A method for distributing content in a content distribution system is disclosed which comprises the steps of: encrypting at a Content Packager a content using a content encryption key to generate an encrypted content; sending the content encryption key to a Licensing Authority; receiving from the Licensing Authority a distribution key containing an encryption of the content decryption key (Kc) for a given set of authorized devices; creating a secure link between the content encryption key (Kc) and the content protected by this content encryption key using a signature of the content; and distributing the encrypted content together with the signature of the content. A method for receiving content distributed according to the above-mentioned method in a device able to play back the content is also disclosed where the content signature is checked before any play back of the content.

Today, thanks to the availability of high bandwidth connections and efficient data compression technologies, multimedia content can be transmitted with high quality. This generates new businesses and distribution models. Unfortunately, this also gives rise to a high level of piracy. For example, digital content (music, video and software game) can be pirated by users who make copies available to others or by insiders during production processes. Content protection technologies are intended to protect against content piracy. Their proper design and correct implementation are of central importance for the entertainment industry because the incurred losses can be huge.
An investigation on prevailing content protection technologies shows that there are many variants. However, what is common in each content distribution system is the basic security functionality. Indeed, before being written to a physical support or otherwise transmitted, content is usually encrypted by content providers. As a consequence, a required step prior to illegal distribution (namely, unauthorized distribution of content in peer-to-peer file sharing systems like Kazaa or E-mule or on physical media like DVDs) or illegal consumption (namely, unauthorized use of a content legally purchased) is extracting content from its protected form. Most of the time, this means recovering the content in clear. While existing content distribution systems address this issue, they do little or nothing to prevent a pirate or an end-user to divert them from their primary purpose.
Another form of piracy is that of illegal distribution involving bit-to-bit copies or device cloning. There exist techniques (disclosed for example in "Content Protection for Recordable Media: Introduction and Common Cryptographic Elements", 2000. Revision 0.94, Intel Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation, Ltd. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Toshiba Corporation—known as "CPRM"—or in "Advanced Access Content System (AACS): Introduction and Common Cryptographic Element"s, Feb. 17, 2006. Revision 0.91, Intel Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation, Ltd. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Toshiba Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros—known as "AACS"—) based on a unique hardware ID making useless a number of duplication methods. The unique ID is typically encoded in or computed from the physical structure of a hardware material, generally the user's player or the physical support containing the multimedia content. These techniques have in common that this ID is located in a non-writable area of the hardware material. The unique hardware ID enables to securely bind the multimedia content to the player or physical support so that it can only be played using the corresponding player or the corresponding support. Other concurrent techniques, disclosed for example by Claudine Conrado, Franck Kamperman, Geert Jan Schrijen and Willem Jonker in "Privacy in an identity-based DRM system" (in Proceedings of the 14th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications (DEXA '03), pages 389-395, IEEE Computer Society, 2003) or by Paul Koster, Franck Kamperman, Peter Lenoir and Koen Vrielink in "Identity-based DRM: Personal entertainment domain" (in Transactions on Data Hiding and Multimedia Security I, volume 4300 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 104-122, Springer-Verlag, 2006), are based on authorization certificates issued by content distributors where the certificate is linked to a unique user ID.
The inventors have found that current implementations may be used as a tool for distributing information in a variety of crimes including child pornography (content laundering) or violations of copyrights (content re-repackaging). Unauthorized users can exploit distribution systems because the security chain is not addressed as a whole.

Method for preventing laundering and repackaging of multimedia content in content distribution systems


Techniques to synchronize video data and audio data of a video-call over heterogeneous communications transports are disclosed. A transmitting client device adds synchronization indicia for a first communications transport to the video data and synchronization indicia for a second communications transport to the audio data. A receiving client device receives the video and audio data in a buffer, synchronizes the video and audio data, and removes the synchronization indicia for both the video and audio data with a filter. Disclosed techniques to optimize the synchronization include selectively dropping video frames in order to reduce delay, to reduce memory footprint, or to meet quality of service levels as set by a user.

Video-calls are calls comprising both video data and audio data. Typically the video data is the data of a transmitting user and the audio data is the voice data of the transmitting user. However, video-calls can comprise video of subjects other than the transmitting user, may comprise video of office documents during a video-conference, or may comprise a composite of inputs from multiple video cameras. Similarly, the audio data may comprise audio data other than the voice data of the transmitting user, including music, and supplemental audio effects.
Presently, mobile client devices have come to be increasingly sophisticated. Many smart-phones have multiple video cameras, microphones and relatively large video screens. Mobile tablet computers have similar capabilities with larger video screens. Accordingly, users have come to expect video-call capability.
However, evolving mobile wireless networks were originally designed to carry voice data. In contrast, a video call, in particular the video data portions comprise an amount of data large compared to the capacity of voice networks. Accordingly, the audio data and the video data may be sent over different communications transports.
Correspondingly, the receiving client device will have to combine the video data and the voice data arriving over different communications transports and to synchronize the two. However, since different communications transports have different characteristics and different synchronization techniques. Present synchronization techniques do not provide sufficient quality of experience for users for video-calls over heterogeneous transports.

Synchronizing video and audio over heterogeneous transports


A linear guide apparatus is provided with two (upper and lower) tracks of rolling element race tracks formed on a guide rail and of rolling element race tracks formed on a slider main body so as to oppose the rolling element race tracks on the respective sides, i.e., four tracks of race tracks in total. A recess is provided below the lower rolling element race track on the slider main body and the end cap fixed to an end face of the slider main body is provided with a projection that engages with the recess so as to determine a position of the end cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear guide apparatus.
The present invention also relates to a linear guide apparatus provided with rollers as a rolling element.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 22 shows an example of a related-art linear guide apparatus, which is provided with a guide rail 1 extending in an axial direction and a slider 2 mounted over the guide rail 1 so as to relatively move with respect thereto along the axial direction.
The guide rail 1 is provided with two (upper and lower) tracks of rolling element rolling grooves 3 axially extending on the respective side faces thereof, i.e., four tracks of rolling grooves in total. The slider 2 is separated into a slider main body 2A and end caps 5 in an axial motion direction, in such a manner that the end caps 5 are disposed on end portions of the slider main body 2A in the axial motion direction. The slider main body 2A includes leg portions 4 disposed widthwise over both sides of the guide rail 1, and a horizontal portion 7 connecting the leg portions 4. The horizontal portion 7 is mounted on an end face (an upper face of the guide rail 1 in the drawing) in a thicknesswise direction of the guide rail 1 (a direction perpendicular to both a longitudinal direction and a widthwise direction). The slider main body 2A is provided with rolling element rolling grooves 31 along an inner face of the respective leg portions 4 so as to oppose the rolling element rolling grooves 3 so that the rolling element rolling grooves 3, 31 constitute rolling passages for balls B.
A plurality of balls B serving as rolling elements is rollably disposed between the opposing rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 31, so that the slider 2 can relatively move with respect to the guide rail 1 in the axial direction via the rolling motion of the balls B.
Due to sliding motion of the slider 2, the balls B disposed between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 roll toward an end portion of the slider 2; therefore the balls B are required to endlessly circulate in order that the slider 2 can continue the axial motion.
Accordingly, the slider main body 2A includes two (upper and lower) return passages 8 axially penetrating through the respective leg portions 4 of the slider main body 2A, i.e., 4 return passages in total, and each of end caps 5 includes semi-arc shaped direction reversal paths 6 so as to communicate with the rolling passages formed by the rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 31 and the return passages 8. The end caps 5 are fixed to front and rear end faces in the axial motion direction of the slider main body 2A with screws 12 or the like, thereby constituting endless circulation passages for the rolling elements with the rolling passages and the return passages 8 and the direction reversal paths 6. Furthermore, referring to FIG. 22 the reference numeral 10 denotes a tapped hole for fixing the end cap 5 to the end face of the slider main body 2A with screws, 11 a side seal, and 13 a greasing nipple disposed on a side or end face of the end cap 5.
It is essential, for ensuring smooth circulation of the balls B when fixing the end cap 5 to the end face of the slider main body 2A, to correctly align the direction reversal paths 6 of the end cap 5 with the respective rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 31, as well as with there turn passages 8. Therefore, in related-art, a positioning groove 32 is simultaneously formed by grinding when forming the rolling element rolling grooves 31 on the slider main body 2A, along the axial direction parallelly between the upper and lower rolling element rolling grooves 31 as shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24. A projection 33 is formed on the end cap 5, which is to be engaged with the positioning groove 32 as shown in FIG. 25, so that the end cap 5 can be located in position by fitting the projection 33 into the positioning groove 32. (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-139035)
In the foregoing related-art linear guide apparatus, in case where an aperture deformation of the slider main body 2A because of a mounting operation of the slider 2 on the guide rail 1 and/or deformation due to heat treatment occur, generally the slider main body 2A, which has a C-shaped cross-section, is deformed in such a manner that the leg portions 4 open outwardly in the widthwise direction with respect to a center of rotation set at a center of the upper face of the slider main body 2A, and the aperture between the leg portions 4 becomes greater at a portion closer to end portions thereof.
Therefore, when engagement of the end cap 5 with the slider main body 2A is achieved at the positioning grooves 32 formed between the upper and lower rolling element rolling grooves 31 on the slider main body 2A as described above, since the lower rolling element rolling grooves 31 are provided below the positioning grooves 32 on the leg portions 4, deformation of a portion of the end cap 5 lower than the positioning grooves may not follow the deformation of the slider main body 2A. Therefore, positioning precision between the lower rolling element rolling grooves 31 on the slider main body 2A, which has made greater deformation, and the direction reversal paths 6 is degraded, thereby affecting circulation of the balls B.
In a linear guide apparatus provided with rollers as a rolling element, as disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei. 5-209618, an overall length of a guide member 49 for guiding rollers 46 in an axial direction of a guide rail is made longer than an overall length of a slider main body 42, and end portions of the guide member 49 are inserted in engaging holes 48 formed on end caps 43a, 43b so that the end caps 43a, 43b are located in place with respect to the slider main body 42, as shown in FIG. 26.
In the linear guide apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned document, since the position of the end caps 43a, 43b is determined via the guide member 49, as long as a size error of the guide member 49 or a positioning error in attaching the guide member 49 to the slider main body 42 is sufficiently small a problem will not arise. However, in a case where the size error or the positioning error becomes greater, the positioning precision of the end cap is deteriorated. Further, the structure disclosed in the above-mentioned document requires a bolt for fixing the guide member to the slider, which results in an increase in the number of components and assembly steps.


