The present invention relates to a process for preparing and purifying crystalline quetiapine hemifumarate, which comprises preparing crystalline quetiapine hemifumarate via a crystalline salt, which is not a salt of fumaric acid.

11-(4-[2-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl]dibenzo[b,f]-1,4-thiazepine, is a well established drug substance known under the INN name quetiapine. It is used as its hemifumarate salt having the structure or formula (1)

Quetiapine hemifumarate is a psychoactive compound that is an antagonist for multiple neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Quetiapine hemifumarate is used as an antipsychotic or neuroleptic. Quetiapine hemifumarate is described, for example, in patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288, which describes also the synthesis of quetiapine hemifumarate. Preparation of hemifumarate is described also e.g. in EP 0 282 236, and WO 01/55125. Different polymorphic forms of quetiapine hemifumarate and their preparation are described in WO 03/080065, WO 2004/076431 and WO 04/078735. The crystallization of quetiapine base and its use in the preparation of quetiapine hemifumarate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,734. There industrial methylated spirit is used as a solvent and it is said that crystalline fumarate salt is obtained in good purity and high yield without by-products of other salts. Anyhow, no information about the purity of the product is given.

Quetiapine hemifumarate purification by crystallization


A driving system for a separator having a centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation. The driving system includes a vertically aligned driving spindle configured to accommodate a centrifugal drum. The driving spindle is arranged by a neck bearing and a footstep bearing in an opening of a drive housing. The neck bearing is supported in an axially rigid and radially resilient manner on the machine housing. The neck bearing is constructed as an angular ball bearing and supports the centrifugal drum on a spherical-shaped supporting surface of the machine housing.

The invention relates to a driving system for a separator having a centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation.
Driving systems of this type are known in many different arrangements, for example, from German Patent Document DE 37 14 627, which shows an arrangement in which a centrifugal drum is placed on the upper free end of a driving spindle which is rotatably disposed below the centrifugal drum by an upper neck bearing and a lower footstep bearing on a drive housing or its supporting elements.
With respect to the state of the art, see also International Patent Document WO 98/5 77 52 A1 and German Patent Document DE 34 32 833 A1. British Patent Document GB 255,437, which is more removed with respect to its type and discloses bearing supports on spherically shaped surfaces, as well as German Patent Document DE 175341 C and Austrian Patent Document AT 110574 are also known.
The driving motor may be arranged below the actual driving spindle or by a belt drive laterally offset thereto. In this arrangement, the upper neck bearing is resiliently supported on the drive housing. During precession movements or the like of the driving spindle, it can therefore carry out its radial movement together with it.
In the axial direction, the weight of the centrifugal drum is supported by the footstep bearing on the drive housing. In the radial direction, the footstep bearing is fixed on the drive housing.
A comparable arrangement is known from German Patent Document DE 844 233, in which, for ensuring the radial mobility, one of the bearings is supported in the upward direction in a type of ball bearing surface.
It is also known from German Patent Document DE 62 687 to support the drum weight below the neck bearing.
The use of angular ball bearings for the bearing of driving spindles is known, for example, from Swiss Patent Document CH 484 873. From this document, it is also known to implement the supporting of the bearing in the radial direction relative to the drive housing by rubber elements.
From German Patent Document DE 1 031 222, it is also known to support the drum weight below the footstep bearing axially in a type of universal ball joint.
With respect to the state of the art, German Patent Document DE 31 25 832 as well as European Patent Document EP 0 131 494 and German Patent Document DE 34 32 833 A1 are also known. The latter document again shows the use of angular ball bearings as well as the arrangement of universal ball joints for supporting the driving spindle above the footstep bearing.

Driving system for a separator having a centrifugal drum and a neck bearing


The subject invention leverages data logging of responses to diagnostic reports to provide data that can be mined for diagnostic report quality information. Instances of the subject invention provide an initial diagnostic report assessment means to facilitate review by an entity. The entity's responses to the sorted diagnostic reports are logged unobtrusively to create diagnostic report quality data. This data is then analyzed by an analysis means that can then adjust the assessment means to improve its performance. In this manner, the performance of the assessment means is increased while reducing the workload of the entity reviewing the diagnostic reports. Other instances of the subject invention facilitate to increase the performance of a diagnostic report generating means as well. Instances of the subject invention can also employ machine learning techniques to facilitate in analyzing the quality data and/or in assessing the diagnostic reports.

Computers have become an integral part of society. Every day people become more dependent on this technology to facilitate both work and also leisure activities. They typically consist of "hardware" and "software." The hardware is the physical components of the computer while the software constitutes "programs" that are run on the computer. Examples of some common programs include word processors, spreadsheets, and email programs. In general, a user can typically use these programs to some extent. Basic features might be intuitive and require little training to use. However, at some point, the user of the program will run into a task that they are unable to complete without help. Rather than provide a "live" operator to answer questions, most software programs include an "assistant" that helps the user when they become stuck on a problem. General forms of an assistant include help indexes with search support, common problems encountered, and/or user specific solutions and the like.
An effective way of building the assisting program is using a platform commonly known as an "assistant platform." The assistant platform or "AP" typically provides a user interface that allows the user to look up answers and/or actually pose questions so that the AP can provide an answer. During these user queries, data is collected by the AP as to the adequacy and/or relevancy and the like of the AP response to a user's query. This information is then analyzed, compiled, and generated into diagnostic reports that contain one or more suggestions for improving the AP. The AP typically has a search authoring tool user interface that allows an author of the software program to retrieve the diagnostic reports. The author desires to improve the AP so that a user will become more satisfied with it and not become frustrated by unhelpful suggestions to a problem. Thus, the author reviews the diagnostic reports and their suggestions. It is possible that the author may encounter several hundred or even thousand diagnostic reports for a popular program utilized by many users. The author typically must sort through the list of reports and determine which reports are worth reviewing and taking actions on. This is a very time consuming task and is often accomplished using a computing device so that the author can remark each suggestion.
It is easily imaginable that if the diagnostic list is extremely long, that some reports will not be reviewed and that insignificant suggestions or incorrect suggestions might be reviewed in detail before they are properly assessed, substantially reducing the author's productivity and performance. The difficulty of the reviewing process is further compounded by the fact that in some situations the proper content existed in the AP, but the user's intent was misinterpreted, while in other situations, the user's intent was properly assessed but the correct information was not available to the AP. Thus, different situations can require different solutions to resolve. For these reasons, difficult and time consuming situations may be put aside until the easier suggestions are implemented first. Therefore, the author's workload is dictating priority rather than a true priority based on the significance of the suggestions provided by the AP.
The result of large quantities of suggestions and complex user intent problems is a poorly improved AP. This causes an increase in user dissatisfaction with the software product, possibly generating even more diagnostic reports and/or decreasing sales of the software product itself. Unfortunately, this is a typical scenario for many APs and their authors. Similar problems can also occur with non-typical software programs as well. For example, it is common today to find computers and software in automobiles as well as other machinery. These types of software can also generate diagnostic reports that need to be reviewed by an author as well. Thus, as programs become even more sophisticated, the need for assistance to the user and/or even to other interfacing devices (e.g., an artificial intelligence device and the like) will only increase as well, burdening reviewing entities even more and greatly decreasing user satisfaction. If a business is dependent on the proper operation of a program, the user's inability to make the program perform effectively could also severely impact business' profits.

