The present invention relates to a method for increasing double-strand-break induced mutagenesis at a genomic locus of interest in a cell, thereby giving new tools for genome engineering, including therapeutic applications and cell line engineering. More specifically, the present invention concerns the combined use of TALEN or meganucleases with TREX2, especially under the form of single-chain proteins.

Mammalian genomes constantly suffer from various types of damage, of which double-strand breaks (DSB) are considered the most dangerous (Haber, 2000). For example, DSBs can arise when the replication fork encounters a nick or when ionizing radiation particles create clusters of reactive oxygen species along their path. These reactive oxygen species may in turn themselves cause DSBs. For cultured mammalian cells that are dividing, 5-10% appear to have at least one chromosomal break (or chromatid gap) at any one time (Lieber & Karanjawala, 2004). Hence, the need to repair DSBs arises commonly (Li et al, 2007) and is critical for cell survival (Haber, 2000). Failure or incorrect repair can result in deleterious genomic rearrangements, cell cycle arrest, or cell death.
Repair of DSBs can occur through diverse mechanisms that can depend on cellular context. Repair via homologous recombination, the most accurate process, is able to restore the original sequence at the break. Because of its strict dependence on extensive sequence homology, this mechanism is suggested to be active mainly during the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle where the sister chromatids are in close proximity (Sonoda et al, 2006). Single-strand annealing is another homology-dependent process that can repair DSB between direct repeats and thereby promotes deletions (Paques & Haber, 1999). Finally, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) of DNA is a major pathway for the repair of DSBs because it can function throughout the cell cycle and because it does not require a homologous chromosome (Moore & Haber, 1996).
NHEJ comprises at least two different processes (Feldmann et al, 2000). The main and best characterized mechanism involves rejoining of what remains of the two DNA ends through direct re-ligation (Critchlow & Jackson, 1998) or via the so-called microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) (Ma et al, 2003). Although perfect re-ligation of the broken ends is probably the most frequent event, it could be accompanied by the loss or gain of several nucleotides.
Like most DNA repair processes, there are three enzymatic activities required for repair of DSBs by the NHEJ pathway: (i) nucleases to remove damaged DNA; (ii) polymerases to aid in the repair, and; (iii) a ligase to restore the phosphodiester backbone. Depending on the nature of the DNA ends, DNA can be simply re-ligated or terminal nucleotides can be modified or removed by inherent enzymatic activities, such as phosphokinases and exonucleases. Missing nucleotides can also be added by polymerase μ or λ. In addition, an alternative or so-called back-up pathway has been described that does not depend on ligase IV and Ku components and has been involved in class switch and V(D)J recombination (Ma et al, 2003). Overall, NHEJ can be viewed as a flexible pathway wherein the goal is to restore the chromosomal integrity, even at the cost of nucleotide excisions or insertions.
DNA repair can be triggered by both physical and chemical means. Several chemicals are known to cause DNA lesions and are used routinely. Radiomimetic agents, for example, work through free-radical attack on the sugar moieties of DNA (Povirk, 1996). A second group of drugs inducing DNA damage includes inhibitors of topoisomerase I (TopoI) and II (TopoII) (Burden & N., 1998; Teicher, 2008). Other classes of chemicals bind covalently to the DNA and form bulky adducts that are repaired by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system (Nouspikel, 2009). Chemicals inducing DNA damage have a diverse range of applications, however, although certain agents are more commonly applied in studying a particular repair pathway (e.g. cross-linking agents are favored for NER studies), most drugs simultaneously provoke a variety of lesions (Nagy & Soutoglou, 2009). Furthermore, using these classical strategies the overall yield of induced mutations is quite low, and the DNA damage leading to mutagenesis cannot be targeted to precise genomic DNA sequence.
The most widely used site-directed mutagenesis strategy is gene targeting (GT) via homologous recombination (HR). Efficient GT procedures in yeast and mouse have been available for more than 20 years (Capecchi, 1989; Rothstein, 1991). Successful GT has also been achieved in Arabidopsis and rice plants (Endo et al, 2006; Endo et al, 2007; Hanin et al, 2001; Terada et al, 2002). Typically, GT events occur in a fairly small population of treated mammalian cells and are extremely low in higher plant cells, in the range of 0.01-0.1% of the total number of random integration events (Terada et al, 2007). The low GT frequencies reported in various organisms are thought to result from competition between HR and NHEJ for repair of DSBs. There are extensive data indicating that DSB repair by NHEJ is error-prone due to end-joining processes that generate insertions and/or deletions (Britt, 1999). Thus, these NHEJ-based strategies might be more effective than HR-based strategies for targeted mutagenesis into cells.
Expression of I-SceI, a rare cutting endonuclease, has been shown to introduce mutations at I-SceI cleavage sites in mammalian cells (Liang et al, 1998), Arabidopsis and tobacco (Endo et al, 2006; Endo et al, 2007; Hanin et al, 2001; Kirik et al, 2000; Terada et al, 2007). However, the use of endonucleases is limited to rarely occurring natural recognition sites or to artificially introduced target sites. To overcome this problem, meganucleases with engineered specificity towards a chosen sequence have been developed (Arnould et al, 2006a; Arnould et al, 2007; Grizot et al, 2009; Smith et al, 2006). Meganucleases show high specificity to their DNA target, these proteins being able to cleave a unique chromosomal sequence and therefore do not affect global genome integrity. Natural meganucleases are essentially represented by homing endonucleases, a widespread class of proteins found in eukaryotes, bacteria and archae (Chevalier & Stoddard, 2001). Homing endonucleases can be classified in five different families, the largest and best characterized one being the LAGLIDAG homing endonuclease family, named after a conserved sequence motif (Stoddard, 2005). LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases can be dimeric (possessing a single LAGLIDADG motif per polypeptide), or monomeric (possessing two LAGLIDADG motifs per polypeptide).
Early studies of the I-SceI and HO homing endonucleases illustrated how the cleavage activities of these proteins could be used to initiate HR events in living cells and demonstrated the recombinogenic properties of chromosomal DSBs (Dujon et al, 1986; Haber, 1995). Since then, I-SceI-induced HR has been successfully used for genome engineering purposes in bacteria (Posfai et al, 1999b), mammalian cells (Cohen-Tannoudji et al, 1998; Donoho et al, 1998; Grizot et al, 2009; Sargent et al, 1997), mice (Gouble et al, 2006) and plants (Puchta et al, 1996; Siebert & Puchta, 2002). Meganucleases have emerged as the scaffolds of choice for deriving genome engineering tools cutting a desired target sequence (Paques & Duchateau, 2007b). Combinatorial assembly processes allowing for the engineering of meganucleases with modified specificities have been described (Arnould et al, 2006a; Arnould et al, 2007; Grizot et al, 2009; Smith et al, 2006). Briefly, these processes rely on the identification of locally engineered variants with a substrate specificity that differs from that of the wild-type meganuclease by only a few nucleotides.
Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) represent another type of specific nuclease. ZFNs are chimeric proteins composed of a synthetic zinc-finger-based DNA binding domain fused to a DNA cleavage domain. By modification of the zinc-finger DNA binding domain, ZFNs can be specifically designed to cleave virtually any long stretch of dsDNA sequence (Cathomen & Joung, 2008; Kim et al, 1996). A NHEJ-based targeted mutagenesis strategy was recently developed for several organisms by using synthetic ZFNs to generate DSBs at specific genomic sites (Beumer et al, 2008; Doyon et al, 2008a; Holt et al, 2010; Lloyd et al, 2005; Meng et al, 2008; Perez et al, 2008; Santiago et al, 2008). Subsequent repair of the DSBs by NHEJ frequently produces deletions and/or insertions at the joining site. For example, in zebrafish embryos the injection of mRNA coding for engineered ZFNs led to animals carrying the desired heritable mutations (Doyon et al, 2008b). In plant, similar NHEJ-based targeted mutagenesis has also been successfully applied (Lloyd et al, 2005). Although these powerful tools are available, there is still a need to further improve double-strand break-induced mutagenesis.
Recent studies suggest that co-expressing TREX2 exonuclease with I-SceI meganuclease modify gene repair activity in mouse ES cells, thereby causing partial degradation of chromosomal DNA by I-SceI (Bennardo et al, 2009). However, it was found in these studies that limiting the persistence of a chromosome break with TREX 2, diminishes the mutagenic potential of the meganuclease.
In this context, the inventors have developed an original approach to increase the efficiency of targeted DSB-induced mutagenesis based on the use of single-chain proteins combining TREX2 exonuclease with different rare-cutting endonucleases, such LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases and TALENs.
This approach has proven particular efficiency for gene mutagenesis, especially in plant transformation.

