the first flow queue.
A method of scheduling backhaul traffic directed to a plurality of wireless devices is disclosed. An incoming traffic flow comprising a first device flow and a second device flow is received. The incoming traffic flow is separated into the first device flow and the second device flow. The first device flow is separated into a first service first device flow, and a second service first device flow. The second device flow is separated into a first service second device flow, and a second service second device flow. A first service first device flow packet is sent to a first per-hop behavior queue. A second service first device flow packet is sent to a second per-hop behavior queue. These packets are sent in an order that is based on a first service classification associated with the first service first device flow, and a second service classification associated with the second service first device flow. The first service first device flow packet and the second service first device flow packet are sent to a backhaul link in an order that is based on a per-hop behavior associated with the first per-hop behavior queue.


Techniques for responding to a request for a resource on a network include receiving at a server the request from a client process for the resource. The server transmits a set of request information items associated with the request. In response to this transmission, a database server receives at least a subset of the set of request information items. Within the database server, at least one particular request information item of the subset is used as a key to identify a routine. The routine is executed to generate a set of access information items. The server responds to the request based on the set of access information items. Using these techniques, the server responds to the request differently without taking the server offline, by changing the routine indicated within the database server.

Networks are widely used to connect computer systems to each other. Computer systems execute one or more processes. Those processes typically implement components of software "applications." For the purpose of explanation, the computer system or device that is executing a particular process or application shall be referred to as the "host" of that process or application.
In some arrangements, the applications are equals, called "peers," which perform the same functions and which mutually control communications among themselves. In a widely used alternative arrangement, an application running on one host, such as a personal computer or handheld device, is called a client process. The client process requests services from another application called a server process. The server process is often executing on a different host or hosts that have substantially more computing power than the device on which the client is executing.
The term "client" is often used to refer to either the client process (software) or the host (software/hardware) for the client process. To avoid confusion, the term "client" shall be used herein to refer to the host unless otherwise indicated. Similarly, the term "server" is often used to refer to either the server process (software) or the host (software/hardware) for the server process. To avoid confusion, the term "server" shall be used herein to refer to the host unless otherwise indicated.
Organizations providing one or more services on one or more servers may not want to provide the same service to every user of every client making a request. For example, some resources may be intended only for persons associated with the organization and not for the general public.
One solution for preventing access to a resource by a user of a client process who is not an intended user is an authentication mechanism built into the server process. The authentication mechanism challenges the user of the client process to enter a user identification and password. If the user provides the correct identification and password, the user's client is allowed to access the resources provided by the server process. If not, the user's client is denied access.
One problem with this approach is that a particular server may host several server processes, and the authentication process may have to be built into each one. If an authentication process becomes out of date, for example because an authorized user has left the organization, the changes have to be made at all the authentication processes.
Another problem with this approach is that the response is very unsophisticated, providing a simple two-state, "yes" or "no" response. Either the user of the client process is who the user claims to be and is allowed access to all resources provided by the server process; or the user is not, and is denied access to all resources. This is not always satisfactory. An organization providing the server may want the client processes of some users to be denied access, some to be given access to some resources, and others to be given access to other resources. A process providing such multi-valued responses is called "authorization." For example, a hardware retailer may want to authorize no documentation for some users, marketing materials for other users, user documentation for existing customers, and detailed specifications for technicians troubleshooting equipment in the field. Different users have different authorizations.
One solution for providing an array of different response to multiple requests for the same resource is to use plug-in modules that can be executed on the servers and that can be customized to provide particular behavior by the server processes.
One problem with this approach is that the plug-in modules are managed separately on each host on which it is installed. If an organization has connected several hosts to the network to handle the number of requests expected, the plug-in module has to be installed on each host. The different hosts may be different platforms that use different combinations of hardware and operating systems. In such circumstance, the plug-in module and installation process might have to be modified for each platform combination. In addition, every time the behavior is modified, changes have to be made for each platform, and the appropriate changes have to be installed on each host. Maintaining consistent behavior across multiple hosts acting as servers becomes burdensome and prone to error.
Another problem with conventional plug-in modules is that one plug-in module handles all requests for all resources at each server. Therefore, to provide individualized response to each request, the module can become exceedingly complex and computationally intense. In many instances, the module is kept manageable by limiting the number of different responses.
The problem of complex modules is exacerbated because some plug-in modules are implemented so that a separate instance of the module is executed for each request received by each server. For services that are intended to be provided to hundreds and thousands of clients, computational resources consumed by hundreds or thousands of instances of complex plug-in modules can be excessive and accelerate the degradation of performance observed at the servers with increasing numbers of clients.
Furthermore, many plug-in modules can only be changed by removing the active plug-in module through commands manually issued at the server, and inserting the new plug-in module through additional commands manually issued at the server. This sequence of commands makes both versions of the plug-in module unavailable for a period of time during the change. Making both versions of the plug-in module unavailable for a time essentially takes the behavior provided by the plug-in modules offline for a while, producing a gap in the behavior offered by the plug-in modules. Sometimes the server application itself, or an entire suite of server applications using the plug-in module, becomes unavailable during the change of plug-in modules, rendering the server unresponsive for a period of time. Such a gap in behavior is often unacceptable on a server that receives requests at a high rate for most times of the day.
Based on the preceding description, there is a clear need for customized responses to requests for resources that alleviate or avoid these problems.
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Techniques for dynamic rule-based response to a request for a resource on a network


Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with a shift register with a dynamic entry point, which may particularly useful for aligning skewed data. The dynamic entry shift register typically includes a series of storage elements, with multiplexers distributed between the storage elements. Each of the multiplexers is configured to select between: (a) the output signal of a previous storage element, and (b) the input signal. A control is configured to configure the multiplexers for a data signal applied as the input signal to induce an appropriate delay of the data signal as the output signal. The dynamic entry shift register can be scaled to accommodate a longer delay while still using only 2:1 multiplexers between stages in the dynamic entry shift register(s).