A fluid system for a continuously variable transmission includes a first pump, a first actuation unit, a first line section, a second actuation unit, and a second line section. The first pump has a first sub-pump and a second sub-pump. The first actuation unit is assigned to a first disc set of the continuously variable transmission and the second actuation unit is assigned to a second disc set of the continuously variable transmission. The first line section fluidically connects the first pump to the first actuation unit and the second line section fluidically connects the first pump to the second actuation unit. The second sub-pump has a first connection that can be selectively fluidically connected to the first actuation unit via the first line section, or the second sub-pump has a second connection that can be selectively fluidically connected to the second actuation unit via the second line section.

Generic fluid systems and continuously variable belt transmissions are already known from the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,608 B1 discloses an electronic transmission control system for a motor vehicle with a continuously variable transmission. This includes a first and a second fluid pump driven by an electric motor for pressing and adjusting a variator of the belt transmission.
However, relatively large stroke volumes of the pump may be required to cover large volume flows, for example in the case of quick adjustment. These large stroke volumes require a high torque and correspondingly high power consumption from an actuator motor that drives the pump, since the pressure must be maintained during normal driving. Power loss is thus high, even if no hydraulic power has to be provided, since there is no volume flow requirement during constant driving apart from leakage compensation.

Fluid system for a continuously variable transmission


A flow rate of a heat transfer medium is computed without a flow meter. In a control apparatus (30), a storing portion (36) stores an aerodynamic characteristic map indicating a line causing a rotating stall and lines showing a sonic velocity in a refrigerant sucked in by a compressor (12) on a map displaying a variable θ reflecting a suction volume of the compressor (12) and a variable Ω reflecting a head of the compressor (12); a estimation portion of chilled water flow rate (30b) computes the variable Ω, derives the variable θ according to the variable Ω from the map, computes a heat amount exchanged between the refrigerant and the chilled water in an evaporator (24) based on the suction volume of the compressor (12) according to the computed variable θ, and computes the flow rate of the chilled water based on the heat amount.

To operate a heat source machine, for example, a chiller on the design values, it is necessary to manage a flow rate of a heat transfer medium (chilled water) flowing into an evaporator, but a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the heat transfer medium may not be provided in the chiller because a flow meter for measuring a flow rate is expensive, and it is required to reduce the number of components and so on.
Therefore, as the technologies for measuring a flow rate, PTL 1 discloses the estimation system of cooling water flow rate in that a chilling load is computed based on measurement values of an outlet temperature of chilled water, an inlet temperature of the chilled water and a flow rate of the chilled water, a heat exchange coefficient is computed based on the inlet temperature of the chilled water and the chilling load, and a flow rate of a cooling water is derived from measurement values sent from a group of sensors and the heat exchange coefficient, and then output it.
PTL 2 describes the technology in that for a plurality of air conditioning machines, a plurality of differential pressure sensors are provided to measure a differential pressure between an inlet and an outlet of chilled and heated water in each of the plurality of air conditioning machines and a flow sensor is provided to measure the entire flow rate of the chilled and heated water, and by providing a flow path allowing only one differential pressure sensor to operate through valve switching and the like, the relation between the flow rate and the differential pressure is obtained before operation of cooling, and on the operation of cooling, a flow rate of the chilled and heated water is obtained using the differential pressure sensors.

Estimation apparatus of heat transfer medium flow rate, heat source machine, and estimation method of heat transfer medium flow rate


The reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. The semiconductor device includes a wire which is a conductive film pattern for a terminal formed over a first insulation film over a semiconductor substrate, a second insulation film formed over the first insulation film in such a manner as to cover the wire, and a nickel layer formed over the wire at a portion thereof exposed from an opening in the second insulation film. The wire is formed of a lamination film having a main conductor film containing aluminum as a main component, and a conductor film formed over the entire top surface of the main conductor film. The conductor film is formed of a titanium film, a tungsten film, or a titanium tungsten film. The nickel layer is formed over the conductor film at a portion thereof exposed from the opening.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and an electronic device, and is preferably applicable to, for example, a semiconductor device having a power semiconductor element, and an electronic device using the same.
In a semiconductor chip including power semiconductor elements such as IGBTs formed therein, the current flowing between a pad provided on the main surface side and a back surface electrode provided on the back surface side can be controlled by the power semiconductor elements formed in the semiconductor chip. For this reason, such a semiconductor chip can be used for a switching element through which a large current flows, and the like. For packaging such a semiconductor chip, a metal plate is coupled via a solder to the pad of the semiconductor chip in consideration of the resistance reduction.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-256839 (Patent Document 1), there is described a technology regarding a semiconductor device including a trench gate IGBT.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-91618 (Patent Document 2), there is described a technology regarding a semiconductor device including a soldered electrode formed over the surface of an element electrode exposed from the opening in a protective film.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-21914 (Patent Document 3), there is described a technology regarding a semiconductor device in which a gold-plated bump is formed over each pad.

Semiconductor device and an electronic device


The current invention is an improved magnetic vibration isolation mount and method that can provide a passive and active reduction in the actual and felt vibration transfer from one object to another. The vibration isolation mount is comprised of a mounting means for a first member, a mounting means for a second member, and a rod and magnetic field apparatus between the two mounts and members. The invention can also be seen as a method for the control of vibration transmission from a first member to a second member via either passive or active means.

The present invention is in the technical field of vibration dampening. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of magnetic fields that act to isolate vibration between two units. This invention relates to the improvement of a magnetic vibration isolating device and method.
There is often a need to reduce the transmission of vibrational forces between two members of a structure or device while still maintaining sufficient mechanical support with the primary goal of reducing both vibration and noise felt by equipment and persons.
There are many areas that have a need for the reduction in the transfer of vibrational forces from one member to another member. One such situation involves the need to reduce noise and vibration transfer between the many connection points found in an automobile such as those between outside structural panels and interior trim, and between seats and their mounts, and between the various engine and mechanical parts and the members to which they are mounted. Another situation involves the reduction of cabin vibration and noise found in conventional aircraft whereas one of the major avenues for the transfer of vibrational forces occurs at the mounts between the main air frame and interior trim. Another situation involves the transfer of vibrational energy between different pieces of industrial and/or manufacturing equipment or tools and what they are mounted or connected to, and also to what they come into contact with, including persons.
A majority of the conventional vibration dampening devices often utilize springs and/or liquid or gas pressure to create a reduction in shock and vibration. These devices all have different applications and all serve for the isolation of vibration between two surfaces. Typically the devices are used when it is desirable to reduce the transfer of energy in the form of vibration between two surfaces that need to be attached in a secure form while at the same time not carry over any of the energy of the vibration. Vibration dampening needs change according to the intensity of the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations, therefore a device is often needed that can adjust or vary the amount of dampening.
Elastomeric, spring, air, liquid vibration isolating devices are commonly used today as a mounting means for motors, engines and other miscellaneous equipment. These vibration dampening devices range from simple spring based systems to complex elastomeric devices, however they all have different issues and weaknesses. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an improved mount and method for vibration reduction.

