A method of managing a memory array having a plurality of erasable sectors. The method initially assigns at least one of the erasable sectors as a storage array and at least one of the erasable sectors as an update array. At least one data file is then sequentially written into the storage array beginning at a starting byte within the storage array. Each data file written into the storage array is initially designated as an active file. Thereafter, one or more of the active files is deleted by re-designating an active file as a deleted file. The deletion of active files is accomplished without erasing any of the erasable sectors. In a presently preferred embodiment, the deletion of files is accomplished by setting an Active/Delete flag in a header of the file. After deleting one or more active files, the array comprises at least one active file and at least one deleted file. Thereafter, the array is periodically updated by copying the active files from the storage array to the update array and erasing the sectors that comprise the storage array.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of semiconductor memory controllers and more particularly to a simplified method of managing electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and flash memory devices.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Semiconductor memories can be generally categorized as either volatile or non-volatile. Volatile memories such as static and dynamic random access memories (RAMs) are characterized by fast cycle times for both read and write operations, random access for both read and write operations, and, in the case of dynamic RAMs, high density. For these reasons, volatile memories are highly desirable in many applications. As their name implies however, volatile memories are susceptible to power loss. RAMs retain their stored data only as long a constant DC voltage is maintained at the power supply pin of the device. On the other hand, non-volatile memories such as ROMs, PROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, and flash memories are immune to power failure; retaining their stored data whether power is applied or not.
The memory cell of a typical EEPROM or flash memory device is the floating gate transistor. The floating gate transistor has source and drain regions similar to a conventional MOS transistor, but the polysilicon (poly) gate is electrically unconnected to other circuitry within the device. This "floating" gate is formed over a thin oxide, which is usually less than 100 angstroms thick. The threshold voltage of the floating gate transistor is manipulated by controlling the quantity of electrons that reside on the floating gate. The source and drain regions of the floating gate cell are coupled and uncoupled through the use a control gate. The control gate can alternatively be fashioned as a second poly gate, formed over the floating gate and separated from the floating gate by a dielectric, or as a contact to the device channel. If a sufficient number of electrons are deposited on the floating gate, the control gate will be unable to turn on the transistor (i.e. the threshold voltage will exceed the operating voltage of the circuit). If the electrons deposited on the floating gate are subsequently removed, applying a voltage in the range of 2.4 to 6 Volts to the control gate will form a channel between the source and drain regions.
Typically, electrons are deposited on the floating gate of EEPROM and flash memory devices during a programming operation. During programming, the control gate and the drain are raised to highly positive values with respect to the source. The positive voltages on the gate and drain generate hot electrons in the channel near the drain. The hot electrons are injected onto the floating gate where they are trapped. To subsequently remove the trapped electrons from the floating gate, a relatively high voltage is applied to the source while the gate is grounded. The floating gate electrons drift toward the region of the floating gate over the highly doped source region where the high electric field across the oxide causes the floating gate electrons to tunnel from the gate to the source.
The programming time and erase time of EEPROM and flash memory devices are significantly greater than the write time of a RAM. Moreover, because EEPROM and flash memory cells must be erased prior to the programming or writing of new data, EEPROM and flash memories are not generally useful in applications requiring random access. In certain applications however, where data is accumulated, stored, and retrieved sequentially (such as in many audio applications), EEPROM and flash memory devices are a viable alternative to conventional RAMs and provide the added benefit of non-volatility. In applications where data is written only occasionally but read frequently, EEPROMs and flash memory devices provide densities and read access times comparable to those of RAMs and data storage that is immune to power failure.
Because EEPROMs and flash memories are not random access devices, it is typically necessary to provide an array controller when using them as a storage medium. Two restrictive characteristics of flash memory arrays make array controllers necessary. The first characteristic is that flash memory cells must be erased before they can be written. The second restriction is that flash memory cells cannot be individually erased, but are instead erased in large blocks referred to as sectors. Sector architecture speeds the time required to erase the entire array, but limits the flexibility of the device. In flash memory arrays, an array controller is provided to keep track of the available (i.e. erased) cells and to control the sector erase of the devices.
Prior art flash array management methods contain numerous drawbacks which limit their utility. U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,485 ("the '485 patent"), for example, discloses a virtual mapping system for a flash memory array that allows data to be continuously written to available/array address locations. Designed to enable a flash memory array to be used as a random access storage element, the '485 patent employs a level of overhead that can be eliminated in many applications. The '485 patent performs an elaborate sequence of translations to convert a virtual address into a physical address within a flash memory array. In the method disclosed in the '485 patent, a virtual address is first translated into a logical address and then translated into a physical address. The patent requires two translation steps because addressing of the memory array is accomplished with a block address and a unit address. The unit address changes during a memory update cycle while the block address remains the same.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the two step translation process required by the '485 slows memory access times and consumes valuable bus bandwidth. Moreover, the requirement that each sector or unit contain a block allocation map reduces the size of the flash memory array available for data storage. In addition, the block allocation map must be altered during a write operation requiring an additional programming cycle in each write cycle. Because programming cycles are generally on the order of 15 microseconds or more, frequent array updates require frequent alteration of the block allocation map slowing down the overall system. In addition, the method disclosed in the '485 patent requires that the virtual map be itself saved in RAM. By requiring that the mapping be saved in RAM, the '485 patent forfeits its immunity to power outages. In addition, conventional flash memory controllers frequently employ copy-erase-copy back procedures to perform updates. Such procedures unnecessarily increase the number of erase cycles thereby negatively impacting the device lifetime. In addition, conventional flash memory controllers use extensive tables or directories to monitor the status of the array. It is therefore desirable to design a method for managing a flash memory array that circumvents these drawbacks.

Simplified file management scheme for flash memory


A method for inducing differentiation of monocytes contained in an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood into functional dendritic antigen presenting cells is provided. The monocytes are induced to differentiate into dendritic cells by activation forces resulting from flow of the monocytes through a treatment apparatus having plastic channels. The interior surface of the plastic channel may be modified to increase the available surface area for interaction with blood monocytes. Platelets and serum protein may be removed from the blood prior to treatment to reduce or eliminate contamination of the plastic channel by these blood components. Functional dendritic cells generated from induced monocytes are incubated together with apoptotic or inactivated disease effector agents to enhance the presentation of at least one disease-causing antigen expressed by the disease effector agents. Compositions including dendritic cells derived from induced monocytes and compositions including such dendritic cells incubated with disease effector agents are also provided for use in immunotherapeutic treatment.

The use of dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy is presently an area of significant clinical inquiry. Dendritic cells are highly effective in presenting antigens to responding T-cells; however, dendritic cells normally constitute less than one percent of blood mononuclear leukocytes. Accordingly, a number of in vitro methods have been developed to expand populations of dendritic cells to augment anti-cancer immunity. By exposing increased numbers of dendritic cells to antigens on tumor or other disease-causing cells, followed by reintroduction of the antigen-loaded dendritic cells to the patient, presentation of these antigens to responding T-cells can be enhanced significantly.
For example, culturing blood mononuclear leukocytes for eight days in the presence of granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) produces large numbers of dendritic cells. These cells can then be externally loaded with tumor-derived peptide antigens for presentation to T-cells. Alternatively, the dendritic cells can be transduced to produce and present these antigens themselves. Expanding populations of dendritic cells transduced to produce and secrete cytokines which recruit and activate other mononuclear leukocytes, including T-cells, may be an even more effective method of generating anti-tumor immune responses.
Transducing cultivated dendritic cells to produce a particular generic tumor antigen and/or additional cytokines is labor intensive and expensive. More importantly, this procedure likely fails to produce and present those multiple tumor antigens that may be most relevant to the individual's own cancer. Several approaches have been proposed to overcome this problem. Hybridization of cultivated autologous dendritic cells with tumor cells would produce tetraploid cells capable of processing and presenting multiple unknown tumor antigens. In a second proposed approach, acid elution of Class I and Class II major histocompatability complexes (MHC) from the surface of malignant cells would liberate a broad spectrum of tumor-derived peptides. These liberated peptides could then be externally loaded onto MHC complexes of autologous cultivated dendritic cells.
Conventional photopheresis is a method of vaccinating patients against leukemic lymphocytes, even when the distinctive tumor antigen(s) is not known. In this method, malignant cells are exposed to photo-activated 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) which enhances cell surface display of Class I MHC-associated tumor antigens. After intravenous return of these altered malignant lymphocytes to the original patient, a potent anti-tumor response may be generated in about 25% of the patients, leading to diminution of the malignant cell population and occasionally long-standing remissions. Experimental studies in mice, in which autologous dendritic cells are first grown in tissue culture and then admixed with the 8-MOP-treated tumor cells, appears to increase the efficacy of conventional photopheresis. In this experimental protocol, tumorigenic mouse T-cells are rendered apoptotic by photopheresis using 8-MOP and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) energy. Following this chemical alteration of the malignant leukeocytes, autologous cultured dendritic cells are added to the apoptotic T-cells, and the cell mix is incubated overnight with shaking to maximize contact between the T-cells and the dendritic cells. The apoptotic T-cell/dendritic cell mix has proven to be an effective cellular vaccine in test mice challenged with viable tumorigenic 2B4.11 cells.
While the above-described experimental protocol is apparently more efficient and comprehensive than alternative approaches, it requires extensive ex vivo cellular manipulations over a period of several days. Accordingly, an in vivo procedure which could in a single day provide large numbers of functional dendritic cells and expose those cells to apoptotic tumor cells would greatly simplify the means by which the anti-tumor cellular vaccine could be prepared.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for inducing the differentiation of monocytes into functional dendritic cells and immunotherapeutic compositions including such dendritic cells


An instrument and method for measuring the volume of a hermetically sealed, variable volume, pressure conforming container. The instrument includes a needle, a vacuum pump, a mass flow rate sensor and an integrator. The needle has a lumen operable for sealingly perforating a container and thereby placing the lumen of the needle in fluid communication with a retention chamber defined by the container. The vacuum pump evacuates the gaseous content from the retention chamber through the lumen defined by the needle and past a mass flow rate sensor for sensing mass flow rates pulled through the lumen and transmitting corresponding mass flow rate signals over time to the integrator. The integrator is programmed to integrate the received mass flow rate signals over time through achievement of an evacuated retention chamber to generate a total mass value, and calculate a volume from the total mass value employing the Ideal Gas Law.

