A computing system and bus bridge in which the bus bridge includes a buffer pool wherein the storage buffers contained in the buffer pool may be allocated as post buffers or fetch buffers in response to appropriate requests from the bus bridge. In the preferred embodiment, the bus bridge includes a buffer pool control unit adapted to temporarily allocate any of the plurality of storage buffers as either a post buffer or a fetch buffer depending upon the system requirements. Broadly speaking, the present invention contemplates a computing system including a first component connected to a first bus, a second component connected to a second bus, and a bus bridge connected to a first and second busses. The bus bridge includes a buffer pool comprised of a plurality of storage buffers and a buffer pool control unit that is capable of temporarily allocating at least one of the storage buffers as either a post buffer or a fetch buffer in response to system requirement. Preferably, each storage buffer includes corresponding tag information for identifying an origin or destination location within a main memory of the data associated with the storage buffer. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of storage buffers includes corresponding allocation information used by the buffer pool control unit for the temporary allocation of the storage buffers. In a presently preferred embodiment, the allocation information includes an available bit indicative of whether the storage buffers available for allocation and a post/fetch bit indicative of whether an unavailable storage buffer is currently allocated as a post buffer or as a fetch buffer. The allocation information is accessible by the buffer pool control unit and is used by the buffer pool control unit for temporarily allocating the storage buffers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computing systems and more particularly to a bus bridge including a buffer pool having a buffer storage location adapted to be configured as either a fetch buffer or a post buffer depending on the needs of the system.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional computer system 10 including a processing unit (CPU) 12, a CPU local bus 14 coupled to processing unit 12, and a first bridge 16. A system memory 18 and an external cache memory 19 are further shown coupled to first bridge 16. A first bus 20 is coupled to CPU local bus 14 through first bridge 16. In an exemplary embodiment, first bus 20 complies with, for example, the PCI bus protocol . A first peripheral device 22 is connected to first bridge 16 through first bus 20. First peripheral device 22 is exemplified by, for example, an SCSI hard disk controller or a high resolution graphics adapter.
Processing unit 12 is illustrative of, for example, an x86 processing unit, and CPU local bus 14 is exemplary of an x86-style local bus. The CPU local bus 14 typically includes a set of data lines D[31:0], a set of address lines A[31:0], and a set of control lines (not shown individually). Details regarding the various bus cycles and protocols of x86 CPU local bus 14 are described in a host of publications of the known prior art.
First bridge 16 provides a standard interface between CPU local bus 14 and first bus 20. As such, first bus bridge 16 orchestrates the transfer of data, address, and control signals between the two buses. First bridge 16 additionally provides an interface between CPU 12 and system memory 18, which is typically comprised of a relatively slow and dense memory device or devices such as an array of dynamic RAMS, as well as an interface between CPU 12 and external cache 19. External cache 19 is typically comprised of an array of higher speed but less dense (i.e. more costly) memory devices such as an array of static RAMs. The contents of recently accessed locations within system memory 18 are typically stored in external cache 19 (or in an internal cache within CPU 12) on the assumption that recently accessed memory locations are more likely to be accessed by CPU 12 than memory locations that have not been recently accessed. If CPU 12 issues a command to a memory location whose contents are currently stored in external cache 19, CPU 12 can typically access the contents of the location from external cache 19 faster than it could do so from system memory 18 thereby improving system performance. The capacity (in bytes) of system memory 18 is typically in the range of approximately 10.sup.6 to 10.sup.7 whereas the capacity of cache memory 19 is typically in the vicinity of 10 .sup.3 to 10 .sup.4 bytes. First bus 20 is a high performance peripheral bus such as a PCI bus that supports burst-mode data transfers and that includes multiplexed data/address lines. First peripheral device 28 is illustrative of, for example, any PCI compatible peripheral device such as a disk controller.
Bus bridges such as first bus bridge 16 facilitate the transfer of information between busses operating at different clock frequencies. To accomplish this task, bus bridges typically include buffers or storage locations for temporarily storing information in transit from one of the busses connected to the bridge to another bus connected to the bridge. These bus bridge buffers are typically classified as either "post" buffers or "fetch" buffers according to their function. Post buffers store information written by an initiating device connected to one side of a bridge and intended for a receiving device connected on the other side of the bridge. A common example of this type of sequence occurs when CPU 12 writes information to system memory 18. CPU obtains mastership of CPU local bus 14 and "posts" the information, comprising the data itself, the address of the storage location to which the information is destined, and a signal that alerts first bridge 16 to the presence of the information on the CPU local bus 14. When first bridge 16 is ready to receive the posted information, first bridge 16 will obtain mastership of the CPU local bus in response to the signal sent by CPU 12 and, once it has obtained mastership of the bus, typically store the address and data into an internal post buffer. After the information has been stored, first bridge 16 releases mastership of the CPU local bus 14. Eventually, first bridge 16 will transfer the information from the storage buffer to system memory 18 thereby freeing up the post buffer for receiving additional information.
Fetching or pre-fetching occurs when a bus bridge 16 determines that there is a likelihood that a device on one of the system busses may require the contents of a given storage location. In one common example, first bridge 16 may predict that CPU 12 will soon require the contents of a particular memory location. Such a prediction is most often made when, for example, CPU 12 requests the contents of an immediately preceding storage location within system memory 18. Because is reasonable to suspect that if CPU 12 requires the contents of location 0.times.N (where N is a hexadecimal representation of the storage location address) during the execution of a particular instruction, it will shortly require the contents of storage location 0.times.N+1, first bridge 16 may be configured to speculatively retrieve the contents of one or more storage locations whenever first bridge 16 determines that a requesting device has recently retrieved information from an adjacent or neighboring storage location. As will be appreciated to those skilled in the art of computing systems architecture, information retrieved in this fashioned is said to be "speculatively" fetched or pre-fetched because it is not a certainty that any of the system devices will require the pre-fetched information. In any event, the pre-fetched information is stored within a pre-fetch buffer or storage location of first bridge 16. If the pre-fetched information is ultimately required by a requesting device, system performance is improved because less time is required to deliver the information from first bridge 16 than from system memory 18.
Thus, the post and fetch buffers of conventional bus bridges are segregated in function. The available storage buffers are allocated between post buffers and fetch buffers in the hardware of the bus bridge. If the execution of a particular piece of code results in a disproportionate usage of either the post buffers or the fetch buffers, the bus bridge is incapable of accommodating the disproportionate demands by varying the number of buffers for reads and writes. It would therefore be desirable to achieve a bus bridge capable of adjusting the allocation of storage buffers as post buffers or fetch buffers according to the prevailing demands of the computing system.

Allocatable post and prefetch buffers for bus bridges


The system, method, and article of manufacture of the present invention allow for recording an on-line meeting (also referred to as an “on-line conference”) and saving the recording as a meeting recording file. Additionally, the saved meeting recording file may be played back and/or edited. Moreover, a user may open a meeting recording file during an on-line meeting, and all attendees of the on-line meting can see, as well as hear, the recording content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to collaborative computing systems and, more particularly, to recording activity in a collaborative computing system.
2. Related Art
Traditional collaborative computing tools allow computer users at different locations to communicate via a computer network and share documents or application programs stored and/or executed on one of the user's computers. While both peer-to-peer and client-server communication models have been used in the past, web-based collaborative tools generally employ a client-server model.
For example, client-server application program sharing (also discussed in the context of "distributed computing") is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,852 "Distributed Processing Architecture for Control of Broadband and Narrowband Communication Networks;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,170 "System for Classifying and Sending Selective Requests;" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,593 "Remote Application Control for Low Bandwidth Application Sharing," all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Other group communication techniques are described by Ulrick Hall and Franz J. Hauck, "Promondia: A Java-Based Framework for Real-time Group Communication in the Web," Proceedings of Sixth International World Wide Web Conference (Apr. 7–11, 1997); Lane Boyd, "Taking Collaboration Into Orbit," Computer Graphics World, Vol. 21, No. 9, p. 36 (September 1998); and Eric Ly, "Distributed Java Applets for Project Management on the Web," IEEE Internet Computing Online, Vol. 1, No. 3 (May/June 1997), all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Standard T.120 is a family of open standards that provides both communications and application protocols to support real-time multipoint data communications for collaboration and conferencing, among other uses. This standard is outlined in "A Primer on the T.120 Series Standard by DataBeam Corp." available at http://mail.symuli.com/t120primer/t120primer.html (printed Mar. 11, 2002), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Traditional collaborative tools, however, are limited in that they only allow for screen capture at a single computer. For example, Lotus® ScreenCam™ from Lotus Development Corporation of Cambridge, Mass. allows for screen capture at a single computer.


