Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise, and more particularly, to a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise caused when processing an image frame on a block-by-block basis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, video data is encoded by processing image frames in block units. In particular, according to video data encoding standards such as the moving picture experts group standard (MPEG) and H.263, video data is encoded by performing a discrete cosine transform (DCT) and quantization on image frames in block units. However, encoding image frames in block units may result in blocking artifacts and ringing noise. Blocking artifacts make an edge region, which was not in the original frame, occur in a reproduced image frame, thereby causing discontinuity between adjacent pixels of the edge region in the reproduced image frame. Also, when ringing noise occurs in an image frame, a borderline of an object in the image frame is not smoothly depicted, e.g., the borderline may be irregular. The higher a compression rate of the reproduced image frame, the more serious the blocking artifacts and the ringing noise become.
To filter the blocking artifacts and the ringing noise, it is important to first find an exact region of the image frame in which the blocking artifacts and ringing noise occur. Otherwise, an edge region present in the original image frame may be mistakenly regarded as being generated due to the blocking artifacts and removed, thereby deteriorating the quality of the image.
In general, detection of an edge region of a pixel block reproduced due to blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise is required to accomplish a conventional filtering method for removing blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise. For instance, in a reproduced image frame consisting of a plurality of 8×8 or 4×4 pixel blocks, the distribution of pixel values, such as brightness, luminance, and color of pixels present on boundaries between the 8×8 or 4×4 pixel blocks are measured and the measured values are compared with a predetermined critical value. The critical value is experimentally obtained by measuring the distribution of the above pixel values, such as brightness, luminance, and color of pixels, finding a relationship between the distributions of the above pixel values, and determining whether the edge region is present or not in an image frame.
To measure the distribution of pixel values, pixel values in a boundary region between adjacent blocks must be checked in the vertical or horizontal direction. However, in fact, it is almost impossible to check every pixel value in the boundary region because of a large amount of calculation and complexity. In particular, since pixel values are stored in a memory device in the vertical direction in chronological order, continuous access to the memory device is required to calculate pixel values in the vertical direction. However, continuous access to a memory device is, at least for the time being, out of the question.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor


A smart card is disclosed and it includes a processor; a first interface for use in communication with a terminal; a second interface for use in communication with another smart card; and RST generation device for generating a RST signal for the another smart card.