Method for increasing the efficiency of double-strand-break induced mutagenesis


Filter for removal of leucocytes is provided, wherein the filter is coated with a natural polymer of chitosan which has a good blood compatibility and no side effect in human body on an ultrafine non-woven fabric. This blood filter provides a high removal rate of leucocytes as well as good recovery of platelets and red blood cells due to secondary filtration through electrostatic power between a leucocyte and a cationic residue provided by chitosan on the surface of the non-woven fabric.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter for removal of leucocytes coated with a natural polymer of chitosan. More particularly, the invention relates to a filter for removal of leucocytes prepared by applying a natural polymer of chitosan on ultrafine non-woven fabric, wherein said polymer has a good blood compatibility while avoiding negative side-effects in a human body. The filter for removal of leucocytes of the invention has a high removal rate of leucocytes with good recovery of platelets and red blood cells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Blood occupies about 6 to 8% by weight of human body, and about 40 to 45% by volume of blood is solid phase and the rest is liquid phase. The solid cell components of blood consist of red blood cells (RBC), leucocytes and platelets, and the liquid components of blood, so-called plasma, consist of a solution of plasma protein such as fibrinogen, albumin and gamma-globulin, and organic and inorganic salts in water. As disclosed above, blood is important and valuable as a structural component of the human body as well as functional component. Recently, a trend in blood transfusion has been changing from transfusing a whole blood to a active transfusion of only desired blood components, and such transfusion is commonly utilized in blood transfusion therapy. The blood components transfusion therapy has an advantage in that it is possible that sufficient amounts of particular blood components are provided to a patient in need of such components. Additionally, it is possible to use a single unit of donated blood in larger patients, thereby avoiding waste of blood resources.
After transfusion of a blood preparation of red cell or platelet concentrates as well as a fresh whole blood, leucocytes contained in the preparation may result in several side effects such as non-hemolytic pyrexia and transfusion refractoriness due to forming of anti-leucocyte antibodies. In particular, repeated transfusions of platelet concentrates frequently leads to alloimmunization against histocompatible antigen of leucocytes contained therein. Thus, in order to reduce such leucocyte-associated post-transfusion complications, it is desirable to remove leucocytes from platelet concentrates.
Amongst the various techniques to remove leucocytes from blood, platelet separation aphersis has been recommended since it can reduce the number of donors. Also, conventional methods such as centrifugal settlements and washing with physiological saline may be utilized in the removal of leucocytes. Recently, a filtration through a filter has been developed and is beginning to replace centrifugation and washing processes. Since the filtration is conducted by using a disposable filter, inflammation can be avoided. Also, by using gravity, separate additional devices are unnecessary. This filtration process has advantages in that removal efficiency of leucocytes is high, and the time required is short.
Seyfert et al. disclosed that cell adhesion was increased by coating a microscope slide matrix with polycations. They reported that cell adhesion rate on the matrices was influenced more by electrostatic interaction due to surface charge rather than by surface tension (See, S. Seyfert, A. Voigt and D. Kabbeck-Kupijai, xe2x80x9cAdhesion of Leucocyte to Microscope Slides as Influenced by Electrostatic Interactionxe2x80x9d, Biomaterials, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp 210-207, (1995)).
Nishimura et al. disclosed that when non-woven fabric of polyester is used to remove leucocytes, as the fibre diameter of the fabric is made smaller, the removal rate of leucocytes becomes higher. Also, they reported that non-woven fabric having its surface coated with a random copolymer of hydroxyethylmethacrylate and diethylaminoethylmethacrylate has cationic potential [See, T. Nishimura, T. Kuroda, Y. Mizoguchi, H. Watanabe, H. Rikumaru and M. Umegae, xe2x80x9cAdvanced Method for Leucocyte Removal by Blood Filtrationxe2x80x9d in xe2x80x9cThe Role of Leucocyte Depletion in Blood Transfusion Practicexe2x80x9d, B. Brozovic ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1989) pp 35-40].
Further, Bruil et al. carried out an experiment in which non-woven fabrics of polyurethane coated with poly(ethyleneimine) were used as a filter in order to investigate its effect on the leucocytes adhesion during filtration, and they confirmed that leucocytes adhered to the surface of the filter through selective interaction with its amine group [See, A. Bruil, H. A. Oosterom, I. Steneker, B. J. M. Al, T. Beugeling, W. G. van Aken, and J. Feijin, xe2x80x9cPoly(ethyleneimine) Modified Filters for the Removal of Leucocytes from Bloodxe2x80x9d, J. Biomed. Mat. Res., Vol. 27, pp 1253-1268 (1993)].
Recently, filters for removal of leucocytes have been clinically utilized, and devices and methods for blood filtration using a fiber filter having surface modified with various polymers are disclosed in the many patent publications (See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,620, 4,880,548, 4,701,267, EP 0 397 403 A1, EP 0 408 462 A2 and EP 0 406 485 A1). However, no patent publication teaches that a non-woven fabric having its surface coated with chitosan may be used as a blood filter.
According to the present invention, excellent effects can be accomplished by using a natural biocompatible polymer, not using a synthetic polymer as a coating solution for non-woven fabric.
The present inventors have carried out many investigations in order to increase the biocompatibility of the filter for blood filtration. As a result, it has been found that a filter having improved properties can be obtained by newly applying chitosan as a coating material on non-woven fabric which have been used as a conventional filter material. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a filter for removal of leucocytes having a sufficient removal efficiency of leucocytes and recovery of red blood cells or platelets without causing any side effects in the human body. The above result is consistent with a removal rate of leucocytes of at least 95% and a recovery of red blood cells of at least 90% and a recovery of platelets of at least 90% as recommended by the American Association of Blood Banks.
It is an object of the invention to provide a filter for removal of leucocytes comprising non-woven fabric having its surface coated with chitosan.
In accordance with the present invention, it is preferably provided a filter for removal of leucocytes comprising a natural or synthetic non-woven fabric having not more than 3 xcexcm of pore size which is coated with chitosan having a deacetylation degree of 85 to 95% and an average molecular weight of 200,000 to 700,000.
It is further object of the invention to provide a method for preparing the filter for removal of leucocytes comprising the step of applying a solution of chitosan onto non-woven fabric.
In accordance with the present invention, the filter for removal of leucocytes is preferably prepared by immersing non-woven fabric in a solution of 0.1 to 5% chitosan in organic or inorganic acid for 30 to 120 minutes, and optionally, subjecting the solution to ultrasonic treatments for not more than 2 hours during the immersing procedure.
In accordance with the present invention, the principle of removing leucocytes is based on the following:
Firstly, leucocytes of 6-20 xcexcm in size are removed through non-woven fabric of ultrafine fibers, and platelets of 2-4 xcexcm and red blood cells of 6-9 xcexcm in size pass through the fabric. The secondary mechanism of filtration is effected by the electrostatic power between a leucocyte and a cationic residue on the surface of the coated non-woven fabric. In comparison, an experiment carried out with a conventional filter comprising only non-woven fabric showed that the recovery of red blood cells and platelets depends on the pore size of the non-woven fabric, whereas the removal rate of leucocytes depends more on surface adhesion.
Blood cells are mixture of lipid and protein that is a complex of amino acid, and are anionic. Accordingly, the filter for removal of leucocytes of the invention uses chitosan as an adhesive base having cationic potential to which blood cells can adhere by electrostatic interaction.
Generally, chitosan is a deacetylated form of chitin, a kind of carbohydrate derivatives derived from fungi, yeast, shrimp, crab and other oceanic invertebrates.
The chemical name of chitosan is (1xe2x86x924)2-amino-2-deoxy-xcex2-D-glucosamine having the chemical structure, as shown in the general formula (1):
As known from the above formula, chitosan has a cationic functional group to which a leucocyte is able to adhere to because of an anionic charge on its surface. Also, chitosan is harmless and innoxious to human body. Therefore, it may be efficiently utilized in the filter for removal of leucocytes by modifying surface of the filter with it. In the present invention, it is more preferable to use chitosan having a deacetylation degree of 85-95% and an average molecular weight of 200,000-700,000.
According to the invention, non-woven fabric to provide the primary filtration mechanism by pore size between adjacent fibers may be several natural or synthetic non-woven fabrics including polyester, polyamide, cellulose and other cellulose derivatives. It is preferable to use a non-woven fabric having not more than 3 xcexcm of pore size, about 1.8 xcexcm of fiber diameter and about 0.15 g/cm3 of bulk density. More preferably, ultrafine non-woven fabric of polyester having the above characteristics is used.
The filter for removal of leucocytes of the invention can be prepared by immersing a non-woven fabric in said solution of chitosan, or spraying the above solution onto the non-woven fabric. For example, when coating method of immersing in the solution of chitosan was used, it is preferable to immerse the non-woven fabric in a solution of 0.1-5% by weight of chitosan in organic acid, such as acetic acid and formic acid, and inorganic acid for 30-120 minutes. More preferably, it can be further treated by ultrasonic treatment of the solutions for not more than 2 hours during the immersing procedure.
The filter of the invention can be utilized in the filtration of a whole blood and in the preparation of several blood components according the conventional methods of the prior art.
The present invention will be illustrated in greater detail by way of the following examples. The examples are presented for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the invention. In the examples, the removal rate of leucocytes and the recovery of platelets and red blood cells were calculated from values obtained by using a blood cell analyzer according to the following arithmetic equation.
Removal rate (%) of leucocytes=[1xe2x88x92number of leucocytes after filtration/number of leucocytes before filtration]xc3x97100
Recovery (%) of platelets=[number of platelets after filtration/number of platelets before filtration]xc3x97100
Recovery (%) of red blood cells=[number of red blood cells after filtration/number of red blood cells before filtration]xc3x97100

