The present invention allows mobile terminals to initiate calls to either PSTN or non-PSTN addresses through a cellular interface. In operation, the mobile terminal will determine a terminating address to which a call is to be initiated based on user input or selection. The mobile terminal will then determine whether the terminating address should be used to directly initiate a call through the cellular interface. When the terminating address should be used to directly initiate the call, the mobile terminal will directly initiate the call using the terminating address. When the terminating address should not be used to directly initiate the call, the mobile terminal will send the terminating address to a service node. The service node will then initiate an indirect call process using the terminating address to establish the call between an endpoint associated with the terminating address and the cellular interface of the mobile terminal.

Many businesses have enterprise telephone networks, wherein each terminal is associated with a private directory number and sometimes a public directory number. The private directory numbers can be used to call from terminal to terminal within the enterprise telephone network, even when the respective terminals are in different corporate locations. Accordingly, the need to dial area codes or other prefixes is avoided. For callers outside of the enterprise telephone network, the caller must use the public directory numbers associated with the terminals or a common enterprise number and an extension number. Use of the private directory numbers by those outside of the enterprise is generally futile, as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will not recognize the private directory numbers.
Given the proliferation of cellular communication, many employees rely on their cellular telephones to communicate with other employees. In many instances, these employees need to use their cellular telephones to call terminals within the enterprise telephone network. When doing so, the public directory numbers associated with the enterprise terminals must be used. These public directory numbers may need to be dialed with an appropriate area code in certain cases. As such, the employees who use cellular telephones often need to keep track of and use different public and private directory numbers depending on whether they are in the office or traveling. As the number of contacts increases, keeping track of multiple numbers for a single person or terminal becomes difficult to manage.
Cellular telephone users are also unable to initiate calls to many voice over packet (VoP) terminals having Internet Protocol (IP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), or other packet network addresses, whether they are associated with a private enterprise telephone network or not. Accordingly, there is a need for a way to initiate calls from cellular terminals using private directory numbers. There is a further need to initiate calls to packet network addresses using a cellular terminal from a traditional cellular interface.

Calling non-PSTN numbers via a mobile terminal


A neural network architecture is used that reduces the processing load of implementing the neural network. This network architecture may thus be used for reduced-bit processing devices. The architecture may limit the number of bits used for processing and reduce processing to prevent data overflow at individual calculations of the neural network. To implement this architecture, the number of bits used to represent inputs at levels of the network and the related filter masks may also be modified to ensure the number of bits of the output does not overflow the resulting capacity of the reduced-bit processor. To additionally reduce the load for such a network, the network may implement a “starconv” structure that permits the incorporation of nearby nodes in a layer to balance processing requirements and permit the network to learn from context of other nodes.

This disclosure generally relates to the deployment of deep neural networks for embedded or internet-of-things (TOT) devices.
Neural networks are often used to perform various tasks, particularly for image analysis, such as object recognition, facial recognition, or segmentation. In more typical implementations, such networks are implemented on relatively complex processors, which may include operations with a high level of precision and with significant bit-length, such as 32-bit floating point operations to multiply and sum data at various layers of a neural network. These processors may be too complex or expensive for use in inexpensive devices, such as TOT devices that may include inexpensive processors having a more limited bit-length, preventing such TOT devices from effectively implementing neural networks. In addition to reduced-bit processing, these devices may also implement reduced-bit storage, further limiting the working capacity of such devices to successfully implement neural network structures.


An improved divot tool for golfers, which tool includes textured or contoured tines for more effectively mechanically engaging soil beneath a divot to thereby more effectively manipulate and de-compact the soil in remediation of a divot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tools for golfers, and those relating to the repair of divots in particular.
2. Background Information
The use of tools for repairing divots in a golf green is well known, and the motivations for doing so are likewise well-established in the manners and decorum of traditional golf.
With the exception of certain elaborate divot repair tools (such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,792, issued to Tate), the basic divot repair tool has changed little since its inception.
Basically, every divot tool known to the present inventor involves a pair of tines which extend from a handle. The tines are generally tapered and, to varying degrees, are pointed at their distal ends.
The purpose of using a divot tool is to penetrate the turf beneath a divot, and de-compact the dirt by mechanically agitating it to thereby lift the surface back to its original contour.
Typical use of a divot tool requires multiple manipulations in order to sufficiently de-compact the soil as to adequately repair the divot. The tediousness of using conventional divot tools leads to a problem, beyond golfers simply not enjoying the task of divot repair—some golfers forego the process altogether. This is a definite breach of etiquette in the golf world. Unrepaired divots can alter the travel of a golf ball, beyond anything that could be anticipated through normal visual inspection of the turf, thereby frustrating golfers beyond the normal degree.
Unrepaired divots also represent a real problem for grounds keepers. Because a divot represents a localized compaction of the soil immediately underneath turf surface, roots of the grass are often affected. Left unrepaired, a divot will in many cases lead to death of the turf in the immediately vicinity of the divot, because of the traumatic compaction of the root system.
In view of the above, it would well serve all those associated with the game of golf to provide an improved divot tool for golfers which, because of increased effectiveness and efficiency of use, will afford more effective divot repair, and prompt more consistent attempts at divot repair.


A standard cell arrangement can be produced by automatically determining a distance between at least two standard cells in at least one standard cell row. The method also automatically determines whether at least one of the determined distances is less than a predetermined minimum distance. If the distance is less than the minimum distance in at least one case, the width of at least one standard cell in the standard cell row in a virtual layout of standard cells is broadened in a predetermined manner. The broadened standard cell is automatically placed in the virtual layout with other standard cells. The placement of the broadened standard cell in the virtual layout is transferred to the real layout of the standard cells. In this manner, the standard cells are provided with the originally intended width again, in order to create greater distances between the standard cells in the real layout.

Standard cells are used in order to speed up the design of a semiconductor chip. By way of example, standard cells are gates, shift registers or other digital or analog modules, which are formed from individual integrated components, such as transistors, diodes or resistors, and which generally provide one or more standardized functions. In addition to standard cells, other elements are normally also arranged on the semiconductor chips.
The standard cells are normally arranged in a plurality of mutually adjacent rows. The standard cells in one row are supplied with electrical power by means of tracks arranged along the row. The associated power supply tracks in each row are connected to one another and to further elements or connections of the semiconductor chip.
Furthermore, normally, further tracks are provided, in particular for transmission of analog or digital signals between the standard cells and into connections of the semiconductor chip. The tracks are arranged in one, or generally more, so-called metallization layers.
In order to arrange the tracks optimally, a so-called router program is used, which connects the inputs and outputs of standard cells to one another and to connections of the semiconductor chip. The respective position and/or the profile of the individual tracks are/is then disentangled in order to allow the standard cells and/or the tracks to be arranged as densely as possible and in order to allow as short a signal delay as possible. In addition to this known arrangement of standard cells and their wiring, further arrangement regulations, of course, such as a vertical or functionally related arrangement are feasible, for example in order to separate a digital area and an analog area on an ASIC or the like.
Place and route methods, by means of which standard cells can be placed and wired up, are known from the production of ASIC semiconductor components (ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
In typical ASICs there are a large number (in comparison to memory design (for example, DRAM)) of metal layers available for wiring, so that the standard cells in ASICs can be placed very densely; there are no problems in connecting the cells to one another.
The use of standard cells can be particularly problematic in the case of memory components, since fewer metal layers are available, and the standard cell density that can be achieved is therefore considerably less. This results in the need for wiring channels transversely with respect to the direction of standard cell rows.