Magnetic vibration isolation mount and method


A new prostate cancer cell line is a continuous line of androgen-repressed metastatic prostate cancer cells. Androgen-repressed prostate cancer cells are linked with aggressive, malignant prostate cancer, in the identification and establishment of androgen-repressed prostate cancer cell lines, which are stable and continuous, allows the examination of therapeutic agents therefor, as well as identification of biological markers for the same.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to human prostate cancer. More specifically, the invention involves the establishment of androgen-repressed human prostate cancer cell lines, which may be used to identify biological markers to differentiate malignant and benign forms of prostate cancer. The cell line also provides a basis for screening therapeutic agents against advanced forms of human prostate cancer.

Androgen-repressed metastatic human prostate cancer cell line

University of Virginia Patent Foundation


A method for synthesizing nanodiamonds includes high energy ball milling of graphite powder for a period of at least 52 hours at a rotation speed of about 400 rotations per minute to produce nanodiamonds. The ball milling can occur in an inert atmosphere at ambient pressure and room temperature. The nanodiamonds can have a spherical morphology and a particle size distribution ranging from about 1 nanometer to about 10 nanometers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nanotechnology, and particularly, to a method for synthesizing nanodiamonds from graphite powders by high energy ball milling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Carbon is stabilized in various multi-atomic structures with different molecular configurations called allotropes. Allotropes of carbon include, for example, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, diamond, and nanodiamonds (NDs). Graphite and diamond are two natural crystalline allotropic forms of carbon. Early studies concerning the fabrication of NDs involved fabrication under extreme high pressure and elevated temperature using detonation technique. When detonation is used, a large amount of non-diamond carbon is also often produced, which severely limits application of the NDs that may be present in the product. In addition to detonation technique, NDs have been successfully synthesized in the last five years by laser ablation, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), autoclave synthesis from supercritical fluids, chlorination of carbides and ion irradiation of graphite. Many of the current approaches for fabrication of nanodiamonds require the application of either extremely high pressure or high temperature or both. While the plasma process has resulted in homogeneous nucleation of diamonds at lower pressure and temperatures, the nanodiamonds produced using the plasma process are typically large particles with an average size of 100 nm in diameter. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a new cost-effective process for synthesizing large amounts of ultrafine nanodiamonds with narrow nanoparticle size distributions at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Thus, a process for preparing nanodiamonds solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

KUWAIT INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH


A spotter system is disclosed herein for assisting a weightlifter to safely exert a maximum effort during a weightlifting procedure. The system includes a frame for removably supporting a weight arrangement comprised of either free or track weights. The frame further supports a pneumatic lift which includes cables secured at one end to the barbell and at their opposite ends to a pulley. Via a chain drive from the pulley, an intermediate wheel is moved which, in turn, pivots a lever arm. The lever arm is attached at one end to a piston and cylinder assembly that offers less resistence to the users exerted effort to raise the barbell. Control of the resistence is effected by body limb activation of positive or negative switches coupled to the piston and cylinder assembly which further includes an air compressor, gages and relief valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of exercising apparatus and more particularly to a novel exercise apparatus incorporating a controlled weight resistence means so that a weightlifter may exert maximum effort in safety and without assistance from another person.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, it is the practice in the exercise field to employ free or machine weights in an effort to increase the strength and good health of the user. Normally, the user will place the weights on the end of a bar or in a stack and proceed to lift the bar employing the weights as resistance so that the muscles of the particular body group are thoroughly exercised. The practice is usually to perform a number of repetitions in a particular set and then to use a certain number of sets in order to complete the exercise.
For maximum body muscle strength, the user attempts to exert all of his strength on the last one or two repetitions of each set, and in this connection, a helper is generally asked to place fingers under the weights to assist the lifter in the event full exertion exhausts the muscles to where the lifter cannot make the final repetition. The alternate is to not use a spotter and this is extremely dangerous to the lifter since muscle exertion and exhaustion may cause the weights to drop and the lifter may be damaged thereby. Another problem and difficulty has been encountered which stems from the fact that the user or lifter has no control over the resistance of the weights as the repetitions are being performed in each set. Usually, to change resistance, the user must stop the procedure and immediately place or remove weights until the desired amount of resistance is achieved. Then the exercise is resumed. Obviously, this wastes time, and, more importantly, interrupts the purpose of timed repetitions in each set.
Some attempts have been made to provide a change in resistance by employing controlled pressure, a variety of cam assemblies or the like, and these arrangements have not been successful because they either require frequent manual changing by either the lifter or an assistant but remain a static system requiring the temporary cessation of the exercise while the adjustment is being made.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a dynamic means in an exercising machine which will permit the user or lifter to vary the amount of resistance during the exercise procedure without stopping the procedure or requiring independent assistance to rearrange the resistance.


A system and method for processing information in unstructured or structured form, comprising a computer running in a distributed network with one or more data agents. Associations of natural language artifacts may be learned from natural language artifacts in unstructured data sources, and semantic and syntactic relationships may be learned in structured data sources, using grouping based on a criteria of shared features that are dynamically determined without the use of a priori classifications, by employing conditional probability constraints.

The proliferation of specialized technology across multiple industries has led to an expanding problem of connecting together disparate information systems in a way that provides value that justifies the cost of creating interoperability. It is desirable to harness the collective knowledge of different systems for better management of intellectual assets, improved oversight of business or organization operations, and optimizing business or organization procedures. As the complexity of business or organization systems has grown and the IT components of business or organization processes have become more spread out, integration software has become more layered and segmented. Often, however, many current tools aimed at aggregating this information use poor methods for converting it into useable knowledge. These tools, often termed "middleware," are designed to connect systems, not enhance them or learn from them. Middleware which synthesizes integration, analytics, and process awareness into a package can create new functionality and efficiency while preserving past investments in software and hardware.
Other tools, such as knowledge management software, are able to make limited strides towards refining this collected information into useable knowledge. However, there exist few solutions that are able to take information from multiple sources and provide effective wrapping of services and knowledge management. Knowledge management software and its sister field, Business or Organization Intelligence (BI), are becoming critical to creating and maintaining competitive business or organization advantages within multiple industries. Tools that attempt to fulfill these needs run the gamut from simple document management and organization software to enhanced heuristic or case-based categorization systems to the most advanced systems utilizing natural language processors for tackling limited semantic awareness.
Software Agents have become more and more ubiquitous in software development in a variety of fields. These autonomous programs lend themselves to popular and diverse applications in such fields as web services (called "bots"), customer relationship management (CRM) enhancement, "software wrapping" industrial equipment, and wireless intelligent networking software. In particular, the idea of using intelligent agents as wrappers on legacy systems to make these systems and their software operational with new applications and platforms is very appealing and could provide an advantageous approach for industries having the most acute need for intelligent middleware.
Therefore, what is needed is needed is more intelligent middleware to meet these objectives.

Knowledge discovery agent system and method


A prefabricated room module (1) is provided for use in the construction of a modular building. The room module comprises a floor slab (2) of generally rectangular shape in plan, and load bearing walls (3,4) formed at adjacent sides of the slab and mutually adjoining at a common corner (5). The module has no ceiling slab opposite the floor slab (2) and an open face opposite one of the load bearing walls (4) which constitutes a party wall. Opposite another of the load bearing walls (3) the module may be open or include a further wall (7) which can have an access opening (10) therein for providing service access to a kitchen or bathroom pod (9) installed in a corner of the module. Edges of the floor slab (2) have projecting tongues (11) and fastening means for engaging complementary recesses and fastening means respectively of an adjacent module. The module may have a ceiling slab instead of a floor slab (2).

