A transporting mechanism includes a link chain and clamps which are attached to a chain link of the link chain and which are capable of gripping at least one printed product. At least two clamps are attached to each chain link of the link chain, wherein the clamps in the link chain are spaced apart from one another by equal spacings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transporting mechanism having a link chain and clamps which are each fastened on a chain link of the link chain and by means of which in each case at least one printed product can be gripped.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transporting mechanisms of the type mentioned above have been known for some time in the printing industry. In particular, they are used for conveying newspapers. The newspapers are fed to the transporting mechanism in an imbricated stream formation and gripped by the transporting mechanism. The clamps here engage in the imbricated stream and each clamp grips a newspaper at the fold. The clamps are controlled by a guide and are opened and closed correspondingly. At the end of a conveying path, the newspapers are fed to another apparatus for further processing. For example, such an apparatus is used to set down the newspapers in groups. The clamps are opened again via the control guide. During the conveying operation, the printed products can be conveyed in any desired direction and, in particular, also through curves and around bends. They can also be worked on, for example, addressed, using an inkjet unit, during the conveying operation.
In the case of a transporting mechanism suitable for conveying printed products, and in particular newspapers, the production costs, the assembly costs, the wear and the service life and the noise during operation are significant factors.
The production costs are brought about, in particular, by the number of additional parts per meter and by the assembly costs. Additional parts are, in particular, running rollers, ball-and-socket joints and screw connections.
The wear occurring in the transporting mechanism is usually comparatively high, and depends on the conveying speed. The higher the conveying speed, the higher the level of wear and the shorter the service life of the transporting mechanism. If a transporting mechanism has to be replaced, then this results in a relatively long standstill period, and thus to operation being interrupted.
The development of noise likewise depends on the conveying speed, but also on other technical factors.
A desirable transporting mechanism would be one which is more cost-effective to produce and assemble, has a longer service life and, in addition, is quieter to operate.
The prior art has disclosed a transporting mechanism which has clamps by means of which always two printed products are gripped and conveyed at the same time. This transporting mechanism, however, has the disadvantage that the product thickness is usually restricted. Particularly thick products cannot be conveyed. It is also disadvantageous that the subsequent processing of the printed products is limited to even numbers of products. This is disadvantageous particularly for forming groups. It would be possible, if appropriate, for the two jointly conveyed products to be separated again. Separating products, however, is a difficult process which, in this case, would vastly reduce production reliability.

Transporting mechanism having a link chain and clamps


A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a first job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed at a second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value is assigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the second job, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a function of the first and second services. In practice, the first job is placed in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently, the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job is interrupted by the second job if the second value is greater in magnitude than the first value.

The present application is related in subject matter to and cross-referenced with both U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/(Attorney's Docket No. 94871) (entitled Multifunctional Printing System with Queue Management and filed by Gusmano et al.) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/(Attorney's Docket No. 94899) (entitled Multifunctional Printing System and filed by Salgado et al.) both of which applications were filed on the same day as the present Application. The disclosures of the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates generally to a multifunctional printing system with one or more queues and, more particularly, to a contention management scheme which contemplates both the prioritization of one or more jobs, on the basis of the source at which the one or more jobs were developed, for the sake of managing insertion of the prioritized one or more jobs into the one or more queues, and that jobs will be processed in accordance with a preprogrammed set of rules.
Electronic printing systems typically include an input section, sometimes referred to as an input image terminal ("IIT"), a controller, and an output section or print engine, sometimes referred to as an image output terminal ("IOT"). In one type of electronic printing system, manufactured by Xerox.RTM. Corporation, known as the DocuTech.RTM. electronic printing system, a job can be inputted to the printing system from, among other sources, a network or a scanner. An example of a printing system with both network and scanner inputs is found in the following patent:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,340 Patentees: Prokop et al. Issued: Dec. 8, 1992 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955 Patentees: Shope et al. Issued: Sep. 10, 1991 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071 Patentee: Jones Issued: Jul. 27, 1971 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,107 Patentees: Naito et al. Issued: Apr. 11, 1989 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,892 Patentees: Kita et al. Issued: Jun. 4, 1991 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,633 Patentees: Saito et al. Issued: Dec. 29, 1992 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,948 Patentees: Sakurai et al. Issued: Jun. 29, 1993 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,799 Patentee: Rivshin Issued: Jan. 4, 1994 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,458 Patentees: Freiburg et al. Issued: Apr. 26, 1994 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,730 Patentee: Hube Issued: Jul. 25, 1995 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,735 Patentees: Gauronski et al. Issued: Apr. 27, 1993 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,009 Patentee: Hansen Issued: Jul. 9, 1996 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,345 Patentees: Paradise et al. Issued: Aug. 7, 1990 PA1 Japanese Application 58-152821 Published: Aug. 22, 1983
When a scanner is employed to generate the job, image bearing documents are scanned so that the images therein are converted to image data for use in making prints. When a network is used to generate the job, a stream of data, including various job related instructions and image data, expressed in terms of a page description language is captured, decomposed and stored for printing. As is known, a network job can have its origin in a remote client, such as a workstation, or a print server with a storage device. Jobs provided at the IIT may be stored in a memory section, sometimes referred to as "electronic precollation memory". An example of electronic precollation memory may be found in the following patent:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,955 discloses a system in which input image data of a job is rasterized and compressed. The compressed, rasterized image data is then stored, in collated form, in a job image buffer. Once the job has been stored in the job image buffer, a selected number of job copies can be decompressed and printed without further job rasterization.
In one area related to electronic printing, namely digital copying, a demand for "multifunctionality" continues to grow. As illustrated by the following patent, a multifunctional digital copier can assume the form of an arrangement in which a single electrostatic processing printer is coupled with a plurality of different image input devices, with such devices being adapted to produce image related information for use by the printer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,071 discloses that the image related information, in one example, could have its origin in video facsimile signals, microfilm, data processing information, light scanning platens for full size documents, aperture cards and microfiche.
The following patents also relate to the area of multifunctional digital copying:
Multifunctional copying devices are typically adapted to store a plurality of jobs for eventual printing. In one example, jobs are ordered for printing in an arrangement referred to as a "print queue". Xerox Network Systems have employed the concept of the print queue for at least a decade to manage jobs at network printers. Further teaching regarding network printing is provided in the following patent:
The concept of a print queue is integral to the operation of various digital reproduction systems. Through appropriate queue management, a job currently in the process of being printed can be interrupted with an interrupt job in a manner disclosed by the following:
Referring particularly to the '735 patent, a special job is obtained from a mass memory, shown by way of a "job file", and inserted into the queue at a "logical point" with respect to the job currently being processed. When printing reaches the logical point at which the special job was inserted, the job currently being processed is interrupted so that the special job is processed. Upon completion of the processing of the special job, processing of the interrupted job is resumed.
The queue disclosed in the '735 patent is managed, in the normal case, on a first-come-first-serve ("FIFO") basis except when special or interrupt jobs are inserted into the queue. In the illustrated embodiment of the '735 patent, the interrupt job is inserted into the queue as described above except when an interrupt job is currently in the process of printing. When an interrupt job is currently printing, a second interrupt job is placed behind the interrupt job in process. Essentially, priority is given to the interrupt job currently in process. The concerns associated with interrupting a first interrupt job with a second interrupt job are also addressed in the following patent:
The queue management arrangement of the '735 patent is not optimally suited for use in a multifunctional context because it does not differentiate among job types for the purpose of managing the queue. Consequently, a print job cannot, in many common instances, be given priority over a copy job, or vice versa. Systems particularly well suited for use with a multifunctional printing systems are disclosed by the following references:
Referring particularly to the '345 patent, a first queue is used to store copy and print jobs, while a second queue, communicating with the first queue, is used to store facsimile ("fax") jobs in parallel with the first queue. After a preselected number of one or more fax jobs is stored in the second queue, the stored job(s) is placed in front of the jobs of the first queue so that the one or more fax jobs can be printed ahead of the currently queued copy/print jobs.
While the queue management scheme of the '345 patent accommodates for job differentiation, it only does so in a limited manner. For instance, the fax queue can be given preferential treatment relative to the copy/print queue, so that one or more fax jobs can be printed ahead of a copy or print jobs. No mechanism for treating a given copy or print job preferentially, however, is suggested. Even though U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,150 to Beaudet et al. (Issued Apr. 23, 1996) accommodates for preferential treatment of copy jobs relative to print jobs, it does not do so in a queue context as discussed in the references above. Additionally, in the approach of the '345 patent, a copy or print job can get "stuck" in the copy/print job queue when multiple fax jobs are given preferential processing treatment relative to the copy/print jobs.
Essentially, the '345 patent, while well intended for its limited purpose, lacks the sort of flexible queue management that is required by multifunctional printing systems whose capabilities and uses are increasing at an ever-increasing rate. It would be desirable to provide a multifunctional printing system that provides a wide range of queue management so that the corresponding system can accommodate for both the specific needs of many different users and the many different types of uses demanded by those users. At the same time, it would desirable to provide a queue management system for a multifunctional printing system facilitating the appropriate thruput of all types of jobs which might be encountered by the multifunctional printing system.
The disclosure of each reference mentioned or discussed in the above Background is incorporated herein by reference.