Method for production of a standard cell arrangement, and apparatus for carrying out the method


A method for compensation of input voltage fluctuations in an inductive rotating coupler is disclosed. This coupler includes a power generator that feeds an alternating-current voltage into a resonance circuit including a resonance capacitor and an inductive rotating transmission device. The power generator is fed with an input direct-current voltage that may fluctuate, for example, owing to residual ripple. A control unit determines this input direct-current voltage and calculates there from an optimum operating frequency for the power generator, so that the output voltage at the load remains constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to inductive couplers for non-contacting power transmission, in particular to inductive rotating transmission devices and here particularly to inductive rotating transmission devices for computer tomographs. With these, the electrical power substantially needed for driving an X-ray tube is transmitted from a stationary side to a rotating side of a gantry of a computer tomograph. The transmission is here effected without contact by means of an inductive rotary joint that is built up similarly to a transformer in which the primary side and the secondary side are adapted to be rotated with respect to each other.
2. Description of Relevant Art
With units that are rotatable relative to each other, such as radar installations or also computer tomographs, in the same way as with linearly movable units such as crane systems or conveyor vehicles, it is frequently necessary to transmit electrical energy between movable units. In order to transmit this energy without contact, inductive couplers are preferably employed. These have the advantage over mechanical slide tracks or also slip rings that abrasion, wear, mechanical force outlay for moving the coupler, and also outlay of maintenance are substantially less. The term "inductive coupler" here relates to a circuit for generating an alternating current, together with an inductive transformer or rotary joint for energy transmission between two parts that are movable and, in particular, rotatable relative to each other.
Inductive rotating transmission devices as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,113, for example, have magnetic cores of iron or ferrite material and at least one winding on each side of the units that are rotatable relative to each other. An alternating current is fed into a first winding and tapped off via a second winding that is movable relative to the first one.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,411 shows a complete circuit of an inductive power transmission system for computer tomographs, together with the associated power electronics.
In DE Publication No. 102007006394, an inductive rotating transmission device is disclosed in which the output voltage is regulated by a control unit which, for this purpose, determines an electrical parameter on the primary winding of the rotating transmission device.
With conductively coupled slip rings it is simple to transmit a predetermined voltage from the stator side to the rotor side. Here only the relatively low ohmic losses need be taken account of. With inductive rotating transmission devices the stray inductance of the rotating transmission device plays a major part. It represents a frequency-dependent impedance that substantially affects the transmission characteristics of the rotating transmission device. This stray inductance depends upon various factors such as the inductance of the windings of the stator side and the rotor side, and also upon the magnetic configuration. Now, in order to transmit electrical energy via a rotating transmission device of this kind, a series capacity is connected in series for compensation. With this, a series resonance circuit results. At its resonance frequency this has an impedance of zero and here makes possible a transmission of high power. For control of the power flux the operating frequency can be chosen to differ from the resonance frequency.
Instead of a series resonance circuit, a parallel resonance circuit also can be constructed by connecting a capacity in parallel. The characteristics described in the following similarly apply to a parallel resonance circuit. At its resonance frequency the resonance circuit has an impedance of almost zero and here makes possible the transmission of high power. By changing the impedance, which is effected by changing the switching frequency, the output voltage can be controlled.
If the arrangement is now operated at a switching frequency that is optimal for certain load conditions, then a conversion of the output voltage at the load results at a certain ratio to the input voltage from the line. In most cases the input voltage from the line is a well-filtered DC (direct-current) voltage that in most cases even originates from a power-factor correcting circuit. However, in some applications a power-factor correcting circuit of this kind is not needed and can be dispensed with. Thus, only a rectified AC (alternating current) from the power line having a relatively high residual ripple is available as an input voltage of the rotating transmission device, which again results in a corresponding residual ripple of the output voltage at the load. In order to reduce the ripple of the voltage at the load, for example the output voltage can be measured and this measured value fed back to the stationary side. With conventional (not movable) power supply units a separate feedback transformer is used for this. However, with rotating transmission devices an additional rotating transmission device is needed, which causes additional cost and requires space.
Alternatively, the filter capacitors on the input side could be enlarged. However, this leads to a large volume of the arrangement and higher cost. Furthermore, the primary-side peak-current consumption from the line increases, whereby the higher harmonics in the line are increased.
Another possibility is to insert an additional converter stage on the rotating side between the secondary side of the rotating transformer and the output. Buck or boost converters are frequently used for these converter stages, but other converters such as Zeta or Ćuk converters are also possible. The input voltage of this downstream converter stage may fluctuate within a wide range with the output voltage being kept constant. However, this solution requires an additional converter on the rotating side, which increases the cost and also the weight, as well as the volume of the arrangement.

Inductive rotating transmission devices with ripple compensation for computer tomographs


The section bar (1) for a fluid flow heater for coffee machines has a longitudinal development with two opposing ends and a first tubular cavity (A), that is accessible at the opposing ends of the section bar (1), and a second cavity (B) having an opening (O) that extends along the longitudinal development of the section bar (1). A heater (10) having an encased resistor (2, 3) integrated in the first cavity (A) of the section bar (1) and a tubular fluid circulation conduit (4) inserted into the second cavity (B) of the section bar (1) and fixed by means of bending at least one lug (B1, B2, B3) around the tubular fluid circulation conduit (4), so that the opposing ends of the tubular fluid circulation conduit (4) emerge with respect to the opposing ends of the section bar (1).

The heating of water in coffee machines is achieved by means of encased resistors, wherein the resistance wire is generally spiral-wound inside a casing. Furthermore, in flow heaters the encased resistor is also typically associated to a tubular duct in which water circulates, so that the respective axes of longitudinal development are parallel to each other.
The duct and the encased resistor thus associated can be arranged, for example spiral-wound, inside a coffee machine to limit the dimensions thereof and so that a tubular duct has the resistor placed side by side on two opposite sides, thus improving the heat exchange.
It is also requested that the heater take on extreme forms in terms of bending angles so that it may adapt to the shape of the domestic appliance.
For this reason the brazing procedure cannot be performed prior to the bending/winding of the resistor since it would be deteriorated by the subsequent bending/winding of the resistor.
On the other hand, it is requested that the amount of brazing material be minimized and the operation be simplified since said operation becomes complicated when the heater is already bent/wound in its final form. It is therefore fundamental to optimise the coupling between the encased resistor and the tubular fluid circulation duct.
WO2007/135519 describes a solution wherein one support element simultaneously defines the encased resistor and the tubular duct for the passage of the liquids. Said solution presents the disadvantage of having to subject the heater to costly cutting and turning operations at the ends since the ends of the fluid circulation ducts must emerge with respect to the terminals of the resistor and must be especially shaped/machined to allow suitable connections to be fitted to the hydraulic circuit of the domestic appliance or coffee machine. Thus, although this solution eliminates or reduces brazing of the resistor, it presents the disadvantage of complicating machining on the ends of the fluid circulation duct.

Section bar for a heater and fluid flow heater, in particular for coffee machines

I.R.C.A. S.P.A. INDUSTRIA RESISTENZE CORAZZATE E AFFINI


A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for maintaining object relationships. A query is executed in a computer to retrieve data from a database stored on a data storage device. Initially, one or more relationship objects are created, wherein each relationship object identifies a source object and a related target object. Next, when accessing a source object, related target objects are determined using the relationship object. When accessing a target object, related source objects are determined using the relationship object.

1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates in general to computer-implemented objects, and in particular, to maintaining object relationships.
2. Description of Related Art.
Databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems. A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) is a database management system (DBMS) which uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data. Relational databases are organized into tables which consist of rows and columns of data. The rows are formally called tuples. A database will typically have many tables and each table will typically have multiple tuples and multiple columns. The tables are typically stored on random access storage devices (RASD) such as magnetic or optical disk drives for semi-permanent storage.
RDBMS software using a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface is well known in the art. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS software and has been adopted as such by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
In RDBMS software, all data is externally structured into tables. The SQL interface allows users to formulate relational operations on the tables either interactively, in batch files, or embedded in host languages, such as C and COBOL. SQL allows the user to manipulate the data.
The definitions for SQL provide that a RDBMS should respond to a particular query with a particular set of data given a specified database content, but the method that the DBMS uses to actually find the required information in the tables on the disk drives is left up to the RDBMS. Typically, there will be more than one method that can be used by the RDBMS to access the required data. The RDBMS will optimize the method used to find the data requested in a query in order to minimize the computer time used and, therefore, the cost of doing the query.
Today, a DBMS can instead be an object-oriented database management system (OODBMS). An object-oriented database is organized into objects having members that can be pointers to other objects. One of the key features of an OODMBS is the ability to navigate between objects using these pointers. Additionally, an object can have relationships to other objects. The objects contain references, and collections of references, to other objects in the database, thus leading to databases with complex nested structures.
Typically, when a user queries the OODBMS to search for related objects in the object-oriented database (OODB), the execution of the query results in accessing each object and comparing it to each other object in the OODB to identify relationships. This is time consuming and may deplete costly and limited resources. There is a need in the art for improved searching for related objects.

