An ad-hoc network wireless communication system transmits data packets from one hop to another hop in a relay manner, and includes a transmitting node for transmitting a RTS message in order to transmit the data packets, and a receiving node, existing in a next hop of the transmitting node, for transmitting a CTS message in response to the RTS message transmitted from the transmitting node. The receiving node transmits the CTS message to another receiving node successively connected to the receiving node in response to the transmitted CTS message, and the transmitting node transmits the data packets to the receiving node in the case that the CTS message transmitted by the receiving node of the next hop is received over a predetermined number of times. The ad-hoc network wireless communication system can maximize the communication efficiency in a multi-hop network with its complexity minimized by extending a MAC protocol based on a IEEE 802.11 DCF to a reservation-based MAC in the multi-hop network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ad-hoc network wireless communication system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to an ad-hoc network wireless communication system and a method thereof that makes it possible to perform a reliable multi-hop ad-hoc communication if a MAC (Media Access Control) protocol based on a CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) protocol is extended to the multi-hop.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of the hardware technology and the explosive increase of the spread and demand for portable terminals such as notebook computers, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant), etc., there have been active attempts towards grafting the concept of wireless mobile communications on data communications based on the existing Internet protocol. A representative basic technology for this is an MP (Mobile IP) (hereinafter referred to as 'mobile IP').
Currently, a host, which uses a mobile IP in a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) environment, should perform a handoff in two of the OSI (Open System Interconnection) layers when it leaves a present cell and moves to a new cell. A handoff performed in a MAC layer is for securing a reliable wireless link in the new cell, and a mobile IP handoff occurring in the IP layer is for providing positional clarity of the host that makes it possible to continuously maintain service during the movement of the host without any change of the IP address.
A wireless LAN, which is a data communication system for providing mobility and scalability, facilitates its construction and management in comparison to the existing wire LAN, and currently provides a data transmission speed of 11 Mbps. Also, the mobile host on the wireless LAN can receive Internet service by connecting to the wire LAN at a high rate at any place without a cable.
The standard related to a physical layer and a data-link layer of the wireless LAN is described in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11. The wireless LAN is constructed by an ad-hoc network composed of a wireless terminal only or an infrastructure network connected to a wire LAN.
FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an infrastructure network combined with a wire/wireless network. Referring to FIG. 1, the infrastructure network includes a BSS (Basic Service Set), an ESS (Extended Service Set), an AP (Access Point), a portal, and a DS (Distribution System). The AP is a bridge between a wire network and a wireless network, and connects the wireless host to the existing wire LAN such as an Ethernet. The mobile host can connect to the Internet through the portal. At this time, a cell is formed centering around the AP, and this is called the BSS. Several BSSs constitute the ESS, and the DS determines a forwarding path of packets to be transferred to the mobile host.
FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating an ad-hoc network.
In the wireless LAN, which is different from the wire network, the position of the host is changed at all times. Accordingly, the host, which leaves a present cell and moves to another cell, should determine a new AP in order to re-determine the communication link, and this process is called a "handoff" or "roaming" in the MAC layer. For a smooth handoff, the IEEE 802.11 standard provides techniques such as scanning, re-association and so on. Hereinafter, protocols in the ad-hoc network will be explained.
The mobile host, if the signal strength of the AP signal becomes lower than a specified value, searches for a new AP, and selects an AP that has the biggest signal. This process is called the scanning. If the AP is determined by the scanning method, the mobile host informs its existence to a new AP through the re-association process. Then, the AP informs the new position information of the mobile host to the DS, and the DS updates the position information of the host.
The wireless LAN adopts the CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) method that shares physical media in the same manner as the wire LAN. However, a collision may be frequently produced unlike the wire LAN. For example, in FIG. 2, although a node C is in a transmission range of a node B, it is outside a transmission range of a node A. Accordingly, while the node A transmits a message to the node B, the node C cannot sense the message transmitted from the node A to the node B, and thus the node C can transmit a message to the node B by accessing a channel to the node B. In this case, the message transmitted from the node C causes interference in receiving the message of the node B, and the node C becomes a hidden host or a hidden terminal of the node A. In order to solve this problem, many studies have been made for protocols such as a MACA (Medium Access Collision Avoidance) using a RTS/CTS (Request To Send/Clear To Send), a MACAW (MACA with Acknowledgement) obtained by improving the MACA using a selective control frame, a FAMA (Floor Acquisition Multiple Access) using both a non-persistent carrier sensing and the RTS/CTS, an IEEE 802.11 MAC DCF (Distributed Control Function) of a CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) supporting the carrier sensing and the RTS/CTS, a DBTMA (Dual Busy Tone Multiple Access) that is a MAC protocol based on the RTS/CTS, etc.
FIG. 3 is a view explaining a MAC protocol. Referring to FIG. 3, the host that will transmit data first confirms whether the wireless link is in use. If the wireless link is in use, the host re-attempts confirmation after waiting a predetermined time. If it is confirmed that the wireless link is not in use, the host broadcasts a control message named 'RTS (Request To Send)' (No. 1). In the RTS message, an address of destination and a transmission time are recorded, and the neighboring hosts, which intend to use the wireless link through the RTS message, can estimate how long they will wait. Meanwhile, the host, which has received the RTS, transmits a CTS (Clear To Send) message to the transmitting host only in the case that there is not danger of collision (No. 2). The transmitting host, which has received the CTS, transmits data without fear of collision (No. 3), and waits for an ACK (acknowledgement) message for acknowledging receipt of the data (No. 4). If the transmitting host fails to receive the ACK message, it retransmits the data for a predetermined number of times until it succeeds.
In the MACA protocol, the hidden host can considerably be removed through the RTS/CTS packet change as described above. Due to this advantage, the IEEE 802.11 DCF mechanism has introduced the MACAW system and standardized the DCF.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operational principle of the MACAW protocol. Referring to FIG. 4, in the case that a node A intends to communicate with a node D that is located outside a communication range, the node A transmits the RTS message to a node B that is located inside the communication range. The node B transmits the CTS in response to the received RTS. When the CTS message transmitted by the node B reaches the node A, the node A transmits packets to the node B in response to the received CTS message, and the node B transmits the ACK message in response to the received packets. After the ACK message is transmitted, a random back-off time is produced to avoid the collision on the network. Thereafter, the same process as above is performed from the node B to a node C, and from the node C to the node D, resulting in that the node A can communicate with the node D located outside the communication range.
Meanwhile, the MACAW is a mechanism optimized to the ad-hoc network based on a one-hop. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case that the mechanism is extended to a multi-hop, at least 2N RTS/CTS control packets and N ACK packets are required per N-hop communication. Also, a random back-off mechanism is required per hop. These control packets and the random back-off mechanisms cause a network overhead in a multi-hop environment, and increase an end-to-end delay.
Although the hidden hosts are considerably removed through the RTS/CTS packet exchange, the hidden hosts as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B still remain in the multi-hop environment. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the case that the node A intends to communicate with a node E located outside the communication range, it transmits the RTS message to the node B located within the communication range. The node B transmits the CTS message in response to the received RTS message. At this time, the CTS message transmitted by the node B is also transferred to the node C located within the communication range of the node B.
If the node C transmits the RTS message in order to communicate with the node D, the RTS message transmitted by the node C would also be transferred to the node B. In this case, the node C may not receive the CTS message transferred from the node B to the node C due to the transmission of the RTS message transmitted by itself. Also, a mutual collision may occur between the data packets transmitted from the node A to the node B and the data packets transmitted by the node C.
Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the case that the RTS message is transmitted from the node A to the node B and the RTS message is transmitted from the node D to the node C, a mutual collision may occur between the CTS message transmitted by the node B and the RTS message transmitted from the node D. Also, a mutual collision may occur between the data packets transmitted from the node A to the node B and the CTS message transmitted by the node C.
In order to solve the above-described problems, the MACA-BI has proposed a receiver initiated handshaking system. In this system, the transmission of a transmitting node is initiated in a manner that a receiving node transmits RTR (Ready To Receive) packets to the transmitting node without using the RTS control packets. The MACA-BI can reduce the number of RTS/CTS packets required for the N-hop communication to N at minimum. Also, the MACA-BI supports the RTR transmission of the receiving node by piggybacking the traffic generation characteristics owned by itself to the data packets. However, since the MACA-BI should perform a channel access through the RTS with respect to the node that initially performs the channel access, it requires the same system as the MACA. Also, since the MACA-BI uses the RTR transmission mechanism based on a traffic generating history of the transmitting node, it takes a scheduling system that is difficult to be practically implemented.
In order to solve the problems of the MACA-BI as described above, a MARCH protocol has been proposed. The operation principle of the MARCH protocol is illustrated in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, the first packet-transmitting node of the MARCH protocol informs a data transmission to the receiving node through an RTS control packet. Then, the receiving node informs the traffic initiation time point through the transmission of a CTS packet to a receiving node of the next hop as it transmits a confirmation packet of the RTS to the transmitting node through the CTS control packet. Through the above-described process, the MARCH protocol can reduce the number of RTS/CTS packets required for the N-hop communication to N+1 at minimum, and propose a design that can be practically implemented as well.
However, the MARCH protocol has the drawbacks in that it still has the same problems of hidden host as involved in the MACAW protocol, and causes the problems of new hidden host as shown in FIG. 7. That is, in the case that the RTS message is transmitted from the node A to the node B and the RTS message is transmitted from the node D to the node E, a mutual collision may occur between the CTS message outputted from the node B and the data packet outputted from the node D, and in this case, the node C becomes unable to output the CTS message, resulting in that a random back-off mechanism is required after the timeout process.
Also, in the multi-hop network environment, the MARCH protocol may cause a collision between the data and the CTS due to the transmission time difference between the nodes on two paths of the different connections performed according to the mechanism of the MARCH protocol as shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a CTS blocking problem caused in the MARCH protocol. As shown in FIG. 9, in the case that communications are performed in the different connections according to the MARCH mechanism, the node C, after receiving the CTS message of the node B, disregards the RTS message of the node D by changing its mode to a standby mode at a time point that it intends to transmit the CTS message to the node B. Thereafter, the node C may be unable to transmit the CTS message due to the data packet transmission of the node D at a time point that it intends to transmit the CTS message, and the random back-off mechanism is required after the timeout process. Since this phenomenon is due to the collision occurring between the CTS packet and the data packet that is relatively longer than the CTS message unlike the MACAW, its probability of occurrence becomes greater than that of the hidden host of the MACAW.
As described above, the MARCH mechanism is liable to greatly heighten the probability of occurrence of hidden host while it reduces the number of RTS/CTS control packets.