Multifunctional printing system with queue management


A stethoscope expander assembly includes a first portion and a second portion. Each portion is provided with at least one arm, at least one leg, and at least one attachment member. The first portion of the stethoscope expander assembly includes a male member and a cover opposite the male member. The second portion of the stethoscope expander assembly includes a female member and a channel for receiving a tubing of a stethoscope. The first and second portions provide a slit for receiving a spring of the stethoscope. The first and second portions of the stethoscope expander assembly function to move the stethoscope expander assembly into an expanded position.

Stethoscopes have long been used by mechanics to monitor machinery or health care professionals, such as doctors, nurses, technicians, veterinarians, etc., to monitor sounds produced by the heart, lungs, abdomen, and other structures in both humans and animals to diagnose illnesses. Sounds within engines or the body cause the stethoscope's diaphragm to vibrate, resulting in acoustic waves that travel via air-filled tubes to earpieces placed into the user's ears. There are various types of stethoscopes, such as acoustic and electronic. A traditional acoustic stethoscope is typically composed of a sound receiver assembly with a diaphragm and resonance chamber, flexible single or dual lumen tubing, two ear tubes, and two earpieces.
Typically, health care professionals are often performing other tasks when using the stethoscope, such as palpating the patient's pulse, holding the patient's chart, or manipulating equipment like a sphygmomanometer or thermometer. The design of a traditional stethoscope requires two hands to pull apart the ear tubes for placement of the earpieces into each ear.
Veterinarians also use stethoscopes to detect internal sounds produced by pets, livestock, and other animals. Often, veterinarians must hold down or subdue an anxious and agitated animal while attempting to hear the animal's internal noises, or must displace an animal's leg or other body part to allow access to vital areas. Manually separating the two ear tubes of a traditional stethoscope to place the earpieces in each ear requires two hands.
Further, disease-causing microorganisms are widespread in health care environments. In these locations pathogenic microorganisms are frequently found on patients' skin and clothing as well as on other surfaces in such an environment. Manually separating the two ear tubes of a traditional stethoscope to place earpieces in each ear requires two hands which may touch the caregiver's face or neck, thus possibly transmitting microorganisms. While known devices are directed to preventing the transmission of microorganisms between patients and/or health care professionals, there remains a need for an inexpensive, effective and easily-operated means for inhibiting the transmission of microorganisms.
To this end, although stethoscopes of the existing art are operable, further improvements or additions are desirable to be provided to a stethoscope which functions to be operated with one hand to expand at least one ear tube of a stethoscope so as to allow the positioning of an earpiece in the ear of an individual using one hand. It is to such a stethoscope expander assembly that at least one embodiment of the present invention is directed.

Stethoscope expander assembly and methods of using same


The invention relates to a device for welding overlapping foil edges with a heater, with contact rollers for the exterior contact at the foil edges as well as at least one height adjustment device, whereby the height adjustment device has a guide device for movement control of the respective contact roller essentially transversely to the processing direction of the foil edges, as well as a drive for moving the contact roller.

The invention relates to a device for welding overlapping foil edges with a heater, with contact rollers for the exterior contact at the foil edges as well as at least one height adjustment device, whereby the height adjustment device has a guide device for movement control of the respective contact roller essentially transversely to the processing direction of the foil edges, as well as a drive for moving this contact roller.
Devices for the overlapping welding of foil edges are described in DE-OS 35 35 759, DE-OS 40 00 017, and DE-GM 88 16 287.7. The devices are used particularly for welding foils in waste dump construction. Hereby high requirements are posed on the quality of the welding.
During the welding of the foil edges, the device drives along the two edges of the foils, whereby the foil edges are arranged so as to be overlapping. In the process, the foil edges enter the device on top of each other and are then guided over a heater which as a rule is constructed in a wedge-shape. This wedge-shaped heater is arranged lying down, i.e. the two partial surfaces which converge backwards toward the wedge tip are positioned on top of each other. Hereby the heater is oriented with its obtuse end toward the entrance of the foil edges into the device.
Each wedge surface of the heater may be divided into two partial wedge surfaces which are arranged at a distance from each other and between which a groove extends. The top foil edge is hereby passed over the two top partial wedge surfaces and the bottom foil edge is passed over the two bottom partial wedge surfaces. Both of the respective superposed partial wedge surfaces combine toward the back, forming a line-shaped wedge tip where the two foil edges are brought together.
The heater has several heating elements which ensure heating of the wedge surfaces which function as heating surfaces. Hereby the heating plasticizes the foil edges in the area of the partial wedge surfaces in such a way that they are welded together after being brought together, resulting, in particular due to the partial wedge surfaces which are arranged at a distance from each other, in two weld seams which extend parallel to each other at a corresponding distance. Between the weld seams a channel is formed which, in order to test the tightness of the weld seams, is closed off at one end, whereupon air is introduced into its other end. If there is no leaking of air during this test, the weld seams are correct.
In order that the foil edges are guided past the heating surfaces of the heater with contact, and in particular are then passed together with the pressure required for welding, contact rollers have been provided in the heater area itself and behind the heater, i.e. one contact roller for each of the two parallel weld seams. If the contact rollers are located behind the heater, two contact rollers are arranged on top of each other in order to be able to exert pressure from both sides on the corresponding heated areas of the foil edges. One pair each of the contact rollers behind the heater simultaneously function as drive rollers, i.e. at least one of the rollers is equipped with a drive which pulls the foil edges into the device and hereby drives the device forward.
In the devices according to DE-OS 35 35 759 and German OS 40 00 017 contact rollers are suspended on plate springs which press them with a preload against the heater or against a stationary contact roller facing it. There is no height adjustment device to adapt the device to different thicknesses of the foil edges. But a height adjustment device is found in the device according to DE-GM 88 16 287.7. It consists of a pneumatic cylinder whose piston rod acts directly on one of two opposing contact rollers. Hereby the contact roller movement is essentially guided transversely to the processing direction of the foil edges by the pneumatic cylinder, i.e. via the guiding of its piston and piston rod.
Such a height adjustment device on the one hand presupposes the existence of a source of compressed air. This significantly restricts the application of the device. Especially in the waste dump field where the device is used primarily, compressed air sources are frequently not available. Another disadvantage is that no gap between the two contact rollers or between one contact roller and the heater can be set, which makes it difficult to generate reproducible pressure conditions. However, the quality of the weld seams when connecting two foil edges also depends essentially on the contact pressure generated by the contact rollers. Finally, with the pressures occurring here, the pneumatic cylinders have a tendency to jam the piston rod in the cylinder.

Device for overlapping welding of foil edges


A row decoder for a semiconductor memory device including a pull-up signal generating part producing pull-up signals in response to output signals of a row address predecoder and applying the pull-up signals across word line driving part; and a pull-down signal generating part producing pull-down signals in response to output signals of the row address predecoder and applying the pull-down signals across the word line driving part. A pair of pull-up signals among the pull-up signals share one of the pull-down signals, thus controlling the word line driving part. The pull-down signal generating part includes NOR gates that perform NOR operation with respect to the output signals of the row address predecoder and the pull-up signals of the pull-up signal generating part, thus outputting the pull-down signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a row decoder for a semiconductor memory device. More particularly, it relates to a row decoder for a semiconductor memory device in which a pair of pull-up signals among pull-up/pull-down signals, applied to a word line driver, share one pull-down signal, thus driving eight word lines with only the pair of the pull-up signals and the single pull-down signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The metal strapping structure or hierarchic word line structure is generally used to drive word lines of a semiconductor memory device.
According to the metal strapping structure, metal lines are arranged on a cell array by word line pitch to be each connected with polysilicon word lines, thereby reducing the resistance of each word line and assuring the high-speed performance. Pitch is the sum of a line width and a line space of each line arranged at regular intervals. In the metal strapping structure, the higher the degree of integration of a memory device becomes, the more the word line pitch is reduced, and failure occurs more frequently in metallization, thus having a disadvantageous yield aspect. Thus, a high-integration memory device such as a 64M dynamic random access memory (DRAM) employs a hierarchic word line structure in which a plurality of hierarchic word line driver circuits are shared for a row decoder's output and divided by a sub-row decoder (pxi generator). Such a hierarchic word line structure may loosen the strict design rule of metallization. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional row decoder for driving a sub-word line. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of each signal in connection with FIG. 1.
The following description concerns the operation of the conventional row decoder.
A row decoder enable signal (a)xdpd is driven to an active logic state "high" from "low", and row address signals ax23, ax45 and ax67 change their logic states from "low" to "high". If the signal of logic state "high" is transmitted to one node of a transfer gate having a gate to which a power supply voltage Vxg ("Vcc" level), potential signal, and a word line boosting signal pxi(c) is input thereto, bootstrapping occurs so that a value of Vpp, pxi level, is transmitted to the word lines, thus making the word lines active. If a pd node's output, pull-up signal, maintains a logic state "low", and a pu node's output, pull-up signal, goes "low" (precharged state), the pu node's output goes "high" to discharge the word lines.
As described above, the conventional row decoder produces a pair of pull-up and pull-down signals pu<0:3>, pd<0:3>; i.e. pu<0>, pd<0>, pu<1>, pd<1>, pu<2>, pd<2>, pu<3>, and pd<3>, thus actuating memory columns. That is, the conventional row decoder outputs and uses a pair of pull-up and pull-down signals to drive four different word lines. Accordingly, two pairs of pull-up and pull-down signals are needed to drive eight word lines.

