An entertainment device for vehicles having communication and information means adaptable to include various telecommunication and Internet applications, a sun-visor monitoring screen is configured with the entertainment device for viewing data content. The sun-visor is configured with an electronic screen protector for protecting the screen. The device, which is referred to as megatel, incorporates receivers and transmitters to enable cell phone and Internet transmission via the radio wave of an entertainment device radiated towards the antenna to the megatel body and output to the CPU. The signal to the CPU is controlled by the controller so that transmissions for the radio, the cell phone, and the Internet is separated and output to the monitoring screen and the speakers of the entertainment device so as to allow hands free communication while driving.

Until recently, Cell phone usage has become increasingly useful to individuals, businesses and most especially, automobile drivers. More people use cell phones for business transactions and also to reach out to love ones; even though cell phone usage while driving accounts for about 70% of fatal accidents. Presently, cell phone companies are working towards improving cell phone technology to incorporate many functions such as giving drivers many options with the cell phones, including Internet services. This has contributed significantly to higher death rates on our highways because it requires hands on operation. For these reasons, many states are enforcing a-no-cell phone usage while driving to help safeguard the lives of many. Furthermore, automobile manufacturers are currently working on devices in some vehicles that would help distract good driving behaviors on the highway even further when enabled. These devices are reducing the interior space of the vehicle and are also environmentally unsafe to its occupants. Attempts have been made to improve driving concentration while using a cell phone. Still, these attempts have instead taken up more of the vehicle interior space, thereby making it much more unsafe. It is for these and many reasons that this technology is developed to advance cell phone and Internet usage in vehicles while driving, without accumulating any interior space; and for the sole purpose of implementing safer cell phone and Internet usage.
Creation is the assembling and recording of ideas that, when properly implemented, help improve our society and our way of life. Purpose is our ability to use those ideas in an appropriate way to solve the problems in and around our community that are limiting the growth of our way of life. First a problem has to be identified and analyzed before solving. After the problem is solved, it must then be coded to address each problem variation. These codes could be text, signals, and symbols used to transmit messages around our work places, communities, businesses, and traffic. Electrical impulses, sound waves, and light signals are all typical methods of coding transportation and environmental information messages. The computer, telephone and radio rely on these impulses to receive and transmit signals that would carry these messages to solve problems specific to our needs. The radio waves traveling through air or space are examples of this electrical energy and could be used to advance telecommunication technologies. These impulses could be changed into sounds and be used to transfer, emit and absorb the coded information to and from different distant destinations.
The radio produces sound waves from these electrical signals. The suggesting code is a vehicular means of transmitting these messages over crowded traffic and other locations without encouraging any accident. The source or sender of information must first encode the message while the receiver must decode the information for the information circuitry to be completed. By utilizing all these elements and concepts, one can eliminate the many problems that our drivers face daily on the highways and inter-city communication problems which, together, have been the root cause of many accidents, theft, carjacking, and deaths. It is for these many reasons that telecommunication technologies have to be looked upon again, so that it could be further improved to address the uncovered areas and environmental safety features on our traffic and highway.
Road safety and safe driving are affected by some of the many utilized technologies that are available today. Present day driving principles and road safety technologies have outlived their usefulness. These technologies are disturbing the effective concentration of our city and highway drivers. Still lacking today, are technologies that could effectively address our current disturbing driving habits. It's about time to part with the obsolete past and embrace modern technological advances that offer comprehensive solutions to the problems plaguing telecommunication technology in general, and safe driving in particular. The notion of people getting lost in inner cities and highways while driving, and trying to get help by exiting the highway, or going to the pay phone to demand help when lost, are is to be strongly discouraged for having resulted in many car theft, car jacking, and many deaths. In other words, cell phones or mobile phones have contributed to too many accidents in the United States. Yet, most drivers have no other options than turning to their cell phones to get help, when the need arises.
A lot of women have been victimized by these ideas to the point that, even to ask for directions in some cities is not encouraging for them. That is why some of the disturbing devices such as cellular-phones are being used instead, to call friends and relations for directions. Still, car phones or cellular phones have a lot of negative safety implications attached to their usage while driving. Some of the negatives associated with the cellular phone are that, cellular phones have caused many accidents by drivers using it while driving, and have also been the root cause of fatal accidents in our highways. The reasons for these many accidents are that, when a driver, engages a conversation while driving, he is compelled to use one hand to control the steering wheel and the other hand to control the position of the cellular phone against his ear.
As the conversation progresses to peak level, the driver's ability to concentrate and safely maneuver the steering wheel while conversing on the cell phone diminished gradually. In the event a car suddenly pulls up in front of his, the driver will have no other option than to collide with the said vehicle because there was some lack of concentration.
As demonstrated from the foregoing, these types of driving habits have resulted in many casualties and deaths. In all, people still choose to use cellular phones while driving because of their businesses and also to reach out to their love ones at all times. That not withstanding, hopes of overturning the current state of affairs are still much alive. It is also true that in emergency cases, cellular phones have been more than helpful. Now, the question is; how much money are we spending on cellular phone calls in and within the cities? How can accidents caused by cellular phones be reduced? Or how can cellular phones be improved to cut down on these accidents? How can we get external help with the cellular phone without any lost of time to our prospective destinations? Is cellular phone or car phoning the only option or can it be improved? People are spending lots of money on car phones with very limited airtime. This is because of the options they have, and that is why newer technologies have to be developed to further improve on the air time rate and to better the road safety issues and other information system that is needed in the highway.
Drivers around the world would enjoy and appreciate the luxury of driving and making calls with their hands fully in control of the steering wheel if it is made possible. That is, with this technology, drivers will would be able to communicate through cellular phones and still have total control of the steering wheel. In addition, drivers will be able to keep to their respective destinations while getting help from around the highways, inner cities, and around the world without any loss of time. Drivers and automobile users the world over shall highly welcome and appreciate the luxury of driving and making phone calls simultaneously. With the technology embodied in the present invention, drivers shall safety communicate using the cell phones while having the car under full control. If the opportunity were given for improved technologies, drivers would not have to come out of their cars to ask for help like directions to Holland tunnel or 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Which means these advances in technologies would eliminate the obstruction of traffic in inner cities or highways, thereby reducing the number of accidents and fatalities that could have possibly occurred due to traffic congestion. All a driver would have to do is just dial the tag number of the closest car and ask for the required help.
With the Megatel (a more equipped and sophisticated device meant for easy commuting), drivers would greatly reduce the rate at which accidents occur in the country. To conclude, cellular phones are good when used by pedestrians or a non-driver in a moving vehicle or automobile. It is also good for emergency rescue environment, like when a car breaks down and the driver has to call for assistance. However, all these can be incorporated into one safe device for driving. Though there are better technologies that could be further developed to include and improve the use of car and cellular phones while driving, the main focus should be on reducing cost per call and the number of accidents on the road. It is for this many reasons that the MEGATEL system has been invented so those drivers could make their calls without any bearing on their ability to safely maintain control of the steering wheel. With the advanced "MEGATEL" hands down inter-air system, one will not have to pick the phone.
Using the logic mode, all you need do is push and release the accept button to establish communication with the sender. After dialing the number, simply hit the push button to speak with the receiver. Dial the tag number of the vehicle closest to yours, in order to be helped. Just dialing the tag numbers plus a family code connects you with your love one on the highway for family emergencies or for immediate responses. Families will be able to dial directly from their home phones and reach other family members via megatel device, to check and ensure that they are safe out there. The directional software for city streets can be installed in networks or 411 network services where if some one gets lost in a city and pushes on the 411 button, it will open communication with the information network on that city that will assist the driver with the directions.
The embedded MEGATEL random-access memory (RAM) and the CMOS works electronically with the stereo microprocessor intelligence to diligently resolve cellular phone problems. The MEGATEL system has a self test chip device embedded inside the stereo to cellular phone control board to always check for the functionality of the stereo, the cell phone, and the bypass to further ensure routine check-ups of all other communication devices. The transmitters are designed to transmit to all destinations with the assistance of the select mode button to select different options. Any incoming signal will disable all the active functions of the stereo system temporally to allow the receiver to receive incoming cell phone code and other non-stereo signals. Until all the signals are transmitted the stereo will stay disabled. At the end of the cellular phone transmission, the stereo will return to the preset mode automatically for the continuous entertainment mode.
In addition to what improved technologies can bring to the people, the community, and our society, information technologies control larger industrial and commercial companies and are still lacking in features that can surpass the two-way radios. Two way radios are used by companies for communicating to fellow employees, to know how their businesses are running and to assign special duties to other employees out there, without having to come back to the base. With these technologies, for the most part, messages can only be sent or received. No two people can talk at the same time with the two-way radio device except telephone. However, most companies still have to provide for extra phones beside the two-way radios. In addition to the two-way radios, the drivers in vehicle would still have to pick up the microphone to talk. This existence of the two-way phones not withstanding, drivers still have to grab the phone This of cause will have some degree of interference with their control of the steering wheel Therefore, two-way radios need to be improved upon in order to remedy the current defects in safety measures on our roads and highways.