A picture hanger locating device for use with a picture having a hanging cord positioned on the rear thereof intended to be disposed over a hook or like member to be secured to a wall behind the desired location of the picture. A cord tensioning member is adapted to be removably positioned at a first end thereof over the upper peripheral edge of the picture and at a second end spaced from said first end in communication with the cord to move the same to the tensioned position the cord will assume when the cord is disposed over the hook member. A wall marking device is secured to the second end facing away from the rear of the picture and toward the wall to mark the wall at the location along the length of the cord where the hook member should be placed to engage the cord when the picture is hung on the wall.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to picture hanger locating devices, and more particularly, to such devices for marking a wall at the location behind a picture where a hook is to be positioned to hang the picture at its desired location.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices for marking the location on a wall where a picture hanging hook is to be positioned are known. Such devices are required because pictures usually are hung by positioning a rear-mounted cord over a wall-inserted hook or the like which is located behind the picture itself. When positioning the picture to be hung, the picture usually is held against the wall at the desired hanging location and then a mark is made on the wall behind the picture to indicate the location for placement of the hook over which the cord is to be positioned.
Without the use of appropriate location marking devices, the picture hanging process usually requires a frustrating trial and error procedure of estimating the location for placement of the hook and then positioning the cord over the located hook and seeing if the location is where desired. Since the cord mounted to the rear of the picture usually is stretched to a tensioned location when in position on the hook by reason of the weight of the picture, it is not uncommon for errors in placement of the hook to occur and the resultant picture hanging location being different than that which was desired. Thus, the hook-locating procedure must be repeated to adjust the hook placement on the wall and correct the error which resulted because of the difficulty in correctly estimating the desired location of the picture after it is hung. It is not uncommon for several hook-placement actions to be needed before the desired picture-hanging location is achieved. In addition to the frustration of such repeated procedure, the erroneous placement of hooks leaves unnecessary holes in the wall.
One reason for difficulty in accurately locating a picture hanging hook behind a picture having a rear-mounted hanging cord is that until the picture is hung in place on the wall-mounted hook, the cord is not stretched to the tensioned position it will assume when so hung. Therefore, in order accurately to position the wall-mounted hook at its desired location, the cord must first be stretched to its tensioned position and means provided to mark the wall at the location where the hook will engage the tensioned cord at the wall mounted position of the picture.
Prior art devices are not known to enable the desired accurate marking of a wall at the location thereof where a hook should be positioned to engage a tensioned cord on the rear of a picture so as accurately to place the picture at its desired hanging location. It therefore is desirable to provide such a picture hanger locating device which conveniently stretches a rear-mounted picture hanging cord to the location it will assume when the picture is mounted to a hook on a wall with the cord engaged over the hook, and then to mark the wall at said location to indicate where the hook should be inserted in the wall to hang the picture at the desired location.


An approach for modeling and solving the problem of fault localization and alarm correlation in large communication networks is presented. Specifically, a new alarm structure is presented along with a general model for representing a communications network. Several specific processing algorithms are provided for solving alarm correlation and fault localization problems in the presence of one or more faults. These algorithms differ in the degree of accuracy achieved in locating a fault, and in the degree of complexity required for implementation.

Telecommunication networks have increased dramatically in size and complexity in recent years. A typical network may consist of hundred of nodes, with network equipment being supplied by numerous manufacturers, each with different traffic and bandwidth requirements. This increase in complexity presents serious problems of network management and control. One aspect of network management is fault management, and an essential component of fault management is fault identification. Unfortunately, failures in large communication networks are normally unavoidable; yet quick detection and identification of the cause of failure can make a communication system more robust, and its operation more reliable. However, when a fault occurs in a network, an operator is often overwhelmed with messages, making fault localization a difficult task. Too much information has the same effect as too little information, i.e., fault identification is made more complex.
Since communication networks typically consist of devices independently manufactured by different vendors, the internal implementation of these devices commonly varies. (But the interface of each device with the rest of the network is standardized to conform to widely accepted standards (e.g., SNA, ISO, etc.)). Thus, each network device is typically independently designed. The designer of a communication system device usually ensures that both the device and its perceived interface, i.e., the rest of the network projected into the device's observation space, are working correctly. A natural design process includes designing alarms for the various fault conditions that the device may encounter when in operation. Thus, a device designer typically provides two types of alarms: (1) alarms for faults that exist within a device; and (2) alarms for faults that appear at the interface with which the device has to conform.
A fault within a device may disrupt its operation as well as its behavior towards other devices. This may cause many network devices to emit alarms indicating problems with their interfaces. (Traditionally, a device alarm consists of a text string and possibly a unique alarm identifier.) Thus, the system administration can become overwhelmed with alarms generated from the same basic problem. Even though in the abstract it may appear that more information assists in diagnosing a problem, in reality it may not be so. Usually alarm messages do not carry the explicit information needed to diagnose a fault. Rather, alarms typically describe in detail the faulty condition, i.e., the symptom of the fault. They do not normally describe the cause of the fault.
With a multitude of alarms, it can be difficult to:
(1) localize a fault. In most cases alarms do not explicitly indicate the location of a fault. An analysis of the emitted alarms must be performed to pinpoint the problem area of the network.
(2) correlate alarms. It is difficult for a human operator or even a software program to examine the hundreds of alarms which may occur substantially simultaneously in a network and assign those alarms to one or more particular fault conditions.
The present invention seeks to address these problems. Specifically, methods and systems are provided which examine emitted alarms, and the topology of a telecommunications network, to localize the area of the network where a fault has occurred and to correlate received alarms with one or more faults within the network.

Methods and systems for alarm correlation and fault localization in communication networks