Diagnostic report improvement utilizing unobtrusive workflow logging


A pharmaceutical composition for the nasal delivery of compounds useful for treating osteoporosis, comprising an effective amount of a physiologically active truncated analog of PTH or PTHrp, or salt thereof, in which amino acid residues (22-31) form an amphipathic .alpha.-helix, said residues (22-31) selected from (SEQ ID NOS: 85, 86, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30); an absorption enhancer selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin and the bile acid surfactants; and water is provided.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of osteoporosis via the nasal administration of therapeutically effective amounts of certain novel analogs of parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone related peptide.
b) Description of Related Art
Osteoporosis is the most common form of metabolic bone disease and may be considered the symptomatic, fracture stage of bone loss (osteopenia). Although osteoporosis may occur secondary to a number of underlying diseases, 90% of all cases appear to be idiopathic. Postmenopausal women are particularly at risk for idiopathic osteoporosis (postmenopausal or Type I osteoporosis). Another high risk group for idiopathic osteoporosis is the elderly of either sex (senile or Type II osteoporosis). Osteoporosis has also been related to corticosteroid use, immobilization or extended bed rest, alcoholism, diabetes, gonadotoxic chemotherapy, hyperprolactinemia, anorexia nervosa, primary and secondary amenorrhea, and oophorectomy.
In the various forms of osteoporosis, bone fractures, which are the result of bone loss that has reached the point of mechanical failure, frequently occur. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by fractures of the wrist and spine, while femoral neck fractures seem to be the dominant feature of senile osteoporosis.
The mechanism by which bone is lost in osteoporotics is believed to involve an imbalance in the process by which the skeleton renews itself. This process has been termed bone remodeling. It occurs in a series of discrete pockets of activity. These pockets appear spontaneously within the bone matrix on a given bone surface as a site of bone resorption. Osteoclasts (bone dissolving or resorbing cells) are responsible for the resorption of a portion of bone of generally constant dimension. This resorption process is followed by the appearance of osteoblasts (bone forming cells) which then refill with new bone the cavity left by the osteoclasts.
In a healthy adult subject, the rate at which osteoclasts and osteoblasts are formed is such that bone formation and bone resorption are in balance. However, in osteoporotics an imbalance in the bone remodeling process develops which results in bone being lost at a rate faster than it is being made. Although this imbalance occurs to some extent in most individuals as they age, it is much more severe and occurs at a younger age in postmenopausal osteoporotics or following oophorectomy.
Adachi, et al. in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 22:6, 375-84 (June 1993) report that despite much conflicting data regarding the pathophysiology of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis, it is generally agreed that there is a relative decrease in bone formation and a relative increase in bone resorption. Bone loss with resulting fractures and osteonecrosis is a frequent consequence of corticosteroid therapy. There is evidence that bone loss occurs rapidly within the first 6 to 12 months of corticosteroid therapy; there also appears to be a close relationship between rate of bone loss and corticosteroid dose. Men are equally susceptible to the effects of corticosteroids. The estimated incidence of fractures and osteonecrosis ranges from 30 to 50%.
There have been many attempts to treat osteoporosis with the goal of either slowing further bone loss or, more desirably, producing a net gain in bone mass. Certain agents, such as estrogen and the bisphosphonates, appear to slow further bone loss in osteoporotics. Agents which slow bone loss, because of the different durations of bone resorption and formation, may appear to increase bone mass (on the order of 3 to 7%). However, this apparent increase is limited in time, not progressive, and is due to a decrease in "remodeling space." In addition, because of the close coupling between resorption and formation, treatments which impede bone resorption also ultimately impede bone formation.
It has been suggested that treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH) would lead to both increased bone turnover and a positive calcium balance. However, human clinical trials have shown that any increase in trabecular bone is offset by a decrease in cortical bone, so that there is no net increase in total bone.
Hefti, et al. in Clinical Science 62, 389-396 (1982) have reported that daily subcutaneous doses of either bPTH(1-84) or hPTH(1-34) increased whole body calcium and ash weight of individual bones in both normal and osteoporotic adult female rats.
Liu, et al. in J. Bone Miner. Res. 6:10, 1071-1080 (1991) have noted that ovariectomy of adult female rats induced a 47% loss in the percentage of trabecular bone in the proximal tibial metaphysis, accompanied by a significant increase in the number of osteoblasts and trabecular osteoclasts. Daily subcutaneous injections of hPTH(1-34) completely reversed the loss of trabecular bone and resulted in amounts of trabecular bone exceeding that of sham operated controls. The number of osteoblasts increased and the number of osteoclasts decreased.
Hock et al. in J. Bone Min. Res. 7:1, 65-71 (1992) have reported that daily subcutaneous injections of hPTH(1-34) to healthy adult male rats for 12 days increased trabecular and cortical bone calcium and dry weight. Total bone mass, trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness and number, and osteoblastic surfaces were increased.
The mammalian parathyroid hormones, e.g. human (hPTH), bovine (bPTH), and porcine (pPTH), are single polypeptide chains of 84 amino acid residues, with molecular weights of approximately 9500. Biological activity is associated with the N-terminal portion, with residues (1-34) apparently the minimum required.
The N-terminal segment of human PTH differs from the N-terminal segment of the bovine and porcine hormones by only three and two amino acid residues, respectively:
hPTH(I-34):
Ser Val Ser Glu Ile Gln Leu Met His (SEQ ID NO:1) 1 5 - Asn Leu Gly Lys His Leu Asn Ser Met 10 15 - Glu Arg Val Glu Trp Leu Arg Lys Lys 20 25 - Leu Gln Asp Val His Asn Phe; 30 - bPTH(1-34): - Ala Val Ser Glu Ile Gln Phe Met His (SEQ ID NO:2) 1 5 - Asn Leu Gly Lys His Leu Ser Ser Met 10 15 - Glu Arg Val Glu Trp Leu Arg Lys Lys 20 25 - Leu Gln Asp Val His Asn Phe; 30 - pPTH(1-34): - Ser Val Ser Glu Ile Gln Leu Met His (SEQ ID NO:3) 1 5 - Asn Leu Gly Lys His Leu Ser Ser Leu 10 15 - Glu Arg Val Glu Trp Leu Arg Lys Lys 20 25 - Leu Gln Asp Val His Asn Phe. 30
The primary function of PTH is to elicit the adaptive changes that serve to maintain a constant concentration of Ca.sup.2+ in the extracellular fluid. PTH acts on the kidneys to increase tubular reabsorption of Ca.sup.2+ from the urine, as well as stimulating the conversion of calcifediol to calcitriol, which is responsible for absorption of Ca.sup.2+ from the intestines. One prominent effect is to promote the mobilization of Ca.sup.2+ from bone. PTH acts on bone to increase the rate of resorption of Ca.sup.2+ and phosphate. PTH stimulates the rate of bone resorption by osteoclasts, increases the rate of differentiation of mesenchymal cells to osteoclasts, and prolongs the half life of these latter cells. With prolonged action of PTH the number of bone forming osteoblasts is also increased; thus, the rate of bone turnover and remodeling is enhanced. However, individual osteoblasts appear to be less active than normal.
Rosenblatt, et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,423,037, 4,968,669 and 5,001,223 have disclosed PTH antagonists obtained by the deletion of the N-terminal (1-6) amino acids and the selective replacement of Phe.sup.7, Met.sup.8,18, and Gly.sup.12. Tyr.sup.34 -NH.sub.2 reportedly increased the activity and stability of these compounds.
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrp), a 140+ amino acid protein, and fragments thereof, reproduce the major biological actions of PTH. PTHrp is elaborated by a number of human and animal tumors and other tissues and may play a role in hypercalcemia of malignancy. The sequence of hPTHrp (1-34) is as follows:
Ala Val Ser Glu His Gln Leu Leu His (SEQ ID NO:4) 1 5 - Asp Lys Gly Lys Ser Ile Gln Asp Leu 10 15 - Arg Arg Arg Phe Phe Leu His His Leu 20 25 - Ile Ala Glu Ile His Thr Ala. 30
The sequence homology between hPTH and hPTHrp is largely limited to the 13 N-terminal residues, 8 of which are identical; only 1 of 10 amino acids in the (25-34) receptor binding region of hPTH is conserved in hPTHrp. Conformational similarity may underlie the common activity. Cohen, et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 266:3, 1997-2004 (1991) have suggested that much of the sequence of PTH(1-34) and PTHrp(1-34), in particular regions (5-18) and (21-34), assumes an .alpha.-helical configuration, while noting that there is some question whether this configuration prevails for the carboxyl terminal end under physiological conditions. Such a secondary structure may be important for lipid interaction, receptor interaction, and/or structural stabilization.
We have synthesized analogs of PTH and of PTHrp with the objective of developing improved therapeutic agents for the restoration of bone mass in mammalian subjects, including those afflicted with osteoporosis. Delivery of these agents in the most efficacious manner possible is highly desirable, both in view of convenience to the patient and the expected high cost of the peptide. It seems likely that the compounds, analogous to PTH, will be most effectively delivered in a pulsatile fashion. While subcutaneous injection is compatible with this objective, there are decided disadvantages to this mode of delivery, not the least of which is the pain associated with daily injections. Oral delivery has unfortunately not been particularly useful for the delivery of peptide drugs, largely due to degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and resultant low (<1%) bioavailability of the ingested drug.
Alternative, non-traditional, modes of delivery, such as transdermal, pulmonary, and nasal may prove more attractive for the delivery of these labile agents. The current invention encompasses the discovery and development of liquid compositions with particular utility for nasal delivery. Nasal delivery of peptides has found some limited commercial success, such as with Synarel.RTM. Nasal Solution (Syntex Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif.), a potent decapeptide (nafarelin) indicated for the treatment of endometriosis, for which bioavailability up to about 3% has been obtained. Enhanced nasal formulations of LH-RH analogs, including nafarelin, with significantly higher bioavailabilities, have been reported by Anik in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,116 and 5,116,817. Merkus et al. have reported in PCT Patent Publication No. 92/01440 compositions for the nasal administration of peptides, particularly insulin, including dimethyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin as an absorption enhancer. Aliverti et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,802 disclose a pharmaceutical composition of calcitonin and a glycyrrhizinate absorption enhancer for nasal administration in the treatment of osteoporosis. However, none of the nasal compositions developed to date is entirely satisfactory at delivering peptide compounds with acceptable levels of bioavailability.

Pharmaceutical compositions for the nasal delivery of compounds useful for the treatment of osteoporosis


A method of flexibly allocating capacity in a satellite coverage area, comprising establishing a frequency reuse pattern of at least two interleaved sets of cells, assigning a polarization to each set of cells, such that adjacent sets of cells alternate in orthogonal polarization, flexibly assigning satellite transmit power to at least one cell, flexibly assigning frequency and bandwidth to at least one cell, and moving frequencies, bandwidths, and satellite transmit power among the cells within each set, independently of the other sets, ensuring that at all times no two adjacent cells within a given set share a common frequency.