In the past, a magnetic card has been used as a bank card or credit card. In a magnetic card system, a personal identification data for identifying an owner of the magnetic card, which is known as a password, is stored in the magnetic card, and coincidence between the password electromagnetically read from the magnetic card loaded to a card reader and a password manually entered by the card owner is checked to determine whether the user of the card is a valid card owner. However, the following problems reside in the magnetic card.
Firstly, the password recorded on the magnetic card can be read by simple hardware and thus the use by an unauthorized person can be easily achieved.
Secondly, the password should be known only to the owner. However, the hardware for writing the password is necessary and a person who prepares the card is aware of the password.
Thirdly, security protection for an ATM or a credit card reader is not perfect and the prevention from leakage of the password is not perfect. Nevertheless, the password cannot be changed by the owner and the card is used even after another person has become acquainted with the password.
To overcome the above problems, U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,718, entitled "High Security IC Card with an Updateable Password" to Fujisaki et al., discloses an IC card having a microprocessor and a memory. In FIG. 1, numeral 10 denotes an IC card used as an identification medium for identifying a person, numeral 11 denotes a microprocessor for controlling registration and updating of a password data, numeral 12 denotes a communication interface for connection with a terminal device, numeral 13 denotes a keyboard for entering the password data, numeral 14 denotes a display device such as an LCD for displaying the password data, numeral 15 denotes a memory having areas for storing data necessary for registration and updating of the password, numeral 16 denotes a password memory area in the memory 15, the password area having 16 bits, numeral 17 denotes an area for storing the number of times of non-coincidence of the password in the memory 15, numeral 18 denotes an area for storing data representing a type and attributes of the IC card 10, and numeral 19 denotes a battery. The memory 15 has a password registration area in which the password is to be registered and a password update area in which updating data to update the password registered in the registration area is stored. The password is entered by a keying operation and the microprocessor controls the registration of the password and registers the password entered in the password registration area. When the registered password is to be changed, the number of times of input error for the password registered in the microprocessor is checked based on data preset in the password update area. If the number of times of error is smaller than a predetermined number, the registration area as well as the password update area is cleared and a newly entered password is permitted to be registered in the registration area.
Nowadays, IC cards or so-called "smart card" are used in numerous applications such as payment at a point of sale (known as "bank cards"), public telephones, payment for parking, payment for roll tolls, mobile telephones (e.g., SIM cards), health services, public transportation, or electronic purse. Each of these applications is associated with a specific card: a bank card, a phone card, a parking card, a SIM card for GSM telephony, and so on.
One of the problems encountered in daily use of such a variety of cards lies in that one of the cards might not be available when it is to be used, no matter whether it is left at home, its credit has been run out, or it has expired. In addition, administration and carry of various cards is inconvenient. Therefore, there is a strong need for the so-called "multi-application cards".
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,293, entitled "Method and System for Using a Microcircuit Card in a Plurality of Applications" to Moreno, discloses a microcircuit card including device activating a default application to be executed, device activating a target application to be executed, and switch device activating the card to be configured on command either as a default application card or as a target application card. FIG. 2 shows the organization and the general operating sequence of the method thereof.
As shown in FIG. 2, the subscription taken out by a client 20 from the radio telephone operator 21 operating the user's radio telephone 22 includes not only general radio telephone service, but also a special service, e.g. payment for parking, where the amount will be included as a specific item in the monthly listing of telephone consumption received from the operator 21 (billing represented by 23).
After parking a car close to an electronic "pay-and-display" parking meter machine 24 programmed to accept payment from prepaid cards issued by the city 25, the driver might find that no usable parking card is available or that the card is exhausted or invalid. To perform the payment required by the machine, the user then engages a "parking" command on the radio-telephone, e.g. by pressing on a button 26 or by selecting an option in a menu giving the optional services offered by the telephone operator. This command causes the SIM card 27 of the radio telephone to be "reconfigured" as a parking card. The user then extracts the card 27 from the radio telephone and inserts it (arrow 28) into the machine 24, which perceives the card as being a parking card, and the card is then operated and debited as such. The user then reinserts the card 27 (arrow 29) into the radio telephone 22 where it is read by the radio telephone which automatically reconfigures it for the GSM function.
Although such multi-application cards are technically feasible, in practice they are very difficult to implement, as demonstrated by numerous pioneering attempts ever since the invention of the IC card itself.
With the wide-spread usage of smart cards in mobile industry such as SIM for GSM, USIM for WCDMA, RUIM for CDMA2000 and PIM for PHS network, a large variety of applications have been developed by utilizing Smart cards resided in the mobile phone (SIM/USIM/RUIM/PIM, hereafter referred as UICC, Universal Integrated Circuit Card) to provide security services. Mobile operators ensure the security of the use of mobile service by authenticating the keys stored in the Smart cards that mobile operators issued to the subscribers. In addition, mobile operators provide also premium services like mobile banking, mobile stock trading service by storing keys provided by the banks or other service providers in the SIM cards. The keys are manipulated through an application interface developed by SIM Tool Kit (STK) which is also resided in the SIM card itself. When WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) phones were available, WIM (Wireless Identity Module) was also developed by the SIM card vendors to secure WAP security by storing certificate and PKI algorithm in the SIM itself (SWIM card) or another standalone WIM card which can be inserted into another card slot in the mobile phone.
The keypad and display screen of the mobile phone facilitate the inserted smart card with great user interface and the mobile nature of remote access to service providers further accomplishes the goal of service mobility. In order to achieve the service mobility, service providers like banks, credit card issuers, transportation card issuers, certificate issuers and stock brokers are eagerly to cooperate with the mobile operator to issue enhanced SIM cards so as to provide services which fall into their professions. However, the provisioning and management of the SIM capability and functionalities are in control of the mobile operators therefore it forms a closed system where only agreed parties are allowed to participate. Furthermore, the relationship between service providers and mobile operators are one of mutual distrust and both have similar agendas over control of security and payment methods. This becomes the main obstacle to the development of mobile security services.
In mobile telecommunication world, another emerging demand based on smart card is so-called "multiple SIM ownership" which indicates the trend of a single mobile phone user holding more than one SIM cards which may be issued by different mobile operators. The trend arises because of following reasons:                to have separate accounts for personal and business use        to have separate SIMs of mobile operators of different countries when traveling to save roaming fee charge        to keep separate SIMs for different service plans, such as daytime and off-peak calling        to keep separate SIMs for different promotion tariff packages to save cost
A special mobile phone with dual chip or dual slot capability used to be introduced to resolve the above issues, by providing an additional chip slot on the mobile phone in order for the service provider or another mobile operator to issue its own smart card or SIM storing its own secret keys. However, the special phones are normally costly and not well-accepted by the user, thus forming a fragmented market place where service providers can play with.
Therefore, it needs to provide a smart card that can rectify those drawbacks of the prior art and solve the above problems.