The present invention relates to modular building construction systems and, more particularly, to prefabricated room modules which may be used to construct room units, optionally including bathrooms or kitchens, for such construction systems, and which may be used, for example, in the construction of dormitory and hotel type accommodation, apartments, social housing and educational buildings.
Room modules for modular building construction systems are conventionally manufactured and prefinished in a factory before being transported to and assembled on site. An advantage of using room modules instead of other traditional building methods is that much of the work is carried out in a factory where labour costs are cheaper. Also, work carried out in a factory is unaffected by adverse weather conditions, unlike work carried out on site.
Bath and shower rooms including toilet facilities, as well as kitchens, may either be installed in the room modules at the construction site in the traditional manner or in a factory, off site. They may be prefabricated in the form of three dimensional components commonly known as xe2x80x9cpodsxe2x80x9d. Hitherto, pods have been transported to the construction site and hoisted into position in the modules in which they are to be installed.
In order for a modular building construction system to be economically viable, it is important to maintain transportation and cranage costs for the room modules, as well as the fabrication costs, at a minimum. In order to maintain such costs at a minimum, the room modules are subject to certain constraints with regard to dimensions and weights. Hence, the maximum width which can presently be transported economically is 3.5 m in certain countries. The maximum load permitted per vehicle is presently 26 tonnes. Consequently, if a room module including a fitted bathroom or kitchen exceeds about 13 tonnes in weight, only one module can be transported at a time, thereby virtually doubling transportation costs. Moreover, the weights of room modules have a direct bearing on cranage costs at a construction site. Modules weighing less than 8 tonnes can be hoisted by a variety of cranes which are relatively cheap to hire, whereas modules weighing 13 tonnes or more need to be hoisted on rather more expensive, specialised cranes. As to fabrication costs, whilst precast concrete of thinner cross section uses less concrete and also weighs less, the cost of such concrete tends to be more per cubic meter because of the increased labour costs involved. Much greater care requires to be taken in making and handling thin concrete components.
Multi-storey buildings erected using a modular construction system typically comprise a plurality of room units assembled from precast concrete modules positioned side-by-side and stacked one on top of another. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,050,215 and 4,194,339. Both these systems utilize (a) a series of rectangular room modules, each of which has only two load bearing walls joined by a floor panel and are open at ceiling level, and (b) a series of rectangular tubular room modules, each of which has two opposite load bearing walls for transmitting vertical loads joined via floor and ceiling panels. The (b) modules are used only on the top storey of a building construction, and the (a) modules are used for all the lower storeys. The modules in successive storeys are arranged so that the walls for transmitting vertical loads above are aligned with those below. In the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,215, the room modules on each level are installed with conjugation of the location of the load bearing walls i.e. so that the load bearing walls of any one module in one storey lie perpendicular to the load bearing walls of all immediately adjacent modules in the same storey. In the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,339, the modules in each storey are installed end-to-end so as to form a continuous living space in a longitudinal direction and side-by-side so as to form a separate series of living spaces with double party walls separating the living spaces in the transverse direction.
A problem with precast concrete frame and/or panel construction systems is that if a load bearing wall or column fails, it can cause the progressive collapse of the entire structure above it. Another problem is that these room modules are formed in expensive moulds which are required for casting the opposed walls so as to be mutually parallel. Additionally, the moulds may also be required to form mutually parallel floor and ceiling panels.
It is an objecT of the present invention to alleviate the above problems and provide a room module having a more stable modular construction.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a prefabricated room module for use in the construction of a modular building, comprising a slab of generally rectangular shape in plan, and load bearing walls, characterized in that the slab is a floor or ceiling slab and that said load bearing walls are formed at adjacent sides of the slab and mutually adjoin at a common corner.
The room module of the invention may be of monolithic precast and reinforced concrete construction. Such a module integrally formed from precast concrete is inherently much stronger than other known room modules and enables a reduction in the use of materials and waste.
It may be desirable for one of the walls of the room module to be prefabricated with at least one door or window opening and this wall, in the modular building, may form an outside wall or corridor wall section, depending on the type of opening, with the other load bearing wall forming a party wall.
Conveniently, the room module can include a prefabricated bathroom or kitchen pod.
A module according to the invention and, preferably, cast with a floor slab, is suitable for use in erecting low cost accommodation, such as, dormitories and two star hotels. A suitable room unit for such accommodation may be provided by a room module which is approximately 6 mxc3x973 m. The load bearing wall along the shorter side of the floor slab is cast with a window opening and forms the inner skin of an outer cladding system of the building. The other load bearing wall is a party wall. Such modules may be stacked one on top of the other up to a height of 10 storeys with the same load bearing wall thickness for all storeys. For example, up to 10 storeys the load bearing walls will generally be of the order of 100 mm thick unless for acoustic purposes they need to be made up to 150 mm thickness. Floors up to 3.2 m spans may be of the order of 100 mm thick and longer spans, up to xc2x14 m, will be 120 mm thick. If greater acoustic properties are required for floors, a floating floor may be provided on top of the floor slab. The modules are stacked with the load bearing walls of the modules aligned in vertical planes.
Conveniently, a third wall of less width than the module is cast along the corridor side of the floor slab, opposite the wall having the window opening, and in adjoining relation with the adjacent party wall, whereby a bathroom pod may be accommodated between this third wall, which forms a corridor wall, and the party wall. Such a module affords constructors an added advantage in that the bathroom pods can be delivered to the factory in which the modules are precast and where they can be installed in the module prior to delivery to the construction site. This has a number of advantages, the main one being the saving of time at the site as the pod is hoisted into position as part of the module and not as a separate element. The maximum weight of this module, including the bathroom pod, is advantageously less than 13 tonnes.
Fixing points for mechanical fastening devices may be cast into the floor or ceiling slab and load bearing walls at or adjacent their free edges so as to enable the module to be tied to adjacent modules both horizontally and vertically. At least the free edge of the floor or ceiling slab opposite the load bearing wall serving as a party wall may be cast with projecting tongues and the opposite edge of the slab, below the party wall, may be cast with complementary rebates, whereby the projecting tongues can rest in the rebates of an adjacent similar module in the same storey and be supported by the load bearing wall of another similar module in the storey below.
Where a building construction requires longer or larger room units which cannot be constructed from a single room module according to the invention without breaching the above mentioned constraints, the room unit may be assembled from a main room module constructed according to the invention and one or more prefabricated supplementary modules, each of which comprises a rectangular floor or ceiling slab and a load bearing wall along one side of the slab so as to coincide with the party wall of the main module. The supplementary module is adapted to be fixed to the main module with the free sides of its slab and load bearing wall contiguous with the free sides of the slab and party wall of the main module.
In one embodiment suitable, for example, for constructing three star hotels, the room unit may be assembled from one main module comprising two adjacent load bearing walls and a floor slab, and one supplementary module. The supplementary module may be fitted with a bathroom or kitchen pod. In those cases where the constructor requires the floor level of a bathroom to be the same as the bedroom lobby, the supplementary module may be set down slightly to permit this to be achieved. The resulting recess may then be filled with lightweight screed. Alternatively, the whole floor of the room unit may be raised with a floating floor or screed to match the floor level of the bathroom or kitchen pod.
In another embodiment having larger room units, such as may be required, for example, for four star hotels, the room unit may be formed from a main room module and two supplementary modules to permit economic transportation. Such room units may have a clear internal width exceeding 3.2 m. For four star hotels, the overall dimensions of a room unit comprising the three modules may be about 3.7 mxc3x976.5 m and for five star hotels 4 mxc3x978 m. A prefabricated bathroom pod may be installed in the outer one of the supplementary modules which will be adjacent the corridor of a hotel.
In embodiments utilising supplementary modules, the room units can also be stacked up to a height of ten storeys utilising the same wall thickness for all storeys. The maximum weight of the heaviest of the modules should be less than 8 tonnes, thus reducing the cost of cranes needed for hoisting purposes. In these embodiments, the floor slab of the or each supplementary module will span across the width of the room unit and, similarly to a main room module constructed according to the invention, each supplementary module may be cast with tongues projecting from the edge of the slab opposite the load bearing wall and with complementary rebates in the corner edge between the slab and the wall so that the tongues of the floor slab can bear on the party wall of a like supplementary module in the storey below.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a prefabricated room module for use in the construction of a multi-storey modular building, comprising a floor or ceiling slab, a wall formed along one side of the slab, at least one upright projection from a top or bottom edge of the wall, at least one first anchor member at the opposite edge of the wall having a first coupling hole for engaging a cooperating projection of an adjoining like module in the next storey above or below, at least one second anchor member projecting from the edge of the slab opposite the wall and having a second coupling hole also for engaging a cooperating projection of an adjoining like module in the next storey above or below, and means for securing the projection through cooperating first and second holes of adjoining like modules.
When the room module has a floor slab, the projection(s) are conveniently on the top edge of the wall and, when the room module has a ceiling slab, the projection(s) are conveniently at the bottom edge of the wall.
When erecting a building using, for example, room modules embodying the invention and comprising floor slabs, the room modules in an upper storey are lowered onto the modules of the storey immediately below and are assembled so that the projection(s) from the wall of a room module in the storey below engage the coupling holes in the anchor members of the two room modules in the upper storey having, respectively, the free edge of its floor slab and the bottom edge of its wall supported on the upper edge of the wall of the lower module wall. The projection(s) are then secured to the anchor members so as to tie the three adjoining modules together in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Preferably, the projection(s) are bolts or other screw threaded rods which are secured to the anchor members by nuts.
The invention also consists in a modular building construction system erected using prefabricated room modules according to the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A method for measuring the shape of a heating treatment jig to be held by a holding portion of a vertical heat treatment apparatus includes measuring the shape of the heat treatment jig in a state that the position of a supporting portion for supporting the heat treatment jig is set to be the same as the position of the holding portion for the heat treatment jig in the vertical heat treatment apparatus. The heat treatment jig can be used for placing a semiconductor wafer to be subjected to heat treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat treatment jig to be used for carrying out a heat treatment in a vertical heat treatment apparatus to be used in a semiconductor manufacturing process, and to a method and an apparatus for measuring the shape of such a heat treatment jig, to confirm that the jig has a shape reducing crystal defect or damage of a semiconductor wafer.
2. Discussion of Background
A process for treating a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter referred to as a "wafer") in a semiconductor manufacturing process, includes a heat treatment process using high temperature such as an annealing treatment, an oxidation treatment or a diffusion treatment, and in such a heat treatment process, a vertical heat treatment apparatus is used according to upsizing of a wafer.
In this type of vertical heat treatment apparatus, a holding jig named "boat" is used, which is constituted by a pair of end plates 1, 1 positioned at the top and the bottom as shown in FIG. 1, and three or four supporting rods 2, 2 . . . provided between the pair of end plates 1, 1, on which a plurality of grooves 4 is formed as shown in FIG. 2 for positioning a wafer 3. There has been a problem that in a case where a wafer 3 is held by such a boat and subjected to a heat treatment, since the weight of the wafer 3 is supported at contact portions with the grooves 4 of the boat, when a heat is applied to the wafer 3, there occurs a positioning shift due to a thermal expansion difference between the materials of the wafer 3 and the boat or due to deflection of the wafer 3 by its own weight, or there forms a shearing stress of the wafer 3 by its own weight, and they cause damages or crystal defects (slip) in the wafer 3.
In order to solve such problems, a method is proposed, in which instead of using grooves 4 for holding a wafer 3, a circular doughnut-shaped heat treatment jig 5 shown in Patent Document 1 and in FIG. 3 of this application, is used for holding the periphery of the wafer 3 as shown in FIG. 4, and the grooves 4 of the boat are used for supporting the periphery of the heat treatment jig 5 as shown in FIG. 5.
Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, when a wafer is placed on a heat treatment jig, the wafer is deflected by its own weight and a shearing stress is applied to a portion of the wafer in contact with the inner periphery of the jig, which causes crystal defects of the wafer, and the document proposes means for preventing such crystal defects.
Further, as means for more efficiently holding the periphery of a wafer, Patent Document 3 proposes a method of arranging contact portions of the outer periphery of the wafer so that they are outside a region for producing semiconductor devices, and a method of forming each wafer-holding surface into a tapered shape toward the center so as to have a line contact with the wafer instead of a face contact, to reduce occurrence of damages or crystal defects.
These heat treatment jigs are made of a material such as a fused quartz, a synthetic quartz, a sintered silicon carbide coated with the same material by CVD, a silicon carbide that is so-called solid product produced by a CVD method, silicon or carbon.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-7-45691
Patent Document 2: JP-A-9-199438
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2005-101161
However, in a semiconductor manufacturing process, a treatment such as an anneal treatment in which the heat treatment temperature is at least 1,200° C., becomes widely used and defect-free requirement for wafers becomes more strict, and consequently, more damages or crystal defects are detected even with a heat treatment jig having a conventionally proposed shape.
This is because such conventionally proposed shapes of heat treatment jigs are ones considering only deformation of a wafer but not considering deformation of the heat treatment jig itself by its own weight, or deformation of the heat treatment jig in a higher temperature region. Further, this is also because such shapes are ones only considering deformations in a radial direction but not considering deformation in a circumferential direction that is determined by the number, positions and the shape of grooves of a boat for holding the heat treatment jig itself.
Proposal of an optimum shape of heat treatment jig considering a deformation due to the heat treatment jig by its own weight or due to heat, can be determined by a simulation using e.g. a finite element method.
When a heat treatment jig having a shape also considering such a deformation by a simulation is produced, it is necessary to confirm whether the finished shape has a predetermined accuracy. In this step, a conventionally used three-dimensional measurement tool has a flat stage to be used for placing a heat treatment jig being an object to be measured, and accordingly, the heat treatment jig is deflected by its own weight to prevent accurate measurement. Further, in a case of point-contact type profiler, the heat treatment jig is deformed by a contact pressure to prevent accurate measurement. Further, in order to prevent the above-mentioned damages or crystal defects, it is essential to determine a three-dimensional shape of a surface of the heat treatment jig to be used for placing a wafer. However, on a flat stage, manufacturing accuracy of the opposite surface of the jig, more specifically, parallelism, may affect the measurement, and accurate measurement becomes difficult.
It is possible to adjust a measured shape considering these deformation or parallelism. However, such a adjustment requires excessive steps and significantly deteriorates productivity.