Row decoder for a semiconductor memory device

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A method of providing internet access to a data object repository comprising managing data objects hosted by said repository using a generalised repository directed graph data model having object nodes and resources, said resources comprising at least one of                (i) a literal;        (ii) actual resource data; and/or        (iii) a URI directing a request for resources to an address;        wherein said object nodes comprise higher level abstractions of data objects;        wherein all object nodes and resources are named, as well as all arcs between object nodes and other object nodes or resources, said arcs modelling properties of said nodes;        wherein each said directed graph has a graph interface which represents data as a directed graph of nodes and resources; and        wherein said graph interface is capable of enabling access to data represented by said directed graph by traversal of said directed graph using http:GET.

There exists a desire to access, for read or write operations, content repositories via the Internet, or via a network of some sort. There exist already very many content repositories (data sources with a content management system) which manage/represent data unilaterally within themselves. Purely as an example, Hewlett Packard have created the "Arkive" system which is a collection of video/audio/text/photographs/pictures relating to endangered species of animals. This was collected from a wide range of sources, such as the BBC, University Research, books, Natural History Museums, etc. This data has been gathered together on a content management system comprising a memory store and a processor managing metadata relating to the content stored in the memory, and allowing content to be retrieved.
However, in the existing world, each content management system has its own underlying data structure which organises and manages/represents its data, and its own customised directory exposing that data to the outside world, and its own software devoted to managing the content on its content server(s).
Accessing an existing data repository, for example the Arkive system, requires a client server with the appropriate client application software running on it to enable meaningful interaction with the directory of the repository hosting the data structure, and the client server also running appropriate, bespoke, API software to use the right protocol to interface with the repository content management system. For a user/client to access some other third party content repository, with its own, different, underlying data structure, and its own, different, content management system, requires the client server to have the appropriate client-side read/write interaction software, and appropriate API software to liase with whatever software is managing the data on the other, different, content repository.
No client software exists which can talk to all "exposed" protocol/format requirements of all existing content repositories that may be accessed over a network—for example over the Internet. It is not as simple as selecting a large group of API software and installing the group on the client server. The need to understand the underlying data structure of each repository, in order to understand how to interact with it properly, goes deeper than that.
For example, relational databases, object databases, file system and XML databases will have their own different ways of interacting with the outside world and interacting with their own data store—their own, directory/content management system software. Examples of existing data management systems include ARTISA, DOCUMENTUM, and FILENET.
Content management systems (CMS) typically perform the following functions:—    ways to access their data content;    ways to index the content;    ways to search the content;    ways to publish the content;(this list is not exhaustive, and not all CMS will perform all functions from the list).
CMS manage their data in proprietary ways. Interaction with core data has to go through the CMS, or at least use the appropriate interface language. CMS, and their command languages are bespoke to each vendor. The CMS software is layered onto a particular content model and imposes, for each proprietary CMS, common rules on things that subscribe/match/fit with that model. CMS databases specify the workload/processes that go on in reading or writing information. Any content model has work flow rules, for example specifying how data is added or deleted. How addition or deletion of items, for example, to the resources is performed is defined by the CMS software, and the client-side software needs to comply with the rules of the specific CMS. Often a remote user does not know the rules for interacting with the data, via the CMS. There is a diversity in existing CMS systems, which cannot be used together easily.

Digital object repositories, models, protocol, apparatus, methods and software and data structures, relating thereto

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A sound signal reproducing apparatus for supplying sound signals of a plurality of channels to speakers via sound amplifier circuits includes: a power supply voltage controller for controlling a power supply voltage to the sound amplifier circuits; a plurality of filter circuits for passing predetermined frequencies of the output signal of each of the sound amplifier circuits in the plurality of channels; a plurality of level detection circuits for detecting levels of output signals of the plurality of filter circuits; an adder circuit for adding output signals of the plurality of level detection circuits; and a comparator circuit for comparing an output signal of the adder circuit with a reference level, so that an output signal of the comparator circuit controls the power supply voltage controller.

The present invention relates to a sound signal reproducing apparatus for supplying sound signals for a plurality of channels to speakers via sound amplifier circuits, which apparatus is used in for example a home AV theater system, a multi-channel surround sound system and the like.
Recently, a sound signal reproducing apparatus has been proposed which forms a home AV theater as shown in FIG. 5, for example, and provides a sense of presence in a movie theater, a concert hall or the like by supplying sound signals for a plurality of channels, for example six channels to speakers via sound amplifier circuits.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a listener; 2FL denotes a front left speaker; 2C denotes a center speaker; 2FR denotes a front right speaker; 2RL denotes a rear left speaker; 2RR denotes a rear right speaker; and 2W denotes a subwoofer.
When the sound signal reproducing apparatus supplying the sound signals for the plurality of channels, for example the six channels to the speakers via the sound amplifier circuits is to ensure that a maximum output of each of the channels is of the same magnitude as in a conventional apparatus, the sound signal reproducing apparatus requires a power supply circuit providing an extremely high power and also requires a cooling device of an extremely large size for cooling a power transistor used in the power supply circuit.
However, the sound signal reproducing apparatus in normal use in an ordinary household does not continuously produce the maximum output in all of the plurality of channels, for example the six channels.
Sound pressure required by the listener 1 is generally constant irrespective of the number of channels. When the listener 1 listens to sound signals of the plurality of channels, for example the six channels, output per channel can be lowered by adjusting the sound volume.


A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes: a multilayer chip in which each of dielectric layers and each of internal electrode layers are alternately stacked and the internal electrode layers are alternately exposed to two end faces; and external electrodes formed on the two end faces; wherein: the external electrodes have a structure in which a plated layer is formed on a ground layer including Mo; and “M≥0.003185×(Ew×Et)−0.5921 is satisfied when “Et” is a height from a bottom one of the internal electrode layers to a top one of the internal electrode layers, “Ew” is a width of the internal electrode layers in a direction in which side faces of the multilayer chip face with each other, and “M” is a Mo concentration (atm %) with respect to a main component ceramic of a total of the multilayer chip and the pair of external electrodes.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers are alternately stacked, and a pair of external electrodes that are formed on a surface of the multilayer structure and are electrically coupled to the internal electrode layers extracted to the surface. The external electrode has a structure in which a ground layer is subjected to a plating. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H01-80011 discloses that hydrogen generated in the plating is adsorbed in the internal electrode layer and an insulating resistance of the dielectric layer is degraded by reduction caused by the hydrogen. And the patent document discloses that Ni (nickel) is added as a metal for suppressing hydrogen adsorption to the internal electrode of which a main component is a noble metal. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-66783 discloses the insulating resistance is degraded because of influence of hydrogen even if Ni is used for the internal electrode layer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multilayer ceramic capacitor using molybdenum (Mo) ground layer and manufacturing method of the same


A reverse thrust bucket assembly for a water jet propulsion unit wherein the reverse thrust bucket and the discharge nozzle are configured to provide a good seal in the reverse thrust position of the reverse thrust bucket while, at the same time, permitting the reverse thrust bucket flow directing surface to have an uninterrupted curved area without an offset sealing flange that could offer flow resistance when being shifted between its positions. In addition, the steering nozzle and discharge end of the jet propulsion unit are configured so as to preclude any leakage in this area.

This invention relates to a reverse thrust bucket for a jet drive and more particularly to a reverse thrust arrangement for a water jet propulsion unit.
Water jet propulsion units have a number of advantages over more conventional propeller type watercraft. In order to operate in reverse direction, it has been the practice to provide a reverse thrust bucket that is mounted on the discharge end of the jet propulsion unit for movement between a normal forward drive position and a reverse drive position. In the reverse drive position, the reverse thrust bucket redirects the flow of water from the jet propulsion unit discharge into a forward direction for generating a reverse driving thrust.
Generally these reverse thrust buckets include a surface that is adapted to be brought into confronting relationship with the discharge opening of the discharge nozzle for redirecting the water flow. It is important that the reverse thrust bucket establish a good sealing relationship with the discharge nozzle when in the reverse thrust position so as to improve the operating efficiency of the jet drive. To achieve this, it has been the practice to provide an offset flange at the surface of the reverse thrust bucket that is adjacent the upper end of the discharge nozzle when the reverse thrust bucket is in its reverse drive position. As a result, the surface of the reverse thrust bucket has a first portion that achieves the reverse thrust operation and a second, angularly related portion, that achieves the seal.
However, this angularly related portion provides not only drag when operating in the forward drive mode, but also generates a force that resists the movement of the reverse thrust bucket between its forward drive position and its reverse drive position. This gives rise to the necessity of employing considerable force on the reverse thrust bucket to move it between its positions.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved reverse thrust arrangement for a water jet propulsion unit.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved reverse thrust bucket and discharge nozzle arrangement for a water jet propulsion unit that will achieve good sealing in the reverse thrust mode while, at the same time, providing minimum flow resistance when operating in a forward mode.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved sealing arrangement for a reverse thrust bucket that will not provide any flow resistance or significant resistance to movement of the reverse thrust bucket between its positions so as to permit ease of operation.


