What is disclosed is a system and method for encoding and decoding data in a color barcode pattern using dot orientation and color separability. The spectral (wavelength) characteristics of the CMY colorants, commonly used in digital printing, and those of RGB sensors are exploited to achieve high capacity data embedding rates in color barcodes. The present method embeds independent data in two different printer colorant channels using dot orientation modulation. In the print end, dots of two colorants occupy the same spatial region. At the detector end, by using the complementary sensor channels to estimate the colorant channels, data is recovered in each colorant channel. The method approximately doubles the capacity of encoding methods based upon a single colorant channel and enables embedding rates which match or exceed that of other hardcopy barcodes known in the arts. The method is robust against inter-separation misregistration with a small symbol error rate.

Embedding information in printed documents continues to be a problem of considerable interest. A plethora of legal and official documents such as IDs, passports and other transactional data are consumed in the printed format. Hence, systems and algorithms for protecting and interacting with hardcopy content are a necessity. Hardcopy information embedding methods can be categorized as data hiding or data encoding approaches. Methods in the former category are essentially (hardcopy) image watermarking schemes and hence must adhere to stringent requirements of maintaining faithfulness to the content of the image to be printed. In the literature, many hardcopy data hiding methods have been proposed. As is well known of watermarking, these methods aim to achieve the best possible trade-off between the often conflicting goals of high embedding rate vs. perceptible distortion to the host image.
Data encoding methods, however, offer greater latitude in embedding distortion and instead focus primarily towards maximizing number of embedded bits per unit area of the printed document. Driver license images, credit cards and other similar documents that are constrained in the amount of physical area to embed in are excellent candidates that can benefit from such methods. Amongst existing prior art and literature, the primary representatives of data encoding methods are one and two dimensional barcodes. The universal product code (UPC) is a well-known example of one dimensional (1-D) barcodes that is widely used for tracking trade items. Though being convenient for price tags and item tracing, UPC cannot be utilized for high capacity applications, e.g. conveying additional information to enhance the quality of the electronically captured images of documents or verify authenticity.
Two dimensional (2-D) barcodes bring a viable solution to printed media security by storing additional information. In personal ID's, driving licenses and passports, this additional information can be a sample voice, a picture or personal information (i.e. data of birth, name of the card holder) which in turn may be used to establish authenticity of the printed document. Although 2-D barcodes have relatively high information storage capacity, they are primarily based upon monochromatic or single ink printing. The extension to color is highly desirable for the benefits it carries in terms of embedding rate per unit area. There are two known color barcode schemes: one recently developed at Microsoft and the other being DataGlyphs. The former method encodes the data as triangles in one of four colors (black, red, green and yellow) where the color is chosen based upon the data. While this allows for each triangle to carry a 4-ary value, as we see subsequently, the flexibility afforded by the spectral difference between the colorants is not fully exploited. DataGlyphs, on the other hand, in their color instantiation operate by simply using the same glyph pattern in a dot-on-dot mode that fundamentally offers the same capacity as a single channel.
Given that barcodes are widely utilized for embedding data in hardcopy format to provide automated identification and tracking capabilities in a number of applications, it is desirable to maximize the number of bits embedded per unit area in order to either reduce the area requirements of the barcodes or to offer an increased payload, which in turn enlarges the class of applications for these barcodes.
Accordingly, what is needed in this art are increasingly sophisticated systems and methods for encoding and decoding data in a color barcode pattern.

Method for encoding and decoding data in a color barcode pattern


An information processing apparatus, communicatively connectable to a first transmission terminal, and communicatively connectable with a second transmission terminal via a network and to a first display device, includes a display control unit that displays a region in a screen of a second display device; a bandwidth determination unit that determines whether bandwidth for communication between the transmission terminals is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold; an acquisition region reception unit that receives a selection for selecting at least one of first display data displayed in an entire region of the screen and second display data displayed in an active region in the screen, according to the determination; a resolution conversion unit that converts a resolution of the selected display data based on resolutions of the first and second display devices; and a display data transmission unit that transmits the display data to the first transmission terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosures herein generally relate to an information processing apparatus, a transmission system and a program, and especially relate to an information processing apparatus connected to a transmission terminal, which is connected to other transmission terminals communicably via a network and connected to a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a transmission system to conduct a video conference between remote locations via a communication network, such as the Internet, has become popular. In such a transmission system, by sending and receiving image data and voice data between plural transmission terminals, the video conference is realized. Moreover, according to recent enhancements of the broadband environment, high-quality image data and voice data can be sent and received, understanding the status of the other party in the video conference becomes easier, and the fulfillment of communications by a video conference has been improved.
Moreover, on conducting the video conference using the transmission terminal, a participant of the video conference may connect an external input device other than the transmission terminal, such as a personal computer (PC) of his/her own. The participant displays an image of conference materials or the like on a display unit of the external input device, and discusses the conference materials with the other party viewing them. The external input device in the related art sends the image data of the conference materials or the like, displayed on the display unit of the external input device, to the transmission terminal used by the other party in the video conference via the communication network.
The participants in the video conference share not only the voice data and the image data sent/received by the transmission terminal but also the display data displayed on the display unit of the external input device with the other party in the video conference.
Some external input devices can execute multitasking processes. On a display unit of such an external input device plural regions (called "windows" in the following) generated by different tasks are displayed. Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2011-254453 discloses selecting data to be sent to the transmission terminal used by the other party in the video conference from the data displayed on the display unit of the external input device.
FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the external input device, disclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2011-254453. The remote communication terminal, disclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2011-254453, shares a region, which the user selects using a mouse, with a transmission terminal of the other party from the plural regions displayed on the display unit of the remote communication terminal.
In the case where there isn't sufficient bandwidth in the communication network, in order to continue the conference, a function of reducing the resolution of image data or lowering the frame rate is required. Such an operational procedure in the transmission terminal is called a "narrow bandwidth mode".
However, the Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2011-254453 does not disclose, in the case of low bandwidth in the communication network, determination for whether data displayed on the whole screen is shared or data displayed in a specific region of the screen is shared. When the data displayed on the whole screen is in the narrow bandwidth mode, there is a problem regarding detail, such that small characters, displayed during narrow bandwidth mode are illegible.

Information processing apparatus, transmission system and program


An apparatus for transporting magnetic objects (8) has at least one magnetic transport roller (20) mounted to a frame (10) for conveying a ferromagnetic carrier (12), and means for rotating the transport roller. The means comprises a ferromagnetic stator member (62), integrally associated with the transport roller (20), which has a plurality of spatially separated pole teeth (64) each of which has an operably connected coil (66) arranged for producing rotation of the transport roller (20). The transport roller (20) has a magnetic core (22), a first bonding layer (24) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core (22), a first layer (26) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the first bonding layer (24), a second bonding layer 28 for bonding second layer 30 to the core (20). Second layer (30) comprises a wear and abrasion resistant material. Further, a ferromagnetic web (12) is arranged for movement along the magnetic transport roller (20) for transporting materials thereon.

Transport systems are used extensively in manufacturing processes to transport objects, more specifically, ferromagnetic objects, from one station to the next station. In numerous manufacturing processes, the transport system is exposed to abrasive or corrosive environments. For instance, in electroplating, painting and encapsulation of magnets pretreatment of the magnets such as cleaning, etching of the surfaces of these objects employing chemicals and abrasive particles is undertaken. It is imperative that during these pretreatment processes the magnetic transport system is not damaged by corrosion as well as by wear and abrasion encountered during the pretreatment of the magnets. Such transport system degrades when they are exposed to harsh chemical manufacturing environment. Furthermore, components of these transport systems must be wear and abrasion resistant so that the transported objects are not damaged during their use. Therefore, there is a need to design and manufacture a novel transport system which can effectively transport ferromagnetic components without damage either to the transport system or to the components being transported. The subject of this disclosure is a wear, abrasion and corrosion resistant magnetic transport rollers and ferromagnetic transport webs for use in a harsh and corrosive manufacturing environment.
Therefore, a need persists for an apparatus and method for transporting magnetic objects that can effectively transport the magnetic objects through corrosive environments without damage either to the transport system or to the objects being transported.

Apparatus and method for transporting magnetic objects


The present invention provides expandable devices and insertion tools for deploying the expandable devices. The expandable devices are capable of increasing in height and width when expanded from a closed configuration to an open configuration to occupy a larger volume and to present a larger surface area. The expandable devices are lockable and are capable of rigidly occupying a space after expansion. In some embodiments, the expandable devices are useful as interbody devices for spinal fusions.