Satellite communications systems are proliferating as new communications technology is developed, and as consumer demand for wireless satellite communications increases. The increased demand for wireless data traffic has created a need for higher capacity communications systems. As the spectrum that is allocated to satellite communications is limited, frequency spectrum has become a valuable commodity. Ideally, a satellite system will cover as much territory as possible using the least amount of allocated bandwidth possible while compromising capacity as little as possible.
A common method used in the art of multi-beam communications systems is to reuse a given frequency in as many of the beams from an orbital location as possible, rather than using a unique frequency for each additional beam. Any frequency reuse pattern must, however, take into account that the capacity per bandwidth can be compromised by interference between proximal or adjacent spot beams of common frequencies. Additionally sharing satellite transmit power between beams is often a key limitation on the achievable reuse.
In today's evolving market, another very desirable quality of a frequency reuse pattern is to provide both short-term and long-term flexibility in allocating capacity and satellite transmit power between the spot beams in the frequency reuse pattern. Short-term flexibility allows a provider to respond, for example, to changes in capacity requirements due to variations in time zones. Long-term flexibility is desirable to provide for new capacity requirements as new technologies are developed and marketed. Achieving such flexibility has often been restricted by the frequency reuse approaches of current systems. Finally, here is also interest from operators in the long term growth potential of a system.

Multi-beam communication system and method


A vapor pressure regulation system includes a vessel including a vessel wall that defines an enclosure, and a temperature adjustment mechanism coupled to the vessel. A heat transfer between the temperature adjustment mechanism and the vessel is adjusted based on at least a vapor pressure within the vessel to facilitate regulating the vapor pressure within the vessel.

The present disclosure relates generally to cryogenic storage systems and, more particularly, to methods and systems for use in regulating vapor pressure within a vessel.
At least some known cryogenic liquid storage systems are required to operate within a predetermined pressure range to ensure safe operation of a pressure vessel. Even with excellent thermal insulation of the pressure vessel, a small amount of heat may penetrate into at least some pressure vessels through its vessel walls and/or through its insertions. As such, vapor pressure may build up within the pressure vessel, which, over time, may create safety hazards.
To facilitate controlling vapor pressure within at least some known pressure vessels, at least some vessels include relief system that periodically release vapor to facilitate decreasing the internal vapor pressure. However, in at least some applications, releasing reactant vapor into a closed environment may be hazardous and/or may cause a loss of reactant, thereby reducing utilization. In such applications, a Joule-Thomson cryostat may also be used to facilitate cooling at least some known cryogenic liquid storage systems. However, known Joule-Thomson cryostats are generally expensive to install and/or may require an excessive amount of power to operate.

Method and system for regulating cryogenic vapor pressure


Methods of silicon etch for trench sidewall smoothing are described. In one embodiment, a method involves smoothing a sidewall of a trench formed in a semiconductor wafer via plasma etching. The method includes directionally etching the semiconductor wafer with plasma generated from a fluorine gas to smooth the sidewall of the trench, the trench having a protective layer formed by plasma generated by a second process gas such as oxygen or a polymerization gas. In another embodiment, a method involves etching a semiconductor wafer to generate a trench having a smooth sidewall. The method includes plasma etching the semiconductor wafer with one or more first process gases including a fluorine gas, simultaneously performing deposition and plasma etching the semiconductor wafer with one or more second process gases including a fluorine gas and a polymerization gas mix, and performing deposition with one or more third process gases including a polymerization gas.

1) Field
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to the field of semiconductor processing and, in particular, to methods of silicon etch for trench sidewall smoothing.
2) Description of Related Art
Demand for smaller and lighter electronic devices with higher performance and increased features is driving the adoption of three dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) designed with through silicon vias (TSVs). TSVs are electrical connections which pass through layers of a semiconductor wafer. Despite the increased interest in TSVs, adoption of TSVs has been slowed due to, for example, high costs and challenges associated with high volume manufacturing. One such challenge includes creating TSV trenches with smooth sidewalls. Trenches with smooth sidewalls are generally more robust and can be effectively filled with materials such as dielectrics and metals. In contrast, trenches with rough sidewalls (e.g., scalloped sidewalls) can result in ineffective filling, leading to reduced yield and long-term device reliability problems. Unfortunately, existing methods of TSV etching create trenches with rough sidewalls, and/or are impractical for high volume manufacturing. Another factor influencing adoption of TSVs includes the cost of performing plasma etching, which is influenced by, for example, the overall silicon etch rate.

Method of silicon etch for trench sidewall smoothing


Disclosed is a novel method and structure for contact starting a plasma arc torch. A translatable, electrically conductive component such as a nozzle or swirl ring is biased into contact with an electrode by a compliant spring element. A pilot arc is formed by first passing current through the electrode/component interface. Thereafter, the component is translated under the influence of gas pressure in a plasma chamber formed between the electrode and component, compressing the compliant element and initiating the pilot arc. The spring element may be maintained integrally with the nozzle, swirl ring, or a retaining cap, facilitating removal and replacement of the spring element with consumable components of the torch. Exemplary spring elements include wave spring washers, finger spring washers, curved spring washers, helical compression springs, flat wire compression springs, and slotted conical discs.

Plasma arc torches are widely used in the cutting of IS metallic materials. A plasma arc torch generally includes a torch body, an electrode mounted within the body, a nozzle with a central exit orifice, electrical connections, passages for cooling and arc control fluids, a swirl ring to control the fluid flow patterns, and a power supply. The torch produces a plasma arc, which is a constricted ionized jet of a plasma gas with high temperature and high momentum. Gases used in the torch can be non-reactive (e.g. argon or nitrogen), or reactive (e.g. oxygen or air).
In operation, a pilot arc is first generated between the electrode (cathode) and the nozzle (anode). The pilot arc ionizes gas passing through the nozzle exit orifice. After the ionized gas reduces the electrical resistance between the electrode and the workpiece, the arc transfers from the nozzle to the workpiece. The torch may be operated in this transferred plasma arc mode, which is characterized by the conductive flow of ionized gas from the electrode to the workpiece, for the cutting of the workpiece.
Generally, there are two widely used techniques for generating a pilot plasma arc. One technique uses a high frequency, high voltage ("HFHV") signal coupled to a DC power supply and the torch. The HFHV signal is typically provided by a generator associated with the power supply. The HFHV signal induces a spark discharge in the plasma gas flowing between the electrode and the nozzle, and this discharge provides a current path. The pilot arc is formed between the electrode and the nozzle with the voltage existing across them.
The other technique for generating a pilot plasma arc is known as contact starting. Contact starting is advantageous because it does not require high frequency equipment and, therefore, is less expensive and does not generate electromagnetic interference. In one form of contact starting, the electrode is manually placed into electrical connection with the workpiece. A current is then passed from the electrode to the workpiece and the arc is struck by manually backing the electrode away from the workpiece.
Improvements in plasma arc torch systems have been developed which have eliminated the need to strike the torch against the workpiece in order to initiate an arc, thereby avoiding damage to brittle torch components. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,268 ("the '268 patent"), which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention and the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the '268 patent describes a torch having a movable electrode and a stationary nozzle initially in contact due to a spring coupled to the electrode such that the nozzle orifice is blocked. To start the torch, current is passed through the electrode and nozzle while a plasma gas is supplied to a plasma chamber defined by the electrode, the nozzle, and the swirl ring. Contact starting is achieved when the buildup of gas pressure in the plasma chamber overcomes the spring force, thereby separating the electrode from the nozzle and drawing a low energy pilot arc therebetween. Thereafter, by bringing the nozzle into close proximity with the workpiece, the arc may be transferred to the workpiece, with control circuitry increasing electrical parameters to provide sufficient energy for processing the workpiece. Plasma arc torch systems manufactured according to this design have enjoyed widespread acceptance in commercial and industrial applications.
During operation of a plasma arc torch, a significant temperature rise occurs in the electrode. In systems which employ a movable electrode, passive conductive cooling of the electrode by adjacent structure is reduced due to the need to maintain sliding fit clearances therebetween. Such clearances reduce heat transfer efficiencies relative to fixed electrode designs employing threaded connections or interference fits. Accordingly, active cooling arrangements have been developed such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,871 ("the '871 patent"), which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, the '871 patent describes an electrode having a spiral gas flow passage circumscribing an enlarged shoulder portion thereof. Enhanced heat transfer and extended electrode life are realized due to the increased surface area of the electrode exposed to the cool, accelerated gas flow.
While known contact starting systems function as intended, additional areas for improvement have been identified to address operational requirements. For example, in known contact starting systems, the electrode is supported in part by a spring which maintains intimate electrical and physical contacts between the electrode and nozzle to seal the exit orifice until such time as the pressure in the plasma chamber overcomes the biasing load of the spring. Degradation of the spring due to cyclic mechanical and/or thermal fatigue lead to change of the spring rate or spring failure and, consequently, difficulty in initiating the pilot arc with a concomitant reduction in torch starting reliability. Accordingly, the spring should be replaced periodically; however, due to the location of the spring in the torch body, additional disassembly effort is required over that necessary to replace routine consumables such as the electrode and nozzle. A special test fixture will typically also be needed to assure proper reassembly of the torch. Further, during repair or maintenance of the torch, the spring may become dislodged or lost since the spring is a separate component. Reassembly of the torch body without the spring or with the spring misinstalled may result in difficulty in starting or extended operation of the torch prior to pilot arc initiation.
Additionally, sliding contact portions of the electrode and proximate structure, which may be characterized as a piston/cylinder assembly, may be subject to scoring and binding due to contamination. These surfaces are vulnerable to dust, grease, oil, and other foreign matter common in pressurized gases supplied by air compressors through hoses and associated piping. These contaminants diminish the length of trouble free service of the torch and require periodic disassembly of the torch for cleaning or repair. It would therefore be desirable for moving components and mating surfaces to be routinely and easily replaced before impacting torch starting reliability.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a plasma arc torch contact start configuration which improves upon the present state of the art.

