This invention provides a data management method and a data management system for automatically merging hierarchical keywords and attribute information into other hierarchical keywords and attribute information, and reducing the work of adding keywords to data. When first and second hierarchized keyword groups are given, keywords having the same keyword name or keywords equal in keyword names of all parents are extracted from the first and second keyword groups. A logical operation is performed for the extracted keywords, by using the keyword names, between a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the first keyword group and a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the second keyword group. On the basis of the logical operation, one hierarchized keyword group consisting of the keywords in the first keyword group and the keywords in the second keyword group is formed.

The present invention relates to a data management method and a data management system and, more particularly, to a data management method and a data management system using hierarchical keywords. The present invention also relates to a recording medium such as a floppy disk for storing data or programs which realize this data management method.
Conventionally, to provide an efficient data manipulation work environment in data management systems such as databases, a method has been proposed in which a keyword which distinctively represents the contents of data, such as document data, image data, or voice data, is added to the data and the user retrieves the data by using the keyword.
For example, a keyword xe2x80x9cKawasaki Cityxe2x80x9d is added to an image taken in Kawasaki City and a keyword xe2x80x9cYokohama Cityxe2x80x9d is added to an image taken in Yokohama City, and the correspondence (attribute information) between the keywords xe2x80x9cKawasaki Cityxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cYokohama Cityxe2x80x9d and the image data to which these keywords are added is held. This enables retrieval of images based on the locations where these images were taken. Furthermore, when the name of a theme or the like information is added as a keyword to document data, documents relating to a certain theme can be retrieved.
Another method has been proposed which allows a system to perform flexible retrieval by giving the system a hierarchy of keywords. As an example, assume a data management system has a keyword hierarchy as shown in FIG. 32. The use of this keyword hierarchy allows a user to retrieve the image given the keyword xe2x80x9cKawasaki Cityxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cYokohama Cityxe2x80x9d described above by using a keyword xe2x80x9cKanagawa Prefecturexe2x80x9d, which is not explicitly given. This is an effective retrieval method when the user cannot remember which of Kawasaki City or Yokohama City is the location where a desired image was taken.
Unfortunately, when the hierarchical keywords, the attribute information, and the data managed by these keywords and information are distributed or onerously supplied in the form of a removal medium (e.g., a floppy disk or a CD-ROM), a means for merging them in the hierarchical keywords and the attribute information of the system main body is not provided. Consequently, to retrieve data in the medium the user must connect the medium to the main body and selectively use them or manually perform the merging operation.
In conventional data management systems using keywords, to add a plurality of keywords to one data it is necessary to add the keywords one by one to the data. Accordingly, even if there is a group of keywords which have a close relationship to each other and hence are not separately added in most cases, these keywords must be added one by one to data. This results in a cumbersome and inconvenient operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management method and a data management system capable of automatically merging hierarchical keywords and attribute information in other hierarchical keywords and attribute information.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a data management method and a data management system capable of reducing the work of adding keywords to data.
To achieve the above objects, a data management method of the present invention is a data management method of managing data on the basis of a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, comprising the steps of extracting, when first and second hierarchized keyword groups are given, keywords having the same keyword name or keywords equal in keyword names of all parents from the first and second keyword groups, performing a logical operation for the extracted keywords, by using the keyword names, between a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the first keyword group and a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the second keyword group, and forming one hierarchized keyword group consisting of the keywords of the first keyword group and the keywords of the second keyword group on the basis of the logical operation.
The method further comprises the step of specifying a keyword in the first or second keyword groups, wherein the logical operation is performed for keywords in lower levels than the specified keyword and for a group of keywords not containing the specified keyword, and in the formation of the keyword group unique numbers are assigned as keyword IDs even to keywords which are not objects of the logical operation. The logical operation includes OR and AND. The method comprises a first data group corresponding to the first keyword group and a second data group corresponding to the second keyword group, and further comprises the step of retrieving data corresponding to keywords from a set consisting of the first and second data groups on the basis of the hierarchized keyword group formed. The method further comprises the steps of forming a keyword group consisting of a plurality of keywords, and adding a plurality of keywords in the keyword group to data and storing the data, when the keyword group is designated.
Another data management method of the present invention is a data management method of managing data on the basis of a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, comprising the steps of forming a keyword group consisting of a plurality of keywords, and adding a plurality of keywords in the keyword group to data and storing the data, when the keyword group is designated. When retrieval using a predetermined keyword is designated, data of one of the keywords, which is added to the stored data and agrees with the predetermined keyword, is retrieved.
A data management system of the present invention is a data management system for managing data on the basis of a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, comprising keyword extracting means for extracting, when first and second hierarchized keyword groups are given, keywords having the same keyword name or keywords equal in keyword names of all parents from the first and second keyword groups, and keyword group forming means for performing a logical operation for the extracted keywords, by using the keyword names, between a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the first keyword group and a set of keywords immediately below a parent keyword in the second keyword group, and forming one hierarchized keyword group consisting of the keywords of the first keyword group and the keywords of the second keyword group.
The system further comprises keyword specifying means for specifying a keyword in the first or second keyword groups, wherein the keyword specifying means performs the logical operation for keywords in lower levels than the specified keyword and for a group of keywords not containing the specified keyword, and assigns unique numbers as keyword IDs even to keywords which are not objects of the logical operation. The logical operation includes OR and AND. The system further comprises first data storage means for storing a first data group corresponding to the first keyword group, second data storage means for storing a second data group corresponding to the second keyword group, and data retrieving means for retrieving data corresponding to keywords from a set consisting of the first and second data groups on the basis of the hierarchized keyword group formed. The system further comprises keyword group forming means for forming a keyword group consisting of a plurality of keywords, and data storage means for adding a plurality of keywords in the keyword group to data and storing the data, when the keyword group is designated.
Another data management system of the present invention is a data management system for managing data on the basis of a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, comprising keyword group forming means for forming a keyword group consisting of a plurality of keywords, and data storage means for adding a plurality of keywords in the keyword group to data and storing the data, when the keyword group is designated. The system further comprises data retrieving means for retrieving, when retrieval using a predetermined keyword is designated, data of one of the keywords, which is added to the stored data and agrees with the predetermined keyword.
Still another data management system of the present invention is a data management system for managing data on the basis of a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, comprising first and second keyword storage means for holding a plurality of keyword groups hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, keyword extracting means for extracting keywords having the same keyword name or keywords equal in keyword names of all parents from the first and second keyword storage means, keyword logical operation means for performing a logical operation for the extracted keywords, by using the keyword names, between a set of keywords immediately below the parent keyword in the first keyword storage means and a set of keywords immediately below the parent keyword in the second keyword storage means, and keyword group forming means for forming one keyword group consisting of all or some of the keywords in the first keyword storage means and all or some of the keywords in the second keyword storage means on the basis of the logical operation performed by the keyword logical operation means, and storing the formed keyword group in third keyword storage means.
The system further comprises keyword specifying means for specifying a keyword in the first or second keyword group, wherein the keyword logical operation means performs the logical operation for keywords in lower levels than the specified keyword and for a group of keywords not containing the specified keyword, and the keyword group forming means assigns unique numbers as keyword IDs even to keywords which are not objects of the logical operation. The logical operation includes OR and AND.
Still another data management system of the present invention comprises first and second data storages for storing data, first and second keyword storages for hierarchizing and holding keywords in accordance with classes of objects to be managed by using keyword names, as names of data, and keyword IDs, as uniquely assigned numbers, a first attribute storage for holding correspondence between the data in the first data storage and the keywords in the first keyword storage and holding storage locations of the data in the first data storage, a second attribute storage for holding correspondence between the data in the second data storage and the keywords in the second keyword storage and holding storage locations of the data in the second data storage, keyword logical operation means for performing a logical operation for keywords having the same keyword name or keywords equal in keyword names of all parents in the first and second keyword storages, by using the keyword names, between a set of keywords immediately below the parent keyword in the first keyword storage and a set of keywords immediately below the parent keyword in the second keyword storage, keyword forming means for assigning unique numbers as keyword IDs to the keywords which are the results of the logical operation performed by using the keyword names, and forming one keyword hierarchy consisting of the keywords in the first keyword storage and the keywords in the second keyword storage, and attribute forming means for forming correspondence between the data in the first data storage and the keywords in the keyword hierarchy formed by the keyword forming means, which is based on the correspondence between the data in the first data storage and the keywords in the first keyword storage held by the first attribute storage and on the keyword IDs assigned in the formation of the keyword hierarchy, and storage locations of the data in the first storage, which are uniquely determined in the overall system, and forming correspondence between the data in the second data storage and the keywords in the keyword hierarchy formed by the keyword forming means, which is based on the correspondence between the data in the second data storage and the keywords in the second keyword storage held by the second attribute storage and on the keyword IDs assigned in the formation of the keyword hierarchy, and storage locations of the data in the second storage, which are uniquely determined in the overall system.
The system further comprises keyword specifying means for specifying a keyword in the first or second keyword group, wherein the keyword logical operation means performs the logical operation for keywords in lower levels than the specified keyword and for a group of keywords not containing the specified keyword, and the keyword forming means assigns unique numbers as keyword IDs even to keywords which are not objects of the logical operation. The logical operation includes OR and AND.
Still another data management system of the present invention comprises a data storage for storing data, a keyword storage for holding a plurality of keywords hierarchized in accordance with classes of objects to be managed, an attribute storage for holding correspondence between the data in the data storage and the keywords in the keyword storage, a keyword group storage for holding a plurality of keyword groups each consisting of a plurality of keywords in the keyword storage, an d an attribute manager for writing, when adding a keyword group in the keyword group storage to data in the data storage, correspondence between all keywords constituting the keyword group and the data into the attribute storage.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Data management system for retrieving data based on hierarchized keywords associated with keyword names