Certain spinal fusion procedures remove degenerated intervertebral disc material and pack the intervertebral space to maintain the separation between adjacent vertebrae. While some procedures pack the intervertebral space with bone-forming tissue, other procedures insert rigid devices for more reliable separation of the vertebrae. In the interest of reducing recovery time and surgical tissue damage, it is advantageous for a rigid device insert to possess a small profile to fit through a minimally invasive incision, while also possessing a large footprint to maximize stability in the intervertebral disc space.
Thus, there is a need in the art for small profile rigid devices that are able to expand to occupy a larger footprint. The present invention satisfies this need.

MUSC Foundation for Research Development


Described herein are techniques related to a tap-to-wake and tap-to-login system. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims. A tap-to-wake and tap-to-login system allows a user of a near field device to wake up a computing platform from a deep sleep state using a bump/tap without having to move a mouse or enter a keyboard stroke.

A computing device platform typically uses power management to reduce power usage when a user has stepped away from or has stopped using the platform for a period of time. The platform can enter into several power states which range from the computing device platform being fully operational (active state) to the computing device platform being asleep (sleep state, power-saving state, etc.). When the computing device platform is not fully operational the platform is termed "power-gated."
To return the computing device platform to a state that is not power-gated the user traditionally has to perform manual operations such as pressing the computing device platform power button/switch, or implementing a "<ctrl> <alt> <del>" keystroke on the keyboard, or moving the mouse. Additionally, to complete wake up of the computing device platform the user oftentimes has to enter a password using the keyboard.
The Detailed Description references the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

Tap-to-wake and tap-to-login near field communication (NFC) device


The present invention teaches techniques for creating scans of documents that are both secure from tamper and that are assured of satisfactory image quality. In particular, a method of producing an assured document is disclosed wherein the documents digital signature is combined with the scan quality in a secure way.

The art and science of scanning has never been more important. The vastly improved bandwidth infrastructure associated with the Internet and the exponentially improving cost effectiveness for digital storage has compelled industry and governments to scan analog objects into digital form to improve maintenance costs and to dramatically broaden the availability of these documents using the Internet.
This surge in the digitization of documents is exemplified by Google Inc.'s 14 Dec. 2005 announcement that it is working with the libraries of Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the University of Oxford as well as The New York Public Library to digitally scan books from their collections so that users worldwide can search them in Google.
Also, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, which was signed into law and became effective on Oct. 28, 2004. This act is referred to as "Check 21" and is designed to foster innovation in the bank payments system and to enhance its efficiency by reducing some of the legal impediments to eliminating paper checks. The law facilitates paper check truncation (allowing banks to destroy paper checks once scanned) by creating a new negotiable instrument called a substitute check, which permits banks to minimize costs due to maintaining original checks, to process check information electronically, and to deliver substitute checks to banks that want to continue receiving paper checks. A substitute check is the legal equivalent of the original check and includes all the information contained on the original check.
One increasingly important area in the field of scanning is in providing security to the documents that have been scanned. For example, the Canadian government recently began a program to provide public Internet access to its heritage or historical repositories. Fears of the possible tampering with the government data compelled the Canadian Parliament to require that these organizations make "reasonable" attempts to ensure the integrity of the documents.
More broadly, increased awareness of security and privacy issues is resulting in national and international legislation on privacy and digital signatures. Examples of such legislation in the United States alone include the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-Sign), the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Financial Services Act, and the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA).
Once a document is scanned it is possible to change the contents of the scan by using an image editor, text editor (if converted to text) or by other means. To prevent this from happening, a digital signature of the document can be calculated and attached to the file header or filed into a database.
Digital signatures start by using the concept of a hash. A hash is distilled representation of a relatively large data record into a shorter reference value. What is desirable is to create the key from the data, but with a negligible likelihood of the same key being generated from two distinct records. Methods that perform this distillation are referred to as hash algorithms and they are used widely in computer systems. A digital signature is an encrypted version of the hash, typically using a public-key infrastructure (PKI) algorithm.
In Merkle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,726, issued Oct. 20, 1992, titled "Document copy authentication", a process for making an authenticatable copy of an original document supplied by an entity is disclosed. In this patent, a hard copy is made of an original document that incorporates on the document a digital signature representing the document contents and the identity of the said entity. This technique allows the source to be encoded in the hardocopy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,972, Barton, issued Jun. 15, 1999, titled "Method and apparatus for embedding authentication information within digital data", arbitrary digital information is embedded within a stream of digital data, in a way that avoids detection by a casual observer and that allows a user to determine whether the digital data have been modified from their intended form. The embedded information may only be extracted as authorized and may be used to verify that the original digital data stream has not been modified. This technique allows authentication data to be distributed in the actual digital data associated with the document.
While these approaches are extremely useful and reliable, they do not answer the issue of the scanned quality. If the scanner was out of calibration or otherwise not working correctly, the digitized document could be meaningless, erroneous or artifact laden, rendering an authenticity technology such as described above meaningless because the data they attempt to protect may be useless.
Knowing that the data that was scanned is a satisfactory replica of the original is clearly extremely important. Companies whose job it is to perform the scanning of important documents for governments, financial institutions and other concerns may become liable for loss of potentially priceless information should these scanners not be working correctly.
Under the current art, it is possible to have a trusted human being review the freshly scanned document for integrity and optimal image quality before submitting the document to a secure hashing algorithm. However, given the fact that typically a tremendous number of documents must be scanned, a human based quality control solution is not economically viable. Compounding this, human error rates may be significant and beyond the threshold of customer tolerance.


A disk drive 50 for receiving a removable cartridge 52 containing a disk 256 for storing data. The disk drive 50 includes a spindle motor 102 for engaging and causing the disk 256 of the cartridge 52 to spin at an appropriate speed and a mechanism 168 for mounting the spindle motor 102 to the disk drive 50 so that the spindle 102 motor is movable from a first position out of engagement with the disk 256 to a second position operably engaged with the disk 256. The spindle motor 102 can thus move in a plane which is not coplaner with the cartridge receiving plane. The disk drive further includes an ejecting mechanism 106 for engaging and lockingly holding the cartridge 52 in place in the cartridge receiver 60 and for ejecting the cartridge from the cartridge receiver 60. Further interlocking device 100 is provided for ensuring that the cartridge 52 cannot be removed from the receiver 60 when the spindle motor 102 is engaged with the disk 256 and for ensuring that the drive 50 cannot be enabled if the cartridge 52 is not received in the receiver 60.

At present the industry trend is to provide for greater memory capacity in a reduced form factor at a lower cost with a lower energy consumption. This trend is driven by the increased demand for portable, lap top, notebook and palm top computer configurations which can be easily transported to a desired work site. The desired memory configuration would include, for example, a magnetic or optical hard disk drive as such drives store a considerably higher amount of data than a floppy disk drive and can access that data at a rate substantially in excess of that of a floppy disk drive.
With respect to hard disk drives, there are two major types. The first is a hard disk drive with the memory media or magnetic disk permanently fixed therein. The second is a hard disk drive which can accept interchangeable and removable cartridges containing the memory media.
The removable cartridge hard disk drives have several significant advantages over the fixed disk hard disk drives. These include the ability to interchange the number of cartridges and thus provide the disk drive with an infinitely large memory capacity. A second advantage is that any information stored on the disk or the memory media in the cartridge can, along with the cartridge, be removed and placed in a secure location should the information be of a confidential or secret nature. This can be accomplished without having to store the computer or the disk drive itself. Additionally, large amounts of data can be transferred between computers and locations by removing the cartridge from one computer and transporting it to a second computer at a different location. Such portability of large amounts of information stored on cartridges has become more necessary, for example, due to the data requirement for graphic presentations.

Removable cartridge disk drive with cartridge interlocking and spindle motor telescoping mechanisms


Techniques and solutions are described for facilitating the use of machine learning techniques. In some cases, filters can be defined for multiple segments of a training data set. Model segments corresponding to respective segments can be trained using an appropriate subset of the training data set. When a request for a machine learning result is made, filter criteria for the request can be determined and an appropriate model segment can be selected and used for processing the request. One or more hyperparameter values can be defined for a machine learning scenario. When a machine learning scenario is selected for execution, the one or more hyperparameter values for the machine learning scenario can be used to configure a machine learning algorithm used by the machine learning scenario.