Printing devices include (and printing methods use) among other components, a processor, a printing engine operatively connected to the processor, a media supply tray operatively connected to the processor, etc. The media supply tray supplies sheets of media to the printing engine. The media supply tray has a light visible from the exterior of the printer. The processor controls the light to display different colors indicating different media loading conditions of the media supply tray. The different loading conditions can include a tray in use condition (indicated by the light displaying a first color); tray scheduled for use condition (indicated by the light displaying a second color); tray not in use condition (indicated by the light displaying a third color); tray empty condition, indicated by the light displaying a fourth color; etc.

Devices herein generally relate to printer and media supply trays (paper supply trays) and more particularly to media supply trays having an exterior light.
When printing a large job, the printer often runs out of paper. Many printing devices use a main tray until empty, and then automatically switch to one or more compatible trays to keep printing non-stop. Thus, there often arises a need to fill media trays with media while other trays are being actively used; however it may not always be clear which trays are in use. Pulling out a paper tray when in use is often problematic and may jam paper inside the printing device and/or cause the job to stop.

Media supply tray having multi-color exterior light indicating different media loading conditions


A method presents a set of input images on a display device. First, a set of display images is selected from the set of images. A 3D layout is assigned to each selected image, and a 3D trajectory is assigned to a virtual camera. A set of active images of the set of display images is rendered according to the layout and the trajectory. The set of active images includes a collector image. The collector images is rendered statically in a collector frame of an image plane of the display device, while remaining images in the set of active images are rendered dynamically on the image plane. Then, the layout and trajectory are animated according user input, and the rendering and animating is repeated until a termination condition is reached.

In the physical world, we can get the overall gist of a book by rapidly riffling through its pages. This task is even easier when the book is illustrated. The same technique can be used to locate a known target within the book, i.e., a page that a reader has seen before and is now trying to locate again. Since getting the gist of an offering and searching for a know target are tasks commonly encountered in electronic information applications as well, there is a need for techniques in the digital world similar to those of riffling the pages of a book.
The standard practice in electronic media is to present information statically on "pages." Controls are provided to allow users to change to a different page, but not to flip rapidly forwards or backwards through a set of "pages."
The closest activities that resemble the riffling of book pages is fast-forwarding or rewinding through a video or "surfing" through channels of television signals. However, these controls do not allow users to control the speed and direction of the presentation to maximum advantage and the methods are not generally available as a method for overviewing or targeting information other than video.
For years psychologists have studied human visual perception through a type of presentation known as rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). It is known that humans can process briefly presented images extremely quickly. There is a long history of experiments investigating cognitive processes involved in reading and visual perception where images or text are flashed quickly. A recent edited volume of papers provides a summary and historical overview of this work, see Coltheart (Ed.), "Fleeting Memories: Cognition of Brief Visual Stimuli," MIT Press, 1999.
It is believed that people process visual information in a series of brief discrete fixations of the eyes, typically in the range of 150 to 300 milliseconds. Between these fixations, saccade eye movements are rapid. Perception and comprehension of details are at the center of discrete fixations, whereas fuzzy perception at the periphery of vision is used in a process that determines the target of the next saccade.
In general, it is believed that visual perception progresses in stages that can lead to long-term retention in memory. However, it is possible for visual information to be seen and then quickly forgotten. Subsequent stages of cognitive processing leading to memory retention require resources that can interfere with visual perception and visa versa.
Of the prior art RSVP methods used in human-computer interfaces, the most basic uses a temporal sequence of single images that roughly corresponds to conditions studied in the psychology literature. Each successive image displaces a previously displayed image. That method of presentation has been referred to as slide-show or keyhole mode, see Tse et al., "Dynamic Key Frame Presentation Techniques for Augmenting Video Browsing," Proceedings of the Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI '98), pp. 185–194, 1998, and Spence et al. "Rapid, Serial and Visual: A Presentation Technique with Potential," Information Visualization, 1, 1, pp. 13–19, 2002.
FIGS. 1–4 show other variations including carousel mode 100, see FIG. 1, dynamic collage mode 200, see FIG. 2, floating mode 300, see FIG. 3, and shelf mode 400, see FIG. 4. Those modes all use additional movement or displacement of the images.
To date there are only preliminary findings regarding the efficacy of RSVP methods in human-computer interfaces. It seems that the experiments thus far have simply confirmed that humans can extract visual information presented rapidly in slide-show mode. Tse et al. investigated fixed-rate slide-show methods for video browsing. Users were able to extract the gist of a movie, even when images were presented extremely rapidly, e.g., eight frames per second.
However, it has been hypothesized that the other RSVP methods might provide advantages by allowing the user more flexibility and control over their attention. The user could reject irrelevant images sooner, and focus longer on relevant images. However, preliminary experiments with more complex 2D spatial/temporal layouts, such as the carousel mode 100 and the dynamic collage mode 200 have not been able to show any advantage over slide-show mode. For example a pilot experiment comparing dynamic collage mode with slide-show mode is described in Wittenburg et al. "Browsing Through Rapid-Fire Imaging: Requirements and Industry Initiatives," Proceedings of Electronic Imaging '2000: Internet Imaging, pp. 48–56, 2000. They describe an experiment involving tasks in Internet shopping where users had full control over the speed and direction of presentation. They compared the slide-show RSVP mode with the dynamic collage mode, as well as with a more conventional web page presentation method. In the dynamic collage mode, the images are placed successively and semi-randomly around a center point 201 until the images are occluded by subsequent images or are cleared from the display. Unlike the carousel mode 100, no image movement or scale changes are involved. Images of products were shown in three modes, slide show, dynamic collage, and web page. Users were asked to perform two tasks. The first was a gist extraction task. The second task was to determine the presence or absence of a target product. The relevant findings were that users preferred the slide-show mode over the dynamic collage and the web page mode, although no performance differences were observed.
The prior art methods, other than slide-show mode, require too much cognitive processing by the user since the user must attend simultaneously to many rapidly changing images and/or shift gaze to images at new 2D locations. Some of these methods require tracking in 2D, e.g., the carousel mode 100, and others require shifting gaze to focus to different locations, e.g., the dynamic collage mode 200. It should not be surprising that variants in which images move or in which images pop up at new locations require additional cognitive overhead.
De Bruijn et al. describe eye-tracking experiments connected with RSVP interface methods, see De Bruijn et al., "Patterns of Eye Gaze during Rapid Serial Visual Presentation," Proceedings of the Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI 2002), pp. 209–217, 2002. They compare a number of RSVP alternatives that require tracking, e.g., carousel, or focusing to different positions, e.g., dynamic collage. They make a number of observations regarding the patterns of eye gaze for the RSVP variant modes tested. They observed that different eye-tracking strategies were used for the shelf mode 400. One user seemed to focus only on the area in which new images appeared before moving off to background portions of the presentation. Another user seemed to track the images as they were moving. We hypothesize from these observations that new methods are needed to support users changing the focus of attention in order to adjust to their task (e.g., searching for a target image vs. extracting the gist of a sequence).
Therefore, it is desired to exploit human visual and cognitive capabilities to improve the presentation and browsing of electronic multimedia content.