Method for preparing a filter for removal of leucoclytes coated with chitosan

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


A mobile ladder support assembly provides stable lateral and rear support, and transportability for operation of a ladder. A lateral support bar restricts lateral tilting by the assembly. A pair of height adjustable rear support bars restrict backwards tilting by the assembly. A pair of caster wheels transport the assembly and the ladder. The wheels ride a pivot bar that rotates in a first direction for a stationary position. When the pivot bar is manipulated towards the second direction, the pair of wheels drop to a mobile position. Springs at the ends of the pivot bar create tension that maintains the pivot bar in the first position. Tabs selectively engage a notches to retain the wheels in the stationary position, or release the wheels to the mobile position. The free rotation and swivel of the wheels creates a center of mass that drop the wheels to the mobile position.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The present invention is directed to a mobile ladder support assembly that provides stable lateral and rear support, for operation of a ladder. The ladder support assembly also provides a pair of freely rotating and swiveling wheels to enable mobility by the assembly and the adjoined ladder.
The inventor has worked with ladders all of his life. The inventor knew that there are many types of ladders. They are often classified by material of construction, load capacity, function, and design. However, most ladders, in general included a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps.
The inventor was aware of two types of ladders: rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a wall, and rope ladders that are hung from the top. However, the inventor recently operated a more automated elevator-type ladder. This ladder used two separate and adjacent ladders to automatically raise and lower a load. The elevator-type ladder generally carried heavier loads than standard ladders.
The inventor recognized a problem in that the heavier loads caused the elevator-type ladder to tile laterally or backwards. The inventor recognized that the elevator-type ladder had a tendency to tip over to the left, right, or backwards. This was common when operating a ladder from a high elevation because the center of mass on the ladder top end is distal from the lower end support offered by the legs of the ladder.
The inventor soon learned that it was problematic to transport the elevator-type ladder between work sites. The ladder had to be dragged, or lifted by two people. This was time consuming and physically demanding.
Through research, the inventor learned that a ladder support could be developed to catch the legs of the ladder. However, the inventor soon realized that the sleeves used to catch the legs of the ladder could not be completely vertical, or the ladder would not be functional for leaning against an elevated object. The inventor decided to angle the sleeves at about 105°.
The inventor also added lateral and rear support bars to provide stability to the left, right, and rear if the ladder. However, uneven surfaces made working on the ladder difficult. The inventor added a height adjustment device to the rear support bars on the assembly. This enabled the inventor to create an even working foundation for the ladder.
The inventor also learned that castor wheels rotated and swiveled freely. The inventor added these types of wheels to the assembly. In this manner, the ladder and assembly could be pushed and pulled in a great latitude of directions. The inventor decided to enable the wheels to retract into a stationary position for when the ladder was operational, and enable the wheels to drop on the ground to a mobile position for hen the ladder was being transported. The center of mass from the caste wheels enabled them to drop easily to the mobile position.
However, the inventor soon discovered that the lateral and rear support bars were obtrusive and bumped into objects during transport. The inventor added hinges to enable the support bars to fold inwardly, and thereby minimize space usage during transport and for optimal stowage.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a mobile ladder support assembly that provides lateral and rear support for a ladder, and also enables mobility of the ladder.
Ladder supports have been utilized in the past; yet none with the present delivery expediting characteristics of the present invention. See U.S. Patent No. 20140041965; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,250,424; and 8,393,586.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a mobile ladder support assembly that provides stable lateral and rear support, for operation of a ladder. The ladder support assembly also provides a pair of freely rotating and swiveling wheels to enable mobility by the assembly and the adjoined ladder. The assembly leverages a center of mass created by the swiveling and rotating wheels, tensional forces, and restraining tabs and notches to adjustably pivot the wheels between a stationary position and a mobile position.


A communications device is presented that allows dynamic bandwidth allocation of an unswitched data path based upon the current utilization of one or more switched data channels. The device operates over the local loop of a digital communications carrier, such as a T1 line, that has a variety of time division multiplexed channels. Each data channel can be configured to operate as a channel dedicated to carrying unswitched data on the unswitched data path, or as a switched channel. Switched channels maintain status information about their current status, allowing switched data communication when the channel's status is active, and permitting the unswitched data path to utilize the channel when the channel's status is idle. In one embodiment, channel status information is passed to a remote unit by altering a redundant robbed-bit signaling bit in a multiframe. In a second embodiment, channel status is determined by monitoring switching information that is already transmitted about the channel. In the second embodiment, a preset time delay is required to properly synchronize bandwidth switching. Unswitched data is transmitted over the switched data channels utilizing all bit locations other than the locations taken by the four robbed-bit signaling bits. A method for dynamically reallocating the bandwidth of an unswitched data path utilizing these same techniques is also presented.