Machine learning is increasingly being used to make, or help make, various decisions, or to otherwise analyze data. Machine learning techniques can be used to analyze data more quickly or accurately than could be performed by a human. In some cases, it can be impracticable for humans to manually analyze a data set. Thus, machine learning has facilitated the rise of "big data," by providing ways that such data can be put to practical use.
However, even for experts in the field, machine learning can be complicated to understand, including configuring or managing machine learning models, such as determining when a model should be updated or retrained. The situation can be even more complex when machine learning is applied to particular applications in particular fields. That is, a computer scientist may understand the algorithms used in a machine learning technique, but may not understand the subject matter domain well enough to ensure that a model is accurately trained or to properly evaluate results provided by machine learning. Conversely, a domain expert may be well versed in a given subject matter area, but may not understand how the machine learning algorithms work.
Software companies have attempted to address these issues by providing pre-configured machine learning scenarios for particular solutions. However, among other things, the accuracy of these "out of the box" solutions can be suboptimal, since they may not be optimized for particular use cases. Accordingly, room for improvement exists.

Facilitating machine learning configuration


A compound of the structure

This invention relates to meridamycin compounds, methods of preparation, and methods of use thereof.
Meridamycin has been identified for uses such as an antidote for an overdose of macrophilin-binding-immunosuppressants such as FK506 or rapamycin, a steroid potentiator, and/or an anti-infective agent for infections or infectious diseases caused by organisms producing MIP (macrophage infectivity potentiator) or Mip-like factors. See, International Patent Publication No. WO 94/18207. In addition, meridamycin may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory/hyperproliferative skin diseases.
Meridamycin has been isolated from a strain of Streptomyces hydroscopicus as described in Salituro et al., Tet. Lett, 36(7): 997-1000 (1995).
Meridamycin and derivatives thereof have been prepared as described in US Published Patent Application No. US 2005/0272133A1 (Dec. 8, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/143,980) and US Patent Application Publication No. US 2005-0197379-A1. Compounds derived from meridamycin (described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2005/084673) have been shown to demonstrate neuroprotective effects (see also, International Patent Publication No. WO 2005/085257 and US Patent Application Publication No. US 2005-0197379 A1.
What are needed in the art are alternate meridamycin derivatives.

Meridamycin analogues for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract: A compound of the structure

Abstract: is described. This compound and its use for preparing medicines useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders is described.


Embodiments of the present specification provide systems and methods for operating game controllers. Microprocessor-controlled game controllers enable recreation of identical gaming scenarios with precision and accuracy. At least one microprocessor is connected to one or more game controllers. The microprocessor is programmed to synchronize the game controllers externally. Additionally, the microprocessor is programmed to modify one or more game controls that are provided by the game controllers. In embodiments of the present specification, game controllers are embedded with a wireless microcontroller that allow for remote feeding of commands to the microcontrollers.

Game developers are often faced with the challenge of simulating gaming scenarios, and repeatedly recreating the stimulated gaming scenarios, in order to analyze and/or test the game for various factors and under various external conditions. In one example, it may be required to measure the impact of network traffic on the gaming traffic and, ultimately, the gameplay experience. The impact can be significant given playing video games or role-playing games, such as First Person Shooter (FPS) games, wirelessly on the Internet, is increasing.
Contention and prioritization of video packets over other packets (like FPS packets) could potentially result in a streaming event (external condition) improperly changing the outcome of a match. Stated differently, a match that one player would have won has now been lost because FPS packets were not prioritized over other packets, such as video packets. One potential solution would be to program routers to prioritize the gaming console of the player, but this only helps once the packets enter the Service Set Identifier (SSID) of the player. However, after the packets are on their way to a dedicated server, the packets do not receive prioritized treatment over the myriad video packets constantly transmitted through the Internet. With the increasing popularity and adoption of electronic sports (ESports), this could be detrimental to match fairness.
The impact of streaming delay caused by packet prioritization can be demonstrated by creating a reproducible scenario where two players in a video game end up in a very close match. The game or match would need to be created repeatedly while providing the same outcome. Once the gaming scenario is constantly repeated, other factors, such as network traffic, can be varied to observe and analyze the influence over the constantly repeated gaming scenario. Recreating the scenario would require extreme precision to stage a close match where one opponent narrowly defeats another opponent. A conventional approach may require modifying the gaming program or source code to achieve the desired scenario with repeatable precision. However, such a modification could be cumbersome and internal to the game scenario. Additionally, the modification made at the gaming program-level may be fixed, and to recreate any other scenario would require a renewed effort at programming the game differently to suit the new scenario. Therefore, this approach can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for creating and recreating game scenarios with accuracy and precision such that control over the game is provided externally and is independent of the game itself to thereby demonstrate what external factors influence the game and to what extent such external factors influence the game.

Synchronized, fully programmable game controllers


A direct proportional control system for remotely controlling actuation of a tool. A well control system includes an actuator for a downhole well tool, the actuator including an actuator member which displaces to operate the well tool. A control system member is positioned at a remote location. A displacement of the control system member is proportional to a displacement of the actuator member.

The present invention relates generally to operations performed and equipment utilized in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a direct proportional surface control system for a downhole choke.
Many control systems are available for controlling actuation of downhole well tools. Unfortunately, these existing control systems are typically very complex and, therefore, expensive and susceptible to failure in a hostile, corrosive, high temperature and debris-laden well environment.
Furthermore, most existing control systems leave an operator at the surface unsure of the actual position of a downhole actuator. The operator may be provided with an indication of where the downhole actuator should be based on pressure levels, number of pressure applications, etc., but no direct physical indicator is provided to the operator of the actuator's actual position.
In typical open-loop hydraulic control systems, hydraulic fluid is delivered to one side of a piston by a pump, and fluid is discharged from the other side of the piston to a reservoir, usually at atmospheric pressure. One disadvantage of such open-loop hydraulic control systems is that gas entrained in the fluid at low pressures (e.g., at atmospheric pressure) causes non-linear changes in volume as the pressure is increased (e.g., by use of a pump). Such non-linear changes in fluid volume produce uncertainty in the resultant displacement of the piston.
Therefore, it may be seen that improvements are needed in systems for controlling operation of remotely located tools. It is an object of the present invention to provide such improvements.

Direct proportional surface control system for downhole choke


A packet processing method in a computing system is disclosed. The computing system comprises a host, wherein at least one network interface card is connected to the host. The network interface card includes switching equipment and at least two network ports. A first network port is corresponding to at least one physical function PF and multiple virtual functions VFs. At least one VF of the first network port is provided for a first virtual machine on the host in a passthrough manner. The first virtual machine sends a data packet from the VF that is connected to the first virtual machine. Switching equipment of the first network port forwards the data packet according to a destination MAC address of the data packet, and sends the data packet to a virtual bridge on VMM of the host. The VMM provides abundant network function processing for the data packet.

A virtualization technology is one of key technologies in the cloud computing field. According to the virtualization technology, physical resources of a host can be abstracted into a shared resource pool to be used by virtual machines (VM) running on the host. The virtual machines running on the host may share a network interface card of the host to communicate with an external network of the host. In the prior art, the network interface card may be allocated, by means of network interface card virtualization, to the virtual machines for use. Network interface card virtualization may be implemented by means of single-root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) or multi-root input/output virtualization (MR-IOV). The network interface card virtualization is also referred to as network interface card passthrough. SR-IOV passthrough is used as an example. When the network interface card supports SR-IOV, the virtual machines running on the host may share the network interface card on the host by using an SR-IOV technology.
When a network interface card supporting an SR-IOV capability is used on the host, a network port of the network interface card is virtualized into at least one physical function (PF) and multiple virtual functions (VF). A virtual machine on the host is connected to at least one VF. The network interface card is internally provided with switching equipment that functions as a switch. The switching equipment forwards a data packet according to a media access control (MAC) table, and forwards a data packet between a physical network port, the PF, and the VF. Because of limited processing and storage capabilities, the switching equipment cannot provide a user with abundant network functions such as a security group, quality of service (QoS), layer 2 tunnel encapsulation, and distributed routing.

Packet processing method in cloud computing system, host, and system


Methods and compositions are provided for analyzing differences in the RNA profiles between a plurality of different physiological samples. In the subject methods, a set of a representational number of distinct gene specific primers is used to generate labeled nucleic acids from each of the different physiological samples. The labeled nucleic acids are then compared to each other and differences in the RNA profiles are determined. The subject methods find use in methods of identifying differential gene expression.