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrocatalyst ink composition comprising a liquid vehicle, particles comprising at least one electrocatalyst metal, and at least one copolymer dispersant comprising at least one polyalkylene oxide segment.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices in which the energy from a chemical reaction is converted to direct current electricity. During operation of a fuel cell, a continuous flow of fuel, e.g., hydrogen (or a liquid fuel such as methanol), is fed to the anode while, simultaneously, a continuous flow of an oxidant, e.g., air, is fed to the cathode. The fuel is oxidized at the anode causing a release of electrons through the agency of a catalyst. These electrons are then conducted through an external load to the cathode, where the oxidant is reduced and the electrons are consumed, again through the agency of a catalyst. The constant flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode constitutes an electrical current which can be made to do useful work.
The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is the most likely type of fuel cell to find wide application as a more efficient and lower emission power generation technology in a range of markets including stationary and portable power devices and as an alternative to the internal combustion engine in transportation. PEM fuel cells use a solid polymer as an electrolyte and porous carbon electrodes containing a platinum catalyst. They need only hydrogen, oxygen from the air, and water to operate and do not require corrosive fluids like some fuel cells. They are typically fueled with pure hydrogen supplied from storage tanks or onboard reformers.
The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is similar to the PEMFC in that the electrolyte is a polymer and the charge carrier is the hydrogen ion (proton). However, liquid methanol (CH3OH) is oxidized in the presence of water at the anode generating CO2, hydrogen ions and the electrons that travel through the external circuit as the electric output of the fuel cell. The hydrogen ions travel through the electrolyte and react with oxygen from the air and the electrons from the external circuit to form water at the anode completing the circuit.
In the PEMFC the combined laminate structure formed from the membrane and the two electrodes is known as a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA will typically comprise several layers, but can in general be considered, at its basic level, to have five layers, which are defined principally by their function. On either side of the membrane an anode and cathode electrocatalyst is incorporated to increase the rates of the desired electrode reactions. In contact with the electrocatalyst containing layers, on the opposite face to that in contact with the membrane, are the anode and cathode gas diffusion substrate layers.
The anode gas diffusion substrate is designed to be porous and to allow the reactant hydrogen or methanol to enter from the face of the substrate exposed to the reactant fuel supply, and then to diffuse through the thickness of the substrate to the layer which contains the electrocatalyst, usually platinum-ruthenium metal based, to maximize the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen or methanol. The anode electrocatalyst layer is also designed to comprise some level of the proton-conducting electrolyte in contact with the same electrocatalyst reaction sites. With acidic electrolyte types protons are produced as the product of the reaction occurring at the anode and these can then be efficiently transported from the anode reaction sites through the electrolyte to the cathode layers.
The cathode gas diffusion substrate is also designed to be porous and to allow oxygen or air to enter the substrate and diffuse through to the electrocatalyst layer reaction sites. The cathode electrocatalyst combines the protons with oxygen to produce water and is also designed to comprise some level of the proton-conducting electrolyte in contact with the same electrocatalyst reaction sites. Product water then has to diffuse out of the cathode structure. The structure of the cathode has to be designed such that it enables the efficient removal of the product water.
The complete MBA can be constructed by several methods. The electrocatalyst layers can be bonded to one surface of the gas diffusion substrates to form what is known as a gas diffusion electrode. The MEA is then formed by combining two gas diffusion electrodes with the solid proton-conducting membrane. Alternatively, the MEA may be formed from two porous gas diffusion substrates between which is sandwiched a solid proton-conducting polymer membrane having electrocatalyst layers on both sides (also referred to as a catalyst coated membrane or CCM); or indeed the MBA may be formed from one gas diffusion electrode, one liquid diffusion substrate and a solid proton-conducting polymer having an electrocatalyst layer on the side facing the gas/liquid diffusion substrate.
Although the theory behind fuel cell operation has been known for many years, there has been difficulty producing commercially viable fuel cells due to technological barriers, and also due to the availability of more cost-effective energy sources such as petroleum. However, devices using petroleum products, such as the automobile, produce significant pollution and may eventually become obsolete with the depletion of petroleum resources. As a result, there is a need for an alternative means for producing energy. Fuel cells are a promising alternative source of energy in that they are relatively pollution-free and utilize hydrogen, a seemingly infinite fuel source.
Among the critical issues that must be addressed for the successful commercialization of fuel cells are cell cost cell performance and operating lifetime. For stationary applications, improved power density is also critical. For automotive applications, high voltage efficiencies are necessary. In terms of cell cost and performance, one of the major issues is the construction and fabrication of the electrocatalyst layers used as the electrodes of the fuel cell, not least because of the fact that most fuel cells currently employ expensive noble metals, particularly platinum, as the or one electrocatalyst material.
Many different methods have been proposed for producing fuel cell electrodes, but most suffer from drawbacks that limit or prevent their commercial application. For example, one known method involves impregnating a porous support with a solution of a salt of an electrocatalyst metal, forming an oxide or hydroxide from the metal salt and reducing the oxide or hydroxide to the metal. Such a method is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,336 but generally results in poor control over the composition and microstructure of the catalyst powder, which are characteristics that have a critical impact on the performance of the catalyst.
An alternative method involves forming particles of the electrocatalyst metal, either alone or as coating on a particulate support phase, dispersing the metal particles into an ink and then applying the ink onto an electrode support or polymer membrane by, for example, ink-jet printing. One such method is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0130114 and comprises the steps of a) forming a liquid precursor comprising a particulate carbon precursor and at least a first precursor to an active species phase; b) generating an aerosol of droplets from said liquid precursor; and c) heating the aerosol droplets in a spray dryer at a conversion temperature of not greater than about 400° C. to form electrocatalyst particles wherein said first precursor is converted to an active species phase dispersed on the carbon support phase. The resultant electrocatalyst particles have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology and can be dispersed in an aqueous or organic liquid vehicle to produce an ink-jettable ink.
However, although inks are attractive deposition media for electrocatalyst metal particles, they suffer from the problem that, in view of the density of the electrocatalyst particles (frequently up to 20 gm/cc), it is difficult to maintain the particles adequately dispersed and suspended in the liquid vehicle. This problem is particularly pronounced when the ink is required to contain significant quantities of other components of the final catalyst layer, such as a proton-conducting polymer. At the same time, the viscosity of the liquid vehicle is limited by the requirement that the ink must be capable of being used with inkjet or similar print device. Thus, ensuring that the ink has a long shelf life, without frequent redispersion of the metal particles, can pose a significant challenge.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0038808, published Feb. 26, 2004, describes an ink composition useful for the formation of a catalyst layer and comprising: a) a liquid vehicle; b) a molecular precursor to an active species phase, wherein said molecular precursor can be converted to said active species phase at a temperature of not greater than about 200° C.; and c) particulate carbon. According to paragraph [0036], a variety of dispersants/additives can be added to the ink to assist in achieving a stable dispersion. In particular, fourteen commercially available dispersants were studied and, of these, DARVAN 7, a sodium polymethacrylate, water-soluble dispersant and DARVAN 821A, an ammonium polyacrylate, water soluble dispersant were found to be preferred in that neither were found to interfere adversely with the electrochemical process in a DMFC membrane electrode assembly.
Recent testing has, however shown that electrocatalyst ink compositions employing polyacrylate dispersants, such as DARVAN 821A, tend to undergo rapid settling, especially when the ink contains more than 5 wt % of a proton-conducting polymer. According to the present invention, it has now been found that electrocatalyst ink compositions, and especially aqueous electrocatalyst ink compositions, possessing enhanced stability can be produced by the inclusion in the composition of a copolymer dispersant including at least one polyalkylene oxide segment, particularly a comb-branched copolymer dispersant comprising at least one acrylic polymer segment and at least one polyalkylene oxide segment. The resultant inks have low settling rates even when containing more than 5 wt % of a proton-conducting polymer.
Comb-branched copolymers have already been described for use in the preparation of pigment dispersions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,510 describes pigment dispersions comprising a pigment, a carrier and an acrylic/polyether comb-branched copolymer dispersant, wherein the polyether portion of the copolymer is free of any acidic groups. In addition, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0256225, published Nov. 17, 2005, describes an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprising a) an aqueous vehicle, b) a modified pigment comprising a pigment having attached at least one organic group, and c) at least one comb-branched copolymer dispersant comprising at least one acrylic polymer segment and at least one polyalkylene oxide segment.
It is, however, to be appreciated that, with conventional pigment ink compositions, the pigments typically have a density of 2 gm/cc or less and are normally present in amounts less than 20 wt % of the overall ink composition. In contrast, with electrocatalyst ink compositions, the electrocatalyst metal particles frequently have a density up to 20 gm/cc and may be present in amounts in excess of 60 wt % of the overall ink composition. It is therefore unexpected that dispersants, such as comb-branched copolymer dispersants, that are effective in stabilizing pigment ink compositions should also be effective in stabilizing electrocatalyst ink compositions.

Electrocatalyst inks for fuel cell applications


A method for hydroconversion of a combined feed of at least one low value petroleum derived hydrocarbon and at least one biorenewable feedstock in a hydroconversion reaction zone in the presence of a hydroconversion catalyst at hydroconversion reaction conditions for a period of time sufficient to form a hydroconversion reaction product.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns processes for the hydroconversion of a slurry-phase combined feed comprising at least one low value petroleum derived hydrocarbon and at least one biorenewable feedstock.
(2) Description of the Art
Upgrading heavy oils, bitumen and coal liquids into a lighter hydrocarbon liquids such as diesel, naphtha and gasoline is important in order to maximize the amount of useful hydrocarbon materials that can be derived from crude oil and other heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks.
One problem faced in upgrading heavy oils is the lack of access to lighter hydrocarbon steams that can be combined with heavy oils to improve their conversion into lighter hydrocarbon streams. At the same time, there is a need to identify and employ refinery feed sources that are not based upon crude oil for upgrading or conversion into useful product streams such as diesel, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha and so forth. In particular, there is a need to identify renewable biological sources of such materials.
Materials such as particulate biological materials, pyrolysis oils and lignocellulosic biomass based materials have been identified as possible biorenewable sources of oils and polymers. However, one problem with using such biorenewable sources as refinery process feeds is that they are often in a solid as opposed to liquid form, they form a multi-phase liquid, and/or they contain large amounts of oxygen, all of which cause difficulties is processing biorenewable feeds in traditional refining processes. There is a need, therefore to devise methods and processes for refining multi-phase feedstocks including biorenewable materials in conventional refining processes.