In the 1950s, telecommunications companies began to develop high bandwidth digital communications technologies in order to allow more phone calls to be simultaneously transmitted over copper wire. The first digital transmission carrier, called T1, was developed by AT&T in 1956 and is still in use today. A T1 line is capable of transmitting 1.544 Megabits per second (Mbps). Originally utilized to connect telephone central offices, in the early 1980s T1 lines began to be utilized in the local loop.
The local loop is often thought of as the connection between a local telecommunications office and an end-user. The "end-user" could be an actual customer of telephone service, a bandwidth reseller such as an Internet service provider, or even a site maintained for the convenience of a telecommunications company. Although the local loop is commonly referred to as the "last mile," local loop lengths in the United States are more typically about 2.5 miles, and some local loop implementations having a maximum range of almost 50,000 feet.
Digital transmission carriers such as T1 are usually "channelized" into multiple channels using Time Division Multiplex (TDM) technology. TDM channels are created by a multiplexer that divides a digital carrier into separate, individual time segments. Each time segment is allocated for the exclusive use of a single channel. The standard T1 line is divided in this manner into 24 separate channels. Each channel transmits 8 bits of digital data before the next channel begins transmitting. Since every channel sends 8 bits down the T1 line in turn, a series of 192 bits (8 bits times 24 channels) is created before the process can repeat. Before each series of bits, the multiplexer adds an additional bit called the framing bit. Thus, data on a T1 line is sent in 193 bit long "frames." These frames are transmitted about 8,000 times per second.
Each channel in a T1 line is called a DS-0 channel. Similarly, the total T1 line is often referred to as a DS-1 line. Thus, there are 24 DS-0 channels in a DS-1 line. Each DS-0 channel transmits at 64 k bps. This transmission speed is the ideal bandwidth for voice communication, since voice communication is generally sampled and digitally converted into 8 bit words 8,000 times per second. In addition to serving voice communication, these DS-0 channels are commonly used for digital data communication.
The individual DS-0 channels can be operated in either a "switched" or "dedicated" fashion. Switched data channels allow the communication on the channel to be switched on and off. Voice communication is an example of switched data, in that there are times when the voice channel is active or "off-hook," and other times when a voice channel is inactive or "on-hook." Data communication can also operate in a switched fashion, sometimes actively communicating data and other times being inactive.
In order for a switched data channel to be switched on and off, it is necessary to signal the current status of the communication. In a voice channel, for example, it is necessary to indicate when a telephone receiver is picked up to place a phone call (signaled by an off-hook status indication), and to indicate when a local line should start ringing.
In contrast, a dedicated communication channel does not transmit status information and is always active. Although a dedicated channel may only be transmitting useful information at specific times, it does not ever become inactive.
Another important aspect of channelized digital transmission carriers is the possibility of combining multiple channels to obtain a higher bandwidth digital data path. For instance, three DS-0 channels can be combined into a single 192 k bps data communications path. Techniques for combining separate channels into a single, higher bandwidth digital communications path are well-known in the prior art.
It is common to have switched and unswitched data appearing simultaneously on the same channelized communication link. For example, a T1 to an office could be utilized to carry both voice communications over switched data channels and computer communications with the Internet over dedicated data channels. Traditionally, some DS-0 channels in the T1 line would be dedicated to carrying the switched, voice communications, while other DS-0 channels would carry the unswitched data communications.
Unfortunately, this fixed allocation of bandwidth on a local loop T1 line wastes bandwidth, since the switched DS-0 channels carry no data when they are idle. A better approach is to dynamically allocate the bandwidth on an as-needed basis. With dynamic bandwidth allocation, the inactive voice channels can be utilized to handle unswitched data communications when no voice calls are active, and yet would be available for voice communications when a signal to make the voice channel active is received.
The basic idea of allowing the same data channels to be used for both switched and unswitched communication is not new. One approach to doing so is implemented through Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology. This technology is able to successfully provide and manage bandwidth for voice, video, and data applications. To accomplish this task, ATM utilizes "cell relay" techniques instead of relying on data channels created by time division multiplexing. In cell relay, each communications task, whether data, voice, or video, is divided into fixed size packets, or "cells," that contain a small amount of data and header information to direct the cell. Each cell is then transmitted with all other cells across the same communications path, and is directed toward its destination by the header information. Once the cells arrive at their destination, the communication is then reconstructed. While ATM may be the best solution for large-scale bandwidth-management problems, it is overly complex, too resource intensive, and too expensive for handling variable bandwidth assignments on the local loop.
A better approach is to keep the DS-0 channels created via time division multiplexing, and instead develop simpler techniques of dynamic bandwidth allocation. Unfortunately, the currently known prior art methods utilizing this approach fail to provide bandwidth allocation in a simple yet effective manner.
For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,321 issued to Rozenblit and assigned to Bell Communications Research, Inc., a method for handling variable bandwidth allocation by changing the allocation of DS-0 channels is presented. This invention relates to Distributed Burst Switching Systems (DBSS), a system that uses virtual circuits in the manner of ATM, X.25 and Frame Relay. However, DBSS passes the frames containing the data through standard DS-0 channels. In standard DBSS, no virtual circuit can utilize more than one DS-0 channel, hence limiting transmission speeds on a virtual circuit to no more than 64 k bps. The Rozenblit invention allows a single virtual circuit to utilize more than one DS-0 channel. To accomplish this, no packets are transmitted between two nodes in a link until a 32 bit header is passed to the next node identifying the virtual circuit and specifying the number of DS-0 channels to be utilized for the virtual circuit. When a transmission between two nodes is completed, the transmitting node sends a 32-bit flag concluding the communication. When the ending flag is received, the DS-0 channels that had been utilized for the communication are freed up for use in another transmission. Unfortunately, the Rozenblit invention suffers from the same basic problems as the ATM technique, in that it imposes needless complexity and overhead on the relatively straight-forward situation of dynamic bandwidth allocation on the local loop.
Another bandwidth allocation scheme is revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,315, issued to Torng and assigned to Bell Telephone Laboratories. This invention is intended for use in a loop transmission system, where multiple nodes communicate by passing transmissions on to the next node in the loop. This approach modifies the content of the communication link to indicate the state of a channel. A key aspect in this invention is the process of deciding when to seize an idle time slot, given that other nodes present in the loop may also wish to use the time slot. Unfortunately, this application has little direct application to the allocation of bandwidth on the local loop. Unlike a loop transmission system, a local loop has only two nodes, and communicates over standard DS-0 channels. In addition, the Torng invention suffers in that it utilizes a type of collision detection, in which data messages can be overwritten before receipt by the intended node, and overcomes this problem by incorporating statistically based delays into the transmission of data. These delays prevent full utilization of available bandwidth, and are unnecessary in the local loop environment.
A third prior art approach to dynamic bandwidth allocation could be used on the local loop. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,344, issued to Solomon and assigned to Ascom Timeplex Trading AG, a system is disclosed specifically for changing bandwidth allocation across a T1 transmission line. In this disclosure, a method is described for using "pad" codes to fill data channels in transition. When a DS-0 channel on the T1 line is to be reallocated, these pad characters fill the soon-to-be reallocated DS-0 channel while a separate reconfiguration message is sent and confirmed on a different channel. Once the reallocation message is confirmed by the remote node, the reallocated DS-0 channel begins to carry live data. This method is used to avoid having to synchronize the switching of the bandwidth at each end of the link. As a result, this method is useful in long-haul environments where frame order and multiframing may be lost. A disadvantage to this approach is that special hardware is required that can eliminate the pad codes and encode and decode data to avoid spurious pad codes that might otherwise appear in a data stream. These disadvantages occur because the Solomon technique is not narrowly suited to the local loop environment, but instead is generally applicable to remote communication over channelized digital lines. This results in needless complexity, cost, and bandwidth overhead.
A final approach in the prior art is the utilization of dedicated signaling channels, such as that used with ISDN. In Basic Rate Interface ISDN, or BRI, two DS-0 channels of 64 k bps bandwidth (referred to as B Channels) are combined with a 16 k bps signaling channel (referred to as the D Channel). In Primary Rate Interface ISDN, or PRI, twenty-three DS-0 channels of 64 k bps bandwidth (B Channels) are combined with one 64 k bps signaling channel (the D Channel).
ISDN technology can be used to provide dynamic bandwidth allocation between switched data and unswitched data on the local loop. By taking advantage of the dedicated signaling channel, ISDN routers (such as the XpressConnect 5242i available from Gandolph Technologies Inc. of Nepean, Ontario, Canada) can handle dynamic bandwidth allocation. When used with Internet connection protocols such as the PPP Bandwidth Allocation Control Protocol (BACP) and the PPP Multilink specification (RFC 1717), also known as Multiport Protocol (MP), this type of ISDN router dynamically allocates bandwidth between a single unswitched data path (the PPP Internet connection) and a switched data path (a voice call). When a phone receiver is picked up, the bandwidth allocated to the PPP data path is reduced by 64 k bps and a DS-0 channel is available for the voice communication. When the voice call is over, the DS-0 channel previously carrying the voice call is reallocated to the PPP data path.
The primary disadvantage of ISDN variable bandwidth allocation on the local loop is that the D channel must be dedicated to handling signaling. Although the D channel can be used separately to handle other data tasks, it can not be utilized fully as part of the unswitched data path or as a switched data path. In addition, expensive ISDN technology is required to implement this technique. Although ISDN is often considered to have a bright future, few parties have invested heavily in ISDN equipment.
This invention addresses these problems in the prior art by providing a simple, non-intrusive mechanism for dynamically reallocating digital communication channels between switched and unswitched data in the local loop. The invention allows bandwidth assigned to switched channels to be reassigned to expand the bandwidth of an unswitched digital data path when said switched channel is inactive. Whenever a switched channel becomes active, the bandwidth would be returned to the switched channel. This is accomplished without using the complex procedure of combining switched and unswitched data on the same channel through the use of cells. In addition, the invention does not need to utilize complex and bandwidth intensive reconfiguration messages or padding characters. Instead, the invention is able to utilize the signaling already associated with a switched data channel to determine the timing of dynamic bandwidth switching.

Dynamic bandwidth allocation within a communications channel


A method to market real estate includes providing a graphical user interface to a user for installation on a remote computer, receiving a street address at a server for a particular piece of real estate from the remote computer, and receiving digital photographs at the server of the particular piece of real estate. The server includes a microprocessor and a memory that stores user preferences for a marketing format and the street address, where the microprocessor formats the digital photographs in accordance with the user preferences and the marketing format, and generates a plurality of physical marketing items for the particular piece of real estate in accordance with the user preferences. The plurality of physical marketing items includes at least one of a door hangtag, a postcard, a thank you card, and a sign. The method also includes assembling the plurality of physical marketing items into a display box.

Real estate marketing and sales is facilitated by real estate brokers and their agents. Traditional means of carrying out real estate marketing are replete with inefficiency and other shortcomings and limitations. These shortcomings include the inability of the broker to distinguish his or her services from competing brokers. This is particularly important when a broker is attempting to secure a real estate listing from the seller.
The seller is of course looking for a broker who is most likely to bring a buyer that is willing to pay the highest price for the real estate. The seller will make this decision to select a particular broker based, in part, on the seller's perception of the broker's marketing and sales presentation and success.
Accordingly, a marketing system and method is needed where a broker can generate a unique marketing presentation quickly and efficiently to show to a seller and potential client in order to persuade the seller to retain the services of the broker to list the real estate.

System to market real estate and related methods


A product for hanging from a paper roll holder having at least one arm including a sheet-material dispenser and at least one hanging member for attaching the sheet-material dispenser to the at least one arm. In one embodiment of the invention, the second end of the hanging member that is removably attachable to the arm of the paper roll holder included an elastomeric strap for wrapping about both arms of a toilet paper holder. Since the sheet-material dispenser is attached to the arms of the paper roll holder, it is not necessary to remove the sheet-material dispenser when removing the spindle of the paper roll holder to change the paper roll.