A weather radar display system and method for obtaining and storing radar return data for a plurality of horizontal and vertical sweeps, each horizontal sweep occurring at a different tilt angle and each vertical sweep occurring at a different azimuth angle. The radar return data is displayed as plan views in a plurality of separate display sections, each corresponding to a plurality of separate horizontal sweeps in one embodiment and to a plurality of separate vertical sweeps in a second embodiment. Radar return data in one display section (horizontal or vertical) is displayed with a variety of colors to represent precipitation intensity. Radar return data in remaining display section (horizontal or vertical) is displayed as a first color with edge returns displayed in second color to differentiate the remaining sections. Display sections partially overlap such that each subsequently displayed plan view is at least partially superimposed on the preceding view to give a three-dimensional image of the weather system.

Weather radar systems for aircraft typically display radar echoes on a cathode ray tube (CRT) located on an operator's control panel. The weather image is represented in a plan view as the radar antenna sweeps back and forth horizontally. Precipitation intensity is indicated by the color of the radar echoes displayed. The effectiveness of such weather radar systems is limited by the interpretive skill of the operator.
Most systems have the capability to change the position of the radar antenna so that it points up or down. This tilt angle manipulation provides the operator with different views along different horizontal planes through the weather system ahead. Only one horizontal plane or view is displayed at any one time and it is important for the operator to select the correct tilt angle to get an accurate picture of the weather system. For example, the tilt angle of the radar search beam with respect to the aircraft must be such that it intersects the storm below the freezing level since frozen precipitation is a poor reflector of radar energy, while water is a good reflector. If the beam intersects above the freezing level, the storm will be displayed as less severe than it actually is. Thus, some level of conscious effort is required to manipulate the tilt control and interpret the display.
To get a better image of the weather system, or at least to obtain more information about it, operators typically will stop the horizontal scan of the radar antenna and will use the tilt control to scan vertically up and down. Although this provides a vertical image of the storm it does so at only one azimuth angle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,987 combines the horizontal scan and vertical scan on the control panel display so that an operator can view both images simultaneously. However, only one horizontal scan or "slice" of the weather system is displayed at one time and only one vertical slice is displayed at one time. Thus, the operator never gets a complete picture. The effectiveness of the system still depends on the operator's skill in selecting the appropriate tilt angle or azimuth angle and/or being able to recall previous images of other slices of the weather system image.
In addition, pilots often need information about weather that is beyond the range of their onboard radar. Currently the pilot must call a flight service station for a verbal report of enroute weather. This verbal communication could be unreliable because of the chance that the weather reporter can be misunderstood. The present invention serves to overcome such difficulty of weather interpretation by presenting the pilot with an accurate display of weather information obtained from independent remotely-located radar station which may be located beyond the range of the pilot's onboard radar.


A facsimile server carries out facsimile communication, and notifies a forwarding destination computer of the confidential data reception when the facsimile server has confidentially received communication data. The facsimile apparatus transmits the confidentially received data in accordance with a demand by the destination computer. The facsimile server encrypts and decrypts the received data by using an encryption key produced based on peculiar information of the facsimile server and the forwarding destination computer at the time of carrying out communication with the destination computer via a computer network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a facsimile communication method employing a function, in which a typical facsimile communication via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is carried out, and also relates to a facsimile apparatus connected to the other computer via the computer network and a facsimile communication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the facsimile apparatus, which is capable of being connected to the computer network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and functions as a facsimile server of other computers connected to the computer network in the same way, has been developed. This is a facsimile apparatus which possesses the typical facsimile transmission and reception function via the general telephone line network, and which is capable of transmitting an original (a document, for example) by a facsimile with an instruction from the other computer connected to the computer network, and sending the information received by the facsimile to the other computer via the computer network.
In the past, the facsimile apparatus was often placed within the user's daily life activity area (inside the office where the user works, for example). This was because there was a need to set the document directly on the facsimile apparatus when sending the document, and to recognize the arrival of a facsimile message as soon as possible. However, as in the facsimile apparatus connected to the computer network, the user is able to generate a transmission command from the computer at hand, and even when there is a reception of message, it is transmitted to the user's computer at hand, and therefore it is not necessary for the facsimile apparatus to be placed within the user's daily life activity area.
A conventional facsimile apparatus has a confidential reception function which temporarily stores received information, which prints a list notifying of the confidential reception, and which prints the stored information when a designated pass code is input. Among facsimile apparatuses functioning as the facsimile server as described above, there is a facsimile apparatus including a confidential reception function. This facsimile apparatus makes it possible to generate commands to notify, by electronic mail, a destination computer that there is a confidential reception of the information stored temporarily. A user who reads the notifying electronic mail commands the information to be printed, or to be transmitted to his mail box. The user is able to set up the facsimile apparatus to automatically transmit electronic mail, to perform transmission each time there is a confidential reception, to perform transmission when several messages are accumulated, and to perform transmission when the prescribed time has arrived.
In the typical facsimile communication via the general telephone line network, the privacy is protected. However, in the computer network such as a LAN, the privacy is not protected, and there is a risk for even the confidentially received information to be stolen by the third party during transmission to the destination computer through the computer network. There is also a risk that the communication message having secret information exchanged with the destination computer is stolen.

Facsimile apparatus and facsimile communication method


A method for synchronizing the audio track to the video track in a multimedia presentation. Any difference in the frequencies of the clocks of the audio and video drivers are first determined. If the video driver operates according to a faster frequency than the audio driver, audio samples are clipped from the audio track. If the video driver operates according to a slower frequency than the audio driver, audio samples are added to the audio track.

A multimedia application brings together audio, video and graphics information in a single presentation. Often this requires the use of a video driver, an audio driver and a graphics driver, each of which, potentially, operates according to its own individual clock generator. Although the individual clock generators are ostensibly operating at the same frequency, imperfections in the various clock generators can lead to one clock generator running faster or slower than another clock generator.
For example, for the Indeo.RTM. integrated multimedia controller, sold by Intel Corporation.TM., located in Santa Clara, Calif., the video driver operates according to the system clock while the audio driver is potentially driven by its own clock signal. In the Indeo.RTM. controller, the user may install any one of a number of commercially available sound cards. These sound cards typically contain clock generators that are of a much lower quality than the system clock used by the video driver. Consequently, the sound cards clock generator can be off by as much as twelve percent from the system clock.
One prior art method for addressing this problem requires synchronizing the video track to the audio track by discarding video information when the audio track leads the video track. When the audio track is behind the video track, the presentation of the next frame of video data is delayed. This method leads to discontinuities in the video images presented to the audience, which the audience perceived as jerkiness in the video track. Another disadvantage of synchronizing the video track to the audio track is that hundreds of thousands of bytes of video data may be discarded to synchronize the video track to the audio track.
The discontinuities and data loss resulting from synchronizing the video track to the audio track are tolerated in large part due to the belief that synchronizing the audio track to the video track will result in undesirable and intolerable harmonics and shifts in pitch. This is because the audio data samples of the audio track are in the time domain, not the frequency domain. It is believed that it would be necessary to transform the data from the time domain into the frequency domain in order to accurately process the audio data. This would result in additional overhead in both time and hardware, which is undesirable.
As will be described, the methods of the present invention synchronize the audio track to the video track while reducing harmonic dissonance and pitch shift. This is done without shifting the time-base audio samples to the frequency domain for processing. The methods of the present invention further result in a reduction in the amount of data that must be discarded in order to synchronize the video and audio tracks.