Perishable products, such as packaged foods, have a shelf life which must be ascertained so that stale product is not sold to consumers. The shelf life of such products is commonly imprinted upon the package as the "expiration date" or "freshness date". Manufacturers, distributors and retailers of perishable products commonly prioritize the shipment, distribution and display of such products based upon the expiration date or freshness date of the product to reduce the amount of expired product which must be discarded.
One example of efforts taken to increase the shelf life of perishable products is flushing of the packaging with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, to reduce the oxygen concentration within the packaging.
The shelf life of a perishable product can be determined by several methods depending upon the particular product involved (i.e., potato chips v. soft drinks). One of the variables often involved in determining shelf life is the volume of the container. Such a calculation is relatively simple when the container is a rigid container with a fixed volume (i.e., a paperboard cylinder such as that employed to package PRINGLES® potato crisps), but becomes much more difficult when the container has a variable volume (i.e., a MYLAR potato chip bag).
Currently available instruments for measuring or estimating the volume of a variable volume container, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,268,967 and 6,189,223, are unacceptably inaccurate, prohibitively expensive, difficult to conduct and/or slow.
Accordingly, a need exists for an inexpensive, quick, easy and accurate method and instrument for measuring the volume of a variable volume container.

Instrument and method for measuring the volume of a hermetically sealed variable volume and pressure conforming container


A sliding bearing, particularly for slippers of hydrostatic piston machines, with a support having a supporting surface on which slides a sliding piece having a sliding and sealing surface. Between the supporting surface and the sealing part of the sliding and sealing surface is a bearing gap height (h.sub.2) and in the sliding and sealing surface at least one shallow recess with a depth (h) bordered by the sealing part of the sliding and sealing surface. At least one connecting channel is connected to a pressure source of the lubricating fluid so that a lubrication gap with a height (h.sub.2 +h) is formed. The lubrication gap is in accordance with the invention designed in such a way that a self-adjusting load bearing capacity dependent on the gap height (h.sub.2) is achieved, whereby in the gap such a flow is created, under the influence of which the velocity of the lubricating fluid is positive (greater than zero) in all directions and the pressure gradient is declining in the flow direction.

The invention concerns a hydrostatically balanced sliding bearing as well as hydraulic machines of different design, and general bearing applications with such a sliding bearing. Such sliding bearings are commonly known in various machines, particularly in hydrostatic pumps and motors. Movable and pressure bearing parts are often located in sliding bearings that are hydrostatically balanced through the supply of pressure fluid to the lubricant storing pocket. In axial piston machines with a swash plate design, this affects the slippers, which transfer the entire piston force at a relative movement of the slippers and the swash plate to the swash plate, the rotating cylinder block, the ball joint that connects piston and slipper, which transfers the entire piston force onto slipper. In variable hydrostatic machines the swash plate, that is under load due to the resulting pressure forces of all pistons, can be located in a hydrostatically balanced bearing. Axial piston units with bent axis design additionally have this possibility through axial location of the shaft with a driving flange that is under load due to the pressure forces transferred by the pistons. Similar sliding bearings can also be found in other hydrostatic machines, for example, in radial piston machines, gear pumps and motors, screw machines.
The disadvantages and problems of using hydrostatic bearings are numerous.
Hydrostatically balanced sliding bearings for optimum function need the pressurized fluids, which in hydrostatic machines, is usually taken from the high pressure line or the high pressure chambers of the machine. The pressure fluid that flows through these bearings to the low pressure side can no longer be used for energy transformation. Therefore, this flow has to be considered as a volumetric loss.
To reduce the loss and increase bearing hydrostatic stiffness, orifices are built into the intake channels to the areas under pressure. The orifice cross section in regular machines must be extremely small in order to achieve an appreciable bearing hydrostatic stiffness and in order to keep the volumetric loss within reasonable limits. The necessary small cross sections are very expensive. In some cases they cannot even be built. A capillary intended to serve as an orifice would have to be very long, in most cases greater than the length that is available in the machine. In addition, hydrostatic machines have certain places where orifices cannot be located, for example, the location of the cylinder block on the valve plate.
In order to keep the volumetric losses within reasonable limits, the pocket containing the lubricant currently has to be laid out so that the entire load is not hydrostatically compensated. Due to the excess remaining forces, the relatively moving parts are pressed together, ensuring a sufficient seal. The remaining force at standstill and at low relative speeds is transferred through the direct contact of the solid parts. The result is a boundary lubrication condition between the relatively moving parts due to the non-compensated excess force, which causes major frictional forces and wear. At higher speeds the excess force is usually almost completely compensated by the additional pressure field in the gap as a result of the hydrodynamic effect. The bearing operates as a hydrostatically balanced, hydrodynamic sliding bearing.
The circumstances described above are also described in detail by the example of a hydrostatic bearing that serves to transfer the piston forces to the swash plate in axial piston units with swash plate design. It is commonly known as a slipper and is well known as such in the art. The slipper principally represents a single surface axial bearing.

Sliding bearing with self-adjusted load bearing capacity


An embodiment provides a MLS gasket that includes a metal body portion having an external periphery, an upper body surface generally defining a first plane. At least one cylinder aperture formed in the metal body portion and defined by an inner aperture surface. The gasket also includes a combustion seal insert including a first insert layer having an outer first periphery, a top first insert surface and a bottom first insert surface. The outer first periphery is circumscribed by the inner aperture surface. The first insert layer includes a first insert bead portion. The gasket further includes a first sealing layer having a top first sealing surface and a bottom first sealing surface. Portions of the bottom first sealing surface are selectively in contact with each of the upper body surface and the top first insert surface. Compression of the first insert bead portion is selectively limited by the body portion.

In recent years, MLS cylinder head gaskets for internal combustion engines have become a preferred choice with at least two gasket layers formed from steel. In a typical MLS gasket, the layers are formed with a plurality of openings. More specifically, typical gaskets include cylinder bore openings, coolant openings, bolt holes and oil holes. Typically, the gasket includes full beads around the cylinder bore openings and half beads that surround the non-cylinder bore openings and the outer periphery of the gasket. The bolt holes, which are generally located around the periphery of the gasket, cooperate with bolts to secure the gasket between the cylinder head and engine block. The cylinder bore openings, coolant holes and oil holes are sealed by surface pressures formed by the clamping action of the bolts to deform the half or full beads, thereby creating a sealing pressure between the portions of the cylinder head and engine block that are in contact with the gasket.
Generally, when the bolts are tightened, the surface pressure between portions of the cylinder head and engine block that are in contact with the gasket varies somewhat throughout the sealing joint. Since the seal around the cylinder bore openings is generally a primary concern in head gasket manufacture, other sealing portions, usually half beads, of the gasket must accommodate this priority of design. During engine operation, the high pressures and temperatures, and the operating conditions at the head gasket location cause movement between the cylinder head and the cylinder block. This movement causes variation in sealing pressures and may cause the full beads or half beads to compress until bead portions contact a surface that inhibits further compression. This variation in sealing pressure is especially prevalent in the full beads surrounding the cylinder bore openings.
In practice, no cylinder head and cylinder block mating surfaces are perfectly planar or perfectly parallel. Gaps between the cylinder head and cylinder block exist if an engine were to be assembled without a gasket interposed therebetween. With a gasket installed between the cylinder head and cylinder block, areas of localized stress are created when fasteners (not shown) such as a bolt are positioned through bolt holes, and then tightened to secure the cylinder head and cylinder block. These gaps result in unequal sealing stresses around the bolt holes, the cylinder bore openings, and other portions of the gasket. Furthermore, the gasket will be subject to high loads in compression during engine operation. This high compression loading generates higher stresses that may result in an undesirable reduction in recovery capability and/or characteristics of the gasket, such as cracking of bead portions or plastic deformation of bead portions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a MLS gasket 20. Gasket 20 has a body, or base layer 22, a top layer 24, and a bottom layer 26. A cylinder aperture 30 is formed in the layers 22, 24, 26. Both the top layer 24 and the bottom layer 26 have a bead 32 formed therein that circumscribes the cylinder aperture 30. Base layer 22 further include an embossed edge stopper 40 formed thereon. The beads 32 and the embossed edge stopper 40 circumscribe the cylinder aperture 30 to exert a sealing pressure around the cylinder aperture 30 and between a cylinder head (not shown) and an engine block (not shown).
In operation, the gasket 20 introduces stresses into an engine, in part, due to the edge stopper 40 impacting the top layer 24 adjacent bead 32 during relative vertical motion between the cylinder head and engine block. Specifically, the location of the edge stopper adjacent the cylinder aperture 30 results in distortion of both the cylinder head and engine block, especially when aluminum is utilized. Undesirable distortion of the cylinder bore may effect engine performance and ring sealing capability. Significant stresses are encountered where the valve seats formed within an aluminum cylinder head are distorted. Since steel valve seats are often inserted within aluminum cylinder heads, the coupling between the valve seats and the cylinder head may be undesirably degraded due to the additional stresses introduced by a stopper such as the edge stopper 40. Also, embossments such as the edge stopper 40 may be damaged, or flattened in portions during severe or normal operations, which may lead to premature bead failure since the embossments may no longer protect the beads from undesirable full compression.
Additionally, all layers of a MLS gasket are typically coated stainless steel. The coatings on the gasket layers are used to improve gasket performance and are typically more difficult and costly to apply to a stainless steel as compared to a carbon steel.
Evaluations have been performed on gaskets that have experienced an undesirable reduction in recovery capability and/or characteristics at portions, such as the sealing beads surrounding cylinder apertures in gaskets that are interposed between a cylinder head and a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine (not shown). In many gaskets evaluated, the undesirable reduction in recovery capability and/or characteristics of bead portions were greater with edge stoppers. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a sealing mechanism that eliminates edge stoppers and may permit beads to be formed of a material with a greater stiffness than is permitted with an optimized edge stopper type gasket. A favorable gasket may also reduce the costs and difficulty associated with coating the surface area of all gasket layers.