Slurry hydroconversion of biorenewable feedstocks


The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related disorders.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related disorders.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease ("CMT") is an orphan genetic peripheral poly neuropathy. Affecting approximately 1 in 2,500 individuals, this disease is the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system. Its onset typically occurs during the first or second decade of life, although it may be detected in infancy. Course of disease is chronic with gradual neuromuscular degeneration. The disease is invalidating with cases of accompanying neurological pain and extreme muscular disability. CMT is one of the best studied genetic pathologies with approximately 30,000 cases in France. While a majority of CMT patients harbour a duplication of a chromosome 17 fragment containing a myelin gene: PMP22 (form CMT1A), two dozens of genes have been implicated in different forms of CMT. Accordingly, although monogenic in origin, this pathology manifests clinical heterogeneity due to possible modulator genes. The genes mutated in CMT patients are clustering around tightly connected molecular pathways affecting differentiation of Schwann cells or neurons or changing interplay of these cells in peripheral nerves.
Mining of publicly available data, describing molecular mechanisms and pathological manifestations of the CMT1A disease, allowed us to prioritize a few functional cellular modules—transcriptional regulation of PMP22 gene, PMP22 protein folding/degradation, Schwann cell proliferation and apoptosis, death of neurons, extra-cellular matrix deposition and remodelling, immune response—as potential legitimate targets for CMT-relevant therapeutic interventions. The combined impact of these deregulated functional modules on onset and progression of pathological manifestations of Charcot-Marie-Tooth justifies a potential efficacy of combinatorial CMT treatment.
International patent application No. PCT/EP2008/066457 describes a method of identifying drug candidates for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease by building a dynamic model of the pathology and targeting functional cellular pathways which are relevant in the regulation of CMT disease.
International patent application No. PCT/EP2008/066468 describes compositions for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which comprise at least two compounds selected from the group of multiple drug candidates.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions for treating CMT and related disorders


An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for capturing an image by using a solid image pickup device and a method of controlling the display of the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having a manual focusing function and a method of controlling the display of the same.
Description of the Related Art
Known image pickup apparatuses using a solid image pickup device, such as a digital still camera and a digital video camera, generally have an auto focusing (AF) function of automatically bring an image into focus. However, in recent years, many image pickup apparatuses have a manual focusing function of manually bring an image into focus. In such an image pickup apparatus, usually, a picked up image is displayed on a monitor (or an electronic viewfinder), such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), provided at the rear surface thereof. A user confirms the focus adjusted state by viewing the monitor.
In the image, pickup apparatuses with an auto focusing function according to the related art, some images, as the result of the focus adjustment, are displayed on a monitor such that a user can recognize when focusing has occurred. For example, some image pickup apparatuses have a function of displaying a lock mark when focusing is completed or a function of highlighting an area brought into focus among divided areas of an image. Also, some image pickup apparatuses apply a color that is different from the color of the subject to the edge of a subject brought into focus (for example, JP-A-2001-8085 (paragraph [0019] and FIG. 4).
Meanwhile, some of the image pickup apparatuses with a manual focusing function according to the related art display edge detection information on a monitor as a bar graph, and some highlight an area brought into focus among divided areas on a monitor. Further, some image pickup apparatuses change the color of each of the divided areas according to the focused state based on edge detection information (for example, JP-A-6-113183 (paragraphs [0022] to [0039] and FIG. 2).
However, in a technique for showing a focused state for every divided area at the time of adjusting focus by manual operation, when a plurality of subjects exist in the same area, a user cannot differentiate which subject is focused. For this reason, it is necessary to change composition so as to reset an area or focus on a specific area.
Further, in order for precise focus adjustment, it is preferable that the user view the sharpness of the subject displayed on the monitor and discriminate the adjusted state. However, most monitors provided on the rear surfaces of image pickup apparatuses do not have such a resolution and size that the user can precisely confirm the sharpness of a subject due to the size or the manufacturing cost. For this reason, it is difficult to precisely adjust focus by manual operation by using a visual observation method.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of precisely adjusting manual focus while viewing an image displayed on a monitor.
It is also desirable to provide a method of controlling the display of an image pickup apparatus capable of precisely adjusting manual focus while viewing an image displayed on a monitor.

Image pickup apparatus and display control method


The present subject matter relates to techniques and equipment for creating and managing a directory of individuals and businesses/enterprises by their mobile phone number, and using the directory to effectively store, manage and direct mail communication information to the individuals and businesses using preferred delivery methods of the individuals and businesses/enterprises. An electronic communication system is configured to use a mobile phone number to reference data and to manage communications to a corresponding recipient.

Existing electronic communication delivery systems have a data structure that is based around a physical address (e.g., building residence, etc.) or a collection of enterprise account numbers to identify customers. In the digital age, physical addresses to identify a customer are a throwback to physical mail delivered by the postal authority. Clearly, there must be a physical location if mail is going to be delivered. However, using a physical address to reference a customer in an electronic communication system is defective. For example, there can be more than one person at an address, requiring additional identification parameters. A customer may have multiple addresses such as a home, vacation home, and work. Which address to use for communications is not clear since different communications may only be sent to specific addresses. The address based data structure requires frequent updates to stay current with the customer's movements. Building a communication database or file structure, by linking all of the account numbers for the selected enterprises that the customer does business with, does not cure the problems encountered with physical addresses.
Smart phones and tablets, both may have mobile phone numbers assigned, are quickly overtaking personal computers and laptops as a consumer's preferred method of accessing the internet and communicating with friends and businesses. The vast majority of the population has a mobile phone number, from a cell phone or from a tablet, all of which are unique and in the vast majority of cases the mobile phone is associated with a single person. A system that creates and manages a communications database using a directory of individuals and businesses referenced by their cell phone number, and uses those directories to store, manage and direct information to the customers using their preferred delivery method of communications, provides the data structure and a customer reference that is unique and is not tied down to a physical address or a collection of account numbers. Other mobile devices, as they evolve, will have a unique mobile phone number that can be used as a reference number in the data structure.
Hence a need exists for an electronic communication system that uses a mobile phone number to reference data and to manage communications.

Method and system for using mobile phone numbers to uniquely identify mail recipients and preferred medium for delivery


The present invention provides a speech processing method, which includes: receiving speech information; recognizing the speech information to convert the speech information into a plurality of pieces of text information; displaying at least one pieces of the text information; and receiving a selection signal to respond according to selected text information. The present invention further provides a speech processing device. According to the speech processing method and device provided by embodiments of the present invention, a user can select and confirm by clicking on displayed text information after the speech information is recognized, so that the selected text information is guaranteed to be coincident with a received speech information, thus further increasing accuracy and convenience of the speech processing and providing the user with a good experience effect.

Speech recognition technology is a high-tech technology that can correctly recognize human speech through the machine and convert vocabulary content in human speech into a corresponding computer readable and writable text or command. With the continuous progress of science and technology, speech recognition technology is becoming more and more extensive. Speech recognition technology is more user-friendly than other input methods such as keyboard input, so it will become one of the most important human-computer interaction technologies.
However, the biggest problem with the speech input method in prior art is that the recognition speed in the speech processing is not fast and the accuracy is not high. Although the problem of low recognition speed has been gradually resolved, but because of the existences of similar words in a language and a variety of languages and other reasons, the problem of low accuracy has been unable to solve, which affects the user experience and cannot meet the user speech input requirements.

ZHEJIANG GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.