Besides, two-way radios can only go past a certain zone. Sometimes, where there are high rise buildings, the two-way radios will not transmit signals. This type of communication system has been around for long, with the same unimproved technologies. Still, companies are spending money day in and day out trying to get their businesses going without much help on the safety aspect of the technological advances. Therefore, with the improved technologies, companies will facilitate their means of reaching their customer service, and give their customers a better service with very limited time, while meeting the company's goals.
Improvement comes with the acceptance of new ideas. So, it is therefore important that newer technologies be developed to replace the old ones, to simplify the driving and communication process, and also make the world a better place to be. With this new technology in MEGATEL, when a person buys a car and goes to get a tag, the MVA or DMV will give the person a tag and a MEGATEL tag card. The person will then use this tag card with the incorporated state of the art MEGATEL COMMUNICATION and stereo system transmitter and receiver to log onto all MVA-DMV in the country. The megatel communication system can also be installed directly from the factory as an accessory in the vehicle.
The stereo devices on older cars could easily be replaced with the megatel communication to meet the current technologies and also to further prevent accidents and casualties. The other alternative is that, when a vehicle is equipped with this technology, the vehicle owner will log-on the tag number of the vehicle in the MEGATEL SYSTEM and the microprocessor will register the tag number as the acceptance number. When that tag number is dialed from home or from another vehicle equipped with the said MEGATEL device, the microprocessor will power the device to pick the radio or microwave signal and communication will be established. Also, companies would be able to reach any of their drivers or employees at any time, to pass on further assigned duties that need to be performed without distracting the driver's attention. The megatel communication system is uniquely for cars, trucks, heavy trucks, and planes to improve communication barriers between among them.
The log-on process is to enable other drivers to dial the tag number of the other cars and access a phone line or cellular line conversation and be able to ask for help without obstructing traffic. That is, when the driver gets lost in the city or in the highway, he will be able to ask for help without obstructing traffic, by dialing the tag number of the car nearest to his. When one dials the tag number of a car, the MEGATEL system will recognize where the call is coming from and the caller will accumulate the bills. Also, if a household has any number of cars and wants to know the where about of any of the other family cars, the family member would just need to use the family code and the tag number of any of the other cars to signal for emergency response. That is, one would simply dial the tag number and access family member's cars. The driver of the said car, upon pushing and releasing the accept button, will then accept the call and would be able to communicate to the family member. Also, a special code can be programmed to hit all the receivers of the number of family cars at one transmission. This will initiate a family line conversation on all the other cars and open the lines so all members could be heard, to ensure the safety of the family members. With this technology, the careless parking in big city streets or the obstructions of traffic by other drivers in these cities will be eliminated, thereby assuring safety and reducing accidents and fatalities.
In all, MEGATEL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM is a stereo cellular phone device that introduces the idea of using tag numbers as car or cellular phone numbers for the information supper highway. The cellular phone is like the regular cellular phone with an information link that allows the stereo to recharge the phone and also permit communications via the cellular phone to the stereo device and allow said communications to be broadcast through the car speakers. The cellular phone when hooked to the stereo slot is a phone system with two metal bases at its ends that allows the transformation from hand held phone to hands-free phone device that permits safe driving and communicating while driving on the high way. When pulled out of the slot, it is a hand held cellular phone for normal pedestrian information and communication usage. When linked, the device assures total 100% safe driving in the cities or highways while communicating to friends, family members, bosses, and the love ones.
Secondly, with this device, if a Cop is chasing a car on high speed chase and in any of the streets, roads or highway, the cop will be able to alert all other cars towards the direction of the chase to stay off the said lane through a common one push-button. This will help reduce traffic panicking and some of the highway chase type accidents that had occurred around the country and will also save many lives. By implementing these more thorough thoughts in advancing the information technology for the super highway, the cost to the society will be reduced by over $200 billion. In addition to this state of the art technology, every call made with the MEGATEL device will be local. That is, if one drives from one state to the other and wants to get in touch with some one in another state, even though the megatel system is from a different state, it will hit local receivers and transmitters and the charge will be local.
Further more, MEGATEL device offers cell phone users a large array of benefits and options. Cell phones are very limited in its use. A cell phone beyond its local network becomes a very expensive device, but with the MEGATEL, each call made in a city where megatel is present, to any one in that city will be local. This does not eliminate the long distance links when dialing another location. For example, say a driver leaves Maryland to New Jersey. Every call that the driver makes to a family member in Delaware while in Delaware will be local. When the driver gets to Delaware, the MEGATEL device will switch to Delaware station through radio waves and microwaves transmissions. If the driver gets to New Jersey, the MEGATEL device will pick New Jersey frequencies and any call made there will then be local. However, if the driver decides to call the original home from New Jersey, then there would be some variances.
With this MEGATEL device, phone companies will eliminate some of the car phone numbers or cellular phone numbers being used currently, by implementing the tag number plus ID-code dialing. The beauty of this MEGATEL system lies in many different areas of communication system. For instance, say a driver is driving down town or in the middle of the night at any highway streets and realizes that there is another car chasing him. If the driver doesn't get any help at the time, the MEGATEL device allows the driver to push a 911 button and transmit the danger signal to the nearest police station. This will establish a communication between the said driver and the police station without interfering with the driver's control of the sheering wheel. Also, the driver of the car chasing his will be less informed of his conversation with the police. The driver will then be able to give the police a complete description of the car chasing his without much body language. If the driver knows the tag number of the car chasing, his, then a 911 button plus the tag number will give the cops a clear description of the person or car chasing his. With this advance technology in place, the crime rate will drop and the society's cost of repairing the aftermath will drop by $200 billion.
Also, school principals, teachers, and parents will be able to use the school bus number, school bus tag number, or school bus number and tag number to check on any of their student. They will also be able to use this MEGATEL device to verify if all the kids in the buses reached home safely without interfering with the driver's steering wheel control. The MEGATEL device is a device that will help reduce communication problems and crimes around our cities. Calls will be transmitted from stations to stations, cars to cars, and megatel to megatel through the facilities of companies whose chief business operations are through telephone or Internet. Any subscriber will be able to reach any other subscriber from any other company and the subscriber's provider will mail all the bills. For instance, when a driver uses this MEGATEL device to dial, for each dialing location, if the number is a local number for that location, and the driver is within that location, the MEGATEL device will pick the nearest phone company station. The microprocessors and the fiber optics used to computerize the communication processes allow more futures to beautify the MEGATEL system advancement.
The computerized station detector will search for the nearest station and have the station to transmit all the coding signals to the various destinations. The station will then dial the number as a local number, provided that the caller and the receiver are within the local zone. If the receiver is out of the local zone were the caller is calling from, then the call could become a distance call and would be treated differently. With the tag calling system, the MEGATEL device will be able to search among huge array of existing MVA-DMA stations, picking the dialing tag numbers for any car and dial the car directly. If the car is tempered with, the computerized MEGATEL device will explain this to the caller and the caller will immediately know that there is trouble somewhere. The computerized station detector will prepare all itemized bills through the megatel Internet services with telephone companies and send to the subscribers of each MEGATEL user. The tag card will carry programmed information on how the MEGATEL device and the computerized phone station detectors should work. The tag card, the MEGATEL device, and the computerized station detector are elaborating systems that are made up of various kinds of transmission media sensors that allow interactions between the devices. These systems would pick the stations and assign the stations to carry voice and data signals from place to place, and switching the systems that connect the circuits that link together two parties.
Only high technology combined with the economics of scale in research, design, manufacture, and operation can keep the cost of telephone down as services expand. So the MEGATEL system is designed to aid this technological branch to reduce cost and increase safety. The microprocessor is designed and programmed to identify numbers and to speak to other microprocessors. These microprocessors serve as the main information exchange center by absorbing and emitting radiant energies through waves and can demodulate the absorbed energy or modulate the emitted energy. The energy signals are modulated or demodulated from the coded information. The MEGATEL microprocessors allow other network and businesses to advertise by programming plurality of microprocessors, said processors being interactive, to emit the advertisement codes. Another important feature of the megatel device is that, the tag code can be changed if the tag number is changed.
The megatel provides means for feeding external data into said radiant energy data channel. It also provide means for modulating the radiant energy emitted by said radiant energy sources, according to the output codes assigned to each of the microprocessor. These codes could be demodulated to demodulate the absorbed radiant energy. That is, the microprocessor absorbs the radiant energy signals when calls are transmitted and also exchange coded information or signals; enabling the powered antenna motor to serve as a wave-guide power supply that receives and transmits signals from the microprocessors. This antenna will absorb and also emit signals from other microprocessors. The microprocessors are programmed to accept tag numbers, phone numbers, industrial equipment numbers, and commercial vehicle numbers to communicate with ambulance, fire trucks, corps, emergency vehicles, construction areas and equipment.
When any communication signal is enabled, plurality of other communications can be ascertained. This includes construction companies, road blocks, accident information, police chase, restaurant and commercial advertisements and any other traffic related information could be programmed to reach to any or every vehicle on that direction via microprocessors. Permitting megatel communication for every one in the supper highway and inner city to reduce traffic related accidents caused by car phones or hand held phones.
This MEGATEL system is a stereo system with a built-in cell site for cellular or wireless phone transmission. The device uses the fiber optics to transmit and receive wave signals from radio waves and microwaves, and also to determine the amount of light traveling down the fiber. The device also uses fiber optics to measure the amount of light coupling from one fiber to another in optical radiation. The fiber optic receivers for this device are high-performant and easy to use linear fiber optic module that are designed to extend the range of radioactive frequency (RF) signals in hard to reach areas such as tall buildings, underground railroads, submarines, and tunnels. Also, a fiber optic modem chip that operates at full or half duplex over fiber optic cables or waves may be used with the MEGATEL SYSTEM to allow faster communication with other machines.