Ad-hoc network wireless communication system and method thereof


A method of producing a liquid crystal display device comprising the steps of opposing two substrates, which are composed of a transparent electrode formed on a plastic substrate, with a specified space therebetween, sealing the circumferential ends of the substrates with a sealant so as to form a sealed space, and injecting a liquid crystal to the sealed space, wherein a degassing treatment is conducted by heating each of the substrates or the sealed substrates in a vacuum atmosphere to release gas adsorbed on the surface of the substrates prior to the step of forming the transparent electrode, the sealing step or the injection step of the liquid crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal display device which is flat and light-weight for use in a notebook-type or palm-top type personal computer, word processor, electronic datebook or the like.
2. Description of the Invention
Conventionally, a flat and lightweight liquid crystal display device has used substrates consisting of transparent electrodes formed on glass substrates.
In recent years, however, there has been a rising demand for a flatter and lighter-weight liquid crystal display device for use in a notebook-type or palm-top type personal computer, word processor, electronic datebook or the like. In order to meet the demand, a liquid crystal display device which uses substrates consisting of transparent electrodes formed on plastic substrates has been proposed.
However, the foregoing conventional device which uses the substrates consisting of the transparent electrodes formed on the plastic substrates is disadvantageous in that the gas adsorbed on the surfaces of the plastic substrates is not treated and causes undesirable effects such as reduction in production yield and reliability.
The plastic substrate is composed of a plastic plate or film of acrylic, epoxy, polyethylene, or polycarbonate type, but if viewed microscopically, these materials have a sponge-like structure with an adsorptive property for gas and water. Consequently, if gas (including water vapor) adsorbed on the surface of the plastic substrate is released by a heating treatment in the production processes, it brings about such disadvantages as changed conditions for subsequent treatments and the development of bubbles.
For example, when the transparent electrode is to be formed on the plastic substrate by sputtering or vapor deposition in the electrode forming treatment, it is necessary to heat the substrate to a high temperature in a high-vacuum atmosphere. In this case, however, it is extremely difficult to obtain a high vacuum, compared with the case in which a glass substrate is used, so that a transparent electrode having an excellent strength and adherence to the substrate cannot be formed. The resulting transparent electrode is disadvantageous in that cracks, peeling off the substrate, flaws and breakage of wires are easy to occur therein.
The reason for not attaining a high vacuum can be attributed to the fact that gas and water (water vapor), which were adsorbed on the surface of the plastic substrate in a wet washing or like process, are released in a vacuum atmosphere by the application of heat.
Through an etching process prior to a seal printing treatment in which a sealant is printed on the electrode substrates and a washing process after the treatment of forming orientation films, the surfaces of the plastic substrates have adsorbed a plenty of water and gas, which in turn are released in the sealant by a thermosetting treatment (the application of pressure and heat) conducted after the sealant is printed and attached onto the plastic substrate, resulting in bubbles in the sealant. These bubbles in the sealant reduce not only the sealing strength but also airtightness of the sealant by causing bulk destruction of the sealant. As a result, bubbles are also mixed in the layer of a liquid crystal when the liquid crystal is injected by a vacuum impregnating injection method, thereby significantly reducing the reliability and weatherproofness of the device.
Moreover, while the evacuation conducted in the injection of a liquid crystal provides a sufficient degassing effect with a glass substrate, it does not provide a sufficient degassing effect with a plastic substrate, resulting in the undesirable development of bubbles after the injection of the liquid crystal. With a large-scale liquid crystal display device in the order of 10 cm by 15 cm, in particular, bubbles are always produced in the liquid crystal layer.
The object of the present invention, which was conducted in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, is to provide a method of producing a liquid crystal display device with which the reduction in production yield and reliability resulting from the gas adsorbed on the surfaces of the plastic substrates can be prevented.

Method of producing liquid crystal display device including degassing substrates before forming electrode, sealing, or injecting liquid crystal


A centering device for elongated elements consisting of a fixed position-retaining part (13) which includes a concave guiding surface (16), and a mobile position-retaining part (12) arranged on the elongated element, or vice versa. The mobile position-retaining part (12) includes a pin (14) which is spring biased for contact against the concave guiding surface. The pin (14) is arranged in at least one casing, and is together with the casing arranged in a cavity (20) in a holder which is fixedly attached to the elongated element with a pin head (23) protruding out of an opening (24) in a front end of both the casing and the holder. The holder (15) includes a seat (38) with a guiding surface for a peripherally conical portion (36) of the casing. This is spring biased in the axial direction so that the conical portion strives to be in contact with the seat of the holder in and for centering of the casing and the pin relative to the longitudinal axis (21) of the holder.

There are a number of different types of centering devices which are comprised in adjustment devices for various purposes. Examples are manoeuvring devices such as gearshifts for manoeuvring of the gearbox of a vehicle. The gear-controls exhibit a console and a gear stick which is movable in the console and which is adjustable between various gear positions. Both the suspension of the gear stick and various locking parts are examples of sources of various loose play and vibrations due to unavoidable tolerances. With conventional solutions, requirements for tolerances must be weighed against costs. Between the adjustable part and the console in which it is suspended, there is in many cases a position-retaining device in the form of a locking part with a pin, which is movable in a bore, where intermediate play can cause a feeling of indistinct locking positions and vibrations.

Centering device for longitudinal elements and a resetting device for motor vehicles