Stopped-active type cylinder head gasket


A concrete/steel structure disassembling apparatus which comprises a triangular or T-shaped housing, and a suspension member is pivotably coupled to the triangular or T-shaped housing, and the suspension facilitates suspension of the triangular or T-shaped housing from a crane. At least a concrete/steel pulverizer apparatus is pivotably supported by the triangular or T-shaped housing, and the concrete/steel pulverizer apparatus comprises a pair of concrete/steel pulverizer arms for engaging with a desired section of a concrete/steel structure and pulverizing the same. The concrete/steel structure disassembling apparatus incorporates its own completely independent power module for supplying hydraulic power to the concrete/steel pulverizer apparatus and controlling operation of the at least one pair of concrete/steel pulverizer arms, and the power module is supported by the triangular or T-shaped housing.

Concrete/steel disassembling devices are well known in the art and are utilized for a variety of different applications. These disassembling devices are, for example, typically fixed to the end of a mechanical arm or boom of a heavy equipment base, motorized piece of equipment, or some other similar heavy duty vehicle. However, with respect to all such known prior art concrete/steel disassembling devices, the operating power is typically supplied by a power source that is mounted at the base of the equipment a considerable distance away from the disassembling device but interconnected therewith via one or more hydraulic lines. That is, typically hydraulic power is delivered to the remote concrete/steel disassembling device via hydraulic lines that extend from the hydraulic pump, which is mounted on and driven by the engine or motor of the piece of equipment or heavy equipment, to the remotely located concrete/steel disassembling device.
Since the known concrete/steel disassembling devices are fixed directly to the end of a mechanical arm or a boom, and the operating power of these concrete/steel disassembling devices is supplied by a power source mounted on the base equipment or motorized equipment, and the reach or range of operation of these disassembling devices is limited by the length of the mechanical arm or boom. The limited range of operation of known concrete/steel disassembling devices prevents utilization of these such devices on relatively tall concrete/steel structures, especially structures which have limited or no access thereto. Furthermore, due to the rigidity of the connection between the known concrete/steel disassembling device and the mechanical arm or boom, the forces and torques placed on the mechanical arm or boom by the weight of the removed concrete/steel structure may cause damage to the mechanical equipment and also limit the work capacity of the heavy equipment base or the motorized equipment.
In addition, many of the known prior art concrete/steel disassembling devices are somewhat difficult for an operator to maneuver due to lack of visibility of the concrete/steel disassembling device during use.

Self-powered concrete/steel structure disassembling apparatus


The present invention concerns an isolated bacteriocin, Divergicin M35, derived form Carnobacterium divergens M35. It also concerns a composition comprising an effective amount of Divergicin M35 and the use of that bacteriocin to kill or limit the proliferation of a microorganism.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel bacteriocin, divergicin M35, produced by the Carnobacterium divergens strain M35. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising an effective amount of divergicin M35 and the use of that bacteriocin to kill or limit the proliferation of a microorganism such as L. monocytogenes.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are food-grade microorganisms used for the production of numerous fermented food products to improve their flavor, texture and shelf-life. LAB produce antibacterial compounds that include organic acids, diacetyl, hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins, which are known to reduce food spoilage and growth or proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Use of these naturally produced compounds as food bio-preservative agents has therefore gained increasing attention in the food industry and now represents a promising way to preserve food without chemical agents, especially in ready-to-use products. Bacteriocins may also find use in the preparation of products that are not submitted to sufficient thermal sterilization during their production, since they represent a risk of contamination by pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, known in the art to be responsible for numerous worldwide outbreaks. The ability of L. monocytogenes to survive longer at refrigerated temperatures and at sodium chloride concentrations up to 10% makes it a serious health threat, particularly in lightly-preserved seafood.
LAB represent the predominant microbial population flora in low temperature stored products. Among LAB that produce antibacterial compounds and that can be used as food-preservative agent, Carnobacteria are particularly attractive since they show interesting physiological characteristics. Indeed, they grow at low temperatures, high sodium chloride concentration and limited carbohydrate concentration, they produce high-antilisterial bacteriocins and have lower acidifying capacities than other bacteriocin-producing LAB.
The prior art reports the isolation and characterization of numerous Carnobacterium bacteriocins such as carnobacteriocins BM1 and B2 (Quadri et al., 1994), divergicin LV13 (Worobo et al., 1995), divercin V41 (Métivier et al., 1998), divergicin 750 (Holck et al., 1996), piscicocin V1a (Bhugaloo-Vial et al., 1996) and carnocin CP5 (Herbin et al., 1997). Although those bacteriocins are known, they were not isolated for the particular purpose of preserving sea food products and their activity spectrum can vary significantly toward pathogen microorganisms. Moreover, only a few studies have reported characterization of bacteriocins from Carnobacterium species isolated from fish and especially those produced by C. divergens strains.
Thereofore, it would be desirable to be provided with a bacteriocin produced by a Carnobacterium divergens strain having anti-listerial activity and capable to grow under conditions encountered in the manufacture and preservation of sea-food products.

Bacteria strain and bacteriocin produced therefrom


Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which, in one embodiment, an X-ray source and collimator are positioned relative to an image receptor for imaging of a subject.