System and method for presenting and browsing images serially

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc


A hybrid vehicle 20 of the invention is equipped with a power distribution integration mechanism 40 and a transmission 60. The power distribution integration mechanism 40 includes a carrier 45 connecting with a motor MG2, a sun gear 41 connecting with a motor MG1, and a ring gear 42 connecting with an engine 22. The transmission 60 includes a first change speed planetary gear mechanism PG1, a second change speed planetary gear mechanism PG2, a brake clutch BC1 configured to fix a ring gear 62 of the first change speed planetary gear mechanism PG1 in a non-rotatable manner and release the ring gear 62 in a rotatable manner and to couple the ring gear 62 with a common carrier 64 shared by the first change speed planetary gear mechanism PG1 and the second change speed planetary gear mechanism PG2, and a second brake clutch BC2 configured to fix a ring gear 66 of the second change speed planetary gear mechanism PG2 in a non-rotatable manner and release the ring gear 66 in a rotatable manner and to couple the ring gear 66 with the common carrier 64.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power output apparatus configured to output power to a driveshaft and to a hybrid vehicle equipped with such a power output apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One proposed structure of the power output apparatus includes an internal combustion engine, two motors, a Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism, and a parallel shaft-type transmission arranged to selectively link an output member with one of two output elements of the planetary gear mechanism respectively connected to the motors (see, Patent Document 1, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-155891 for example). Another proposed structure of the power output apparatus includes a planetary gear mechanism having an input element connected to an internal combustion engine and two output elements respectively connected to motors, and a parallel shaft-type transmission including two countershafts respectively connected to the corresponding output elements of the planetary gear mechanism and linked with an output shaft (see, Patent Document 2, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-106389 for example). In these prior art power output apparatuses, the parallel shaft-type transmission switches over the output element of the planetary gear mechanism to be linked with the output member or with the output shaft.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-155891
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-106389
Because of the limited space for mounting the power output apparatus, there is a difficulty in application of the power output apparatus in the Patent Document 1 mentioned above to a vehicle having a rear wheel-drive system as a main drive system, that is, a rear wheel-drive vehicle or a rear wheel drive-based four wheel drive vehicle. The power output apparatus in the Patent Document 2 mentioned above is applicable to the rear wheel-drive vehicle. The parallel shaft-type transmission, however, has rather large dimensions both in an axial direction and in a radial direction and is thus not suitable for mounting on the vehicle. The power output apparatus in the Patent Document 2 also requires a rotor of a large diameter and thereby causes its electrical drive system to be rather bulky and unsuitable for mounting on the vehicle. Therefore, the power output apparatus in the Patent Document 2 has the low possibility for the practical application. In application of the power output apparatus in the Patent Document 2 to the vehicle having the rear wheel-drive system as the main drive system, a further improvement of the power transmission efficiency is required in a wider drive range. There is thus still room for improvement in the power output apparatuses of these prior art structures.