A conveyor track drive includes a continuous loop conveyor for supporting and carrying a specimen container, with one portion of the conveyor extending through a drive housing. The conveyor includes a first segment extending through the housing, which then wraps around a portion of a drive sprocket, extends back upstream and around a portion of an idler sprocket and then includes a second segment transversely adjacent the first segment. A guide plate on the housing is positioned over the adjacent segments of the conveyor with a slot located to guide a specimen carrier from the first segment to the second segment. The specimen carrier then exits the housing on the second segment of the conveyor. A motor in the housing drives the drive sprocket to move the conveyor.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to track utilized in an automated clinical laboratory conveyor system, and more particularly to an improved drive mechanism for driving a dual track conveyor system.
(2) Background Information
Clinical laboratory testing has changed and improved remarkably over the past 80 years. Initially, tests or assays were performed manually and generally utilized large quantities of serum, blood or other materials and/or body fluids. As mechanical technology developed in the industrial work place, similar technology was introduced into the clinical laboratory. With the introduction of new technology, methodologies were also improved in an effort to improve the quality of the results produced by the individual instruments, and to minimize the amount of physical specimen required to perform a particular test.
Instruments have been developed to increase the efficiency of testing procedures by reducing turnaround time and decreasing the volumes necessary to perform various assays. Robotic engineering has evolved to such a degree that various types of robots have been applied in the clinical laboratory setting.
The main focus of prior art laboratory automation relied on the implementation of conveyor systems to connect areas of a clinical laboratory. Known conveyor systems in the laboratory setting utilize separate conveyor segments to move specimens from a processing station to a specific laboratory work station. In order to obtain cost savings, one typical scenario called for specimens to be sorted manually and grouped together in a carrier rack to be conveyed to a specific location. In this way, a carrier would move a group of 5-20 specimens from the processing location to the specific work station for the performance of a single test on each of the specimens within the carrier rack.
With the development of new and improved automatic conveyor systems for laboratories and other environments, it is possible to select, track, and convey individual specimens throughout a laboratory for a variety of different testing, while maintaining a priority system for certain types of testing or special urgent requests for a time-specific response. These new automated conveyor systems are of various types and design, but the inventors herein have found that a dual conveyor system, using a pair of parallel conveyor tracks circulating throughout a laboratory, provides the greatest flexibility and versatility. The integration of various track devices with software directing the operation of the conveyor system and the various automated testing stations, has improved both the speed and capability of automated conveyor systems in recent years.
Track devices form the physical interface between the specimen samples in carriers being directed throughout the system, while the Laboratory Automation System (LAS) database provides direction for the system through its command and control features. The LAS and the various track devices work in combination to direct, manage and track all specimens throughout the system.
The inventors herein have found that the prior art drive mechanism for the conveyor track suffers several problems. One problem is in the limited length of "chain" or track that may be driven by a single drive motor. In order to provide a desired length for a track within a laboratory, ancillary motors may be required around the track to maintain the track at the desired speed.
An advantage of a dual track conveyor is the possibility of running the two tracks at different speeds. This permits a specimen to be moved to a "fast track" between various job sites, and to the slower track when awaiting the performance of a desired task. However, in the past, this was accomplished with separate drive mechanisms for each track, thereby increasing the cost of the system, as well as the cost to maintain the system.


Scanning optical device is provided with a light source unit, a deflector for deflecting light beam from the light source, a deflector driving circuit for driving the deflector and an optical housing for accommodating the deflector and the deflector driving circuit. The device is further provided with a cover for closing the optical housing. The cover is provided with an opening through which the deflector driving circuit is exposed to the external air. The hole in the cover is constituted by a tubular partition wall integrally formed with the cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning optical device adapted for use in a recording apparatus such as a laser beam printer, and more particularly to a scanning optical device incorporating a rotary polygon mirror and a motor for rotating the same, in an enclosed casing.
2. Related Background Art
In a scanning optical device employed in an image recording apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a laser copying machine, a photosensitive member is scanned with a light beam deflected by a deflecting device to form an electrostatic latent image, which is then rendered visible as a toner image, in a developing device. The toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet, and is fixed thereto by heating in a fixing device to obtain a print.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional scanning optical device incorporating a rotary polygon mirror and a motor for driving the same. In an outer casing 101 there is fixed a base plate 102, and a bearing 103 fixed thereon which rotatably supports a shaft 104, which supports a rotor 106 by means of a flange 105. A rotary polygon mirror 107 is urged toward the flange 105 by a press spring 108. The rotor 106 is positioned opposed to a stator 109 fixed to the base plate 102, whereby the rotor 106 and the stator 109 constitute a motor M.sup.0 A driving circuit 110 for driving the motor M.sub.0 is composed of components 110a-110c mounted on a wiring board 111 extending from under the stator 109 to the side of the base plate 102, and is connected to an unrepresented control circuit which controls the revolution of the motor M.sub.0 with a high precision. The rotary polygon mirror 107 rotated by the motor M.sub.0 deflects a laser beam emitted from a laser unit 112 shown in FIG. 2, thereby scanning a photosensitive member (not shown). An opening, positioned in the upper part in the illustration, of the outer casing 101 is closed by a lid 113, and the gap between the edges of the lid 113 and the opening of the outer casing is sealed by a gasket 114.
In such conventional device, however, since the sealed outer casing incorporates the motor for driving the rotary polygon mirror and the driving circuit therefor, the internal temperature in the casing is significantly elevated by the heat generation of these components, thus leading to the following drawbacks:
(1) The viscosity of the lubricant of the motor bearing is varied, thus leading to unstable rotation of the shaft. As a result, the shaft generates vibration, which induces significant noises and deterioration in performance; PA1 (2) As the electric characteristics of the driving circuit vary with the temperature, the motor cannot be controlled with a high precision.


In a distributed system, a first computer system may require computationally verifiable assurances of the authenticity and integrity of computations (e.g., performed as part of the execution of a program) performed by a second computer system. Methods described herein may be utilized to enforce and/or ensure the correct execution of a program. The first computer system may delegate execution of a program to a second computer system and a protocol may be employed to constrain the second computer system to perform a correct execution of the program. The protocol may include mitigation and correction routines that mitigate and/or correct the incorrect execution of a program. In various systems and methods described herein, the protocol may utilize a blockchain network such as a Bitcoin-based blockchain network.

In this document the term 'blockchain' may refer to any of several types of electronic, computer-based, distributed ledgers. These include consensus-based blockchain and transaction-chain technologies, permissioned and un-permissioned ledgers, shared ledgers and variations thereof. The most widely known application of blockchain technology is the Bitcoin ledger, although other blockchain implementations have been proposed and developed. While Bitcoin may be referred to as a useful application of the technology described in the present disclosure, for the purpose of convenience and illustration, Bitcoin is just one of many applications to which the technology described in the present disclosure may be applied. However, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to use with the Bitcoin blockchain; alternative blockchain implementations and protocols, including non-commercial applications, also fall within the scope of the present invention.
A blockchain is a peer-to-peer, electronic ledger which is implemented as a computer-based decentralised, distributed system made up of blocks which in turn may be made up of transactions and other information. In some examples, a "blockchain transaction" refers to an input message encoding a structured collection of field values comprising data and a set of conditions, where fulfilment of the set of conditions is prerequisite for the set of fields to be written to a blockchain data structure. For example, with Bitcoin each transaction is a data structure that encodes the transfer of control of a digital asset between participants in the blockchain system, and includes at least one input and at least one output. In some embodiments, a "digital asset" refers to binary data that is associated with a right to use. Examples of digital assets include Bitcoin, ether, and Litecoins. In some implementations, transferring control of a digital asset can be performed by reassociating at least a portion of a digital asset from a first entity to a second entity. Each block of the blockchain may contain a hash of the previous block so that blocks become chained together to create a permanent, unalterable record of all transactions which have been written to the blockchain since its inception. Transactions contain small programs known as scripts embedded into their inputs and outputs, which specify how and by whom the outputs of the transactions can be accessed. On the Bitcoin platform, these scripts are written using a stack-based scripting language.
In order for a transaction to be written to the blockchain, it must be "validated". Network nodes (mining nodes) perform work to ensure that each transaction is valid, with invalid transactions rejected from the network. A node can have standards for validity different from other nodes. Because validity in the blockchain is consensus based, a transaction is considered valid if a majority of nodes agree that a transaction is valid. Software clients installed on the nodes perform this validation work on transactions referencing an unspent transaction output (UTXO) in part by executing the UTXO locking and unlocking scripts. If execution of the locking and unlocking scripts evaluate to TRUE and other validation conditions, if applicable, are met, the transaction is validated by the node. The validated transaction is propagated to other network nodes, whereupon a mining node can select to include the transaction in a blockchain. Thus, in order for a transaction to be written to the blockchain, it must be i) validated by the first node that receives the transaction—if the transaction is validated, the node relays it to the other nodes in the network; and ii) added to a new block built by a mining node; and iii) mined, i.e. added to the public ledger of past transactions.
Although blockchain technology is most widely known for the use of cryptocurrency implementation, digital entrepreneurs have begun exploring the use of both the cryptographic security system Bitcoin is based on and the data that can be stored on the Blockchain to implement new systems. It would be highly advantageous if the blockchain could be used for automated tasks and processes which are not limited to the realm of cryptocurrency. Such solutions would be able to harness the benefits of the blockchain (e.g. a permanent, tamper proof records of events, distributed processing etc.) while being more versatile in their applications.
The present disclosure describes technical aspects of one or more blockchain-based computer programs. A blockchain-based computer program may be a machine readable and executable program recorded in a blockchain transaction. The blockchain-based computer program may comprise rules that can process inputs in order to produce results, which can then cause actions to be performed dependent upon those results. One area of current research is the use of blockchain-based computer programs for the implementation of "smart contracts". Unlike a traditional contract which would be written in natural language, smart contracts may be computer programs designed to automate the execution of the terms of a machine-readable contract or agreement.
Another area of blockchain-related interest is the use of 'tokens' (or 'coloured coins') to represent and transfer real-world entities via the blockchain. A potentially sensitive or secret item can be represented by the token which has no discernible meaning or value. The token thus serves as an identifier that allows the real-world item to be referenced on the blockchain.