Storing relationship tables identifying object relationships

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of removing undesired signals in an aviation guidance system may include receiving at least one first desired signal having a first frequency of amplitude modulation, receiving at least one second desired signal having a second frequency of amplitude modulation, and receiving at least one undesired signal having any frequency including a frequency that is substantially the same as or a subharmonic of at least one of the first and second desired signals. The first and second frequencies of amplitude modulation are phase synchronous, and the undesired signals are non-synchronous with at least one of the first and second desired signals. The method may also include identifying the undesired signals and removing the undesired signals.

An instrument landing system (ILS) is a ground-based transmission system that provides runway approach information to aircraft. Some conventional systems comprise a localizer subsystem and a glide slope subsystem. The localizer subsystem provides lateral guidance to aircraft for tracking the runway centerline. The glide slope subsystem provides vertical guidance to aircraft for descending at the proper glide path.
Conventional localizer subsystems include a localizer antenna array that radiates a signal comprising an RF carrier amplitude modulated with equal amplitudes of 90 Hz and 150 Hz tones. The localizer receiver resides with the aircraft. The localizer radiation patterns are normally arranged such that the 90 Hz and 150 Hz tones will have equal levels when the receiving aircraft is on the runway centerline and extention thereof.
Similarly, conventional glide slope subsystems include a glide slope antenna array that radiates a signal comprising an RF carrier amplitude modulated with equal amplitudes of 90 Hz and 150 Hz tones. The glide slope resides with the aircraft. The glide slope radiation patterns are normally arranged such that the 90 Hz and 150 Hz tones will have equal levels when the receiving aircraft is descending at the desired glide path angle, which is typically referenced at three degrees.
However, some conventional instrument landing systems, including conventional localizer and glide slope systems, may be implemented on aircraft that generate propeller or rotor modulation effects and/or observe multipath effects, which can introduce errors into the ILS. For example, errors may be introduced when the propeller or rotor modulation frequency or the multipath frequency is approximately 90 Hz or 150 Hz (i.e., the same as either one of the localizer and glide slope tones of the ILS) or a subharmonic of 90 Hz or 150 Hz (e.g., 15, 30, 37.5, 45, or 75 Hz). Such errors can cause the aircraft to oscillate or fly an offset course.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide an instrument landing system capable of removing undesired modulation effects such as, for example, propeller or rotor modulation effects.

Systems and methods for removing undesired signals in instrument landing systems


A mainframe computing system is adapted to be loaded with one of a plurality of different operating systems and different associated microcode to provide a computing system which is capable of running user programs adapted to be executed by the loaded operated system comprises a main memory for receiving the desired operating system coupled to a system bus. An instruction processor and an input/output control processor are coupled to the system bus and are provided with an instruction register for presenting user program instructions to the processors. The processor means have associated therewith microcode storage memory which receive and store a set of microcode instructions to be performed by the processors according to the program instruction stored in the instruction register. The stored microcode comprises primary microcode instructions to carry out each of the instructions in the instruction register means. No compiling or emulation is necessary to provide a software configurable computing system adapted to run user programs according to one of a plurality of operating systems loadable in the main memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a mainframe computer system that is operable on one of two distinctly different operating systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual purpose computer that may be loaded with one of two distinctly different operating systems and associated microcode to prepare the same computer for operation with application programs that are designed for the operating system that is loaded into the computing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compilers and emulators are well known and are generally used as black box systems for converting operating instructions from one format into another format which is usable by a different computing system. Compilers and emulators have been classified in U.S. Class 364, Subclass 200 with dual mode operating system computers and microprogrammed computers which have alterable stored micro routines utilized to emulate different computers or computing systems. Such computing systems are discussed in the microprogrammable CPU described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,811 which has been assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. This prior art reference discusses the reasons that cause microprogrammed emulators to be generally slower than an emulated computing system which offers a desirable yet complex solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,558 describes a system for generating computing programs. This reference generally describes a compiler or emulator for adapting IBM System 370 program object modules arranged in general format to a format usable by IBM RT PC AIX operating systems of the type used on a personal computer. While this type of compiler does adapt a large library of existing programs to new architecture computers, the compiler (or modified compiler) which produces an object module having instructions for the new computing system converts the first instruction format which is not loadable into the new computing system into a second format which is loadable into the new computing system.
A more desirable, and more expensive, approach to emulation is found in the IBM AS 400 computing system which operates on two distinct operating systems. Such Dual Operating System Computers require a new architecture different from either previous architectures or systems being merged together and operate on a single new operating system. A variation of such merged operating system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,040 issued to AT&T. This dual mode operating system computer supports UNIX.RTM. and MS-DOS.RTM. operating systems in a multi-tasking computing systems. The MS-DOS operating system and its applications are executed in a real or non-protected mode and UNIX applications are executed by the UNIX operating system in a protected mode to prevent conflicting attempts to access the same peripheral device or to write in the same region of the main memory. To prevent such conflicts, special merge support hardware needs to be provided.
It would be desirable to provide a mainframe computing system which is designed for operation with a first preferred mode operating system that will efficiently execute programs designed for operation on the mainframe computing system when loaded with the first operating system. It would be further desirable to provide the same mainframe computing system with structural means which permit the computing system to be loaded with second and distinctly different operating system so that the same structural mainframe is also operable efficiently on a second and different operating system and efficiently executes these programs designed for operation by the second operating system.


An electrical signal supply apparatus independently controls and regulates voltage and current in supplying microampere currents to skin tissue of patients. The apparatus enables operators to select a desired voltage level independent of the requirement to maintain current through the skin tissue at a relatively constant level. The apparatus includes a switching regulator in combination with an electric voltage doubling network and potential divider network to enable the supply of increased voltages.

This invention relates to a novel method and electrical signal supply means which provides a higher voltage level from a direct current source as compared with the prior art and regulates the voltage produced and the current applied to a load separately and independently. Whilst suited to many applications, this invention is particularly useful for the application of electrical signals to the tissue of living patients. The improvement in the supply of electrical signals in this invention is of particular significance to electrical skin rejuvenation techniques, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and electrical anaestheseological techniques.
In applying electrical signals to the tissue of patients for any of the aforementioned purposes, there is a requirement for the application of electrical energy at relatively high voltage and relatively small current levels. In addition, regulation of voltage and current is an important factor in assuring the success of any treatment. The inventor has established that the independent control and regulation of voltage and current leads to a significant increase in the flexibility of control of the electrical signals applied to electrical loads as compared with the prior art.
Microampere currents passed through skin tissue appear to have beneficial effects in rejuvenating skin cells and promoting cell wall elasticity. After this type of treatment, improvements are observed in the form of improved skin tone, reduction in the appearance of skin blemishes and improved elasticity of the skin. In providing this type of treatment, specific current and voltage waveforms are required for the treatment of particular skin types and skin blemishes. Control of the signals applied to the tissue is important since the treatment varies for each individuals skin type and condition.

Electrical signal supply with separate voltage and current control for an electrical load