The communications industry is rapidly changing to adjust to emerging technologies and ever increasing customer demand. This customer demand for new applications and increased performance of existing applications is driving communications network and system providers to employ networks and systems having greater speed and capacity (e.g., greater bandwidth). Therefore, these systems are designed to operate at higher speeds, which may include sending data between multiple components within a system or between systems using multiple links. Data skewing can occur when a data is partitioned and sent in parallel across multiple links, and the receiving system typically must realign the data.

Shift register with dynamic entry point particularly useful for aligning skewed data


A passenger door control set simulates the electrical sequencing and control circuits that controls the operation of an aircraft's passenger doors, allowing the door to be opened and/or closed, and substitutes for the normal sequencing and control circuits that were removed from the aircraft during its conversion to a freighter configuration. The set contains a portable equipment box and a portable door switch box, and a set of adapter cables in a kit. The equipment box is connected by selected cables to the overhead equipment panel connectors and the door switch box is connected to the door bulkhead connectors for the selected aircraft door. Indicators are provided at each box to perceptibly indicate the correctness of the hook up and availability of electrical power.

Certain aircraft are convertible. They have multiple configurations; one configuration for transporting passengers and another alternative configuration for transporting freight. Such aircraft is converted from one configuration to the other in short time to obvious advantage. Convertibility allows the aircraft to be more fully utilized, essentially around the clock in one configuration or another as needed to meet the demands of the transportation marketplace. One such convertible aircraft, as example, is the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft.
As is familiar to those boarding an aircraft to obtain passenger service, the aircraft contains rows of seats for seating passengers, paneling on the side walls, a ceiling, overhead compartments, a galley, flight attendant's control panel, and all other accouterments of the passenger configuration. One also finds passenger doors located on each side of the aircraft's rear through which the passenger may embark, and debark the airplane. The freighter configuration, however, is not too familiar, if at all, to the lay person. When the passenger period is complete, the craft may be used for freight shipments for another period of time and it is converted to the freighter configuration. The passenger seats are removed; the ceiling, wall paneling, and cooking galley are removed; and the overhead equipment control panels and the attendant's passenger door control switches are removed, and cargo rollers are installed over the floor to yield a large hollow shell for warehousing freight.
Freight carried on pallets is introduced through the aircraft's freight door, a door located at the front of the plane that is rarely seen by or even known to most passengers. Those loaded pallets are pushed to the rear of the plane. Additional loaded pallets follow and are positioned along side, continuing until the plane's cabin is completely filled with freight. As is apparent, when the craft is in the freighter configuration there seems little need to use any passenger doors. The removal of the flight attendant's passenger door control switches and associated circuit breakers located in the passenger cabin, that allowed a flight attendant to open and close the passenger doors during passenger configuration, until now, seemed of no material consequence.
Should one wish to access the aircraft through the passenger door while in the freight configuration, the door may be opened with an emergency air bottle. However, use of the air bottle is not routine and is impractical. The air bottle is an emergency tool designed for "one time" operation, and it only opens a single door. Hence, its use for routine door operation is not practical.
One also might wish to raise and lower the passenger door attendant to converting the aircraft from the passenger configuration to the freight configuration. As example in some recent aircraft decorating arrangements, one finds that although the passenger accouterments and the flight attendant's passenger door control switches may be removed, it is not possible to remove the trim around the passenger door frame without first opening the passenger door. In such a situation the airline personnel are faced with a "catch 22" situation. They cannot remove some parts of the craft's interior if the door is in its raised, that is, open position, and cannot remove the door trim if the door is in its closed position. Such a situation would require complex maneuvering by those airline personnel charged with transforming the aircraft's configuration that is both time consuming and requires undertaking a non-traditional procedure. The desire remains to strip the passenger cabin of the passenger accouterments so that the cargo can be loaded.
The door could be forced open using several strong persons, but that is not a safe method. Or the flight attendant's door control switches and the associated overhead equipment panels, removed during the re-configuration procedure can be replaced, operated to raise the door, the door trim removed, the door lowered again, and the flight attendant's switches and overhead equipment panels removed again, a second time. In the MD-11 aircraft, as example, approximately three and one-half hours is required to re-install and then remove those flight attendant passenger door switches. Such is a time consuming procedure, that not only increases operational costs, but could result in unintended delays in flying the aircraft. A need thus exists in such limited circumstances for an alternative method of operating the aircraft's motorized passenger doors without the necessity of reinstalling the flight attendant's control panel and overhead equipment panel.
An object of the invention therefore is to provide a novel passenger door control apparatus that emulates the functions of a flight attendant's control panel and the associated equipment panel.
A further object of the invention to provide a portable easily transportable electrical apparatus that may be temporarily installed, quickly and easily, aboard aircraft to permit operation of the passenger doors when the aircraft is in the freight configuration.
As an example, the Md-11 convertible freighter aircraft may be changed in configuration to transport passengers or to transport freight. The passenger doors on that craft are electrically operated and contain a number of safety mechanisms to ensure that the door is not damaged by the opening and closing movements. A release solenoid is provided that essentially locks the door in place, preventing unintended door movement. Before the door can be either raised or lowered, the release solenoid must first be operated to unlock the door. To open, the door is elevated or raised by means of an electrically controlled motor mechanism. To close, the electrical motor mechanism, lowers the door. Additionally, position limit switches are properly positioned relative to the door to break the electrical power circuit to the motor when the door attains a prescribed limit position during each of the opening and closing operations. Those limit switches prevent the door from moving past the prescribed limit positions during either opening or closing.
For freighter configuration the cabin attendant door control panel and overhead circuit breaker equipment panels that contain the number 2 and 3 left and right passenger door control circuits are removed to make room for cargo. The removal of that equipment and control renders the number 2 and 3 passenger doors inoperative.
The respective passenger door motor, open/close limit switches, and release solenoids, which remain in place in both aircraft configurations, require electrical power and proper operational sequencing to operate the electric motor driven cable mechanism to raise and/or lower the door. The motor driven cable mechanism pulls the door up a track to a position above the door opening in the side of the aircraft, the door open position; and lowers the door down the track to the door closed position.
A specific object of the invention, thus, is to permit passenger door operation of an Md-11 aircraft when the aircraft is in the freighter configuration while retaining the safety features provided by the door's upper and lower position limit switches.