Systems and methods for ensuring correct execution of computer program using a mediator computer system


A system for detecting errors in task workflows from a real time video feed records. The video feed that shows a plurality of steps being performed to accomplish a plurality of tasks through an automation process system. The system splits the video feed into a plurality of video recordings which are valid breakpoints determined through cognitive Machine Learning Engine, where each video recording shows a single task. For each task from among the plurality of tasks, the system determines whether the task fails and the exact point of failure for that task. If the system determines that the task fails, the system determines a particular step where the task fails. The system flags the particular step as a failed step. The system reports the flagged step for troubleshooting.

Automation engine is a software technology to automate any process or series of repeatable set of processes to perform a high volume of tasks. The automation engine processes a set of complex and comprehensive task workflows on websites or applications which are subject to failures for multiple reasons. Currently, the progress of the automation system is archived, and once the automation engine completes performing the task workflows, the archived record is evaluated through logs. The archived record is evaluated manually by an operator. This process is time-consuming and error-prone. It is challenging to evaluate complex task workflows performed by an automation engine, and determine whether the automation system is performing these complex task workflows accurately. Current technology is not configured to provide a reliable and efficient solution to evaluate failures and provide point of failures for troubleshooting in automation systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for detecting errors in a task workflow from a video stream


A heat rod assembly for preheating internal air of a vehicle by using heat generated from a positive temperature coefficient (PCT) device and a pre-heater for vehicles including the same, in which components of the heat rod assembly and the pre-heater are grouped as module units so that a width and a volume of the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater can be variously formed so that the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater is adaptable for various kinds of vehicles.

Generally, a vehicle is equipped with a heating device for heating internal air of the vehicle or for removing humidity or frost from a front window of the vehicle by using thermal energy of cooling water, which is heated by heat generated from an engine.
In such a heating device, cooling water flowing around the engine is heated by heat generated from the engine after the engine has been operated and is introduced into the heating device, so relatively long time is necessary to sufficiently heat internal air of the vehicle. For this reason, in a cold season, a driver must wait for a predetermined time in the vehicle while being exposed to the cold after starting the vehicle.
In order to solve the above problem, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0144945 discloses a heating device for preheating internal air of a vehicle by using a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) device. Hereafter, a structure of the heating device disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0144945 will be shortly described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device for a vehicle includes a plurality of PTC devices 20, which generate heat upon receiving power from a power source. A plurality of anti-short receiving plates 13 having perforated holes for receiving the PTC devices 20 are installed in a frame 11 in parallel to each other. In addition, a plurality of heat sinks 15 are installed between the anti-short receiving plates 13 such that heat exchange is easily achieved between the anti-short receiving plates 13. First terminals of the PTC devices (for example, negative terminals) are connected to the power source, and second terminals of the PTC devices (for example, positive terminals) are connected to the power source through switches (not shown), which are individually operated.
In addition, plates 17 and 18 are aligned between the anti-short receiving plates 13 and the heat sinks 15. The anti-short receiving plates 13 have heights larger than heights of the heat sinks 15 and the plates 17 and 18 in such a manner that the PTC devices 20 are prevented from being shorted due to impurities attached thereto.
Herein, reference numeral 19 represents terminal plates, which are installed at lower front and lower rear portions the frame 11, respectively. One end of the plate 17 is connected to the terminal plate, thereby forming the negative terminal together with the frame 11. In addition, one end of the plate 18 is connected to a wire (not shown), thereby forming the positive terminal.
However, the conventional heating device for the vehicle having the above construction represents a problem. That is, since components of the conventional heating device are not divided as module units, assembling work for the components of the conventional heating device is very complicated, thereby lowering productivity and workability.

Heat rod assembly and pre-heater for vehicles including the same


A process for production of sodium borohydride. The process comprises the steps of: (a) combining a boric acid ester, B(OR)3 and sodium aluminum hydride to produce sodium borohydride and Al(OR)3; and (b) combining Al(OR)3 and sulfuric acid to produce alum and ROH.

This invention relates generally to a process for production of sodium borohydride from sodium aluminum hydride with recycle of byproducts to improve the overall economics of the process.
Production of sodium borohydride from the reaction of sodium aluminum hydride with a trialkyl borate is disclosed in JP03-275502. This reference suggests that the alkoxy aluminum byproduct could be used by converting it to alumina. However, alumina has relatively low commercial value.
The problem addressed by this invention is to find an efficient and economical process for production of sodium borohydride from sodium aluminum hydride that extracts additional value from the byproducts.

Process for production of sodium borohydride from sodium aluminum hydride with recycle of byproducts


An irrigation emitter unit is provided comprising an outer member of substantially cylindrical shape and having a tapering base portion with fluid flow coupling means; an inwardly directed peripherally flanged edge portion of the outer member; an inner member having a body portion of substantially cylindrical shape substantially sealingly fitted within the outer member and having a cover portion formed integrally therewith; a peripheral edge portion of the cover portion juxtaposed below the flanged edge portion of the outer member; an elongated groove formed in the cylindrical surface of the body portion; a cavity formed in the body portion and communicating at one end thereof with a fluid flow inlet; an inwardly directed flange formed integrally with the walls of the cavity; and a resiliently flexible membrane located within the unit.

Known irrigation emitter units (constituting fluid flow control units of the kind with which the present invention is concerned) comprise, in many cases, an inner member retainably fitted within an outer member, wherein the two members are respectively provided with means which allow for the retainable fitting of the inner member within the outer member and which ensure that, once fitted, the two members are effectively secured to each other, thereby minimising the danger that they inadvertently come apart during use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fluid flow control unit and a process for the manufacture thereof, wherein the constituent members of the flow control unit are effectively retained one within the other, and wherein the mode of retention is itself conducive to the production of an improved unit.


Hardanger embroidery designs, which can be performed by a sewing machine, preferably a computerized machine with digitized design embroidery patterns. The method employs a layer of fabric 11 and a layer of removable stabilizer 12. A wingneedle stitches square eyelet patterns reminiscent of hand-sewn hardanger. Sets of concentric underlay stitch lines 15 bind fabric 11 and removable stabilizer 12 about cutwork sections 16 before removing fabric from said cutwork sections. Sets of intersecting underlay stitch lines 18 replace bar threads in cutwork sections. Each set of intersecting underlay stitch lines 18 is anchored to sets of concentric underlay stitch lines 15 and associated fabric 11. Lace fill stitches 19 stitch onto removable stabilizer 12 in conjunction with intersecting underlay stitch lines. Lace fill stitches are anchored to either intersecting or concentric underlay stitch lines. Both concentric and underlay stitch lines are sewn in sets of at least two separate stitch lines in which each set of stitch lines are approximately parallel. The normal, cross-sectional distance across any set of underlay stitch lines is nearly as long as associated finishing stitches width. Finishing stitches 20 sew normal to, or otherwise cover, all sets of underlay stitch lines and associated cut fabric edges. Finishing stitch widths uniformly and sufficiently cover underlay stitch lines and fabric edges. Underlay stitch patterns 22 sew before and beneath hardanger motifs to locally bind fabric and removable stabilizer. Underlay stitch patterns permit scaling of hardanger motifs independent of fabric choice and emboss said hardanger motifs. Once a hardanger embroidery design is completed, removable stabilizer 12 is removed, leaving a hardanger embroidery design stitched to fabric.