Simplified access to relational databases is achieved. The inherent relationships that exist between tables in a relational database are detected and a dictionary is constructed that contains attributes that defines the relationships that exist within the database. The attributes of the database contained within the dictionary are mapped to objects of the database so that a user can navigate the database without using a database programming language using menus created from the dictionary.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of data information processing, and in particular to simplifying user access to information stored in relational databases.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Relational databases are used in numerous applications to store a wide variety of data. Software applications are commercially available for creating relational databases and storing data therein. Examples of these software applications include products such as SYBASE SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and IBM DB2. While these products provide the capability to store data in various formats, they generally do not provide means by which a typical user of the database system can cross-reference information contained within separate catalogs or tables of the database. Cross-references between related tables are typically preprogrammed into the database by a system administrator or some other individual having knowledge of a programming language such as SQL.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a data base 10 containing eight tables of information including a Customer table 12, a Corp table 14, a Freq.sub.-- Flyer table 16, a Serv.sub.-- Hist table 18, a Service.sub.-- ID table 20, a Serv.sub.-- Desc table 22, a Travel.sub.-- Dtl table 24, and an Airline table 26. Each of the tables contain several columns of information. As an example, the Freq.sub.-- Flyer Table 16 contains an Airline.sub.-- I.D. column 16a, a Customer.sub.-- I.D. column 16b, and a Points.sub.-- Amt column 16c. Tables 12 through 26 are shown connected by interconnecting lines 28 through 48 each of which connect a column of a first table to a column of a second table having the same column name as the column of the first table. These interconnecting lines connect related tables and allow a user to easily access the information contained in a related table without making a new query into the database. For example, when a user is utilizing the Customer table 12, the user may wish to see additional information regarding a particular customer's company. If the cross-reference connection 28 exists, the user can directly access the information in the Corp table 14 from the Customer table 12 rather than exiting the Customer table and accessing the Corp table 14.
In the existing database management systems, the relationships shown in FIG. 1, are preprogrammed into the database by a system administrator using complex programming techniques and a programming language such as SQL. The system administrator when constructing a database will typically provide some relationships between related tables, but will not provide all of the relationships that inherently exist because of the programming time required for accomplishing this and because the system administrator may not be aware of all of the relationships that exist between tables in the database. Additional problems and limitations are created for the user when the system administrator is not familiar with the needs of the user, and therefore, not familiar with which relationships the user would find most useful. When a user of the database management system requires additional joining of the tables in the database, beyond that which is originally programmed by the system administrator, a request must be made to the system administrator or some other individual familiar with the programming language of the database to provide the system with this capability. Additional programming must then be performed to provide the user with the requested capability.
Graphical interface programs for accessing databases are commercially availabe, however, these programs require that a system administrator define the relationships that exist in the database as discussed above. An example of a database graphical interface program is FindOut| Analyst from Open Data Corporation, Lexington, Mass. Findout| Analyst allows a user to navigate a database to find information quickly, however, it requires that a dictionary exist that defines the relationships in the database. In the prior art systems, this dictionary must be generated manually by a system administrator as described above.

Process and apparatus for simplifying access to information stored in databases


Provided herein are compositions and methods for detecting and/or targeting dysfunctional tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment for diagnostic, therapeutic and/or research applications. In particular, dysfunctional tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells are detected and/or targeted via their expression of cell surface receptors described herein, such as 4-1BB, LAG-3, or additional markers that correlate with 4-1BB and LAG-3 expression, such as markers differentially expressed on the surface of the T cells.

The immune system plays a critical role in protecting the host from cancer (Vesely et al., 2011; incorporated by reference in its entirety). Innate sensing of tumors leads to an adaptive T cell response through the presentation of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) derived from mutations and epigenetic changes that contribute to carcinogenesis (Gajewski et al., 2013; incorporated by reference in its entirety). Spontaneously-primed CD8+ T cells home to tumor sites in mouse tumor models (Harlin et al., 2009; Fuertes et al., 2011; incorporated by reference in their entireties) and in a subset of patients with advanced cancer (Harlin et al., 2006; incorporated by reference in its entirety). These tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have the ability to recognize tumor antigens and are believed to contribute to tumor control in cancer patients, based on the correlation between activated CD8+ T cell infiltration with improved prognosis and response to immunotherapy (Fridman et al., 2012; Tumeh et al., 2014; incorporated by reference in their entireties). However, without additional manipulation, this endogenous anti-tumor response is usually not sufficient to mediate complete rejection of an established tumor (Gajewski, 2007b; Pardoll, 2012; Baitsch et al., 2011; Gajewski et al., 2006; Larkin et al., 2015). Data accumulated over the past several years have indicated that tumors with spontaneous anti-tumor T cell responses have high expression of immune-inhibitory pathways that subvert the effector phase of the response. These include PD-L1/PD-1 interactions (Pardoll, 2012; incorporated by reference in its entirety), recruitment of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells (Gajewski, 2007a; incorporated by reference in its entirety), and metabolic dysregulation by indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) (Spranger et al., 2013; incorporated by reference in its entirety). However, even when CD8+ T cells specific for tumor antigens are isolated from tumors, away from these extrinsic immune inhibitory factors, they still show altered functional properties ex vivo (Harlin et al., 2006; Baitsch et al., 2011; incorporated by reference in their entireties).
Expression of PD-1 has been described to identify tumor-specific exhausted T cells (Ahmadzadeh et al., 2009; Fourcade et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2014; Gros et al., 2014; incorporated by reference in their entireties). However, T cells expressing PD-1 in the context of chronic infection can still retain effector function (Wherry and Kurachi, 2015; incorporated by reference in its entirety), and PD-1 is not required for the induction of T cell exhaustion (Odorizzi et al., 2015; incorporated by reference in its entirety). In addition to PD-1, several additional co-inhibitory receptors, including CD223 (LAG-3), CD244 (2B4), T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2 (TIM-3), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), are also be expressed on dysfunctional T cells and expression of a greater number of inhibitory receptors has been correlated with diminished cytokine secretion (in particular IFN-g and TNF-α) as well as proliferative capacity (Blackburn et al., 2009; incorporated by reference in its entirety). Expression of these receptors has been observed in both viral and cancer models, however, a complete analysis of both co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory receptors on the same population is lacking in the tumor setting.


A method of dynamic performance balancing in a distributed computer system including collecting average service time statistics for application requests distributed from multiple application servers and collecting application server CPU utilization statistics from multiple hosts where each host is associated with at least one of the application servers. In addition, the method includes periodically calculating scaled routing weights from the average service time and CPU utilization statistics and distributing server requests to the application servers in accordance with the scaled routing weights. Also provided is a distributed computer system configured to accomplish dynamic performance balancing as described above, and an article of manufacture for use in programming a distributed computer system containing instructions to accomplish dynamic performance balancing of server requests as described above.

A distributed computer system may include multiple application servers running various applications distributed across multiple physical devices. In a distributed computer system, it is desirable that the distributed servers be centrally administrated. In addition, workload management and failover are preferably handled from a central location. Thus, a distributed computer system achieves the data processing power of multiple physical computers working in concert while preserving the benefits of the centralized administration of workload management.
In a typical distributed computer system, the base functional software unit is an application server. As used throughout this specification, an "application server" is a software environment provided to run or execute applications. An "application" is a collection of modules that collectively provide answers/responses to submitted requests. Thus, an application needs an environment to run, and an application server is that environment. An application is deployed in one or more application servers.
In a distributed computer system, multiple application servers can be functionally organized in various ways. For example, a subset of the total group of application servers in the system may be organized in a cluster. A "cluster" is a collection of servers, each running an instance of the same application. Clusters may be static or dynamic.
In addition, a subset of the total group of application servers within a distributed computer system may be managed as a group which is often called a "node". Thus, a node is a managed entity where application servers run. The placement of the application servers of a given cluster onto nodes is either fixed by the user or changed dynamically, hence a static or dynamic cluster, respectively.
A "host" as used herein is a physical computing machine typically identified by an IP address. A host may house one or more nodes. Multiple nodes can be further collected into a single management domain which is often called a "cell".
A distributed computer system will thus include several physical hosts. Typically, the hosts will be somewhat heterogeneous. For example, some hosts may be older than others, and thus have different hardware and software components. Other hosts may have differing architecture and/or bus configurations. Similarly, there may be an uneven amount of work assigned to each host, either relating to the number of application servers associated with the host or in the nature and extent of unmanaged work such as garbage collection, periodic data backups, and the starting and stopping of application servers. The most efficient data processing flow within a distributed computer system will occur if work is balanced among the various heterogeneous hosts according to the capabilities of the respective host members.
Similarly, in a distributed computing system it is advantageous to balance requests belonging to the same cluster among all nodes that can service the cluster. However, the characteristics of the various clusters within the system may vary in a significant way in terms of processing requirements. Furthermore, an application server instance that serves a given cluster on a node may share the resources of the node with servers serving other clusters.
Various simple load balancing routers that attempt to equalize processor utilization among all hosts in a cell are known. Similarly, somewhat dynamic performance balancing systems which attempt to load balance based upon measured server utilization are known. However, a simple load balancing router which attempts to equalize processor utilization among all hosts in a cell may not provide for equal performance among nodes servicing requests belonging to the same cluster, nor will a simple load balancing router effectively deal with the problem of heterogeneous hosts.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.