An input stage of an integrated circuit, includes a comparator for comparing the voltage of an input signal of the input stage with a reference voltage, and supplying a binary output signal the value of which depends on the result of the comparison of the input signal with the reference voltage. The input stage comprises a feedback circuit measuring a parameter representative of the operation of the comparator, and raising the reference voltage while the measured parameter reveals a faulty operation of the comparator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits and more particularly the input stages of CMOS logic integrated circuits supplying a logic signal according to an analog input signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally speaking, the input stages of integrated circuits have inputs having a switch level centered around half of the supply voltage. This condition is easily obtained for example using the input stage represented in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the input stage INST1 comprises a balanced inverter comprising a PMOS transistor MP1 and an NMOS transistor MN1. The gate of the transistors MP1 and MN1 is connected to the input Vin of the circuit. The drains of the transistors MN1 and MP1 are connected to the output Vout of the circuit. The source of the transistor MP1 receives the supply voltage Vdd. The source of the transistor MN1 is connected to the ground.
The transistors MN1 and MP1 have similar threshold voltages in absolute value. When the transistors MN1 and MP1 have the same geometric dimensions, the transistor MN1 has a conductance two to three times greater than the conductance of the transistor MP1. This property is due to the mobility of the electrons that is two to three times greater that the mobility of the holes. If the width-to-length ratio W/L of the transistor MP1 is two or three times greater than the ratio of the transistor MN1, the two transistors then have the same conductance if they further receive the same substrate-gate voltage in absolute value. Due to its symmetry, the input stage INST1 has a switch threshold voltage equal to half of the supply voltage (Vdd/2). Depending on whether the input voltage Vin is greater or lower than the switch threshold voltage, the voltage of the output signal Vout is equal to 0 or Vdd.
Certain applications require a switch threshold that is not equal to Vdd/2, but to another fraction of the supply voltage Vdd, or to a fixed voltage not linked to the voltage Vdd. In addition, the threshold voltages of the n- and p-channel MOS transistors can be different in absolute value. In certain applications, the input stages must be able to operate at low voltage, close to the threshold voltages of the transistors of the integrated circuit.
In such situations, a voltage comparator comparing the voltage applied at input with a reference voltage is generally used. Typically, such a comparator is produced using a differential amplifier. An example of an input stage comprising a differential amplifier is represented in FIG. 2. The input stage INST2 represented in FIG. 2 comprises a current mirror differential amplifier DAMP comprising an input receiving the input voltage Vin and an output O1 connected to the output Vout of the input stage INST2 through three cascade-arranged inverters I1, I2, I3.
Classically, the amplifier DAMP comprises an input branch receiving the input voltage Vin and a reference branch receiving a reference voltage Vref1. The input branch comprises a p-channel MOS transistor MP2 the source of which receives the supply voltage Vdd and the drain of which is connected to the drain of an n-channel MOS transistor MN2. The gate of the transistor MN2 receives the input voltage Vin. The reference branch comprises a p-channel MOS transistor MP3 the source of which receives the supply voltage Vdd and the drain of which is connected to the drain of an n-channel MOS transistor MN3. The gate of the transistor MP2 is connected to the gate and to the drain of the transistor MP3.
The sources of the transistors MN2 and MN3 are connected to the drain of an n-channel MOS transistor MN4 the source of which is connected to the ground. A reference voltage VrefN is applied to the gate of the transistor MN4, such that the saturation current of the transistor MN4 is equal to a reference current IrefN. IrefN therefore represents the maximal current likely to pass through the transistor MN4. The output O1 of the amplifier DAMP is connected to the drains of the transistors MP2 and MN2.
If the voltage Vin is greater than the voltage Vref1, the voltage at the output O1 decreases by tending towards the voltage GND1 of the drain of the transistor MN4. Conversely, if the voltage Vin is lower than the voltage Vref1, then the voltage is equal to the supply voltage Vdd. The output O1 supplies a signal biased under a low current. The inverter I1 is produced with transistors designed to be able to switch rapidly despite a low current available at the output O1. The W/L ratios of the transistors of the inverters I1, I2 and I3 have increasing values from I1 to I3, to shape the signal coming from the output O1 and to supply a logic signal at the output Vout.
The amplifier DAMP imposes certain limitations on the value of the reference voltage Vref1. Indeed, the amplifier DAMP only operates in the presence of a sufficient positive current i in the reference branch (comprising the transistors MP3 and MN3). The transistor MN3 must therefore allow a minimum current to pass. For this purpose, the voltage Vref1 must be greater than the threshold voltage Vtn of the transistor MN3. To reduce the effect of the constraint imposed by this condition, native n-channel transistors are preferably used that have a lower threshold voltage Vtn.
In addition, if the voltage Vref1 is lower than the threshold voltage Vtn of the transistor MN3, the input stage does not operate at all. The output voltage Vout can then vary randomly, which can be a dangerous operating condition for the integrated circuit equipped with the input stage. As a result, to maintain the amplifier DAMP in a fully operational state, in given temperature and supply voltage conditions, and for a given manufacturing chain, the voltage Vref1 must be sufficiently greater than the threshold voltage Vtn of the transistor MN3. This condition proves to be all the more restrictive as the variations in the voltage Vtn can be totally decorrelated from the variations in the voltage Vref1.
Typically, the transistor MN3 has for example a threshold voltage Vtn at ambient temperature of 450 mV, this voltage possibly varying by +/−100 mV according to the manufacturing conditions. The temperature coefficient, i.e., the variation rate of the threshold voltage according to the temperature is equal to approximately −2 mV/° C. The result is that, in a recommended temperature variation range from −40 to +85° C., the threshold voltage of the transistor MN3 can vary from 230 to 680 mV. To guarantee the operation of the amplifier DAMP, the voltage Vref1 must be greater than 700 mV when the threshold voltage Vtn of the transistor MN3 reaches 680 mV. If the voltage Vref1 has its own variation range, it can reach 1 volt.
Furthermore, the current passing through each of the input and reference branches must be low to limit the current consumption of the circuit.


A fuel vapor processing apparatus may include a case defining therein a first adsorption chamber, a second adsorption chamber and a non-adsorption chamber communicating between the first adsorption chamber and the second adsorption chamber. The cross sectional flow area of the first adsorption chamber may be smaller than the cross sectional flow area of the second adsorption chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to fuel vapor processing apparatus known as canisters that are mounted mainly to vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-2005-195007 teaches a known fuel vapor processing apparatus that includes a case defining therein a gas passage. The case includes a charge port and a purge port that are disposed at one end of the gas passage for introduction of fuel vapor gas and for purging fuel vapor from the gas passage, respectively. The case further includes an atmospheric port disposed at the other end of the gas passage for introduction of air used for purging the fuel vapor. Three adsorption chambers are formed in the case along a direction of flow of gas through the gas passage. Adsorption material is filled into each of the adsorption chambers for adsorption of fuel vapor. Between each two of the three adsorption chambers positioned adjacent to each other in the direction of flow of gas through the gas passage, a spacing chamber is formed to connect between two adjacent adsorption chambers. The cross sectional flow areas of the two adjacent adsorption chambers and the spacing chamber are the same with each other.
As described above, in the known fuel vapor processing apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2005-195007, the cross sectional flow areas of two adjacent adsorption chambers and the spacing chamber are the same with each other. Therefore, the flow rate of air may not be changed during the flow of air through the two adjacent adsorption chambers. For this reason, if the flow rate of the air is high, it may be possible that fuel vapor cannot be sufficiently desorbed from the adsorption materials contained in the adsorption chambers, resulting in that the desorbing efficiency of fuel vapor may be lowered. If the fuel vapor remains in or on the adsorption materials without being desorbed, a problem may be caused that fuel vapor is blown toward the atmospheric port during filling of fuel or other occasion. Thus, the amount of fuel blown toward the atmospheric port (hereinafter called a "blow-through amount") may increase as the amount of fuel remaining in or on the adsorption materials (hereinafter called a "residual amount") increases.
Therefore, there has been a need in the art for a fuel vapor processing apparatus that can improve the fuel vapor desorption efficiency and can reduce the residual amount or the blow-through amount of fuel vapor.


Broadband multimedia system including a communication bus, a router, connected to the communication bus and further between a plurality of media sources and a plurality of network transmitters, a session manager, connected to communication bus, where the session manager provides routing instructions to the router, for directing data received from the media sources to the network transmitters for transmitting over a broadband network.