This method relates to embroidery and more particularly to a method for performing hardanger embroidery with a sewing machine, which yields hardanger embroidery that looks like fine hardanger embroidery, performed by hand.
Traditional hardanger can be accomplished by hand stitching. Hand stitched hardanger embroidery involves stitching with needle and thread either parallel to the warp and weft of the fabric or at angles that follow the pores of the fabric. Hand stitched hardanger utilizes even weave fabrics with defined thread counts on the order of eighteen to thirty-two threads per inch, which are relatively coarse, loosely woven materials. The width of satin and other long finishing stitches in hand-sewn hardanger are inversely proportional to the thread count of the fabric used, such that higher thread counts fabrics yield hardanger stitches of shorter widths and, hence, produce smaller scaled embroidery designs. Fabric threads are counted with each stitch to create uniformity within the individual hardanger designs and symmetry with the whole hardanger design.
Hand-sewn hardanger employs a method of selective fabric removal in which sections of fabric are framed with kloster blocks, then selective threads are removed from the fabric framed by the same kloster blocks. The remaining bar or loose threads within the framed section of fabric create a lattice of intersecting threads with square voids in the fabric. These bar threads are then hand wrapped or woven with embroidery thread. Later, the sections of the hardanger design that comprise the fabric voids may be embellished with lace fill stitches for a decorative finish.
Additionally, hand-sewn hardanger employs a drawn thread method of creating eyelets in the fabric in which a square framed pattern of radial stitches are sewn and drawn tight to separate the threads of the fabric in order to create the eyelet hole.
Such hand stitching is very time consuming, often taking many days for each design. Thus, clothing and other fabric apparel containing hand stitched hardanger embroidery can be very time consuming to make and costly to buy. Additionally, the need to use low thread count even weave fabrics limits the scope of products on which hand stitched hardanger embroidery can be applied.
As a consequence people have tried to duplicate hand stitched hardanger embroidery using a sewing machine. Unfortunately, unlike manual stitching, a sewing machine cannot accurately place stitches based on fabric weave and pore position. Nor can a sewing machine dynamically alter the upper and lower thread tensions to achieve the pulled thread effect. Additionally, without the application of appropriate underlay stitches to most, if not all, of the satin and other long finishing stitches used in hardanger embroidery the fabric would tunnel when stitched with a sewing machine.
Thus, a need exist for a method for performing hardanger embroidery using a sewing machine that is equal to or better in appearance to hand stitched hardanger embroidery and yet can be performed in much less time and with a broader selection of fabrics and threads.
In prior art, two methods used to perform hardanger embroidery with an embroidery sewing machine reproduces long satin stitch patterns, but offers no solution for tunneling of fabric underneath said long satin stitches, nor do said methods address cutwork aspects or eyelet construction of traditional hand-sewn hardanger. The results produce kloster blocks and long satin stitch motifs in which fabric tunnels underneath stitching, regardless of fabric chosen. The overall result is undesirable and inferior to hand-sewn hardanger embroidery. Another method used to perform hardanger embroidery with an embroidery sewing machine addresses cutwork aspects and eyelet construction of hardanger embroidery. However, the method fails to properly address underlay stitch construction necessary for providing consistently stable and uniform satin stitches. The recreation of kloster blocks in outlining cut work sections of the hardanger embroidery proves inadequate, producing fabric tunneling beneath and excessive fraying of the cut fabric edges. Finally, eyelet construction fails to address a need for greater thread tension for results reminiscent of hand-sewn hardanger embroidery. The overall result is undesirable and inferior to hand-sewn hardanger embroidery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,665 issued to Colonel on Jul. 23, 1985 teaches a method and an apparatus for embroidery, which uses a removable material. It does not use a sewing machine. U.S. Pat. No. 889,614 issued to Johnson on Jun. 2, 1908 teaches a method and an apparatus using a removable backing as an intermediate step in applying the embroidery, but the backing is removed prior to completing the embroidery. U.S. Pat. No. 823,421 issued to Loeb on Jun. 12, 1906, teaches a method and apparatus for stitching a decorative open thread work on fabric, but the cut fabric edges are finished by turning under the cut edge of the fabric and stitching in place. Said method does not use a conventional sewing machine. U.S. Pat. No. 1,203,561 issued to Aaron on Nov. 7, 1916 teaches a method of finishing the cut fabric edges by adding a folded binding. U.S. Pat. No. 924,795 issued to Klemm and Rorarius on Jun. 15, 1909, teaches a method of embossing an embroidery design by adding a backing fabric and padding materials. This method does not use a sewing machine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,999 issued to Dennis on Oct. 3, 1989, teaches a method of selectively removing threads from an even weave fabric and replacing them by weaving ribbon or yarn through remaining fabric threads. This method does not use a sewing machine. U.S. Pat. No. 385,772 issued to Owen on Jul. 10, 1888, teaches a method for removing selective threads from the fabric and creating a decorative, open pattern in the fabric. However, the threads must be removed by hand, singly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,760 issued to Garzone, May 12, 1992, teaches a method for creating lace on a soluble background using a method of double-embroidered lace in which each layer of lace is comprised of different types of thread, but is not like the present invention.
None of the prior art is like the present invention, which enables one to produce a hardanger embroidery effect that simulates or is even better than hand stitched hardanger embroidery.
The present invention provides such a method, which reduces substantially the time to produce a hardanger embroidery design, while greatly expanding the range of fabrics and threads that can be used to do so. For instance, a design that might take eight hours by hand stitching on a low thread count, open weave fabric, would take less than fifteen minutes, using a much wider variety of fabrics and threads, using the method taught by the present invention.


In one embodiment, a method for transmitting data in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) system includes selecting a precoding matrix in accordance with a projection of the precoding matrix on a precoding space and generating a precoded modulated pulse shape by applying the precoding matrix to a data vector and a pulse shape. The method also includes transmitting, by a first device to a second device, the precoded modulated pulse shape.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a method of encoding digital data on multiple carrier frequencies. In one example, 600 subcarriers are used, which are modulated with data points. There are a large number of closely spaced orthogonal sub-carrier signals used to carry data on several streams. In OFDM, rectangular pulses are transmitted in time. Because the pulses are rectangular in time, inter-symbol interference (ISI) may be eliminated using a guard period between symbols. In OFDM, the subcarriers are orthogonal, eliminating inter-carrier interference (ICI).
OFDM-offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) is another multicarrier transmission method which uses different shaped pulses with multiple sub-carriers. Pulse shapes with good side lobe properties in the frequency domain and/or time domain may be chosen. Pulse shapes used may include root raised cosine (RRC) pulse, isotropic orthogonal transform algorithm (IOTA) pulse, sinc function pulses, Bellanger pulses, etc. OFDM-OQAM has good power spectral density (PSD) side lobe decay properties. The length of the pulse shape may be at least four symbol lengths to facilitate low ISI, ICI, and good frequency localization. This may lead to ISI and ICI, because the OFDM-OQAM symbols span more than one symbol time period. When one antenna is used in OFDM-OQAM, the pulses are real-orthogonal. Because the pulses are real-orthogonal, the ISI may be removed.

System and method for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM)


There is disclosed a method of operating a User equipment, UE, in a cellular communications network. The method comprises receiving a data on a Downlink, DL, time-frequency resource, and transmitting on an Uplink, UL, time-frequency resource, a retransmission feedback to indicate whether a data packet, comprised in the data, was received properly, wherein the UL time-frequency resource is determined based on the DL time-frequency resource. The disclosure also pertains to related methods and devices.

Modern wireless communication systems use re-transmission schemes, often denoted as Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ). In an ARQ scheme a data packet, transmitted from a transmitter, is appended with a CRC. A receiver decodes the data packet, re-calculates the CRC and compares the obtained CRC with the transmitted CRC. If the CRC matches, an acknowledgement (ACK) is sent as feedback to the transmitter to indicate that the corresponding data packet was received correctly, otherwise a negative acknowledgment (NACK) is sent as feedback to the transmitter to indicate that the data packet was not received correctly. Based on such feedback (ACK or NACK) the transmitter can retransmit the corresponding data packet if the feedback was a NACK.
In case the feedback is a NACK, the time for successful data transmission is at least the time required for providing the feedback and to re-transmit the data from the transmitter. The time duration between a transmission and a consecutive re-transmission may be called a re-transmission round trip time.
In LTE and other wireless communication systems, both FEC (Forward Error Correction) encoding and ARQ may be applied, this is also known as Hybrid ARQ (HARQ). HARQ may also be used in HSDPA and HSUPA which provide high speed data transmission (on downlink and uplink, respectively) for mobile phone networks such as UMTS, and in the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard for mobile broadband wireless access, also known as "mobile WiMAX". It is also used in EVDO and LTE based wireless networks as well as 5G New Radio.
Recently, the 3GPP Technical Specifications Groups has agreed on a work plan that includes a specification of Next Generation (NexGen) architecture and specification of the 5G New Radio (NR).
Transmissions in NR will most likely deploy a time structure in terms of slots and mini-slots.                Slots may e.g. comprise an integer number N of OFDM symbols in duration and can only start at every N:th OFDM symbol.        Mini-slots may comprise less than an N OFDM symbols in duration and can start at any OFDM symbol, or at least more often than every N:th OFDM symbol.
Dynamic TDD will be supported for NR. In dynamic TDD, time resources, such as e.g. slots and/or mini-slots, may not be predefined as uplink- or downlink-time resources in advance. Instead, the "transmission direction" and/or whether the time resource (slot and/or mini-slot) should be used for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) may be determined by the scheduler in a network node (e.g. an eNB) as part of the dynamic scheduling decision and inform the receiver (e.g. a user equipment, UE) of the scheduling decision.
Downlink data transmissions to a UE may occupy one or more slots and/or mini-slots, where the first slot may be and/or comprise a mini-slot. Upon reception of downlink data, a User Equipment (UE) may try to decode the data and transmit feedback on the outcome in the form of a positive or negative acknowledgement (ACK or NACK). Such feedback may be named as retransmission feedback.
To achieve low latency it is preferable if the retransmission feedback occurs as soon as possible after the downlink data is received, as illustrated in FIG. 1. TDD is assumed in the figure, but the principle holds equally well for FDD.
Sending the acknowledgement after each received downlink slot (or set of slots) may result in unnecessary overhead from switching between uplink and downlink. In many cases where extremely low latency is not critical it could therefore be beneficial to transmit the retransmission feedback at a later point in time as shown in FIG. 2. However, by doing so, there are anticipated problems related to collisions of retransmission feedback on UL resources for transmission of HARQ/ARQ feedback, e.g., HARQ ACK/NACK.