In higher organisms, any given cell expresses only a fraction of the total number of genes present in its genome. The small fraction of the total number of genes that is expressed determine the life processes carried out by the cell, e.g. development and differentiation, homeostasis, response to insults, cell cycle regulation, aging, apoptosis, and the like. Alterations in gene expression decide the course of normal cell development and the appearance of diseased states, such as cancer. Because the choice of which genes are expressed has such a profound effect on the nature of any given cell, methods of analyzing gene expression are of critical import to basic molecular biological research. Identification of differentially-expressed genes can provide a key to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of a variety of diseases or condition states in animals, including humans, and plants. Additionally, these methods can be used to identify differentially-expressed sequences due to changes in gene expression level associated with predisposition to disease, influence of external treatments, factors or infectious agents. Identification of such genes helps in development of new drugs and diagnostic methods for treating or preventing the occurrence of such diseases.
One way of analyzing gene expression in a particular cell is to perform differential gene expression assays, in which the expression of genes in different cells is compared and any discrepancies in expression are identified, where the presence of discrepancies indicates a difference in the classes of genes expressed in the cells being compared.
One method currently employed to identify differentially expressed genes begins with the generation of cDNA "targets" obtained from analogous cells, tissues or organs of a healthy and diseased organism. The cDNA targets are then hybridized to a set of target nucleic acid "probe" fragments immobilized on membrane. Differences between the resultant hybridization patterns are then detected and related to differences in gene expression in the two sources. In this procedure the number of analyzed gene-specific probes can reach several hundred thousand.
Modifications have been made to the above basic method in order to obtain improved results. These modifications include replacement of the traditional radioactive labeling procedure of the target nucleic acid sequences with nonisotopic labels, mainly fluorescent labels. Other modifications have focused on improved methods of immobilization of an array of the probe nucleic acids to surfaces of a variety of solid supports.
Despite the promise of analysis of differential expression using arrays of probes on solid supports, there is a continuing need for improvement of the methods currently employed by researchers. In current methods, hybridization of "target" to "probe" is slow. Furthermore, a number of additional events such as competitive hybridization events between distinct target sequences, nonspecific binding between "target" and "probe," and formation of secondary structures in target sequences can occur which adversely effect the results.
Accordingly, there is continued interest in the development of new methods of analyzing differential gene expression, where such methods provide for fast hybridization and high specificity of binding of "targets" to "probes."
Relevant Literature
Patents of interest include: EP 0 328 829 B1 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,468,613; 5,580,726; 5,599,672; 5,512,462; 5,162,209 and 5,162,209. Methods of analyzing differential gene expression are also described in Maniatis, et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)(1989); Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A Practical Approach (Hames, B. D., and Higgins, S. J. eds, IRL Press, Oxford)(1985); WO 95/21944; Chalifour, et al., Anal. Biochem. (1994) 216: 299-304; Nguyen et al., Genomics (1995) 29: 207-216; Pietu et al., Genome Res. (1996) 6: 492-503; and Zhao et al., Gene (1995) 166: 207-213.
Use of non-isotopic labels in methods of differential gene expression analysis are described in: Schena et al. Science (1995) 270: 467-470; Schena et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1996) 93: 10614-10619; DeRisi et al., Nature Genet. (1996) 14: 457-460; and Lockhart et al., Nature Biotechnol. (1996) 14: 1675-1680.
Methods of stably associating probes to the surface of substrates are described in: Hermanson, et al. Immobilized Affinity Ligand Techniques, Academic Press, (1992); WO 89/11548; European Patent No. 0 281 390 B1; WO 88/01302; European Patent Application No. 0392546; U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,327; U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,934.
Methods of improving hybridization of target to substrate surface associated probe are described in: EP 0 318 245 B1 (solution hybridization of probe to target followed by binding of hybridization complex to surface of substrate); Lockhart et al., Nature Biotechnol. (1996) 14: 1675-1680, EP 0 328 829 B1 (preamplification of target DNA/RNA); Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1989), Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A Practical Approach (Hames, B. D., and Higgins, S. J. eds. IRL Press, Oxford) (1985), EP 0 229 442 (addition of an inert polymers such as dextran sulfate); U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,510, EP 0 318 245 B1 (use of "helper" oligonucleotides which reorder secondary and tertiary structure of target polynucleotide); WO 89/11548 (attaching probes to surface of substrate through long spacer arms).
Methods of improving specificity of hybridization are described in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,603 & 5,547,843 (use of single stranded nucleic acid binding protein); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,888,274 & 5,223,414, EP 0 481 065 B1 (use of RecA protein-coated nucleoprotein target molecules); Khrapko et al., FEBS Lett. (1989) 256: 118-122 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,980 (continuous stacking interaction between short oligonucleotides of target and probe molecules, followed by enzymatic ligation step); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,047 (use of non-target probe which hybridized with non-target nucleic acid).

Methods of assaying differential expression


A method and a subscriber unit and a subscriber network element, in a radio system provided with a wireless local loop, for handling a collision of an outgoing call from the subscriber unit and a terminating call at the subscriber unit. When the collision is detected, the switching of the outgoing call is interrupted, a release frame is transmitted to the subscriber unit, a busy tone is transmitted from the subscriber unit to a subscriber in response to the release frame, a calling is transmitted to the subscriber unit, and the terminating call is switched to the subscriber unit after responding to the calling.

The present invention relates to a method for handling a collision of an outgoing call from a subscriber unit and a call terminating at a subscriber unit in a radio system providing a wireless local loop. The invention also relates to a subscriber unit of a radio system providing a wireless local loop, the subscriber unit including a terminal equipment and a user interface, the terminal equipment comprising receiver means for receiving radio-frequency signals. The invention further relates to a subscriber network element of a radio system providing a wireless local loop, the subscriber network element having a data transfer connection with a local exchange of a public switched telephone network and comprising means for establishing, via base stations, a radio connection to subscriber units located in the coverage area of the radio system, and for transmitting telecommunication signals between the subscriber units and the local exchange.
The invention relates to a WLL system (Wireless Local Loop), that is, a radio system providing a wireless local loop, in which system subscriber units are connected by a radio connection via base stations and a WLL subscriber network element to a PSTN exchange (Public Switched Telephone Network). Any conventional type of user interface or telephone set can be connected to the WLL system by means of a special terminal equipment, the radio path being thus invisible to the user.
In this connection, a subscriber unit refers to the equipment the subscriber has for transmitting and receiving telecommunication signals, that is, in the case of the WLL subscriber unit, the subscriber unit comprises a terminal equipment consisting of a radio part and a teleadapter, and a user interface, such as a telephone, a telefax terminal, a computer/modem combination or the like, connected to the terminal equipment.


The use of triacids of the formula I ##STR1## where X.sup.1 to X.sup.3 are, independently of one another, carboxylic acid groups of the formula COOM, sulfonic acid groups of the formula SO.sub.3 M or phosphonic acid groups of the formula PO.sub.3 M.sub.2, where. M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, PA1 A.sup.1 to A.sup.3 are, independently of one another, 1,2-alkylene with 2 to 18 carbon atoms, PA1 R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylene, and PA1 x, y and z are, independently of one another, a number from 0 to 10, where the total of x+y+z must be greater than or equal to 1,. as complexing agents for complexing heavy metals or for preparing heavy metal complexes for changing the redox potential, and as builders in detergents and cleaners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of triacids of the formula I ##STR2## where X.sup.1 to X.sup.3 are, independently of one another, carboxylic acid groups of the formula COOM, sulfonic acid groups of the formula SO.sub.3 M or phosphonic acid groups of the formula PO.sub.3 M.sub.2, where
M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, PA1 A.sup.1 to A.sup.3 are, independently of one another, 1,2-alkylene with 2 to 18 carbon atoms, PA1 R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylene, and PA1 x, y and z are, independently of one another, a number from 0 to 10, where the total of x+y+z must be greater than or equal to 1, PA1 x=1, y=0, z=0 or PA1 x=1, y=1, z=0 or PA1 x=1, y=1, z=1 or PA1 x=2, y=0, z=0 or PA1 x=2, y=2, z=0 or PA1 x=2, y=2, z=2. PA1 about 10 g/l copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate PA1 10-12 g/l formaldehyde PA1 12-15 g/l complexing agent I PA1 1-2 g/l of C.sub.13 /C.sub.15 oxo alcohol which has been reacted with 12 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide, as wetting agent.
as complexing agents for complexing heavy metals or for preparing heavy metal complexes for changing the redox potential, and as builders in detergents and cleaners.
Since some of the compounds I are novel substances, the invention furthermore relates to these novel substances. The invention additionally relates to processes for preparing the triacids I and to the use of intermediates arising therein and the preparation thereof.
2. Description of the Background
The complexing agents employed for heavy metal ions in a wide variety of industrial sectors, in which the ranges of requirements and problems in some cases differ greatly from one another, are still usually the long-known and proven systems such as polyphosphates, nitrilotriacetic acid or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. However, these agents have certain disadvantages, the principal weaknesses being in particular that their heavy metal binding capacity is still in need of improvement, their stabilizing effect in bleaching baths and bleaching systems is not yet optimal, and their biodegradability and elimination capacity are usually inadequate.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,316,636 describes a process for preparing aminopolycarboxylic acids and their salts from the underlying amino alcohols. Specific aminopolycarboxylic acids mentioned are, inter alia, the compounds ##STR3## Aminopolycarboxylic acids of these types are recommended for the industrial sectors of detergents and laundry aids, of water softening, of water treatment and of textile bleaching.