Integral spring consumables for plasma arc torch using blow forward contact starting system


The present invention provides a method for providing multiple services and an apparatus for the same in a wireless packet data communication system. It guarantees various qualities of the services to a plurality of users by determining priorities of the mobile stations and an amount of resource allocated to each mobile station, and determining priorities of the multiple services and an amount of resource allocated to each service based on the resource allocated to each mobile station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly, to a method for providing multiple services to each of a plurality of mobile stations in a communication system and an apparatus for the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A current 1x cdma 2000 system is designed to support voice services and low data-rate services in a circuit switched mode. As the demand of wireless Internet services has increased, a new communication tool for only high data-rate packet, called HDR (High Data Rate) or 1x-EV DO (1x-Evolution Data Only), has been suggested. This HDR or 1xEV-DO is specifically designed for a high data-rate of packet data other than voice services and offers a bandwidth efficiency for a data traffic that is 3 to 4 times greater than the current CDMA system. This technology is ideal for high-speed mobile as well as Fixed wireless Internet services. Besides, there exists another new air interface technology called 1x-EV-DV (1x-Evolution Data and Voice) evolved from 1x-EV. The 1x-EV-DV is capable of providing both high data-rate of the packet data service and voice services of the circuit switched mode at the same time. Moreover, the 1x-EV-DV put forward a system whose voice modes are fully compatible with the current 1x CDMA voice modes, and shared channel services such as 1x-EV-DO for enhanced data services.
In order for the compatibilities of the current 1x cdma 2000, the 1x-EV-DV, reusing all common channels from cdma 2000, supports Radio Configuration (hereafter referred to RC). In addition, it is also composed of shared-channels for packet data services as independent RC formats.
In the 1x-EV-DV system, a plurality of mobile stations receive packet data through one shared-channel. In order to do that, it requires an algorithm to share resources with a plurality of mobile stations.
A scheduler includes the algorithm and thereby efficiently allocates the resources of the shared-channel to each mobile station. By the operation of the scheduler, a system throughput can be vigorously improved. The primary role of the scheduler is to increase the system throughput and simultaneously allocate the resources to each mobile station efficiently. This scheduling method is to allocate limited resources to each mobile station (each user) by considering a channel-link ability and packet transmission delays so as to share one shared-channel.
For instance, data retrieved from a higher layer are saved in a transmission huller, when the scheduler determines to first send data to a mobile station (user) among the saved data, the data which is first inputted from the higher layer in the buffer is transmitted to the corresponding mobile station first regardless of the data's required quality. In this case, even though services requiring different qualities are supported simultaneously, packet networks handling various qualities of services, such as wireless packet data communication and the Internet, are hardly able to support higher quality of services due to the two required services having equalized qualities.
As described in an above example, there often exists situations that one user utilizes various services having multiple qualities in the process of supporting the packet data communication. Therefore it is obvious to have additional scheme to take a control in order for each service to handle hybrid services in the packet networks.

Method for providing multiple services and apparatus for the same


A device may receive, from a plurality of sensors, sensor data relating to a user. The device may include a plurality of types of sensors including a spectrometer and one or more of an accelerometer, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a blood sugar sensor, a perspiration sensor, a skin conductivity sensor, or an imaging sensor. The device may process the sensor data, from the plurality of types of sensors, relating to the user to determine a health condition of the user. The device may provide, via a user interface, information identifying the health condition of the user based on processing the sensor data, from the plurality of types of sensors, relating to the user.

A wearable fitness tracker may perform a measurement of user activity based on sensor data received from a sensor. For example, the wearable fitness tracker may include an accelerometer that provides sensor data to estimate user activity during an exercise session. The wearable fitness tracker may provide, for display, information associated with the user activity during the exercise session. For example, the wearable fitness tracker may estimate one or more metrics, such as an estimated distance traveled, an estimated calorie consumption metric, an estimated metabolic equivalents (METs) metric, or the like, based on the sensor data from the accelerometer and may provide the one or more metrics for display.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Holding element for a dental implant including: an engagement section adapted for engagement with a manipulating tool; a retention section joined to the engagement section and adapted for engagement with a package, in particular an ampule; and a clamping section joined to the retention section and adapted for connecting the holding element to the dental implant, the clamping section including a force transmission element, wherein the clamping section further includes a clamping element provided with an elastic means extending in a non-compressed position thereof at and beyond the outer perimeter defined by the force transmission element.

As known for instance from U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,097B1, which has been assigned to the present assignee, dental implants may be stored prior to their use in a sealed ampule which is preferably filled with a storage fluid.
During storage the dental implant is temporarily coupled to a holding element which holding element is used in the course of storage to retain the dental implant firmly in position within the ampule. Later, when the dental implant is removed from the ampule for implantation into a respective bone, the holding element is gripped by the user to be placed into the implant site. The holding element is furthermore adapted for temporary positive attachment to manipulating tools that facilitate the removal of the dental implant from the ampule and the placement thereof into the bone at the implant site. Ultimately, when the dental implant is implanted at the desired site in the bone, the holding element may be removed from the dental implant. Nevertheless, as the holding element is screwed to the dental implant, the overall handling is tedious.
From WO-A1-2005/037126, which has also been assigned to the present assignee and the content of which is herewith incorporated by reference, there is known a holding element wherein the use of a screw for the coupling thereof to the dental implant is avoided.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, that illustrate the prior art known from WO-A1-2005/037126, the known holding element which is generally designated by reference numeral 1 includes an engagement section 2 adapted for positive engagement with a manipulating tool not shown. The engagement section 2 is embodied as a polygonally shaped end, for instance as an octagonally shaped end. Adjacent to the engagement section 2 there is provided a radial groove 3 for accommodating an O-ring 3A shown in FIG. 2 that has a securing function to the manipulating tool not shown.
Furthermore, as indicated with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 1A, the holding element 1 has a retention section 4 with two adjoining annular shoulders 5 and 7 and an intermediate cylindrical section 6 of a reduced diameter adapted for retention in an inner ampule indicated at 20. The retention section 4 is joined to the engagement section 2 by a breaking point member 30.
The known holding element 1 further includes, adjacent to the retention section 4, a clamping section 8 with a first radial groove 9, a force transmission element 10 with an octagonal shape for the positive engagement with a dental implant 14, a second radial groove 11 and a tapered member 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the second radial groove 11 is provided with a clamping or lock ring 13 made of PEEK (poly ether ether ketone) including a peripheral clearance 13A for facilitating the mounting thereof.
The dental implant 14, in turn, is provided with a cavity 15 having an inner surface 17 that matches the surface of the force transmission element 10, such as to provide for a positive engagement between the dental implant 14 and the holding element 1, whereby the dental implant 14 is rotationally secured to the holding element 1. The cavity 15 of the dental implant 14 further includes an undercut 18 sized for clampingly receiving the lock ring 13 and a conical terminal section 19 closely enclosing the first radial grove 9 of the clamping section 8 of the holding element 1.
While providing for a better handling and facilitating the separation of the dental implant from the holding element it has been nevertheless noted in the practical implementation that the known solution of WO-A1-2005/037126 still suffers some drawbacks, inasmuch the clamping force of the prior art PEEK lock ring 13 changes in time or is variable ad initio, and therefore it is difficult to precisely adjust the clamping force when the implantation is carried out. This problem is of particular concern if the dental implant is stored over a longer time span and is even further aggravated if the storage medium is a fluid.
In addition, the prior art lock ring tends to release carbon that may in turn damage the surface of a dental implant, particularly an SLA treated dental implant surface.
Furthermore, the manufacturing tolerances of the prior PEEK lock ring are very strict, and therefore the production thereof may become cumbersome.


A method of parameter estimation in a shared channel communications system includes the steps of receiving a preamble including a first sequence corresponding to a sequence having zero autocorrelation, a second sequence having zero autocorrelation, and a third sequence having zero autocorrelation, performing a coarse carrier frequency estimate based on the first sequence, and performing a fine carrier frequency estimate based on the second and third sequences.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a burst demodulator for use in a high speed bidirectional digital transmission of voice, video, and data, and more particularly, to a robust TDMA burst receiver and a method for reliably detecting a preamble.
2. Related Art
Modern two-way communication for cable television, hybrid fiber/coax systems, wireless local multipoint distribution systems, and microwave multipoint distribution systems use time division multiple access (TDMA) to carry short burst transmissions in an upstream direction (return path) from multiple subscribers to a headend receiver. FIG. 1 shows an example of a TDMA time slot. In general the return path transmission characteristics, power level, and the clock offset from each subscriber will be different, thereby requiring the headend receiver to re-synchronize to each of the TDMA bursts. In order to minimize overhead time, it is desirable that the TDMA burst receiver be capable of reliably recognizing and synchronizing the preamble in as short a time as possible.
Existing TDMA burst receivers recognize and synchronize to a TDMA burst by correlating a preamble received at the beginning of the burst to an internal representation of the preamble stored in the TDMA burst receiver. A complication in the recognition and synchronization of the preamble is that a high power level of the TDMA burst transmission may cause the TDMA receiver to mistake a sidelobe peak of the autocorrelation of the preamble for the main peak. A further complication is that message data from the subscriber may have the same or nearly the same symbol pattern as the preamble. Yet a further complication is that narrowband noise or ingress may partially mask or emulate the TDMA burst transmission or be so large that its correlation to the preamble is as great as the main peak. A traditional solution to these complexities is to use a long preamble sequence of a few hundred symbols or more. However, such a long preamble sequence increases the time overhead of a system and is uneconomical for a system having data messages of less than a few thousand symbols.
Robust burst detection of high-order constellation modulation formats (e.g., 256-QAM), in presence of large carrier frequency offset, large dynamic range, and severe channel impairments such as narrow-band interferers, poses serious challenges. A typical burst receiver may only deal with a subset of these issues.
Accordingly, a need exists for robust burst detection using only minimum number of preamble symbols.