Conventional radiographic examination rooms include a radiographic table and/or radiographic wallstand. The radiographic table and/or radiographic wallstand each contain an image receptor. Medical imaging equipment such as an X-ray source and the collimator is mounted to an overhead tube support (OTS) in the vicinity of the radiographic table and/or the radiographic wallstand for performing diagnostic imaging procedures. The X-ray source and the collimator comprise a tube mount assembly.
The tube mount assembly is aligned with the receptor for imaging of a subject. To align the tube mount assembly with a receptor, the tube mount assembly and OTS move in three linear motions (lateral, longitudinal, vertical) which are perpendicular to each other, and the tube mount assembly moves in two rotational rotations (rotation about the vertical axis, and rotation about one horizontal axis), for a total of five axes.
Manual positioning of the X-ray source, collimator and OTS is performed by an operator releasing locks on each of the five axes, moving the tube mount assembly to a position of alignment with a receptor, the position being indicated by a "detent," and stopping the tube mount assembly at that position for each of the five axes. The detent is a means of indicating to the operator that the OTS has reached an aligned position along an axis, either by mechanical sensation, of a wheel dropping into a groove, or of an electromechanical lock engaging, or of a visual indication.
Because alignment of the tube mount assembly with a receptor has been mandated by US Federal law, (DHHS CFR21 Subchapter J), many different techniques have been developed to determine proper alignment, and to secure the tube mount assembly in a properly aligned position. In some techniques the operator presses a manual release for a tooth-and-slot lock, and moves the axis until the tube mount assembly reaches the proper position at which the tooth is engaged in another slot. In other implementations, the operator presses a button, which releases an electromechanical friction lock, and when the proper position is reached, the electromechanical friction lock is again engaged. In some other implementations, the "detent" is created by a roller on a smooth surface engaging a transverse slot, creating a tactile perception to the operator that the proper position has been reached.
What is common to all of these techniques is that at least one detent is at a fixed position along an axis of motion at a position in which the tube mount assembly is aligned with a receptor. The operator seeks a detent position by releasing some holding means, or overcoming friction, in order to move the tube mount assembly along that axis to the detent position. When the detent position is reached an indicator will indicate that the detent position has been reached. The indication is a tactile sensation, an audible tone, and/or a visual indication such as a light, etc. Once the operator releases control of that axis of motion, further motion past the detent position is prevented, either by friction, by spring pressure on a wheel in a slot, and/or by engagement of a tooth in a slot, or by some other means. While detent positions may be different for a radiographic table receptor than for a radiographic wallstand image receptor, for each receptor, they are fixed positions of the axes.
One limitation of conventional systems is that the positions of the detents are relative to the axes of motion of the OTS. As a result of the relativity of the positions, it is necessary to align the receptors of the radiographic table and radiographic wallstand parallel or perpendicular to the linear axes of motion of the OTS. To understand this, consider the two examples below:
EXAMPLE A: In one example, there is a lateral detent for the table, which is a fixed position across the width of the table, which aligns with the center of the image receptor.
The image receptor is provided means to move along the length of the table, and (in one embodiment) has a motorized drive, which tracks the position of the X-ray tube and collimator attached to the OTS. So it is possible to position the OTS in the lateral detent, and manually move the OTS along the table, maintaining alignment with the receptor. This alignment is maintained because the lateral position of the OTS is locked at a specific location along the lateral positioning rails, and the longitudinal position of the receptor tracks the longitudinal position of the OTS as it moves along the longitudinal positioning rails.
The detent position is a fixed location of the OTS on the lateral positioning rails.
However, it can be clearly seen that the lateral detent achieved by this means is only as accurate as the alignment of the longitudinal direction of the table with the longitudinal direction of motion of the OTS in the longitudinal positioning rails.
An additional detent position is provided by a fixed mechanical stop to maintain the rotational position of the OTS about the vertical rotational axis, so that the rotational position of the X-ray field about the center of the image field is correct.
An additional detent is provided to maintain the proper vertical separation between the X-ray tube focal spot and the receptor.
An additional detent may be provided for the rotational position of the horizontal rotational axis, (either a hard stop, or a user perceptible position) and/or the longitudinal motion of the receptor may be adjusted to correctly position the receptor if the horizontal axis of the OTS is rotated.
This requires the alignment of the table to the positioning rails of the OTS, as stated earlier.
EXAMPLE B: In another example, a detent position provides alignment of the X-ray tube and the collimator to the horizontal center of the radiographic wallstand image receptor, when the radiographic wallstand receptor is in the vertical position.
When the OTS is moved manually nearer or farther away from the radiographic wallstand, it is required that the focal spot of the X-ray source assembly remain the centerline extending from the image receptor perpendicular to the image plane.
This is accomplished by placing the image plane perpendicular to either the lateral or longitudinal positioning rails.
The X-ray tube and collimator is placed in the proper position relative to the radiographic wallstand as follows:
The horizontal rotational axis is rotated so that the central ray of the X-ray field is in the horizontal plane. A detent is provided for this position.
The vertical rotation axis is rotated so that the central ray lies along either the lateral positioning rails, or the longitudinal positioning rails, whichever is perpendicular to the image plane. A detent or lock of some sort is provided for this position.
The OTS is moved along the lateral or longitudinal positioning rails (whichever is parallel to the image plane) until the central ray of the X-ray field is at the horizontal center of the image receptor. A detent is provided for this position, as a fixed position (within a tolerance) in the relevant horizontal motion axis.
The vertical extension of the OTS is adjusted so that the central ray of the X-ray field is at the vertical center of the image receptor. A detent is provided for this position, as a fixed position (within a tolerance) in the vertical motion axis.
The distance from the X-ray source to the image receptor may now be varied by moving along the remaining set of positioning rails, and the image will remain properly centered.
Note that the sequence above is arbitrary, and in fact other variations exist, such as automatic positioning of the OTS to match the vertical position of the radiographic wallstand image receptor. In addition, note that the receptor for the radiographic wallstand can be rotated over a range of angles, for example, from −20 to +90 degrees, relative to the vertical position.
However, in the two examples above, it can be seen that it is necessary for the table and radiographic wallstand to be aligned at zero or 90 degrees relative to the lateral and/or longitudinal positioning rails of the OTS, and the accuracy with which the manual motions described will "track" the image receptor is determined by the accuracy of this alignment. This limits the flexibility of room configurations, and at the same time, limits the accuracy of positioning.
Manual positioning in conventional systems requires releasing one or more locks for the axes of the OTS, typically using switches mounted on the user interface, or on the collimator, and pushing the tube mount assembly in the desired direction of motion. Motion is prevented in those directions for which the locks or detents are not released in this manner. It should be noted that the tube mount assembly may be locked in any position of the translation motions, and not only in the detent position.
Additionally, in conventional systems, the radiographic wallstand image receptor is typically mounted to the floor or wall, and the X-ray tube suspension is typically mounted to the ceiling. As a result of this, the motion of each is not necessarily perfectly vertical, as there may be some leaning of the radiographic wallstand, and the extending column of the OTS may not produce perfectly vertical motion. Additionally, both devices may bow or distort due to the influence of gravity, as they are not perfectly rigid.
As a consequence of bowing or distortion, the alignment of a focal spot of the X-ray tube is only accurately aligned for one particular height of the radiographic wallstand image receptor, and thus is likely to be misaligned at other heights.
Additionally, in conventional systems, the lock release switches on the UIF or the collimator control specific locks, and this causes some confusion for the operator, because if the X-ray tube and collimator are rotated 90 degrees about the vertical rotation axis of the OTS, the operator must remember that the function of the switches is now reversed, in that the motion of the OTS relative to the operator has not rotated. Also, at intermediate angles, the motion allowed is at skewed angles, relative to the operator. A more intuitive way of manually moving the OTS would improve usability of the tube mount assembly.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art to increase the extent of flexibility of room configurations and improve the accuracy of positioning of the apparatus. There is also a need to maintain proper alignment over the full range of travel of the radiographic wallstand image receptor. There is a further need in the art for an ability to correct for imperfections in geometry in the apparatus and to allow for greater tolerance in precision in manufacturing and installation. This is an additional need in the art to reduce confusion of the operator in the relationship between the function of the switches and the motion of the OTS. There is also a need for a system that accommodates an image receptor of a wallstand or a table positioned at an angle other than 0 or 90 degrees to a positioning rails.

Systems, methods and apparatus of a radiographic positioner


A method for establishing anonymous communication links comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of subscribers; assigning a code to each of the plurality of subscribers; accessing a proprietary directory of the subscribers containing the code of each of the plurality of subscribers; and connecting a first subscriber of the plurality of subscribers to a second subscriber of the plurality of subscribers for communications. The first subscriber is identified by a first code so that the first subscriber can communicate with the second subscriber anonymously.

Because the Internet evolved from the ARPAnet, a research experiment that supported the exchange of data between government contractors and (often academic) researchers, an on-line culture developed that is alien to the corporate business world. The Internet was not designed to make commercialization easy.
Transaction Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the communications standard between hosts on the Internet. TCP/IP defines the basic format of the digital data packets on the Internet allowing programs to exchange information with other hosts on the Internet.
Domain names direct where e-mail is sent, files are found, and computer resources are located. They are used when accessing information on the WWW or connecting to other computers through Telenet. Internet users enter the domain name, which is automatically converted to the Internet Protocol address by the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS is a service provided by TCP/IP that translates the symbolic name into an IP address by looking up the domain name in a database.
The World Wide Web (WWW) is one of the newest Internet services. The WWW allows a user to access a universe of information which combines text, audio, graphics and animation within a hypermedia document. Links are contained within a WWW document which allows simple and rapid access to related documents. The WWW was developed to provide researchers with a system that would enable them to quickly access all types of information with a common interface, removing the necessity to execute a variety of numerous steps to access the information. During 1991, the WWW was released for general usage with access to hypertext and UseNet news articles. Interfaces to WAIS, anonymous FTP, Telnet and Gopher were added. By the end of 1993 WWW browsers with easy to use interfaces had been developed for many different computer systems.
UseNet is a network of news groups on thousands of different topics which allow the on-line discussion through the posting of individual messages (articles) which can be read by participants. An article is similar to an e-mail message, having a header, message body and signature.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) provides a network equivalent of an old telephone party line. IRC is accessed through an Internet connection. This permits the user to chat with users all over the world about hundreds of different subjects at any time. In a way, its as if the UseNet newsgroups were a live discussion rather than postings. The interactive nature of IRC with multiple users makes long, detailed chats difficult to maintain. IRC users may send private messages to each other as well as start a private chat with several users.
The first step in an IRC session is for the local user IRC Client to connect to the IRC Server. The IRC is a lot like a text-based conference call. On IRC, each individual conference is called a channel. There are several hundred channels on IRC with each channel loosely related to a subject matter. Every channel has a current topic which may be viewed to determine what is currently being discussed. When joining a channel, it's like walking into a room full of people talking to each other, sometimes with several conversations going on at once. In addition to chatting on a channel which is broadcast to everyone on that channel, IRC provides a way to enter into a private chat as well as send private notices. IRC basically allows anyone to join and participate, as individuals are not invited to join, resulting in a very crowded channel.
A number of Internet phone software products offer voice capabilities in real time over the Internet. Internet phoneware vendors typically provide their own directory servers, organized by topic as well as by name. Voice quality varies from moment to moment. Such variations are due to the processing delay that results from encoding and decoding the conversation as well as the inherent delay of the Internet, which varies according to the amount of traffic at any given time and the route through which the signal must travel.
Desire for private secure anonymous voice communications has evolved as a result of concern for personal security and privacy. Voice mail boxes accessed through a 900 telephone number can allow users to select a conversation and even reply without ever actually knowing the full identity of the individuals engaged in the conversation. However the 900 telephone number voice mail boxes are more analogous to e-mail and news group postings than to chat groups, as they do not provide interactive real time conversations.
Individuals within chat groups, news groups and even e-mail is frequently identified by nick names, handles or simply account names. In a non business environment, rarely is an individuals actual legal name posted or even known. Current events have shown the extreme value that is placed upon personal security and privacy. There are many reasons why a user wants to be able to post Usenet articles anonymously. They may want to post to a controversial group, or may not want their employer to know about their postings. An anonymous posting service protects the rights of any user to say whatever they want without fear of retribution. Once a user posts through such a service, they can receive replies from other users who do not know their identity.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing anonymous real time communication links for secure private conversations.