Presented is a system and method for distributing a network application across a plurality of geographically dispersed network sites. The system comprises a plurality of network sites connected by a shared network and interconnected by a dedicated non-blocking communication network. The system can use different interconnecting network topologies based on the number of sites to be interconnected. The method balances the network application load and resources across the interconnected network sites based on a distribution policy implemented without burdening the shared network. The method provides redundancy capabilities by detecting the loss of a network site and redistributing the network application load to the remaining network sites.

In general, communication networks are constructed from interconnected network systems, with each system providing support for networking applications. Typically, different network systems provide support for different types of network activity and accordingly lend themselves to running network applications associated with the network system's role in the network hierarchy. For example, in the context of the internet, network applications such as routers, switches and gateways typically perform their responsibilities in a network hierarchy based on their functional requirements and their capacity. In this regard, any particular network application may be located in a particular network level depending on the provided network functions or the relative cost and complexity of the system.
Current network applications typically are designed and developed for network systems that are provisioned, maintained and managed on a site-by-site basis. In this context, a site refers to a particular geographical location. Accordingly, each network site will administer their installed network systems and applications. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates two prior art network sites, Site A and Site B connected by a network and implement two network systems, System A and System B. Further in the prior art example, two network applications, Router A, installed in System A, and Router B, installed in System B, are illustrated. In this prior art example, Router A and System A are provisioned and administered independently from Router B and System B.
In another aspect of current network systems, illustrated in FIG. 2, is the typical design for providing support for a system capable of withstanding a catastrophic failure of network components. Addressing this requirement in today's network systems requires some network providers, such as telecom systems, to include redundant systems in their designs. Typically, a redundant solution requires the installation of identical equipment on geographically different sites. In the event of a catastrophic failure of one of the sites, the other site can take over the responsibilities of both sites.
Problems associated with typical network designs revolve around the site-centric implementation described above. In an example where a network application, for example an Internet Protocol (IP) router, is required on two geographically different sites on a network, a network system providing an IP router application would prescribe installing the IP router application on each site. Consequently, provisioning, management and maintenance of the IP router application is also required on both sites leading to additional cost, effort and possibility for mistakes in configuration. Further, when a networking application is installed on geographically disparate sites, each system must be specified based on the intended network traffic capacity for the site. Consequently, the network inherits a responsibility for routing of packets to each of the systems while considering the load capabilities of each system and therefore requires some form of a traffic engineer component for performing load balancing to maintain acceptable operation between the two systems.
Another problem associated with current network designs relates to networks, such as telecom networks, required to comply with stringent requirements associated with redundancy and resiliency. Accomplishing an advanced, high availability solution with existing systems and technology typically involves providing two fully redundant systems in geographically different sites with each system sized for twice the required capacity. In the case of a catastrophic failure of one of the sites, the other site is prepared to take over the traffic of the failed site. This solution is very expensive because each site must be sized for the full capacity of the system but typically never uses more than half of its capacity. Many network applications are not cost effective with this type of design.
Accordingly, market pressure is building for a method and system capable of providing single point management of network applications distributed among disparate geographical sites and capable of providing failover support when any given geographical site experiences a catastrophic failure.

Method and system for distributing a network application among a plurality of network sites on a shared network


A sanitary steady bearing assembly and method provides for sanitary characteristics, easy cleanability, and easy replacement of wear parts without distributing the rest of the agitator, and can also support the agitator shaft during seal changes. The bearing assembly includes a bushing cup, a pedestal hub, a bushing shaft, and a bushing element.