Methods and apparatuses for handling of retransmission feedback


A casing hanger lands on a load shoulder in a wellhead to seal and support a string of casing. The casing hanger has a lower ring for landing on the load shoulder, the lower ring having an upward facing surface. A plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses are in the upward facing surface of the lower ring, each of the recesses having a base. A seal is located on the lower ring and has a plurality of holes that register with the recesses in the upward facing surface of the lower ring. A slip assembly bowl has a wedging surface that carries a plurality of slip members. The slip members grip the casing and cause the bowl to transmit downward forces from the casing to the seal to axially compress and energize the seal. Fasteners extend from the lower ring through apertures provided in the seal into threaded apertures provided in a downward facing surface of the bowl to secure the lower ring to the slip assembly but allow relative axial movement between the bowl and the lower ring. A plurality of substantially cylindrical stop members are located in the holes in the seal and in the recesses of the lower ring. The stop members are secured into threaded holes formed in the shoulder ring and contact the bases of the recesses to limit the compression of the seal to a predetermined amount.

The present invention relates to casing hangers for supporting and sealing a string of casing in a wellhead.
In a typical oil or gas well, a string of casing is suspended from a load shoulder in wellhead by a casing hanger. The casing hanger has a lower ring that lands on the load shoulder, and a slip assembly grasps the string of casing. In one type of casing hanger, the weight of casing transmits through an elastomeric seal to a lower ring and to the load shoulder. The weight of the casing compresses the elastomeric seal axially and causes it to extrude radially into sealing contact with the casing string and the inner diameter of the wellhead.
Generally, the weight of the casing string is more than is needed to energize the seal, and the excess force can damage the seal. Therefore, prior art casing hangers incorporate a stop mechanism to limit the axial compression of the elastomeric seal and support the weight of the casing after the seal is energized.
One prior art casing hanger uses spacers which freely float within vertical holes in the seal. The spacers have a height less than the height of the seal, but are sized to transfer the load when the seal is compressed enough to seal the casing and casing head.
The present invention is drawn to a casing hanger for hanging and sealing a string of casing in a wellhead having a load shoulder therein. The casing hanger has a lower ring for landing on the load shoulder, the lower ring having an upward facing surface. A seal is positioned on the lower ring. The seal energizes when compressed axially to seal the casing to the wellhead. The seal has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes. A slip assembly for gripping the casing has a downward facing surface that transmits downward forces from the weight of the casing to the seal to axially compress and energize the seal. Stop members are located in the holes in the seal and rigidly secured to one of the upward and downward facing surfaces to limit the compression of the seal to a predetermined amount.


Disclosed are a system and method for permitting communication between subscribers in a wireless network and devices coupled to one or more wired communication networks. A transceiving circuit transmits data to or receives data from one or more subscribers through a wireless transmission medium. A first data link control (DLC) circuit is adapted to transmit data between the transceiveing circuit and one or more devices coupled to a first wired communication network. A second DLC circuit is adapted to transmit data between the transceiving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a second wired communication network.

1. Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to communication systems. In particular, embodiments disclosed herein relate to communication in a wireless network.
2. Information
The use of local area networks (LANs) in has become commonplace in enterprises. A LAN typically consists of a wired communication network for coupling devices such as, for example, personal computer work stations, printers, data servers, and the like. Devices coupled as part of a LAN are typically assigned a unique address in the LAN to enable the transmission of data frames or packets to destination devices in the LAN.
Devices coupled to a wired communication network as part of a LAN are typically coupled to fixed locations limited by a physical connection to the wired communication network at a network interface circuit (NIC) on the devices. Accordingly, mobility of devices coupled to a wired communication network as part of a LAN is typically limited by a tethering of the devices by the physical connection.
To allow some devices in a LAN to be mobile, wireless access points have enabled mobile devices to communicate with through a wired communication network using protocols such as, for example, wireless LAN standard IEEE 802.11. However, deployment of multiple wireless access points to provide adequate coverage over a given facility may be costly. Accordingly, there is a need to provide low solutions that enable mobile devices to communicate with devices through wired communication networks.

Multiple link layer wireless access point


A computing system including a media content provider (MCP), a host device, a portable media content storage device (PMCSD), and a data communications network. In response to data communications being initiated between the PMCSD the host device, a data transfer application resident on the PMCSD is automatically executed to determine if any media content transfer instructions exist on the PMCSD or a MCP. The data transfer application resident on the PMCSD may be a portable application not requiring the installation of any configuration or support files to the host device or it may be an application having a boot process that installs configuration or support files to the host device prior to application execution. When one or more media content transfer instructions exists on the PMCSD or a MCP, the media content transfer instruction(s) is processed by the host device, to facilitate media content transfer between the PMCSD and the MCP.