Method for establishing anonymous communication links


A wire-speed forwarding platform and method for supporting multifield classification of a packet fragmented into a plurality of fragments in the wire-speed forwarding platform, comprising: receiving a fragment of the fragmented packet at the forwarding platform and deriving a key from one or more fields of the received fragment; and performing multifield classification of the received fragment by matching the key to a rule out of a plurality of rules, the rule comprising a plurality of fields including at least one field for specifying whether the received fragment's fragmentation characteristics are to be applied when performing the multifield classification.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to classification of Internet Protocol (i.e., "IP") packets. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a classification support system and method for efficiently classifying fragmented IP packets (i.e., "fragments") to mitigate the expensive maintenance of state information and buffering of the fragments during conventional classification.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, computer systems are invariably interconnected into vast computer networks. The interconnected computer systems communicate with each other over packet-switched networks by sending messages. Although many protocols have been developed for transmission of the messages, the preeminent protocol is the Internet Protocol (i.e., "IP"), which subdivides the messages into packets for transmission over the packet-switched networks. Hereinafter, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively depict conventional IP packet and fragmentation of the IP packet into fragments, while FIG. 3 depicts conventional IP packet classification.
FIG. 1 is a prior art depiction of an Internet protocol ("IP") packet 100 that illustrates an IP header 101 and a TCP header 103. IP utilizes packets to communicate over packet-switched networks (e.g., the Internet). The packet 100 represents a piece of a message transmitted over the packet-switched networks. The packet 100 comprises an IP header 101, which includes fields 102 . . . 124 and data 107. The data 107 comprises a TCP header 103, which includes fields 126-148, as well data 105. Among other things, the IP header 101 includes a source address 122 and destination address 124 for routing the packet. Packet switching refers to the foregoing protocols that, among other things, divide a message to be sent into packets for transmission. Each packet is individually transmitted and may follow different routes to the destination address. Once all the packets forming the message arrive at the destination, they are assembled into the original message. It should be noted that IP packets are sent without establishment of communication paths or clearing procedures. Thus, there may be no protection against loss, duplication, misdelivery, and the like.
Further with reference to FIG. 1, the IP header 101 includes a plurality of 32-bit words, each of which is subdivided into fields, the description of which will be made in more detail hereafter. The version field 102, which is four bits, indicates a format of the IP header 101. The IHL field 104 (i.e., internal header length), which is four bits, represents the length of the IP header 101 in 32-bit words. It should be noted that the minimum value for a correct IP header 101 is five 32-bit words. It should further be noted that some of the fields in the IP header 101 may be of varying bit sizes. The type of service field 106, which is eight bits, represents abstract parameters for a quality of service (i.e., "QoS") to guide selection of actual service parameters when transmitting the packet 100 through a particular network over the Internet. The total length field 108, which is 16 bits, represents a total length of the packet 100 in octets (i.e., an octet is 8 bits in length), including both the IP header 101 and data length 107. The identifier field 110, which is 16 bits, represents an identifying value assigned by a sender to aid in assembly of fragments of a packet (i.e., fragment ID). The flags field 112, which is three bits, represents various control flags directed to fragmentation that is described likewise described in greater detail hereinafter. The fragment offset field 114, which is 10 bits, indicates a position of the packet 100 to which a particular fragment belongs. It should be noted that the fragment offset in field 114 is measured in octets, wherein the fragment offset for a first fragment is zero.
Yet further with regard to FIG. 1, the time to live field 116 (i.e., "TTL"), which is 8 bits, indicates a maximum time that the packet 100 is allowed to remain on the Internet. It should be noted that is the value of field 116 is measured in seconds and if it reaches zero, the packet 100 is destroyed. The protocol field 118, which is eight bits, indicates a next level protocol used in the data portion of the packet, such as TCP protocol described herein below. The header checksum field 120, which is 16 bits, represents a checksum only for the IP header 101 of the packet 100. The checksum 120 is a simple error-detection scheme in which the packet 100 is accompanied by a numerical value based on the number of set bits in the IP header 101. It should be noted that since values in various header fields change, the value of field 120 is recomputed and verified at each point where the IP header 101 of packet 100 is processed. The source address field 122 and destination address field 124, which are 32 bits in length, respectively provide the source and destination addresses for the packet 100.
Still further with reference to FIG. 1, the TCP header 101 also includes a plurality of 32-bit words, each of which is subdivided into fields, the description of which will be made in more detail hereafter. The source port field 126, which is 16 bits, indicates a source port. The destination port 128, which is likewise 16 bits, indicates a destination port. In TCP/IP packet-switched networks, the source and destination ports represent endpoint of a logical connection. For example, a port number of 80 is generally used for HTTP (i.e., HyperText Transfer Protocol) traffic. The sequence number field 130 indicates a first data octet in a fragment, except that if SYN is present, the sequence number 220 is ISN+1 (i.e., initial sequence number). The acknowledgement number filed 132, which is 16 bits, is used for error correction and generally contains a value of a next sequence number to be received. The data offset filed 134, which is 4 bits, represents a number of 32-bit words in the TCP header 103. Thus, this number generally indicates where data 105 of packet 100 begins. The reserved field 136, which is 6 bits in length, represents bits reserved for future use and is presently set to zero. The flags field 138, comprises six control bits, including: 1) urgent pointer field significant (i.e., URG); 1) acknowledgement field significant (i.e., ACK); 2) push function (i.e., PSH); 4) reset the connection (i.e., RST); 5) synchronize sequence numbers (i.e., SYN) and 6) no more data from the sender (i.e., FIN). Window field, which is 16 bits, indicates a number of data octets that the sender of this fragment is willing to accept, beginning with the first octet indicated in the acknowledgement number field 130. The TCP checksum field 142, which is 16 bits, is used for error detection. The urgent pointer field 144, which is 16 bits, represents a current value of the urgent pointer as a positive offset from the sequence number field 130 in this fragment. That is, the urgent pointer points to a sequence number of an octet following urgent data and urgent pointer field 146 is interpreted only if the URG control bit is set in field 138. The options field 146 represents available options, may or may not appear in the TCP header and may vary in length. The padding filed 148 appends enough padding to ensure that the TCP header 103 ends on a 32-bit boundary.
FIG. 2 is a prior art high-level depiction 200 of packet fragmentation for packet 100 of FIG. 1. One of the mechanisms of the Internet Protocol ("IP") routing is fragmentation and reassembly of packets. While being transmitted over the Internet via myriad intermediary packet-switched networks, the contents of packet 100 do not change on the way to its destination unless fragmentation occurs. Every physical network of the Internet has its own limitation on the size of data that it may carry, which is indicated by an associated MTU (i.e., maximum transmission unit). Under some circumstances, particularly when a large packet must travel through a network with a smaller MTU, the packet must be divided into a plurality of smaller fragments at appropriate places 202 (i.e., fragments are also packets) within the smaller MTU, such as fragment 201 and fragment 203, so that the fragments may travel through the network onto their journey to the destination. This process of division is called fragmentation. Every fragment 201 and 203 includes an IP header HD-I 204 and HD-II 210, and each of which respectively carries data 208 and 212 that is part of data 105 of the original packet 100. It should be noted that during fragmentation, only a sequentially first fragment 201 includes a TCP header 206, which is obtained from the TCP header 103 of packet 100.
A conventional IP packet classifier utilizes the data in the IP header 101 and TCP header 103 to classify the arriving IP packets including IP fragments, i.e., TCP classification. The conventional packet classifier classifies the arriving IP packets (and fragments) into flows based on a set of rules in a rules database maintained by the packet classifier, wherein each flow obeys at least one of the set of rules. The classifier consults the rules database for each arriving packet. In particular, the rules database has a set of pattern and action associations. In the case of TCP rules, the pattern usually includes fields from the IP 101 and TCP 103 headers, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 1 above. The pattern may be either an exact match on a field value or on a range of values in the headers 101 and 103. During classification, a key is extracted from the arriving packet or fragment. Generally, the key is formed by taking fields from the IP 101 and TCP 103 headers (depicted in FIG. 1 above). The classifier will then, using a classification algorithm (not important here), find the best match of the extracted key to a pattern in the rules database. The classifier will then apply the actions found in the rules database corresponding to the matching pattern. The possible actions may include discarding the packet (i.e., destroying it); forwarding the packet (i.e., normal processing); updating the type of service field (i.e., "ToS") 106 depicted in FIG. 1 for the packet; directing the packet to an alternate next router (i.e., overriding the next router as determined by a conventional IP routing algorithm); directing the packet to a MultiProtocol Label Switching (i.e., "MPLS") network; redirecting the packet to another processor for more advanced packet processing, and policing a rate of packets of a particular flow (i.e., if the rate is exceeded, discarding the packets).
In the case of IP fragments, the key cannot be extracted directly from the fragments, since only a sequentially first fragment includes all of the necessary information, i.e., a TCP header 103 of FIG. 1. As a consequence, for such packets, the classification must be enhanced. More particularly, since the information in the TCP header 103, such as source port 126 and destination port 128, is included in the sequentially first fragment 201 and it is often part of classification rules for IP fragments in the conventional classifier, state information must necessarily be maintained for the fragmented packet during the time that the IP fragments for the fragmented packet are processed via the classifier. Furthermore, buffering of the IP fragments may be required since the IP fragments may arrive out of sequence, i.e., sequentially first IP fragment may not arrive first. Consequently, the storage of state information and the buffering of IP fragments are computationally expensive. Furthermore, the classification of the IP fragments via the conventional classifier described with reference to FIG. 3 below cannot be performed on a "wire speed" forwarding platforms, such as International Business Machines (i.e., "IBM") Network Processor (i.e., high-speed hardware-based forwarding platform depicted in FIG. 9) and must necessarily be redirected to slow path forwarding platforms, such as Control Point (i.e., depicted in FIG. 10). Consequently, the conventional classifiers are not practical for high-speed hardware-based forwarding platforms, where speed is essential.
FIG. 3 depicts a method flowchart 300 for a conventional IP packet classifier. Before, the prior art classification is described, it is should be noted that there exists a fragment database, which associates a particular pattern to a list of fragments to which actions must be applied. More particularly, the pattern for the fragment database includes the source address 122 and a fragment ID 110 from IP header 101 depicted in FIG. 1 above. Conventional classification starts at step 302. At step 304, the classifier receives an IP packet. At step 306, the classifier determines whether the received IP packet is a fragment of a fragmented IP packet. Referring to FIG. 1, determination of whether the received packet is fragmented may be accomplished by a two-field test, i.e., testing a more fragments flag that is part of flags field 112 in FIG. 1 and testing the fragment offset field 114 of FIG. 1. The more fragments flag being equal to zero indicates that there has been no fragmentation, whereas the more fragments flag not being equal to zero indicates that the received IP packet is a fragment in most instances. Since a sequentially last fragment of a fragmented packet will have the more fragments flag equal to zero, the second test must also be performed. If the fragment offset 114 is not equal to zero, then the packet is a fragment, i.e., a sequentially last fragment. Now referring back to FIG. 3, if the received packet is not fragmented, normal IP packet classification is performed at step 308, as particularly described above with reference to classification of IP packets above. However, if the received packet is a fragment as determined at step 306, and then the source address 122 and fragment ID 110 are extracted from the IP header 101 of the fragment, which is illustratively depicted in FIG. 1. At step 312, it is determined whether the fragment is a sequentially first fragment of the fragment IP packet. Again referring to FIG. 1, the fragment offset field 114 of IP header 101 indicates a position of the fragment in the fragmented IP packet. Consequently, if the fragment offset field 114 contains a value of zero, this represents that the fragment is a sequentially first fragment. If it is determined at step 312 that the fragment is not a sequentially first fragment, processing continues to step 314 where using the extracted source address 122 and fragment ID 110 as part of a key, the classifier performs a look up at step 316 to obtain an action to be performed on the fragment. If the key is not found, then no actions were yet ascribed to the fragmented IP packet of which the fragment is part, and the fragment is buffered with its key (source address and fragment ID) at step 318. However, if step 316 the key if found for the fragment, an action pursuant to this key is applied at step 320 to the fragment and the method exits at step 332. It is noted, that in instances where although the key is found at step 316 no actions are ascribed, the packet is buffered together with a list of buffered fragments according to a particular pattern associated with the fragment. Thereafter, the method exists at step 322.
Now returning back to step 312, if it determined that the fragment is a sequentially first fragment of the fragmented IP packet, then at step 322 TCP classification is performed as described above. That is, a key is extracted from the received sequentially first fragment and matched to a pattern in the rules database, thereby obtaining actions associated with the matched pattern. At step 324, the actions are stored in the fragmentation database using the source address 122 and fragment ID 110 of the sequentially first fragment as a key so that the actions may later be applied to other fragments. More particularly, the actions are copied from the rules database to the fragmentation database. At step 326, a lookup for all fragments that were buffered at step 318 is performed utilizing the key (source address and fragment ID). At step 328, a determination is made regarding whether there is another buffered fragment for the fragmented IP packet by utilizing the key. At step 330, an action associated with the key is applied to the buffered fragment and the fragment is released. Once all buffered fragment have been processed, at step 320 the sequentially first fragment is processed utilizing the actions associated with the key and the method exits at step 332. It should be noted, however, that the sequentially first fragment may be processed before all buffered fragments depending upon implementation. That is, normally a router does not re-order received fragments into their sequential order because it may be too expensive, but reordering may save processing time in subsequent routers.
The conventional classification of fragmented packets described above is not practical for implementation in a system, which utilizes high-speed forwarding devices, such as network processors (i.e., "NPs"). The NPs often have a limited number of instructions that can be executed per packet in order to maintain "wire-speed" forwarding rates for the received fragments. The above-identified algorithm, when implemented as a program, is likely to exceed a maximum number of instructions allowed for wire speed forwarding in an NP. Furthermore, the required buffering of fragments, maintenance of state information and lists of packets in the fragment database may be beyond the capability of the NP. As a consequence, the fragments may be forwarded for processing to a general-purpose processor. Since the general-purpose processor is orders of magnitude slower than the NP, wire speed forwarding of fragmented packets (i.e., fragments) cannot be achieved.
In view of the above described prior art classification there is a need in the art to provide a classification support system and method to robustly and efficiently classify IP fragments, mitigating the expensive maintenance of state information and buffering of IP fragments necessitated during conventional classification, thereby allowing the classification to be performed on the wire-speed network processors.