A portable printer device is capable of holding a plurality of paper rolls. The portable printer device comprises a single printing portion which is provided for printing of each of the plurality of paper rolls. A paper roll hold device includes a plurality of paper roll hold portions each of which holds one of the plurality of paper rolls, and includes a plurality of paper passages each of which is provided to deliver a paper from one of the plurality of paper roll hold portions to the printing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a portable thermal printer device, and more particularly to a portable thermal printer device which uses the heat-sensitive paper roll.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show the conventional portable thermal printer device 10. The thermal printer device 10 comprises a single printing portion 11, and a heat-sensitive paper roll hold portion 15 which is capable of holding a single heat-sensitive paper roll 20.
The printing portion 11 includes the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13. The heat-sensitive paper roll hold portion 15 is covered with the rotatable open/close lid 16. The platen roller 13 is attached to the edge of the open/close lid 16 which closes the heat-sensitive paper roll hold portion 15.
By opening the lid 16, the heat-sensitive paper roll 20 is placed in the heat-sensitive paper roll hold portion 15. By pulling out the heat-sensitive paper 21 from the heat-sensitive paper roll 20 to the position exceeding the platen roller 13, and by closing the lid 16, the heat-sensitive paper 21 is pressed against the thermal head 12 with the platen roller 13, so that the portable thermal printer device 10 is in the usable state.
For example, such portable thermal printer devices are known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-235942 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-235957. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-048187 discloses a method and device for forming an intermittent cut line in order to prevent the disconnection of cutting-plane lines due to tearing of the sheet when the load to cut it is large.
The above-mentioned portable thermal printer device 10 may be used outdoors in the field of printing out the cut-form etc.
In the field of printing out the cut-form etc., the cut-forms of different kinds being printed out may vary depending on the customers, or the labels may be printed out instead of the cut-forms.
When the conventional portable thermal printer device 10 is used, the operator must carry the heat-sensitive paper rolls of some different kinds put into the pocket etc. and must replace the heat-sensitive paper roll in the portable thermal printer device 10 with another, which is separate from that of the portable thermal printer device 10, every time the cut-form being printed differs.
In order to replace the heat-sensitive paper roll, it is necessary that the lid 16 be opened, the heat-sensitive paper roll 20 be taken out, another heat-sensitive paper roll be taken out from the pocket, the new roll be placed in the heat-sensitive paper roll hold portion 15, the heat-sensitive paper be pulled out from the heat-sensitive paper roll to the position exceeding the platen roller 13, and the lid 16 be closed. Such operations are troublesome for the operator. Moreover, there is also the problem in that the operator must carry the heat-sensitive paper rolls of some different kinds.
Moreover, the thermal printer device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-235942 is configured to include the two printing portions and the two heat-sensitive paper roll hold portions, respectively. In this printer device, the problem that the operator must carry the heat-sensitive paper rolls of some different kinds will be reduced to some extent.
However, the size of the thermal printer device becomes large and the cost of the thermal printer device becomes high. If the size becomes large, it is difficult for the operator to carry the thermal printer device and operate the same.

Portable printer device having a plurality of paper rolls


Storage system that includes: an address search section for i) storing an address for frequent use data and a data index assigned to the address, ii) acquiring an address of write or read data, and iii) searching stored addresses with the acquired address, a frequent use data storage section for i) storing a tag related to the use data and the index, ii) acquiring the index when an address acquired by the search section has hit a stored address, and iii) identifying frequent use data that corresponds to the tag, a data comparator for i) acquiring the frequent use data from the storage section, ii) comparing the data with write data, and iii) identifying frequent use data that hit the write data, and an compression-expansion section for acquiring and compressing the write data and the frequent use data from the comparator, and for acquiring the read data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to storage device access systems for writing data to or reading data from a storage device, and it particularly relates to storage device access systems that provide data compression-expansion functions.
2. Related Art
Formerly, in order to more efficiently store data in a storage device, systems compressed (encoded) data when writing and expanded (decoded) data when reading.
For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. H05-204747 and Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-94639 there is disclosed a semiconductor storage device arranged to write data with compression and read data with expansion, by establishing data compression-expansion functions.
In Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-49512 there is disclosed a file compression processing device that enables high speed playback of files without performing compression of the files, and enables efficient file usage by selecting a suitable compression method based on the type of file and frequency of access.
In Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-29756 there is disclosed a file compression processing device that enables preventing a drop in processing performance through reducing the operation time required for opening files by not compressing files with high access frequency, and that enables administering files with a storage capacity above actual capacity by compressing files with low access frequency.
From the viewpoint of storage capacity, it is preferable to write all data with compression and read all data with expansion to and from the storage device, but conventionally, in consideration of processing performance, data is stored (written) to storage as is without compression, based on there being much open capacity and high usage frequency. Accordingly, in regards to writing data with compression and reading data with expansion, it was performed only to facilitate usage of the storage capacity and was not performed to raise the writing and reading speed.

Compressed storage access system with uncompressed frequent use data

International Business Machines Corporation


The disclosure provides a method for reducing radiation and a mobile terminal. The method comprises: detecting whether a current operating mode of the mobile terminal is a voice call mode or a data communication mode; and if the current operating mode of the mobile terminal is the voice call mode, transmitting by an AP side a preset first AT command to a modem to control the modem to restore a maximum transmit power for normal operation; if the current operating mode of the mobile terminal is the data communication mode, transmitting by the AP side a preset second AT command to the modem to control the modem to reduce the maximum transmit power.

The invention is related to the field of mobile terminal technology, and in particular, to a method and a mobile terminal for reducing radiation.
Mobile phones need to obtain FCC certification before shipment to the United States, and EC certification before shipment to Europe. FCC and EC certifications typically require testing of specific absorption rate (SAR), also known as specific absorption rate in Chinese, for mobile phone radiation, which is to measure how much energy is absorbed by human body in a unit of watt per kilogram (W/Kg), as well as testing of whether the SAR meets the standard. A mobile phone with an exceeding SAR for radiation cannot pass the certification. Whether or not the testing can pass SAR standard is important for obtaining FCC and EC certification. As SARs may be very high for higher frequency bands, it is difficult to meet the certified SAR standard through fine-tuning hardware.

Method and mobile terminal for reducing radiation

HuiZhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.


A high throughput satellite (HTS) and a method of operating the HTS for relaying data between a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a target ground station, where the HTS provides spot beams for a spot beam coverage area. The method of operating the HTS includes: determining an estimated trajectory of an orbiting LEO satellite; assigning a plurality of assigned spot beams having a matching color re-use polarization; and transmitting assignments of the plurality of assigned spot beams to the high throughput satellite to cause the high throughput satellite to maintain the inter-satellite link via a first spot beam and one or more assigned subsequent spot beams having the matching color re-use polarization.

Earth or space observation satellites collect data including Earth images, land exploration data, weather observation data, maritime surveillance data, or forest monitoring data. Earth or space observation satellites are commonly low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and orbit the Earth at an altitude in the range of 300 to 1,000 km above the Earth's surface. In 2017, approximately 1071 LEO satellites are in orbit and the number of LEO satellites to be launched is expected to increase.
LEO satellites require a communication link with a ground station for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) and for transmitting Earth or space observation data to one or more ground stations. When used for Earth or space observation, LEO satellites can (1) capture and store Earth Observation (EO) data in on-board memory as the LEO satellite orbits the Earth; and (2) transmit the stored EO data when the LEO satellite has line-of-sight visibility with a ground station during a process known as "store and forward". The duration of time that the LEO satellite has line-of-sight visibility with the target ground station depends on the orbiting altitude and inclination of the LEO satellite and the latitude of the target ground station. As LEO satellites orbit at relatively low altitudes from the Earth's surface, the duration of time when the LEO satellite has line-of-sight visibility with a target ground station is typically in the range of 5 to 15 minutes per orbit of the Earth. When the LEO satellite has line-of-sight visibility with the target ground station, the LEO satellite can transmit data and telemetry to the target ground station and receive commands from the target ground station. In some scenarios, because the amount of EO data or TT&C data can be large, the duration of time required to transmit EO data to the target ground station can exceed the duration of time that the LEO satellite may have line-of-sight visibility with the target ground station. Any EO data or TT&C data not transmitted by the LEO satellite to the target ground station may continue to be stored in on-board memory and transmitted to the target ground station when the LEO satellite re-establishes line-of-sight visibility on a subsequent orbit of the Earth, thus delaying EO data transmission to the target ground station. When the EO data has a defined shelf life (e.g., weather observation data), delaying transmission of the EO data from the LEO satellite to the target ground station may render the weather observation data to become stale or out-of-date. Further, if TT&C data transmission and reception at the LEO satellite is delayed, a network operations center at the target ground station may be unable to resolve issues or otherwise control the LEO satellite in near real-time or in a timely way.
In some scenarios, to facilitate large amounts of EO and TT&C data transfer to network operations centers or target ground stations, several successively spaced ground terminals along the Earth's surface that corresponds to the trajectory of a given LEO satellite may be provided. However, building and operating a large number of ground terminals can be costly.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High throughput satellites and methods of operating high throughput satellites for relaying data between low earth orbit satellites to endpoints

ASIA SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED


A ceiling system in one embodiment includes a grid support member defining a bottom surface and a ceiling panel supported by the grid support member. A first facing sheet includes a peripheral edge portion coupled to the grid support member. The first grid support member is at least partially concealed by overlapping the peripheral edge portion of the first facing sheet onto the bottom surface of the grid support member. The first facing sheet is supported from the grid support member independently of the ceiling panel. A second facing sheet has a peripheral edge portion coupled to the grid support member. The first and second facing sheets have mating edges disposed adjacent to each other which conceal a majority or substantially the entire bottom surface of the grid support member. In one embodiment, the ceiling panel has a honeycomb core.