Method for synchronizing playback of an audio track to a video track


According to the invention, a rigid insert is provided in a soft luggage shell. The insert conforms to the configuration of the inside luggage surface and is removably held in place by a twistable retainer ring. The ring is encased in a cloth sleeve and mounted to the luggage in the vicinity of an edge of the insert. By twisting the ring, the ring and associated sleeve can be selectively placed either abuttingly against the insert or away from the insert to allow its removal. The invention also contemplates the provision of a protective shield which is removably mounted to a surface of the luggage which abuts a carrying vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to luggage having a soft shell and, more particularly, to a rigid reinforcing insert for removable placement in the shell.
2. Background Art
Luggage is often constructed with a pliable, fabric shell. The fabric construction accounts for lightweight luggage and low manufacturing costs. Soft luggage is readily collapsible for storage and handling.
The primary drawbacks with the soft shell are first that it generally does not effectively maintain its overall shape with the luggage partially empty and second that it is not resistant to deformation under impacts that are potentially damaging to the contents of the luggage.
It is known to provide a rigid reinforcing frame to conform to the contour of the overlying fabric as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,727, to Montgomery. Because the frame and shell are bolted to each other to maintain them in proper relationship, collapsibility, which is a desired feature with soft luggage, is precluded. Separation of the frame and shell is not contemplated.
Another shape retaining stiffener is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,302, to Schwennicke. The stiffener is assembled by bolting, which makes it an integral part of the shell and difficult to separate. Accordingly, the disadvantages in Montgomery are also present in Schwennicke.
Another problem that has plagued the luggage art is the problem of abrasion occurring between luggage and a vehicle upon which the luggage is mounted. This is particularly true with motorcycles where there is considerable vibration and abrupt shifting of the vehicle often occurs during maneuvering. This has prompted a number of designers to develop frames that carry the luggage in spaced relationship to the carrying vehicle. This often results in a substantial expenditure and an obtrusive addition to the vehicle.
The present invention is specifically directed to overcoming one or more of the above enumerated problems in a novel and simple manner.

Soft saddle bag with rigid reinforcing insert


A narrowband communication system provides wideband data services in a secondary service band. This limits the impact on primary services in peak traffic regions in that the primary service band is not required to download wideband data from a communication node (e.g., a satellite) to a mobile terminal. The narrowband communication system implements a handoff protocol (400) that rate negotiates a channel bandwidth of an active connection (404) to the amount of channels that are available in a new cell. The narrowband communication system preempts (414) lower priority subscribers when a higher priority (408) high-speed data terminal requires access to the system and a requested channel assignment is not available (412). The complexity of a high-speed data terminal communication chipset is reduced by a receiver design that minimizes the range of frequencies that are required to be demodulated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to a narrowband communication system, and more particularly to a channel management technique for providing asymmetric wideband data services with a narrowband communication system.
2. Background Information
The allocation of frequency spectrum, available to a given communication system, is currently controlled on a worldwide, country by country, basis. As such, the amount of frequency spectrum that is available to a given communication system (e.g., satellite and terrestrial-based cellular) can potentially limit the capacity of the system. For example, a typical satellite communication system allocates channels for voice services, low-speed data services and system overhead channels (e.g., broadcast and acquisition channels) in a primary service band. Currently, there is a demand to use such systems for other services, such as, high-speed data services. However, implementing high-speed data services can significantly impact the ability of the communication system to carry primary services, such as voice subscriber traffic, in regions with heavy peak traffic.
Interlacing wideband data services, with narrowband services, can create channel and connection management problems that are not normally experienced when only narrowband services (e.g., voice services) are provided. Additional capacity needed for wideband services is virtually non-existent in the primary service band of most conventional narrowband communication systems, due to the amount of frequency spectrum already consumed by voice services, low-speed data services and system overhead channels.
Due to the limited bandwidth of most narrowband communication systems, it is also difficult to find spectrum in which to allocate channels in a handoff cell such that true make-before-break handoffs can be accomplished, when wideband services that utilize multiple narrowband channels are provided. In particular, if there are more than a few high-speed data terminal subscribers in a local region, the task becomes increasingly difficult.
Many high-speed data terminals require a guaranteed minimum bandwidth, because of the application in which they are used. For example, U.S. government regulations require a guaranteed bandwidth for a communication system that offers aeronautical safety data services. An aeronautical safety data terminal may function as a flight recorder and provide flight data on an airplane in which it is located. This flight data may be routed through a satellite constellation, of a communication system, to an appropriate ground station. The aeronautical safety data terminal may also communicate weather related information and facilitate airplane-to-airplane communication. Unfortunately, current narrowband communication systems typically lack the ability to provide reliable guaranteed service to such high-speed data terminals.
Additionally, the communication chipset of a high-speed data terminal can become quite complex when the receiver of the terminal is required to tune across a wide range of frequencies.

Channel management technique for asymmetric data services


A pushbutton tunable radio having an integral audio graphic equalizer is disclosed. During a tuning mode of operation for the radio actuation of any of five presettable pushbuttons results in the selection of a predetermined radio channel frequency within the AM or FM band, and a five digit display is provided indicating the selected channel frequency. During an equalizer mode of operation caused by actuation an equalizer mode selecting pushbutton, the radio remains tuned to the previously selected radio channel, but the frequency indicating display is now replaced by an electronic display indicating the relative emphasis of a plurality of subbands for the corresponding audio signals produced in response to the received radio channel. In the equalizer mode, actuation of any of the presettable radio pushbuttons results in selecting a corresponding one of the audio subbands for adjustment of its relative emphasis. The radio includes up and down manual pushbutton switches which provide for tuning the radio in discrete tuning increments in either upward or downward directions during the tuning mode of the radio. During the equalizer mode, after one of the subbands has been selected by actuation of one of the presettable pushbuttons, actuation of the up or down tuning pushbuttons will cause a corresponding upward or downward discrete increment adjustment of the relative emphasis of the selected one of the audio subbands.

The invention generally relates to the field of entertainment devices which have their audio frequency response determined by graphic equalizers which provide for the separate adjustment of the relative emphasis of a plurality of audio subbands within the audio band while providing a visual graphic indication of the relative emphasis. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pushbutton tunable radio with an integral audio graphic equalizer.
In general, graphic equalizers which allow for the separate adjustment of a plurality of audio subbands so that the audio frequency response of an entertainment device can be operator adjusted so as to suit the operator's personal preference have been available only as discrete add-on units to existing entertainment devices. In these discrete add-on units, the amount of emphasis for each of the audio subbands is controlled by the position of a manual control and the amount of relative emphasis for each subband is displayed by the visual position of the manual control. These discrete add-on units have been combined with the pushbutton tunable radios that are in common use in automobiles. The resultant combination, while allowing the radio operator to customize the audio response of the radio to his own desires, takes up appreciable dashboard space in the automobile and provides the radio operator with a total entertainment system which is complex to adjust and has an aesthetically displeasing appearance due to the space requirements of the controls and displays of both the radio and graphic equalizer.


A system and method of the subject technology automatically constructs a database instruction from a template instruction, including one or more variable tokens, and one or more document object representations, each including an object type and a user-generated parameter. The one or more variable tokens in the template instruction are substituted by the user-generated parameter of a corresponding document object representation when the type of a respective variable token is matched to the type of the corresponding document object representation.

Data of all varieties is stored in databases. Access to data through present systems requires knowledge of database query languages, database Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and/or programming languages. Querying a database for information requires a database administrator or other person with programming abilities to construct a database instruction to access and query the database for information. In the case of software programs written to interact with a database, the addition of new information requires the system code to be modified to retrieve the new information.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for constructing a database instruction


Suspension or solutions of cyanuric chloride in water containing organic solvents are prepared at high mixing velocities and low temperatures with resulting low degree of hydrolysis by introducing liquid cyanuric chloride through a nozzle in the upper portion of the mixing apparatus in countercurrent flow to upwardly flowing solvent introduced from at least one lower nozzle above a breast shaped constriction in the lower, open portion of the apparatus. In this way the chamber walls are always covered with an unbroken layer of liquid. The process can be carried out at normal, reduced or elevated pressure. At reduced pressure by evaporation of the solvent there is simultaneously a cooling of the system.