Digital media content distribution services continue to grow at an astonishing rate in response to the evolution of modern data communications networks that can facilitate high-speed data transfers for vast amounts of digital media content data. Whether digital media content distribution occurs over wireline networks, such as fiber-optic or cable networks, or over wireless networks, such as 3G, 3GPP LTE, LTE Advanced, or 4G cellular networks, the trend of increasing distribution service capacity and flexibility remains a key objective for most media content service providers. Over the past decade, consumer exposure to state-of-the-art digital media content distribution and playback technologies (e.g., digital video recorders (DVRs), multi-function cellular phones, PDAs, satellite radio and television devices, e-books devices, etc.) has created a significant demand for improved digital media content delivery services.
These new technologies have revolutionized the way consumers procure and utilize a wide variety of digital media content. A non-exhaustive listing of modern digital media content types, include: movies, TV programs, home video, software applications, video games, podcasts, music, e-books, etc. Most distribution services for these media content types occur over the Internet at media content provider website stores (e.g., Apple® I-Tunes™, Microsoft® Zune™, and Amazon® Kindle™ Stores) or over proprietary cable, fiber-optic, satellite, and cellular networks provided by various media content services providers (e.g., Comcast® Digital Cable, Verizon® FIOS™, DirectTV®, Sirius® XM Radio™, and AT&T® Wireless).
Many popular digital distribution services allow consumers to select and download digitized media content files to personal computers or set-top boxes where they can later be manually selected for upload to a variety of portable media playback devices to facilitate future media content playback. These autonomous playback devices free consumers from having to remain connected to a particular communications network in order to enjoy their digital media content. Most popular media playback devices (e.g., the Apple® I-Phone™ and I-Pod™, or the Amazon® Kindle™) are provided with many Gigabytes of non-volatile memory (e.g., Flash Memory) that allows the playback devices to maintain local repositories for significant amounts of purchased, or otherwise acquired, digital media content.
In order to facilitate digital media content acquisition and autonomous playback on portable media content playback devices, users having the playback devices have typically followed the same common three-step model:                1) Select one or more digital media content files to download from a media content distribution service provider (also referred to herein as a Media Content Provider or MCP);        2) Initiate download of selected digital media content files to a powerful personal computing device, such as a desktop or laptop computer; and        3) Manually select downloaded digital media content files from the personal computing device to upload to a portable media content playback device.
By way of example, one very popular media content distribution service that follows the above three-step model is the Apple's® I-Tunes™ application integrated with the online I-Tunes™ Store. A user having an I-Phone™ or an I-Pod™ device can execute their local I-Tunes™ application, resident on a personal desktop or laptop computer, and then elect to connect their I-Tunes™ application to the I-Tunes™ Store via the Internet. Once connected to the I-Tunes™ Store, a user can then utilize their integrated I-Tunes™ application's user interface to 1) Select one or more digital media content files to download to their desktop or laptop computer.
As would be understood by those familiar with the I-Tunes™ products and services, when the local I-Tunes™ application is connected with the I-Tunes™ Store, the interface of the I-Tunes™ application is integrated with the I-Tunes™ Store website interface, such that a user can view a web-based catalog of downloadable digital media content through their local I-Tunes™ application interface. The Apple® I-Tunes™ Store generally distributes media content relating to: digitized music, movies, podcasts, games, software applications, audiobooks, e-books, etc. After selection of various digital media content, a user can then purchase the media content directly from the I-Tunes™ Store using a credit card or other payment method, and 2) Initiate downloading of the purchased digital media content to their desktop or laptop computer memory using the integrated I-Tunes™ interface.
When the digital media content has finished downloading to a user's desktop or laptop computer, the user is then able to selectively generate a personal library of procured media content for upload to their I-Phone™ or I-Pod™ device. Next, a user can connect their I-Phone™ or I-Pod™ device to their desktop or laptop computer (e.g., via USB cable) in order to Synchronize their portable playback device with the I-Tunes™ application. Subsequently, a user is able to 3) Manually upload the selected digital media content (their upload library) from their desktop or laptop computer to their connected I-Phone™ or I-Pod™ device utilizing the I-Tunes™ application interface.
The I-Tunes™ service is an elucidating example of the common three-step media content distribution model, which emphasizes a number of inherent procedural deficiencies associated with modern media content distribution services. One weakness of the three-step model is that user input and management of media content distribution is required at every step of the process in order to initiate media content transfers amongst the media content provider, the personal home computer (e.g., a desktop or laptop computer), and the end-receiving portable media content playback devices. Unfortunately, consumers who utilize this model need to be reasonably tech-savvy in order to properly navigate (and optionally transform) their purchased media content from online source to portable playback destination.
For example, in order to acquire digital media content on their portable playback devices, consumers are typically required to be able to do all of the following: log on to a media content provider store; select compatible media content for purchase; purchase the selected media content; designate a local destination address on their home computer (e.g., on their desktop or laptop computer) where the media content is to be stored; initiate the media content download; connect their portable playback device to their home computer storing the downloaded media content; select their home computer's media content source location, where the downloaded media content resides; optionally, reformat the media content to be compatible with a particular playback device; select the attached playback device as the recipient device for a media content upload; and initiate the upload from their home computer to their portable playback device.
For many tech-savvy consumers these media content procurement and distribution procedures are not very difficult, however, for large numbers of consumers who are not very computer-literate, these procedures can be daunting or even prohibitive. Accordingly, large populations of potential consumers, having lower levels of computer literacy, are deterred from entering the digital media distribution marketplace because of the required technology aptitude and the relative complexity of most modern media content distribution services. These individuals often continue to purchase more expensive physical playback media (e.g., DVDs or CDs) that can be easily inserted into simple, dated playback devices (e.g., DVD or CD players) that only require one playback step after medium insertion: hitting a "play" button on a playback device.
Another shortcoming associated with modern digital media content distribution services is that there are inherent network limitations created by allowing consumers to selectively determine during which periods of time media content transfers should occur. The communications networks involved in the data transfers are necessarily sized to handle peak usage data transfer periods for the network's collective users. These peak usage periods are determined by aggregate network user behaviors over hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly intervals. When large numbers of network users simultaneously transfer particularly burdensome media content files, such as high definition audiovisual files, networks can become congested. This congestion can negatively affect cumulative network throughput as well as the Quality of Service (QOS) and the Quality of Experience (QOE) for most network users.
To remedy the problems associated congestion and the lack of network capacity (e.g., available network bandwidth) during peak usage periods of operation, network service providers often commit to expensive, time-consuming technology additions and/or upgrades. These network enhancements serve to alleviate network congestion periods and to avoid persistent customer service calls from irritated customers.
Even though certain networks routinely experience periods of extreme congestion during peak usage data transfer periods, these same networks often experience periods of excess, wasted bandwidth during off-peak data transfer periods. Although, costly network enhancements can alleviate peak periods of congestion in most networks, these enhancements also create an increased surplus of wasted bandwidth during off-peak periods. It is therefore advantageous to consider new ways to utilize existing network resources in order to efficiently balance daily bandwidth usage over a data communications network routinely experiencing network congestion, and to avoid unnecessarily expending service provider resources.
Another drawback with modern digital media content distribution services is getting the media content (e.g., pixel-based video content having resolutions associated with set aspect ratios) to properly display on desired playback devices, such as large-format, high-definition televisions or home theaters. Generally, if an original media content is downloaded from a media content provider to a personal desktop or laptop computer in a consumer's home or office, then the media content will likely need to be reformatted and uploaded (e.g., via direct connection with a USB cable or via a local wireless area network, such as a Wi-Fi™ network) to one or more portable playback devices in order to be properly displayed on the end playback devices.
To date, there have been several attempted solutions to this local media content reformatting and redistribution problem, including: relocating personal desktop computers from a home office to a television room (e.g., a living room) in order to facilitate local reformatting through direct connection with both portable and non-portable playback devices, along with facilitating wireless (e.g., via a local Wi-Fi™ network) home redistribution of re-formatted media content. Unfortunately, these attempted solutions each have inherent drawbacks and added complexity (particularly for individuals having low computer literacy) that has limited consumer acceptance and adoption of these techniques. Problems may further be compounded if a consumer attempts to take their digital media content with them during travel, to continue watching or listening to particular media content as they change locations and switch amongst different media playback devices. Under these scenarios, it becomes exponentially more difficult for non tech-savvy users to enjoy their media content in varying settings employing an assortment of different playback devices.
Another problem with modern digital media content distribution services is that data transfer processes are tied to particular physical locations where intermediary desktop or laptop computers reside (e.g., computers running local media content distribution client software, such as the Apple® I-Tunes™ application). In these static settings, a designated access network may often be disrupted by connection failures, timeouts, or relocation of network attachment points for a download destination device. As digital media content file transfer sessions become increasingly burdensome (e.g., media content files become increasingly large), the frequency and periods for these potential disruptions can stretch over hours or even days. One method of handling this problem over select networks (e.g., cellular networks) has been to restrict a media content transfer file size (and therefore quality) to a size that a particular access network can handle in a tractable time period (e.g., complete file transfers within a few hours). This approach not only limits the quality of the media content that can be delivered to consumers, but it also limits the number of consumers that are even be able to acquire desired media content types.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have improved digital media content distribution systems and services that simplified a user's experience in procuring and enjoying digital media content. It would be beneficial if these solutions offered the less tech-savvy consumer a practical means for flexibly obtaining digital media content in response to simple system detection events, such as a device plug-in event or an automatic wireless communications activation event. Further, it would be desirable if these solutions were highly portable and dynamic in nature, such that a user could readily switch media content delivery tasks between various personal computing devices and both media content delivery and playback functionality could be realized at local and remote locations. Additionally, it would be beneficial if these solutions were implemented to maximize available network resources at any given time, such that media content delivery scheduling could be directed towards periods of excess network bandwidth. Having flexible, mobile digital media content distribution solutions would cater to the needs of residential and commercial consumers, including consumers who frequently travel (highly mobile consumers) along with network service providers who wish to maximize their network's available resources.

Systems and methods for portable data storage devices that automatically initiate data transfers utilizing host devices


A shaft (1a-d) is provided that is rotatably mounted by a journal (2) in a housing (4) in which lubricant mist is provided. One or several outward-extending ribs (6) extend between the journal and shaft sections (5a, 5b) adjacent to the journal. The shaft is mounted by the journal in the housing using a rolling bearing (3) that is lubricated exclusively by the lubricant mist. At least one of the ribs associated with the journal extends at a certain angle of attack (11, 12) to the axis of rotation of the shaft and is used as a blade for conveying the lubricant mist into the rolling bearing.

The invention relates to a shaft, in particular, a compensating shaft of a device for compensating forces of gravity and/or moments of inertia of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. The shaft is mounted so that it can rotate on one or more journals in a housing filled with a lubricating oil mist, wherein at least one of the journals projects radially past one or two shaft sections adjacent to these journals at least within one part of the periphery and wherein one or more radially outward extending ribs extend within the part of the periphery between the one or more journals and the one or two adjacent shaft sections.
Such a shaft is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,339 B1 in which the shaft is formed as a compensating shaft of a mass-compensating drive known to someone skilled in the art in the field of reciprocating piston internal combustion engines. The compensating shaft proposed there has unbalanced masses arranged on both sides of a journal, while the journal projects significantly in the radial direction past the shaft sections adjacent to this journal within a part of the periphery that is diametrically opposite the unbalanced masses. For bracing the compensating shaft there are ribs that extend within the part of the periphery between the journal and the adjacent shaft sections.
As support means there is a sliding bearing shell arranged between the housing of the mass compensating gear and the journal as a hydrodynamic sliding bearing. A prerequisite for the construction of a sufficiently good load-bearing lubricating film in such a sliding bearing, however, is a defined supply of lubricating oil to the bearing point that leads, especially in the case of a typically cost-sensitive reciprocating piston internal combustion engine to undesired additional costs based on the boreholes and/or channels required for this purpose. Another disadvantageous property of the hydrodynamic sliding bearing results from the relationship between the viscosity of the lubricating oil and the friction power losses that can generally contribute especially at low temperatures and high viscosity lubricating oil to a considerable portion of the power losses of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine or a machine driving the shaft.


A system and a method for organizing optimal paths in a sensor network. Optimal paths are determined based on an objective function that balances the performance and energy consumption of sensor nodes. Each sensor node stores and updates pheromone values and aging factors associated with each of its neighbor nodes. The pheromone values provide an indication of the speed of a given path, while the aging factor represents the use. Paths are compared using these variables and an optimal path is selected on each transfer so that the load is spread across a variety of sensor nodes, increasing network life.