Mixing devices are in wide use in industry. For example, a large number of applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, chemical processing, and other industries often use a mixing device which includes a vessel for containing the material to be mixed, and a typically vertical agitator shaft that is driven by a motor and has radially extending impellers.
In some of these arrangements, the vertical agitator shaft is a multi-piece shaft having a top shaft driven by a motor and gearbox or speed reducer, connected to one or more intermediate impeller shafts with radial impellers, and a lower or bottom shaft. Often, the vertical agitator shaft projects downwards from the top of the vessel and at its lower end is supported by a so-called steady bearing or foot bearing. The foot bearing typically includes some form of bushing arrangement that is attached to the lower end of the shaft to resist side loads on the shaft.
The above mentioned conventional foot-type steady bearing designs are effective, but have some disadvantages however. In particular, some industries require highly sanitary operating conditions and cleanability. The presently known steady foot bearing designs suffer from the disadvantages that they typically have numerous horizontal surfaces, unsealed cavities, exposed threaded connections, and other difficult to clean surfaces and components.
Another difficultly with the present designs is that replacement of the bushing wear parts can generally not be accomplished without significant vertical adjustment of the agitator shaft, thus undesirably requiring partial disassembly of the rest of the mixer, including the top seal.
Yet another disadvantage of the existing designs is that during repair or maintenance of the top seal arrangement, these designs may not have the ability to support the bottom of the agitator shaft, and therefore support of the agitator shaft is required from the top during these changes.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved sanitary steady bearing and method which provides for sanitary characteristics, easy cleanability, and easy replacement of wear parts without disassembling the rest of the agitator, and which can also support the agitator shaft during seal changes.


A method for a knowledge-based casino game. A first embodiment provides the knowledge-based casino game as a bonus game for an underlying casino game. A second embodiment provides a stand-alone knowledge-based casino game and a third embodiment provides back-and-forth play between a casino game and a knowledge-based casino game.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to casino games and, in particular, to casino games utilizing a player's knowledge as part of the game play.
2. Statement of the Problem
Casino games of chance presently fall into two categories—those that incorporate an element of skill, either in the betting or the playing, and those that do not. Many casino games of chance have some element of skill with respect to betting. For example, in Craps, some wagers have a house advantage of about 1%, while others have a house edge of nearly 17%. Clearly, the player will fare better, in the long run, avoiding wagers with a huge house advantage. Generally, any casino game of chance offering a variety of player expectations based on wagering has an element of betting skill involved. So, too, a player will fare better (for appropriate games) utilizing a good playing strategy. Examples of conventional casino games of chance in which playing skill is a major factor include Blackjack, Poker, and many card games in which the player has a unique hand.
While casino games of chance with an element of skill are plentiful, "skillful" play does not necessarily imply short-run success. For example, in Blackjack, the proper play when holding a "twelve" vs. a dealer "seven" is to hit. However, if the dealer hit card is a "ten," then the player busts and loses the wager. Similarly, all existing skill-based games retain an element of chance such that a "correct" play will sometimes be penalized, whereas an "incorrect" play will sometimes be rewarded. All of these casino games of chance relate to a player's skill of game play, rules, and statistical odds.
A number of well known conventional consumer games using a player's knowledge exist such as JEOPARDY. JEOPARDY is such a knowledge-based game wherein players win money based upon their knowledge of the answer to a question. In a typical round, a question is put to three players and the first to respond with the correct answer wins an amount of money which is displayed in front of the player. In the FINAL JEOPARDY round, a player may wager an amount of money, in the complete discretion of the player, from the accumulated winnings on having the correct answer to a question. The player writes the answer down and, if correct, receives the amount wagered which is added to the accumulated winnings. If the player is wrong, the amount wagered is deducted from the accumulated winnings. JEOPARDY represents a consumer game show wherein a player, simply using knowledge, plays to win money and in the FINAL JEOPARDY round can actually wager that money. Such consumer game shows as JEOPARDY, FAMILY FEUD, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, etc. are designed to always pay out money to the players. Such game shows earn a profit from advertising and merchandising revenues, but the actual games are designed to always pay out money. Furthermore, players upon starting the game are not required to ante up a wager or a bet as is commonly found in a casino.
Patent Cooperation Treaty International Publication Number WO 98/09259 provides a tic-tac-toe (or games such as Battleship or Concentration) casino game where a player may play against a machine or another player. In tic-tac-toe, a video screen displays touch sensitive areas. The player inserts 1 to 5 credits and presses a gamble button. The player then touches an image element on the screen and a large X is placed at that element as well as a prize indicia. The machine then selects an image element and places a large zero. This process continues. When the machine wins tic-tac-toe, the player loses the bet. When the player wins the tic-tac-toe, the machine pays the player the sum of the prize indicia in each image element multiplied by the number of credits bet. It is well known that the game of tic-tac-toe, with optimal play on the part of the participants, will necessarily result in a draw. Hence the 98/09259 patent requires, for the player to win as is taught, the computer opponent must play randomly, or at least occasionally play suboptimally (otherwise, the player would never win). A player who knows how to play tic-tac-toe and who would normally win, therefore, is not assured of success. Furthermore, the use of random "go again" or "lose a turn" squares ensures that the outcome of the game remains random (i.e., a game of chance) as opposed to deterministic.
A continuing need exists to provide new and exciting casino games. Having the opportunity to test a player's knowledge of trivia, facts, surveys, pricing, and so forth independent of a player's skill in a game of chance would be a welcome addition to the casino experience. Also, the use of knowledge serves to add an element of teamwork to the casino game, as patrons will ask colleagues and other participants for assistance if in doubt. A need exists to provide a knowledge-based casino game.