Cyanuric chloride which is produced by the trimerization of cyanogen chloride with the help of catalysts, above all activated carbon, as is known is a very interesting intermediate product in various industrial sectors such as the production of dyestuffs and products for the textile industry, as well as for pharmaceuticals, products for agriculture, as well as for the synthetic resin, rubber and explosive industries.
As is known after the trimerization cyanuric chloride is obtained in gaseous form, together with unreacted cyanogen chloride and chlorine, as well as byproducts.
For a long time it was customary to convert this gaseous reaction mixture directly into solid cyanuric chloride, e.g. by leading the gaseous mixture into a chamber cooled from outside (see Ullmann, Enzyklopadie der technischen Chemie, 3rd edition, 1954 Vol. 5, pages 624-625 and 4th edition, 1975 Vol. 9, pages 652), or by introducing it into a ball mill cooled with water according to the process of Trickey U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,070.
Solid cyanuric chloride generally is obtained in powder form and until now has been further processed predominantly in this form.
In order to increase its reaction velocity in the further processing it is desirable to have the cyanuric chloride present either in finely divided or dissolved form.
For this purpose there are known a series of processes in which cyanuric chloride in solid form is introduced into an organic solvent (Tandon, German AS No. 1965840) or into strongly cooled organic solvent-water systems (Grauer, German AS No. 1695177) whereupon the thus obtained cyanuric chloride solutions or suspensions are reacted as soon as possible after their production.
However, a problem in the production of these kinds of suspensions or solutions is the easy hydrolyzability of cyanuric chloride to cyanuric acid, which begins already in the presence of small amounts of water, as are present, e.g., in industrial solvents, and in a given case can progress up to explosions, entirely apart from the losses of cyanuric chloride, itself, see R. Rys, A. Schmitz and H. Zollinger, Helv. Chem. Acta, Vol. 54, 1, 14 (1971), pages 163-176.
Precisely industrial solvents, thus organic-aqueous systems, however, on account of their ready accessibility for the production of cyanuric chloride suspensions or solutions are of particular significance.
Of course, it is known that a neutral, aqueous suspension of cyanuric chloride is obtained if molten cyanuric chloride is allowed to run into water, see Wojahn, German Pat. No. 1670731.
However, the thus obtained suspension was of the pure aqueous type, i.e. free from organic solvent, which as is known increase the dissolving power for cyanuric chloride and therewith the danger of its hydrolysis to cyanuric acid in the presence of water.
This kind of hydrolysis can reach such speeds in aqueous organic solvents that explosions occur.
The process of Wojahn, German Pat. No. 1670731 does not permit the conversion to organic-aqueous systems since the residence times of cyanuric chloride suspensions in the indicated apparatus was too long, particularly if there is simultaneously considered the mixing temperatures of solvent and cyanuric chloride.
Thus, according to the data in the mentioned patent, at a mixing ratio of water to cyanuric chloride of 4:1 the mixing temperature of the aqueous suspension is almost 50.degree. C., if water of 20.degree. C. is added in order to produce a suspension from the cyanuric chloride melt. At lower mixing ratios the mixing temperature was even far higher.
Higher mixing ratios than 4:1 according to the data of the mentioned patent do not result in a considerable reduction of the mixing temperature since this approaches a limiting value which in using water at 20.degree. C. lies at about 45.degree. C.
Since the apparatus employed only can be operated at normal pressure, it was not possible to simultaneously lower the temperature by lowering the pressure and therewith set up lower mixing temperatures.
The object of the invention therefore is the production of cyanuric chloride suspensions or solutions in water containing organic solvents while avoiding or greatly reducing the hydrolysis of the cyanuric chloride .

Process for the production of suspension or solutions of cyanuric chloride in organic solvents (I)

Deutsche Gold-und Silber-Scheideanstalt vormals Roessler


A refrigerant circuit forming a refrigeration cycle by connecting together a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe; and a control unit controlling a blown-out air temperature by causing the indoor heat exchanger to exchange heat while controlling the refrigeration cycle based on one of a sensible heat capability and a latent heat capability calculated from a cooling capability of the refrigerant circuit and a cooling load of the refrigerant circuit. The control unit includes: a capability judging unit judging the cooling capability of the refrigerant circuit based on the one of the sensible heat capability and the latent heat capability; and a control selecting unit selecting one from between superheat degree control to control a degree of superheat and evaporating temperature control to control an evaporating temperature, based on a determination result obtained by the capability judging unit.

An air-conditioning apparatus conventionally known is configured to control the supply air temperature, i.e., blown-out air temperature and humidity, by cooling and dehumidifying air and supplying the air to an indoor space (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
The air-conditioning apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 is configured to select one from between superheat degree control and evaporating temperature control in accordance with a cooling capability.

Air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning system that selects control based on sensible or latent heat cooling capability


A broad beam width antenna array, preferably having 360 degrees of azimuth coverage, which also has broad frequency bandwidth, for use in a wireless network system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the antenna array comprises a planar dielectric substrate, micro strip elements on both sides of the dielectric substrate, and a corporate feed structure employing parasitic conductive beam width enhancing tubes as feed line conduits. The antenna array comprises dipole radiating elements formed on both sides of the dielectric substrate and a balanced feed network feeding each dipole arm. The shape of the dipole is symmetric and the overall structure, including feed network, preferably has a ┌-shape when viewed from either side of the dielectric substrate. Disposed proximate to each dipole arm are bandwidth enhancement coplanar micro strips which are parallel to each dipole arm and at least partially overlapping each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to radio communication systems and components, and related methods. More particularly the present invention is directed to antenna arrays for wireless communication networks.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Background Information
Modern wireless antenna implementations generally include a plurality of radiating elements that may be arranged to provide a desired radiated (and received) signal beamwidth and azimuth scan angle. For an omni-directional antenna it is desirable to achieve a near uniform beamwidth that exhibits a minimum variation over 360 degrees of coverage. Differing from highly directional antennas an omni-directional antenna beamwidth is preferably near constant in azimuth. Such antennas provide equal signal coverage about them which is useful in certain wireless applications.
Consequently, there is a need for an antenna array having wide operating bandwidth while providing 360 degrees of azimuth coverage.

Multi-element broadband omni-directional antenna array


An elongated handle has a head at one end and a base at the other end. A plurality of inserts, one adapted for aiming and guiding each type of missile, such as an arrow or ball, is removably insertable into the head end. Elastic cords are removbly insertable into head end bores through narrow slots when the cords are in a stretched condition. The handle has a longitudinal chamber for missile storage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of slingshot type devices and more particularly to the type capable of propelling a plurality of missile type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slingshot devices have been known for many years. Typically, the devices have a handle which has two spaced upstanding arms, the ends of which are attached to a resilient band which upon being manually stretched and released propels a pellet supported midway of the band. Other devices have attachments for converting the slingshot to propel arrows. The prior art is exemplified by devices shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,613,659; 3,270,734; 1,960,645; 1,487,973; 271,568; 3,618,585; 2,625,925; 2,600,524; 3,407,798; 3,101,704; 2,691,973; 3,306,278; 3,524,439; 363,755.
However, due to the complexity, expense of manufacturing, and cumbersome nature of the devices for propelling multiple types of missiles in the prior art, they have not found wide usage.


Embodiments herein describe binning and placement techniques for assembling a multi-die device to improve yield when a customer requests a high performance feature from the device. For example, the multi-die device may include multiple dies that are interconnected to form a single device or package. In one embodiment, the multiple dies are the same semiconductor die (e.g., have the same circuit layout) which are disposed on a common interposer or stacked on each other. The multi-die device can then be attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). Although the dies in the multi-die device may each include the same feature (e.g., a PCIe interface, SerDes interface, transmitter, memory interface, etc.), the multi-die device is assembled so that not all of the dies have a feature that satisfies the high performance requested by the customer. That is, at least one of the die includes a lower performance feature.

A customer may order a multi-die device (also referred to as a package) that includes a feature such as a specific type of input/output (I/O) interface. For example, the I/O interface may be a PCIe interface, a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) interface, a transmitter, a memory interface and the like. The dies in the multi-die device may each include this feature. However, the customer may request the feature have a specific performance such as a minimum data rate at low voltage. Stated differently, the customer may want the feature to transmit the maximum possible data but do it at low voltage in order to conserve power. However, because of variations in the manufacturing process, a small percentage of the dies have features that satisfy this performance. As such, if the multi-die device needs multiple dies which each satisfy the requested performance, the yield of the device can be very low and many of the fabricated dies cannot be used.


A work surface storage system is provided having a work surface with a hook and loop connector material on the bottom surface thereof and a plurality of storage containers which are suspended from the connector material. The work surface and connector material are translucent to permit viewing of the contents of the storage containers by looking downwardly through the work surface.