Method and apparatus for measuring shape of heat treatment jig


A system for determining slippage of row unit or chopping unit slip clutches of a corn head includes a microcomputer coupled to at least one vibration sensor and a display or aural annunciator. A slipping clutch or group of clutches including a slipping clutch may be identified by recognizing a speed dependent predominant frequency. A slipping clutch or group of clutches including a slipping clutch may be identified by comparing magnitudes or times of receipt of vibrations from a pair of sensors. A slipping clutch or group of clutches including a slipping clutch may also be identified by comparing vibrations received from a single sensor with known location identifying magnitudes.

As is well known, harvesters may be equipped with a variety of interchangeable gatherer units to suit particular crops or harvesting conditions. Corn heads are used with base units to permit the harvesting of corn. The corn head is a row crop device and so is equipped with a series of shrouds or snouts which function as divider points for guiding plants or stalks into the throats of the respective row units as the combine advances down the rows of standing crop. Gatherer chains then guide the stalks rearwardly relative to the corn head while stalk rolls pull the stalk down and corn ears are snapped from the stalk by deck plates. The gatherer chains convey the ears rearwardly and upwardly and deliver them to a trough having a cross auger extending laterally, immediately behind and spanning the row units. The auger rotating in the auger trough pulls the ears of corn to a laterally central region of the corn head. A central conveyor receives the ears and conveys them backwards through a hole on the rear wall of the corn head, then through a feeder house and then into the vehicle where the ears are threshed, and the corn kernels cleaned and stored. Many corn heads include optional chopping units each having a rotatable blade located beneath the stalk rolls for cutting and shredding the downwardly moving corn stalks which may then be left in the field to decompose. Corn heads include a frame, including a toolbar extending across the width of the frame to which row units and chopping units are attached. The row units and chopping units are driven by a laterally extending drive shaft that extends through all of the row units and chopping units.
During normal operation, one or more row or chopping units will occasionally become jammed with foreign material and stop operating altogether. When this happens, the drive shaft continues rotating, but is mechanically released from the stopped unit by disengaging a slip clutch that couples the drive shaft to the unit, thereby permitting the drive shaft to continue rotating even though the row unit or chopping unit is jammed. This clutch slippage cannot continue indefinitely, however, since a slipping slip clutch can overheat to destruction in just a few minutes during normal operation through the field. The clutch slips whenever the row unit or chopping unit is jammed, rubbing metal against metal. If this jammed row unit/jammed chopping unit condition is not detected, a clutch could burn up in as little as 5-10 minutes.
As a further complication, it is impossible for the operator to see whether clutches are slipping. The slip clutches are invisible from the operator station. The chopping units, if present, are disposed underneath the corn head where they cannot be seen and the row units are disposed underneath the covers or shrouds that guide the corn plants into the row units. The covers, sometimes called snouts, are not illustrated.
Typically, the only indication is the noise generated by the slipping clutch. Unfortunately, agricultural harvesters are noisy and it can be very difficult if not impossible to hear this clutch noise.
Row and chopping unit jams could be detected by using shaft speed sensors located at each of the row and chopping units. This solution, however, would require a sensor for each unit and considerably cabling to connect all the sensors to a single sensing system and therefore are not used in any production corn head.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,044 B2 discloses an arrangement for the detection of a crop jam in a front harvesting attachment or a harvesting machine having an overload clutch inserted into the driveline of a crop conveying element of the harvesting machine that interrupts the driveline, in the case that an established torque limit is exceeded due to a crop jam. The overload clutch, which may be a cam-controlled clutch, is inserted into the driveline of the conveyor arrangement between the conveyor arrangement and an articulated shaft that connects it with a gearbox providing its mechanical drive. The overload clutch separates the driveline of the conveyor arrangement when the torque transmitted by the overload clutch exceeds an established limit value determined by the overload clutch. Generally, the overload is caused by a crop jam in the conveyor arrangement. The slip clutch generates acoustic or mechanical vibrations. The detection arrangement is equipped with a sensor that can, if necessary, receive these vibrations and detects them with the use of an appropriate analog and/or digital signal processor. A control arrangement connected with the sensor can inform the operator of the harvesting machine acoustically and/or optically in case of a crop jam, or even take appropriate steps automatically to remove the crop jam, particularly turning off the drive of the crop conveying element, raising a hold-down arrangement of a pick-up or a reel of a cutter head, and/or reversing the drive of the crop conveying element.