Broadband communication systems are known in the art. The main types include video oriented communication systems and data oriented communication systems. Video oriented communication systems were originally designed for television broadcast transmissions and today include modifications, which enable narrow-cast transmissions as well as data communications there through. Data oriented communication systems are used for a plurality of data and multimedia applications. Conventionally, downstream channels (from the cable service operator to the end user) are used to carry either only IP packets (using DOCSIS for example) or only native MPEG programs over MPEG transport. This requires the cable operator to perform fixed allocation of downstream resources for different services, which limits the resource usage efficiency, especially for the downstream bandwidth.
Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) are known in the art. Such systems are installed in a cable head-end and are connected to a plurality (conventionally thousands) of Cable Modems (CM) via a Hybrid Fiber/Coaxial (HFC) Network. A conventional single CMTS board transmits downstream information on a single channel and receives upstream information from one or more (usually not more than 8) upstream channels. Upstream channels which are connected to a single CMTS board, can be received from many nodes (usually for areas which are characterized by a small number of cable modem users) or from a single node (usually for areas which are characterized by a large number of cable modem users).
The operation of a conventional CMTS is generally predefined, where the cable modem users are configured to utilize a specific CMTS downstream channel. Each CMTS downstream channel has specific associated upstream channels. The CMTS board uses its associated downstream channel, to provide upstream channels and time slot information to the CMs on which they can transmit information back to the head-end, at any given time.
An article, "Multimedia Traffic Engineering for HFC Networks" by John T. Chapman from Cisco Systems (Nov. 29, 1999), discusses possible CMTS architectures contingent on penetration of CMs and broadband services.
Using prior art systems, DOCSIS upstream channels are rigidly coupled to their associated downstream channel. In high penetration areas serving high bandwidth applications, there is a need to provide several downstream channels per each given node. Accordingly, the entire group of cable modem subscribers in that node has to be divided into smaller groups, where each group is assigned and served by a separate downstream channel, and some upstream channels that are associated therewith. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this architecture utilizes upstream bandwidth inefficiently, since upstream resources are fixed allocated to each group rather than dynamically allocated between the groups, which are associated with the same node. In addition, there is a major reliability/redundancy hazard in a case where only one upstream channel is allocated to each DOCSIS MAC domain (i.e. for each downstream channel).
Digital video and other media are typically transmitted in a compressed form, encapsulated in MPEG transport packets, which include information associating them to a specific stream. It is noted that MPEG transport packets do not include neither source address information nor destination address information and hence can not be switched, using networking methods and systems, which are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,862 to Lee, et al., and entitled "Packet-Based Dynamic De-Skewing for Network Switch with Local or Central Clock", is directed to a network switch with packet-based de-skewing. A switch core switches between a plurality of source media-access controllers (MAC's) and a plurality of destination MAC's. Each source MAC is provided with a framer, and each destination MAC is provided with a de-skew circuit. A clock source provides input to each framer and each de-skew circuit. Each link is provided with a single serial data line through the switch core. The framer receives a serial data packet from the source MAC, and adds a start flag sequence (header) to the packet. As communication links are broken and new links are established, the new links introduce a different amount of skew. The de-skew circuit measures the clock skew of the packet received through the new link, by comparing the phases of the received start flag sequence, and a known start flag sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,761 to Olnowich, et al., entitled "Apparatus for Adapting Message Protocols for a Switch Network and a Bus", is directed to a system for inter-linking a plurality of computers connected to a switch network. Each computer is connected to a Micro-Channel (MC) converter unit via a MC bus, and each MC converter is connected to the input and output port of the switch network. Each of the computer resources such as processor, memory, and I/O units is connected to a slot on the MC bus. The MC converter converts the address of a resource on a remote computer, as requested by a client, to a means for locating the exact MC island. The switch network establishes the link between the client and the remote computer. The client transfers data to the MC converter of the remote computer, and this MC converter transfers the data to the designated slot on the MC bus of the remote computer. Then, the designated resource of the remote computer receives the data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,726 to Preira, entitled "Management of Polling Traffic in Connection Oriented Sessions", is directed to a system for connecting an end station in a first local area network (LAN), to an end station in a second (LAN). The first LAN is connected to a central node (CN), and the second LAN is connected to a leaf node (LN). The CN and the LN are interconnected by an intermediate session link. An end station in the first LAN establishes connection with an end station in the second LAN, by a first link session, the intermediate session link, and a second link session. The first link session connects the end station in the first LAN to the CN, and the second link session connects the LN to an end station in the second LAN.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,626 to Esaki, et al., entitled "ATM Communication System With High Speed Connection-Less Service Function", is directed to a system for transferring ATM cells between a plurality of ATM networks, equipped with connection-less service function. The ATM networks are interconnected by an inter-networking unit (IWU). The IWU unit includes an ATM switch of N inputs and M outputs, a call processing unit and an IWU management unit connected to the ATM switch. The IWU unit further includes N input processing units for entering inputs from N ATM networks, and M output processing units for outputting outputs to M ATM networks. The call processing unit sets up, cuts off, changes, and manages the ATM connection over the IWU. The IWU management unit manages and controls the IWU.
Each of the input processing units analyzes the header value of the entering ATM cell, converts the header value if necessary, and attaches a routing tag for appropriate routing of the ATM cell. Each of the output processing units removes the routing tag from the cell, and converts the header value if necessary. The ATM switch switches the outputs of the N input processing units, the call processing unit, and the IWU management unit, into the inputs of the M output processing units, the call processing unit, and the IWU management unit.

Communication management system and method


Optimization of the exchange of energy between a free space wave and current flowing in the conductive helix of an axial mode, helical antenna is achieved by varying the pitch angle of successive turns of the antenna along the axis of the antenna, from a relatively small pitch angle at the base, feed location of the antenna, to a relatively large value at the distal end of the antenna. Pitch angles of successive turns of the antenna are varied in a non-linear manner to correspond to the non-linear manner in which the phase velocity of a wave propagating through the antenna varies relative to the phase velocity of a free space electromagnetic wave. For the case of an axial mode, helical antenna operating at C-band, the pitch angle of said antenna may be varied between 3-8 degrees at the antenna feed point to a 20-30 degrees at its free space-interfacing distal end. The variable pitch angle antenna has a gain versus bandwidth characteristic that contains a plurality of spaced apart peak regions, one of which has a peak gain slightly less than the other. This dual peak gain behavior permits application design trade off between a smaller sized antenna with slightly reduced performance versus a larger sized antenna with slightly higher performance.

Communication systems that are subject to space and weight limitations, such as mobile, manually deployable configurations, often employ (monofilar or bifilar) axial mode, helical antennas, such as that diagrammatically illustrated at 10 in FIG. 1. By axial mode helical antenna is meant one that is not only physically configured as a helix, but, as an axial mode device for circularly polarized RF signals, has the principal lobe of its radiation pattern extending along the axis or boresight 12 of the helix, as diagrammatically illustrated at 20 in FIG. 2. Axial length is measured along axis 12.
Moreover, the wavelength of such an axial mode, helical antenna is less than the axial dimension of the antenna. For example, the axial dimension of a helix having a pitch angle on the order of nine degrees and having four to five turns is slightly less than a wavelength; a five to twenty-three degree pitch angle, five turn helix has an axial dimension of 1.2 wavelengths. This is in contrast to a helical-configured monopolar or bipolar antenna, such as a whip antenna, which is formed of a helically wound conductor, but does not operate as an axial mode device, and has a wavelength typically larger than the axial length of the antenna, and much larger than the circumference, which is typically on the order of one-one hundredth of a wavelength.
Because the pitch angle of a conventional axial mode, helical antenna is constant along the axis of the antenna (typically on the order of twelve degrees or so), then at any point along the axis of the antenna, the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave travelling through the antenna will not necessarily match the phase velocity of the free space wave being interfaced with (received or launched by) the antenna. For the case of a received wave, for example, this phase velocity mismatch prevents the incoming free space wave from coherently exciting currents within the antenna. As a result, the gain of the antenna is reduced to value that is less than optimal.
For a non-limiting examples of such conventional helical antenna configurations, including both axial mode devices, and non-axial mode configurations, such as, but not limited to, whip antennas, attention may be directed to the following documentation: U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,205 to Buxton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,220 to Arnow, U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,820 to Henderson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,030 to Foldes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,737 to Albright, U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,981 to Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,267 to Wong et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,727 to Seal et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,469 to Bones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,693 to Egashira et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,182 to Sydor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,916 to Waterman et al, Japanese Publication No. 7-202550 to Oomuro et al, Japanese Publication No. 7-176940 to Oomuro et al, Japanese Publication No. 7-22839 to Tsutsumi, Japanese Publication No. 7-22830 to Yamamoto.

Variable pitch angle, axial mode helical antenna


A method of re-establishing a communications connection in a network element, a network element and a switched connection communications network are provided. The communications connection is re-established after a failure occurs affecting the communications connection. The network element is a network element in a switched connection communications network over which the communications connection is provisioned in a source-to-destination bearer path. The bearer path includes a cross-connection in the first-mentioned network element. The cross-connection is associated with the communications connection prior to the failure at a time when the communications connection is provisioned. The method includes the steps of: (a) delaying release of the cross-connection following the failure and (b) during the delayed release, determining whether the cross-connection remains operable notwithstanding the failure and, if so, re-associating the operable cross-connection with the communications connection to thereby re-establish same over at least that portion of the bearer path which includes the cross-connection.