The invention relates to a work surface storage system and, more particularly, to a work surface storage system having separate containers which store office supplies therein and are removably secured to a work surface to permit selective access to the containers.
Office areas typically are subdivided into multiple workstations wherein each workstation is provided with a work surface for use by an office worker. It is well known to provide such work surfaces on freestanding bases, for example, to form a table. Also, many office areas are subdivided by freestanding wall panels wherein a work surface may be connected to or suspended from such a wall panel.
To facilitate the organization and flow of work on a work surface, such work surfaces typically include storage systems for the storage of articles therein. It is well known to provide such work surfaces with pullout drawers on which to store papers and office supplies. Such pullout drawers may be subdivided internally into compartments to separate the different types of office supplies being stored therein although such subdivided drawers may still permit unwanted mixing of the office supplies which may occur as a result of careless placement of the office supplies within the partitions by the office worker or possibly by shifting of the supplies during opening and closing of the drawer. Furthermore, since multiple drawers are provided which are fully enclosed by the work surface unit, an office worker may ultimately open several drawers before locating the desired office supply.
Additionally, such drawer structures typically are supported in a support frame which projects downwardly from a bottom of the work surface. The support frame thereby reduces the vertical clearance space or knee space between the floor and the bottom of the work surfaces into which clearance space the legs of the user must almost be placed. Thus, a drawer located directly in the knee space of the work surface may ultimately interfere with the office worker""s legs. Additionally, the location of each drawer is typically limited to a single predefined location.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved work surface arrangement and a storage system therefor which overcomes disadvantages associated with prior systems.
The invention relates to a work surface storage system with removable containers. The storage system includes a work surface which may be mounted on a freestanding base, supported on an existing wall structure such as a wall panel, or supported in other conventional arrangements. The work surface defines an open clearance space between a bottom face of the work surface and a floor which clearance space thereby defines a knee space that accommodates the legs of a user seated adjacent to the work surface.
The storage system further includes a plurality of storage containers which are removably connectable to the bottom face of the work surface wherein each container is adapted to receive office supplies therein. The storage containers are mounted on the work surface through a connector arrangement which permits ready removal of the storage containers but also permits the storage containers to be placed at substantially any desired location across the bottom work surface face which thereby provides significant flexibility in placing the individual storage containers in convenient locations for use by the office worker.
More particularly, the connection system comprises a layer of a connector material which preferably is a hook and loop material known commercially as Velcro(trademark). The connector material is applied to substantially the entire bottom face of the work surface to maximize the attachment area to which the storage containers may be attached. The storage containers are outfitted with a similar mating connector material, namely a hook and loop material which is mateable with the corresponding connector material on the bottom work surface face.
Each storage container includes a flange extending about the entire upper rim of the storage container to which an annular strip of the connector material is applied. Thus, the storage container may be affixed to the hook and loop material on the bottom work surface face at any desired location.
The storage container contains a hollow interior storage space in which the office supplies may be stored. To permit removal of the storage containers from the work surface, a tab is provided on the rim which projects outwardly from the flange in cantilevered relation therewith. When the entire rim is fixed to the work surface, the tab still hangs free and may be gripped by the hand of the office worker to allow for pulling of the storage container downwardly which effects disengagement of the hook and loop materials on the work surface and the storage container.
To further facilitate identification and usage of the office supplies that are stored in the multiple storage containers, the work surface preferably is formed from a translucent material which allows the office worker to look downwardly therethrough. In this arrangement, the hook and loop material on the work surface also is translucent so that the office worker can look through the work surface and connector material to view the contents of the various storage containers. This permits ready identification of the office supplies and practically eliminates a manual search through multiple containers to locate the desired office supply. Instead, the office worker can readily locate the desired office supply visually, even when the office worker is leaning over the work surface, and can then grip the selected container for removal of the storage container from the work surface.
Other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

Work surface storage system with removable containers


Provided is a solvent-soluble polyimide copolymer which satisfies storage stability and heat resistance at high levels and has excellent utility. The polyimide copolymer is obtained by copolymerizing (A) 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride with (B) diamine(s) and/or diisocyanate(s) and has no glass transition temperature observed at lower than 500° C. The component (B) is preferably at least one diamine and/or diisocyanate represented by the following Formulae (1) to (3):

Among organic materials, polyimides are polymeric materials that have the highest levels of heat resistance, chemical resistance and electrical insulating properties. In the electrical and electronic industry, for example, "KAPTON (registered trademark)" manufactured by DuPont, which is polymerized from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (pDADE), and "UPILEX (registered trademark)" manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd., which is polymerized from biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and p-phenylene diamine (pPD), are widely used as heat-resistant insulating materials. However, polyimides have a drawback of being hardly soluble in organic solvents as an adverse effect of having excellent chemical resistance. Thus, polyimides have poor processability and are mainly distributed in the film forms.
Polyimide films are produced by dissolving an acid dianhydride having two acid anhydride groups in the molecule and a diamine having two amino groups in the molecule in a solvent to prepare a polyimide precursor varnish called "polyamic acid", coating and drying this precursor varnish, and then heating the resultant at about 350° C. It has been strongly desired to handle polyimides in a solution state, and a number of developments have been made in solvent-soluble polyimides.
However, in order to obtain a solvent-soluble polyimide, it is generally required to use monomers having high solubility, that is, low heat resistance; therefore, the resulting polyimide has a low heat resistance and a low chemical resistance. Meanwhile, as a method of handling a polyimide as a solution without sacrificing heat resistance and chemical resistance, there is a method in which a user forms a coating film with a polyamic acid solution and subsequently performing imidization. However, since not only the handling and storage thereof are difficult because polyamic acid solution is easily affected by the humidity but also a heat treatment at about 350° C. is required for imidization of polyamic acid, the use of a polyamic acid solution is limited to coating on heat-resistant materials. Under such circumstances, examples of a technology relating to a solvent-soluble polyimide include those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

Abstract: (wherein, X represents an amino group or an isocyanate group; R1 to R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and at least one of the R1 to R8 is not a hydrogen atom).


Systems and methods are provided for determining whether an examination prompt elicits responses of a type for which the examination prompt is designed. Word types for each of a plurality of words in a plurality of responses to the examination prompt are identified. An evaluation distribution of the identified word types is determined. Predetermined distributions stored on a computer-readable medium associated with a plurality of different response types are accessed, and the evaluation distribution is compared to each of the predetermined distributions to determine which predetermined distribution the evaluation distribution is most similar. A determination is made as to whether the most similar distribution is associated with a same response type as the type for which the examination prompt is designed. An indication is made as to whether the examination prompt is deemed to elicit responses of the type for which the examination prompt is designed.

Questions (e.g., essay prompts) provided to examinees in an examination seek to measure the examinee's ability in a certain area of interest. For example, a question may seek to evaluate an examinee's knowledge level or may look to measure an examinee's ability to perform a certain skill, such as arguing persuasively. A score attributed to an examinee purports to give an indication of the examinee's ability level in the area of interest. But that score is only helpful if the question demanded use of that ability level in preparing a response.
Systems and methods as described herein automatically measure examination questions to see if they are actually testing the abilities that they were designed to test. These systems and methods evaluate millions of strings of English words (e.g. up to seven words) long across a number of initial responses to a number of candidate questions being evaluated. The sheer volume of comparisons and evaluations necessary to perform the described evaluations, make this process impossible for a human to effectively perform by hand.

Systems and methods for determining the validity of an essay examination prompt


A solid ion recording head using an ion generation device, capable of realizing a uniform and stable recording and a compact physical configuration. The head includes a head support member in substantially rectangular cross sectional shape for supporting the ion generation device on a lower side of the rectangular cross sectional shape facing against the recording medium and the driving circuits on side faces of the rectangular cross sectional shape. The ion generation device includes control electrodes having ion passing holes which are arranged such that picture dot to be recorded on the recording medium from each one of the ion passing holes is recorded on a spot around which picture dots already recorded by other ion passing holes are distributed symmetrically on both sides. The control electrodes may have a structure in which a plurality of the ion passing holes are provided with respect to each picture dot to be recorded.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording apparatus for carrying out an image recording by forming an electrostatic latent image on a dielectric recording medium and developing the formed electrostatic latent image, and more particularly, to an apparatus for generating ions in a solid ion recording head for forming the electrostatic latent image by using ion currents.