Robust burst detection and acquisition system and method


A method of segmenting an image into halftone and non-halftone regions includes: processing a pixel block of a grayscale image using a thresholding algorithm and an intensity threshold to form a binary block, the pixel block including grayscale pixels with intensity values, the binary block including binary pixels with binary values; identifying a pixel group in the binary block, wherein the pixel group includes connected pixels represented by a select binary value, wherein pixels in the pixel group adjacent to pixels of the pixel block represented by another binary value are identified as boundary pixels of the pixel group; and processing the pixel group using a scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm to extract keypoints from the pixel group to form a keypoint map in conjunction with segmenting the grayscale image into halftone and non-halftone regions. An image processing device for performing the method is also provided.

This disclosure presents various embodiments of a method of segmenting an image into halftone and non-halftone regions. In several embodiments, the method is applied to define a process for identifying a block of pixels in a grayscale image to define a binary image, identifying a group of connected pixels in the binary image to define a region of interest, and to process the region of interest for classification as a halftone or non-halftone region based at least in part on using a scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm. However, the method can also be applied to multiple groups of connected pixels from the same block and to multiple blocks of pixels from the grayscale image. Parallel processing can be used to process multiple groups of connected pixels. Similarly, parallel processing can be used to process multiple blocks of pixels. Various embodiments of an image processing device for performing the method are also provided. The disclosure also presents various embodiments of a computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed, cause an image processing device to perform the method.
For copy and scan jobs, different regions in the original image, such as contone, halftone, text and lines are usually processed differently for rescreening or for compression respectively. Separation of text regions from the rest of the objects is the main challenge in segmentation of the original image.
Separation of halftone and non-halftone regions in a document image is vital for numerous purposes, such as: i) to avoid image quality artifacts when rescreening the image while copying, ii) for better text recognition using OCR on scanned documents, iii) to improve any type of information extraction, such as data in forms, etc., and iv) for better image compression performance.
The existing approaches to separation of halftone and non-halftone regions have various limitations, such as: i) auto-windowing based methods are computationally complex for real time/software implementation in MFDs, as pixel based micro-segmentation tags are generated using algorithms implemented in ASICs; ii) in connected component based approaches, selecting proper threshold to form the connected component is difficult and, if the proper threshold is not selected, the possibility of misclassification is higher, iii) since the raw image handled by MFD's is of high resolution, time and computation costs are higher, and iv) when there is scale or rotational variation in the image, usage of certain methods (e.g., run-length) fails in determining halftone regions.

Method and apparatus for segmenting image into halftone and non-halftone regions


A serial data timing base modulator includes a bidirectional data format converter, a data buffer, and a timing base generator. The bidirectional data format converter converts inputted serial data into parallel data which are then stored in a computer via the data buffer. The converted parallel data are sent to the buffer after being analyzed and emulated. The timing base generator outputs a train of timing pulses which have the same presentation speed of the original inputted serial data. The bidirectional data format converter converts the parallel data into serial data based on the timing pulses sent from the timing base generator, thus recovering the parallel data to the originally inputted serial data.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a serial data timing base modulator, especially one which can decrease the presentation speed of serial digital data, thus allowing a emulator to analyze the normal-speed digital data in a slow speed and which can increase the speed of the emulated digital data from the emulator, thus recovering the speed of the digital data to a normal speed.
Simulators used at the present time are merely for emulation of normal audio signals. Therefore, the output signal of the emulated device can be analyzed and emulated by the emulator if the frequency of the oscillation signal is adjusted to a very low value to considerably reduce the presentation speed of the output signal of the emulated device. However, for emulation of sound from data media carriers such as compact disc or video compact disc via a CD-ROM, the quick presentation speed of the sound signal prevents the emulator from analyzing and emulating the sound signal coming from the CD-ROM. Although the sound signal may be pre-recorded in a tape and reproduced in a recorder playback with a slower speed. However, the operation of the recorder playback normally introduces noises and cause worse affection to the emulation of the emulator. It is requisite to provide a serial data timing base modulator which can convert relatively high speed serial data into relatively low speed serial data and also convert relatively low speed serial data into relatively high speed serial data.


The present disclosure relates to a medical diagnostic system. In various embodiments, the system includes a housing, a first receptacle in the housing for receiving a reagent container, a second receptacle in the housing for receiving a working fluid and waste container, where the second receptacle is larger than the first receptacle, two reagent access needles positioned and fixed within the first receptacle with each of the two reagent access needles being substantially horizontal to horizontally access the reagent container, and a working fluid access needle and a waste access needle positioned and fixed within the second receptacle with the working fluid access needle and the waste access needle being substantially horizontal to horizontally access the working fluid and waste container.

Medical guidance for many medical diagnostic systems, such as hematology analyzers, recommends analyzing a sample as soon as possible after drawing the sample. This recommendation can be difficult if the sample is obtained at the point of care but the test is to be performed at an external laboratory. Therefore, many doctors and veterinarians prefer to have point-of-care (POC) systems to analyze fresh samples.
POC medical diagnostic systems use various types of reagents and fluids to perform their analyses. Various types of packages exist for the reagents and fluids, and such packages must be delivered to and installed by the POC offices. Installations requiring a multitude of steps can confuse and frustrate operators. In some cases, POC diagnostic systems may still operate even if packages are improperly installed but may produce incorrect results. Accordingly, there is continuing interest in improving POC medical diagnostic systems and reagent and fluid packages for POC medical diagnostic systems.

Point-of-care diagnostic systems and containers for same


Leads are formed on a surface of an etching stop film of a base, and holes are defined in the base and a region of a substrate which corresponds to a lead-forming region is thinned by selective etching on both upper and lower surfaces of the base. A lead holder film having a device hole and an outer lead bonding slit is applied to the upper surface of the base. The thinned region of the substrate is removed by selective etching on the lower surface of the base, and the etching stop film is etched away.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a lead frame, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a lead frame to produce leads in a fine pattern at a reduced cost while preventing the leads from being deformed in the fabrication process and allowing the leads to be plated with ease.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the degree of integration of semiconductor devices including ICs, LSI circuits, etc. increases and those semiconductor devices have a greater number of terminals, more and more lead frames manufactured by TAB (Tape-Automated Bonding) are replacing conventional lead frames of a metal sheet of copper or the like which is pressed or etched to form a plurality of integral leads, as providing electric leads of electrodes of the semiconductor devices.
TAB lead frames comprise a tape of a heat-resistant synthetic resin such as polyimide and a plurality of leads of copper or the like supported on the tape, as disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 5-198618.
Heretofore, a TAB lead frame is manufactured as follows: A metal film of copper or the like is deposited on a flexible tape base of an insulating synthetic resin such as polyimide. Then, the metal film is selectively etched into a predetermined pattern of leads. The conventional manufacturing process has imposed a limitation on efforts to produce a fine pattern of leads because the metal film has a poor affinity for the tape base of an insulating synthetic resin. Therefore, it has been difficult to form a film, such as a copper film, of thin dense leads.
Furthermore, the width of leads cannot be reduced beyond a certain limit, and the leads are subject to a phenomenon known as side etching. Since the tape base is not right, but flexible, is managed and assembled tool to tool, and is difficult to handle as it tends to be easily curled, so that it is difficult to form leads on the tape base. These shortcomings have also been responsible for thwarting attempts to make finer lead patterns.
Since leads are formed on an insulating tape base and are insulated from each other thereby, if inner or outer leads are to be electroplated with metal for bonding, then it is necessary to provide a circuit for applying a potential to the leads only for electroplating the leads, and then remove the circuit after the leads are electroplated. Such a process is disadvantageous in that an extra space for providing the circuit therein is required, the process needs a large number of steps, and the resultant lead frame is highly costly.
The synthetic resin of the tape base or carrier for the leads is expensive, and is wasteful because it is mostly removed eventually. This has prevented the cost of the conventional lead frames from being lowered.
Tapes for use in TAB are manufactured by a tool-to-tool tape carrier system. Therefore, they can be mass-produced in few types. However, the TAB tapes do not lend themselves to a production scheme for producing many types in small quantities, which has recently been considered to be more important than before in the art. The sizes, particularly widths, of TAB tapes and circuit patterns thereon are limited by production equipment standards. Accordingly, the TAB tapes find it difficult to meet a variety of needs which will be growing in the art.