The MEGATEL SYSTEM has many design options that will better advance safety and also simplify its usage. One of the many options is the design of the MEGATEL SYSTEM with a hold in slot for the cellular phone. The cellular phone has a coded metal base end that, when inserted into the hold-in slot, will recharge the phone and also permits cellular communication through the stereo MEGATEL MICROPHONE and the stereo speakers. When the vehicle is packed, the cellular phone is then pulled out of the slot and thus becomes a regular cellular phone or wireless communication for non-driving purpose. That is, the MEGATEL device is used for hands off communication by a driver and also like a regular cellular phone if taken out of the slot. The microphone is used to talk back without actually holding on it. This will allow the driver to totally control the steering wheel with both hands while talking to the caller.
The microphone could be mounted on the ceiling for a headset, embedded in the sunshade, the steering wheel, or the dashboard. The headset or speakers is powered by the MEGATEL build-in amplifier and is connected through modular connectors. The main stereo volume control also controls the phone volume. This MEGATEL device also takes messages for later transmission and is Internet ready. The screen for the Internet services that enables readability is built in the sun-visor with in-built speakers for the audio system. The screen is covered with electronic control protective shield that is opened when the Internet service is enabled. The Internet service is disabled when the vehicle's speed exceeds the preset limit; thereby allowing the Internet service to depend on the speed of the vehicle, to further prevent future accident caused by driver's lack of focus.
The megatel runs on different frequencies including giga range frequencies for better clarity. That is, signals are separated into more frequencies to make conversation interference very impossible. The headset is attached to the cellular phone to be powered by the amplifier and directly receiving all incoming calls. It could also be inserted into the slot in the MEGATEL so that the megatel will receive all transmissions and codes through the metal base of the phone, to power all signals through the microphone and the antenna. The digital signaling microprocessors is design to continually monitor all communication devices and automatically transmit and receive different coding signals to and from different destinations. The megatel is a stereo-phone with Internet ready access mode, powered by the stereo amplifier and screen viewed from the sun-visor that has a protective cover shield to further prolong the life of the screen. Other communication devices with microprocessor chips that transmit and receive different signals through radio waves and microwaves frequencies are made interactive with the megatel communication device.
The device serves as a stereo and telecommunication station with digital signal processing of millions of instructions per second. With the communication-processing module, the megatel microprocessor information handling means allows other devices to communicate with the megatel and allows broadcasting through the stereo speakers and microphones. The microphone could also be of many designs including a cordless headset mounted in the vehicle, at the roof so that it could easily be removed and be used by the driver for privacy usage incase there is a third party in the vehicle. The cordless microphone is designed to improve on noise cancellation and to transmit signals with better clarity. Handling a cellular phone with one hand and driving at the same time can create hard flexion on the shoulder, headache, and neck pain, which can in turn induce an accident. On the contrary, driving and talking through the headset is very relaxing and will help reduce the many accidents that occur on our roads and highways. With the megatel, there will be no careless accidents caused by the communication devices currently in use. Just a second of poor posture while driving can lead to a serious accident. Therefore, it is the object of this invention to introduce the MEGATEL device, a hand-off telecommunication device designed to ease traffic communication and also reduce the number of accidents caused by the previous cellular phone usage by drivers while the vehicle is in motion.
The stereo for the MEGATEL has a built in amplifier that also amplifies the microphone or cordless microphone. The cordless microphone is adjustable to accommodate different drivers. The mode button has many features including deactivating incoming calls if the driver does not want to be bordered. When the mode is switched from phone to stereo, one will be able to listen to music through the headset, and when there is an incoming call the mode will automatically switch back to phone. The MEGATEL interface unit contains a circuit board that allows the systems control functions and the memories to include the control functions of the microprocessor and the network software. When the fiber optic modem chip is installed, it will be activated by a manual or automatic switch, or by allowing the corresponding pin interface to activate the fiber optic modem. This will easily be achieved through the transmitting time of the following sources; an internal oscillation, an external clock from the MEGATEL device, a loop-back clock derived from the receive signal.
Also, the transmission of the modem is synchronous. That is, the transmission time is selected for internal, external, or loop-back clock. This will then be converted internally to synchronize the format in compliance with other standards. All other formats are switch selected. This modem chip could be a card or any other design, to better suit the purpose of transmitting and receiving signals to and from automobiles and other transportation equipment or industries. With this device or with the incorporation of a pressure sensor on the seat surfaces of airplane seats, electronically knowing how many passengers are seated and also communicating to individual passengers in the plane will be much easier. The linear fiber optic transmission links is so unique in the MEGATEL design in that, it is used for satellite earth stations to carry signals at the same frequencies as the links. With this linear fiber optics, distance limitations between antennas and the MEGATEL device or other broadcasting studios and operation centers will virtually be eliminated. The linear fiber optic earth satellite station and the delivering signals all will be uncorrupted without any automatic gain control. To meet the global telecommunication demands today, and also improve on the safe usage of phones by drivers, the linear fiber optic transmission system will satisfy the design of all the state of the art telecommunication devices of the MEGATEL system.
The system will allow communication between many personal computer systems, space communications, communication between movie producers and actors, without physically holding the phone system to talk. One will just have push a button and release to talk while driving or performing other duties in the work area. Communication between actors and producers will be easily transmitted, received and controlled by a single device with a built in phone system. One will have to just push the receive button to receive incoming calls and talk while driving. All signals are digital and analogs via radio and microwave frequency signals through the fiber optic cables.
Often, automobile drivers like to communicate or talk on the phone while driving. The unsafe technicality of this behavior is that, some drivers hold the phone on one hand while controlling the steering wheel with the other. Sometimes, drivers get carried away by the conversation and end up loosing control of the vehicle. Very so often, drivers cause traffic to halt because they are trying to make phone calls or ask for directions. As the Y2K approaches, attempts need to be made to advance and abolish these behaviors and make the 21st century a better and technological world to live in. Therefore, communications by drivers and other automotive communication devices have to be revisited so that, drivers will be able to communicate without interfering with the steering wheel control. Also, when people get lost while driving around, they would not have to come out of their cars to ask for help. In addition, a cop will be able to communicate to any driver while both cars are in motion with the MEGATEL system. The key to the MEGATEL device or the 21st century communication technology is to improve our daily lives with modern technologies. The process of exchanging information from vehicles to vehicles, or from homes, offices, businesses to vehicles is called communication and human senses depend on more advanced technologies to make this simpler.
Information is the knowledge that is conveyed between the parties involved. For this information to reach the other party, it has to be transmitted or passed along so that the party can receive it. Sights are another way of communicating. That is, what one sees gives greater meaning to what he sees and hears. The exchange of messages and the accidents that have resulted in between, as one party tries to convey a message to the other, is what is leading to the advancement of this MEGATEL system. During the communication process or drills, the parties usually get carried away and lost control of the steering wheel. In many cases, these have resulted in accidents in which the causes of the accidents were not found. Because the accidents were communicated to a third party through sights, there is need for the advancement of a better automotive communication system that will not take the driver's hands away from the steering wheel, but rather improve on the communication means.
It is therefore incumbent upon companies to translate these findings into technologies that could eliminate these types of accidents and also prevent many injuries and deaths. key to solving these technical problems is the processes of exchanging information. This information is in the form of communicating, and communication technology is the process of transmitting information from a source to a destination, using codes and storage signals. Machine to machine, machine to human, and human to machine communication are the most common forms of communication that the MEGATEL device is intended to implement, with "hands off steering wheel" design system. The human to machine communication will allow the driver to transmit information to the other vehicle with an extended capability. The machine to human communication system will allow the driver of any of the other vehicle know that some one is trying to reach the driver or the occupants.
The primary focus of the megatel is to improve automotive communication and to reduce accidental injuries caused by the lack of concentration on the steering wheel. The microchip or microprocessor of this device turns receivers on and off when a call is made. It also receives and transmits signals from one vehicle to the other to allow the communication means. The microprocessor of this device will increase transmittal speed and also turns on the home phones and 911 codes when a collision is detected. This device could be programmed to do all of these functions and more, without interfering with the steering wheel control. This electronic hands off MEGATEL system uses automatic switchboards, radio waves and microwave transmitters, satellite, and optic fibers to send phone signals around traffic and the world. Information is sent from a source to a destination through codes and signals. The transfer of information needs designing, coding, transmitting, receiving, and storing system.
This electronic hands-off telecom system is the source and the starting point of a message to be sent. This source might be a machine, a person, or a supplemental system. The designing process for the electronic hands-off MEGATEL system includes ideation, purpose, and creation. In ideation, one would get and work on ideas that will increase driver's concentrations, reduce the number of accidents caused by lack of steering wheel concentration, and improve our way of life. The reasons for the electronic hands-off telecom system are to implement actions that will increase traffic communication and reduce traffic accidents caused by the previous automotive phone system. Some of the purposes of this message system are to inform, persuade, instruct and entertain drivers and other businesses around the world. The information system would need a receiver to inform and provide the transmitted message. The general message that instructs all drivers will provide directions or knowledge about the future or upcoming events and road situations from the coding instruction in the highway and other areas as the car approaches said locations. The message that persuades will help convince drivers and others to take caution on different situations and events around the cities and the highways.