Apparatus for generating ions in solid ion recording head with improved stability


The invention is to apparatus and method for a plasticizing batch process used in manufacturing building materials such as sheet goods, roofing shingles, and various sizes of dimensional lumber products. Recycled waste plastics and other not plastic materials are used in a batch process to plasticize the waste materials into a mixture used in molding various products. A intensive mixture mixes and plasticizes the waste materials of a predetermined weight until the plasticized mixture reaches a predetermine temperature. The material is then expelled to a material mover to dispense the plasticized material by weight to molds in which the plasticized material is pressed to form various products.

Numerous wood products in use today, such as fence posts, railroad ties, and dimensional lumber are dependent upon diminishing forest reserves as a source of material. For numerous applications, wood products are especially vulnerable to rot and decay from excessive exposure to moisture, insects, dry-rot and other conditions that cause deterioration to the product. Wood products must be coated with preservatives of various types when they are to be exposed to the environment. For example, railroad ties and fence posts have long been treated with creosote under pressure to protect the wood from moisture and boring insects. Special treatments and application of protective coatings of paints and oil add appreciably to the cost of wood materials, and none are known to offer indefinite protection. The use of petroleum based preservatives tend to add some pollution to the environment.
Products have been made utilizing waste materials such as old automobile tires, waste plastics, and resinous thermoplastic materials. Products made from these materials are made utilizing heat and pressure to extrude products. Examples of such processes are defined in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,028,288 and 4,191,522. The heat and extrusion process usually involves temperature in excess of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This presents problems when the waste products include polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). PVC materials are volatile, explode, and produce gases when exposed to heat at elevated temperatures. Even small amounts of PVC, as small as one percent, can be disastrous. Since it is difficult to separate PVC materials from waste recycled materials, extruding products from recycled material is not desirable.

Process for making non-extruded molded boards and sheet products


An ornamental scroll device comprises a flexible sheet including two opposed outer end portions two opposed outer edges, and an indicia bearing section having a message located on an obverse side of the flexible sheet and between the end portions and outer edges. A stiffening member maintains the indicia bearing section rigid between the outer end portions. Each of the outer end portions includes a roll section having two end caps secured at opposite ends of each roll section. A hanging or folding member is used for displaying the indicia bearing section.

The use of ornamental devices to display various messages for different purposes such as Christmas tree ornaments, refrigerator magnets, and wall hangings are very well known. Various design patents have been issued for such ornamental devices including Design Patents D19,456; D41,309; D50,606; D253,150; D267,020; D318,605; D328,572; and D328,724.
Design patent D100,103 is directed to a design for a message scroll that has a flexible sheet that moves between a rolled and an extended condition.
Design patent D267,020 discloses a magnetic memo holder that includes a single dimension representation of a scroll.
None of the above patents disclose a particular configuration such as is found in the present application.


Sanitary napkins and other absorbent products as well as a method for their use are provided by this invention. The sanitary napkin includes wick structure disposed on a body-facing side of the napkin which is biased away from the body-facing side to provide a body-contacting portion disposed in a different plane from the plane of the body-facing side.

In the past, sanitary napkins have been constructed using an absorbent element having a body-facing side for receiving body fluids and an undergarment-facing side which may be lined or treated to render it impervious to body fluids. Although these sanitary napkins have sufficient absorbent capacity to collect and contain menstrual discharge, they often fall short in protecting against leakage at their sides and ends. Such failure may be due to the lack of continuous contact between the perineal area and the absorbent pad. For example, sanitary napkins designed to be attached adhesively to an undergarment tend to shift and move in tandem with the undergarment in response to the wearer's activity. Also, the absorbent cores of these sanitary napkins are often made of wood pulp fluff, which permanently deforms under relatively light compressive loads. Consequently, during use, a space usually forms between the napkin and the perineal area of the user, causing viscous fluid to flow along the body and stain the back part of the undergarment without being absorbed by the pad.
Several artisans have attempted to provide better body contact by providing a raised center or profile on the body-facing side of the napkin. See Lassen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,403 ('403), Jun. 16, 1987; Lassen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,062 ('062), Dec. 23, 1986; Roeder, U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,341 ('341), Nov. 18, 1986; Lassen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,405 ('405), Aug. 12, 1986; DesMarais, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,130, Jan. 10, 1984; Roehr, U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,909 ('909), May 18, 1965; and Jacks, U.S. Pat. No. 2,662,527, Dec. 15, 1953, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Lassen '403 discloses an incontinent garment or feminine pad having a indicator thereon to aid in the proper placement of the pad onto the body of a wearer. The pad includes a raised profile for locating the pad with respect to fluid flow within the vestibule of the wearer.
Lassen '062 describes a labial pad having an anatomically comfortable configuration including a laterally upwardly directed projection flowing generally along the longitudal axis within the posterior region of the pad and a prominence near the distal end which extends toward and tapers to the proximal end.
Roeder '341 describes a combination sanitary napkin and interlabial pad which includes an absorbent layer which tapers at one end and which is designed to fold over onto itself to form a double layer with the top layer designed, due to its reduced width, to engage the labia of the user. The upper layer of the pad is moveable with respect to the bottom absorbent layer.
Lassen '405 discloses a sanitary napkin which is provided with a positioning strap in slidable contact with a low friction baffle which is attached to the bottom of the napkin. The contact between the positioning strap and the baffle is maintained by a retention strap attached to the napkin which encircles the positioning strap. The napkin is dynamically moveable during use.
DesMarais, discloses a compound sanitary napkin including a primary menstrual pad and a panty protector joined at their respective transverse ends. The two members are free to move relative to one another along essentially the entire common length.
Roehr '909 discloses a convertible sanitary napkin which can alternatively provide a traditional menstrual pad and a semi-internally worn variation.
Jacks, discloses a sanitary pad having a raised center portion for positioning within a women's vestibule.
While these products provide a better anatomical fit, there remains a need for a slimmer and more comfortable sanitary napkin capable of maintaining good body contact without sacrificing the convenience of attachment to the undergarment. There is also a need for a napkin design which substantially prevents both early failures and "body" failures attributed to poor fit without sacrificing comfort.

Absorbent products having flexible hydrophilic wick means


An attachable vehicle hand brake lock assembly capable of being selectively attached over the end of a push button-activated hand brake to prevent its release. The lock assembly includes a cylindrical shaped body designed to be placed longitudinally over the upward extending end of the hand brake handle. The body includes an upper lock, a central threaded section, and a lower, threaded clamping section. The lock assembly also includes an outer sleeve with internal threads capable of being interconnected with the threads on the body enabling the sleeve to be moved upward and downward over the body during use. When initially attached to the handle, the lower section which is made up of two clamping arms is slanted and biased outward away from the outer surface of the handle to enable the lock assembly to slide easily over the handle. When the sleeve is rotated and moved downward over the clamping arms, their inner surfaces are forced inward against the handle to hold the lock assembly in place thereon. Two locking bars which slide in longitudinally aligned channels formed on the outer surface of the body and the inner surface of the sleeve, are also provided that interconnect with a lock housed inside the upper section of the body. By activating the lock, rotational movement of the sleeve over the body may be controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to security devices for motor vehicles, and more particularly to lock assemblies capable of being selectively attached to lever-type hand brakes to prevent their release.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lever-type hand brakes are commonly used today in both luxury and non-luxury automobiles. Typically, such hand brakes have a pushbutton located at one end of the handle which the driver presses to release the hand brake after being engaged.
Heretofore, locks have been developed for lever-type hand brakes which prevent activation of the pushbutton. Such locks have included a moveable release member which communicates with the pushbutton to control its activation. By securely attaching the lock to the hand brake and locking the release member in a stationary position, movement of the pushbutton can be prevented.
In Balina, (U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,451) a lock for the handle of a lever-type hand brake is disclosed comprising a sleeve which is fixed to the handle which has a longitudinally displaceable release member located inside that communicates with the pushbutton on the handle of the hand brake. One problem with such locks is that they can be accidentally engaged while driving. To prevent accidental engagement, the lock includes a means to arrest the lock in an unlocked condition after release of the hand brake and to prevent shifting out of this condition while driving. In the Balina's lock, this means comprises a projection located on the housing of the lock which cooperates with the cap to hold the cap in an arrested position.
Another means to prevent accidental engagement of the lock while driving is to design the lock so that it may be selectively attachable and removable from the handle. In order for such locks to act as vehicle anti-theft devices, however, the means used to attach the lock to the handle must be theft proof.