Classification support system and method for fragmented IP packets

International Business Machines Corporation


An instrument support may be used to support an instrument, such as a violin or a viola, against collar-bone/shoulder and chest regions of a player. The instrument support may include a collar-bone rest and a chest rest, providing a dual plane design. The rests may be adjustable to adjust the location on the back of the instrument and to adjust the heights and angles with respect to the instrument to suit the anatomical differences between players.

To play an instrument such as the violin or viola, the player supports and/or secures the instrument against the body generally in the upper chest and shoulder region. Most violinists and violists use two accessories for helping them support their instrument securely between their chin/jaw and their shoulder area—a "chin rest" and a "shoulder rest." The need for such devices arose in the 19th century when composers like Paganini, Beethoven, and Brahms began writing music for the violin of such increased range and virtuosity that it required players to clamp their instrument more firmly between their chin/jaw and their shoulder area. Before that time (i.e., in the days of Bach and Mozart), players could usually get by with merely resting their instrument on their collar bone or upper chest near the shoulder because most of the music was more contained in range.
The chin rest was devised first for the top of the instrument, and the idea of a shoulder rest for the bottom of the instrument came later. Various shoulder rest designs have been used including soft, spongy padding and single bar designs with feet clamps. While players may be able to find a suitable chin rest among the many models available, shoulder rest designs have generally failed to meet the need for a secure and anatomically suitable support below the instrument. Existing shoulder rest designs also cannot be fully adjusted to accommodate differences among players, for example, in neck length and shoulder/collar-bone/chest shape.
Existing shoulder rests also cannot be fully adjusted to accommodate different approaches to holding the instrument in the vertical plane relative to the ground and in the horizontal plane relative to both the central axis of the player's body and to their sternal notch. When players attempt to position some existing shoulder supports optimally on the instrument, they simply snap off during an intense performance, which can be disruptive to a concert and damaging to the instrument. Other existing supports hamper the sound of the instrument by resting in contact with some portion of its back, or by exerting a clamping force from directly opposing points on the sides of its back.
The ineffective designs of the current supports also force players to create extra tension in the shoulder area and elsewhere. This may cause shoulder/arm/hand tightness and musicians' injuries such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, focal dystonia, thoracic outlet syndrome, tenosynovitis, tendinosis, DeQuervain's syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and trigger finger/thumb. Such injuries have led to the use of re-educational and rehabilitative methods such as the Alexander Technique, which helps to establish a balanced use of the neck, head and torso musculature. Although the Alexander Technique provides relief from built up tightness and re-educates muscular co-ordination for supporting and playing an instrument, it only highlights the inadequacy of the existing shoulder rests, which require extra tension to be made.
Accordingly, there is a need for an instrument support capable of providing secure and anatomically suitable support below the instrument. There is also a need for an instrument support capable of being adjusted to suit differences between players.