Advertised messages could be sent to persuade the public and drivers alike on upcoming events and sales, without disrupting driving habits and concentration. All billboards on highways will have programmed microprocessors to work with the MEGATEL device and will pass on the advertisement to on-coming cars from a distance as they approach the board location. Exit boards and road signs would carry plurality of the programmed microprocessors too. These programmed microprocessors will allow communications to be enabled with the MEGATEL device to further let the approaching cars know the next exit on the highway. That is, the MEGATEL device will be able to communicate with all highway signs and advertisement if the chips are compatible with the programmed processors. Besides, the microprocessors would be able to communicate to each other processor through waves and coded signals. The electronic hands-off telecom system in MEGATEL will still be able to entertain with an attempt to amuse drivers while driving. Car stereos will operate normally as stereo, phone and Internet device, but when there is a message or a phone call or e-mail, the stereo system will be bypassed and the phone system will automatically be activated. The stereo amplifier, through the said stereo speakers, will amplify the receiving and transmitting messages. For the transmittal message, just talk back and the microphone located on either the steering wheel, sunviser sun-visor edges, ceiling, or dashboard will absorb and transmit the message so the megatel device could emit it out.
The sun-visor or sunshade edges is more recommended and the sun-visor is used in the megatel as the electronic screen for receiving electronic and Internet messages. The sun-visor has automatic or folding cover for the e-commerce screen. This screen allows the output of electronic messaging and Internet communications. Creation is the assembling and recording of ideas. The sound waves produced by the radio can transmit or receive coded signals to any destination. After a message is designed and coded, it has to be transmitted or sent to its destination. The many ways of transmitting information is called media. These radio signals traveling through the atmosphere (air) would carry the coded messages to the media. That is, the waves of electrical energy will carry radio programs, cellular transmissions, and TV broadcast to their assigned locations. Telephone conversation travels through wires and fiber optic cables. Receiving and transmitting this communication is the process of acquiring and decoding the message. The receiver will decode or interpret its messages from any of the source. The exchanged information is what will then be understood in the conversation.
The stereo receivers will convert the radio waves into pleasant sounds that one can hear and understand. Messages could also be stored for later use. But after the storage, the process of communication will not be complete until a feedback is received. Successful communication is often the result of feedback provided to the sender. This feedback is usually returned information to the sender to confirm that the message was received. The feedback is a communication process that responds to the completed communication signal and coded signs. Another point of concern that is affecting current hand-held cell phones is the interference. Interference is the distortion of signals intended to the receiver. This interference is caused by the reception of undesired signals. The interference can be the called noise or distractions that interferes with the communication process. By focusing to reduce the interference, the design process of megatel would invite an accurate communication device through the stereo amplified means of megatel and its rechargeable means. Accurate communication is the freedom from mistakes or errors when a message is sent to a receiver. However, manufacturers realizing this interference, would make the accuracy possible when putting the pieces of the MEGATEL together. The receiver would be able to instantaneously pick the signals without any interference.
When sending a message to some one, the person should not receive any other message other than what was communicated. Careful and well designed planning may prevent inaccurate transmissions of information. Therefore, different manufacturers would design the device with a great consideration for accuracy and destination free. The key to this advanced communication device is to allow friendly and safe conversation around the high way and inner city by increasing the flow of communication. The communicated information will be exchanged among other people, machines, Cops, governments, businesses, schools, and industrial groups without interfering with the environmental safety. In part, telecommunication is the transmitting of information or signals between distant points where the information would be received, understood, and used. All major industries would include varieties of systems for the exchange of messages. The most common example is the telephone. The use of satellite to transmit radio signals around the globe is an excellent example of telecommunication system that will be utilized in solving the current problem. Without this telecommunication satellite, one would not be able to receive many radio transmissions and programs.
In this megatel device, information is transmitted in the form of messages, electronic signaling and transmission. This same information can be passed on to many others at a time, in the highway or other locations. For example, A Cop chasing a car in the highway would be able to transmit certain verbal information x-miles away, through the use of the coding means, to reach all vehicles on the chasing lane. The chasing lane and the direction of chase would be communicated instantaneously to all the vehicles heading to the said direction to eliminate potential accidents. This will also keep the traffic informed in advance, and will further reduce the amount of accidents or delays that could have occurred without the use of this advance information technology. In all, the advanced information technology system will include human-to-human, human to machine, machine to human, and machine-to-machine communication. This communication system is designed to make possible, the quick exchange of information over long and short distances at low cost.
The information will be coded, transmitted, and received in electronic form. Major construction companies will be able to pass the following messages to approaching traffic miles away: "Road construction ahead, Road block, Traffic jam, Major accidents, Advertisement." A constant flow of more messages could be followed. Our life relies heavily on communication system. From the beginning to the end of the day, we use communication devices to reach to others, or relay our thoughts to others. The advancement of the megatel communication system further include communication with large groups of people or individuals, as well as advertisement, traffic instructions, entertainment, persuasion and information. When calls are made, the calls will be sent through series of transistorized switches until the calls are connected with the other telephones at the addressed locations. This advanced information technology system enhances the convenience of communicating quickly and easily, over any distance, without interfering with the driver's ability to safely maneuver the steering wheel. The communication process of the megatel device consists of designing, coding, transmitting, receiving, and storing of information or messages. Said device is interactive and allows easier communications and safe driving. Its internal modem allows wireless communication that includes networking and the Internet. The designing process is quite uncompelled and unlimited. It includes thoughts, focusing, and creation of advanced devices like the SAIT system, to further improve on the telecommunication world.
Currently, advanced devices that would have helped our way of life and improve on transportation communication processes and the safeties involved, without interfering with our driving abilities are lacking. It is for these reasons that the megatel device, a smart supplemental advanced information technology system, is being put in place. The acts of selecting what is good for our environment and the safety of our society, and revising these acts to envision the past problems is the goal to advancing a better technological solution for improving the life of the people around the world. To better achieve a safer and efficient system, coding of the technology to accommodate and solve the existing unsafe driving habits is the initial process to including all the previous, unattended to problems that existed with the automobile communication processes and the wireless environment. Using electrical, sound, light or some mechanical means can do the coding electronically, or even employing some electromechanical means to separate signals. When a message is received, it is decoded so that the receiver may better understand it. After the message is decoded and understood, it may then be necessary to store the information in any other machine, either at home, office, car, or fax for use at a later time.
When a message is sent, a feedback is return to inform the sender about the status of the message. The automotive communication system in megatel entails more options like; informing, instructing, persuading, entertaining, and advertising. The negative aspect of the communication system in the form of interference is addressed upon manufacturing the MEGATEL device. This device introduces the true meaning of information technology for the 21st century. Often, we rely on our senses to communicate with others. Because of some defects in previous devices, we have to rely on both our senses and technologies to communicate with others. The technology is attached to our senses to extend our ability to understand others without obstructing traffic or creating an unsafe environment for others.
The same antenna designed to control the stereo are all built-in to work with the internal logic board, and also to provide excellent reduction of the pressure effects of the stereo and the phone system for megatel. Together, the stereo and the phone are called MEGATEL SYSTEM. The reduction of the pressure effect will improve the transmission and receiving of the transmitted information. This antenna is made up of cell foams and would allow the stereo and the cell phone to operate on the same mast mounted antenna. The antenna will receive and transmit coded information; all functions and signals would then be emitted and absorbed on the same antenna. The single but dual functional antenna will solve the acoustic interference problems that exist in the wave traffic. The quality features of the antenna include stainless steel ferrule, high-gloss urethane finish over fiberglass, powerful brass internal elements, ferrite choke bead, and UV stable RG-8x marine cable with a factory-installed mini-connector. The antenna is powered by a motor, and is designed to reduce the whistling effects and also to damp the occurring wave vibration. The antenna motor is turned on when the ignition switch is on. When the ignition switch is turned on, the circuit for the antenna motor will be closed and the antenna motor will rotate on one direction and the antenna will be raised up.
When the ignition switch is turned off, the circuit for the antenna motor will be opened and the antenna motor will rotate on the opposite direction for the antenna to be lowered. The antenna end cable is fed down into the motor housing opening and positioned correctly inside, with the MEGATEL turned off so that the power antenna motor would start pulling the rest of the power antenna cable till the collapsed mast sections down into the motor housing. The cable and the mast are carefully guided into the motor housing. The MEGATEL antenna is designed to transmit a shaped wave for the stereo and the built-in cell phone. It has a collapsing spring at the base of motor, with a straight extended vertical exposure. The antenna is inclined slightly to have much higher transmitting signal, since the cell site path is located in the horizontal path way from the location. However, the optimization of the antenna allows for both vertical and horizontal transmission. The slight inclination of the antenna will increase the amount of power transmitted straight up into the sky. This will also reduce the static because cellular phone base transmitters are more powerful than the verticals, and signal reduction due to bent cellular antennas are more noticeable on the other end.
However, the MEGATEL will have a stronger link from the vehicle to oversee any weak signal, by making the MEGATEL antenna 95% vertical. The antenna could be from 4″ to 24″ with ultimate signal pulling power. All internal elements are sealed with fiberglass rod coated with high-gloss urethane finish. The high-gloss urethane coating is to ensure lasting performance and more compatibility with the other high quality antenna products that could be used. The universal design of this MEGATEL antenna allows it to operate with other frequencies. The design of the MEGATEL antenna calls for the improvement of acoustical reduction performance result, and also perform the task of transmitting, receiving, switching and transmitting, receiving and switching, receiving combining ground to air to transmit and receive signals.