Numerous types of suspended ceiling systems and methods for mounting ceiling panels have been used. One type of system includes a suspended support grid including an array of intersecting grid support members configured to hang a plurality of individual ceiling panels therefrom. It is desirable in some cases to conceal the support grid for providing the appearance of a monolithic ceiling.


A plastic optical element being configured to collect and scan a beam emitted from at least one light source section, and including a transfer surface which extends in a principal direction corresponding to a scanning direction of the beam and has a curved surface formed to extend into a circular-arc shape in a secondary direction perpendicular to the principal scanning direction, the transfer surface having an optical aids disposed to shift from an outer center of the transfer surface in the secondary scanning direction, and a center of curvature of the curved surface being disposed on the optical axis.

1Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plastic optical element configured to collect and scan beam emitted from a light source, a mold or forming the plastic optical element, a light scanning device including the plastic optical element and configured to scan beam emitted from at least one light source section and form an image based on image information, and an image forming apparatus having the light scanning device, which is, for example, an optical instrument such as a video camera or the like, a copying machine or forming a toner image trough an image forming process of an electrophotographic method, a facsimile device, a printer or a complex machine thereof, or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a light canning device installed in a multi-colored image forming apparatus configured to form images based on image information on photoconductor bodies by guiding beams emitted from a plurality of laser sources to the photoconductor bodies through a deflection device and an imaging device.
In recent years, to accomplish speeding up and high-quality image of the multi-colored image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or laser printer or the like which is configured to arrange four photoconductor drums in a feeding direction of papers, expose images on the photoconductor drums by beams simultaneously, develop the images by a developer using different colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and transfer the images to the paper sequentially to overlap the images or forming a colored image has been put to practical use.
When light scanning is performed by use of the image forming apparatus, a plurality of light scanning devices are used. However, a large space is required for arrangement of the plurality of scanning devices. This results in a large-scaled image forming apparatus.
Therefore, a light scanning device including a single deflector for inputting and scanning a plurality of beams and imaging lenses which are stacked is known (or reference, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H 4-127115).
Known is also a light scanning device which includes a single deflector for inputting and scanning a plurality of beams, and imaging devices each of which is disposed to face a corresponding photoconductor for imaging an image on the photoconductor, and is configured to dispose optical elements constituting the imaging devices in a integrally stacked state in a secondary scanning direction perpendicular to a scanning direction of beam (for reference, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H 10-148777).
In this way, by stacking the optical elements in the secondary scanning direction, a thickness of a polygonal mirror or stacked polygonal mirrors in the deflector or deflection section can be reduced. Because one polygonal mirror is sufficient to scan the beams, it is possible to reduce a load on a motor for rotating the polygonal mirror and accomplish a compact light scanning device.
On the other hand, the following two proposals to demands for low cost of an optical element(s) or lens installed in the light scanning device have been made.
(1) Change From Material to Plastic Material                It is possible to form a transfer surface having a special mirrored shape and an outer shape of a wall biased in a longitudinal direction or scanning direction by an inexpensive material and low cost due to mass production.
(2) Introduction of an Aspheric Shape                It is possible to reduce the number of parts by introduction of a longitudinal asymmetric aspheric shape or the like to the mirrored shape.
In addition, the three proposals to demands for high accuracy of the optical element have been made.
(1) Reduction in Refractive-index Distribution                By disposing an optical alas at a position other than a center of an outer shape of a transfer su as proposed by the same inventors of the present application as in the preceding application, it is possible to reduce deterioration of an optical character due to an uneven refractive index (referred to as refractive-index distribution) existing inside the optical element. In this case, a characteristic that a primary factor (inclination) in a function of the refractive-index distribution does not affect the optical characteristic is utilized.
(2) Introduction of an Aspheric Shape                It is possible to reduce aberration in the optical element by introduction of the aspheric shape (longitudinal asymmetric aspheric shape) to the mirrored shape. In other words, the optical characteristic is improved.
(3) High accuracy of a Mirrored Surface                In a conventional plastic forming, it is desirable to uniform a rosin temperature and a resin pressure in a cavity of a mold in a process for cooling and solidifying a melted resinous material in the cavity in order to form a plastic molded article into a desired shape.
For example, the transfer surface has low farm accuracy for the reason that when the lens includes a shape having a biased wall, a cooling velocity of the resin by a difference of thickness of the optical element or lens is different every each location on the optical element to generate a different amount of volume contraction.
Therefore, by providing a concave non transfer surface formed by incomplete transfer in a position other than the transfer surface, a structure configured to reduce an inner pressure or internal strain in the resin, accomplish similar production cost to that of a molded article having a thin wall, and acquire a high accuracy plastic molded article is, also, known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-84945).
As a concrete method for forming a concave non transfer slue on a portion of a surface other than the transfer surface, a method for forming the non-transfer surface by defining forcibly a gap between the resin to form the optical element and one cavity forming piece has been known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H 11-28745 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-141413).
The method includes the steps of providing slidably a part of the cavity forming piece for forming a s Glee including the non-transfer surface, preparing a pair of molds including at least one cavity armed by the cavity piece and the transfer surface, heating the mold at a temperature lower than a softening temperature of the resin and maintaining at that temperature, filling the cavity with the melted resin heated at a temperature higher than the softening temperature to perform injection mold, then allowing a resin pressure to occur in the transfer surface to closely fit the resin with the transfer surface, and thereafter, sliding the slidable cavity forming piece to separate from the resin when the resin is cooled to a temperature lower than the softening temperature.
However, with demands to achieve further high quality image in recent years, there is a significant problem on a process that the transfer surface adjacent the aura defining the gap forcibly between the resin and the cavity forming piece or the surface including the non-transfer surface has low form accuracy.
The non-transfer surface is difficult to control in depth. If the dopth is set over an optical effect range, the optical element disturbs lens function.
However, if an fθ lens having an optical axis disposed at a position other than a center of an outer shape of a transfer surface extending in a principal scanning direction corresponding to a sang direction of beam is disposed to face a deflection section or deflector, or across the deflector, the fθ lens disposed at one side of the deflector and the other fθ lens disposed at the other side of the deflector must be disposed in an upward and downward inverted state to correspond positions of photoconductors each having four yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors to the transfer surface in coordinate.
Inverting one of fθ lenses to the other upwardly and downwardly causes deflection of the optical axis of one fθ lens from the optical axis of the other fθ lens.
Consequently, because a polygonal mirror having a large thickness, or a plurality of polygonal mirrors in the deflector are required, a load on a motor to rotate the polygonal mirror(s) increases, and therefore a large-scaled motor is needed.
Accordingly, in a light scanning device in which conventional plastic optical element are disposed to face each other in both sides of a light source section, there is a problem that relative deflection of the optical axes of the plastic optic elements occur, the polygonal mirror has a large size, the load of the motor to rotate the polygonal mirror increases, and the light scanning device and an image forming apparatus become a large size to lower the quality of an image to be formed.
Furthermore, the conventional plastic optical element has the same problem as in the above-mentioned light device.

Plastic optical element, mold for forming the plastic optical element, light scanning device and image forming apparatus having the light scanning device


An apparatus and related methods for spectroscopic analysis of analyte molecules is described. The analyte molecules are disposed near a metallic film that is positioned between a first medium on a first side and a second medium on a second side, the second medium being of higher refractive index than the first medium. A radiation source provides excitation radiation that propagates through the second medium toward the metallic film. The second medium and the metallic film are positioned in evanescent communication with respect to the excitation radiation, and the metallic film comprises lithographically patterned features designed to intensify surface plasmon resonance along the metallic film to promote the emission of Raman radiation from the analyte molecules. A radiation detector detects the Raman radiation emitted from the analyte molecules.