A system and method for code virtualization and remote process call code on a user device. The method includes selecting a remote process on a remote server, the remote process correlated to at least one remote service, and receiving from at least one virtual code provider (VCP) on the remote server, a code snippet with parameters from pre-defined fields to call the remote process. The method installs a software development kit (SDK) downloaded from the remote server, onto the user device. The method inserts the code snippet based on the SDK into a local code base on the user device, and inserts parameter values into the code snippet and deploying the code snippet such that the code snippet calls the remote process with the SDK from the user device.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and system for process call code-generation.
2. Description of the Related Art
The growth and integration of computer programming languages has expanded many capabilities of existing languages. Each language offers particular advantages and disadvantages in terms of respective size, execution speed, and various functionality within platforms and devices. As such, some specific languages are made to only work with corresponding devices and users must often be familiar or even be experts with multiple programming languages. In addition, the nature of building modern applications has forced developers to learn multiple languages. Such that writing an application is no longer limited to using one programming language. Integrating and learning multiple languages is a difficult burden, often requiring months or years of training for a programmer/developer to reach a sufficient coding proficiency.
Applications may be composed of various languages and if deployed on servers, requires programmers to learn a front end language, a server language, and a back end language. Front end technologies are also made of several different languages (HTML, Javascript, etc.) to further add to programming complexity.
In addition, more computing occurs over a network and/or the Internet (i.e., "CLOUD computing"), programming with various software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) becomes a cumbersome necessity for developers. Emerging services such as social media (TWITTER, FACEBOOK, and the like), data storage (DROPBOX, CLOUD DRIVE, and the like), and financial transactions (PAYPAL, AMAZON, EBAY, and the like) also increase the programming burden on programmers as each service may require its own SDK or API to implement processes offered by the service. For example, TWEETING on TWITTER requires a different code base than for posting a picture on TUMBLR. Using these services also may not be conveniently shown until after applications are deployed on the service, which also may have irreparable results. In other words, programming across multiple platforms, languages, and services remains exceedingly complex to learn in combination with understanding accompanying SDKs and APIs of remote services.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an integrating a local and remote programming environment.

Method and apparatus for code virtualization and remote process call generation


The present invention relates to a downhole artificial lifting system for introducing fluid into a production casing from an annulus arranged outside the production casing. The production casing has an axial extension and a casing wall with a wall thickness, and the system comprises the production casing which at a first part is surrounded by an intermediate casing creating the annulus which is downwardly closed, and a fluid delivering means pumping fluid into the annulus. The invention also relates to a tool for use in the system and a method.

In an oil or gas production well, there might not be sufficient pressure in the reservoir to lift the production fluids to the surface. In such circumstances, artificial lift may be necessary to lift the produced fluids to the surface. In other circumstances, artificial lift may be used in naturally flowing wells which do not technically need it to increase the flow rate to a higher level than the natural rate.
Artificial lift refers to the use of an artificial means to increase the flow of liquids, such as crude oil or water, from a production well. This is generally done by using a mechanical device inside the well, e.g. a pump or a velocity string, or by decreasing the weight of the hydrostatic column by injecting a fluid, often a gas, into the liquid a certain distance down the well. The latter is often referred to a gas lift system.
In a gas lift system, the injected gas aerates the fluid to reduce its density. The formation pressure is thereby able to lift the oil column and force the fluid out of the wellbore. Gas may be injected continuously or intermittently, depending on the producing characteristics of the well and the arrangement of the gas lift equipment.
Accordingly, it is known to use gas lift systems for artificial lift in production wells. Some known gas lift systems consist of a mandrel which is a device installed in the tubing string of a well.
There are two common types of mandrels. In a conventional gas lift mandrel, a gas lift valve is installed as the tubing is placed in the well. Thus, to replace or repair the valve, the tubing string must be pulled up. This is a cumbersome operation.
Another known mandrel is the side-pocket mandrel. In such a mandrel, the valve is installed and removed by means of wireline while the side-pocket mandrel remains in the well. This may eliminate the need to pull up the tubing to repair or replace the valve, however, side-pocket mandrels are complicated to operate and are furthermore installed as the tubing is placed in the well. Moreover, mandrels occupy a lot of space outside the production casing, which complicates other operations performed outside the production casing.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, the known gas lift system is installed in the tubing, i.e. the casing, however, the known gas lift system is difficult or nearly impossible to retrofit into existing production wells.


Exemplary traffic engineering solutions are described herein. According to exemplary embodiments, multiple tiered thresholds representing allocatable capacities of links in the network may be provided. The tiered thresholds may effectively limit the amount of data that a traffic engineering system is permitted to allocate on links in the network. The traffic engineering system may attempt to allocate data flows in the network according to the smallest threshold. If the network cannot accommodate the data flows according to the smallest threshold, then the next-smallest threshold may be attempted. The thresholds may be sequentially tested in increasing order until the largest threshold is attempted. If a workable threshold is found, then the data flow may be allocated to a path in the network. If the traffic engineering system is unable to accommodate the data flows at any of the tiered thresholds, then the traffic engineering system may report a failure.

In a communications network, information (such as a data stream or data packets) may be transmitted from a source to a destination. The information may be transmitted as a data flow, which is an allocated connection that carries the information between the source and the destination along a path. Typically, a data flow has an associated size (e.g., a particular data flow sends five units of information, such as megabits, per second).
The source and the destination may be nodes in the network. A node represents a device that communicates with the network and through which information may pass, originate, and/or terminate. The nodes may be, for example: computing devices such as personal computers, phones, or tablets; servers such as email servers, data servers, or web servers; routers; switches; and other networking devices.
The data flows may be transmitted over paths in the network. A connection between two nodes is referred to as a "link," and one or more links may form a path connecting a source and a destination. The paths in the network may connect from the source to the destination using one or more transmission mediums, potentially passing through one or more nodes along the route.
The transmission mediums may be any medium suitable for transmitting information, such as copper wire, fiber optic cable, or radio waves passing through the air, among other options.
Each link is associated with a capacity, which represents the amount of data that the link is capable of accepting at any given time. When one link is unable to accommodate more data flows, subsequent data flows may be allocated to different links. Traffic Engineering relates to the problem of optimizing network routing among different potential communication paths to meet the demands of applications or nodes that transfer data in the network.
As more nodes, data flows, and links are added to the network, it becomes increasingly complicated to allocate paths for different data flows. Choosing the appropriate amount of data to allocate to a given link and balancing the bandwidth of the links in the network with the desire to route each data flow in the fastest, most efficient manner are difficult problems for traffic engineering systems.

Traffic engineering system for preventing demand deadlock and achieving uniform link utilization


A track jump control circuit having a pick-up for reading information stored on a disc, a motor for moving the pick-up in a radial direction of the disc, a speed detector for detecting the moving speed of the pick-up and for outputting a speed signal, an integration circuit for generating a signal according to the moving amount of the pick-up according to the speed signal being detected, a reference voltage generation circuit for generating a reference signal according to the distance for which the pick-up is moved in a track jump mode, a comparator for comparing the reference signal with the signal according to the moving amount and for sending a difference signal to the motor, and a controller for stopping sending the difference signal to the motor when the difference signal is in a predetermined range. When the difference signal between the reference signal and the signal according to the moving amount is in the predetermined range, the completion of the track jump operation is determined. Thus, the determination of the completion of the track jump operation is not much affected by an external vibration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a track jump control circuit used in an optical record and playback apparatus or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in an optical record and playback apparatus such as a compact disc player (CD player), or compact disc ROM (CD-ROM), information stored on a disc is read by a pick-up.
In such an optical record and playback apparatus, when reading information by means of the pick-up, the pick-up is moved at a low speed so as to follow tracks. When placing the pick-up to a desired position, the pick-up is moved at a high speed so as to jump tracks.
A track jump control circuit for conducting such a track jump operation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Serial No. SHO 60-117203.
With the track jump control circuit, in the track jump state, the moving speed of the pick-up is detected. The completion of the track jump operation is determined by the moving speed.
However, with the aforementioned track jump control circuit, if a vibration is applied to the optical record and playback apparatus, the vibration component is added to the speed signal of the pick-up. Thus, the completion of the track jump cannot be precisely determined.
In addition, the speed signal of the pick-up is obtained only after the pick-up is moved. Thus, the response of the early stage of the track jump is slow.