Megatelecommunication technology the electronic hand off stereo phone system


Wearable devices are described herein that include a housing, a magnetic shielding, and a coil. The housing includes a first outer surface, a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, the second outer surface being narrower than the first outer surface and being configured to contact skin at an external body surface, and a chamfer of a given shape between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The magnetic shielding is disposed in the housing between the first and second outer surfaces. The coil is disposed in the housing and configured to receive energy via a magnetic field. The coil includes coil windings that substantially fit the shape of the chamfer, where the coil windings include a first portion of windings proximate to the magnetic shielding and further include a second portion of windings narrower than the first portion and proximate to the second outer surface.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Wearable devices may be used to obtain information about the wearer's physical activity and/or health state. For example, a wearable device may include one or more motion sensors, such as an accelerometer or gyroscope, in order to detect movements of the wearer and determine the wearer's level of physical activity (e.g., in terms of steps taken or calories burned). Alternatively or additionally, a wearable device may include one or more biological sensors that measure biological parameters of the wearer. The measured biological parameters could include pulse rate, blood oxygenation (oximetry), blood pressure, skin temperature, galvanic skin response (GSR), or other parameters that may relate to the wearer's level of physical exertion.
Generally, wireless charging coils for devices such as mobile phones are planar. For wearable devices, however, it may be desirable for a charging coil and its corresponding housing to have a three-dimensional shape, where windings of the coil may match the shape of the non-planar housing.

Three-dimensional wireless charging coil


An object of the present invention is to provide a novel anorectic agent. Another object of the invention is to provide an NMU derivative which exhibits a high anorectic effect even when administered in a usual manner, for example, peripherally. These objects can be achieved by the compound represented by formula (I)

Neuromedin U (NMU) was first isolated, as a peptide consisting of 25 amino acid residues or as a peptide consisting of 8 amino acid residues, from the pig small intestine using uterine smooth muscle contraction activity as an index. These peptides are named porcine NMU-25 or porcine NMU-8, based on the number of amino acid residues. Porcine NMU-8 is a cleavage product of porcine NMU-25 and consists of the C-terminal 8 residues of porcine NMU-25.
Similarly, NMU-25 is known in humans. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal 8 residues of human NMU-25 is the same as that of the C-terminal 8 residues of porcine NMU-8.
Rat NMU consists of 23 amino acid residues, and is named NMU-23. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal 8 residues of rat NMU-23 differs from that of the C-terminal 8 residues of porcine NMU-8 by one amino acid residue.
As a receptor for NMU, FM3, which is an orphan GPCR, was initially identified; subsequently, TGR1 was identified. Today, these receptors are called NMUR1 and NMUR2, respectively. FM3 is primarily distributed in the intestinal tract, whereas TGR1 is localized in the hypothalamus.
As a receptor for TGR1, a novel peptide has been isolated from rat brain. Since this peptide is localized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus within the hypothalamus, it was named neuromedin S (NMS), using the initial letter of the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
Human NMS consists of 33 amino acid residues, and the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal 8 amino acid residues are the same as the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal 8 residues of rat NMU-23.
NMUR1 and NMUR2 exhibit similar affinity to NMU, NMS, and NMU-8. It has been suggested that these receptors strongly recognize the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal 8 residues, the sequence of which is common to NMU and NMS.
An intracerebroventricular administration of rat NMU-23 in rats induces food intake suppression. A local injection of NMU to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) or arcuate nucleus (ARC) has also been reported to induce an anorectic activity as in the case of its intracerebroventricular administration; therefore, the action sites of NMU are assumed to be PVN and ARC. Further, an intracerebroventricular administration of anti-NMU antibody has shown to increase food intake, suggesting that the central NMU produces physiological effects that suppress food intake. It has also been reported that NMU KO mice exhibited an obese phenotype, and that mice over-expressing NMU exhibited lower body weight and reduced food intake. This clarifies the physiological significance of endogenous NMU.
It has further been reported that an intracerebroventricular administration of NMU causes an elevation of body temperature, generation of heat, and elevation of oxygen consumption. These activities are assumed to be due to sympathetic activation of adipose tissue and muscle system.
It has also been reported that suppression of gastric acid secretion and suppression of gastric emptying are caused by an intracerebroventricular administration of NMU. These activities are assumed to be due to the central effects via CRH secretion. These activities result in reduced food intake.
It has not yet been examined in detail how a peripheral administration of NMU causes an action on the intestinal tract; however, considering that NMUR1 is expressed in the intestinal tract, it can be assumed that the peripheral administration of NMU causes a certain action on the intestinal tract. Based on this assumption, action on the stomach or intestinal tract caused by NMU peripheral administration was examined, and colon-specific prokinetic activity has been discovered.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 and 2 disclose that an anorectic effect is achieved by peripheral administration of NMU.
The present inventors also discovered on their own accord that NMU-23 induces an anorectic activity via peripheral administration. In contrast, NMU-8 does not induce an anorectic activity via peripheral administration, although NMU-8 has a sufficiently strong agonist activity on the receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2.
In order for a neuromedin U to be useful as an anorectic agent, it is very important that a neuromedin U induces a high anorectic activity even when administered in a usual manner, for example, peripherally.
As PEG derivatives, which are used for chemical modifications in the field of medicine, various compounds are known.

Abstract: or a salt thereof. In formula (I), Y represents a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.: 1 wherein 1 to 4 amino acids are substituted; X represents a methoxypolyethylene glycol; X′ is absent or represents a methoxypolyethylene glycol; and a moiety represented by formula:La-Lb-[Lc]j represents a linker.