Use of triacids based on alkoxylated tertiary amines as complexing agents


A method, system, and computer program product for creating, maintaining and destroying virtual environments. Preprogrammed software objects that perform predetermined functions are created and stored in a repository, the desired objects are selected and configured with user defined parameters to create a customized call processing system. The use of preprogrammed software objects allows the rapid and accurate configuration, manipulation and destruction of virtual environments that networks subscribers together, processes calls, enables messaging, and provides disaster avoidance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to call processing systems and computer-based products used for voice processing, multi-media messaging (e.g., voice mail, e-mail, fax etc.), electronic document sharing, and the storage of electronic records in secure hardened sites (i.e., sites secured against natural or man-made disasters), all of which form part of a "virtual environment" that provides both voice and data disaster avoidance. More particularly, the present invention is directed to development tools (referred to herein as OBJECTS), methods, and documentation used to market, deploy, create, manipulate and destroy virtual environments.
2. Discussion of the Background
Virtual environments are differentiated from other services that allow multi-media messaging and/or electronic document sharing and storage in that they typically employ a form of CALL PULL-BACK technology as discussed in U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/266,724 to accomplish voice call processing in the public switch telephone network (PSTN) and in a packet network. Telephony disaster avoidance is provided at the client's request when performing primary (e.g. answering first), or secondary (e.g., answering a call forwarded or transferred in under a no answer condition), answering, and is coupled with the ability to process calls to locations such as key employees' homes in the event of an emergency. Multi-media messaging and/or document sharing is also used to seamlessly network together a client's staff even when that staff is deployed in multiple remote locations.
Advances in communications (e.g., cellular telephones and the Internet), the increased mobilization of the work force, and the desire of individuals to work securely from "virtual offices" have all fueled the need for integrated communications services. These services often include the voice and data networking of employees and others working outside the traditional office environment. Subscribers may send, receive and manipulate multi-media messaging, share documents, and allow callers to access members of these networks no matter where they are located. The caller need never know that the person they are calling is working from a remote location that may include their home.
It would be advantageous if a customer had the ability to continue functioning after suffering a disaster by hosting applications on equipment located in a hardened site. The routing of callers to the main greeting of the caller's application is handled at the local telephone company central office, (CO) on a busy or no answer condition, or by an edge device located on or near the customer's premise. The caller enters or speaks an extension number or selects from a menu and is transparently connected to an employee of the subscriber. The voiceprint of a known caller can be stored and used for security and access reasons. The caller is given further options if the call encounters a busy or no answer condition. Subscribers may access other subscribers on their network using a telephone or personal computer much like they would in a traditional office. The challenge, then, has been to create the tools, methods and documentation that enable the construction, maintenance and destruction of these networks in a rapid and reliable manner.

Virtual voice/company/office network tool kit, method, and computer program product


A combined refrigerator-oven (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The refrigerator-oven (20) further includes a heating unit (50) and a refrigeration unit (70). A controller (118) is in communication with the heating unit (50) and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28). When a heating mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the heating unit (50) to produce heat (66) in the enclosed chamber (28).

Lifestyles are very busy, and many families are away from home during large portions of the day for work, school, and other activities. As a consequence, the preparation of the evening meal can be significantly delayed until the cook returns home. Many families have extracurricular activities in the evenings. Thus, a delay in the preparation of the evening meal can undesirably overlap into the time allotted for these extracurricular activities. This problem is exacerbated if the family member cooking the meal is postponed on his or her return from work or school. This postponement causes the evening meal to be further delayed.
To meet such demanding schedules, many people replace the home-cooked evening meal with low nutritional value snacks, fast food, or by simply skipping meals. This unhealthy replacement for the home-cooked meal contributes to an increase in diet related disorders, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and so forth. Accordingly, there is a need to decrease the preparation time for home-cooked meals following a return from work or school to provide incentive for the preparation and consumption of home-cooked meals, rather than snacks and fast food.
Microwave and convection ovens have typically been used to cook meals quickly. Unfortunately, the preparation of a meal entails more than simply cooking the food. In addition to cooking the meal, a cook typically has to prepare the food in advance by cleaning it, cutting it, combining it with other ingredients, and so forth. This advance preparation can be even more time consuming than cooking the food. Sometimes a cook may prepare a meal in advance and store it in the refrigerator until he or she gets home, at which time, the cook will place the food in the oven to bake it. Unfortunately, the baking time can still undesirably delay the time at which the meal may be eaten.
Yet another tactic that cooks use is to place frozen food on the counter to thaw before leaving for work. The thawed food is then cooked upon their return home. Unfortunately, the food may thaw to room temperature before anyone returns home. Thawed foods that reach room temperature, particularly meat products, can become unsafe due to bacterial growth. Hence, it is recommended that most foods should be thawed in the refrigerator, rather than on the countertop.


A method for protecting an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle in a side collision of the vehicle is disclosed. In the method, the lumbar region of the occupant is retained in a section that corresponds to the pelvis rearward of the acetabulum in the skeletal structure of the occupant by using an impact absorbing member. Specifically, the lumbar region of the occupant is retained in a section that corresponds to an ilium in the skeletal structure of the occupant. In a side collision of the vehicle, the impact absorbing member initially contacts the lumbar region in a section corresponding to the ilium.

The present invention relates to a method and a structure for effectively protecting an occupant on a seat in a vehicle when a side collision occurs.
As a method for protecting an occupant on a seat in a vehicle during a side collision, a method has been known in which a side airbag apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-335210 is used. This apparatus is configured to protect a side of an occupant when a side collision of a vehicle occurs.

Method and structure for protecting occupant


An aseptic/sterile fluid connection between two containers is formed by radio frequency sealing together portions of transfer regions of two containers. Each transfer region has a layer of a relatively high melt temperature material such as a rubber or elastomer positioned between two outer container walls made of a flexible thermoplastic, for example polyvinyl chloride. The transfer regions are placed in registry, and the radio frequency welding fuses together portions of adjacent container outer walls and forms a fluid opening therethrough.

The present invention relates generally to a method and means for providing sterile/aseptic transfer of fluids between two containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to the formation of a sterile/aseptic connection between two containers.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,256, the problem of the sterile transfer of fluid arises in a number of different areas. One area in particular includes the area of blood handling. Since blood contains several major different components, each serving a unique function, the use of whole blood for transfusion has become unnecessary in many cases. Instead, required components can be removed, allowing the balance of the blood to be employed elsewhere. Thus, blood component therapy has helped to ease the blood storage shortage somewhat, at a time of rapidly increasing demand.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,256, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, there is described an arrangement wherein two sterile containers, one of which has a fluid which is desired to transfer to the other, are each formed of a plastic tube, or have a tube coupled thereto as an extension from the interior of the respective containers. Each tube has near a closed end or somewhere along its length, a "sterile transfer region" comprising a plastic material ("Material One") which can be made to melt and flow at a sterilizing temperature. These sterile transfer regions which can have any desired closed cross-sectional area, also contain a liner or window of a second material ("Material Two") on an inside thereof. Material Two will not melt at the temperature at which Material One melts and flows.
The containers are positioned so that their sterile transfer regions, overlap and are pressed against one another in a manner so that where they are in contact, there is an interface region of the meltable material, Material One, while the inside liners, constructed from Material Two, internally cover the walls opposite the location where the walls of the two sterile transfer regions touch. The region where the two sterile transfer regions touch is clamped together between two opposing jaws of a conduction heating device wherein one jaw may be a flat surface.
The disclosed connection system requires the use of exotic and relatively costly materials such as fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer as the liner material. Moreover, the particular means used for melting the layers constructed from Material One can be cumbersome and ill-suited for some materials.
Another connection system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,723. In this patent, there is disclosed a connection which may be formed between two sealed conduits in which each conduit carries an opaque, thermoplastic wall portion preferably having a melting range above essentially 200.degree. C. Preferably, the opaque thermoplastic wall portions are carried on the conduit about their periphery by transparent wall portions of the conduit. The opaque wall portions of the conduits are brought together into facing contact, and then exposed to sufficient radiant energy to cause the opaque wall portions to fuse together, and to open an aperture through the fused wall portions. This provides a sealed communication between the interiors of the conduits. The patent states that alternatively RF energy can be utilized.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,417, there is disclosed another connector member for sealed conduits utilizing a crystalline plastic barrier membrane. In this patent, there is disclosed a connector member for a fluid flow path which comprises a transparent housing enclosing an opaque barrier membrane or wall portion blocking flow through the flow path. The barrier membrane is adapted to be openable by exposure to radiant energy from the interior through the transparent housing. In accordance with the disclosure, the barrier membrane is made of a predominantly crystalline plastic material, and accordingly, exhibits a relatively sharp melting point for improved opening characteristics upon exposure to the radiant energy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,822, there is disclosed a system for the sterile mixing of materials. In this patent, there is disclosed a fluid transfer assembly including first and second connector members, each associated with a fluid conduit and having a meltable wall which normally seals the connector member, and thus the associated conduit. The connector members can be coupled together with the meltable walls positioned in facing contact. One of the meltable walls includes a radiant energy absorbing material. The other meltable wall is relatively non-absorbent radiant energy, but does conduct heat energy. By exposing the coupled assembly to a source of radiant energy, the one wall melts in response to thermal radiation, while the other wall conducts heat energy from the melting wall to also melt. By melting, the walls open a fluid path between the fluid conduits.
Yet another sterile connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,500. In this patent, there is disclosed a sterile connector adapted for multiple junctions wherein a sealed, sterile connection may be provided between a pair or more of containers having transparent, flexible, thermoplastic sealed walls, each of which contains an opaque, relatively rigid, hollow sealing member in the general shape of a truncated cone, open at both ends. The containers are brought together in facing contact, and the hollow sealing members are nested together with portions of the transparent walls of the containers positioned therebetween. The nested, sealing member cones are irradiated with infrared energy through the transparent container walls to heat the nested sealing members. As a result of this, heat is conducted to the portions of the transparent walls between the nested sealing members to seal the portions of the transparent walls together in an annular area between the sealing members. A portion of the transparent walls retained in the nested sealing members may be torn away to make a sterile connection between the two containers.