Large scale, dynamically changing sensor networks are used for remote sensing and decision making in pervasive environments like industrial plants, aircraft interiors, battlefields, houses and commercial establishments. Such systems require consistently high performance over a long period in order to avoid costs associated with maintenance. Hence, features like miniaturization, optimal power consumption, data processing capability using minimal resources and adaptability are essential features of sensors used in smart sensor networks.
The exact demands of such a network vary with each scenario in which the network operates based on functionality and usage. The sensors may be dedicated in performing a specific function continuously over long periods of time, e.g. temperature sensors, sound sensors, etc. Or the sensors may be multi-modal sensors, capable of sensing multiple data types, e.g. an integrated sensor for temperature, sound, and humidity. These sensors may be queried either for continuous monitoring or for a specific service request. The arrangement of the sensor network also plays a role in network requirements. While some networks may be organized and systematic, this cannot be assumed. Many sensor networks may be deployed in a seemingly random fashion near the event to be observed. Also, the topology of the sensor network may be subjected to frequent changes, due to removal or addition of sensor nodes and relocation of sub-networks. The environment in which the network is deployed will greatly determine the amount of maintenance available, with repairs in hostile environments being very costly. In such scenarios, the sensor network lifespan has to be maximized using methods for self-organization, power aware communication, and co-operative data processing.
One current approach to a self-organizing network is based on an ant-algorithm. This method is modeled on the observed behavior of ants in finding the best path, e.g. to a food source. The ants make decisions as to which way to travel based on pheromones left by other ants. Thus, a more traveled path is reinforced as more and more ants choose that path. At the same time, longer paths will be used less and less, and the pheromone will ultimately evaporate. The eventual path will consistently be the best, because shorter paths are traveled more frequently in the constant coming and going of a large number of ants. In order to implement such a system in a sensor network, message carriers deposit markers as they are passed along the network. Paths containing these markers are more likely to be chosen by later carriers, and thus are reinforced over time as more markers are deposited. In this way the best path is eventually chosen. In a trained sensor network, this generally results in a fast response to any request for information.
Directed diffusion is a similar approach. The method involves spreading interests for named data across a network. As this is done, gradients are established within the network between nodes. Each gradient is a connection between nodes at a given transmission rate. Initially, the rate is relatively low. Paths that deliver an event first are reinforced by creating high data rate transmissions between nodes in the path.
These solutions to sensor network organization have the disadvantage of overburdening particular portions of the network. Because the same path is being used consistently, those sensors in that path are likely to die out well before other sensors. When these sensors fail, the efficiency of communication across the entire network may degrade. This may result in either unsatisfactory performance or the need to perform costly repairs, possibly replacing large portions of the network. Thus, there is a need for sensor networks that can more effectively balance the factors of performance and sensor life.

Self-organization of sensor networks using ant colony optimization


Transparent soap bars having improved lathering and foaming characteristics contain (1) an alkanolamine; (2) an alkyl polyglycoside of the formula I EQU R.sub.1 (R.sub.2 O).sub.b (Z).sub.a (I). wherein R.sub.1 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6: (3) a polyol; (4) a fatty acid which is at least 70% neutralized by sodium hydroxide, and; (5) water wherein the water to free alkanolamine weight ratio is greater than 1.0 and the ratio of the weight of the polyol to the sum of the weights of free alkanolamine+alkyl polyglycoside+polyol+water is less than about 0.4.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to transparent soap bars. More specifically, the present invention relates to transparent soap bars which exhibit improved lathering and foaming characteristics due to the presence of alkyl polyglycosides.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transparent soap bars are normally milder than opaque bars. These soaps depend for their distinctive appearance upon the fact that soap is deposited from alcoholic solution in a transparent, ultramicrocrystalline form. The incorporation of glycerol and sugars also tend to cause soap to assume this form. The effect is entirely physical, and depends upon the conditions under which the soap crystallizes rather than the presence of alcohol or any other substance in the finished soap cake. Thus, a transparent soap made with the aid of alcohol retains its appearance after most of the alcohol has been evaporated from it.
Transparent soaps vary greatly in composition. They may be prepared simply by dissolving soap flakes in alcohol and then driving off the greater part of the alcohol. Such a product will not be greatly different in composition from the original soap flakes. A more usual method of manufacture, however, is to add alcohol and glycerol, in the proportion of about two parts of alcohol to one of glycerol, to a hot saponified batch of semi-boiled soap until a rapidly cooled sample is clear, after which the batch is framed in the usual way. Sugar may also be added. The fats used in transparent soaps usually are tallow and coconut oil. Up to about 30% castor oil is often used in the fat charge, as the presence of this oil reduces the amount of alcohol, glycerol or sugar required to render the soap transparent. The anhydrous soap content of transparent soaps is usually well under 50%.
There has always been a need to increase the lathering and foaming characteristics of transparent soap bars by inclusion of various types of surfactants. However, it has been found that when a synthetic surfactant is added to a transparent soap formulation, the resulting bar is not transparent. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to increase the lathering and foaming characteristics of transparent soap bars without causing a reduction in the transparency of the bar.

Transparent soap bars containing alkyl polyglycosides


The present invention is a system and method which allows for a VTL system that supports thin provisioning to implicitly unmap unused storage. Such unmap operations may occur even though the VTL system does not receive any explicit unmap requests from its initiators. For example, if a system administrator knows that once a virtual tape drive of the VTL system has been partially overwritten, all previously written data sets on that virtual tape drive will never again be accessed, the system administrator may configure the VTL system so that it unmaps the entire remainder of the virtual tape drive on the first data overwrite.

Currently available data storage systems/methods for providing data management in data storage systems may not provide a desired level of performance.
Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a data storage system/method(s) for providing data management in a data storage system which addresses the above-referenced shortcomings of currently available solutions.

System and method for providing implicit unmaps in thinly provisioned virtual tape library systems


The present invention relates to the field of dentures. More particularly, the present invention relates to manufacturing denture teeth using fixtures to hold the teeth during a scanning, registration and milling sequence. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to using machinable wax to set denture teeth within a fixture, so that the root or crown end of the teeth may be scanned, registered with an ideal tooth model to create a milling strategy, and milled or otherwise have material removed.

Dentures have been manufactured for centuries to replace all or part of an individual's teeth with functional dentition. Historically, dentures were made by molding the denture from casts of the patient's edentulous or partially edentulous ridges. The manufacturing process may begin with a preliminary impression of the patient's mouth, which is usually done in silicone or alginate. This impression may be used to prepare a diagnostic cast. While making the impression, the dentist applies pressure to the soft tissues to simulate biting force and extends the borders of the mold to adjacent toothless areas to allow the dentures to better adapt to the gums. A final cast may then be formed from gypsum based on the diagnostic cast. The final cast may be filled or "waxed up" to form the denture. The denture teeth will be set in the wax. The cast with the waxed denture will be placed in a mold and injected or packed with acrylic. Once the resin has cured, the cast may be broken apart and the denture may be removed.
As it has been the practice with Applicant and subsequently many others in the industry, the denture base can be milled from a puck or manufactured by additive printing to accept artificial teeth. Pockets for the teeth may be designed so that they do not penetrate the intaglio surface of the prosthesis. Those reduced pockets necessitate the need for custom root manufactured of an artificial tooth or teeth, as such artificial tooth or teeth must fit the design of the pocket(s) in the prosthesis.
Other recent solutions such as that seen in US 2014/0087326 by Noack, methods for creating artificial teeth are disclosed by utilizing a registered fixture in a milling machine in the following manner: On every tooth are tooth supports that represent the negative of the crown of the tooth, the tooth supports are registered to the fixture, placing the crown of the tooth/teeth in a tooth support using glue, then flipping the fixture and filling the negatives with fixturing wax/matrix. The technician then removes tooth supports and may optionally fill the remainder with wax before placing the fixture in a mill to mill away the crown portion of the tooth/teeth.
However, such processes involving tooth supports or tooth templates are frequently time intensive, and the multiple necessary steps introduce cost, delay, and expense. Requiring the use of physical tooth supports for every tooth in a library of digital teeth is expensive and repetitive for labor purposes. For those maintaining tooth libraries, quality control, accuracy and tracking is overly laborious and rife for error than can set back the entire fabrication process back to the beginning. Thus, there is a need for a denture that may be fixtured using a more universal, efficient set-up. Furthermore, there is a need to be able to expand a tooth library for manufacturers of teeth that builds upon past known geometry, so that the inventory is created as a product of past successful casework. There is a further need for a tooth manufacturing solution for fixturing teeth that aligns digital tooth creation solutions with digital work flow. These needs and other were met with the present solution and invention.

Tooth fixturing using machinable matrices