The present invention enables a visually impaired user to freely and easily control hyper text. A voice synthesis program orally reads hyper text on the Internet. In synchronization with this reading, the system focuses on a link keyword that is most closely related to the location where reading is currently being performed. When an instruction "jump to link destination" is input (by voice or with a key), the program control can jump to the link destination for the link keyword that is being focused on. Further, the reading of only a link keyword can be instructed.

A conventional voice synthesis program (or a voice synthesizer) reads an input text file having a voice attribute so described that its voice synthesis program can be processed.
For a voice synthesis program called "ProTALKER/2" ("ProTALKER" is a trademark of the IBM Corp.), a word called a "text embedded command/voice attribute" is embedded in text to control a voice attribute at the time of reading.
Assume that the text in which an embedded command is embedded is: "Normal reading first. [*S9] Reading speed is increased here. [*P9] Voice pitch is changed to high. [*S0P0] Reading speed becomes slower with lower voice. [*Y0] Robot reading. [*S=P=Y=] Reading is returned to normal. [*F1] This is the phone number information. [*M1] Tell me the phone number of Mr. Kouichi Tanaka."
Upon receipt of this text, a voice synthesis apparatus recognizes "[*" as the head of the embedded command for instructing a voice attribute, and "]" as the termination of the embedded command. Since the above text does not designate a voice command, it is read as a default. Then, the embedded command [*S9] is detected and the reading speed is set to 9. Following this, upon the detection of [*P9], the voice pitch is set to 9, and upon the detection of [*S0P0], the reading speed and the voice pitch are set to 0. Further, upon the detection of [*Y0], the intonation is set to 0, and upon the detection of [*S=P=Y=], the reading speed, the voice pitch and the intonation are reset to normal. Sequentially, upon the detection of [*F1], text is read using a female voice, and upon the detection of [*M1], text is read using a male voice.
Changes for a plurality of attributes can be included in a single embedded command using the style format [*<attribute symbol 1><set value 1><attribute symbol 2><set value 2> . . .]
The contents of the embedded commands for instructing voice attributes are as follows.
* Change in speaking speed
The speed is changed at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol S; ten levels of set value, 0 (slow) to 9 (fast) (normal speed is 5).
* Change in voice pitch
The pitch is changed at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol P; ten levels of set value, 0 (low) to 9 (high) (normal pitch is 2).
* Change in voice gain
The gain is changed at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol G; ten levels of set value, 0 (small) to 9 (great) (normal gain is 9).
* Change in intonation
The intonation is changed at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol Y; ten levels of set value, 0 (no intonation) to 9 (maximum intonation).
* Male voice
The voice is changed to a male voice at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol M; set value 1.
* Female voice
The voice is changed to a female voice at the point where a command is encountered. Set symbol F; set value 1.
Conventionally, a technique exists for synthesizing a data file containing such voice attribute information from a text file including text attributes (style, font, underlining, etc.).
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-223070, for example, a method is disclosed for converting text attributes (style, font, underlining, etc.) of an input text file into voice attributes (speed, volume, etc.) by using a text-voice attribute conversion table, and for producing a speed command containing an embedded command for the voice attributes.
In addition, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-44247 is disclosed a method for referring to a control signal-voice synthesis signal conversion table to convert a text control signal in an input text file into a voice synthesis control signal having voice attributes.
These techniques enable the reading of a text while changes in the text attributes are reflected as voice attributes. During reading, the text attribute changes, which are generally displayed as font changes or as colors on a screen, can be expressed as voice attribute changes (the changes in the volume, pitch, intonation and speed) by a voice synthesis program (text reading program).
There is a demand by users, such as visually handicapped persons who can not use the visual information displayed on a display screen (and who, hereinafter are referred to as visually impaired users), that hypertext programs, such as Web browsers, be prepared for their use.
Conventional hypertext programs (viewers for on-line help and Web browsers) only display text data on screen and do not read the text data aloud.
Although the HTML used on the WWW (World Wide Web) of the Internet can handle voice data, advance preparation of such voice data is necessary, and since voice data takes several forms such as AU, WAV, RA, etc., software and hardware must be prepared for each form. Further, since more data is required for voice than for text, a longer transfer time is required for voice data. At the present, however, as voice data is not yet popular, most of the HTML data is provided as sentence data. But when the WWW data becomes available orally, that will be convenient.
Another demand is that not only the information currently displayed on a screen be orally reproduced, but that a visually impaired user who so desires can also easily and freely perform Web surfing while using the voice information that is provided by orally.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-231493 is disclosed a related method for additionally inputting headline code at the beginning of each headline for input sentences, and for synthesizing only the contents of the headlines for voice reproduction during a fast forward and a fast reverse.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-236099 is disclosed a method whereby an analysis result of a plurality of phrases is stored, and the analysis result is output in accordance with a control command that specifies a reading position in a sentence and voice output, so that the reading position can be indicated exactly.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a system for identifying in text a word type that has a specific feature, and for synthesizing while following the control procedures relevant to the word type.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system by which a visually impaired user is enabled to freely and easily control hypertext.