Increasingly, consumers are using wet wipe products in addition to dry bathroom tissue for personal hygiene in the bathroom. However, most toilet paper roll holders are designed only to hold a single roll of dry bathroom tissue. The existing toilet paper roll holders are not designed for supporting a wet wipes dispenser. This can reduce or hinder using wet wipes within the bathroom if they cannot otherwise be located close to the toilet for easy use.
Various devices have been configured to allow for an additional wet wipe dispenser to mount with the existing designs for toilet paper roll holders. These devices usually take one of two approaches. One approach is to replace the existing toilet paper spindle in the toilet paper roll holder and then insert a custom dispenser that mounts with the existing holes in the toilet paper roll holder that the spindle's ends are inserted into. The custom dispenser usually has provisions for holding a dry tissue roll and a compartment for dispensing wet wipes. A drawback to this approach is that often the custom designed dispenser is large and/or unsightly. Many people do not like the look of the custom dispensers in the bathroom. Furthermore, the custom dispensers can be expensive. People who are unsure that they will like or use the custom dispenser often will not try the product due to the higher initial cost.
A second approach is to hang the wet wipes dispenser from the existing toilet paper holder by hooking the dispenser to the spindle. A problem with this approach is that refilling the toilet paper roll holder with a new tissue roll is cumbersome since you also have to remove and replace a second dispenser each time the toilet paper roll needs changing. Many consumers do not wish to bother with this annoyance and avoid the wet wipe dispensers with hooks that attach to the spindle. A further problem with using hooks to hang the wet wipes dispenser from the toilet paper spindle is that the hooks are permanently attached to the wet wipes dispenser such that the dispenser can only be used by hanging it from the toilet paper spindle.
Consumers who use wet wipes tend to be bifurcated between those desiring to place the wet wipes dispenser near the dry tissue roll and those preferring to place the wet wipes dispenser out of sight or hidden since they would feel embarrassed if other people knew they were using the product. As such, it is desirable that a wet wipes dispenser can be optionally located near the dry toilet paper roll, or suitable for using on flat surfaces instead of hanging, or convenient to hold and dispense the wet wipes.
In view of the above, a need exists for a dispenser that can be located or hung from a paper roll holder that is more convenient to use. A need also exists for a dispenser than can be used either in a hanging mode, or by placing on a flat surface.


An induction heating roller apparatus comprises:. a stationary shaft 23 having a plurality of hydraulic operating mechanisms 27 arranging in one line in the direction of axis, each hydraulic operating mechanism being made up of a cylinder 25 and a piston 26, and magnetic flux generating mechanisms 32 and 35 which comprise iron cores 30 and 33 and induction coils 31 and 34 wound on the latter 30 and 33; and PA1 a roller 21 which is rotatably supported on the stationary shaft 23, and has a cylindrical wall which includes jacket chambers 22 filled with a two-phase (gas and liquid) heating medium. In the apparatus, the magnetic flux generating mechanisms 32 and 35 being arranged on both sides of the stationary shaft in the direction of axis in such a manner that they are circumferentially 90.degree. away from the hydraulic operating mechanisms arranged in one line. Therefore, it is possible to provide an induction heating roller apparatus which is able to more accurately amend the configuration of the roller according to the amount of deflection, to make the surface temperature of the roller more uniform, and to perform thermal conversion with high efficiency.

This invention relates to an induction heating roller apparatus.
It is well known in the art that, in the case where sheet material such as plastic, paper, cloth, nonwoven cloth, and thin metal plate, or web material (hereinafter referred to merely as "a product", when applicable) is continuously hot-rolled, a pair of hot rollers called "hot calendar rollers, emboss rollers, or thermal bonding rollers" are used, or one hot roller and an elastic roller abutted against the hot roller are used to nip the sheet or web between those rollers.
In the operation thereof, it is required to uniformly apply a predetermined nip pressure to the sheet or web, and to uniformly heat it. In order to meet this requirement, the accuracy in heating temperature distribution in the axial direction of the roller, and the bending of the rollers by their own weight must be taken into account mainly. If it is assumed that a hot calendar roller having the outer diameter of 500 mm has a surface temperature difference of 10.degree. C., then the diameter has a thermal expansion difference of the order of 0.05 mm. That is, when the heating operation and the pressurizing operation are not uniform, there is a possibility that the quality of the resultant product is adversely affected. Hence, the surface temperature of the roller must be uniform in the direction of axis.
When a load is applied to the product to pressurize the product, the roller is bent by the load. The rotational axis of the roller thus bent is arcuate as viewed from the outside. As a result, especially near the middle of the roller in the direction of axis, a gap is formed between the pair of rollers. In this case, as well as the above-mentioned operation, the heating operation and the pressurizing operation are not uniform, so that there is a possibility that the quality of the resultant product is adversary affected. Hence, it is essential to prevent the roller from being bent by the load.
In a hot roller of this type, the above-described requirement is conventionally satisfied in such a manner that hot oil is utilized as its thermal source, and that so-called "crown roller" the middle portion of which is made arcuate so that it is larger than the end portions in correspondence to the amount of deflection is provided, or a means for applying an oil pressure to the inner cylindrical surface of the roller to amend the deflection is provided.
On the other hand, attention has been paid to an induction heating roller apparatus as the heating roller of this type which can be put in the production line because of its characteristics, quick heating, high-temperature heating, and contact-less heating. The induction heating roller apparatus in which the deflection of the roller generated by the load is amended, is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 12791/1990.
The induction heating roller apparatus thus disclosed will be briefly described with reference to a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, and a cross sectional view of FIG. 2. A stationary shaft 2 is fixedly set on a stand 1, and a plurality of magnetic flux generating mechanisms 5 are mounted on the stationary shaft 2 at predetermined intervals in the direction of axis. Each of the magnetic flux generating mechanisms 5 comprises iron core 3 and induction coils 4. Hydraulic operating mechanisms 8 are respectively provided between the adjacent magnetic flux generating mechanisms 5 in the direction of axis. Each of the hydraulic operating mechanisms 8 comprises a piston 6 which is moved by oil pressure in the radial direction of the stationary shaft 2, and a cylinder 7 in which the piston 6 is inserted.
In addition, a roller 9 is rotatably supported on the stationary shaft 2. The roller 9 has jacket chambers 10 in its cylindrical wall in which two-phase (gas and liquid) heating medium is sealingly filled.
Since the induction heating roller apparatus is constructed as described above, when AC current is applied to the induction coils 4 of the magnetic flux generating mechanisms 5, alternating magnetic flux outputs are produced in magnetic circuits which are made up of the iron cores 3 of the magnetic flux generating mechanisms 5 and the cylindrical wall of the roller. Those alternating magnetic flux outputs go across the inner cylindrical wall of the roller 9, so that induction currents are generated therein. The Joule heat of the induction currents heats the inner cylindrical wall of the roller 9. In this operation, the two-phase (gas and liquid) heating medium in the jacket chambers 10 formed in the cylindrical wall of the roller 9 perform latent heat transfer, so that the surface temperature distribution of the roller 9 in the direction of axis is uniform.
In the hydraulic operating mechanisms 8, pressurized oil is supplied to the cylinders 7 through an oil path 13 formed in the stationary shaft 2, so that the pistons 6 are pushed towards the inner cylindrical wall of the roller 9, thereby to amend the deflection of the roller 9.
On the other hand, since the roller 9 rotates while the cylindrical wall of the roller 9 are being pushed by the pistons 6, an inner race 11 and rolling elements 12 such as rollers are provided between the end of each piston 6 and the inner cylindrical wall of the roller in order not to obstruct the rotation of the roller. That is, it is possible that the piston 6 is pushed against the inner race 11 to amend the deflection of the roller.
The conventional induction heating roller apparatus thus constructed is advantageous in that the temperature distribution of the roller in the direction of axis is uniform, and the deflection of the roller by the load applied thereto can be amended in the above-described manner.
However, it is still disadvantageous in the following points:
The arrangement of the hydraulic operating mechanisms is limited in density because the hydraulic operating mechanisms are arranged in the direction of axis between the magnetic flux generating mechanisms which are finely divided in the direction of axis. Accordingly, it is difficult to delicately amend the deflection of the roller. In addition, there is a fear of being adversely affected by the variation in diameter of the roller which is caused by "thermal crown" between the adjacent magnetic flux generating mechanisms, because the distance between adjacent magnetic flux generating mechanisms is relatively long. Moreover, the current allowed to flow in the induction coils is limited with respect to the size of the roller, so that it is impossible to increase the temperature of the roller, and to supply more thermal energy to the roller.

Roller apparatus with magnetic induction heating arrangement


An improved electrical outlet providing a lockable electrical connection between a male plug and the outlet to securely retain the plug. The method to secure and retain the plug imparts minimal stress to the outlet and to the male plug so as to not substantially decrease the durability of either. The outlet decreases the shocking potential to a user or unwitting child by remaining un-energized when idle, and prohibits movement from its idle position until the outlet has received the plug terminal prongs. The shape of the movable receptacle assembly and its corresponding cavity blocks a child from contacting the outlets power source with a metallic object, while making the power source available to the receptacle assembly when initiated by the user. The outlets locking action steps secure and energize the plug simultaneously during the locking action steps in a user friendly manner. The modularized design of the receptacle module can provide an easily adaptable means to fit and form various arrangements such as a wall outlet or an extension cord outlet.