A method for remotely executing a command on a mobile device is provided. Here, a command to execute is received at a first mobile device, wherein the command includes a communications command requiring the use of a first communications medium. Then it is determined if the first mobile device can access the first communications medium. When the first mobile device cannot access the first communications medium, the command is forwarded via a second communications medium to a second mobile device for execution. When the first mobile device can access the first communications medium, the command is executed.

The use of mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, has become very prevalent in our society. Most individuals own a mobile phone and carry it with them most of the time. This includes even children, as more and more parents are electing to equip their children with the devices in order to better protect their children and/or monitor their locations.
Children can be taught how to dial particular phone numbers in emergency situations, such as dialing "911" or dialing a parents number (or selecting such numbers from a speed dial list). Likewise, texting messages, such as through Short Message Service (SMS) can also be used to alert authorities or parents of emergencies.
These solutions, however, suffer from three main drawbacks. First of all, there is a level of complexity that is involved in dialing a phone number or texting a particular entity. While many children are quite adept at using mobile devices, perhaps even better than their parents, some children are not, including younger children who may not have the motor skills or sophistication to be able to execute complicated commands on the devices. Furthermore, even children who are adept at using mobile phones may easily panic in emergency situations and be unable to use the device to call for help, either because they momentarily forget how or who to send the proper communication, or because they are so frightened that their hands are shaking so badly that they cannot perform the fine motor skills necessary to dial or text. Indeed, this problem is not just unique to children, as adults can also suffer the same limitations.
Second of all, the device may not always be in a location where direct communication between the device and the intended recipient (e.g., parent, authorities, etc.) is possible. For example, if the emergency message is to be sent via the Internet, the mobile device may not be in a location where EDGE, 3G, 4G, or some other Internet connectivity compatible with the mobile phone is available. Furthermore, in times of mass emergency, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., it is possible that both voice calling and Internet connectivity may be unavailable, but SMS communication remains viable.
Third of all, communication to certain people, such as a parent, may not always be possible, even when connectivity between devices is possible. For example, the parent may have their phone turned off, or may be otherwise engaged and be unable to pick up the phone. In such times, the child may lose valuable time attempting to contacting the particular parent before giving up and trying to contact someone else (such as another parent, relative, family friend, etc.).
What is needed is a solution that addresses all of these issues.

Fast remote execution between mobile devices


The systems and methods described herein include, among other things, a technique for calibrating the outputs of multiple sensors, such as CCD devices, that have overlapping fields of view and mapping the pixels of those outputs to the pixels of a display screen by means of a lookup table so that a user can see a selected field of view within the larger fields of view that are seen by the sensors.

Today, there are inexpensive sensors that can collect data, including image data, and store that data in a computer readable format. One example of such a sensor is the CCD image sensor. Software programs can then access the stored data and manipulate and process the data to extract useful information.
The low cost of these sensors and the ready availability of computer programs to process data generated from these sensors has led to a host of new applications and devices, including inexpensive video cameras suited to videophone and image capture applications.
One disadvantage of these low cost devices has been the limited field-of-view they cover. Given their low cost, engineers have attempted to use multiple sensors to increase the field of view. However, as each sensor captures a separate field of view, any system that employs multiple sensors, must also have a system that integrates the different fields-of-view together to create one image or one set of data. Unfortunately, integrating multiple fields-of-view into a single composite data set is not a trivial exercise. The software to identify gaps and overlaps can be quite complex and expensive. Systems that precisely align the sensors to reduce overlap or gaps are costly to manufacture and thus defeat the purpose of using the low cost sensors.
Additionally, other prior art systems include very wide angle lens which are corrected by image processing operations. In this way a panoramic view may be created. However, such systems are costly and the efficacy of the image correction can vary depending upon the field of depth of the image.
Thus, there is a need for an efficient and inexpensive system that can allow multiple sensors to work together to provide a composite image presenting an enlarged field-of-view.


The disclosure includes description of a technique for use in looking-up data based on content of a packet received over a network. The technique includes receiving a lookup value based on the received packet, searching a first memory using at least a portion of the lookup value, and if the searching the first memory fails, searching a second memory, having a lower latency than the first memory, using at least a portion of the lookup value.

Networks enable computers and other devices to exchange data such as e-mail messages, web pages, audio, video, and so forth. To send data across a network, a sending device typically constructs a collection of packets. Individual packets store some portion of the data being sent. A receiver can reassemble the data into its original form after receiving the packets.
A packet traveling across a network may make many "hops" to intermediate network devices before reaching its final destination. Thus, much like a letter delivered by the post office, a packet includes data being sent and information used to deliver the packet. In technical terms, this information is often stored in the packet's "payload" and "header(s)", respectively. The header(s) may include information for a number of different communication protocols that define the information that should be stored in a packet. Different protocols may operate at different layers. For example, a low level layer generally known as the "link layer" coordinates transmission of data over physical connections. A higher level layer generally known as the "network layer" handles routing, switching, and other tasks that determine how to move a packet forward through a network.
Many different hardware and software schemes have been developed to handle packets. For example, some designs use software to program a general purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit) processor to process packets. Other designs, such as designs using components known as ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), feature dedicated, "hard-wired" approaches.
To combine the programmable flexibility of a CPU with the speed often associated with an ASIC, many vendors sell programmable devices known as network processors. Network processors enable software programmers to quickly reprogram network processor operations. Yet, due to their specially designed architectures, network processors can often rival the packet processing speed of an ASIC.
The versatility of network processors contributes to their appeal. Currently, network processors can be found in a variety of products including routers, switches, firewalls, line cards, and storage area network (SAN) components, among others.

Distributed lookup based on packet contents


An ultrasonic motor of the present invention has a vibrating element 6. The vibrating element 6 includes a first piezoelectric element 62 that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, a reinforcing plate 63 having a contact portion 66 and an arm portion 68, and a second piezoelectric element 64 that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage. The first piezoelectric element 62, the reinforcing plate 63, and the second piezoelectric element 64 are laminated in this order. The vibrating element 6 is fixedly mounted through the arm portion 68 so that the contact portion 66 abuts on a driven element (rotor 51). Further, the vibrating element 6 has a body portion and a length L of the body portion in a direction in which the vibrating element 6 extends and contracts by application of the AC voltage is 1 to 20 mm.

So far, ultrasonic motors that drive a driven element such as a rotor, linear actuator, or the like by vibrating a vibrating element are well known. In such an ultrasonic motor, a vibrating element has a piezoelectric element, and undergoes vibration by application of an AC voltage to the piezoelectric element. A technology described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-333480 is known as the above-mentioned technology.
However, in conventional ultrasonic motors, research about a relationship between the size of a vibrating element and reliability of drive or breakage of a drive IC caused by fall is not executed well.