Moving side panels of a display stand toward each other causes shelf supports to automatically move individual shelves from shelf-up to shelf-down positions during erection of the stand from a collapsed to an erect state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an erectable display stand and, more particularly, to a stand having multiple shelves, all of which are simultaneously moved to individual display positions.
2. Description of Related Art
Manually and automatically erectable display stands, typically for use in displaying merchandise on retail shelves at a point-of-sale site, are well known. To reduce shipping costs, such stands are frequently shipped in a knock-down condition. In the manually erectable stands, the shelves are typically separate panels individually mounted on the stand at the site. The labor and expense involved in assembling the manually erectable stands has led to the use of automatically erectable stands. Even so, due to the higher initial cost of automatic stands, the need persists for a manually erectable stand which is simple and inexpensive to set up in situ at the point-of-sale site.


In a multi-stage network discovery system, a target device is identified by a logical address and associated with a configuration item (CI) record stored in a configuration management database (CMDB). A receiver module receives first probe data from a first probe running against the target device, the first probe data comprising constant attribute data of the target device, stores at least part of the first probe data in a first part of the CI record, receives subsequent probe data from at least one subsequent probe against the target device using the logical address, the subsequent probe data comprising the constant attribute data of the target device, determines that the constant attribute data from the subsequent probe matches the constant attribute data from the CI record, and in response to the determination, stores the subsequent data obtained from the second probe in a second part of the CI record.

Network discovery involves collecting data from numerous potential devices that exist on a network. Each device may require a large amount of data to fully describe the device, and discovery of certain information may be necessary before discovering further information. Information related to the network, devices within the network, and relationships between the devices may be stored in a configuration management database (CMDB), and records containing data for the devices, software, and relationships may be defined herein to be configuration items (CIs).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A hollow laminated piezoelectric element having excellent durability and reliability and capable of obtaining a high output, and a method of manufacturing the hollow laminated piezoelectric element are provided. A hollow laminated piezoelectric element 1 comprises a ceramic laminate 10 that is formed by having alternately laminated piezoelectric layers 11 made of a piezoelectric material and internal electrode layers 21 and 22 having conductivity and by having a center through hole 14 formed to pass through the ceramic laminate 10 along a lamination direction. The ceramic laminate 10 has an internally terminated structure in the inside periphery having at least a portion of inside peripheral ends of the internal electrode layers 21 and 22 terminated within the ceramic laminate 10 so that at least a portion of the inside peripheral ends of the internal electrode layers 21 and 22 is not exposed to the inside peripheral surface 104 of the ceramic laminate 10. The inside peripheral surface 104 of the ceramic laminate 10 has inside peripheral slits 13 having trenches provided in the peripheral direction toward the inside of the piezoelectric layers 11 from the inside peripheral surface 104.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental concerns, fuel consumption, and the exhaust gas of automobiles, development of fuel injectors for automobiles using a laminated piezoelectric element is progressing.
The laminated piezoelectric element usually contains a ceramic laminate that is formed by having alternately laminated piezoelectric layers made of a piezoelectric material and internal electrode layers having conductivity. A voltage is applied to between internal electrodes, thereby generating a displacement in the piezoelectric layers for driving.
Laminated piezoelectric elements can have various shapes. For example, there is a hollow laminated piezoelectric element that has a ceramic laminate having a through hole provided in a lamination direction.
Examples of the hollow laminated piezoelectric element that is used as a piezoelectric actuator for a fuel injector of an automobile are described in JP-A-10-9084 and JP-A-2002-252381.
However, the hollow laminated piezoelectric element has a through hole provided in the ceramic laminate. Therefore, it is difficult to insulate the internal peripheral surface of the ceramic laminate, and sufficient reliability cannot be obtained.
In order to solve the above problem, a method of insulating the internal peripheral surface of the ceramic laminate of the hollow laminated piezoelectric element by forming an insulator on the internal peripheral surface using electrophoresis is proposed in JP-A-7-176802 and JP-A-9-329068.
However, according to the above insulation method, the adhesive strength of the insulator is not sufficient, and stress generated by piezoelectric displacement is repetitively applied, thereby causing peeling-off of the insulator. Consequently, moisture enters the internal peripheral surface, and causes an insulation failure.
In addition to the above method, there is also a method of securing insulation on the internal peripheral surface of the ceramic laminate by employing a partial electrode structure in the hollow laminated piezoelectric element.
The laminated piezoelectric element includes a whole surface electrode structure type in which the ends of the internal electrode layers are exposed on all side surfaces of the ceramic laminate, and a partial electrode structure type (or an internally terminated structure) in which a portion of the ends of the internal electrode layers is terminated within the body of the ceramic laminate. According to the whole surface electrode structure type, the ends of the internal electrode layers are exposed on all side surfaces of the ceramic laminate. Therefore, there are many non-insulation parts, and it becomes difficult to insulate these parts. On the other hand, according to the partial electrode structure type, the ends of the internal electrode layers are terminated within the body of the ceramic laminate, and insulation can be secured.
However, in the case of the partial electrode structure type, stress generated due to piezoelectric displacement is concentrated at the ends of the internal electrode layers, and this has a risk of the occurrence of cracks. This inconvenience becomes extreme when a high output is produced. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain sufficient durability and reliability of the piezoelectric actuator for a long-term use as well as to obtain a high output.
As explained above, according to the conventional hollow laminated piezoelectric element, it is not easy to secure insulation, obtain sufficient durability and reliability, and obtain a high output.