Power output apparatus and hybrid vehicle equipped with power output apparatus


A system and method for preventing the spurting of blood from a vein or artery, the system including an adhesive tape comprising an air permeable non-woven material, across the width of which an adhesive is applied in rows, and a hemostatic island absorbent dressing pad, which expands on contact with fluids, affixed to said non-woven material, and an armband associated with the adhesive tape, the armband including a flexible strap having a notched underside, a pressure box with a rigid extension on either side thereof attached to one end of the strap, the pressure box and extensions forming a T shape, a groove defined along the width of the strap where the strap is attached to one rigid extension, at one end of the T shape, to enable the strap to bend downwards at a 90.degree. angle with respect to the rigid extension, and a ratchet device, through which the strap can be pulled in one direction, coupled to the other rigid extension, at another end of the T shape, such that applying the adhesive dressing over a hypodermic needle inserted into the vein or artery and pressing the pressure box on the armband over the island absorbent dressing pad enables removal of the needle and maintaining sufficient even pressure on the wound to prevent spurting of blood therefrom without cutting off circulation in the arm and without requiring the assistance of a nurse or attendant.

Hemodialysis, generally called simply dialysis, is a method for permanently maintaining patients whose kidneys have failed to function totally or almost totally because of disease or injury.
In healthy kidneys, blood flows through the kidney tubes where waste materials pass through the microscopically thin walls and are eliminated through the urine, while the cleansed and purified blood returns into circulation. Hemodialysis duplicates this process almost exactly. A dialysis machine is connected to an artery via an intake tube and the natural pumping action of the heart drives the blood into the machine, where it is passed through a semi-permeable membrane immersed in a specially prepared cleansing solution. The blood is then returned to the patient's body through another tube to a vein.
In most cases, where a person requires dialysis on a regular basis, a simple operation is performed, whereby a vein in the arm is connected to an artery. This creates a vein which is rich in arterial blood. The connecting tube is called a "shunt".
In order to perform the dialysis it is common to insert into the shunt, a hypodermic needle connected to a tube that leads to the dialysis machine. Between the metal part of the hypodermic needle and the tube is a plastic butterfly-wing shaped connection (hereinafter called "butterfly"). This enables easy insertion and removal of the needle.
The common practice is to insert the second needle for the return flow of the blood from the dialysis machine to the vein, close to the point of entry of the first needle (approximately 5 to 10 cm apart).
When the needle is removed from the shunt, blood spurts out due to the fact that the shunt is filled with arterial blood which is driven by pressure from the pumping action of the heart. To eliminate this spurting of blood, one has to exert pressure at the point of entry of the needle into the skin. This is done by pressing a sponge on the area. The sponge is usually a gauze ball or folded gauze pad and is held in place by pressing with a finger. The blood flow is stopped and the needle removed. The pressure is maintained on the skin, on the blood vessel and on the shunt below it until the shunt is closed by a blood clot and a clot forms on the skin--a process which can take from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the individual patient. When the clots are formed, the sponge is removed and replaced with a clean dressing.
From the moment that the needle is removed until the end of the pressure process, the nurse/attendant must hold the sponge in place, and cannot release the pressure, thus taking valuable time which could be used to attend to another patient. The nurse/attendant is naturally impatient to complete the process, and may release the pressure on the sponge too early, to see if the blood has clotted. This results in uneven pressure being applied on the area which is unhealthy. When pressure is released before the proper time, blood clots are not properly formed and each further burst of blood enlarges the former clot. The shunt eventually becomes blocked by these excess clots and may have to be replaced.
There exist several methods for preventing blood spurting from the entry/exit point of the needle.
One such method involes applying a plastic (non-permeable) adhesive tape which contains in its center an expandable sponge pad to one side of the needle. The pad is positioned above the point of entry/exit of the needle and expands on contact with fluids. Pressure is exerted on the sponge pad under which lies the needle and the needle is removed by holding the butterfly on the needle. Continuous pressure is exerted on the sponge whilst the other half of the adhesive tape is adhered over the wound. Digital pressure continues until the shunt and the wound are dry. The pressure on the sponge is released and the patient is free to leave with the dressing adhered. Alternatively, when the nurse/attendant assumes that the hole in the shunt and the wound has healed, pressure is released. We are unaware of any system whereby the entire adhesive tape is adhered to the wound before the needle is removed. We have experimented and have found that in the presently used adhesive tapes the glue sticks to the needle and to the butterfly, which makes it difficult to remove the needle with ease, especially while a finger is exerting pressure on the center of the sponge (this is in fact an uneven pressure which may cause blood spurts).
Another method for preventing blood spurting is as follows:
A folded gauze sponge is placed above the needle. The needle is removed and instead of exerting digital pressure, one of the undermentioned methods is used:
a) An elastic bandage is rolled around the arm, creating pressure. This system is unsafe and is rarely used.
b) A mechanical clamp is applied on the gauze sponge. The clamp is similar to tongs whose curved arms are held together by a spring. These tongs replace the finger when the needle is removed and the nurse/attendant is free to attend to other patients. This is an expensive method--the life-span of the tongs is short because the spring does not last long. Risks of cross infection are prevalent because the tongs are re-usable.
c) A plastic arm strap is placed over the gauze sponge. The arm strap has a rough, notched surface along its underside with a ratchet device at one end, allowing the strap to be pulled through it in one direction. Attached to the ratchet device is a shoulder-shaped housing which fits over the sponge. The shoulders create pressure on the sponge and replace the previously used finger. The needle is removed by means of the butterfly and extra pressure is exerted by tightening the strap for a time period of between 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the patient. The strap is removed by means of a release clip on the ratchet.
There are several disadvantages in using this latter system.
First of all the arm strap acts like a belt, creating homogeneous pressure all around, on the sponge and around the entire arm. This may stop the free flow of venous blood, causing the arm to turn blue due to lack of sufficient blood supply. Secondly, the sponge and/or the shoulder shaped housing may slip from the exact spot where pressure is required. Moreover, in this method, when the sponge with the absorbed blood is removed, the entire dried clot attached to the sponge is pulled off, which may cause the wound to bleed again. Therefore, after the removal of the sponge, a new adhesive tape with a new sponge has to be placed on the wound.
The above described arm strap cannot be used with the adhesive tape having an expandable sponge as previously described, for the following reasons:
a) Because of its shape the strap does not exert pressure directly on the sponge beneath the adhesive tape.
b) The shoulder-shaped housing of the arm strap is shaped to fit over an ordinary gauze sponge and would slip on the smooth surface of the adhesive tape when the strap is tightened. It therefore does not facilitate steady pressure at the point of entry/exit of the needle.
c) The system whereby half the adhesive tape is adhered at first, and the second half only after removal of the needle, does not permit the use of the above arm strap together with known adhesive tapes.
d) The arm strap slips from the center of the pad whilst the needle is removed and insufficient pressure results in spurting of arterial blood.