Ultrasonic motor, an operating apparatus, an optical apparatus and an electric instrument


A data processing system, and method combine two alphanumeric data streams into a single bar code representation. Storing a first conversion table converts a first sequence of alphanumeric characters into a corresponding sequence of first bar code characters having character widths modulated in a first direction. A second conversion table converts a second sequence of alphanumeric characters into a corresponding sequence of second bar code characters having character heights modulated in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The system outputs a composite bar code sequence to represent both the first and the second sequence of alphanumeric characters.

Bar codes have become a common means for identification of articles, conveying serial numbers, and other relatively short items of data. There are a number of different bar codes in common use, such as; the UPC code found on most packages in grocery stores; the 2 of 5 code, Codabar, Code 39 widely used for non grocery product identification and other applications; Code 93, similar to Code 39 but with the capability of encoding the full ASCII character set. These codes all carry their information in the linear domain along the code pattern. Various means are used to define the ones and zeroes of the binary code patterns. In some cases a narrow bar or space is a zero bit, while a wide bar or space is a one bit. Other combinations of bars and spaces are also used.
Another bar code is also in common usage by the US Postal System. This bar code carries its information in the height of each bar of the bar code, with all marks and spaces of equal width and used only for timing purposes. In this system a short bar is a zero and a tall bar is a one. This is the only commonly used code with vertical modulation.
This invention recognizes that these two methods of coding are orthogonal and that therefore a coding system can be devised which combines these coding approaches to provide either more code characters in the same physical space, or permit the conveyance of the same information in two different methods for greater reliability in code printing/reading. This invention provides a method for incorporating the two code streams into one pattern, and a method for separating these code streams during the reading process.

Method for printing and reading for orthogonal bar code patterns

International Business Machines Corporation


High precision transmitted navigational data as encrypted data transmitted by global positioning (GPS) satellites is made unavailable in regions designated as hostile and during desired intervals, while allowing the data to be available outside the hostile region. All satellites in the GPS constellation transmit the high precision navigational data in encrypted form. However, only the satellites that are not visible to the hostile region transmit the periodic key necessary to decrypt the data. The periodic key changes after a predetermined time interval. During a given time interval the same key value is used by all satellites for encryption of the high precision navigational data. A receiver can obtain the current periodic key from any visible satellite which is transmitting the periodic key. This key is then used to decrypt the high precision navigational data from that satellite and all other visible satellites. As a result, users in the hostile region are denied access to the high precision navigational data because they are unable to obtain the periodic key necessary to decrypt the data.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an accurate, three-dimensional navigation system. GPS consists of a constellation of twenty one satellites and three spares that orbit the earth twice a day at an altitude of 10,898 miles, transmitting precise timing information. A network of ground stations and passive user receivers respond to the information. Each satellite continuously broadcasts pseudorandom codes at L-band frequencies, L1 at 1575.42 MHz and L2 at 1227.6 MHz. L1 is modulated with two types of code, the coarse/acquisition code (CA-code) and precision code (P-code). L2 carries an encrypted P-code. The network of ground stations are at precisely known locations. Transmissions are received from the satellites, analyzed and GPS time is compared with universal standard time at the ground stations. Corrections are transmitted to the satellites from the ground station. To determine a location (latitude, longitude and altitude) a user requires the simultaneous signals from four or more satellites orbiting the earth. Simultaneous signals from at least three satellites can be used to provide two dimensional positioning (latitude and longitude). The signals are analyzed and interpreted by the GPS receiver to determine the location. The interval between the transmission and the reception of the satellite signal is used to calculate the unit's distance from each of the satellites being used. Those distances are used in algorithms to compute a position.
A potential disadvantage of the world wide availability of the GPS satellites is the possibility that terrorists and hostile nations could use the navigational facilities to accurately aim weapons and to damage sensitive target areas from great distances.
Limiting the available accuracy of the GPS data reduces this threat and permits a wide variety of peaceful uses. Selective Availability (SA) is a method that reduces the accuracy for civilian and unauthorized users. SA inserts random errors into the system and reduces the CA-code accuracy. However, this prevents access by peaceful users to high precision navigational data. High precision navigational data is necessary for many applications, including the landing of commercial aircraft. The GPS system is well known and specified. See "The Journal of Navigation", volume 25 summer 1978, where the GPS system is described in detail.
Accordingly, there is a need to have high precision navigational data available for peaceful use while limiting access for hostile use.
Hostile users can steal, buy GPS receivers or build alternative receivers but lack the resources to create an entire equivalent or alternative navigational system. It is necessary to identify regions of the world, which may vary over time, where hostile actions are likely to occur.
High precision navigational data such as the encrypted GPS data, will be referred to as controlled access data. Trusted users that require access to high precision navigational data are provided with a plurality of receivers containing decryption means. This makes high precision positioning available to users that need it while preventing hostile users from having access. However the decryption means must be kept secured from hostile users. The level of security depends directly on the reliability of procedures and other safeguards for preventing the theft of the decryption means. The greater the number of mobile receivers equipped with decryption means the greater the likelihood that security will be breached. Thus a hostile user can obtain access to the high precision navigational data.
A hidden denial channel is another tactic to control access to high precision navigational data. It utilizes an encryption method that prevents a denial channel from being separated from the high precision navigational data. This encryption method prevents the denied data from being blocked without also blocking access to the encrypted high precision navigational data. The hidden denial channel can disable selected user sets. The denied users would be unable to defeat disablement indicative of denying access to the high precision navigational data. However, the hostile user can utilize a stolen decryption means to by-pass the restriction.
Another tactic for restricting user access to the high precision navigational data in hostile regions is to include data that identifies hostile regions in the encrypted portion of the signals. The receivers that have high precision navigational data decryption means would also include a function to inhibit access to the higher accuracy when the receiver is located within a hostile region. This will only protect the unaltered receiver. Unless the decryption means is made inseparable from the position calculation means, the security will not be effective. The hostile user can purchase or build an alternative GPS receiver. This receiver when coupled to the stolen decryption means can circumvent the inhibit function.
Thus, it is desirable to implement a system where stolen receivers with high precision navigational data decryption means are denied high precision access when located in hostile regions.
While a hostile region might also be denied access to the high precision navigational data by jamming methods, it is not obvious how this could be done without also denying access to friendly military users.
Another method uses a complex secret sharing algorithm which requires the reception of multiple keys from corresponding GPS satellites in order to gain access to the high precision navigational data Access to the high precision navigational data is denied within a denial region by not transmitting the corresponding key from the corresponding satellites that are visible within the denial region.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved system to enable navigational receivers with selective access and denial based upon receiver location with respect to the reception of high precision navigational data.