Method and system for performance balancing in a distributed computer system

International Business Machines Corporation


A ridge waveguide type distributed feedback semiconductor laser device includes a diffraction grating formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer, a semiconductor layer formed on the diffraction grating, the semiconductor layer serving to alleviate the irregularity of the diffraction grating, and a stripe-like ridge having a cladding layer and a contact layer formed on the semiconductor layer. Also, a method for manufacturing the ridge waveguide type distributed feedback semiconductor laser device is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ridge waveguide type distributed feedback semiconductor laser device and method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A ridge waveguide type semiconductor laser device is a semiconductor laser device in which the stripe-like ridge makes it possible to confine electric currents and light and to accurately control the transverse mode of the laser operation. In a ridge waveguide type semiconductor laser device, the width of the stripe-like ridge (the ridge width) and the thickness between the active layer other than the stripe-like ridge region and the bottom surface of the ridge (the remaining thickness of ridge) determines how light is confined (or the broadening of light) and how electric currents are confined (or the broadening of electric currents), thus determining the device characteristics. Therefore, by accurately controlling the ridge width and the remaining thickness of the ridge, it is possible to increase the reproducibility of the device and to improve the manufacturing yield. By examining the electric current at threshold value of the laser device relative to the ridge width and the remaining thickness of the ridge, it has been found out that, in order to control the electric current at threshold value to be within .+-.5%, it is necessary to control the ridge width to be less than .+-.0.1 .mu.m and the remaining thickness of the ridge to be less than .+-.0.01 .mu.m.
Since the stripe-like ridge is formed by etching the portion other than the ridge, the etching depth determines the remaining thickness of the ridge. However, if the etching for forming the ridge is conducted by time control, it is difficult to control the remaining thickness of the ridge by etching, thereby decreasing the reproducibility of the characteristics. Therefore, a method is taken to stop the etching by using an etching stop surface and to accurately control the remaining thickness of the ridge by the etching, as is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined (Kokai) Patent Publication No. Sho 63(1988)-38279.
On the other hand, the distributed feedback semiconductor laser device (DFB-LD) is utilized as a coherent light source operating in a mono-axial mode and having a variable wavelength and a stable wavelength. There has been an increasing need of DFB-LD for use in optical measurement, optical communication/transmission, optical recording, laser beam printers, and the like. In DFB-LD, a diffraction grating is disposed on an active layer or on a guide layer. A distributed feedback of light is effected by the diffraction grating for operating the laser oscillation. By applying the above ridge waveguide to the DFB-LD, it is possible to accurately control the transverse mode of the laser operation. Therefore, DFB-LDs having a good reproducibility can be manufactured with good yield, so that the manufacturing method is highly valuable in industrial application.
Generally, an irregular (uneven) grating is used as a diffraction grating in DFB-LD. When a ridge is to be formed in DFB-LD, a grating is first formed, and a crystal growth is conducted on the grating. Subsequently, a ridge is formed by etching, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined (Kokai) Patent Publication No. Hei 5(1993)-235463. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the distributed feedback semiconductor laser device thus manufactured.
The device shown in FIG. 5 is manufactured as follows. First, on an n-GaAs substrate 50, there are formed an n-Al.sub.0.6 Ga.sub.0.4 As cladding layer 51, an Al.sub.0.15 Ga.sub.0.85 As active layer 52, a p-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As carrier barrier layer 53, a p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As guide layer 54, and a p-GaAs light absorbing layer 55 in this order by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) method. Subsequently, a diffraction grating (optical waveguide stripe) having a pitch of 120 nm is carved on the p-GaAs light absorbing layer 55 by an ordinary two-beam interference exposure method and a wet etching technique. The diffraction grating has a depth of 30 nm. Afterwards, a p-Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As cladding layer 57 and a p-GaAs contact layer 58 are formed by growing under a condition of substrate temperature being 750.degree. C., the V/III ratio in gas phase being 120, the growth speed being 25 nm/min, and the growth pressure being 76 Torr by using MOCVD method.
Then, a portion of the GaAs contact layer 58 other than the optical waveguide stripe is removed, and a portion of the cladding layer 57 is removed with use of an HF type etchant which selectively etches an Al-mixed crystal layer with a highly content of Al to form a stripe-like ridge having a width of 3 .mu.m. Subsequently, electrodes are deposited on the upper portion of the ridge and on the rear surface of the substrate, followed by cleavage to complete the semiconductor laser device. In forming the ridge, the etching stops at the p-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As guide layer 54/p-GaAs light absorbing layer 55 consisting of an Al-mixed crystal with a low content of Al which is hardly etched by the HF type etchant and having a grating formed therein.
In forming a ridge of DFB-LD, a grating is formed and a crystal growth is conducted on the grating, followed by forming a ridge, as shown above. However, in the conventional examples, the ridge is formed by selectively etching a portion of the p-Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As cladding layer 57 with the surface in which the grating is formed being used as an etching stop layer. However, when a crystal growth is conducted on an irregularity such as a grating, the growth proceeds from various surfaces of the irregularity, so that growing layers from various surfaces overlap with each other at the portion where one surface is connected to another, namely, at the recessed and projecting portions of the grating. These overlapped portions generate a strain. A strain applied to the growing layer decreases the crystallinity. The etching rate increases in a layer having lower crystallinity when compared with a continuously grown layer having the same composition and no strain. In the above conventional example, since the etching stop surface has a grating, the etching rate near the etching stop surface of the p-Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As cladding layer 57 is extremely greater than the continuously grown layer. Therefore, the vicinity of the etching stop layer is excessively etched, whereby a side etch is generated in the etching stop layer, making it impossible to obtain a desired stripe-like ridge. As a result of this, the reproducibility of the device decreases, thereby lowering the manufacturing yield.

Ridge waveguide type distributed feedback semiconductor laser device and method for manufacturing the same


A method for reducing interference, comprising receiving a wideband signal, having at least one large amplitude component; adaptively modifying the wideband signal with respect to at least one high intensity component without substantial introduction of non-linear distortion, while reducing a residual dynamic range thereof; digitizing the modified wideband signal to capture information describing at least the high intensity signal at a sampling rate sufficient to extract modulated information present within the wideband signal at an upper limit of the band. The system analyzes a spectral characteristic of the wideband signal; and extracts adaptation parameters for the adaptive filtering. The system therefore provides both large net dynamic range and wideband operation. Preferably, the digitizer and filter, and part of the spectral characteristic analyzer is implemented in using superconducting circuit technology, with, for example low temperature superconducting digital signal processing components, and high temperature superconducting analog filtering components.