Raman spectroscopy is a technique for performing chemical analysis. High intensity monochromatic light, such as that provided by a laser, is directed onto an analyte molecule (or sample) that is to be chemically analyzed. A majority of the incident photons are elastically scattered by the analyte molecule, the elastically scattered photons having the same energy (and, therefore, the same frequency) as the incident photons. This elastic scattering is termed Rayleigh scattering, and the elastically scattered photons and radiation are termed Rayleigh photons and Rayleigh radiation, respectively. However, a small fraction of the photons (e.g., about 1 in 107 photons) are inelastically scattered by the analyte molecules. These inelastically scattered photons have a different frequency than the incident photons. This inelastic scattering of photons is termed the Raman effect. The inelastically scattered photons may have frequencies greater than, or, more typically, less than the frequency of the incident photons.
When an incident photon collides with a molecule, energy may be transferred from the photon to the molecule or from the molecule to the photon. When energy is transferred from the photon to the molecule, the scattered photon will emerge from the sample having a lower energy and a corresponding lower frequency. These lower-energy Raman scattered photons are commonly referred to in Raman spectroscopy as the Stokes radiation. A small fraction of the analyte molecules are already in an energetically excited state. When an incident photon collides with an excited molecule, energy may be transferred from the molecule to the photon, which will emerge from the sample having a higher energy and a corresponding higher frequency. These higher-energy Raman scattered photons are commonly referred to in Raman spectroscopy as the anti-Stokes radiation.
The Stokes and the anti-Stokes radiation is detected by a detector, such as a photomultiplier or a wavelength-dispersive spectrometer, which converts the energy of the impinging photons into an electrical signal. The characteristics of the electrical signal are at least partially a function of the energy (or wavelength, frequency, wave number, etc.) of the impinging photons and the number of the impinging photons per unit time (intensity). The electrical signal generated by the detector can be used to produce a spectral graph of intensity as a function of frequency for the detected Raman signal (i.e., the Stokes and anti-Stokes radiation). A unique Raman spectrum corresponding to the particular analyte may be obtained by plotting the intensity of the inelastically scattered Raman photons against their frequency or, equivalently and more commonly, their wavenumber in units of inverse centimeters. A Raman spectrum readout is often presented as a plot of intensity versus Raman shift, the Raman shift being defined as a difference between the wavenumbers of the source radiation (excitation radiation) and the Raman-scattered radiation. Peaks and valleys that are meaningful for purposes of chemical analysis are typically for Raman shifts in the range of 500 cm−1-2000 cm−1, which for a typical source wavelength of 1000 nm would correspond to Raman-scattered photons having wavelengths between 1050 nm-1250 nm.
This unique Raman spectrum may be used for many purposes such as identifying an analyte, identifying chemical states or bonding of atoms and molecules in the analyte, and determining physical and chemical properties of the analyte. Raman spectroscopy may be used to analyze a single molecular species or mixtures of different molecular species. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy may be performed on a number of different types of molecular configurations, such as organic and inorganic molecules in either crystalline or amorphous states.
Unfortunately, molecular Raman scattering is a weak "two photon" process of lower probability than "single photon" processes such as IR absorption, and is thus a more difficult process to measure. Powerful, costly laser sources typically are required to generate high intensity excitation radiation to increase the weak Raman signal for detection. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique that allows for generation of a stronger Raman signal from an analyte relative to non-SERS Raman spectroscopy for a sample with the same number of analyte molecules. In SERS, the analyte molecules are adsorbed onto, or placed adjacent to, an activated metal surface or structure, termed herein a SERS-active structure. The interactions between the molecules and the surface cause an increase in the strength of the Raman signal. Several SERS-active structures have been employed in SERS techniques, including activated electrodes in electrolytic cells, activated metal colloid solutions, and activated metal substrates such as a roughened metal surface or metal islands formed on a substrate.
Hyper Raman spectroscopy refers to the analysis of Raman signals near a second (or higher) harmonic of the monochromatic excitation beam. Hyper Raman signals, also termed harmonic Raman signals, result from non-linear effects in which the vibrational modes of the analyte molecule(s) interact with the second (or higher) harmonic of the excitation beam. Hyper Raman spectroscopy can provide valuable additional insight into the characteristics of the analyte molecules, but requires very high power to achieve appreciable spectral readings. SERS-type Raman signal enhancement approaches can often be used to boost the hyper Raman spectrum as well.
Issues arise and/or remain with respect to one or more of the above-described Raman signal enhancement methods that are at least partially resolved by one or more of the embodiments described herein. For example, the Raman signal intensification produced by a SERS-active material can be highly sensitive to small variations in the localized positions of structures, bumps, or cavities therein. Substantial portions of a particular SERS-active surface can be non-enhancing, while only a small number of unpredictably located "hot spots" on that surface are effectively enhancing. It would be desirable to provide for Raman signal intensification having one or more of increased Raman signal enhancement, increased spatial uniformity of response across the sample, and increased range of analytes that can be spectroscopically analyzed. As another example, it would be desirable to provide for increased intensification of second (or higher) harmonic Raman signals. Other issues arise as would be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure.