Knowledge-based casino game and method therefor

Progrssive Gaming International Corporation


Methods and systems described herein implement a recommendation system for providing recommendations for generating a requirements specification for agile software development. In one implementation, the system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises a mapping module and an agile recommendation module. The mapping module is configured to map knowledge elements of at least one ontology instance selected from among a plurality of ontology instances with another ontology instance selected from among the plurality of the ontology instances. The agile recommendation module is configured to generate a knowledge corpus based on the mapped knowledge elements of the ontology instances and at least one environmental parameter, receive modifications in the knowledge corpus, and provide recommendations to generate a requirements specification based at least, in part, on the received modifications.

Generally, prior to designing any software product or application, the requirements of its users are captured. For this, the requirements are defined in a requirements specification, prepared typically by a requirement analyst. The requirement analyst is responsible for identifying the requirements after interaction with the users and other stakeholders. To understand the requirements of the users and to, subsequently, concretize the requirements, knowledge of the domain to which the software is related, i.e., domain knowledge, is required. For example, if the software is being developed for an insurance company, it is desired that the requirement analyst has access to knowledge about insurance norms and practices. The requirement analyst generally obtains the requisite domain knowledge from a domain expert. However, the services of the domain expert are usually very expensive and add to the overall cost of developing the software.
In general, the teams including the requirement analyst and programmers, who capture the user requirements and develop the application are geographically distributed and do not have a common business language to efficiently and effectively interact with each other. Further, since the teams are geographically distributed, the availability of the domain expert cannot be ensured at all times and for each and every team.
Further, in traditional software development methodologies, a rigid structure is followed throughout the software development lifecycle. Everything, from the requirements specification to the final delivery and maintenance, is documented in the beginning itself and strictly followed. Therefore, modifications, which may be required due to change in requirements, for example, changed user preferences, become difficult to implement, both in terms of cost and complexity.
Agile software development methodologies, on the other hand, involve rapid software development with shorter development lifecycle and greater collaboration between various stakeholders. The shorter development life cycle is ensured by developing an application in various logical and coherent units of functionalities, also referred to as iterations.

Recommendation system for agile software development


The disclosure relates to a system providing enhanced security of a bi-directional data transmission controlling access to an enclosed space, including an identification device with a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit installed in said enclosed space, and an identifier carried by a user wishing to gain access, a data interchange between said identification device and said identifier normally being established when the distance between them is less than a predetermined limit, the access being granted only when said identification device has authenticated said identifier, wherein, to prevent an interchange of identification data at a distance greater than said predetermined limit, notably by interposing an unauthorized repeater, the system includes means of switching that establish a momentary loopback of said transmitting circuit of said identification device, via a return circuit of said identifier , and said identification device includes means of measuring the resonance frequency of the oscillation generated by such a loopback, and means of control able to measure the difference between said resonance frequency and a reference frequency, so as to maintain access interdiction when this difference exceeds a predetermined value. The invention is notably applicable to secure control of access to a vehicle.