Objects and Advantages
There is therefore a need to provide a protective electrical receptacle to create a safer environment for the user and the non-user alike in the home, workplace, or job site that will lessen the risk of possible minor or life threatening shock, while preventing inadvertent disconnection of the plug from the outlet. Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:    (a) to provide a secure and constant electrical connection between a male plug and the outlet so as to decrease the possibility of unwanted accidental plug removal, as in the case of a worker using an electrically operated device high up on a roof, scaffolding, or ladder.    (b) to provide a means to mechanically hold the outlet in its locked position so that a simple inadvertent twist of the plug's cord will not release the outlet from its locked position, yet still be easily releasable when desired by the user.    (c) to be constructed in such a way as to secure a male plug in a method which imparts minimal stress upon the outlet and the plug during the locking and unlocking action steps so as to not lessen the durability of either.    (d) to be constructed in such a way as to retain a plug using a method which imparts minimal stress upon the outlet and plug during retention so as to not lessen the durability of either.    (e) to provide a protective electrical outlet employing safety features and locking action steps so as to remain in an un-energized state when idle, so as to lessen the possibility of electrical shock to a child who may unwittingly insert a metallic object into the outlet, or to a user who may unknowingly touch the plug's terminal prongs during insertion.    (f) to provide a locking action which simultaneously secures the plug and energizes the outlet so as to simplify use.    (g) to be constructed in such a way as to provide a means for the outlet to remain held in its unenergized position until it has been engaged by the plug's terminal prongs, so as to lessen the possibility of a shock to the user or a curious child.    (h) to provide a means to block the outlet's power source from contact by a curious child who may unwittingly insert a foreign object into the space between the movable receptacle assemblies outer periphery and the inner periphery of the cavity in which it resides, while still making said power source available to the receptacle assembly.    (i) to give full control to the user whether he or she desires the electrical receptacle to have live current available at a specific time, and to remain in that position when initiated properly by a male plug.    (j) to provide an outlet configuration that is easily adaptable to fit and form various arrangements such as a wall outlet or an extension cord outlet.
Further objects and advantages of our invention are to be designed and constructed in such a way as to utilize specific materials for the purpose of economical manufacture and ease of assembly. Another object of our invention is to easily replace conventional means of adjoining a male plug to an electrical power source regardless of voltage or amperage requirements, or plug's terminal configuration as the spirit of the invention is set forth. Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protective lockable female electrical outlet


A power-operated and hand steerable machine for stripping linoleum, tile, mastic, grout, adhesive and the like from a floor and also for re-surfacing the floor after the stripping operation. The machine includes a support frame, a drive plate driven by a motor about a vertical rotational axis, a reversible work plate mounted under the drive plate and carrying cutter blocks with cutter inserts at one face and abrasive-carrying devices at the opposite face. Therefore, after a floor stripping operation by the cutter inserts, the work plate can be reversed and a floor re-surfacing operation be carried out by using the abrasive-carrying devices. A change speed system enables to drive the work plate at a higher speed during floor re-surfacing than during floor stripping. Longitudinally adjustable weights are carried by the support frame to adjustably bias the work plate against the floor. A vacuum cleaner unit is carried by the support frame and includes an air inlet mouth formed by a shroud carried by the support frame with the mouth in the rotational plane of the work plate. The change speed system includes a driving and a driven pulley and a belt selectively trained in complementary grooves of the two pulleys, the grooves being of different diameters. If the motor is an internal combustion engine, a belt tightening lever is provided; normally it is biased in belt tightening position but can be released by an actuating lever mounted on the handle and accessible to the machine operator.

Several types of machines exist on the market for removing tile and the like from a floor. There are also machines specially designed for re-surfacing floors such as wooden floors. However, there do not seem to be any machine that combines the two operations. In known floor covering scraping or removing machines there is an absence of a machine counterbalancing system to adjust the bias of the scraping elements against the floor. Also in known such machines, the cutter inserts must be replaced very often especially when removing ceramic tiles. Such known machines also lack a safety system to stop rotation of the cutters when exposed to excessive counterforce to thereby prevent burning out of the electric motor used for driving the cutters.

Floor covering stripping and floor re-surfacing machine


The wall plate bracket is for a high voltage outlet, and includes a wall plate having front and rear surfaces. The wall plate has an interior opening. A support housing has an inner surface and an interior region bounded by the inner surface. The support housing is connected to the rear surface such that the interior opening provides access to the interior region. The support housing is configured for support of the high voltage outlet within the interior region. A clamp is connected to the wall plate for securing the wall plate to a wall structure. The rear surface of the wall plate may have a rib to limit the clearance between the support housing and rear surface. Alternatively, the clearance may be limited by a recess in the rear surface in which a mounting tab of the support housing is located.

The present invention relates generally to a wall plate bracket for mounting one or more high voltage outlets and low voltage connectors on wall structures, and more particularly, to such a bracket in which outlets and connectors are recessed from the wall structure.
The high voltage outlets have receptacles into which are inserted the prongs of an electrical plug for supplying electrical power to a conductor which is connected to the plug. High voltage outlets are also known as electrical power outlets. The high voltage outlet includes a support housing, which may be a box, within which the receptacles for the prongs of the electrical plug are supported. The support housing is secured to a stud in the wall structure such that the receptacles of the high voltage outlet are accessible through an opening in the wall structure from the front thereof. A wall plate is secured to the front of the support housing such that the wall surface of the wall structure is located between the wall plate and the rear of the support housing. The wall plate has an opening such that the receptacles of the high voltage outlet are accessible through the opening in the wall plate from the region in front of the wall structure. The clearance or gap between the support housing and wall plate is typically covered by a cover plate which is secured to the front surface of the wall plate. The cover plate has an opening such that the receptacles of the high voltage outlet are accessible through the opening in the cover plate from the region in front of the wall structure.
Wall plates may also provide support to low voltage connectors which provide junctions for the conductors of low voltage devices, such as telephones, televisions, data cables, and other communication equipment. Such other communication equipment may be used for connecting a computer to the internet or a local area network (LAN). Such wall plates may locate the low voltage connectors in the same plane as the front surface of the wall structure thereby exposing the connectors and the plugs inserted therein to contact from persons, furniture or other objects which may move in close proximity to the connectors. Such contact may be undesirable by urging the plugs to become dislodged from the low voltage connectors or by exceeding the structural strength of the plugs or connectors. The clearance or gap between each low voltage connector and wall plate is typically covered by a cover plate which is secured to the front surface of the wall plate. The cover plate has an opening such that the corresponding low voltage connector is accessible through the opening in the cover plate from the region in front thereof.
Wall plates may provide support for high voltage outlets without providing support for low voltage connectors. Also, wall plates may provide support for low voltage connectors without providing support for high voltage outlets. Both of such wall plates may be required to provide the connections needed by devices which require electrical power and low voltage connections. Such devices may include a combined telephone and answering machine, television, or a personal computer. Such separate wall plates typically require redundant structures and often require separate openings in the wall structure in which the wall plates are supported. Also, such separate wall plates may be located apart from one another by a significant distance. This distance may cause inconvenience for a device which requires connection to a high voltage outlet and a low voltage connector since locating such a device in close proximity to both of such separate wall plates may be difficult.
The gap or clearance between the box of the high voltage outlet and wall plate is typically limited by building and electrical codes. Also, the high voltage outlets and low voltage connectors may be recessed from the wall structure to which the wall plates are secured.


This is a method for use in a teleconference that troubleshoots echo problems. After receiving a code to begin the troubleshooting process, all legs of the teleconference are muted except a test leg. That test leg is evaluated for echo. The process is repeated for each of the legs of the teleconference. After automatically measuring echo on all legs, results are reported to a moderator or host, who can take action such as muting all legs with echo, or discussing remedial action with each participant on a leg with echo.

With an increased variety of access networks, customer premises equipment (CPE) and teleconferencing bridges, echo has become a serious problem in providing teleconferencing services. Currently, if there is echo on a teleconference call, participants must go through a painstaking and time-consuming effort to "manually" troubleshoot the source of the echo. That can be very difficult since most people do not fully understand echo and its sources. Further, the person on the line causing the echo cannot hear the echo, compounding the problem.
In many cases, a participant must report echo problems in a teleconference to the teleconferencing service provider, who then must provide support in real time to try to determine where the echo is originating and how best to deal with it. While manual troubleshooting takes place, the substantive work on the teleconference must be halted completely. Depending on the number of participants on the call, that delay can be substantial, resulting in a serious decrease in productivity.
Teleconferencing bridges have multiple ports or legs. Each port or leg typically connects to a single participant. The main function of the teleconference bridge is to mix all speaking participants' voices together, and to play the resulting mixture to all legs. When echo is on one leg, the echo will be mixed and then broadcast to all participants, creating a significant impairment.
The use of voice-over-IP (VoIP) CPEs, mobile phones and speakerphones all increase the probability of echo. In addition, IP teleconferencing bridges are gradually replacing TDM (time division multiplexing) bridges. The switch to IP teleconferencing from TDM teleconferencing results in a significant increase in end-to-end delay. That delay makes any echo significantly more perceptible and disruptive. The impact of the echo problem is greater in teleconferencing than in a regular two party call because the echo is heard by so many participants, and because there are more potential sources of echo in a teleconference call.
Most teleconferencing services depend on local network echo cancellers to control echo. For a variety of reasons, the echo control in the access network is often not adequate. Currently, if there is unacceptable echo in a teleconference, the teleconference participants must spend valuable teleconference time attempting to locate which leg is the source of echo, often with the help of the service provider's customer support.
The current procedure for troubleshooting an echo problem in a teleconference is to ask participants on every leg to mute their lines, then to ask each participant, one at a time, to un-mute his or her line, and then check whether echo is heard by the participants and/or customer support. Once the leg having echo is identified, the participant on that leg is asked either to mute the phone, switch to another handset or re-dial into the conference, hoping to get a better echo control connection. Because a teleconferencing call often includes over 10 or 20 people, that manual diagnostic process is time consuming, costly and inconvenient.
There therefore remains a need for a cost-effective technique to identify and cure a source of echo in a teleconferencing call, while minimizing the above-described disadvantages.