Surface plasmon enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit to extract layer levels of each packet included in partial encoded data, an estimation unit to calculate the number of layer levels of each packet based on the extracted layer levels of each packet and estimates a greatest layer level of each packet, a writing unit to write the greatest layer level of each packet in a management table, and a formation unit to form a layer data table in which each layer has the greatest layer level. The writing unit changes the layer levels of each layer written in the management table to the layer levels of each layer included in newly received partial encoded data when the layer levels included in the newly received partial encoded data are larger than the layer levels written in the management table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, which access encoded data of a partial image by using a cache model; and in particular, in which a layer structure showing a relationship between packets of encoded data stored in a memory such as a cache is estimated and the packets of the encoded data stored based on the layer structure are referred to and a reference structure of the encoded data on the memory such as the cache is formed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image processing apparatus has been known that accesses encoded data of a partial image stored based on a layer structure by using a cache model. In addition, an image processing apparatus has been proposed which realizes all of the encoding processes stipulated in JPEG 2000 (Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000), which is a next-generation image encoding system.
Encoded data are generally stored in a cache by packets comprising encoded data. When encoded data in the cache are used, the encoded data are referred to by collecting necessary packets.
Next, a layer encoding algorithm that is the basis of JPEG 2000 is described.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram for forming the layer encoding algorithm which is the basis of JPEG 2000. The block for forming the layer encoding algorithm provides a color space converting/reverse converting portion, a two-dimensional wavelet transforming/reverse transforming portion, a quantization/reverse quantization portion, an entropy encoding/decoding portion, and a tag processing portion (packet string forming portion).
One of the biggest differences of the JPEG 2000 algorithm from the JPEG algorithm is a transforming method. In JPEG, DCT (discrete cosine transform) is used; however, in the layer encoding algorithm of JPEG 2000, DWT (discrete wavelet transform) is used. The DWT has an advantage in that good image quality can be obtained in a high compression region compared with the DCT. This is the reason that JPEG 2000, which is a successor of JPEG, has adopted the DWT. In addition, as another big difference from JPEG, in order to form codes in the final stage in JPEG 2000, a functional block called the tag processing unit is newly added. In the tag processing portion, when encoding operations are executed, encoded data are formed as a code stream, and when decoding operations are executed, a necessary code stream is interpreted. By the code stream in JPEG 2000, various advantageous functions have been able to be realized.
FIG. 26 is a diagram which explains freely stopping compression and expansion operations of a still image on an arbitrary layer (decomposition level) corresponding to an octave division on the DWT of a block base.
For example, as shown in FIG. 26, in JPEG 2000, compression and expansion operations of a still image can be stopped on an arbitrary layer (decomposition level) corresponding to an octave division on the DWT of a block base.
As an input and output section of an original image, the color space converting/reverse converting portion is used. For example, in the color space converting/reverse converting portion, conversion or reverse conversion from a RGB color system composed of components of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of primary colors or from a YMC color system composed of components of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) of supplementary colors into a YUV color system or a YCbCr color system is executed.
Next, the layer encoding algorithm (JPEG 2000 algorithm) is described in detail.
FIG. 27 is a diagram in which each component of an original image is divided into plural rectangular tiles. In FIG. 27, the RGB primary color system is used, and each component of a color image is divided into plural rectangular tiles. Each tile, for example, R00, R01, . . . , R15, G00, G01, . . . , G15, or B00, B01, . . . , B15 is a basic unit when compression or expansion operations are executed. Therefore, the compression or expansion operations are independently executed in each tile of each component.
At the time of encoding, data of each tile of each component are input to the color space converting/reverse converting portion (FIG. 25), the color space conversion is applied, and two-dimensional wavelet transformation (rectification) is applied to the data of the tile where the color space conversion is applied by the two-dimensional wavelet transforming/reverse transforming portion (FIG. 25) and the data of the tile are divided into spaces of frequency bands.
In FIG. 26, sub bands in each decomposition level are shown at the time when the number of the decomposition levels is three. That is, the two-dimensional wavelet transformation is applied to an original image tile (OLL) (decomposition level is 0) obtained by tile division of an original image and the OLL is divided into sub bands (1LL, 1HL, 1LH, and 1HH) shown in the decomposition level 1. After this, the two-dimensional wavelet transformation is applied to the low frequency component 1LL (decomposition level is 1) in this layer and the 1LL is divided into sub bands (2LL, 2HL, 2LH, and 2HH) shown in the decomposition level 2. Sequentially, the two-dimensional wavelet transformation is applied to the low frequency component 2LL (decomposition level is 2) and the 2LL is divided into sub bands (3LL, 3HL, 3LH, and 3HH) shown in the decomposition level 3. In FIG. 26, the sub bands to which encoding is applied in each decomposition level is shown with oblique lines. For example, when the decomposition level is 3, the sub bands (3HL, 3LH, 3HH, 2HL, 2LH, 2HH, 1HL. 1LH, 1HH) shown with the oblique lines are sub bands to which encoding is applied and the sub band 3LL is not encoded.
Next, bits to which encoding is applied are determined by a designated encoding order and a context is formed from bits surrounding the bits to which encoding is applied by the quantization/reverse quantization section.
A wavelet coefficient to which the quantization is applied is divided into rectangles called precincts which are not overlapped in each sub band. The precincts are adopted in order to effectively use memory at the time of implementation of the JPEG 2000. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing precincts each of which is formed by three rectangular regions whose spaces are matched with each other. As shown in FIG. 28, one precinct is formed by three rectangular regions whose spaces are matched with each other. In addition, each precinct is divided into rectangular code blocks that are not overlapped. Each code block is a basic unit when the entropy encoding is applied.
The entropy encoding/decoding section (FIG. 25) encodes tiles in each component by probability estimation from a context and bits to be applied. Then, all the components of the original image are encoded in each tile.
The minimum unit of encoded data formed at the entropy encoding/decoding section is called a packet. The packets are caused to be in a sequence in a progressive order, and the sequence of the packets is shown by one of image header segments. Packets are arrayed by progressive order data, for example, a region, resolution, a layer, and a color component. That is, in JPEG 2000, the following five progressions are defined by changing the priority order of the four image elements of image quality (layer L), resolution (R), a component (C), and a precinct (P).
The five progressions are a LRCP progression, a RLCP progression, a RPCL progression, a PCRL progression, and a CPRL progression. In the LRCP progression, since the precinct, the component, the resolution level, and the layer are decoded in this order, the image quality of the entire image is improved every progress of indexes of the layer, that is, the image quality progression can be realized. The LRCP progression is also called a layer progression. In the RLCP progression, since the precinct, the component, the layer, and the resolution level are decoded in this order, the resolution progression can be realized. In the RPCL progression, since the layer, the component, the precinct, and the resolution level are decoded in this order, the resolution progression can be realized similar to the RLCP progression; however, the priority of a specific precinct can be high. In the PCRL progression, since the layer, the resolution level, the component, and the precinct are decoded in this order, priority is given to decoding a specific part, and the space precinct progression can be realized. In the CPRL progression, since the layer, the resolution level, the precinct, and the component are decoded in this order, the component progression, in which, for example, a gray image is first reproduced at the time when a color image is progressively decoded, can be realized.
As described above, in JPEG 2000, an image is divided into regions (tiles and precincts), resolution, a layer, and a color component, and divided elements are independently encoded as packets. The packets are recognized and extracted from a code stream without decoding.
The tag processing section (FIG. 25, packet string forming portion) causes all of the encoded data from the entropy encoding/decoding section to be one code stream, and adds a tag to the code stream. FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a structure of a code stream. As shown in FIG. 29, tag information called a main header is added to at the head of the code stream, tag information called a tile-part header is added to each partial tile, and encoded data (bit stream) are positioned after each tile-part header. Further, tag information called an end of code stream is added to at the end of the code stream.
On the other hand, at the time of decoding, image data are formed from a code stream of each tile of each component. Referring to FIG. 25 again, decoding operations are briefly described. The tag processing portion interprets tag information added to a code stream input from the outside, and divides the code stream into a code stream of each tile of each component. The decoding operations are applied to the code stream of each tile of each component.
The positions of bits to be decoded are determined by the order based on tag information in the code stream, and in the quantization/reverse quantization portion, a context is formed from the array of bits surrounding the bits to be decoded. The entropy encoding/decoding portion forms bits by probability estimation from the context and the code stream and writes the bits in the bit positions. Decoded data are divided into spaces in each frequency band. Therefore, each tile of each component of image data is restored by the two-dimensional wavelet transformation at the two-dimensional wavelet transforming/reverse transforming portion. The restored data are converted into original color system data by the color space converting/reverse converting portion.
As a method accessing encoded data of JPEG 2000, there is JPIP (JPEG 2000 image coding system-part 9: interactivity tools, APIs and protocols). In JPIP, the encoded data received in a client are received at high speed without newly transferring the encoded data from a server; in order to achieve the above, the client provides a cache which stores a part of the encoded data.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-12686, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method are disclosed. In this technology, in order to obtain a desired image of each tile from an apparatus which stores encoded data of an image divided into tiles and composed of plural packets, when data of a necessary number of packets are received, management information for managing each packet to be received is formed. Received packets are sequenced corresponding to a tile number to which each packet belongs, packets belonging to the same tile are sequenced again corresponding to the order in the tiles, and data of sequenced packets are added to the management information in order. Information of data disposition of each packet, in cache data including the added packet data and the management information, is registered in the management information.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-274758, a method and an apparatus for converting a JPP stream into a JPEG 2000 code stream are disclosed. In this technology, a main header bin is written in an output JPEG 2000 code stream together with a marker segment in which a layer progression specifies the use of the last progression order. With respect to each tile, a regular tile header is written, and with respect to each component of each tile, the position, and the resolution, the number of completely received layers is determined. Bytes of a precinct data bin corresponding to a completed layer are written in the output JPEG 2000 code stream, and an empty packet header is written into each packet of each incomplete layer. In addition, an SOT (start of tile-part) marker segment is renewed for each tile in order to adjust the length into the number of bytes of packet data. An EOC (end of code stream) marker is written in the end of the output JPEG 2000 code stream. In this, the SOT marker segment signifies the head of the tile-part and shows an index of the tile and an index of the tile-part. The EOC marker signifies the end of the encoded data.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-242273, an encoded data forming method and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. In this technology, a client stores first encoded data in encoded data managed by a server and calculates lacking second encoded data from encoded data required for forming JPEG 2000 encoded data and the first encoded data. The second encoded data are obtained from the server, the header information is analyzed, and the encoded data are divided into plural independent encoded data parts. Further, when all the independent encoded data are not stored, dummy encoded data are stored for each divided unit, and these encoded data are defined as JPEG 2000 encoded data.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-169216, a method and an apparatus for forming encoded data are disclosed. In this technology, the method includes the steps of receiving fragmented encoded data to store in a memory, determining a progression order based on a displaying requirement of a user, revising header information based on the determination, determining whether the memory stores the corresponding encoded data based on the revised header information, reading the fragmented encoded data determined and stored in the memory, converting the read data into the progression order suitable to the displaying requirement, applying a ZLP (zero length packet) process to encoded data not stored in the memory, and forming encoded data in compliance with JPEG 2000.