Hollow laminated piezoelectric element and its manufacturing method


Described herein are approaches to managing expandable resource reservations. In one approach, a method is described in which an attempt is made to change a resource reservation from a first amount to a second amount. The second amount is examined to determine whether it exceeds a reservation limit. The second amount is compared with available resources, and reserved.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to resource reservation.
2. Related Art
The advantages of virtual machine technology have become widely recognized. Among these advantages is the ability to run multiple virtual machines on a single host platform. This makes better use of the capacity of the hardware, while still ensuring that each user enjoys the features of a "complete" computer. Depending on how it is implemented, virtualization can also provide greater security, since the virtualization can isolate potentially unstable or unsafe software so that it cannot adversely affect the hardware state or system files required for running the physical (as opposed to virtual) hardware.
As is well known in the field of computer science, a virtual machine (VM) is an abstraction—a "virtualization"—of an actual physical computer system. FIG. 1 shows one possible arrangement of a computer system 700 that implements virtualization. A virtual machine (VM) or "guest" 200 is installed on a "host platform," or simply "host," which will include system hardware, that is, a hardware platform 100 of computer system 700, and one or more layers or co-resident components comprising system-level software, such as an operating system or similar kernel, or a virtual machine monitor or hypervisor (see below), or some combination of these. The system hardware typically includes one or more processors 110, memory 130, some form of mass storage 140, and various other devices 170. Additionally, an operating system, such as Console Operating System 420, and hosted application(s) 430, is shown with an optional coupling to system hardware 100.
Each VM 200 will typically have both virtual system hardware 201 and guest system software 202. The virtual system hardware typically includes at least one virtual CPU 210, virtual memory 230, at least one virtual disk 240, and one or more virtual devices 270. Note that a disk—virtual or physical—is also a "device," but is usually considered separately because of the important role of the disk. All of the virtual hardware components of the VM 200 may be implemented in software using known techniques to emulate the corresponding physical components. The guest system software 202 includes a guest operating system (OS) 220 and drivers 224 as needed for the various virtual devices 270.
Note that a single VM 200 may be configured with more than one virtualized processor. To permit computer systems to scale to larger numbers of concurrent threads, systems with multiple CPUs have been developed. These symmetric multi-processor (SMP) systems are available as extensions of the PC platform and from other vendors. Essentially, an SMP system is a hardware platform that connects multiple processors to a shared main memory and shared I/O devices. Virtual machines may also be configured as SMP VMs. FIG. 1, for example, illustrates multiple virtual processors 210-0, 210-1, . . . , 210-m (VCPU0, VCPU1, . . . , VCPUm) within the VM 200.
Yet another configuration is found in a so-called "multi-core" architecture, in which more than one physical CPU is fabricated on a single chip, with its own set of functional units (such as a floating-point unit and an arithmetic/logic unit ALU), and can execute threads independently; multi-core processors typically share only very limited resources, such as some cache. Still another technique that provides for simultaneous execution of multiple threads is referred to as "simultaneous multi-threading," in which more than one logical CPU (hardware thread) operates simultaneously on a single chip, but in which the logical CPUs flexibly share some resource such as caches, buffers, functional units, etc.
If the VM 200 is properly designed, applications 260 running on the VM 200 will function as they would if run on a "real" computer, even though the applications are running at least partially indirectly, that is via the guest OS 220 and virtual processor(s) 210-0, 210-1, . . . , 210-m. Executable files will be accessed by the guest OS 220 from the virtual disk 240 or virtual memory 230, which will be portions of the actual physical disk 140 or memory 130 allocated to that VM. Once an application 260 is installed within the VM 200, the guest OS 220 retrieves files from the virtual disk 240 just as if the files had been pre-stored as the result of a conventional installation of the application 260. The design and operation of virtual machines, such as VM 200, are well known in the field of computer science.
Some interface is generally required between the guest software within a VM 200 and the various hardware components and devices in the underlying hardware platform 100. This interface—which may be referred to generally as "virtualization software"—may include one or more software components and/or layers, possibly including one or more of the software components known in the field of virtual machine technology as "virtual machine monitors" (VMMs) 300, . . . , 300-n, "hypervisors," or virtualization "kernels" 600. Because virtualization terminology has evolved over time and has not yet become fully standardized, these terms do not always provide clear distinctions between the software layers and components to which they refer. For example, "hypervisor" is often used to describe both a VMM 300 and a kernel 600 together, either as separate but cooperating components or with one or more VMMs 300, . . . , 300-m incorporated wholly or partially into the kernel 600 itself; however, "hypervisor" is sometimes used instead to mean some variant of a VMM 300 alone, which interfaces with some other software layer(s) or component(s) to support the virtualization. Moreover, in some systems, some virtualization code is included in at least one "superior" VM 200 to facilitate the operations of other VMs. Furthermore, specific software support for VMs 200, . . . , 200-n may be included in the host OS itself.
Moreover, FIG. 1 shows virtual machine monitors 300, . . . , 300-n that appear as separate entities from other components of the virtualization software. Furthermore, some software components used to implemented one illustrated embodiment of the invention are shown and described as being within a "virtualization layer" located logically between all virtual machines and the underlying hardware platform and/or system-level host software. This virtualization layer can be considered part of the overall virtualization software, although it would be possible to implement at least part of this layer in specialized hardware. The illustrated embodiments are given only for the sake of simplicity and clarity and by way of illustration—as mentioned above, the distinctions are not always so clear-cut.
The various virtualized hardware components in the VM, such as the virtual CPU(s) 210-0, 210-1, . . . , 210-m, the virtual memory 230, the virtual disk 240, and the virtual device(s) 270, are shown as being part of the VM 200 for the sake of conceptual simplicity. In actuality, these "components" are usually implemented as software emulations 330 included in the VMM 300. One advantage of such an arrangement is that the VMM 300 may (but need not) be set up to expose "generic" devices, which facilitate VM 200 migration and hardware platform-independence.
Different systems may implement virtualization to different degrees—"virtualization" generally relates to a spectrum of definitions rather than to a bright line, and often reflects a design choice with respect to a trade-off between speed and efficiency on the one hand and isolation and universality on the other hand. For example, "full virtualization" is sometimes used to denote a system in which no software components of any form are included in the guest other than those that would be found in a non-virtualized computer; thus, the guest OS 220 could be an off-the-shelf, commercially available OS with no components included specifically to support use in a virtualized environment.
In contrast, another concept, which has yet to achieve a universally accepted definition, is that of "para-virtualization." As the name implies, a "para-virtualized" system is not "fully" virtualized, but rather the guest is configured in some way to provide certain features that facilitate virtualization. For example, the guest in some para-virtualized systems is designed to avoid hard-to-virtualize operations and configurations, such as by avoiding certain privileged instructions, certain memory address ranges, etc. As another example, many para-virtualized systems include an interface within the guest that enables explicit calls to other components of the virtualization software.
For some, para-virtualization implies that the guest OS 220 (in particular, its kernel) is specifically designed to support such an interface. According to this view, having, for example, an off-the-shelf version of Microsoft Windows XP as the guest OS 220 would not be consistent with the notion of para-virtualization. Others define para-virtualization more broadly to include any guest OS 220 with any code that is specifically intended to provide information directly to any other component of the virtualization software. According to this view, loading a module such as a driver designed to communicate with other virtualization components renders the system para-virtualized, even if the guest OS as such is an off-the-shelf, commercially available OS not specifically designed to support a virtualized computer system. Unless otherwise indicated or apparent, this invention is not restricted to use in systems with any particular "degree" of virtualization and is not to be limited to any particular notion of full or partial ("para-") virtualization.
In addition to the sometimes fuzzy distinction between full and partial (para-) virtualization, two arrangements of intermediate system-level software layer(s) are in general use—a "hosted" configuration and a non-hosted configuration (which is shown in FIG. 1). In a hosted virtualized computer system, an existing, general-purpose operating system forms a "host" OS that is used to perform certain input/output (I/O) operations, alongside and sometimes at the request of the VMM 300. The Workstation product of VMware, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., is an example of a hosted, virtualized computer system, which is also explained in U.S. Pat. No. 6,496,847 (Bugnion, et al., "System and Method for Virtualizing Computer Systems," 17 Dec. 2002).
As illustrated in FIG. 1, in many cases, it may be beneficial to deploy VMMs 300, . . . , 300-n on top of a software layer—a kernel 600—constructed specifically to provide efficient support for the VMs 200, . . . , 200-n. This configuration is frequently referred to as being "non-hosted." Compared with a system in which VMMs 300, . . . , 300-n run directly on the hardware platform, use of a kernel 600 offers greater modularity and facilitates provision of services (for example, resource management) that extend across multiple virtual machines. Compared with a hosted deployment, a kernel 600 may offer greater performance because it can be co-developed with the VMM 300 and be optimized for the characteristics of a workload consisting primarily of VMs/VMMs. The kernel 600 also handles any other applications running on it that can be separately scheduled, as well as a console operating system that, in some architectures, is used to boot the system and facilitate certain user interactions with the virtualization software.
Note that the kernel 600 is not the same as the kernel that will be within the guest OS 220—as is well known, every operating system has its own kernel. Note also that the kernel 600 is part of the "host" platform of the VM/VMM as defined above even though the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is commonly termed "non-hosted;" moreover, the kernel may be both part of the host and part of the virtualization software or "hypervisor." The difference in terminology is one of perspective and definitions that are still evolving in the art of virtualization.
Resource Management
In many computing environments, the actual resources that make up the environment are shared between many different consumers of those resources. This resource sharing scenario is particularly obvious in the case of virtualized computing, where several different complete systems may share a single physical host, but it is common across the computing field.
In most resource scenarios, a group of consumers will attempt to use the resources of the environment. The nature of these consumers may vary, such as multiple virtual machines in a virtualization environment, or multiple processes, or multiple sub-features of a single application, or any combination or permutation of these or other consumers. To handle these competing interests, a common technique is to use resource reservation. By reserving resources for a particular consumer, a minimum guarantee of service is established.

System for managing and providing expandable resource reservations in a tree hierarchy


A device for mitigating plantar fasciitis that includes a truss structure, an upper anchor, and an actuator. The upper anchor is proximally located from the truss structure and the actuator couples a posterior portion of the truss structure to a posterior portion of the upper anchor. The actuator is designed to provide assistive force to urge heel lift during ambulation such that the tension in the plantar fascia is reduced.

The present subject matter relates generally to an orthotic device that mitigates and treats plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is a fibrous band within the foot that extends from the bottom of the heel bone to each of the toes. When a person stands, the plantar fascia is stretched under the load of a person's weight, an effect known as the "bowstring effect." Once stabilized against the ground, the windlass action of a normal plantar fascia will cause the heel to lift and invert. As the metatarsals and ankle are dorsiflexed during ambulation, the plantar fascia is stretched even further. As such, the plantar fascia is under the greatest tension just as the heel lifts off the ground.
Plantar fasciitis develops when, upon impact, strain, or pressure on the bottom of the foot, the plantar fascia becomes over-stretched and micro-tears develop at its attachment to the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis leads to pain in the plantar fascia upon weight bearing and pressure applied to the bottom of the foot, especially at the point of attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone. Any activity that causes the plantar fascia to stretch, such as ambulation, will aggravate the condition.
In severe cases of plantar fasciitis, surgery is performed and requires months of recovery along with prolonged use of custom orthotics to support the plantar fascia during ambulation. Therefore, early treatment of plantar fasciitis is desired to avoid surgery.
Current treatment of plantar fasciitis generally focuses on reducing stress to the plantar fascia through the use of custom orthotic devices, such as custom-made foot arch supports. However, custom-made foot arch supports fail to provide sufficient support to the plantar fascia during ambulation because current orthotics do not prevent hyperextension of the plantar fascia upon push-off. Further, these orthotics are generally expensive because each is custom-made to each user's foot profile.
Footplates, foot braces and orthopedic boots also exist to decrease the tension on the connection of the plantar fascia and the heel. However, these devices completely immobilize the plantar fascia wherein it becomes stiff and inflexible. As a result, when the user eventually does apply weight to the foot, the healed micro tears in the plantar fascia can be reinjured, thereby forfeiting any progress made during recovery. Further, a user's daily activities are substantially hindered, if not completely disrupted, by the constrictive, and typically bulky, nature and design of the foot braces or orthopedic boots.
In addition, the rigidity provided by a footplate, foot brace, or orthopedic boot, may further contribute to an abnormal gait by overcompensating for the injured plantar fascia and actually worsen the condition or create additional orthopedic problems elsewhere in the body.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device to mitigate plantar fasciitis by providing the correct balance of support and freedom of movement to reduce tension in the plantar fascia during ambulation, while at the same time not completely immobilizing the plantar fascia, as described and claimed herein.