System for prevention of blood spurts from blood vessels during removal of needle


A memory disambiguation apparatus includes a store queue, a store forwarding buffer, and a version count buffer. The store queue includes an entry for each store instruction in the instruction window of a processor. Some store queue entries include resolved store addresses, and some do not. The store forwarding buffer is a set-associative buffer that has entries allocated for store instructions as store addresses are resolved. Each entry in the store forwarding buffer is allocated into a set determined in part by a subset of the store address. When the set in the store forwarding buffer is full, an older entry in the set is discarded in favor of the newly allocated entry. A version count buffer including an array of overflow indicators is maintained to track overflow occurrences. As load addresses are resolved for load instructions in the instruction window, the set-associative store forwarding buffer can be searched to provide memory disambiguation.

With every new generation of microprocessors, instruction window sizes are increasing. The term "instruction window" describes the set of processor instructions in various stages of execution at any given time. As newer generations of processors continue to increase the number of parallel execution units and the depth of pipelines, the number of processor instructions in the instruction window at any given time continues to increase.
Some processors with parallel execution units can execute many processor instructions in parallel. This improves program execution speed. Instructions enter the instruction window when they are read from the software program in "program order." "Program order" is the sequential order of the processor instructions in the program. When in the instruction window, different instructions can be scheduled to be executed by different execution units. This can lead to instructions being executed out of program order, or "out-of-order." The execution order of some processor instructions can be important. Examples include "load" instructions that read the contents of memory locations, and "store" instructions that update the contents of memory locations. For example, if a load instruction and a store instruction that specify the same memory location exist in a program with the store instruction preceding the load instruction in program order, the load instruction is said to be "dependent" on the store instruction. If the dependent load instruction accesses the memory location before the store instruction, the load instruction will read the memory location contents prior to the update by the store instruction, and an error will result. When a load instruction is dependent on a store instruction, the program order of these two instructions should be respected by the processor executing them.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art store queue. Store queue 100 is a fully associative queue that includes information from every store instruction that is in the instruction window. When a store instruction is read from the program, information from the store instruction is deposited in store queue 100, where it stays for as long as the store instruction is in the instruction window. Store queue 100 includes entries 130, each of which including a store address (STA) field 110 and store data (STD) field 120. When a store instruction is encountered in a program, an entry in store queue 100 is allocated, and to the extent that information is available to fill in STA field 110 and STD field 120, they are filled in. When a store instruction is completed, or "retired," the corresponding entry is removed from store queue 100.
When a load instruction is encountered in a program, store queue 100 is searched to see if store queue 100 includes a store instruction upon which the load instruction depends. If one of entries 130 has an STA field 110 that matches the address corresponding to the load instruction, then the load instruction is dependent. If no such store instruction is found in store queue 100, the load instruction can be executed immediately without causing an erroneous out-of-order condition. This is called "memory disambiguation." If a store instruction upon which the load instruction depends is found, then execution of the load instruction can be delayed, or the load instruction can be satisfied by reading the data value from store queue 100 rather than from the memory location. This is called "store data forwarding."
Store queue 100 is a fully associative queue that is completely searched each time a load instruction is encountered in a program. The search of store queue 100 takes time. For each load instruction encountered in a program, time is spent in a sequential search of store queue 100 to find any store instructions upon which the load instruction depends, and to find data to satisfy the load instruction with a store data forwarding operation. As instruction windows increase in size, store queue 100 and the associated search time also increase in size. When store queue 100 is very large, the search time can become so large as to cause performance problems.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an alternate method and apparatus for providing memory disambiguation.