Method for troubleshooting echo on teleconference bridge


In order to efficiently controlling a compressing feeder of refuse, a novel detector system for existence or non-existence of refuse, a novel detector system for stagnation of refuse, and a novel system for preventing stagnation of refuse, are disclosed. The refuse existence detector system comprises an image pick-up device, an A/D converter for an analog image signal, a background image memory, a luminance variation detector, a background image selector, a subtractor for subtracting a background image signal from a digitized image signal, a binary encoder for issuing binary-coded image difference signal, an area calculator for calculating an area of an image region where the binary-coded image difference signal is binary "1", and a determinator device for determining whether existence or non-existence of refuse on the basis of the output of the area calculator. The refuse stagnation detector system and the refuse stagnation preventing system are constructed on the basis of a similar inventive concept.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detector system for existence or non-existence and stagnation of refuse and a system for preventing stagnation of refuse, which are applicable to control of a feed conveyor and a compressing feeder in a refuse shredder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A general construction of a refuse shredder in the prior art is shown in FIG. 10.
Refuse is dropped from a feed conveyor 01 onto a chute 02, then a roller of a compressing feeder 03 bites and compresses the charged refuse, and also it feed the refuse to a press cutter section 05. The refuse is sheared by rotating hammers 04.
A push-in device 06 in the chute is an actuator for pushing an article hardly bitten by the roller (for instance, a large-sized box-shaped article) to the roller. A hydraulic cylinder 07 is a member for adjusting a gap between the chute 02 and the roller of the compressing feeder 03, and while the roller is normally rigidly supported, the hydraulic cylinder is used when the gap is broadened. Reference numeral 09 designates a grate of the refuse shredder.
A television camera is installed so that a charging state and a stagnating state of refuse in the compressing feeder 03 can be grasped, and while an operator is continuously monitoring the image, operations of the feed conveyor 01 and the compressing feeder 03 of the refuse shredder were carried out.
However, in the operations of the above-described refuse shredder in the prior art, since control of the refuse shredder was effected after the state of the refuse charged from a refuse feed conveyor into a feeder section had been judged by a person while an operator was continuously watching a television monitor, adequate judgement could not be done due to individual differences, sometimes troubles would arise in operations of the refuse shredder, and also since it was necessary to continuously monitor, it was resulted that workers were forced to perform excessively hard work. In addition, for making determination with respect to existence or non-existence and stagnation of refuse, the following knowledge and experience were necessary.
(1) An optical reflection state is different between the state where refuse exists and the state where refuse does not exist. More particularly. in the case where refuse exists, a luminance level would rise as compared to the case where refuse does not exist at the same place.
(2) Since the state of the compressing feeder section is varying moment by moment and a general luminance level varies, whether existence or non-existence of refuse or stagnation of refuse is judged by taking into consideration the level variation.

Detector systems for existence or non-existence and stagnation of refuse and system for preventing stagnation of refuse


An approach is provided to facilitate chatting services. A friend list page is displayed via a user terminal, the friend list page including an area configured to present a status message associated with a friend. A message page is displayed in response to selection of the status message, the message page including a list of status messages associated with the friend. A chat room page is displayed in response to selection of at least one of the listed status messages, the chat room page being configured to facilitate chatting, the chat room page being displayed including the at least one selected status message automatically inserted into an input area of the chat room page.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for providing a chatting service to users.
2. Discussion
With recent developments in electronics and communication technology, a portable terminal, for example, a smart phone is propagating at a rapid pace. Various is technologies for providing a chatting service using a text message in a portable terminal in addition to a fixed terminal, for example, a personal computer (PC), and the like, are being developed.
An example of such a chatting service is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2012-0002766, entitled "Using Method for Service of Speech Bubble Service based on Location Information of Portable Mobile, Apparatus and System Thereof," published on Jan. 9, 2012. The publication is directed to performing a small scale messenger function by receiving, from a communication server, status information transmitted by a plurality of portable terminals, and displaying a speech bubble image converted from the status information on a screen.
Such a service may provide a messenger function by displaying status information based on a position between users, using a speech bubble on a screen. However, since only a message recently input by a user may be displayed on a map, provision of a service in a form of a chat room in which a conversation between users is recorded may not be possible.
Due to a characteristic of a portable terminal, a size of an interface for inputting a text message may be relatively small. This may cause frequent occurrences of typographical errors and an inconvenience in inputting a text message. In order to quote a message input by another user or chat about the message, the user typically has to re-input the corresponding message individually.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach that conveniently and efficiently enables users to chat about contents of a message input by another user.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and, therefore, it may contain is information that does not form any part of the prior art nor what the prior art may suggest to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method and apparatus for providing chatting service


A high speed single bridge system providing network and data transfer capabilities, implemented via standard input/output (I/O) devices, protocols, cables and components, to interconnect two or more host computing systems, and to provide connections to peripherals. One aspect of the invention connects two or more host systems via USB ports and cables, establishing network, control, data exchange, and power management required to route and transfer data at high speeds. A second aspect provides for a symmetrical port that senses Host and Peripheral connections so as to provide a single apparatus for connecting Hosts and Peripherals at any port. Requiring only a single link, the invention requires significantly fewer components than existing designs. The method describes how two or more connected host systems detect one another, and establish separate control communication and data exchange bridges, wherein control sequences generated by an application on a host direct operation of the bridging apparatus.

Peripheral communications protocols provide the ability to connect peripherals directly to the CPU of a Host system. Most modern peripheral communications protocols provide ultra-high-speed connections for the transfer of data to meet the requirements of modern CPUs. Popular peripheral protocols or specifications include the Universal Serial Bus (USB) and the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), among others. USB is a globally accepted and widely used plug-and-play interface for peripheral devices such as digital cameras, scanners, printers, Compact Disc (CD) players, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, as well as modern game consoles, etc.
USB connections continue to evolve, providing improvements in high speed data transfer with power delivery. The third version of the USB Specification (hereinafter "USB 3"), introduces multiple advantages over previous versions and other protocols, including full duplex communications, a flexible and reversible port (Type-C), as well as a first-generation mode (Gen 1) that delivers high speed data rates of 5 Gbps (Gigabits per second) and a second-generation mode (Gen 2) that delivers 10 Gbps. A second revision of the USB Specification, USB 3.2, introduces simultaneous parallel data transfers of the earlier augmented speeds, and provides up to 20 Gbps in a single connection.
Input/Output ('I/O') Communications, also called Peripheral Communications, define implementations of simple fast data communications between a "Master" System and a "Slave" Device; also called Host-to-Device communications. The present application employs the terms 'Host' to refer to a Master System and 'Device' to refer to a connected slave apparatus; consistent with a reference to Universal Serial Bus specifications. Embodiments of the present application may alternatively employ other I/O Communications protocols wherein a Master and Slave relationship is established in a direct connection.
An initial publication of the third USB specification (USB 3.0) defines the use of a direct link USB 3 Male-A to Male-A Crossover cable, which does not include the Vbus or Bus Power contingent, designed primarily for connecting two Hosts for the purposes of diagnosis and other restricted uses.
A USB Host to Host connection cable is available for USB 3, wherein two data buffers are arranged in bridge formation, further employing a bridging Microcontroller to copy data from a first buffer to a second. Effective speed of these USB 3.0 Host to Host cables using this method is reported to be approximately 30 to 60 MBps, depending on available power. This is a significant reduction from the available 480 MBps provided by the USB 3 specification.
Other implementations of I/O multi-port fabrics and data transfer platforms, such as PCI fabrics by PLX/Avago, similarly employ active manipulations of directed communications over bridging devices between multiple I/O ports; introducing significant latency, power and component costs. Specifically, data is directed by an initiating host from an originating port to an identified target port.
The nature and implementation of the present disclosure may equally be employed for East-West server communications using Gen-Z, PCIe, SCSI and other ultra-high-speed in/out ('I/O') device connections. In doing so, the present application offers significant benefits in security, transfer speed, solutions cost and scalability.
A first revision of the third USB specification defines a USB Type-C connector and port and provides for detecting valid cable connections wherein Type-C connectors at both ends of a cable. As such, host-to-host and peripheral-to-peripheral connections are physically possible but not supported. Valid connections are detected and acted upon; if two hosts or two peripherals are connected, nothing will happen. Orientation of a cable and signaling requirements are detected from receptacle and plug connections and routing is configured for correct communication regardless of plug orientation. This first revision further improves direct system interconnections via an augmented USB-On-The-Go that provides that a smaller system will appear as a peripheral when connected to a larger system, according to predefined rules.
Type-C ports can be host-only, peripheral-only or dual-role ports. The host-only and peripheral-only ports function in the traditional USB host and peripheral roles; the host being the system connected to the downward facing port (DFP) and the peripheral system connected to the upward facing port (UFP). Type-C identifies these roles electronically, instead of having functionally shaped connectors. Also, the dual-role ports can be reconfigured: for example, a laptop may function as an UFP when being charged by a monitor or a DFP when powering a hard drive.
Type-C hubs, defined by the first revision, can be used to increase DFP capabilities, but may only have one UFD port, which must be clearly marked, and one or more DFPs. The UFP cannot be a dual-role port and alternative/accessory modes are not handled by hubs. Despite marking a UFP, it is expected that users will confuse UFP and DFP ports and will further desire multiple UFP capabilities, and integrated data transfer capabilities.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/917,402 having a priority date of Dec. 8, 2013, hereinafter the "LINKS Patent", illustrates a method and apparatus for bridging device I/O links to establish ultra-fast file transfer and network communications between connected Hosts. Employing two parallel bridging I/O links, the invention provides an efficient and adaptive communications platform using commodity components, common ports and universal protocols.