However, in an image forming apparatus that performs encoding operations in compliance with JPEG 2000 using hardware circuits, the following problems occur.
That is, when encoded data of a partial image are downloaded and decoded by using JPIP, since the encoded data are fragmented partial data, the cases are few in which the downloaded encoded data (or, encoded data loaded and stored in a memory such as a cache) include all packets that comprise the encoded data, this is because the encoded data of the partial image include only a part of the packets of which the encoded data are composed.
In JPIP, there is a function in which packets of encoded data of a partial image transferred from a server to a client are stored in a cache (memory) and are reused in the client. That is, the client can efficiently reproduce the encoded data. New packets of encoded data of a partial image transferred from a server to a client are sequentially stored in a cache of the client. However, generally, the encoded data that are stored in the cache are stored by a packet unit which is a minimum unit of which the encoded data are composed. As described above, the encoded data of the partial image are a part of fragmented encoded data. Therefore, the packets stored in the cache cannot be efficiently utilized.
Further, in JPIP which refers to encoded data of a partial image, a data accessing unit is not a structural element unit but a packet which is a minimum unit of the encoded data. Therefore, when data are accessed by a structural element unit, a required number of packets to form the structural element unit are collected and data are decoded and reproduced by recognizing that necessary packets exist in the cache without a lacking packet. In the recognition of the lacking packet, since the total structure of the packets is unknown, the packets of encoded data cannot be efficiently referred to.
In addition, in JPIP, when encoded data of a partial image are loaded and decoded, since the encoded data are fragmented partial encoded data, cases where all the encoded data exist are few. Since there is a case where the encoded data are partially lacking, efficient access cannot be executed.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A MAC (Medium Access Control) hierarchy module for performing a back-off procedure for real-time application in a station having a frame to be transmitted in a network including a plurality of stations, includes: a priority identification sub-module for identifying a priority of each data to be transmitted; a first CW (Contention Window) generation sub-module for pseudo-randomly generating a CW based on the priority of the data to be transmitted; a back-off time calculation/back-off process sub-module for calculating a back-off time based on the CW and performing the back-off procedure based on the back-off time; and a second CW generation sub-module for randomly generating another CW when there is a collision between transmissions of data having same-order priorities.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication protocol, and more particularly to a MAC (Medium Access Control) protocol in a LAN (Local Area Network) communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless LAN (Local Area Network) services conducted through a public network, which can be implemented by a next-generation wired/wireless communication integration technique, will become an important requirement in next-generation communication markets. A wireless LAN is expected to qualitatively change the IT (Information Technology) industry. In particular, because the wireless LAN coupled to the public network is associated with mobile communication terminals such as a notebook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc., the quantitative growth of related industries is expected to be accelerated. The number of users requiring multimedia data continuously increases in current communication networks. Similarly, the users will also desire to receive the multimedia data through the wireless LAN.
The wireless LAN being widely used has been implemented on the basis of an IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers) 802.11 standard. A basic access in a MAC (Medium Access Control) hierarchy protocol of the IEEE 802.11 standard is performed by a DCF (Distributed Coordination Function). The DCF is based on CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance). Through the CSMA/CA, all stations can equally occupy a common medium. The DCF in the MAC hierarchy protocol makes the stations wait for a period of time equal to a DIFS (Distributed Inter Frame Space) using a random back-off algorithm so that the medium can be equally assigned to the stations using one medium. The CSMA/CA also includes an optional PCF (Point Coordination Function), which is used to set up an access point as a point coordinator. In this function, the point coordinator assigns a priority and processes predetermined time-bounded information. The PCF makes the stations wait for a period of time equal to a PIFS (Point coordination IFS (Inter Frame Space)), and shorter than the DIFS, using the random back-off algorithm. Data used in the PCF has a higher-order priority than that used in the DCF. However, the PCF cannot set a plurality of priorities, but can only identify whether there is a priority. Further, the PCF allows the station to access the medium irrespective of the priority in a back-off time.
The DCF for the basic access in the MAC hierarchy protocol makes all the stations equally occupy the medium in relation to all data. Accordingly, delay-sensitive data such as video, voice and audio data, and asynchronous data such as e-mail data and file data for transmission can be equally processed. When a station transmits an MPDU (MAC Protocol Data Unit) through a conventional DCF or PCF access method, it waits for the period of time equal to the DIFS or the PIFS and then generates the back-off time using a pseudo random number, thereby performing a back-off procedure. The stations pseudo-randomly generate the back-off time irrespective of the priority in the conventional DCF or PCF access method, thereby maximize the equal use of occupying the medium. Further, the access method is conventionally performed on the basis of the priority. In other words, when the MPDU having the priority is transmitted, the PCF based on the priority allows the station to quickly occupy the medium by using the PIFS shorter than the DIFS used in the DCF, thereby reducing a period of waiting time. However, the PCF cannot assign different priorities through several stages. In the PCF, the back-off time is equally set irrespective of the priority and the back-off procedure based on the equally set back-off time is performed.
FIG. 1 is a view explaining a conventional basic access method.
Referring to FIG. 1, stations occupy a medium through an access contention. When a station attempts a data transmission in the case where the medium is in a busy state, the station trying to perform the data transmission recognizes the busy state of the medium. Thereafter, the station waits until a current transmission stops. After the current data transmission stops, the station waits for a period of time equal to an inter-frame space, e.g., IFS, PIFS or DIFS, and sets a back-off time on the basis of a value of a generated CW (Contention Window). Thus, the station waits for an MPDU transmission while performing a back-off procedure.
FIG. 2 is a view explaining a method for occupying a medium in stations on the basis of the conventional basic access method. In connection with FIG. 2, a detailed description will be given of a method for occupying the medium in the stations under an access contention through a back-off procedure based on a back-off time. Referring to FIG. 2, the stations occupy the medium irrespective of a priority and transmit a frame of an MPDU. First, a station sets a waiting time based on a value of the CW pseudo-randomly generated and occupies the medium after the waiting time based on the value of the CW. After the back-off time is set, a back-off slot corresponding to a period of idle time is removed. Accordingly, as the station has a longer waiting time, an opportunity to transmit the MPDU frame is increased. Through this procedure, the stations can maximize the equal use of the medium through the access contention. Any station having the MPDU frame can set the back-off time by generating a pseudo random number. The stations have the same value of the CW.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart explaining a conventional method for occupying a medium through a back-off procedure. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a control method to be performed in a MAC hierarchy module when a station accesses the medium in a network in which a plurality of stations can be coupled to one medium.
Referring to FIG. 3, the station tries to transmit a frame of an MPDU at step 20. If the station fails to transmit the MPDU frame, it delays the transmission of the MPDU frame for a period of time equal to a DIFS or PIFS at step 22. A pseudo random number for each of all the stations is generated within a constant range irrespective of a priority at step 24 and a value of a CW is generated at step 26. A back-off time is generated on the basis of the pseudo random number and the CW value at step 28. The station occupies the medium using the back-off procedure and tries to re-transmit the MPDU frame at step 30.
After the station performs the back-off procedure, it is determined at step 32 whether there is a collision between data transmissions. If there is the collision between data transmissions, the station determines at step 34 whether the number of re-transmission times is less than a reference value representing a limit of the number of re-transmission times. If the number of re-transmission times is less than the reference value, the CW value is changed to a next CW value greater than the CW value according to the equation 2k−1, where k is a positive integer, at step 40. The station performs the back-off procedure and tries to re-transmit the MPDU frame by occupying the medium. When there is the collision between data transmissions, the MPDU frame is re-transmitted the limited number of re-transmission times. If the MPDU frame has been successively transmitted or the MPDU frame has been re-transmitted the limited number of re-transmission times, the CW value is re-set at step 36. Through this procedure, medium occupation is performed so that the station can transmit the MPDU frame. The medium occupation is performed under same conditions irrespective of contents of the MPDU frame. Thus, the stations can equally occupy the medium. Because the conventional method shown in FIG. 3 does not process time-bounded information, there is a problem in that it is difficult for data to be processed within a required time period.
When video data, audio data and voice data being time-bounded information are processed in the DCF, data transmission is delayed to cause the communication of the video data, the audio data and the voice data to be cut off in the middle of communication or to cause the video, audio and voice data to be lost. At this time, the communication of the video data, the audio data and the voice data cannot be properly performed. In other words, the MAC hierarchy protocol supports general data communication on the basis of the wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) widely used, but cannot properly process the time-bounded information such as the video data, the audio data and the voice data. An improvement of the conventional method is seriously needed to effectively process the video data, the audio data and the voice data and perform data communication without loss of data. An optional PCF provided by the IEEE 802.11 standard is used for real-time application. However, the optional PCF cannot assign different priorities through several stages and can only recognize whether there is a priority or not. Further, the optional PCF is used to set up an access point as a point coordinator. There are two operating modes including an infrastructure mode and an ad-hoc mode in the IEEE 802.11 standard. The optional PCF is operable in the infrastructure mode. However, the optional PCF is not operable in the ad-hoc mode.
In other words, the MAC hierarchy protocol appropriately supports the general data communication on the basis of the wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) widely used, but cannot process the time-bounded information such as the video data, the audio data and the voice data. An improvement of the conventional method is seriously needed to effectively process the video data, the audio data and the voice data and perform data communication without loss of data.

Method for performing contention-based access for real-time application and medium access control hierarchy module