The invention generally relates to the field of data transmission networks and more specifically to apparatus and methods for recovering from a short-term signalling network failure in a switched connection data transmission network employing a signalling protocol for establishing, maintaining and clearing a call.
In a switched connection network, examples of which include the public switched telephone network and virtual connection orientated digital communications such as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, an end-to-end call comprises one or more switched (i.e., on-demand) bearer channels which collectively compose a bearer channel path across a network. In an ATM network for instance, examples of such a switched call include a switched virtual connection (SVC) or a soft permanent virtual connection (SPVC). Such calls are (or can be) dynamically established and cleared in substantially real time by network elements, such as data transmission switches, in accordance with standard signalling protocols. An example of one such network element which incorporates signalling software is the model 36170 MainStreet Xpress(TM) ATM network switch commercially available from Newbridge Networks Corporation of Kanata, Ontario.
The signalling between network elements is carried over a signalling network comprising call control and processing infrastructure disposed on each network element, and means for interfacing or communicating between similar infrastructure disposed on counterpart network elements. The interface means can comprise a separate overlay network, such as leased lines, as may be found in a Frame Relay SVC service. More typically, however, the interface means comprises a permanent virtual connection (PVC) which has been dedicated for the transfer of signalling information or call control data between interconnected network elements. For example, one popular ATM standard has dedicated VPI/VCI=0/5 for this purpose. Signalling virtual circuits can be carried over the same internode link facilities as the bearer channels, or on separate links.
In order to initiate an end-to-end call, the calling device typically transmits a xe2x80x9ccall setupxe2x80x9d message to the network indicating the destination address and desired connection and quality of service parameters. For SVC service, the calling and called devices are typically customer premise equipment (CPE). For SPVC service, the calling and called devices are typically ingress and egress network elements, as described in greater detail below.
The call set up message can be propagated through the network to a called device (destination address) using conventional routing techniques, such as hop-by-hop or source routing. In hop-by-hop routing, each network element which receives the call setup message typically consults a routing table in order to determine the next hop or output bearer channel towards the destination. In source-routing, the source or ingress network element maintains a database of the topology of the network and specifies the output ports and virtual path (VP) trunk that each network element should use to route the call.
Each network element which receives the call setup message establishes a bearer channel cross-connect which links an input bearer channel to an output bearer channel.
Ultimately, the call setup message is relayed by the signalling network to the called device, and the called device is thus informed as to the identity of the bearer channel it should use for transmitting information in respect of the call. Once the call setup message is received at the destination device, a xe2x80x9cconnectxe2x80x9d message is sent back over the signalling network to the calling device. Typically, the calling device will then transmit a xe2x80x9cconnect acknowledgementxe2x80x9d message back to the destination device over the signalling network in order to complete a double handshaking protocol. At this point, the call is deemed to have been established and the calling device, as well as the called device in the event of a bidirectional connection, may transmit user data over the recently established bearer channel path.
The signalling network is also used to clear or terminate a call and its associated bearer channel path in a manner similar to that. used to establish the call.
In addition to dynamically establishing and clearing a call, the signalling network is also used to transmit various types of status messages (e.g. link state messages) relating to the call and the bearer channel path thereof These status messages are associated with various sensing mechanisms employed by the signalling standards for determining whether a peer entity (e.g., a signalling module on a CPE or network node) or link therebetween is alive and properly functioning. Such mechanisms typically include heartbeat processes relating to various layers of a signalling protocol, such as described in greater detail below.
The signalling network, or more particularly a portion thereof, may fail for various reasons, including a software defect or equipment failure in the call control infrastructure. When a failure is sensed as described above by other network elements adjacent to the failed portion of the signalling network, the signalling standards typically specify that all calls affected by the failure should be released, thus causing all of the bearer channel cross-connects relating to those calls to be released. If a call control entity, for example, a call processor supporting switched virtual circuit (SVC) services on a first network element fails, all of the signalling interfaces with other network elements managed by the card will be lost. Adjacent network elements will thus presume that the bearer channels associated with the failed signalling interfaces are no longer operable. This causes the adjacent network elements to signal this fact across the network and release all cross-connects to the bearer channels composing the call. Ultimately, the failure in the signalling network will be signalled back to the calling and called devices, which will terminate their session.
The release of bearer channel cross-connects is very disruptive to calls if there has in fact been no failure in the bearer channels or their cross-connects (i.e., the bearer channel path is up and functioning) and the failure in the signalling network can be corrected within a short period of time. For example, in network elements featuring xe2x80x9c1+1 warm redundancyxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cN+1 warm redundancyxe2x80x9d, backup or stand-by call control infrastructure, e.g. a stand-by SVC service card, could be switched into service in place of the failed card. Unfortunately, as the information base on the failed card is lost, the prior art does not enable the backup card to carry on in midstream the numerous signalling functions handled by the failed call control infrastructure.
One approach to this problem is to employ xe2x80x9c1+1 Hot Redundancyxe2x80x9d where each component of the call control infrastructure is actively duplicated in which case bearer channel cross-connects need not be released since the redundant component maintains a parallel up-to-date date information base. Such systems are, however, not always available or desired due to the extra costs involved.
In a first aspect, a method of re-establishing a communications connection in a network element after a failure occurs affecting the communications connection is provided. The network element is a network element in a switched connection communications network over which the communications connection is provisioned in a source-to-destination bearer path. The bearer path includes a cross-connection in the first-mentioned network element. The cross-connection is associated with the communications connection prior to the failure at a time when the communications connection is provisioned. The method includes the steps of: (a) delaying release of the cross-connection following the failure and (b) during the delayed release, determining whether the cross-connection remains operable notwithstanding the failure and, if so, re-associating the operable cross-connection with the communications connection to thereby re-establish same over at least that portion of the bearer path which includes the cross-connection.
Determining whether the cross-connection remains operable notwithstanding the failure may include determining whether the first-mentioned network element is capable of communicating with an immediately adjacent network element in the bearer path.
The switched connection communications network may include a signalling network for establishing, maintaining and clearing a communications connection in the switched connection communications network and the failure may occur in the signalling network.
The failure may occur in a card associated with the signalling network at the first-mentioned network element.
Following the failure and prior to the step (a), the switched connection communications network may indicate existence of the failure to the first-mentioned network element to release the cross-connection following the failure and the step (a) of delaying release of the cross-connection following the failure may occur for a pre-determined period of time.
The switched connection communications network may include a call control infrastructure and the method may further include the step of: (al) releasing the communications connection from the call control infrastructure following the failure and prior to step (b).
The call control infrastructure may be disposed on the first-mentioned network element.
The call control infrastructure may indicate existence of the failure to a network element in the bearer path to release the cross-connection following the failure.
The network element to which the failure is indicated may not be customer premise equipment.
The signalling network may include an interface for communicating signalling information between the network elements in the bearer path.
The interface may include a signalling link.
The first-mentioned network element may include a connection manager disposed on the first-mentioned network element for creating and dismantling cross-connections thereon.
The method may further include the step of: (b1) if the communications connection is re-established over the portion of the bearer path which includes the cross-connection within the pre-determined period of time, aborting the release of the cross-connection for the first-mentioned network element.
Following the failure, the switched connection communications network may transmit a setup message to the first-mentioned network element to initiate step (b).
The cross-connection may be associated with the communications connection at the time when the communications connection is provisioned by associating the cross-connection with a unique identifier in respect of the communications connection.
The setup message may include the unique identifier and the operable cross-connection may be re-associated with the communications connection by re-associating the cross-connection with the unique identifier.
The communications connection may have an ingress network element and an egress network element in the switched connection communications network and the setup message may be transmitted in the switched connection communications network by the ingress network element or the egress network element.
The unique identifier may include a field representative of the ingress network element and a field representative of a number which is unique with respect to the communications connection.
The unique identifier may further include a field representative of a creator of the communications connection.
Re-associating the cross-connection with the unique identifier may include linking the unique identifier with an entry in a data structure representing existing cross-connections on the first-mentioned network element.
The communications connection may be a switched virtual connection.
The communications connection may be a soft permanent virtual connection.
If the first-mentioned network element determines that the cross-connection is not operable, the first-mentioned network element may establish an alternate cross-connection for the communications connection and may re-route the communications connection in the switched connection communications network.
In a second aspect, a network element for use in re-establishing a communications connection after a failure occurs affecting the communications connection is provided. The network element is one of at least one network element in a switched connection communications network over which the communications connection is provisioned in a source-to-destination bearer path. The bearer path includes a cross-connection in the first-mentioned network element. The cross-connection is associated with the communications connection prior to the failure at a time when the communications connection is provisioned. The network element includes a cross-connection release unit for delaying release of the cross-connection following the failure and a cross-connection re-association unit for re-associating, during the delayed release, the cross-connection with the communications connection to thereby reestablish same over at least that portion of the bearer path which includes the cross-connection if the cross-connection remains operable notwithstanding the failure.
In a third aspect, a switched connection communications network for use in reestablishing a communications connection after a failure occurs affecting the communications connection is provided. The switched connection communications network includes a failure detection unit for detecting a failure in the switched connection communications network and at least one network element over which a bearer path of the communications connection is provisioned. The bearer path includes a cross-connection respectively in each of the at least one network element. Each cross-connection is associated with the communications connection prior to the failure at a time when the communications connection is provisioned. Each the network element in the bearer path is operative to delay release of the cross-connection thereof following the failure and, during the delayed release, to determine whether the cross-connection remains operable notwithstanding the failure and, if so, to re-associate the operable cross-connection with the communications connection to thereby re-establish same over at least that portion of the bearer path which includes the cross-connection.