The invention relates to a system for enhancing the security of a bi-directional data transmission used to control access to an enclosed space, of the type including an identification device, with a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit, installed in the enclosed space, and an identifier carried by a user who wishes to gain access. A data interchange is established between the identification device and the identifier to confirm the identity of the user. This interchange is normally established when the distance between the identifier and the identification device is less than a predetermined limit, access being granted only when the identification device authenticates the identifier.
The invention has many potential applications, and appears to be particularly suitable for a system of enhanced access security to an automobile vehicle whose openings, notably the doors of the passenger compartment, include locks controlled by the access system.
In this type of system, to gain access the user must first start an identification operation. This operation can be triggered, for example, by pressing a control button on the access door, or by a remote control, or possibly by a presence sensor installed in the enclosed space.
Generally, this start of the identification operation necessitates that the user be in close proximity to the enclosed space to which he requires access.
The identification operation makes use of a data interchange between the identification device and the identifier constituted, for example, by a badge containing an electromagnetic transponder. When the operation is triggered, the identification device installed in the enclosed space generally emits an interrogation signal to activate the identifier which then returns a coded signal analyzed by the identification device. If the coded signal corresponds to the authorized code, the identification device grants access, for example by unlocking one or more locks. The signals interchanged are generally electromagnetic signals.
To improve the security, the system is designed to provide only a short transmission range such that an interchange of identification data between the identification device and identifier can normally be established only when the distance between the enclosed space and the identifier is less than a predetermined limit, for example a few tens of meters.
Despite these precautions, such an access system runs the risk of being pirated by another transmission-reception system interposed in the link between the identification device and the identifier, this pirate transmission-reception serving in fact only as a repeater.
For example, two pirates acting together could fraudulently gain access to the enclosed space as follows. A first pirate, equipped with a transmission-reception system installed for example in a bag approaches a vehicle closed by the authorized user who then walks away. The second pirate, equipped with a transmission-reception system similar that of his accomplice follows the user carrying the identifier. When the authorized user is sufficiently far away, the first pirate starts the identification operation, for example by pressing a control button on the door of the vehicle. The signals emitted by the identification device are relayed by the transmission-reception system of the first pirate to the system of the second pirate, that repeats the signals of the identification device to the identifier. Unknown to the authorized user, his identifier responds by emitting the authorized code which is relayed by the repeater system back to the identification device which then unlocks of the door thereby giving access to the first pirate.
The purpose of the invention is above all to provide a system that enhances the security of a bi-directional data transmission used to control access to an enclosed space, by preventing any violation by a pirate transmission-reception system such as described previously. The security system proposed is also reliable, easy to use, practical and inexpensive.
More precisely, the invention is a system providing enhanced security of a bi-directional data transmission controlling access to an enclosed space, notably access to a vehicle, including an identification device with a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit installed in said enclosed space, and an identifier carried by a user wishing to gain access, a data interchange between said identification device and said identifier normally being established when the distance between them is less than a predetermined limit, the access being granted only when said identification device has authenticated said identifier, wherein, to prevent an interchange of identification data at a distance greater than said predetermined limit, notably by interposing an unauthorized repeater, the system includes means of switching that establish a momentary loopback of the transmitting circuit of the identification device, via a return circuit of said identifier, and said identification device includes means of measuring the resonance frequency of the oscillation generated by such a loopback, and means of control able to measure the difference between said resonance frequency and a reference frequency, so as to maintain access interdiction when this difference exceeds a predetermined value.
According to the invention, an oscillator is made between the identification device and the identifier. If a parasitic system, such as a repeater system, is interposed in the feedback loop the resonance frequency is modified; detection of this modification then enables the interdiction of access to be maintained.
Means of switching preferably establish, during an identification request, the momentary loopback of the transmitting circuit of the identification device, via a return circuit of the identifier, after the identification request has been authenticated by the identifier.
In a first embodiment, the identification device includes a receiving circuit with a radiofrequency (RF) receiver and a management unit with a frequency counter, and a transmitting circuit with a low frequency (LF) generator, an amplifier, and a switch able to connect the output of the RF receiver directly to the input of the amplifier, in order to establish the loopback, whereas in normal operation the input of this amplifier is connected to the output of the LF generator.
The identifier includes a LF receiver, notably with automatic gain control (AGC), a data decoding circuit, a management unit, an RF transmitter, and a switch able to connect the output of the LF receiver directly to the input of the RF transmitter, in order to establish the loopback, whereas in normal operation the input of the RF transmitter is connected to the management unit.
The momentary loopback is advantageously triggered by the emission of an initialization signal by the RF transmitter of the identifier, this signal initializing the counter of the management unit of the identification device.
The reference frequency with which the measured resonance frequency is compared is advantageously constituted by a value initially memorized which is learned by the system.
The LF transmitting circuit of the identification device is thereby looped back momentarily with the high frequency (RF) return circuit of the badge or identifier.
The LF communication frequency of the identification device to the identifier can be 125 kHz, and the transmitting and receiving antennas are tuned to this frequency, which obliges the system to oscillate around this frequency if the return channel is assumed to be linear and without phase shift at this frequency.
The return channel operates advantageously at radiofrequency, 434 MHz or other. The most suitable modulation for the return signal would appear to be frequency modulation to optimize the linearity. The RF transmission-reception system should preferably have a modulation band of at least 150 kHz.
The frequencies mentioned previously obviously constitute only one particular embodiment, since the system can operate at different frequencies.
In another simplified variant, the system is designed to transmit and receive signals of logical xe2x80x9call or nothingxe2x80x9d type and to operate in xe2x80x9con/offxe2x80x9d amplitude modulation.
The identification device includes an oscillator whose output is connected to a transmitting circuit and whose input is connected to a switch able to connect the output of a RF receiver directly to the input of the oscillator, in order to establish the loopback, whereas in normal operation the input of this oscillator is connected to the output of an operational amplifier whose non-inverter input is connected to ground via a resistor, and the inverter input is connected to ground via a capacitor, these two inputs being connected respectively via a resistor to the output of the RF receiver.
The identifier includes an envelope detector circuit whose input is connected to a LF receiving circuit and whose output is connected to a data decoding circuit and a management unit, and also to a switch able to connect the output of the envelope detector circuit directly to the input of a RF transmitter, in order to establish the loopback, whereas in normal operation the input of the RF transmitter is connected to the management unit.
The whole transmission-reception loop has a transit time which, associated with the time constant RC, where R and C are the respective values of the resistor and the capacitor connected to the inverter input of the operational amplifier, results in an oscillation at a specific frequency.
If relay transmitters (repeaters) are introduced in the loop, the transit time in the feedback loop will increase, lowering the oscillation frequency in proportion to the parasitic time delay introduced.
Therefore if the oscillation frequency of the system is measured, this can serve as a reference during each interrogation of the identifier.
To exit this oscillatory mode, it is sufficient to break the oscillation loop at the identifier, for example by the switch provided between the envelope detector and the RF transmitter, or in the identification device.

System for enhancing the security of a bi-directional data transmission system controlling access to an enclosed space, notably a vehicle


A positive photoresist bead is removed from an edge surface of a substrate by exposing the photoresist bead with light from an exposing source along a plurality of non-parallel paths approximately normal to the surface of the photoresist bead. The light may be simultaneously directed by a light guide along the non-parallel paths, or a mount may support the light guide adjacent the bead to move the light guide to various positions to direct the light along the non-parallel paths. Alternatively, plural light sources direct light to the bead along non-parallel paths. In any case, the exposed photoresist bead is then removed with a solvent.