Attachable vehicle hand brake lock assembly


Methods and systems are provided for executing a simulation of an operation in a data processing system. In one implementation, the method includes executing an operation under a first set of conditions, determining a characteristic associated with the execution of the operation under the first set of conditions, and executing a simulation of the operation under a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions. The simulation of the operation is constrained by the determined characteristic. The method can further include determining a cost/benefit of executing the operation under a set of conditions different from the first set of conditions based at least in part on the simulation.

Computer system users, administrators, and designers (referred to herein as users) usually have a goal of highest performance at lowest cost. To achieve this goal, users typically implement a simulation to model operation of a real system to determine a cost/benefit associated with changing an operating condition associated with the real system. Conventional simulation systems (or virtual systems), however, are generally limited in that certain operating parameters associated with real systems that the simulation systems need in order to appropriately mimic operation of the real systems are unknown. For example, in a database system, the final size of a sort is only known with complete certainty only after the sort is executed. Consequently, for these unknown operating parameters, conventional simulation systems typically predict such unknown operating parameters and constrain operation of the simulation system using such predicted operating parameters (e.g., a predicted sort size in the example above). Simulating a real system based on predicted operating parameters can lead to substantially inaccurate results and, therefore, inaccurate cost/benefit analyses.
Accordingly, what is needed are techniques to more accurately simulate operation of a real system so that, for example, a more reliable cost/benefit analysis can be obtained. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and apparatus for simulating operation in a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


A fiberglass bulkhead door assembly includes a bulkhead enclosure for mounting on a bulkhead, at least one door and top and bottom hinges for mounting the door to the bulkhead enclosure. The bulkhead enclosure includes fiberglass side walls, a sloping fiberglass top wall and a tie bar connected between the side walls. The top wall has a door opening. The door is movable between a closed position covering the door opening and a open position providing access to the bulkhead. Each of the hinges includes a fixed member attached to the bulkhead enclosure and a movable member attached to the door. The fixed member of the bottom hinge is rigidly affixed to the tie bar so as to transfer stress to the tie bar during opening and closing of the door.

Homes and other buildings frequently have a bulkhead for providing access to the cellar, or basement, of the building from its exterior. The bulkhead is usually in the form of a concrete stairway which leads to an opening in the building foundation. A bulkhead door assembly is mounted to the top of the bulkhead. The door assembly typically has the form of a sloping enclosure and one or two doors for providing access to the bulkhead.
The bulkhead door assembly performs several functions. It encloses the bulkhead entrance and provides protection against inclement weather. The doors can usually be locked in their closed positions to prevent unauthorized entry. The bulkhead door assembly should provide relatively unhindered access to the stairway when the doors are in their open positions. Finally, the bulkhead door assembly should be reasonably attractive.
Prior art bulkhead door assemblies have been fabricated of wood or steel. The wood door assemblies rot, and the steel door assemblies rust. The rotting or rusting is accelerated when the door assembly is in a shaded or damp location. The deterioration of the door assembly causes several problems. The door assemblies become unsightly and may leak, thus permitting water to enter the basement during rainstorms and other inclement weather. Eventually, the building owner is subjected to the inconvenience and expense of replacing the bulkhead door assembly.
It is desirable to provide a bulkhead door assembly which overcomes the above problems and disadvantages. The bulkhead door assembly should withstand severe weather conditions over prolonged periods without deterioration, should have an attractive appearance, and should be relatively light in weight and low in cost.


A golf cart enclosure system for the creation and maintenance of a pleasant climate within a golf cart during poor weather conditions and for allowing simultaneously care-free ingress and egress with respect to the golf cart without the golfer having to open a door on the golf cart, with the enclosure system including flexible partable strips of see-through plastic which extend across the vertical dimension between the golf cart canopy and the golf cart body, the top ends of the flexible strips being attached with a semi-permanent attachment device to the golf cart canopy in a rear-to-front overlapping fashion, so that during forward motion of the cart, the strips remain in position and in contact with one another; the bottom ends of the strips connected to the golf cart body by permanent magnets, or electromagnets wired to the golf cart battery and activated either automatically by the driver's footpedal, or by an on-board switch, with the enclosure system also including a front and back protective panel, the front panel being either one whole or partable transparent piece, and the back being either one whole or partable transparent piece allowing golfers to extend their golfing seasons.

In climates where the weather varies greatly among the seasons of the year, golfing can be made difficult by cold, rainy, or other inclement conditions. Often these conditions are not in themselves prohibitive of playing a successful round of golf, however, provided that the golfers remain comfortably warm and dry during the time intervals between shots.
Most previous attempts for providing a climate-controlled environment for golfers have centered on enclosing or protecting the golf can, it being a means for transportation as well as providing some shelter. One such method is simply the attachment of a canopy over the top of the can to inhibit rain or excessive sunlight from entering the golf cart. Though effective in mild weather aberrations, the canopy is not sufficient to protect golfers from truly poor conditions, which may include blowing rain or cold air.
Another method designed to protect golfers in golf carts includes the use of a large cover of water-repellent, flexible plastic, which is draped over the entire cart in anticipation of poor weather conditions. The cover includes a clear plastic windshield to preserve forward visibility, and a zippered slit in one or both sides to allow for golfers' entry and exit. The limitations of this method, however, are that visibility is substantially reduced because of the nature of the flexible plastic used, access to the cart is made much less convenient because of the need to zipper and unzip the slit opening in the side, and the cover, because of its disadvantages, is preferably removed each time the rain or cold weather conditions subside. In addition the zippers are prone to breakage if the golfer does not completely open the zipper when entering or leaving the golf cart.
The current invention also creates a protected environment for golfers within a golf cart, but offers major improvements on previous methods: the current invention maintains the visibility of the golfers while inside the golf cart and thus preserves the quality of their golfing experience, greatly improves the convenience of getting into and out of the golf cart as well as of removing clubs from the cart, if they are stored inside, and is a durable yet removable means for quickly attaching or removing from the golf can to accomplish these ends.


A method is provided for calculating a weight ratio by quality grade using a grain appearance quality grade discrimination device. The method involves the steps of imaging a plurality of grains; discriminating the quality grade of the grains on the basis of data of the imaged grains; tallying, by quality grade, the number of pixels in said data of the imaged grains with regards to the grains whose quality grade has been discriminated; multiplying the number of pixels tallied by quality grade by a weight conversion coefficient per pixel predetermined by quality grade, and thereby converting said number of pixels into a weight by quality grade; and calculating the weight ratio by quality grade of the grains on the basis of the weight by quality grade.

Known techniques for evaluating rice and other grains include evaluation by appearance quality grade. This evaluation is performed on the basis of the well-ordered kernel percentage, which is the weight ratio of well-ordered kernels among the grains, or the weight ratio by appearance quality grade of the grains.
In order to calculate each of the above-mentioned weight ratios, it is necessary to sort, grain by grain, the grains that have been hulled into well-ordered kernels and waste kernels, or into well-ordered kernels and cracked-germ kernels, immature kernels, dead kernels, colored kernels, damaged kernels other than cracked-germ kernels, and the like; and to weigh the sorted grains. The calculation is therefore cumbersome and time-consuming.
Therefore, there is a known technique in which a grain appearance quality grade discrimination device is used to calculate the weight ratio by quality grade of grains.
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device is a device in which, e.g., a scanner is used to simultaneously image about 1000 sample grains, and image information obtained by the imaging is used to discriminate the quality grade of individual sample grains; and in which it is possible to readily evaluate the quality grade of edible grains (see Patent Citation 1, 2).
FIG. 6 shows a conventional workflow for using a grain appearance quality grade discrimination device according to Patent Citation 1 to calculate the weight ratio by quality grade of grains.
(1) Imaging Processing (S11)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device images sample grains of the grains to be evaluated and acquires imaging data for the sample grains.
(2) Data Processing (S12)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device extracts data relating to the quality grade of the sample grains on the basis of the imaging data.
(3) Quality Grade Discrimination Processing (S13)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device compares the data relating to the quality grade of the sample grains to a threshold value that has been predetermined, and thereby discriminates the quality grade of the sample grains.
(4) Grain Number Tallying Processing (S14)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device tallies grain numbers by quality grade with regards to the sample grains whose quality grade has been discriminated.
(5) Weight Ratio Calculation Processing (S15)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device calculates the weight ratio by quality grade on the basis of grain numbers of the sample grains tallied by quality grade and a weight conversion coefficient per grain (single-grain weight) that has been set for each quality grade in advance.
(6) Output Processing (S16)
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device outputs, to a printer or a monitor, a calculated value of the weight ratio by quality grade of the sample grains.
FIG. 7 shows an example of calculating the weight ratio by quality grade of unpolished rice grains according to the above-mentioned conventional method. In FIG. 7, the quality grade of the unpolished rice grains is represented as "discrimination classification".
As described further above, in the grain appearance quality grade discrimination device, a weight conversion coefficient per grain (single-grain weight) of unpolished rice is predetermined for each of the discrimination classifications (quality grades).
The grain appearance quality grade discrimination device then multiplies a grain number of sample grains tallied by discrimination classification (quality grade) by the weight conversion coefficient (single-grain weight), and thereby obtains a converted weight. Then, a proportion of the converted weight in relation to a total weight is calculated as the weight ratio by discrimination classification (quality grade).
According to a method in which the above-mentioned grain appearance quality grade discrimination device is used, it is possible to calculate the weight ratio by quality grade of grains in a simple and speedy manner.
When grains are observed in detail, individual sizes differ amongst grains that are classified into the same quality grade.
FIG. 8 shows an example of comparing two broken grains.
The broken grain shown in FIG. 8(a) and the broken grain shown in FIG. 8(b) clearly differ in size.
However, the method in which the above-mentioned conventional grain appearance quality grade discrimination device is used is one in which both grains are treated as a single broken grain and the converted weight is obtained by performing a multiplication using the same weight conversion coefficient (single-grain weight); it is not necessarily possible to calculate the weight ratio in an accurate manner.