One of the major difficulties in reception of small signals is the presence of a large unwanted signal in the same frequency band.
Typical spectrometers sweep a narrowband window across the band of interest, thereby converting the wideband into a series of narrow bands. Within each narrowband window, the signal is characterized, and when the sweep is complete, the signal is logically reconstructed. By analyzing a narrowband component, the signal can be frequency translated or downconverted to a nominal one, permitting a static detector to be used. Frequency translation typically requires the mixing of the signal with a tuning frequency in an analog non-linear element, such as a semiconductor. The nonlinear mixer generates sum and difference frequencies, one of which (typically the difference) is selected for analysis. All nonlinear components in the analog signal processing chain will generate spurious components, including intermodulation (sum and difference components of the existing signals) as well as harmonics. In a high quality spectrometer, this spectral pollution is undesirable, especially where there are many possible signal interactions, or where the signal source to be characterized may itself produce harmonics and other components to be characterized. Even in a narrowband spectral analyzer, nonlinear distortion may be a problem, since out of narrowband components may be translated into the band of interest. Another issue for swept narrowband spectrometers is that they cannot analyze a spectrum in realtime or near realtime, since there is a limited speed of sweep.
Another paradigm for constructing a wideband spectrometer is to translate the entire band of interest to baseband (i.e., a band from f1 to f2 is frequency translated to a band from 0 to (f2−f1) using a nonlinear mixer with a frequency f1) and digitized above the Nyquist rate (2 times the highest frequency component, i.e., 2(f2−f1)). The digitized signal is then processed using a digital signal processor, for example using a fast Fourier transform, to reveal the spectral energy. This approach has a number of limitations. As in the narrowband approach, a nonlinear analog mixer is employed, and thus spectral pollution occurs. One known system, Pinckley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,890, expressly incorporated herein by reference, downconverts a cellular band signal, and then employs a tunable filter bank to remove carriers having interfering signals before digitizing the band, which is then digitally demodulated by a bank of digital signal processors.
The third possibility, directly digitizing the signal of interest, without frequency translation, has been infeasible at high frequencies, e.g., above 500 MHz, or at high dynamic range-frequency products, at least because of digitizer limitations. One particular limitation, discussed above, is the large amplitude interferer problem. Since the digitizer operates across the entire spectrum, it can be saturated or dominated by a single signal, thus masking other components. As the bandwidth to be analyzed (or dynamic range-frequency product) is increased, the likelihood of the presence of interferers increases. One approach to solving this problem is to increase the dynamic range of the digitizer to an extent necessary to handle both the interferor and the signal of interest. However, this may be difficult, and the problem grows exponentially with each added bit of dynamic range required.
In military communications, the large signal interferor problem may occur due to transmitters co-located on the reception platform and is often referred to as the co-site interference problem. One method of dealing with this problem is to have a large dynamic range receiver, capable of simultaneously receiving the large interferor and the small signal of interest (SOI). In fact, it is not the dynamic range, but the instantaneous spur-free dynamic range of the receiver that needs to be large, often imposing a linearity-requirement that is impossible to meet, even with ultra-linear superconductor front-ends. This requirement could be relaxed substantially if one or more of these interferors could be excised from the incoming waveform through sharp notch filters. However, these interferors often shift in frequency, especially in the case of narrow-band high-power jammers. Therefore, a tunable notch filter would be needed, along with appropriate logic and control for tuning it.
While interference from intentional enemy jammers remains a major problem for receivers, the problem of co-site interference is particularly severe for maritime communications and surveillance systems. On a ship, multiple high power communications and radar transmitters exist in close proximity to RF receivers on the same platform. Consequently, the receive antenna picks up a part of these transmit signals. Since military tactical communication systems are rapidly migrating towards wide bandwidths (hundreds of MHz to a few GHz), supporting multiple narrowband and broadband waveforms, the number of interferers in the wide receive band continue to rise. Co-site interference manifests itself in three forms:                1) Small signal of interest in the presence of large interfering signal (FIG. 2A),        2) Small signal of interest in the presence of a large number of signals of comparable power (FIG. 2B),        3) Impulsive interference from hoppers.
The worst problem occurs through a large in-band interferer that drives the receiver into saturation. This creates non-linear distortions or spurs, preventing detection of the much smaller signal-of-interest. Spurs also occur from in-band intermodulation products from large out-of-band interferers. The presence of these spurious signals and other small interferors prevents full usage of the receiver spectrum. Finally, the transients from hopping transmitters also cause interference. All these effects severely limit functionality of RF receivers, and indirectly the co-located transmitters. The following difficulties arise from the inability of current communication systems to reject, cancel, or tolerate co-site interference:
DifficultiesConsequencePoor spectrum efficiency and wastage ofInformation capacity is available spectral resourcecompromisedThe number of hoppers than can be supportedFewer channels of secure on a platform is limitedcommunications are availableSmall signals of interest cannot be detected;Shorter communication low probability of intercept signaling affectedrange; Increasedvulnerability to interception of communication by enemyDynamic frequency and bandwidth allocationLonger operational planning schemes are not permittedtime and reduced agilityin battle situations
The situation is even worse for surveillance (e.g. SIGINT) receivers. These very wideband receivers, attempting to listen for weak signals, can be rendered useless by large co-site interferers. Often one has to resort to the extremely undesirable solution of shutting down the SIGINT receiver for short periods of time to combat the self-jamming from co-located high-power transmitters, compromising the survivability of the whole ship.
The reception of weak signals of interest over a wide RF band requires a sensitive and high-linearity receiver. Presence of large unwanted signals makes this task difficult, by reducing the usable spectrum and dynamic range of the receiver. The traditional method of dealing with the interference problem is to use band-stop or notch filters to excise the interferers from the band-of-interest. This approach, employing analog RF components, does not work well when the interferers are numerous, very narrow compared to the passband, and change their spectral locations rapidly. Another approach, called digital-RF, is to digitize the whole band with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and perform signal extraction and interference rejection in the digital domain. However, the simple digital-RF approach requires an extremely high dynamic range that is well beyond the current state-of-the-art for high frequencies.
Fixed-tuned filters made from the high temperature superconductors (notably YBCO) have been demonstrated with <0.5 dB insertion loss, 110 dB of rejection with transition slope of 30 dB/100 kHz, and as little as 1% band width. However efforts to develop tuning capability are so far limited to mechanical means and require seconds or more. This is too slow for wide utility. The DARPA FAME program failed to provide a fast, low loss, wide band tuning mechanism. MEMS tuned filters have issues with tuning speed (microsecond tuning at best), and wear out due to mechanical stress after a few billion cycles.
A typical digital-RF receiver front end does not include any tunable analog notch filters for interference rejection. Instead of performing interference rejection, the digital-RF receiver front-end is interference tolerant; it uses an ADC that has sufficient linearity and dynamic range to tolerate the presence of all interferers along with signals-of-interest. Thus, the problem is transferred to the digital domain, where digital filters extract the signals-of-interest. Digital filtering in the frequency domain with an equivalent high order essentially performs the same function as the analog filter that it replaces, albeit with much better flexibility and agility in tuning. Moreover, in the digital domain, one can employ techniques for matched filtering not just in the frequency domain but also in time and/or phase domains for more efficient signal extraction.
In spite of its obvious attraction, the practicality of this digital-RF approach depends on the availability of ADCs with high dynamic range over a wide bandwidth. To get an estimate of the required dynamic range let us consider a single co-site transmitter interfering with a receiver. If the transmitter power is 100 W (50 dBm) and the isolation to the receive antenna is 30 dB, the required dynamic range for receiving a −120 dBm signal-of-interest is 140 dB (˜23 bits). Under certain circumstances, the dynamic range requirement can be as high as 160 dB. Conventional ADCs, based on mature semiconductor technology, cannot achieve this performance over hundreds of MHz of bandwidth (e.g. the 225-400 MHz UHF band, or the 960-1215 MHz L-band).
On the other hand, simple first-order superconductor ADCs have demonstrated spur-free dynamic ranges in the 100 dB range, matching and slightly exceeding the performance of the best semiconductor ADCs. These ADCs employ delta or delta-sigma modulators with extremely high oversampling ratios (the sampling is at 20-40 Gbps, much higher than the bandwidth of ˜200 MHz). Higher sampling rates imply higher oversampling ratio (R) and therefore, larger dynamic range. Since the dynamic range scales as R(2n+1), where n is the order of the modulator, increasing the order of the ADC modulator is expected to improve the dynamic range substantially. Another approach for increasing dynamic range is concatenating the dynamic ranges of multiple ADCs in a subranging architecture.
While the future holds promises of such advances, the large signal interferor persists, and indeed, will persist until the dynamic range of the digitizer exceeds the maximum required dynamic range. Even when such a digitizer becomes available, likely cost and complexity issues will remain.


A ligation device includes (1) a flexible outer tube which can be inserted through a channel of an insertion tube of the endoscope, (2) a flexible inner tube provided in the outer tube, (3) a ring which is made of an elastic material and is provided to a periphery of the inner tube, and (4) an manipulator which moves the outer tube with respect to the inner tube, so that the outer tube pushes the ring out of the inner tube.

The present invention relates to a ligation device used in an endoscopic surgery, for tying up (ligating) a bleeding part of a mucous membrane of a human body cavity.
Conventionally, a ligation device includes a cylindrical hood which is mounted to a tip of an insertion tube of an endoscope. The hood is so constituted that the hood projects (in a inserting direction) from the tip of the insertion tube. The insertion tube has a suction channel which opens at an end surface of the tip of the insertion tube. When the hood is mounted to the insertion tube, the suction opening is surrounded by the hood.
An elastic ring is used as a ligature, that is, a member which ties up the mucous membrane. The ring is made of rubber or the like, and is mounted to an outer surface of the hood in such a manner that the ring is elastically extended. In order to push the ring out of the hood toward the mucous membrane, a movable sleeve is provided to the outer surface of the hood. The movable sleeve is slidable in the axial direction of the hood.
On ligating a mucous membrane, an operator inserts the insertion tube into the human body cavity so that the hood abuts the mucous membrane. Then, the operator starts a suction (via the suction opening), so that the mucous membrane is sucked in a hood. With this, the sucked mucous membrane forms a polyp. Further, the operator actuates the movable sleeve thereby to push the ring out of the hood, so that the ring surrounds the polyp. Once the ring surrounds the polyp, the ring is contracted due to its elasticity. With this, the polyp is tied up by the ring.
However, since the ring is conventionally provided to the outer surface of the hood, the diameter of the ring must be relatively large. Thus, it is difficult to ligate a small part such as micro blood vessels.
Further, the insertion tube has a view window which enables an operator to observe a mucous membrane. The view window is provided at an end surface of the insertion tube. However, when a suction is performed, the mucous membrane is sucked in the hood and interferes the view of the operator. That is, it is difficult for the operator to observe the mucous membrane during the ligation.


This invention provides compositions, methods and process of producing extracts and pure compounds from Xanthoceras sorbifolia. The extract comprises saponins and other constituents including alkaloids, coumarins, saccharides, proteins, polysaccharides, glycosides, tannins, acid, flavonoids and others. The composition can be used for treating cancer and other conditions, such as arthritis, rheumatism, poor circulation, arteriosclerosis, Raynaud's syndrome, angina pectoris, cardiac disorder, coronary heart disease, headache, kidney disorder, and impotence; for improving cerebral functions; or for curing enuresis, frequent micturition, urinary incontinence, dementia, weak intelligence and Alzheimer's disease, autism, brain trauma, Parkinson's, cerebral dysfunctions, and treating arthritis, rheumatism, poor circulation, arteriosclerosis, Raynaud's syndrome, angina pectoris, cardiac disorder, headache, dizziness, kidney disorder. This invention provides compounds of oleanene triterpenoidal saponin in nature with the characteristics that at least one angeloyl group attached to Carbon 21 or/and 22, or/and linked to the sugar. The compounds of the present invention have various pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications.