This invention relates to the removal of beads of photoresist at the edges of beveled wafers or substrates, and particularly to a method and apparatus removing such edge beads formed of positive photoresist.
Photoresists are used to form masks on wafers and other substrates used in photolithographic processes. The photoresist is typically applied to the substrate in an even coat of substantially uniform thickness by any of several well-known processes, including deposition and spreading the photoresist in a squeegee-like manner across the surface of the substrate. Selected regions of the photoresist are then exposed to light through a photographic mask to develop the exposed regions of the photoresist. The photographic mask is removed, and a base solvent is applied to the photoresist to wash away certain regions of the photoresist. More particularly, in the case of a positive photoresist, the exposed, or developed, portions of the photoresist are washed away with a solvent. Conversely, unexposed, or undeveloped, portions of negative photoresists are washed away with solvents. In either case, the remaining portions of the photoresist form photolithographic masks on the substrate so that additional material(s) may be applied to the exposed portions of the substrate. In some applications, the photoresist may remain in the structure being formed. In other cases, the mask formed by the photoresist may be removed with a solvent, often carrying with it any unwanted materials on the photoresist that were deposited onto the substrate and photoresist during processes subsequent to the formation of the photoresist mask.
One problem in connection with fabrication of substrates employing photoresists resides in the formation of edge beads along the edges, including the back and front edges, of the substrate. Where the substrate has a beveled angle at the edge, the thickness of the photoresist in a direction normal to the top surface of the substrate is greater at the edge than in other regions. The thicker edge beads may create problems during subsequent processing of the substrate. Consequently, it is desirable to remove the photoresist edge bead from the edges of these substrates.
Traditionally, a solvent was employed to remove the edge bead, but due to the varying thickness of the edge bead, the amount of solvent employed could not be accurately controlled, thereby leading to ineffective removal of the edge bead photoresist, or damage to the substrate, or both. Positive photoresists presented the additional problem that because the edge bead consisted of largely unexposed photoresist, a strong solvent such as Ethyl Lactate, was required to dissolve the excess photoresist. However, this solvent often created defects at the beveled edge of the substrate. Moreover, the uncontrolled thickness of the edge bead in the processing direction normal to the top surface of the substrate often resulted in inadequate removal of the edge bead.
Edge exposure systems have been used to expose photoresist edge beads from substrates so that the beads can be removed by the develop solvent. However, these edge exposure systems exposed the bead from the top or working surface of the substrate where the edge bead is thickest, leaving unexposed photoresist on the edges of the substrate. Consequently, the solvent was ineffective to remove the edge bead.
The present invention is directed to removal of positive photoresist edge beads by directing light to the edge beads at an angle to the substrate to thereby more effectively expose the positive photoresist edge beads, allowing ready removal.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a light source is provided to develop the photoresist edge bead. Apparatus directs a beam of light from the light source to the photoresist bead along a plurality of non-parallel paths approximately normal to an irregular surface of the photoresist bead.
In some forms of the invention, the apparatus directing light includes a light guide that directing light from the light source to the edge of the substrate along the plurality of paths. In various embodiments, the light guide includes light reflectors, light transmitters, lenses, and fiber optic cables. In various other embodiments, the light guide is supported on a mount that moves the light guide to various positions relative to the edge bead to direct light along a respective path for each position.
In other forms of the invention, a plurality of light sources may be employed to direct exposing light from various angles to the edge bead.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a positive photoresist bead is removed from an edge surface of a substrate. The photoresist bead is exposed with light along a plurality of non-parallel paths approximately normal to the surface of the photoresist bead. The exposed photoresist bead is then removed, such as with a solvent or the like.

Method and apparatus for removing photoresist edge beads from thin film substrates


A signal processing unit is provided with at least one analyzing unit to analyze channel data generated for a number of channels of a communication signal indicative of its channel contents to determine if channel contents of the channels are among channel contents defined by selection data. The signal processing unit is further provided with an arbitrating unit for arbitrating display and/or recording resource contentions among channels having channel contents that are defined by the selection data. The channel data may be texts, uniform resource locators, images as well as numeric data, and the like. The signal processing unit is suitable for incorporation in a stand-alone as well as a client computer system.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of communications technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to monitoring the data content of multiple television channels.
(2) Description of Related Art
Current users of audio/video systems can view a broad spectrum of information including news broadcasts, sports events, etc. on a television set (TV). The same information shown on a TV can be recorded in a video cassette recorder (VCR) by the user. In most traditional televisions, the user can only watch one channel at a time, while in the more advanced picture-in-picture (PIP) televisions, the user can simultaneously watch two channels. In most of these traditional TVs, the user is typically limited to manually selecting channels and adjusting the audio volume associated with a channel. Even in the PIP television, the user still is limited to watching and listening to only one channel simultaneously.
To record a program in a VCR, the user is limited to either preprogramming the VCR to record a program using a time stamp to record the entire program without regards to the contents of the program, or manually setting record buttons on the VCR to record a program currently being watched by the user.
The proliferation of multimedia technology has enabled the incorporation of current TV technology into personal computers (PC) that allow the PC user to receive and display TV signals by incorporating a tuner and related TV circuitry. The multimedia PC could also be used to record TV signals. However, despite the new uses of TV technology, PC users who use their PCs as TV units still encounter the limitations imposed by traditional TVs (i.e., limited displays and sequentially viewing programs).
Furthermore, indiscriminately recording a program in a PC which normally does not include a VCR or equivalent recording register requires additional storage space especially if programs are recorded without regard to the contents of the program. The additional requirement for extra storage space for recording TV programs in these multimedia PC's can be very expensive since PC's typically utilize related expensive hard disk devices for bulk storage. Thus, it would be beneficial to efficiently utilize storage space needed to record a program being received by the PC.
To take advantage of the available audio/video technologies in a multimedia environment and permit monitoring multiple channels simultaneously and being able to discern information carried by each channel being monitored, a system is needed that will allow the user to capture and automatically display or record a video/audio signal based on the contents of the multiple channels.
Additionally, it is desirable to have a method and apparatus for monitoring for different types of information including numeric data, graphic image data and internet URL (Uniform Resource Locator) type data.