A single drive motor is connected by a speed reducer directly to the shaft of one roll of the two aggressive surfaced rolls which form a chip destructuring nip. One roll is dynamically positionable perpendicular to its axis of rotation to open and close the nip. Each roll turns on a shaft positioned along the axis of the roll which is mounted to a frame by bearings. Only the non-positionable roll is driven directly by the drive motor. The roll which is dynamically positionable is driven by a tire arrangement mounted about the axes of the rolls. Opposed tires mounted on the spaced apart parallel shafts form a clutch-like means for driving the dynamically positionable roll.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating wood chips to enhance liquor penetration in subsequent pulping operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to destructuring apparatus in which chips are passed between closely spaced rolls whose surfaces are aggressively contoured for causing chips to be cracked by compressive forces.
In the production of paper from wood fibers, the wood fibers must be freed from the raw wood. In one widely used method, this is accomplished by cooking the wood fibers in a solution until the lignin which holds the fibers together is dissolved. It is desirable to minimize damage to fibers from over cooking. If wood chips of non-uniform thickness are sent to the digester, some chips will be over cooked before thicker chips are completely digested. In order to achieve rapid and uniform digestion by the cooking liquor, the wood, after it has been debarked, is passed through a chipper which reduces the raw wood to chips on the order of one inch to four inches long. The chipper tends to produce a large percentage of over-thick chips which, after separation on a bar screen, must normally be reprocessed through a slicer to reduce them to the desired thickness. This reprocessing through a slicer has the undesirable effect of creating excessive sawdust and pins. The production of sawdust and splinters reduces the overall yield of fibers from a given amount of raw wood. Because the cost of the raw wood is a major contributor to the cost of paper produced, re-slicing the oversized chips incurs a considerable cost.
An alternative to re-slicing over-thick wood chips is a process known as "destructuring" the chips. The chips are fed through opposed rollers which have aggressively contoured surfaces, for example surfaces formed with an array of pyramid-shaped projections. Compressing the chips as they pass through the nip of the rollers produces longitudinal fractures along the grain of the wood. The cracks induced in the chips allow the cooking liquor to penetrate the interior of the chip, thus effectively reducing the chip's thickness. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,953,795 and 5,385,309, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, teach the construction of rolls which destructure the wood chips by cracking them preferentially in the direction of the grain.
Improvements in chip destructuring technology which reduce acquisition costs and simplify maintenance and installation would further improve the advantages provided by chip destructuring machines.


In a mold for molding a slide fastener slider, a first template has a first part of a cavity for molding a rear section of an outer contour of the slider body except an upper surface portion of an upper wing and also has a first core for molding a rear section of an element guide channel of the slider body; a second template which is movable toward and away from the first template has a second cavity part for molding a front section of the outer contour of the slider body and also has a second core for molding a front section of the element guide channel; and a third template which is slidable on the first and second templates has a third part of the cavity for molding a pull-tab attaching lug of the slider body and an outer contour of the upper surface portion/shape of the upper wing. For molding, these templates are brought together to form the cavity, and then molten molding material is poured into the cavity via a channel and a sprue. After solidification of the molding material, the second template together with the third template is moved horizontally away from the first template and then the third template is slid upwardly, in response to which an eject pin projects from the second template to remove a molded product off the mold.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of and a mold for molding a slide fastener slider body, and more particularly to such method and mold, in which the slider body can be manufactured easily, in which an element guide channel in the slider body is excellently accurate in size of inside diameter, and which facilitate removing a molded product from the mold.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional method for manufacturing a slide fastener slider body by die-casting or injection-molding comprises forming a molding cavity by a suitable combination of a fixed template, a movable template and various cores, pouring molten molding material into the cavity, solidifying the molding material, retracting the movable template and the cores from the fixed template, and removing a molded slider body. Each of the projections, auxiliary template or associated member is fixedly or slidably attached to the fixed template or the movable template, as exemplified by Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 34-4626, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-61288 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-213311.
In this conventional method, since a slider body to be molded has an element guide channel and a pull-tab attaching lug, it is inevitable to use the templates or the cores whose movement and shape are complex and accuracy of inside diameter size of the element guide channel would be lowered due to the wear of the core for forming the element guide channel or adequate separation of molding material would be difficult to achieve due to the non-uniform application of a peeling agent to the templates and the cores for forming the element guide channel or excessive adhesion of the slider body.
Further, it would be necessary to slide a plurality of cores and templates in two or more axial directions so that the effective volume of the mold composed of the fixed template and the movable template cannot be utilized to a maximum.

Method and mold for molding slide fastener slider body


A method of repairing a length of pipeline which has experienced a wet buckle during deployment is disclosed. The method includes: severing the pipeline at locations which are spaced apart on opposite sides of a buckle and removing the buckled section to leave spaced severed ends; locating a pipeline pig in a pig deployment device; releasably coupling a pig insertion member of the pig deployment device to the pig; releasably coupling the pig deployment device to one of the severed ends; operating the pig deployment device to cause the pig insertion member to translate the pig out of the deployment device and into the pipeline through said severed end; releasing the pig insertion member from the pig and retracting the pig insertion member, leaving the pig in place within the pipeline; releasing the pig deployment device from said severed end; and welding the severed ends together.

In the oil and gas exploration and production industry, many oil and gas deposits are found in offshore locations. This presents significant challenges, not least of which is the transportation of large volumes of oil and/or gas back onshore. One way in which this is achieved is by laying a pipeline from the offshore location back to an onshore installation. This usually involves laying a pipeline on the seabed, extending from a production and/or storage facility in the offshore location, back onshore. This is, however, an extremely costly and time-consuming procedure.
Advanced pipelaying techniques have therefore been developed which have sought to reduce both the time and cost involved in laying pipelines of this type. These techniques involve manufacturing a length of pipeline of the order of several hundred or evens thousands of meters in length onshore, and then deploying the length of pipeline on to a large diameter reel, which is supported on a dedicated pipelaying vessel. The reeled length of pipeline is then transported offshore and deployed from the reel on the vessel and on to the seabed. The vessel progresses in a forward direction as the length of pipeline is slowly deployed overboard. A number of such reeled lengths of pipeline may be required in order to form the complete pipeline, which may be several thousand meters in length, the successive reeled lengths of pipeline being welded together end-to-end.
Many different techniques have been developed for deploying the pipeline from the vessel, including 'S-lay' and 'J-lay' techniques, which are well known in the industry. The primary differences between the various techniques are the particular way in which the length of pipeline is stored on the vessel, and the way in which a free end of the pipeline is deployed from the vessel and down towards the seabed.
In each case however, the length of pipeline is deployed from the vessel into open water, and flooded with seawater so as to negate buoyancy effects. The length of pipeline experiences significant stresses as it travels down to the seabed. In particular, it experiences significant bending stresses as it is curved to transition from the angle at which it is deployed from the vessel, to that which it adopts when it is laid on the seabed. In this regard, it will be noted that some pipelines, depending on their purpose and the materials from which they are constructed, can be arranged so that they are raised up from the seabed in certain areas, for example in a 'lazy-wave', which allows for heave of a floating production/storage vessel to which the pipeline is connected.
A particular problem which can be encountered during deployment of the length of pipeline is a situation known as a 'wet buckle'. This is where the pipeline buckles during deployment from the vessel, at a location which is below sea-level. The buckle typically occurs in a region of the pipeline which is undergoing significant curvature, and so consequent stress. When a wet buckle occurs, it is necessary to stop forward motion of the pipelaying vessel, before 'backing-up' the vessel and reeling the pipeline back on to the reel. This process continues until the buckle has been brought back to the level of the vessel deck. The pipeline is then securely gripped above and below the buckle, cuts made either side of the buckle, and the buckled portion removed. The cut ends of the pipeline are then subjected to a suitable preparatory procedure and welded together. Pipelaying can then recommence.
In theory this is a simple procedure, but in practice it presents numerous technical challenges, and also hampers subsequent completion of the pipeline.
In particular, as mentioned above, the pipeline is flooded with seawater during deployment. Depending upon water depth, it may not be possible to raise the buckle back up to the vessel, for the simple reason that the self-weight of the pipeline containing the water is too great for equipment on the vessel, and potentially the vessel itself, to support.
More significantly, it is very important that the inside of the pipeline does not become contaminated during the procedure to cut out the buckled section of pipeline, for example with abrasive metal cuttings. A particular reason for this is that most metal pipelines are of a simple low-cost carbon steel, with a thin inner liner of an expensive corrosion resistant material (such as 316 or 317 stainless steel). Metal cuttings within the pipeline could lead to a deterioration of the liner and consequent corrosion of the carbon steel, with potentially disastrous consequences. It is therefore necessary to provide a barrier within the pipeline before commencing the cutting procedure.
All pipelines which are deployed following the above techniques include a 'laydown head' at their free end, which carries a number of specialist pipe inspection/cleaning devices known as 'pipeline pigs'. The pigs can be translated along the pipeline, their primary purpose being performance of pressure testing/inspection of the completed pipeline. A number of such pigs are provided in the laydown head, and are separately deployable so that numerous such procedures can be carried out.
When a wet buckle occurs, it is necessary to release a pig from the laydown head, and to pump it along the pipeline to a position which is adjacent the buckle. In shallow water, the pig can be pumped along the pipeline using seawater, but in deep water locations, it is necessary to pump the pig along the pipeline using air, due to the self-weight issues discussed above. This brings about its own problems because it can result in the pipeline becoming buoyant and lifting off the seabed.
Once the pig has been positioned adjacent the buckle, the pipeline can be drawn back up to the vessel, and the buckled portion cut out, as described above. The pig can then be pumped up and out of the pipeline, carrying any contamination such as metal cuttings. The primary problems with this are as follows.
Firstly, it is time-consuming to pump the pig along the pipeline from the laydown head, which may amount to a distance of many kilometers. The entire procedure can take of the order of 14 days to complete. This represents a significant delay in the context of completing the pipeline laying procedure.
Secondly, the procedure can be extremely expensive. This is because pipelaying is delayed, and the specialist pipelaying vessels are hired out at rates of the order of hundreds of thousands of US dollars per day, which are wasted when the vessel is not being employed in pipelaying. Also, in deep-water locations where air must be charged into the pipeline to pump the pig along the pipe, this requires a further specialist vessel which is capable of pumping large volumes of air hundreds of meters below sea level to the laydown head, and also often requires deployment of an ROV to connect supply hoses and actuate the pig. Such equipment is again hired out at significant day rates.
Thirdly, the procedure effectively uses up one of the pipeline pigs which has been positioned in the laydown head prior to deployment of the pipeline from the vessel. This can hamper test/inspection procedures to be carried out at a later date, particularly if more than one wet buckle occurs.