Method and apparatus for recovering from a signalling failure in a switched connection data transmission network


An open-end wrench includes a handle and a driver. The driver is connected with an end of the handle for providing a torque for a work piece. The driver includes two jaw portions and at least one inclined plane. The two jaw portions are formed on two sides of a front side of the driver, and are spaced for forming an opening. The inclined plane is formed on the driver and inclines from a center of the driver to an edge of the driver, and inclines across one of the jaw portions, and inclines from a connecting portion between the handle and the driver to the front end of the driver.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an open-end wrench, more particular relates to an open-end wrench with two different inclined plans on the driver thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Open-end wrench is a widely used hand tool in daily life. An open-end wrench normally includes at least one driver connected with a handle. The driver includes two jaw portions, and an opening is formed between the two portions for providing a torque to a work piece. Therefore, the work piece can be tightened or loosened by rotating the open-end wrench.
The driver of the open-end wrench usually includes a contacting surface for engaging with a surface of a work piece in order to produce a torque center. In prior art, it is disclosed that an inclined plane being formed on the contacting surface. When the inclined plane contacts the work piece, an inclined angle is formed between the work piece and the open-end wrench, therefore, to provide a larger handling space and larger engaging force for driving the work piece. However, the inclined angle and position of the inclined plane is constrained, thus the contacting surface of the open-end wrench is too flat, leads to limited effects on increasing handling space and force.
Other prior arts disclose an inclined plane formed on different positions of the driver for increasing handling space and engaging force, however, the inclined angle and position of the inclined plane are not full considered, so that leads to limited effect.


A multiple-modes adaptable radiotelephone adaptable to multiple communication modes, which is communicable with any of a cellular phone, cordless telephone and PCS telephone. The radiotelephone includes a single wireless transceiver for modulating and demodulating signals in the transmitting/receiving frequency bands of a cellular telephone system and a cordless telephone system. The transmitting/receiving frequency bands of the cordless telephone system are located closed to those of the cellular telephone system. A control unit, which has a PCS software installed therein, is provided for controlling the wireless transceiver.

The present invention generally relates to a multiple-modes adaptable telephone which is adaptable to multiple telephone communication modes, and more particularly to a technique for realizing the functions concerning multiple communication modes by a single telephone containing a single wireless machine.
A multi-phone-system telephone, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,230 (Jan. 29, 1991), is known as a telephone operable in both the cellular telephone and the cordless telephone. This telephone, as shown in FIG. 4, is made up of a cellular antenna 41 for transmitting and receiving a radio wave of a frequency within the frequency band (transmitting frequencies: 824.04 MHz to 848.9 MHz, and receiving frequencies: 869.04 MHz to 893.97 MHz) of the cellular telephone system, a cellular wireless transceiver 43 for modulating a transmitting signal into a signal of a frequency within the cellular transmitting frequency band, and demodulating a receiving signal of a frequency within the cellular receiving frequency band, a cordless antenna 42 for transmitting and receiving a radio wave of a frequency within the frequency band (250/400 MHz) of the cordless telephone system, a cordless wireless transceiver 44 for demodulating a signal of a frequency within the cordless receiving frequency band, a control unit 45 for controlling the operations of the cellular wireless machine 43 and the cordless wireless machine 44 according to the systems of the cellular and cordless telephones, a display 46 for displaying a status of the telephone, an operation unit 47 for various input operations, a speaker 48 for generating a voice, and a microphone 49 for entering a voice into the telephone.
The multi-phone-system telephone has a cellular telephone number. Mainly in the outdoors, a calling telephone sets up a channel to a called telephone, by using the telephone number, by way of a base station in the cellular telephone system. The calling telephone communicates with the called one by using the cellular antenna 41 and the cellular wireless machine 43. Mainly indoors, by a telephone number of a cordless master station installed in the home and connected to the landline, for example, a calling telephone sets up a channel to a called telephone by way of the master station, and communicates with the called telephone by using the cordless antenna 42 and the cordless wireless machine 44.
The prior art telephone is equipped with two wireless transceiver for the cellular telephone system and the cordless telephone system. The wireless transceiver inevitably occupy a large part of the housing of the telephone. This makes it difficult to reduce the size and weight of the telephone, and hinders the reduction of cost to manufacture.
Recently, in the United States, there is a telephone service based on the personal communication system (PCS) designed according to IS-94. In the telephone service, a telephone is used, by using a single telephone number, in a manner that in the outdoors, it is used as a cellular telephone, and in the office, for example, it is communicable with a called telephone by way of a small base station. The conventional multi-phone-system telephone does not have the function of the PCS telephone, however.
In the United States, various types of telephone services are thus provided to users successively. Infrastructures of these services are different. Because of this, when the user wants to uses a telephone service, he must use a telephone adaptable to that telephone service. When another telephone service is used, another telephone adaptable to that telephone service must be used. This is very inconvenient to telephone users. It is ideal that one telephone terminal to which the user is accustomed may be used from many places, for example, the office, home and vehicle. The telephone using the combination of the wireless transceiver of different telephone systems is disadvantageous in that the size and weight of the telephone is increased. In this respect, this type of telephone cannot meet the demand of the user.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


According to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a head includes a transmitting module and a controller. The transmitting module is configured to transmit a write signal to a magnetic head having a spin torque oscillator at the time of recording data. The controller is configured to supply a drive signal that has a level higher than the ordinary level for a prescribed effective time, to the spin-torque oscillator in response to an input write gate that instructs the recording of data. During a period other than prescribed effective time, the controller supplies a drive signal having the ordinary level to the spin-torque oscillator.

In recent years, high-density data recording is promoted and large storage capacity is achieved in the field of disk drives, a representative example of which is the hard disk drive, owing to the development of magnetic heads of giant magneto-resistive effect (GMR) type and the development of perpendicular magnetic recording systems. Along with this technical development, the microwave assisted recording system which applies a high-frequency magnetic field to magnetic disks, has been proposed as a technique of increasing the recording density even more.
The microwave assisted recording system locally applies to a magnetic disk a magnetic field of high frequency much higher than the record signal frequency and near the resonance frequency of the magnetic disk. As a result, the magnetic disk undergoes resonance, decreasing the coercive force (Hc) at the surface of the magnetic disk to half the initial value or a smaller value. Therefore, data can be magnetically recorded on a magnetic disk having a larger coercive force (Hc) and high magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku) if a high-frequency magnetic field is superimposed on the recording magnetic field (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,664). However, the method disclosed in this document can hardly apply a high-frequency magnetic field at high efficiency in order to achieve high-density recording, because the high-frequency magnetic field is generated by a coil in this method.
In view of this, a method has been proposed, which utilizes a spin-torque oscillator (hereinafter referred to as "STO" as needed) as the source of the high-frequency magnetic field (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2005/0023938 or U.S. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2005/0219771). The STO has a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer, an oscillation layer, and an electrode. In the technique disclosed in this document, a direct current is supplied through the electrode to the STO, whereby the spin injection layer generates a spin torque. The spin torque magnetizes the oscillation layer, which undergoes ferromagnetic resonance. As a result, the STO generates a high-frequency magnetic field.
The high-frequency magnetic field thus generated locally exists near the STO. Further, the magnetic disk perpendicularly magnetized can effectively undergo resonance by virtue of the in-plane component of the high-frequency field. The coercive force of the magnetic disk can therefore be greatly reduced. As a result, high-density, magnetic recording is performed, only at a part where the recording magnetic field generated by the main magnetic pole of the write head of the magnetic head is superimposed on the high-frequency magnetic field generate by the STO. A magnetic disk having both large coercive force (Hc) and high magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku) may be therefore utilized, thereby to avoid the problem of thermal fluctuation.
The drive current hitherto supplied to the STO is a direct-current signal of ordinary level. The STO has a delay time (oscillation delay time) that elapses until the STO starts oscillation after the write current corresponding to the data to be written on the magnetic disk has been inverted. The data transfer rate of the disk drive therefore increases. Hence, the STO cannot appropriately oscillate in some cases if the write current undergoes magnetization inversion at intervals shorter than the oscillation delay time of the STO. Consequently, the possibility of recording errors on the magnetic disk increases.
In such a case, a drive method in which a pulse signal component is superimposed on the direct ordinary-level drive current works well to shorten the polarity inversion time of the STO. If the drive current is increased very time the write data is inverted, however, the time the STO 30 is kept driven until it is broken will be short, inevitably resulting in a problem with the reliability of the STO.

Method and apparatus for controlling head with spin-torque oscillator in a disk drive