Wenguanguo is a species of the sapindaceae family. Its scientific name is Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. Wenguanguo is one of the common Chinese names. The others are Wenguannguo, Wenguanmu, Wenguanhua, Xilacedeng. Its English name is Goldenhorn or Yellowhorn. Wenguanguo can be found growing in Liaoning, Jilin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, China. Its seeds, leaves and flowers are edible and have been used as an ingredient in folk or traditional medicine to treat enuresis for centuries. Its branches and woods are also used as a folk or traditional medicine.
Chinese patent applications CN 1092991A and CN 1092992A discussed the methods for producing a medicine from Wenguanguo kernel powder for curing enuresis and enhancing cerebral functions. Chinese patent CN 1052636C discussed a method for producing a medicine with ethanol extract from the Wenguanguo kernel powder for curing enuresis and enhancing cerebral functions. Journal of Shenyang University of Pharmacy (2001), 18(1), 53-56 disclosed the n-butanol extract from the wood of Wenguanguo, which has anti-inflammatory effect.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030096030 discussed the extracts from the husks of Wenguanguo which are Bunkankasaponin A. B. C. D and two sterols for preventing cerebral aging, improving cerebral functions and curing enuresis, frequent micturition, urinary incontinence, dementia, weak intelligence, and increasing the body's ability to resist the activity of glycosuria.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030082293 disclosed the extracts Bunkankasaponin A. B. C. D, crude fats, crude protein and sugars from the shell of Wenguanguo.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,943, issued on Sep. 9, 2003, discussed the composition comprising Wenguanguo combined extracts and the methods for preparing them and uses thereof. The methods for preparing the combined extract from the husks comprise the following steps: extracting Wenguanguo husks with an organic solvent (e.g. ethanol) to form an organic (e.g. ethanol) extract; removing the organic solvent (e.g. ethanol) from the organic (e.g. ethanol) extract to form aqueous extracts; and drying and sterilizing the aqueous extracts to form the combined extracts. The combined extracts contain saponins, saccharides, proteins and others. The extracts can be used for producing medicines or health foods for preventing cerebral aging, improving memory, improving cerebral functions and curing enuresis, frequent micturition, urinary incontinence, dementia, weak intelligence and Alzheimer's disease, autism, brain trauma, Parkinson's disease and other diseases caused by cerebral dysfunction. The medicines or health foods further comprise Vitamin B, Vitamin D, K, anti-oxidant, Cordyceps or its extracts, gingko or its extracts, Echinacea or its extracts, Huperzine A, folic acid, amino acids, creatine, fiber supplement or a combination thereof.
Yingjie Chen, Tadahiro Takeda and Yukio Ogihara in Chem. Pharm. Bull 33(4)1387-1394(1985) described a study on the constituent of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. See Section V. Saponins from the Fruits of Xanthoceras sorbifolia. Four new saponins were isolated from the fruits of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. The structures of these saponins are bunkankasaponins A, B, C and D:
22-O-acetyl-21-O-(4-O-acetyl-3-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] protoaecigenin 22-O-acetyl-21-O-(3,4-di-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] protoaecigenin 28-O-acetyl-21-O-(4-O-acetyl-3-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] protoaecigenin 28-O-acetyl-21-O-(3,4-di-O-angeloyl) -β-D-fucopyranosyl-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] protoaecigenin
Yingjie Chen, Tadahiro Takeda and Yukio Ogihara in Chem. Pharm. Bull 33(3)1043-1048(1985) described studies on the constituent of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. See Section IV. Structures of the Miner Prosapogenin. The prosapogenins from the partial hydrilyzate of fruit saponin of Xanthoceras sorbifolia were examinated, and are characterized as:
16-O-acetyl-21-O-(3,4-di-O-angeloyl-β-D-fucopyranosyl) protoaecigenin 22-O-acetyl-21-O-(3,4-di-O-angeloyl-β-D-fucopyranosyl) protoaecigenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside
Yingjie Chen, Tadahiro Takeda and Yukio Ogihara in Chem. Pharm. Bull 33(1)127-134(1985) describe studies on the constituent of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. See Section III. Minor Prosapogenins saponins from the Fruits of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. The structure of 3 minor prosapogenins, obtained by acid hydrolysis of the crude saponin faction, were characterized as:
21-O-(3,4-di-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-theasapogenol B 21-O-(4-O-acetyl-3-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-theasapogenol B 21-O-(4-O-acetyl-3-O-angeloyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-22-O-acetylprotoaescigenin
Yingjie Chen, Tadahiro Takeda and Yukio Ogihara in Chem. Pharm. Bull 33(4)1387-1394(1985) described a study on the constituent of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. See Section II. Major Sapongenol and prosapogenin from the Fruits of Xanthoceras Sorbifolia.
Laurence Voutquenne, Cecile Kokougan. Catherine Lavaud, Isabelle Pouny, Marc Litaudon Triterpenoid saponins and Acylated prosapogenins from Harpullia austro-calcdonica. Phytochemistry 59 (2002) 825-832
Zhong Jaing, Jean-francois Gallard, Marie-Therese Adeline, Vincent Dumontet, Mai Van Tri, Thierry Sevenet, and Mary Pais Six Triterpennoid Saponins from Maesa Laxiflora. J. Nat. Prod. 1999, 62, 873-876
Young Seo, John M. Berger, Jennine Hoch, Kim M Neddermann, Isia Bursuker, Steven W. Mamber and David G. Kingston. A new Triterpene Saponin from Pittosporum viridiflorum from the Madagascar Rainforest. J. Nat. Prod. 2002, 65, 65-68
Xiu-Wei Yang, Jing Zhao, Xue-Hui Lui, Chao-Mei Ma, Masao Hattori, and Li He Zhang Anti-HIV-1 Protease Triterpenoid Saponins from the Seeds of Aesculus chinensis. J. Nat. Prod. 1999 62, 1510-1513
Yi Lu, Tatsuya Umeda, Akihito Yagi, Kanzo Sakata, Tirthankar Chaudhuri, D. K. Ganguly, Secion Sarma. Triterpenoid Saponins from the roots of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. Assamica). Phytochchemistry 53 (2000) 941-946
Sandra Apers, Tess E. De Bruyne, Magda Claeys, Arnold J. Viletinck, Luc A. C. Pieters. New acylated triterpenoid saponins from Maesa laceceolata. Phytochemistry 52 (1999) 1121-1131
Ilaria D'Acquarica, Maria Cristina, Di Giovanni, Francesco Gasparrini, Domenico Misiti, Claudio D'Arrigo, Nicolina Fagnano, Decimo Guarnieri, Giovanni Iacono, Giuseppe Bifulco and Raffaele Riccio. Isolation and structure elucidation of four new triterpenoid estersaponins from fruits of the Pittosporumtobira AIT.
Tetrahedron 58 (2002) 10127-10136.
Cancer cells are defined by two heritable properties: (1) they reproduce in defiance of normal restraints on cell division; and (2) they invade and colonize territories normally reserved for other cells.
Cancers require mutations of many genes to develop, and they are classified according to the tissue and cell type from which they arise. Cancers arising from epithelial cells are named carcinomas. Those arising from connective tissue or muscle cells are named sarcomas. In addition, there are cancers called leukemias, which are derived from hemopaietic cells; and cancers are derived from cells of the nervous system too.
Cancers originating from different types of cells are, in general, very different diseases. Each cancer has characteristics that reflect its origin. Even when a cancer has metastasized and proliferated out of control, its origins can be traced back to a single, primary tumor. Therefore it is important to develop drugs against target cells with a specified character.
Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in women and the leading cause of death from gynecologic. In the United States, females have a 1.4 to 2.5% (1 out of 40-60 women) lifelong chance of developing ovarian cancer. Older women are at the highest risk. More than half of the deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women between 55 and 74 years of age and approximately one quarter of ovarian cancer deaths occur in women between 35 and 54 years of age. See MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia on ovarian cancer at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000889.htm.
Ovarian cancer is disproportionately deadly for a number of reasons. First, symptoms are vague and non-specific, so women and their physicians frequently attribute them to more common conditions. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, the tumor has often spread beyond the ovaries. Also, ovarian cancers shed malignant cells that frequently implant on the uterus, bladder, bowel, and lining of the bowel wall (omentum). These cells can begin forming new tumor growths before cancer is even suspected. Second, because no cost-effective screening test for ovarian cancer exists, more than 50 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease.
This invention provides compounds extracted from Xanthoceras Sorbifolia or synthesized or other biologic resource or their compositions which have substantial potency against ovarian cancer.


A method for reducing handover interruption time in a mobile station is disclosed, in which a mobile station performs a ranging procedure using a dedicated ranging code previously allocated from a target base station. The dedicated ranging code allocated by the target base station may be provided through the serving base station, or may directly be provided from the target base station.