An apparatus (1) for switching real-time media streams of one or multiple sources (Q1, Q2, Q3) to one or multiple sinks (S1, S2, S3) includes one or multiple source ports (QA1, QA2, QA3) for connecting of the one or multiple sources (Q1, Q2, Q3) as well as one or multiple sink ports (SA1, SA2, SA3) for connecting of the one or multiple sinks (S1, S2, S3). The apparatus (1) is adapted to provide a switching sink (SS) and to switch it to a real-time media stream of a first source (Q1). The switching sink (SS) is adapted to receive the real-time media stream of the first source (Q1) in a packet-switched format and to forward the received real-time media stream in a packet-switched format, wherein the packets are provided with a first multi-point destination address (IPMZS) allocated to the switching sink (SS) during forwarding in order to allow for a connecting of the one or multiple sinks (S2) with the real-time media stream of the first source (Q1) forwarded by the switching sink (SS). The switching sink (SS) represents the source of the real-time media stream forwarded by the switching sink (SS) from the “point of view” of the sinks (S1, S2, S3) connected to the apparatus, with which the sinks (S1, S2, S3) can connect through the multi-point destination address (IPMZS).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for switching real-time media streams from one or multiple sources to one or multiple sinks. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding computer program.
2. Present State of the Art
In the area of professional TV studios it is common to connect sources of real-time media flows, e.g. TV cameras producing real-time video streams, and corresponding sinks, e.g. suitable studio monitors or digital editing suites, by a serial, digital interface, which is called "Serial Digital Interface (SDI)" in English. The SDI-interface allows for a transmission of uncompressed, unencrypted digital video streams (and optionally of embedded time code streams and/or audio streams) through coaxial cables or optical wave guides and comprises a whole family of standards specified by the SMPTE (English "Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers") for different video formats and bit rates respectively. Thus, the standard SMPTE 259M (English "Standard Definition"), also known as SD-SDI, defines for example the digital transmission of PAL video signals (English "Phase Alternating Line") in the 576i format (English "interlaced") with a bit rate of 270 Mbit/s and the standard SMPTE 344M (English "Enhanced Definition"), also known as ED-SDI, allows for a digital transmission of PAL video signals in the 576p format (English "progressive") with a bit rate of 540 Mbit/s. For high-resolution HDTV applications (English "High Definition Television") the standard SMPTE 292M, also known as HD SDI allows for a digital transmission of video signals in the 720p or 1080i format with bit rates of 1.485 Gbit/s and 1.485/1.001 Gbit/s. For even bigger video formats, e.g. in the area of digital cinema or 3D-cinema, suitable standards with correspondingly even higher bit rates are available as well. Examples therefor are the standard SMPTE 372M, also known as Dual-Link HD-SDI, and the standard SMPTE 424M (English "Third Generation"), also termed 3G-SDI.
In order to switch real-time media streams between sources and sinks so-called SDI crossbars are generally used in television studio studio engineering. These devices feature source and sink ports for digital video streams for different SDI formats, e.g. SD-SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI, depending on their equipment components, and allow for a transparent switching of the sinks to the sources, i.e. it is ensured that switching occurs between two chronologically sequent access units, i.e., for instance between two chronologically to subsequent frames with digital video streams. The switching operation occurs for this chronologically predetermined switching points or within predetermined switching ranges respectively, which are defined within the directive SMPTE RP168 (English title "Definition of Vertical Interval Switching Point for Synchronous Video Switching") for video streams in the SDI format, for example.
However, the transmission of real-time media streams by the SDI interface and the switching by means of correspondent SDI crossbars in the television studio has the disadvantage that the studio technology necessary for this is expensive and the maximum cable length of the coaxial cables generally used for the transmission is limited. Therefore, it is desirable for the future not least because of economical aspects to change the serial, digital infra structure used in the television studios to a packet-switched infrastructure, i.e., e.g. IP-based (English "Internet Protocol"), as it is already widely used in recent computer network technology. Such a packet-based solution could be cheaper in the long run than the "special" solution used in studios now, and it could be used for transmission of other formats, e.g. compressed video formats such as JPEG200 or container formats such as MXF (English "Material eXchange Format") in addition to the transmission of digital video streams in the SDI format. Furthermore, the integration of software-based image processing and corresponding storage media would be easier as well within a packet-switched infrastructure.
While there are already existing solutions for the transmission of real-time media streams by IP-based networks with the SMPTE 2022 standard family and the standard SMPTE 2022-6 (English title "High Bit Rate Media Transport over IP Networks" (HBRMT)) in particular allows for the transmission of digital video streams provided in the SDI format by IP-based networks (also called "SDI over IP"), so far there is a lack of suitable solutions for switching such signals transparently, i.e. between two chronologically sequent access units, in a "packet-switched world".

Apparatus and method for switching real-time media streams


A plastic folder, for holding sheets of paper, which includes a front cover and a back cover connected by a hinge. The hinge includes a first fold line adjacent to the front cover, and a second fold line adjacent to the back cover, and a third fold line intermediate the first and second fold lines, thereby dividing the hinge into a first portion adjacent to the front cover and a second portion adjacent to the back cover. A pair of weld areas are disposed in the hinge so as to connect the first hinge portion to the second hinge portion. The weld areas are spaced from one another so as to produce a holding force on the paper inserted into the plastic folder. The first and second fold lines, together with the welded areas, produce a plastic folder that more securely, and durably, holds paper therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plastic folders and, more particularly, to plastic folders for carrying paper and records.
2. Related Art
WO 90/04524 discloses a plastic folder for holding sheets of paper. The plastic folder disclosed therein includes joined areas, or welds, for connecting a front side and a back side in the vicinity of the margin of a sheet of paper held within the folder. Further, the folder includes cuts adjacent to the joined areas in order to allow the interval between the joined areas to vary while allowing the sheets held in the folder to remain flat. However, this reference only discloses one fold line along the spine between the front and back sides. Thus, when either the front or back side is opened, it places a stress on the joined area, as well as tends to bow the folder thereby making it easier for the sheets to come out thereof.
The present invention is designed to overcome the drawbacks of the related art. Further, it is an object of the present invention to more securely, and durably, retain sheets of paper within a plastic folder. In order to improve the paper retention and durability of the plastic folder, an advantageous combination of weld areas and fold lines is used. Further, the shape of the weld areas contributes to improved paper retention, durability, and esthetic appearance of the folder.
In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of the invention, a plastic folder, for retaining sheets of paper, includes:
a front cover;
a back cover;
a hinge section between the front cover and the back cover, wherein the hinge section includes a first fold line adjacent the front cover, a second fold line adjacent the back cover, and a third fold line intermediate the first and second fold lines, the third fold line forming a spine so that the front cover is disposed over the back cover and so that the first fold line is over the second fold line, wherein a first hinge portion is disposed between the third fold line and the first fold line, whereas a second hinge portion is disposed between the third fold line and the second fold line;
a first weld area disposed on the hinge section as well as between the spine and the first fold line, wherein the first weld area connects the first portion of the hinge to the second portion of the hinge;
a second weld area disposed on the hinge section as well as between the spine and the first fold line, wherein the second weld area connects the first portion of the hinge to the second portion of the hinge,
wherein the second weld area is disposed at a first distance in the direction of the spine from the first weld area, the first distance being smaller than a length of an edge of a sheet of paper to be disposed along the spine so that the sheet of paper is held within the plastic folder by the first and second weld areas.

Plastic folder for retaining sheets of paper


Antenna apparatus for receiving two distinct frequencies in the MHz or GHz range. A resonator layer of electrically conducting material is positioned in the interior of a dielectric layer that has first and second opposed surfaces (front and back). First and second ground planes are positioned on the first and second opposed surfaces of the substrate. The resonator is electrically connected to an annular strip of conducting material, positioned on the first substrate surface and surrounding the first ground plane. Two receiver feed connections, positioned at selected first and second positions on the patch resonator, receive distinct first and second frequencies. This apparatus may be used to receive the two GPS operating frequencies, the two GLONASS operating frequencies or two wireless LAN operating frequencies.