The invention relates to a macroscopic assembly of nanometric filamentary structures. The macroscopic assembly comprises a plurality of microscopic assemblies substantially aligned in a same direction and connected together. Each of the microscopic assemblies comprises a plurality of members defining a plurality of spaces therebetween. Each of the members comprises a nanometric filamentary structure or a bundle of nanometric filamentary structures, wherein the macroscopic assembly has a density of less than 8 mg/cm3. The is also provided a method for preparing such a macroscopic assembly.

In the last decade, several nanometric filamentary structures have been synthesized. In fact, the interest for these one-dimensional structures has considerably grown. Several efforts and progress have been made in the synthesis, property characterization, assembly and applications of these one-dimensional structures. Some of these recent developments have been reported in (J. Liu, S. Fan and H. Dai, J, MRS Bull. 24 (2004), 244; J. Sloan et al., MRS Bull. 24 (2004), 265; Walt A. de Heer, MRS Bull. 24 (2004), 281; Y. Xia et al., Advanced Materials 15 (2003), 353.), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. However, there is still room for improvement in the proposed methods. Since many of these nanometric filamentary structures can be particularly volatile, they are difficult to deposit or recover without loosing at least a portion of them. Up to now, the deposition of nanometric filamentary structures has mostly been realized by thermophoresis. Such a technique generally requires large water-cooled surfaces, acting as collector of the product. Such a technique is not optimized for a large-scale production and often results in a deposit having a powder or membrane form that is relatively difficult to recover. It would therefore be desirable to be provided with a method and apparatus that would prevent such drawbacks.
Among these one-dimensional nanometric filamentary structures, carbon nanotubes have demonstrated very interesting properties. Carbon nanotubes are available either as multi-wall or single-wall nanotubes. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes have exceptional properties such as excellent electrical and thermal conductivities. They have applications in numerous fields such as storage of hydrogen (C. Liu, Y. Y. Fan, M. Liu, H. T. Cong, H. M. Cheng, M. S. Dresselhaus, Science 286 (1999), 1127; M. S. Dresselhaus, K. A Williams, P. C. Eklund, MRS Bull. (1999), 45) or other gases, adsorption heat pumps, materials reinforcement or nanoelectronics (M. Menon, D. Srivastava, Phy. Rev. Lett. 79 (1997), 4453). Single-wall carbon nanotubes, on the other hand, possess properties that are significantly superior to those of multi-wall nanotubes. For any industrial application such as storage or material reinforcement, the amount of single-wall carbon nanotubes produced must be at least a few kilograms per day. A difficulty encountered with the synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes, especially for their recovery, is that they are very volatile and they can be lost during the synthesis. By using the known methods of producing single-wall nanotubes, a powder or membrane form is obtained and large flows of cooling fluid are required in order to deposit the nanotubes carried in the gas.
In the methods and apparatuses that have been proposed so far for producing nanometric filamentary structures, there is no proposed solution that is efficient in order to determine the quality and/or quantity of the produced structures during the synthesis, In fact, such an analysis is made only when the production is stopped. There is thus no reliable way, during a synthesis, to determine if a given amount of structures already produced is getting contaminated with structures of poor quality. There is also no reliable way to determine if the efficiency of the production (i.e. the quantity of structures produced) is maintained during all the process or if it is lowered or considerably diminished at a certain time.
With respect to the synthesis of nanometric filamentary structures, many methods have been proposed in which the structures are deposited on a cooled surface such as a metallic plate. However, when using such methods, it results in the formation of a powder and large flows of cooling fluid are required. In fact, several types of nanometric filamentary structures have tendency to be fine powder or membranes compounds that are complicated to recover and have also tendency to be dissipated in the air.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,945 describes a three-dimensional single-wall carbon nanotube solid block material so-called buckyrock material. Such a material is described as being very solid, rigid and generally inflexible, and effective for use in armor. This document describes that such a material has a density of 0.7205 g/cm3.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,709 describes a macroscopic carbon fiber comprising at least about 106 single-wall carbon nanotubes bundled together in generally parallel orientation. The single-wall carbon nanotubes are arranged in a regular triangular lattice, i.e. in a close-packed structures. Such a macroscopic carbon fiber is obtained by a growth technique in which the hemispheric fullerene cap is removed from the upper ends of the tubular carbon molecules in the array, and the upper ends of the tubular carbon molecules in the array are then contacted with a catalytic metal. A gaseous source of carbon is supplied to the end of the array while localized energy is applied to the end of the array in order to heat the end to a temperature in the range of about 500° C. to about 1300° C. The growing carbon fiber is continuously recovered.
Another major drawback in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes is that the methods that have been proposed so far are not continuous. In fact, to obtain a continuous method for producing carbon nanotubes, the synthesis and the deposition and/or recovery must be carried out in a continuous manner.

Macroscopic assembly of nanometric filamentary structures and method of preparation thereof

Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique


There is provided in one embodiment an indicia reading terminal that can execute a spatial measurement mode of operation in which the indicia reading terminal can determine a dimension of an article in a field of view of the indicia reading terminal and/or determine other spatial information. In determining a dimension of an article, an indicia reading terminal can utilize setup data determined in a setup mode of operation and/or data determined utilizing the setup data.

In the field of transportation and shipping of goods, it can be useful to perform spatial measurements with respect to packages or other objects remotely, e.g., goods that are stacked on a pallet or in the interior of a truck or shipping container. Conventional approaches for determining an object distance include approaches using a distant remote sensor or stereo vision to estimate an object distance.

Indicia reading terminal having spatial measurement functionality


Methods and systems for configuring a modular building control system. An illustrative method may include entering a configuration mode in a base module and in each of the expansion modules. While in the configuration mode, the base module may collect information from each of the expansion modules. A system configuration may be created for the modular building control system based at least in part on the collected information and includes configuration parameters for the base module and each of the expansion modules. The base module may transmit to each of the expansion modules their respective configuration parameters. The base module and each of the expansion modules may install their respective configuration parameters, exit the configuration mode, and enter an operation mode. While in the operation mode, the base module and each of the expansion modules may control the modular building control system.

Due to the varying needs of differing buildings, the selection, installation and configuration of building components of a building control system such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, security system, lighting system and/or other building control systems can be time consuming and expensive. What would be desirable are methods and systems that help streamline this process.

Method and systems for configuring a modular building control system


A speech feature extraction apparatus 100 includes a voice activity detection unit 103 that drops non-voice frames from frames corresponding to an input speech utterance, and calculates a posterior of being voiced for each frame, a voice activity detection process unit 106 calculates a function value as weights in pooling frames to produce an utterance-level feature, from a given a voice activity detection posterior, and an utterance-level feature extraction unit 112 that extracts an utterance-level feature, from the frame on a basis of multiple frame-level features, using the function values.

In speaker recognition, the system input is a sequence of raw features (acoustic features) of variable number of frames. They are frame-level, while the system output expected to be speaker ID in speaker identification or target/non-target (same speaker/different speakers) in speaker verification.
Both of the output speaker ID and target/non-target are in the utterance level. To produce such utterance-level output from the frame-level input, a pooling (sum-up) process over all valid frames is necessary in somewhere in the speaker recognition system. Equally weighted pooling is commonly used for such a purpose.
For example, Non-Patent Documents (NPL) 1 and 2 disclose a speaker recognition system. FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the speaker recognition system disclosed in NPL 2.

Speech feature extraction apparatus, speech feature extraction method, and computer-readable storage medium