In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a circuit and method for providing a switchable strong pulldown for a power FET in an off state to avoid inadvertent or false turn ons. A strong pulldown is provided to the gate of a power FET to avoid inadvertent turn on during output swings. In other cases, the gate of the power FET is pulled down weakly to reduce EMI and voltage noise in the circuit. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a circuit and method for obtaining a strong pulldown on the gate of a power FET in an off state, while providing a weak pulldown during turn on to turn off transitions. The invention avoids false turn ons during fast output transitions while maintaining relatively high EMI protection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to operation of power transistors in fast switching environments, and relates more particularly to maintaining a power FET in an off condition through current and voltage spikes.
2. Description of Related Art
Power FETs are often used in power control applications due to their low on resistance and reasonably fast switching times. Power FETS are often configured in a totem pole or half bridge arrangement to control power supplied to an output based on a given DC power input. A standard configuration is illustrated in circuit 10 in FIG. 1. This traditional switching output stage can be composed of N type DMOS power FETS, where the highs and low side power FETs 12,13, respectively, alternately switch output node OUT between VDD and GND. FETs 12, 13 are also controlled by drivers 14, 15 that are powered by batteries or power supplies BAT1 and BAT2. The switching configuration where both power FETs 12 and 13 are turned on at the same time is avoided in the operation of circuit 10 to prevent a large current flow between VDD and GND. If both power FETS 12 and 13 are on at the same time, circuit 10 dissipates a large amount of power, sinks a large amount of current and eventually causes power FETs 12 or 13 to fail. This type of undesirable condition when power FETs 12 and 13 are both on is often called shoot through or cross-conduction current.
Due to loading characteristics or other circuit considerations, power FETs 12 and 13 often experience voltage and/or current spikes that may cause disruption in the operation of circuit 10. FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified equivalent circuit of driver 15 as seen by the gate of power FET 13 in an off state. A pulldown equivalent resistance Rn keeps Vgs below the threshold voltage of power FET 13. The output OUT typically has a fast rising edge, which is capacitively coupled, due to the large gate-drain capacitance, to the gate of power FET 13. The capacitive coupling with the fast switching causes voltage spikes to be seen at the gate of power FET 13, as illustrated in FIG. 2. As the equivalent pulldown resistance is small, or weak, the voltage spike on voltage Vgs caused during output voltage swing or fast switching has a negative impact on the operation of power FET 13. If the voltage spike causes gate voltage Vgs to go above the threshold for power FET 13 turn on, voltage Vt, a false turn on of power FET 13 occurs. In such an instance, if power FET 12 is on at the same time, shoot through or cross-conduction current can occur in circuit 10.
When both power FETS 12 and 13 are off, a DC current source connected at output node OUT insures that the output stays low as long as power FETS 12 and 13 are off. If high side power FET 12 is turned on, output OUT rises to a given voltage level, and intrinsic capacitance CGD pulls the voltage of the gate of low side power FET 13 to a level that depends upon the equivalent pull down strength. If the pull down on the gate of low side power FET 13 is weak, such that gate voltage VL or Vgs is equal to or greater than voltage Vt, that is, equal to or greater than the turn on threshold, a large current to GND is observed. The false turn on that results sinks current to GND in the range of a few amps during this output swing.
If the gate of low side power FET 13 is pulled down strongly, low side power FET 13 stays off during the output swing. Low side power FET 13 stays off because gate voltage VL does not rise above threshold voltage Vt.
One advantage to having a weak pull down on the gate of low side power FET 13 is the reduction of EMI or voltage spikes across low side power FET 13. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a way to prevent low side power FET 13 from inadvertently turning on, while obtaining the advantages of reduced EMI and noise. It would also be desirable to avoid false turn ons of a power FET in a half bridge configuration, such as that illustrated in circuit 10.

Circuit and method for transistor turn-off with strong pulldown


A repeater circuit configured to duplicate or otherwise coordinate signal transitions between state conductors, such as for use in asynchronous communication systems. The repeater circuit may include a state node or other feature to facilitate enforcing or otherwise ordering transitioning of the state conductors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to repeater circuits, such as but not limited to those suitable for use with single track handshaking wires.
2. Background Art
A repeater circuit can be used with single track handshaking wires and other transmission mediums to facilitate transmitting signals from one location on a "left" side of the repeater to another location on a "right" side of the repeater. One optional and commonly used configuration may include the repeater pulling up/down the right side if an external circuit pulls up/down the left side and/or pulling down/up the left side if an external circuit pulls down/up the right side. This type of an arrangement may be suitable for use with GasP, other single wire handshake communication protocols, and other circuits where a request signal is used to pull up the left side of the repeater and a subsequent acknowledge signal is used to pull down the right side after the repeater relays the request signal to the right side, i.e., after the right side is pulled up.


Coupling for connecting of pipe shaped sections comprising a first pipe section and a coupling device arranged to connect the first pipe section with a second pipe section. When joined together, the first pipe section is arranged to receive the second pipe section in such a way that the first pipe section and the second pipe section forms an overlapping region. The wall of the first pipe section is provided with a through hole in the overlapping region and the coupling device is adapted to protrude through the hole. The coupling device is at least at one of its ends slidably attached in such a way that a rotational displacement around, and essentially perpendicular to, the axial direction of the pipe section will give rise to a change between a first position for locking, wherein said coupling device is protruding on the inner side of the first pipe section, and a second position for release wherein the coupling device essentially not is protruding.

It is previously known a multitude of different solutions for connecting pipes in such a way that they later on can be released relatively easy in one simple operation.
In for example DE 34 40 753, US 2004/0051313 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,582 are shown 3 different quick connectors which have the same basic construction and function. Each of the described quick connectors comprises a locking spring dip having two shanks connected to a connecting branch. The two shanks are resilient and shaped to form protrusions which projects into a desired portion of the connector and thereby locking the connection in a first, locking position when at rest. In order to change to a second, releasing position, the connecting branch is pressed radially inwards while the shanks are pressed radially outwards by cooperating with wedge-shaped elements spreading the shanks apart.
Other quick connectors similar to the constructions described above are disclosed in DE 100 47 872, EP 1 304 521 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,608. These connectors mainly differs from the above mentioned ones in that they are changed between the first, locking position to the second releasing position by pulling the connecting branch radially outwards.
Still further examples of quick connectors are disclosed in for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,555 where a quick connector is described which connects two pipes by the use of a device reminding of a clips which consists of a ring shaped, open section provided with protruding parts which stretches through the outer pipe and squeeze around the inner pipe. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,026 another arrangement is shown which also uses an arrangement of a device reminding of a clip. U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,901 describes a tool intended to be used for attaching and releasing a clip which connects two parts of pipes.
Even though there are a multitude of known solutions, another kind of solution may be desired depending on the specific demands which are made in different fields of use and for different dimensions. Thus, there is a need for quick connectors which fulfils different specifications concerning simplicity in constructional details, a secure connection of the end parts of the pipes and which is able to release the connected parts from each other by the use of one simple operation.


A system and method for accelerating scrolling of a display is disclosed. When a wheel of a wheeled pointing device is actuated by a user at a first rotational rate, the display in a window scrolls up or down one line at a time. When the wheel is rotated at a second rotational rate, the display in the window scrolls up or down multiple lines at a time. In additional embodiments, the scrolling technique shifts from one line at a time/multiple lines at a time to a page or pages at a time when the wheel is rotated for at a rotational rate for a minimum period of time.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to user actuated pointing devices for use with a computer. More particularly, the disclosure relates to enhancing the scrolling schema of wheeled mice.
2. Related Art
The computer mouse has simplified the computer-human interface. Before the computer mouse, many users were confined to interacting with a computer through the use of a command line interface (CLI as is known in the art). The computer mouse (also commonly referred to simply as "the mouse") has, in recent years, been improved upon with the inclusion of a wheel on the top of the mouse. An example of a wheeled mouse is shown in FIG. 1. The function of the wheel 106 is to scroll the text or document or image located below a displayed cursor 113 shown on a visual display device 112. The wheel is preferably linked to an optically encoded wheel for sensing the rotational location of the wheel 106. To allow for feedback to the user, the wheel contains a number of notches (not shown for simplicity). When rotated, a user is presented with tactile feedback of the distance rotated through sensing the number of notches rotated by the wheel. The function of the wheel 106 is interpreted through signals sent from mouse 101 through cable 110 to computer 109 having memory 114 and processor 115. Shown for completeness is keyboard 116, which is generally used in combination with mouse 101 for various operations as are known in the art. For example, rotating the wheel away from the user may scroll the underlying displayed content down so as to show another portion of the displayed content immediately preceding the originally displayed content. Likewise, rotating the wheel toward the user may scroll the underlying displayed content up.
A user may specify a scrolling mode of either scrolling by a fixed number of lines (referred to herein as the "line-scrolling mode") or scrolling by page (referred to herein as the "page-scrolling mode). To change from one scrolling mode, or to modify the number of lines to scroll in the line-scrolling mode, a user navigates a series of windows to a preferences option list for the wheeled mouse. In general, the preferences page allows selection of the scrolling mode as well as a designation of the number of lines when a line-scrolling mode is selected.
Other features of a wheeled mouse and alternative techniques of navigating a display through the use of the wheeled mouse are disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/212,898, filed Dec. 16, 1998, for "System and Method of Adjusting Display Characteristics of a Displayable Data File Using An Ergonomic Computer Input Device," whose contents are incorporated herein by reference.
Scrolling through a document via the wheel on a wheeled mouse is helpful in that it provides useful document handling without the need to access the keyboard or predefined scroll bars. However, as a document's size changes or the needs of a user change (for example, from drafting a document to editing or reviewing a completed draft), the user may desire to change the scrolling mode. Changing modes requires navigating to a mouse preferences page, switching the scrolling mode, changing (when appropriate) the number of lines to scroll with every rotational notch in the wheel, and finally returning to the underlying document. These combinations of steps detract from the ease of using the scrolling feature of a wheeled mouse. Accordingly, an easier technique for switching between scrolling modes is needed.