Memory disambiguation for large instruction windows


A method to provide more opportunities to close a connection in an orderly fashion and avoid abrupt break of the connection. A device and a system operable to practice such as method.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer mass storage devices, in particular, relates to Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) mass storage devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most computer systems have mass storage devices where software programs, raw data and outputs are stored on a permanent basis. There are many types of mass storage devices, for example, magnetic disk drives such as hard drives, or optical disk drives such as a CD-ROM or DVD. There are also many ways to access these various types of mass storage devices, i.e. the protocols or interfaces connecting between the host computers and the mass storage devices. One of the simplest ways of connecting between a host computer and a mass storage device is to connect the hard drives directly to the motherboard of the host computer. Most personal computers, such as desktop or laptop computers, have mass storage devices connected to the motherboard directly using an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) or ATA (AT Attachment) cable, as shown in FIG. 1. The ATA cable, e.g. cable 120 as shown in FIG. 1, has a very limited length and limited number of drives that can be attached, normally two. The width of the cable and its limited length has created packaging problems for the installation of a large number of disk drives, which problem is exacerbated if additional controllers and cables are added. If the need of the computer storage increases, that is the computer needs more storage, then either the disk has to be replaced with a larger hard drive, which has many problems, or an additional disk must be added, with at least the cabling problems discussed above.
The other leading alternative is SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). SCSI also uses a wide cable with limited lengths. However, SCSI can provide more disk drives for any given controller so the number of drives is not as limited. Again, the cable length and width creates problems.
Instead of having this one to one or one-to-few relationship between a hard drive and a computer, the computers and mass storage devices can have a multiple to multiple relationships through some intermediates. For example, a node computer can connect to a storage server through a network, for example Internet or local area network, as shown in FIG. 2. This storage server can have many hard drives or a disk farm including many different hard drives, DVDs or CD-ROMs. The storage server maintains the data integrity on various hard drives by keeping enough redundancy of the hard drives. The storage server can also manage the scalability of the capacity by adding or removing hard drives to increase or decrease the storage capacity of the disk farm. In the view of the node computer through the network, the storage server and the disk farms is just a large mass storage device. This aggregated and networked storage device arrangement is very reliable and flexible but it can be quite complicated and expensive.
In pursuit of better performance at a lower cost, a new type of interface between computer and mass storage device is being developed. One of such interconnections is called Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). The proposed SAS standard is compatible with the Serial ATA physical interconnect. The specifications can be obtained at the website serialata.org. The current specifications include Serial ATA, Revision 1.0a dated Jan. 7, 2003 and Serial ATA II: Extensions to Serial ATA 1.0, Revision 1.0, dated Oct. 16, 2002, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The SAS standard includes three types of protocols: Serial SCSI protocol (SSP), Serial ATA Tunneling protocol (STP), and Serial Management Protocol (SMP). This new standard is developed to operate with the SCSI standard, normally used on large computers for direct attached storage.
A host computer is also called an initiator. The hard drive or an individual piece of mass storage is called a target. A target may be connected to an initiator directly as in FIG. 3, similar to the arrangement as in FIG. 1, or may be connected through an expander, as in FIG. 4. Each initiator may connect to one or more expanders and each expander can connect to a number of targets, as shown in FIG. 4. An expander is a type of switch such that each initiator can connect to a target through a pathway through the expander. The connection between initiators to expanders, and expanders to targets are through the interconnection circuits which are called phys. Each phy contains a transceiver which can transmit and receive data frames or commands at the same time. Each initiator, expander or target may have multiple phys, e.g. as shown in FIG. 5A or 5B. In case where an initiator phy is directly attached to a target phy, the pathway and the physical link are identical. As shown in FIG. 5A, the initiator phy 502 is linked to the target phy 504 directly, so the pathway and the physical link are the same. In this case, the initiator has only one phy 502 and the target only has one phy 504. The pathway is the physical route of a connection. In