Selective denial of encrypted high precision data by indirect keying


There is provided an audio signal subband encoder which attains improved quality of sound by controlling allocation of the number of quantization bits to subband signals on the basis of an evaluation function combining the noise-to-mask ratio criterion with noise-to-signal ratio criterion in order to lessen the influence of the application error of the auditory masking rule such as the aliasing distortion of subband filters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio signal subband encoder used for low bit rate coding in recording/reproducing systems such as tapes and disks and transmission systems such as communication and broadcast.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, audio signal subband encoders have attracted public attention as apparatuses realizing low bit rate coding of high-quality audio signals.
Audio signal subband encoders of the prior art are described in a paper (hereafter referred to as paper 1) written by G. Theile et al., presented in EBU Review Technical, No. 230, pp. 71-94, August 1988, and entitled "Low bit-rate coding of high-quality audio signals, an introduction to MASCAM system" and a paper (hereafter referred to as paper 2) written by R. N. J. Veldhuis et al., presented in Philips Journal of Research, Vol. 44, No. 2/3, pp. 329-343, 1989, and entitled "Subband coding of digital audio signals", for example.
Audio signal subband encoders and their decoders of the prior art will hereafter be described by referring to drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an audio signal subband encoder of the prior art.
With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 11 denotes an analysis filter, 12 a peak information decision unit, 13 an evaluation function calculator, 14 a bit allocation decision unit, 15 a quantizer, and 16 a multiplexer.
Operation of the audio signal subband encoder configured as heretofore described will hereafter be described.
In FIG. 1, the analysis filter 11 is a filter bank including a plurality of band pass filters for dividing an inputted digital audio signal into a plurality of subbands. The analysis filter 11 includes an integer-band filter bank. Integer-band filter banks are described in Chapter 11 (hereafter referred to as paper 3) of a book written by N. S. Jayant and P. Noll, published in 1984 by Prentice-Hall, and entitled "Digital coding of waveforms". In the integer-band filter bank, the ratio of the entire bandwidth to the bandwidth of a subband is an integer and decimation is performed with this ratio to downsample and convert a band pass signal to a low pass signal. At band boundaries, however, aliasing distortion is caused by the decimation. As filters capable of cancelling this aliasing distortion by using synthesis filters, quadrature mirror filters (hereafter referred to as QMFs) are widely used. QMFs are filters capable of cancelling aliasing distortion when quantization step sizes of the signals in adjacent subbands are equal. In the analysis filter 11, the signal divided into a plurality of subbands are partitioned into frames having predetermined times.
The peak information decision unit 12 derives the peak of the absolute values of signals into frames for every subband supplied from the analysis filter 11 and outputs peak information.
On the basis of the human auditory masking rule, the evaluation function calculator 13 calculates an evaluation function required for performing appropriate bit allocation in the bit allocation decision unit 14. That is to say, letting the number of subbands be N, subband No. be i (where Nos. are assigned in order from a low frequency to a high frequency, 1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.N), peak information of a subband No. i be P.sub.i, signal power of the subband No. i be S.sub.i, threshold of power of the subband No. i masked by the signal (hereafter referred to as masked power) be M.sub.i, the number of samples of the subband No. i signal in one frame be L.sub.i, the number of quantization bits of a sample be b.sub.i, and the number of all bits allocatable to sample information in one frame be B.sub.q, quantization noise power of subband No. i is derived by the following expression. EQU (2P.sub.i /2.sup.bi).sup.2 /12
Therefore, the ratio of quantization noise power of the entire band to masked power (hereafter referred to as noise-to-mask ratio) is given by the following expression. ##EQU1## The bit allocation decision unit 14 performs such bit allocation so as to minimize the noise-to-mask ratio under the condition expressed by the following equation. ##EQU2## In order to perform bit allocation in the stated way, the evaluation function calculator 13 makes a calculation of the following equation as an evaluation function E.sub.i of subband No. i. ##EQU3##
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an evaluation function calculator 13 of the prior art. In the evaluation function calculator 13, signal power in each subband is first calculated by using the signal of each subband supplied from the analysis filter 11. On the basis of the signal power of each subband and the masking rule, masked power which is masked by the signal in the subband itself and the signal in adjacent subbands and hence which is not audible to human ears, is then calculated. The evaluation function is then derived and outputted by subtracting half of the logarithm of the masked power to the base 2 from the logarithm of the peak information supplied from the peak information decision unit 12 to the base 2.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the bit allocation decision unit 14 of the prior art. The bit allocation decision unit 14 performs initialization processing at step 1 and thereafter repeats steps 2 and 3. Thereby the bit allocation decision unit 14 decides on and outputs the number bi of bits allocated to the subband No. i which minimizes the noise-to-mask ratio.
At step 1, the number B of remaining allocatable bits is set at B.sub.q and bi (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.N) is set at 0.
At Step 2, the subband No. k which makes the evaluation function E.sub.i the maximum value E.sub.max is found.
At Step 3, L.sub.k is substrated from the number B of remaining allocatable bits. If B is greater than or equal to 0, then the number b.sub.k of bits allocated to this subband is increased by one, one is subtracted from the evaluation function E.sub.k, and thereafter the processing returns to the step 2. If B is negative, then the bit allocation processing is finished, and the number bi of bits at the time of finish is outputted as bit allocation information.
The quantizer 15 normalizes the signal of each frame of each subband supplied from the analysis filter 11 by using the peak information supplied from the peak information decision unit 12, quantizes the signal of each subband in accordance with bit allocation information supplied from the bit allocation decision unit 14, and outputs the result as sample information.
The multiplexer 16 multiplexes the sample information of each subband supplied from the quantizer 15, the peak information of each subband supplied from the peak information decision unit 12, and the bit allocation information of each subband supplied from the bit allocation decision unit 14. The multiplexer 16 thus outputs a coded signal.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an audio signal subband decoder of the prior art for decoding signals encoded by the audio signal subband encoder.
With reference to FIG. 4, numeral 41 denotes a demultiplexer, 42 a dequantizer, and 43 a synthesis filter.
Operation of the audio signal subband decoder configured as heretofore described will hereafter be described.
In FIG. 4, the demultiplexer 41 separates the inputted coded signal into respective frames, separates the signal of each frame into sample information, peak information and bit allocation information, and outputs them. For each subband, the dequantizer 42 dequantizes the sample information supplied from the demultiplexer 41 by using the bit allocation information, then performs denormalization using the peak information, and reproduces the signal of each frame of each subband. The synthesis filter 43 upsamples the signal of each subband supplied from the dequantizer 42 up to the original sample frequency by inserting 0es into the signal and performing interpolation, and reproduces and outputs a digital audio signal by adding signals passed through a synthesis band pass filter bank paired with the analysis filter bank. Therefore, the aliasing distortion of the reproduced digital audio signal is superpositioned of characteristics of two subband filters, i.e., the analysis filter and the synthesis filter.
In the above described audio signal subband encoder of the prior art, however, an error was caused in masked power by an approximation error in applying the masking rule and bit allocation was performed on the basis of an evaluation function including the error. Therefore, the audio signal subband encoder had a problem of degraded quality of audio signals. That is to say, the effect of the aliasing distortion generated by subband filters at the time of application of the masking rule was not considered in the audio signal subband encoder of the prior art. Therefore, unmasked noises due to aliasing distortion were caused especially in low frequency subbands having small masking effects, resulting in degraded quality of sound in some cases. Further, there was also an error caused by applying the masking rule based upon a sine wave signal and a narrow band noise signal to an actual signal having complicated frequency spectra. Further, when the bit rate was increased in order to improve the transparency with respect to the original signal, bit allocation was not optimum due to the influence of the above described errors and hence a difference from the original signal remained, resulting in a problem.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Embodiments relate to providing high throughput hardware acceleration. Aspects include initializing an accelerator control queue (ACQ) configured to provide location information on a plurality of pages of data identified as accelerator data. An originating location of each page of requested target data is determined. The originating location includes one of system memory and disk storage. Based on determining that the originating location is system memory, an entry is created in the ACQ mapping to a system memory source address for the target data. Based on determining that the originating location is disk storage, an entry is created in the ACQ mapping to a special pre-stage buffer source address of a special pre-stage buffer for the target data. Each page of the plurality of pages of target data is accessed by the accelerator from respective locations in said memory or said special pre-stage buffer, based on respective entries of the ACQ.

The present invention relates generally to hardware accelerators, and more specifically, to providing high throughput hardware acceleration using speed-matching special pre-stage buffers.
Contemporary computing systems are designed to process database queries and software algorithms requiring access to large amounts of data located on system memory or disk storage. To process database queries requiring access to large amounts of data, contemporary computing systems typically use data from a particular point in time, or a "snapshot" of the real time data used in an online transaction processing (OLTP) database systems. Further, when the required data bandwidth is available, contemporary computing systems often provide hardware accelerators to off-load some of the processing from expensive coherent memory multiprocessors to less expensive or more efficient hardware accelerators.

High throughput hardware acceleration using pre-staging buffers

International Business Machines Corporation


A multi-color single blanket printing press for printing single or dual webs includes a pair of blanket cylinders that are movable between a contacting position and a remote position. A plurality of plate cylinders associated with each blanket cylinder apply a multi-color image to each blanket cylinder. When the blanket cylinders are in the contacting position, a web passing through the nip will receive multi-color image on both sides. When the blanket cylinders are in the remote position, a pair of webs may be passed between secondary nips formed by the blanket cylinders and a pair of secondary impression cylinders. Each of the webs may therefore receive a multi-color image on one side.

In a web-offset printing press, a blanket cylinder receives an image from a printing plate cylinder and transfers the image to a web of paper. Multi-color web offset printing presses are known which apply a multi-color image to a face of a web via a single blanket cylinder, with two blanket cylinders being employed to print both sides of the web.
In a conventional multi-color single blanket system, a plurality of plate cylinders contact each blanket, each of the plate cylinders applying a different color image to the blanket. The blankets form a nip through which a web is passed. The web receives the multi-color image from each blanket. Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,777 to Germann.
In some situations, it is desirable to print the multi-color image on a single side of a web, while in other situations it is desirable to print the multi-color image on both sides. In still other situations, it may be desirable to print a multi-color image on a single side of each of two webs. Known multi-color single blanket presses are not capable of selectively printing either on both sides of a single web or single sides of two webs.

Multi-color printing press for printing single or dual webs