A photoelectric fingerprint identification apparatus, a terminal, and a fingerprint identification method are provided. The apparatus includes: a light-emitting unit, where the light-emitting unit generates at least a first light signal and a second light signal; a photoelectric fingerprint sensor, where the photosensitive fingerprint sensor includes a first sensing region and a second sensing region that do not overlap each other, and the first sensing region is covered with an infrared filter; an image detection unit, configured to detect reflected light energy of the first sensing region to obtain fingerprint information; and a living body detection unit, configured to detect reflected light energy of the second sensing region to obtain living body detection information.

In the related art, to guard the information security of users, use of a fingerprint identification function becomes increasingly common on terminal devices. For example, the fingerprint identification function is used to unlock a mobile phone or make a mobile payment (such as a WeChat payment or transfer), which is convenient and fast.
The rationale of photoelectric fingerprint identification or detection is mainly to obtain a fingerprint image by using a fingerprint sensor to sense, receive and process light signals emitted by a light source that are reflected by the pattern of lines of a finger, where ridges and valleys in the pattern of lines cause different reflections. Depending on different product forms, different light sources are designed. For example, an emission light source for fingerprint identification on an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) photoelectric screen may be self-luminance of screen pixels.
During photoelectric fingerprint identification, strong light, for example, sunlight, or red light and unwanted infrared transmitted through the finger will also be received and imaged by the sensor, causing interference to imaging of normally reflected light. Therefore, an infrared filter with a cutoff frequency of about 600 nm is designed above the sensor, and mainly used to filter out red light and infrared.
Based on the foregoing photoelectric fingerprint design, if a fake fingerprint photo or a silicone head having the same brightness difference as an input object is used, a ridge-valley energy difference can also be reflected, and consequently, a similar fingerprint image may also be formed on the sensor and recognized by mistake. Therefore, a related anti-counterfeit design is quite necessary. A common anti-counterfeit method in the related art is to use visible light for living body detection. A visible light source mainly uses red light and infrared because such light penetrates human skins at a high rate. A basic principle is to emit, for example, infrared to penetrate a finger, where due to a difference in blood flow during beating, contraction, and dilation of internal blood vessels, reflected infrared energy is different. The reflected difference is received and processed by an infrared sensor, so that human heart rate detection is implemented to obtain a living body feature and determine that it is not an abnormal object such as a photo or a silica gel.
However, different sensors need to be disposed for the foregoing photoelectric fingerprint design and living body detection that is based on visible light, and therefore costs thereof are relatively high, and a relatively large space is occupied. If the fingerprint sensor is directly used for infrared-based living body detection, since infrared is filtered out by the infrared filter designed above the fingerprint sensor, technical contradictions are present in design requirements.

Photoelectric fingerprint identification apparatus, terminal, and fingerprint identification method


A method and system for harmonizing and mediating ontologies to search across large data sources is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a query targeting a first ontology. The method further comprises translating the query into one or more translated queries, each translated query targeting a respective ontology different from the first ontology. For each of the queries, issuing the query to a respective database organized according to the respective ontology of the query, and receiving a respective result set for the query, wherein the respective result set corresponds to the respective ontology of the query. The method further comprises translating the respective result set into a translated result set corresponding to the first ontology, aggregating the result sets into an aggregated result set corresponding to the first ontology, and returning the aggregated results set corresponding to the first ontology.

Data relevant to a given query may be stored across many different types of databases, for example, triple store, relational (SQL store), or cloud databases (e.g. Hadoop, Cloudbase, HBase). However, searching across multiple types of large scale, heterogeneous databases, poses a variety of technical and scientific challenges.
For example, in traditional extract transform load ("ETL") approaches, the data in each database is duplicated and converted to a common model, which poses a significant challenge at the petabyte-scale. Additionally, synchronization issues may arise at larger scale and BASE semantics.
The differences in data formats, granularities, schemas, and distributions are the biggest challenge to data integration. Data sources are almost always different in their structural models and representation, but may also be different in their coverage, granularity, perspective, and terminology. To complicate matters further, different communities may use the same schema in different ways (semiotic heterogeneity). Additionally, in traditional ETL approaches, if data sources do not align property, any impedance mismatch between two data models is baked into the transformed data.
These challenges are only magnified at scale. Traditional ETL approaches to data integration and fusion fail for cloud scale data. The sheer scale of the data makes it impractical to convert and redundantly store it for the purpose of querying.
Due to the deficiency of the prior art, there exists a need for a software middleware component that mediates between multiple data models and allows queries to be performed against large scale, heterogeneous databases.

Ontology harmonization and mediation systems and methods


A mobile machine arrangement for receiving, storing and distributing track ballast comprises a first machine frame, a second machine frame succeeding the first machine frame in the operating direction, a ballast storage device mounted on the first machine frame, the ballast storage device comprising a ballast conveyor band arranged at a bottom of the ballast storage device and extending longitudinally in the direction of the track, the ballast conveyor band having a forward end and the ballast storage device having an outlet below the ballast conveyor band forward end, a ballast plow arrangement vertically adjustably mounted on the first machine frame behind the ballast storage device outlet, a ballast receiving device mounted on the second machine frame and arranged to receive the track ballast, and a ballast transport device projecting from the second machine frame end towards the first machine frame, the ballast transport device having an input end preceding the ballast receiving device in the operating direction and arranged to receive the track ballast, and an output end arranged to deliver the received track ballast to the ballast conveyor band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile machine arrangement for receiving, storing and distributing track ballast, the machine arrangement being mounted on the track for mobility in an operating direction and comprising a ballast storage device comprising a ballast conveyor band arranged at a bottom of the ballast storage device and extending longitudinally in the direction of the track, the ballast conveyor band having a forward end in the operating direction, a vertically adjustable ballast plow arrangement, a ballast receiving device, such as a rotatable brush, arranged to receive the track ballast, and a ballast transport device projecting from a machine frame end towards the ballast storage device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A machine arrangement of this type has been disclosed in European patent application No. 0 052 089, published May 19, 1982. In this machine arrangement, a rotatable ballast receiving brush is mounted on a first machine frame preceding a second machine frame in the operating direction between forwardly projecting ballast plow arrangement vertically mounted on the first machine frame and a succeeding ballast transport device. The ballast transport device comprises three parallel conveyor bands rising in a direction opposite to the operating direction and projecting from a rear end of the first machine frame. The second machine frame comprises a ballast transport car which has a conveyor band extending along the top of the car and a scraper displaceable along the top conveyor band. In operation, the front plow arrangement levels the track ballast as it distributes it over the entire width of the ballast bed. Any excess ballast is then received by the rotatable brushes from the tops of the ties and/or the cribs and is moved onto the ballast transport device which deposits it on the top conveyor band of the ballast transport car. The displaceable scraper moves the ballast from the top conveyor band into the box of the transport car. This machine arrangement cannot be used for distributing ballast to track sections which do not have enough ballast.
Swiss patent No. 652,428, published Nov. 15, 1985, discloses a ballast planing machine comprising a vertically adjustable plow arrangement mounted between two undercarriages. A rotatable ballast receiving brush is mounted at a rear end of the machine for distributing excess ballast or to direct it to a transport car for later use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,018, dated Mar. 10, 1982, discloses a mobile machine for receiving and distributing track ballast, which comprises a ballast storage box having a longitudinally extending conveyor band at the bottom thereof and receiving track ballast from a rotatable ballast receiving brush and a conveyor rising therefrom and discharging the ballast onto the conveyor band in the ballast storage box. The output end of the conveyor band selectively discharges ballast from the box through outlet means. A vertically adjustable plow arrangement is mounted below the machine frame immediately behind the outlet means to distribute the discharged ballast over the width of the ballast bed. This machine arrangement is very useful for surfacing track sections exhibiting different ballast levels or densities.
U S. Pat. No. 4,576,538, dated Mar. 18, 1986, discloses a ballast storage box car with a longitudinally extending bottom conveyor band and an upwardly inclined transfer conveyor projecting from one end of the box for transferring the ballast to an adjacent box car. A modified type of freight car for bulk material with a bottom conveyor band has been disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/648,214, filed Jan. 31, 1991, now patent No.

Machine arrangement for receiving, storing and distributing track ballast

Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft M.B.H.