Ad-hoc sensing switched data circuit for connecting network hosts and peripherals


Banding machine in which logs of sheet material are fed by a conveyor belt to a banding device that is adapted to band the logs with a banding web to form a tubular wrapper around the logs. The banding device includes a pusher operated by an actuator, which pushes the log into a channel, in which a packaging sheet is arranged, stretched in front of the log, as an obstacle. The conveyor belt and the packaging apparatus are arranged at different heights, respectively at a first and a second height (H1 and H2). A pusher is be provided, operated by a piston at the first height (H1), in addition to a pusher provided at the second height (H2), independent from each other. Further, a lifting member is provided, which receives the log from the first pusher and moves from the first height (H1) to the second height (H2).

As well known, in the paper converting industry a variety of types is used of machines and of processes for making paper tissues, paper towels and similar articles from stacks of folded, overlapped or interfolded sheets of a certain height.
The stacks are obtained by folding the sheets and simply overlapping them on one another, or by interfolding them, i.e. at each fold a wing of a previous sheet and a wing of a next sheet of the stack engage with each other. This way, when drawing a sheet from a package, in use, a wing of a next sheet of the stack is dragged and pops out from the package, with subsequent practical utilization for certain types of users. Among possible interfolding ways the L-type, with 2 folds (single fold), or the Z or W types, respectively with 3 and 4 folds (multi fold), are known.
After a step of separation of a pack from the stack, once achieved a measured height of the pack, a step follows of conveying the packs or logs for further treatment and packaging.
The stacks of folded or interfolded sheets from which a log is formed have a length that depends on the width of the starting web, normally about 2 meters and more.
For example, in case of logs of interfolded products exiting from the head of an interfolding machine, according to the type of interfolded product and then to the final use, said log can be conveyed to a transversal cutting machine forming small packages of predetermined length and then forwarding them to a binder that places them into customized wrappers tailored for the users. With this solution, normally, the so-called "facial tissue" products are packaged.
Alternatively, the products can be distributed as banded packs or clips, as is the case of "hand towels", which can be placed into special fixed distributors with standard shape. In this case, the whole log of interfolded product, normally, is first compressed and then banded by a web that covers it around, creating a tubular wrapper. The banded log is then cut off into single small packages or clips that are already banded by a corresponding cut tubular wrapper portion.
In the latter case, for carrying out the banding step, banding machines are used that are located downstream of the interfolding machine. In particular, the log of interfolded sheets that have been previously produced and that exit from the interfolding machine can be carried directly into the banding machine by means of an appropriate conveying system, such as a conveyor belt.
A diagrammatical view of the operation of a known banding machine is described in FIGS. 1-4, respectively a longitudinal sectional view and cross sectional views of three successive operation steps with respect to the log. With reference to FIG. 1, a log 1 of interfolded or folded material is carried by a conveyor belt 2 into a banding machine of the prior art. When entering into the banding machine, log 1 follows a path set between two overlapping conveyor belts 3 and 4 that gradually decrease their relative distance in the vertical direction in order to compress log 1, eventually reaching a compressed configuration 1′ between two overlapped conveyor belts 5 and 6. Once compressed, the logs are banded by means of a wrapper 11 (FIGS. 2-4) that is cut from a web, by a pusher 7 that is operated by an actuator 8 and pushes log 1 into a channel 10 of the machine in order to carry out the banding step. More precisely, compressed log 1′ is pushed into channel 10, and a cut sheet of web 11 is arranged stretched as an obstacle for the log along all the length of the machine, in a passage 12. In a way not shown, the cut sheet of web 11 is automatically unwound from a roll and cut at a predetermined length. Therefore, by the action of a pusher 7, operated by a cylinder piston 8, which pushes the log against the stretched sheet beyond passage 12, a kind of self-packaging is carried out, i.e. the log is wound by the sheet for of its side surface. Then, after the withdrawal of pusher 7, a system of plates 9 transversal to channel 10 is actuated, in order to align to log 1′ the remaining wings of sheet 11, on one of which a predetermined amount of glue was previously spread, so that they are closed in turn on the free side of log 1′. Then, further compressed and banded logs are pushed progressively forward against log 1′, which moves in channel 10 up to an exit port where it is withdrawn in a way not shown.
In other known systems, instead, there is a movable upper support that compresses the log from the above on a conveyor belt, a predetermined position has been reached, thus reducing the volume and the height of the log before the banding step. For example, a machine of this type is described in EP1636093.
During the forward and back strokes of the pusher, the conveyor belt must stay, for allowing the return stroke of the pusher. For example, in case of a one meter travel of the pusher, i.e. about half meter of forward stroke and half meter of back stroke, a certain time is necessary, which causes a reduction of productivity, for allowing the back stroke of the pusher.
It is therefore desirable to minimize the waiting time to improve productivity.
Concerning the log compression step, a similar system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,861. In this case, two conveyor belts decrease their relative distance (see also FIG. 1), to improve productivity with respect to the case of a single conveyor belt and pusher. In fact, while in the first case the log is compressed when entering the machine, in the latter case the log must enter completely in the banding machine for pressing it, increasing the waiting time.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,861 there is thus a need to feed the web that is used for wrapping the log, causing the web to be frictionally dragged by the log same. This has the drawback that the speed, and then the productivity, must be low, and the compression of the log cannot be excessive, to avoid break of the banding machine web, or to avoid difficulty of introduction and of drag of the web between the conveyor belts and the log.

Method and machine for banding logs of sheet material

MTC-Macchine Trasformazione Carta S.R.L.


To provide a scheme for deciding a switching method for the video call when an UE#1 in video call with an UE#2 is caused to perform handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN/GERAN. A mobile communication method according to the present invention is summarized by including the steps of: deciding the switching method for the video call, when a video bearer and a voice bearer which configure a path for the video call are set, by an IMS; and maintaining information on the decided switching method and association information with which information on the video bearer is in association with information on the voice bearer, by a mobile communication network and an eNB.

Conventionally, mobile communication systems capable of connecting a radio access network of 2G/3G schemes (UTRAN: Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network or GERAN: GSM EDGE Radio Access Network), and a radio access network (E-UTRAN: Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) of an LTE (Long Term Evolution) scheme have been known.
An "SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity) scheme" is specified in TS23.216 of the 3GPP (see Non-Patent Document 1). In the SRVCC scheme, a path is switched from a path via the E-UTRAN/UTRAN (path for VoIP (Voice over IP) communication) to a path via the UTRAN/GERAN (path for CS (Circuit Switch) communication) without disconnection of a path for voice call between UE (User Equipment) #1 and UE#2.
Furthermore, a "vSRVCC (Single Radio Video Call Continuity) scheme" is standardized by TR23.886 of the 3GPP (see Non-Patent Document 2). In the vSRVCC scheme, a path is switched from a path via the E-UTRAN/UTRAN (path for VoIP communication) to a path via the UTRAN (path for CS communication) without disconnection of a path for video call between UE#1 and UE#2.

Mobile communication method and mobility management node