Method and apparatus for controlling video/audio and channel selection for a communication signal based on channel data indicative of channel contents of a signal


The present invention provides an NOx purifying catalyst that removes NOx with sufficient efficiency even under low temperature operation such as diesel engine automobiles. An NOx purifying catalyst for processing NOx in exhaust gas by rich/lean control of the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, includes a first catalytic layer containing β-zeolite having iron and/or cerium elements, and a second catalytic layer including a noble metal and cerium oxide-based material; in which the second and the first catalytic layers are coated on a support in that order so that the first catalytic layer is the uppermost layer. The NOx purifying catalyst purifies NOx as showed in Reaction Formulations (1) to (4).Lean condition 1: NO+½O2→NO2  (1)Rich condition: CO+H2O→CO2  (2)NOx+H2→NH3  (3)Lean condition 2: NOx+NH3+O2→N2+H2O  (4).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an NOx purifying catalyst that removes NOx in exhaust gas with sufficient efficiency from, for example, automobiles, and in particular relates to an NOx purifying catalyst that removes NOx with sufficient efficiency even under low temperature operation such as diesel engine automobiles.
2. Related Art
An NOx purifying catalyst that is capable of reducing NOx in the exhaust gas discharged from automobiles and the like efficiently has been investigated. Most importantly, in diesel engine automobiles, the reduction of NOx has been a major challenge, as well as the reduction of PM (particulate material).
Generally, in diesel engine automobiles, an oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) are provided in the exhaust path of the diesel engine. However, a combination of the conventional DOC and DPF are insufficient if a further reduction of NOx is required in the future.
An example of the process for further reducing NOx in the exhaust gas includes an exhaust purifying device for internal combustion engines using an NOx absorbent disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2600492. The NOx absorbent absorbs NOx while the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean and release the absorbed NOx when the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas is lowered. Therefore the exhaust purifying device releases the NOx absorbed while the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean from the NOx absorbent when the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas is lowered.
However, alkali metals, alkali earth metals and the like are used in NOx absorbents employed in the exhaust purifying device as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2600492. In addition, a noble metal such as platinum is used for the oxidation of CO, HC, and NOx under lean conditions and for the reduction of NOx under rich conditions. According to Japanese Patent No. 2600492, the use of strongly basic materials as the NOx absorbent of the device causes a problem in that the noble metal is readily deactivated and NOx purifying performance is deteriorated, particularly in low temperature operation.
In addition, the use of the strongly basic materials as an NOx absorbent makes binding with SOx, which has higher acidity than NOx, stronger. Therefore, a problem arises in that regeneration after sulfur-poisoning requires a higher temperature, which makes low temperature catalyst regeneration more difficult.
In other words, the device according to Japanese Patent No. 2600492 produces the desired effect when applied to gasoline engines operated primarily under high temperature conditions; however, its NOx reduction effect is insufficient when applied to diesel engines and the like operated primarily, for example, 300° C. or less.


A method of identifying a configuration of an object, the method comprising the steps of: specifying a plurality of different object configurations; for each specified object configuration, using a first simulation procedure to simulate the specified conditions so as to generate data that can be used to evaluate the object configuration against the optimisation criterion; identifying a functional relationship between data generated for each specified object configuration; using the functional relationship and the optimisation criterion to select a data point, and identifying an object configuration corresponding thereto; and using a second simulation procedure, wherein the second simulation procedure comprises iteratively calculating values of variables characterising the object configuration until the values satisfy a convergence criterion, wherein for at least one of the specified object configurations, the first simulation procedure is completed before the values calculated therein satisfy the convergence criterion used in the second simulation procedure.

Many engineering problems are concerned with identifying a design that minimises or maximises certain parameters whilst satisfying certain constraints; in essence the aim of a design method is to find an optimum and feasible design.
Typically, potential designs are identified (commonly referred to as "solutions") and their parameters evaluated against a cost function. Since, by definition, an optimal design is unknown prior to the optimisation process, known methods apply an equal amount of computing effort to all potential designs. Clearly most of these potential designs will be sub-optimal, which means that evaluating all potential solutions is a significant waste of processing resources.
Such computationally expensive design problems include identifying a shape and structure of aerodynamic bodies (aircraft wings, fuselage, motorbike fairings, racing car fairings) that need to withstand certain conditions. Typically well-known techniques such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) are applied to identify an optimal design of such bodies, where, respectively, the flow over and force upon the body is modelled and the drag and yield point of the body identified. Although these techniques work well, they are extremely computationally expensive. In the area of CFD, convergence of solutions can take several hours, even for inviscid models (e.g. an Euler model (where fluid flowing over the body is assumed to have zero viscosity) run in respect of a single body configuration takes 3 hours on 4 parallel Pentium 4 processors). This means that it is impractical to run a full CFD analysis for many different body configurations.
In order to reduce the computational time associated with identifying an optimal object configuration, so-called Response Surface Models (RSM) have been developed. For the example of CFD, Response Surface Models are integrated with the more computationally expensive analysis methods by running a full CFD analysis in respect of several object configurations (typically between 10 and 100), and pooling the output of the respective CFD calculations in order to provide a landscape (a Response Surface) for searching for an optimum design. This method significantly decreases the amount of time required to identify optimum designs, but large amounts of computational time are nevertheless spent investigating object configurations that are sub-optimal.