Method for calculating weight ratio by quality grade in grain appearance quality grade discrimination device


A coupling linking a tractor 10 and a trailer 11 having a fifth wheel assembly 12 having a longitudinal outwardly tapering slot defined by spaced ears 15 is provided with an anti-jackknifing apparatus A, B. Sensor C located adjacent a rear wheel 16 of the trailer generates a frequency reflective of the speed of the tractor and trailer. A radar gun, and the like or other sensor may also be used to determine ground speed. Upon receiving a frequency corresponding to a speed exceeding a predetermined speed, a speed controlled switch D engages the anti-jackknifing apparatus. Similarly, the switch D automatically disengages the apparatus upon receiving a frequency signal corresponding to a speed below the predetermined speed or, upon the occurrence of certain conditions, the activation of a turning signal by the driver. A signal light E mounted externally on the trailer indicates when the apparatus has been activated.

This invention relates to anti-jackknifing devices between a tractor and a trailer and controls therefor.
Various attempts to prevent jackknifing have included the provision of apparatus and method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,966, whereby angular movement between a tractor and trailer is limited upon activation of an anti-jackknifing apparatus mounted beneath the trailer. That system requires the driver to manually activate and deactivate the apparatus, based upon certain audio and visual signals rendered by displays within the cab of the tractor indicating that the angle between the tractor and the trailer has exceeded a predetermined angle, as for example 15.degree.. Thus, for example, a driver would have to manually deactivate the system each time he enters a turn resulting in an angle between the tractor and the trailer exceeding the said predetermined angle so that free pivotal motion is thereafter allowed between the tractor and trailer. Such a system has been shown to have imposed an excessive amount of discretion upon the driver, who must additionally remain alert for other factors influencing the safe operation of his rig. Consequently, the anti-jackknifing apparatus may not be activated as often as conditions warrant. The apparatus described above additionally presents logistical problems, stemming from the necessity for providing corresponding electrical signaling equipment within the cabs of each tractor for every trailer having an anti-jackknifing apparatus. First, such electrical equipment would have to be supplied to every tractor of one's inventory, regardless of whether a corresponding trailer includes an anti-jackknifing apparatus. Thus, for example, assume a given number of tractors and trailers and that only some of the trailers have an anti-jackknifing apparatus. It would be necessary to provide electrical equipment to all of the tractors, even though a lesser number of trailers possess anti-jackknifing apparatus. Moreover, since trailers are frequently rented, one encounters the problem of locating a tractor having electrical equipment corresponding with the anti-jackknifing apparatus on the trailer. Given that only a small percentage of tractors would be so provided, locating such a tractor presents a significant logistical problem.
Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide an anti-jackknifing apparatus which is automatically engaged upon attainment of a predetermined speed.
Another important object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which is automatically disengaged upon either a reduction of the speed of the trailer below a predetermined speed or the activation of a turning signal before making a turn.
Another important object of the invention is to equip a trailer with both a mechanical anti-jackknifing apparatus and corresponding electrical sensing and signaling means so that the entire anti-jackknifing system is located solely upon the trailer.

Automatic controls for anti-jackknifing device and method


The present invention provides a technique that makes it possible to output, with a simple operation of a user, information which is relevant to an object displayed by a display device. A display device (10) includes: NFC antennas (150); a managing section (122) for managing, for each of the NFC antennas, antenna identification information and object location information such that the antenna identification information and the object location information are associated with each other; an NFC communication control section (121) for obtaining proximity information; and an information output section (123) for outputting relevant information which is associated with the object location information.

Techniques disclosed in recent years include techniques in which a user operates a mobile terminal with respect to an image displayed on a display so that the user obtains information relevant to the image.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an information providing system in which pointing is carried out from a mobile information terminal with respect to a video image displayed on a display so that information relevant to the video image located at a pointing location is provided to the mobile information terminal. According to the information providing system, a superimposed video image, which has been obtained by superimposing an information video image on a captured video image captured by a video camera, is displayed on a display, and information concerning an information video image displayed at the pointing location is transmitted to the mobile information terminal.
Patent Literature 2 discloses an information distributing device that displays, on a display, display information having a hierarchical structure and then transmits, to a mobile communication device, transmission information based on an image and a distance which have been received, the image being an image which has been captured by the mobile communication device and which corresponds to the display information, and the distance being a distance between the mobile communication device and the display, which distance has been calculated from results of a focusing operation during capturing of the image.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a method of causing a mobile device, which can read a tag ID, and a screen to interact with each other. According to the method, a service UI is projected with use of a projector onto a tag matrix provided on a screen, and then the mobile device reads a tag ID(s) of one or more tags of the tag matrix and then transmits, to a server, the tag ID(s) thus read. Then, a server updates service data according to the tag ID(s) obtained, and then transmits the service data to the projector and to the mobile device. Then, the projector updates the service UI according to the service data obtained, and the mobile device displays a UI which is based on the service data obtained.

Information output system, control method, and control program


A mounting structure for attachment of an electrical device on a vertical or obliquely angled vehicle surface. The surface is formed by a sheet material of predetermined thickness having a spaced pair of surfaces for defining bores therein. The mounting structure includes a mounting base plate adapted for attachment to an electrical device which is to be mounted to the surface. The base plate includes a plurality of mounting flange portions extending therefrom for mating with the surface. At least two of the plurality of mounting flange portions include transversely extending clip members spaced for engagement of the bores. Each of the clip members includes a first flange extending perpendicularly from the mounting flange portion. The first flange has portions formed therein defining a cutout portion. The cutout portion includes a ramp surface which leads to a terminal surface at a predetermined distance from the mounting flange. A second flange extends transversely from the first flange and along the ramp surface. The second flange includes a terminal edge adjacent the terminal surface of the ramp surface. The second flange forms a space between the mounting flange portion and the terminal edge. The space thereby defined is less than the thickness of the sheet material such that the ramp and associated surfaces of the second flange engages the sheet material with an interference fit thereby holding the flange securely to the vehicle surface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for attaching a vehicle radio amplifier to a vertical panel or obliquely angled panel of a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to space constraints under the dash of new vehicles it has increasingly been important to provide alternate locations for mounting of electrical components of vehicle radios such as amplifiers and the like. In recent years it has become advantageous to mount such amplifiers in the trunk of the vehicle in order to save space under the dashboard of the vehicle. While these amplifiers are commonly mounted in a horizontal position, it would be advantageous to provide a mounting system which could be utilized for mounting an amplifier on a vertical surface or the underside of a surface which is obliquely angled to the horizontal.
The wall of the trunk which separates the passenger compartment from the trunk portion is a suitable location for mounting such units in normally unused trunk space. However, this wall is commonly angled at an oblique angle such that the surface is slanted inboard into the passenger's compartment complementing the slant of the back seat of the vehicle. Thus, in the past it has been problematic in mounting amplifiers in such a location in that it would be hard for the installer or production worker to line up the mounting holes for fasteners to secure the flanges of the amplifier to such an oblique surface.
Therefore, it has been a goal in the art to provide a mounting structure for initially hanging the amplifier onto a vertical or oblique panel in order to provide ease of mounting of the amplifier to such a panel. It additionally has been a goal in the art to provide such a mounting structure whereby rattling due to loosening of the fasteners holding the mounting assembly is reduced.

Mounting structure for vehicle radio amplifier