Generally, handover means that communication which is being performed is maintained as it is when a mobile station goes out of a base station and enters another base station. In other words, handover means that exchange of channel or line is performed to maintain call which is being performed.
Handover can be divided into softer handover, soft handover, and hard handover.
In more detail, softer handover is handover performed within one cell, and means that a mobile station converts a current channel of channels used within cell coverage to an excellent channel. Soft handover means that, if a mobile station intends to convert one channel to another channel, the mobile station tries connection to another channel in a state that connection with one channel is maintained, and finally disconnects connection with one channel. Hard handover means that a mobile station disconnects a current channel in which communication is being performed and directly connects another channel.
The mobile station performs a ranging procedure after performing the aforementioned handover procedure.
Ranging means a set of processes for maintaining connection quality (particularly, synchronization) of RF communication between a base station and a mobile station in IEEE 802.16 or mobile Internet. Particularly, during OFDMA/TDD based multiple access, since a base station transmits data to several mobile stations based on one reference timing in a downlink, there is no problem in the downlink. However, since several mobile stations respectively transmit a signal in an uplink, radio wave delay may occur differently for each of the mobile stations. In this respect, as a separate timing synchronization method, a ranging procedure is performed between the base station and the mobile station. Namely, ranging is a procedure for exactly controlling synchronization of transmission time in several mobile stations.
Hereinafter, a ranging procedure will be described with reference to FIG. 1a to FIG. 2b.
In case of a general ranging procedure illustrated in FIG. 1a, a mobile station (MS) transmits a desired random ranging code to a target base station (TBS) (S13), and receives a ranging response message from the target base station if the transmitted ranging code is effective (S14).
However, as illustrated in FIG. 1b, if a plurality of mobile stations request one target base station to allocate the same ranging code, collision of the ranging codes may occur among the plurality of mobile stations (S13). In this case, since the ranging procedure should be retried after the lapse of a certain time period, handover interruption time may increase rapidly.
In addition, in case of a fast ranging procedure illustrated in FIG. 2a, the mobile station (MS) is allocated with an uplink resource from the target base station (TBS) through Fast_Ranging_IE (Information Element) included in an uplink map message (S22). Accordingly, the mobile station can transmit a ranging request RNG_REQ message to the target base station (S23) and receive a ranging response RNG_RSP message from the target base station (S24).
However, as illustrated in FIG. 2b, the target base station may fail to receive the ranging request message RNG_REQ (S23), or the mobile station may fail to receive the ranging response message RNG_RSP. In this case, since the ranging procedure should retried after the lapse of a certain time period and also the general ranging procedure not the fast ranging procedure should be retried, handover interruption time increases.
Accordingly, in order to complete the ranging procedure within the maximum handover interruption time which is previously designated, it is necessary to reduce the handover interruption time caused by either collision of the ranging codes among the plurality of mobile stations or failure in receiving the RNG_REQ/RNG_RNP messages.

Method for reducing handover interruption time in terminal


A wire frame means for structurally supporting a light shading material is provided, wherein the light shading material is joined onto a least one side of the structural supporting means that is not a top or bottom side thereof. Means, such as mounting tabs, are further provided for removably joining the structural supporting means to the wall mounted light fixture.

There have been many attempts to achieve convenient, aesthetically appealing light shades for wall mounted light fixtures that alter light illumination in desired ways, such as diffusing the glare of the light bulbs. However, known approaches have proven to be less than convenient in many application. For example, most conventional approaches require the inconvenient assembly of multiple pieces, or use of hardware, for covering the light or bulbs. Moreover, conventional approaches tend not to allow easy access to change light bulbs without making inconvenient adjustments to the covered frame. Conventional approaches also often attach to the mounted light fixture by attachment means such as clasp, clamps, or magnets, thereby resulting in opportunities to scratch or damage visible surfaces of the light fixture.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved light shading techniques for wall mounted light fixtures. It would be desirable if the light shade was cost effective to manufacture and did not require any substantial assembly thereof by the end user. It would be further desirable if it were also convenient to change light bulbs in the fixture without having to adjust the light shade.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Detachable light shade for wall fixture lighting


It is an object to provide a game medium shooting mechanism in a game device that uses an approximately disk-shaped game medium, which makes it possible for a game player to easily shoot a medal and devote oneself to play the game even when the game player continuously shoots the medal for a long time.

A game device has been generally known where an approximately spherical game medium such as a ball and/or an approximately disk-shaped game medium such as a medal are/is used therein. In the present application, a term "game medium" means a tangible entity that is used in performing a game. A pusher-typed game has been widely known as a typical example of a game device in which a medal is used as an approximately disk-shaped game medium. In this type of game device, a game player plays a game by shooting a game medium through a game medium shooting mechanism. Results of the game are influenced by the timing of the shooting of the game medium, the direction in which the game medium is shot, or the amount of the shot game medium. Accordingly, in addition to the quality of a game, that is, amusement of a game itself, ease of operation for shooting a game medium is an important factor for engrossing a game player in playing with the game device.

Abstract: The game medium shooting mechanism 100 includes an accumulating part 101 for accumulating an approximately disk-shaped game medium M, first sloped walls 104 and 106 that are continuously sloped up and extended from the accumulating part 101, a first shooter 108 that includes a first slot 108-1 for inserting the game medium M therein on a position adjacent to the first sloped walls 104 and 106, and a first guide 113 that is extended on the first sloped wall for making the game medium M slidingly roll into the first slot 108-1 under the gravity. When the game player slides the approximately disk-shaped game medium M that are accumulated on the accumulating part 101 upward along first sloped walls 104 and 106 that are continuously sloped up and extended from the accumulating part 101 and then releases the game medium M, the game medium M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall 106 under the gravity, and is caught by the first guide 113 that is extended on the first sloped wall.

Abstract: Also, the first guide is configured to make the game medium M slidingly roll into the first slot under the gravity.


In general, techniques are described by which to provide a scaled end-to-end view of link metrics to integrate multiple non-uniform Interior Gateway Protocol (“IGP”) domains. For example, an Accumulated Interior Gateway Protocol (“AIGP”) attribute, a non-transitive BGP attribute, which includes a link metric assigned to a link within a first IGP domain, is scaled to conform to a metric scale of the second IGP domain. The AIGP attribute may also add link metric assigned to a link within the second IGP domain and may add static metrics of non-IGP links connecting the IGP domains. An IGP domain may set its IGP to the scaled AIGP attribute such that the link metric may include a uniformly scaled end-to-end view of link metrics across the IGP domains. Additionally, a sham-link is assigned a metric value in accordance with the scaling techniques.

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that exchange data and share resources. In a packet-based network, such as the Internet, the computing devices communicate data by dividing the data into small blocks called packets, which are individually routed across the network from a source device to a destination device. The destination device extracts the data from the packets and assembles the data into its original form. Certain devices within the network referred to as routers use routing protocols to exchange and accumulate topology information that describes the network. This allows a router to construct its own routing topology map of the network. Upon receiving an incoming data packet, the router examines keying information within the packet and forwards the packet in accordance with the accumulated topology information.
Many intra-network routing protocols use flooding-based distribution mechanisms to announce topology information to routers within the network. These intra-network routing protocols typically rely on routing algorithms that require each of the routers to have synchronized routing topology information. For example, Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) routing protocols are link state protocols that use messages conveying link state representations to ensure their routing topology is synchronized with respect to available interfaces, metrics and other variables associated with network links. For example, OSPF utilizes Link State Advertisements (LSAs) while IS-IS uses Link State Protocol Data Units (PDUs) to exchange information concerning the topology of the network. Messages such as those used to convey link state representations in accordance with a link state protocol are generally referred to herein as link state advertisements (LSAs), and OSFP LSAs and IS-IS LS PDUs are examples of such LSAs.
Receiving routers construct and maintain their own network topologies using the information received via the link state advertisements. These link state advertisements may include information identifying a cost metric associated with the link, as well as any other constraints commonly employed for selecting a path through a network in accordance with a link state protocol. As such, each router within a given IGP domain (which usually extends throughout but does not extend beyond an Autonomous System) maintains and constructs a representation of the topology of the IGP domain.
Each router within the IGP domain may compute distance for each path between two nodes as a function of the cost metrics assigned to each link along the path. Each router may next select a so-called "best path" or "shortest path" between two nodes as the path between the two nodes with the shortest distance (i.e., the lowest total cost metric computed as a function of the cost metrics assigned to each link along the path). Each router may repeat this process to identify a best path between every pair of nodes in the network, thereby resolving the representation of the topology of the network to identify forwarding information used for forwarding network traffic along the identified best paths.
Given that IGPs are restricted to providing information concerning the interior of the network, IGPs are generally limited in scope to a single Autonomous System. To stitch together multiple Autonomous Systems, routers located at the edge of the Autonomous System, which may be referred to as Autonomous System border routers (ASBR), may execute an exterior routing protocol, such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) or BGP labeled unicast protocol (BGP-LU), or the like. BGP exchanges routing and reachability information among Autonomous Systems (AS). BGP however may not preserve link state information, such as cost metrics assigned to individual links.
To overcome the deficiencies of BGP in terms of communicating link state information, the core network may execute Accumulated IGP (AIGP), which enables BGP or BGP-LU to carry IGP metrics across IGP domains. For example, AIGP provides an AIGP attribute, a non-transitive BGP path attribute, which includes an accumulated IGP metric. A router may receive the AIGP attribute and determine the distance between two nodes across IGP domains using the accumulated IGP metric. Utilizing AIGP may however inject various issues into the path selection process as a result of non-uniform deployment of IGP throughout the various IGP domains.

Scaled inter-domain metrics for link state protocols