This invention relates to dual frequency antennas for receipt and/or transmission of electromagnetic signals.
Many telecommunication systems in use today require use of multiple frequencies for proper operation. For example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) implemented by the U.S. Government requires use of two frequencies, 1.227 GHz and 1.575 GHz, in order to compensate for some of the effects of frequency-dependent ionospheric delay on propagation of electromagnetic signals through the ionosphere. For similar reasons, the GLONOSS global positioning and navigation system of the former Soviet Union uses two frequencies, 1.246 GHz and 1.602 GHz. One design of a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) uses three frequency ranges, 0.902-0.928 GHz, 2.400-2.485 GHz and 5.725-5.850 GHz, for control and data transmission purposes. Use of multiple frequencies may require use of multiple antennas, which may create space allocation problems in a transmitter or receiver with a size constraint imposed.
Microstrip antennas, which were first discussed by G. A. Deschamps in "Microstrip Microwave Antennas", "Third U.S.A.F. Symposium on Antennas", 1953, offer a possible solution to the size problem for multiple antennas. These antennas have been discussed in more detail by J. Q. Howells in "Microstrip Antennas", I.E.E.E. Trans. on Antennas and Propagation, 1975, pp. 90-93; by R. E. Munson in "Microstrip Antennas", in Antenna Handbook, edited by Skolia, pp. 7-1 to 7-28; and by I. J. Bahl and P. Bhartia, Microstrip Antennas, Artech House, 1984, pp. 1-29 et seq.
A microstrip (ms) antenna, in its simplest form, consists of a thin electromagnetic resonator layer of carefully chosen dimensions, a ground plane, a dielectric layer contiguous to and separating the resonator and the ground plane, and an antenna signal feed connected to the resonator at a carefully chosen position. Microstrip antennas are available as patch antennas, as traveling wave antennas and as slot antennas, depending upon the geometry chosen for the resonator. These types of ms antennas are discussed and contrasted by Bahl and Bhartia, op. cit. A ms antenna offers several advantages relative to conventional antennas: (1) the ms antenna size is quite small, having typical dimensions of the order of 10 cm.times.10 cm.times.1 cm; (2) fabrication cost of a ms antenna is low for high volume production; (3) a ms antenna has low scattering cross-section; (4) linear, as well as circular (right hand or left hand) polarization fir the radiating waves is available; (5) fed lines are fabricated simultaneously with fabrication of the remainder of the ms antenna; and (6) the choice of operating frequency may be chosen over a broad range from 100 MHz to 50 GHz. However, the ms antenna also has certain disadvantages: (1) the bandwidth for ms antenna operation is usually small, with a typical full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 10 MHz; (2) an ms antenna has some loss so that gain is limited, usually to 20 dB or less; (3) except for special designs, an ms antenna usually radiates into a half plane and has poor endfire performance; (4) isolation between the feed line and the radiating element is a serious problem; (5) an ms antenna may excite surface waves as well; and (6) an ms antenna has relatively low power handling capability.
Dual frequency ms antenna have been discussed by Munson, op. cit., and by Bahl and Bhartia, op. cit., pp. 69-75, 127-132 and 157-162, and elsewhere in the literature within the last ten years. These dual frequency configurations usually employ a stacked ground plane and first and second patch resonators, spaced apart by two dielectric layers, with the first and second resonators each radiating at distinct resonant frequencies. Each patch resonator requires a separate feed line, and the two frequencies must differ from each other by at least 10-20 percent. The material for, and thickness of, the dielectric layer separating the first and second resonators must be carefully controlled to provide reasonable electromagnetic isolation of the resonators and their associated frequencies.
What is needed is a more compact dual frequency ms antenna that does not require fabrication of two electrically separated resonator regions and for which the dielectric materials and thicknesses used are not so critical in fabrication of the antenna. Preferably, the dual frequency antenna should allow use of a wide range of dielectric materials and should offer improved spatial directivity and FWHM bandwidth for the radiation fields.


In a second displacer (33), a final layer (33c) measuring 10 K or lower in temperature is filled with spherical particles (34) of HoCu.sub.2 which exhibit a specific heat greater than that of Er.sub.3 Ni. An intermediate layer (33d) of 10 K to 15 K is filled with spherical particles (35) of Er.sub.3 Ni, Er.sub.3 Co or Nd. Further, an initial layer (33e) of 15 K or higher is filled with spherical particles (36) of Pb. By the use of such regenerative materials that exhibit the highest specific heats respectively for the individual temperature regions of 10 K or lower, 10-15 K, and 15 K or higher, the second displacer (33) exhibits an enhanced refrigerating capacity, as compared with the case of filling the final layer with the spherical particles of Er.sub.3 Ni as conventionally done. This further makes it possible to construct the second displacer (33) in a compact size and in a reduced weight.

An example of the cryorefrigerator for obtaining cryogenic temperatures by iterating the introduction and expansion of high-pressure refrigerant gas is shown in FIG. 6. A regenerator of this cryorefrigerator employs a magnetic regenerative material such as Er.sub.3 Ni.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cryorefrigerator. This cryorefrigerator is provided with a first displacer 3 which has a first chamber with a regenerative material accommodated therein and which is sealed in a first cylinder 1, and a second displacer 7 which has a second chamber communicating with the first chamber and accommodating a regenerative material and which is sealed in a second cylinder 5. The first chamber of the first displacer 3 is optionally communicated with a high-pressure chamber 12 having an inlet 11 or with a low-pressure chamber 14 having an outlet 13, via a valve stem 9 and a valve 10.
The communication path from the first chamber to the high-pressure chamber 12 or the low-pressure chamber 14 is switched over by rotating the valve 10 by means of a synchronous motor 15.
The cryorefrigerator having the above construction operates as follows.
Referring again to FIG. 6, a high-pressure refrigerant gas fed from a compressor (not shown) or the like is introduced into the first chamber of the first displacer 3 through the inlet 11 and via the valve 10 and the valve stem 9, where the refrigerant gas undergoes heat exchange with the regenerative material within the first chamber, thus being cooled (first stage). The refrigerant gas cooled in this way is then introduced into the second chamber within the second displacer 7, where the refrigerant gas undergoes heat exchange with the regenerative material within the second chamber, thus being further cooled (second stage).
After these processes, the valve 10 is rotated by the synchronous motor 15, so that the first chamber is communicated with the low-pressure chamber 14. Then, the high-pressure refrigerant gas that has been introduced in the first chamber and the second chamber is quickly expanded, resulting in decrease in gas temperature. In this way, heat energy obtained by the expansion of the refrigerant gas is accumulated on the regenerative material.
As described above, a cryogenic temperature is obtained by iterating the introduction of the high-pressure refrigerant gas into the first chamber and the second chamber and its expansion (i.e., by iterating the refrigerating cycle).
In the cryorefrigerator having a structure as shown in FIG. 6, typically, spherical particles 16 of lead (Pb) are filled as a regenerative material on the high-temperature side of the second chamber 6, while spherical particles 17 of Er.sub.3 Ni are filled on the low-temperature side of the chamber, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to enhance the low temperature regenerative efficiency in the second displacer 7.
In the conventional cryorefrigerator, high regeneration efficiency has been obtained by filling the spherical particles 16 of Pb on the high-temperature side of the second chamber 6 and filling the spherical particles 17 of Er.sub.3 Ni on the low-temperature side of the chamber as described above.
In recent years, such a cryorefrigerator as described above has come to be applied in an increasingly wider range. With this trend, there are demands for a cryorefrigerator having an even larger refrigerating capacity and being small in size and light in weight.

Regenerator and cryogenic refrigerator having regenerator


Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at the network node, an indication of an event from a network monitor, the event associated with a network element; identifying an applicable rule of a plurality of rules based on the event, the applicable rule specifying at least one action; initiating performance of the at least one action with respect to at least one session associated with the network element. Various embodiments additionally include one or more of the following: identifying a group of sessions associated with the network element; and wherein the steps of identifying an applicable rule and initiating performance of the at least one action are performed for each session of the group of sessions.

As mobile telecommunication becomes more widely accepted and as more complex applications are developed, the demand on network infrastructure is ever-increasing. While service providers attempt to keep up with the increased need for bandwidth and generally reliable service by installing faster and additional equipment, it appears that such service may be difficult to provide while network traffic remains unregulated. In particular, two major factors that contribute to reduced end-user experience are congested network elements and unfair use of the network by certain users.
In many networks, there are multiple routes between two communication endpoints through many different intermediate devices. Without a way to assess the congestions of different routes, however, a particular session may be routed through an over-worked or failing node, leading to an appreciable delay in data transfer. In many of these cases, sessions could have been routed through other underutilized nodes, thereby providing better transfer rates for those sessions while reducing the load on the congested nodes.
Individual users may also have an adverse effect on the quality of service delivered to other users. For instance, if a user consistently uses a high amount of data transfer, such as in the case of streaming high quality video and/or downloading large files, this detracts from the total amount of available bandwidth that may be shared among other users. In other cases, malicious users may purposefully impact the quality of service delivered to other users, utilizing various tactics to degrade or even fully deny service. In some cases, the user may even be unaware that they have a virus that is causing the degradation of services for themselves and others.

Intelligent network management of network-related events