Hyper text control through voice synthesis

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to novel interferon gamma polypeptide variants having interferon gamma (IFNG) activity, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptide variants and their use in the treatment of diseases, in particular for the treatment of interstitial pulmonary diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Interferon gamma (IFNG) is a cytokine produced by T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells and exists as a homodimer of two noncovalently bound polypeptide subunits. The mature form of each dimer comprises 143 amino acid residues (shown in SEQ ID NO:17), the precursor form thereof includes 166 amino acid residues (shown in SEQ ID NO:18).
Each subunit has two potential N-glycosylation sites (Aggarwal et al., Human Cytokines, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1992) at positions 25 and 97. Depending on the degree of glycosylation the molecular weight of IFNG in dimer form is 34-50 kDa (Farrar et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol, 1993, 11:571-611).
The primary sequence of wild-type human IFNG (huIFNG) was reported by Gray et al. (Nature 298:859-863, 1982), Taya et al. (EMBO J. 1:953-958, 1982), Devos et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 10:2487-2501, 1982) and Rinderknecht et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 259:6790-6797, 1984), and in EP 0 077 670, EP 0 089 676 and EP 0 110 044. The 3D structure of huIFNG was reported by Ealick et al. (Science 252:698-702, 1991).
Various naturally-occurring or mutated forms of the IFNG subunit polypeptides have been reported, including one comprising a Cys-Tyr-Cys N-terminal amino acid sequence (positions (−3)-(−1) relative to SEQ ID NO:17), one comprising an N-terminal methionine (position −1 relative to SEQ ID NO:17), and various C-terminally truncated forms comprising 127-134 amino acid residues. It is known that 1-15 amino acid residues may be deleted from the C-terminus without abolishing IFNG activity of the molecule. Furthermore, heterogenecity of the huIFNG C-terminus was described by Pan et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 166:145-149, 1987).
HuIFNG muteins were reported by Slodowski et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 202 :1133-1140, 1991), Luk et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 265:13314-13319, 1990), Seelig et al., (Biochemistry 27:1981-1987, 1988), Trousdale et al. (Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 26:1244-1251, 1985), and in EP 146354. A natural huIFNG variant was reported by Nishi et al. (J. Biochem. 97:153-159, 1985).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,034 discloses thermostable recombinant huIFNG (rhuIFNG) variants having incorporated up to 4 pairs of cysteine residues to enable disulphide bridge formation and thus stabilization of the IFNG variant in homodimer form.
WO 92/08737 discloses IFNG variants comprising an added methionine in the N-terminal end of the full (residues 1-143) or partial (residues 1-132) amino acid sequence of wild-type human IFNG. EP 0 219 781 discloses partial huIFNG sequences comprising amino acid residues 3-124 (of SEQ ID NO:17). U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,959 discloses partial huIFNG sequences comprising residues 1-127, 5-146 and 5-127 of an amino acid sequence that compared to SEQ ID NO:17 has three additional N-terminal amino acid residues (Cys-Tyr-Cys). U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,689 discloses a DNA sequence encoding huIFNG without the 3 N-terminal amino acid residues (Cys-Tyr-Cys) and its expression in E. coli. EP 0 446 582 discloses E. coli produced rhuIFNG free of an N-terminal methionine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,762 discloses a peptide fragment of huIFNG comprising residues 95-134 thereof (relative to SEQ ID NO:18).
High level expression of rhuIFNG was reported by Wang et al. (Sci. Sin. B 24:1076-1084, 1994).
Glycosylation variation in rhuIFNG has been reported by Curling et al. (Biochem. J. 272 :333-337, 1990) and Hooker et al., (J. of Interferon and Cytokine Research, 1998, 18:287-295).
Polymer-modification of rhuIFNG was reported by Kita et al. (Drug Des. Deliv. 6:157-167, 1990), and in EP 236987 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,120.
WO 92/22310 discloses asialoglycoprotein conjugate derivatives of interferons, inter alia huIFNG.
IFNG fusion proteins have been described. For instance, EP 0 237 019 discloses a single chain polypeptide having region exhibiting interferon β activity and one region exhibiting IFNG activity.
EP 0 158 198 discloses a single chain polypeptide having a region exhibiting IFNG activity and a region exhibiting IL-2 activity. Several references described single chain dimeric IFNG proteins, e.g. Landar et al. (J. Mol. Biol., 2000, 299:169-179).
WO 99/02710 discloses single chain polypeptides, one example among many being IFNG.
WO 99/03887 discloses PEGylated variants of polypeptides belonging to the growth hormone superfamily, wherein a non-essential amino acid residue located in a specified region of the polypeptide has been replaced by a cysteine residue. IFNG is mentioned as one example of a member of the growth hormone super family, but modification thereof is not discussed in any detail.
IFNG has been suggested for treatment of interstitial lung diseases (also known as Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) (Ziesche et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 341:1264-1269, 1999 and Chest 110:Suppl:25S, 1996) and EP 0 795 332) for which purpose IFNG can be used in combination with prednisolone. In addition to IPF, granulomatous diseases (Bolinger et al, Clinical Pharmacy, 1992, 11:834-850), certain mycobacterial infections (N. Engl. J. Med. 330:1348-1355, 1994), kidney cancer (J. Urol. 152:841-845, 1994), osteopetrosis (N. Engl. J. Med. 332:1594-1599, 1995), scleroderma (J. Rheumatol. 23:654-658, 1996), hepatitis B (Hepatogastroenterology 45:2282-2294, 1998), hepatitis C (Int. Hepatol. Communic. 6:264-273, 1997), septic shock (Nature Medicine 3:678-681, 1997), and rheumatoid arthritis may be treated with IFNG.
As a pharmaceutical compound rhuIFNG is used with a certain success, above all, against some viral infections and tumors. rhuIFNG is usually applicable via parenteral, preferably via subcutaneous, injection. Maximum serum concentrations have been found after seven hours. The half-life in plasma is 30 minutes after iv administration. For this reason efficient treatment with rhuIFNG involves frequent injections. The main adverse effects consist of fever, chills, sweating, headache, myalgia and drowsiness. These effects are associated with injecting rhuIFNG and are observed within the first hours after injection. Rare side effects are local pain and erythema, elevation of liver enzymes, reversible granuloand thrombopenia and cardiotoxicity.
WO 01/36001 discloses novel IFNG conjugates comprising a non-polypeptide moiety attached to an IFNG polypeptide which have been modified by introduction and/or deletion of attachment sites for such non-polypeptide moieties, e.g. PEG and glycosylation sites.
It is well known that when N-glycosylated molecules, such as IFNG, are produced in a glycosylating host not all potential N-glycosylation sites are fully utilized. This means that quite often a mixture of proteins having a varying degree of in vivo N-glycosylation is obtained, which in turn has the consequence that subsequent purification is necessary. Furthermore, it is often time-consuming and cumbersome to separate identical proteins having a varying degree of glycosylation. It has now surprisingly been found that by substitution of one or more amino acid residues located close to an in vivo N-glycosylation site (independently of whether said in vivo N-glycosylation site is naturally occurring in IFNG or whether the in vivo N-glycosylation site has been introduced, such as described in WO 01/36001) it is possible to obtain an increased fraction of fully glycosylated IFNG molecules. In particular, it has been found that changing the naturally occurring N-glycosylation site N-Y-S at positions 97, 98 and 99 of hIFNG to N-Y-T gives rise to a dramatically increased fraction of fully glycosylated IFNG molecules.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Polynucleotides encoding S99T interferon gamma polypeptide variants and means of expression

Abstract: These novel polypeptide variants all comprise the substitution S99T as compared to the amino acid sequence of huIFNG or fragments thereof. By performing this mutation the naturally occurring N-glycosylation site present at position 97 is significantly better utilized.

Abstract: Preferably, the variants comprise further modifications, e.g. in order to increase the AUC of such variants when administered subcutaneously.


An electronic musical instrument utilizing neural nets comprises parameter input device for inputting a parameter and a neural net device for calculating the parameter. The neural net device is in advance learning therefore, any input parameter results in proper output by interpolation. The instrument further comprises a weighting data memory, the weighting data being provided to the neural net device. The output of the neural net device is interpreted by an interpreter using interpretation knowledge stored in a memory, thereby the output of the neural net device being changed to musical values. Further, the musical values are modified by an output modifier using modification knowledge stored in another memory so as to be accepted musically. The weighting data, the interpretation knowledge and the modification knowledge can be selected by use of selectors, thus use of the selectors expands musical variation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument utilizing neural nets more particularly, to an electronic musical instrument to generate musical patterns, such as a rhythm pattern and a bass pattern, using a neural net.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional electronic musical instrument having the function of an automatic rhythm pattern generation or an automatic accompaniment pattern generation, the patterns to be generated are previously stored in a memory. When any pattern is selected by a performer, the pattern is read from the memory and supplied to a musical tone generating circuit.
As described above, the conventional electronic musical instruments have only had a memory to generate musical patterns, such as a rhythm pattern and a bass pattern, so that available patterns are limited. Therefore, the musical representations have been scanty.

Electronic musical instrument utilizing neural net


A method of accessing a partition on a mobile communication device may include the steps of receiving data specifying a partition, receiving an identification code from an identification module in or associated with the device, determining, based on both the data specifying a partition and the identification code, whether access to the specified partition is to be allowed, and allowing or denying access to the specified partition accordingly.

It is currently known to have multiple different users on an operating system in a PC environment using a UID (user ID) combined with a respective password to toggle between them.
It is also known to have dual SIM mobile phones.
People have also considered the possibility of providing a multi-user mobile phone.
However, the inventors of the present invention have realised that there is a desire for a single user to be able to have different profiles or partitions on a single mobile communication device, such as a work profile and a home profile, for example. This could enable them, for example, to keep different aspects of their life separate without having to have multiple devices. As far as the inventors are aware, no mobile communication device currently available allows a user to have multiple profiles or partitions on a single device so that they can partition content (user-generated or otherwise) and functionality between these profiles.
US 2010/0323664 A1 discloses a mobile device for multiple users. Each user has his/her own dedicated memory partition in which they can read/write data. Each partition is associated with a different smart card ID and a user must insert his/her smart card into the device in order to access his/her partition.
GB 2408179 A discloses a mobile telephone for multiple users where each user can configure the telephone to operate in a particular manner. The phone uses a single SIM card and each user must enter a PIN/passcode in order to be able to use the telephone.


An audio amplifier apparatus for driving a loudspeaker is provided. The audio amplifier apparatus includes a soft charge unit, a first amplification module, and a second amplification module. The soft charge unit is coupled to the loudspeaker through an output terminal and supplies a driving current according to a first control signal to soft charge the loudspeaker, so as to gradually increase a voltage level on the output terminal. The first amplification module receives an audio signal according to the first control signal and amplifies the audio signal to output a first amplified signal for driving the loudspeaker. The second amplification module receives the audio signal according to a second control signal and amplifies the audio signal to output a second amplified signal for driving the loudspeaker. The soft charge unit generates the second control signal by comparing the voltage level on the output terminal with a predetermined voltage level.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an amplifier apparatus, and more particularly, to an audio amplifier apparatus capable of inhibiting pop noise.
2. Description of Related Art
When an electronic product is turned on or off, disturbing pop noise is usually given off from its loudspeaker. This pop noise is generated when the voltage on the output terminal of an audio amplifier apparatus for driving the loudspeaker changes drastically and accordingly a spike current is produced. Besides the discomfort brought to the user, sometimes damages may be caused on highly sensitive elements in the loudspeaker by a large spike current. Thereby, how to eliminate pop noise has become a major issue in the design of audio amplifier apparatuses.
Conventionally, an additional soft charge circuit is usually disposed for soft charging the output terminal of the audio amplifier apparatus, so as to gradually increase the voltage level on the output terminal of the audio amplifier apparatus and reduce the pop noise produced when the electronic product is turned on or off. However, when the soft charge circuit finishes its soft charging operation and the loudspeaker switches to its normal operation state, the sudden activation of the audio amplifier apparatus may also cause some pop noises. In addition, the soft charging operation may slow down the boot-up of the audio amplifier apparatus. Accordingly, the quality of the audio amplifier apparatus cannot be effectively improved.