case where there are expander devices between an initiator phy and a target phy, the pathway consists of all the physical links required to route a frame or a command between the initiator phy and the target phy, as shown in FIG. 5B. The physical links may or may not be using the same physical link rate. A connection is a temporary association between an initiator port and a target port. During a connection, frames or commands from the initiator port are forwarded to the target port and similarly all frames from the target port are forwarded to the initiator port. If multiple potential pathways exist between the initiator ports and the target ports, multiple connections may be established by a port between the following: a) one initiator port to one of multiple target ports; b) one target port to one of multiple initiator ports; or c) one initiator port to one target port. Once a connection is established, the pathway used for the connection may not be changed (i.e., all the physical links that make up the pathway remain dedicated to the connection until it is closed.) Since each connection between an initiator port and a target port is a dedicated connection, at each time, a port can only connect to one other port.
As shown in FIG. 5B, initiator 504 may have two ports 507 and 517, each having phy 510 and 520, respectively. Phy 510 is linked to expander phy 562 and port 561, and phy 520 is linked to expander phy 566 and port 565. Target 515 has one port 527 and two phys 530 and 540, it being a wide port. Target 525 has one port 547 and one phy 550. The target phys 530, 540 are linked to expander phys 564, 568 in port 563 and target phy 550 is linked to expander phy 572 in port 571. Initiator phy 510 may have three pathways, one to each of the target phys 530, 540 and 550. For example, the first pathway is from phy 510 to phy 562 on the expander to phy 564 on the expander to target phy 530; the second pathway is from phy 510 to phy 562 on the expander to phy 568 on the expander to target phy 540; the third pathway is from phy 510 to phy 562 on the expander to phy 572 on the expander to target phy 550. But at any given time, phy 510 can have only one pathway open, i.e. connecting to and communicating with one of the three target phys. Similarly, phy 520 may have a pathway to one of phys 530, 540 and 550, but phy 510 and 520 cannot simultaneously be connected to phys 530 and 540 as that would connect two ports 507 and 517 to one port 527.
An initiator can be connected to any one of the targets when needed with or without the intermediate expanders. The connection is only opened when there is a need to communicate from an initiator to a target. For example as shown in FIG. 5B, the initiator may have any one of the three connections to the three targets if the initiator needs to communicate with that one. When the need is satisfied, then the connection is closed. Therefore, there is a protocol to open and close the connections between initiators and targets.
A connection can be opened by sending an OPEN address frame from a source port to a destination port using one source phy and one destination phy. An AIP primitive is generated and sent by the intermediate expanders to indicate that the intermediate expanders are working to open up the connection, usually one segment at a time. The AIP indicates that the expander is waiting its turn to get the resources for opening the requested connection. If the OPEN address frame reaches the destination, the destination may return either OPEN_accept or OPEN_reject primitives. If the OPEN_accept primitive is received by the source port, then the connection is established between the source port and the destination port, as shown in FIG. 6. After that, data transmission can occur.
After the connection has been opened, each port can send frames to the other port. When either the source port or the destination port finishes transmitting frames, it can initiate the closure of the connection by sending a DONE primitive. Either port can send the first DONE. For simplicity of this discussion, it is assumed that the source port initiates the closure of the connection, but it is understood that the destination port could have initiated and the figures would be reversed.
There are several different ways to end a connection between the source port and the destination port. Some of those methods are more preferable than others. The least preferred method of closing a connection is breaking a connection. After transmitting a BREAK, the source port will ignore all incoming frames except for BREAKs. BREAKing a connection should be avoided because it is not an orderly closure between the two connected ports. The status of any outstanding commands is lost and lengthy recovery processes must occur. Using BREAK to close a connection is like using Ctrl+Alt+Del or unplugging the power cord to shut down a computer.
A preferred method of closing a connection is to send and receive DONE primitives between two connecting ports, as shown in FIG. 7. When all data transmission from the source port to the destination port is finished, the source port will send a DONE primitive to the destination port. The two ports will exchange DONE primitives and then CLOSE primitives to orderly close the connection between the source port and destination port. A CLOSE primitive is used to close a connection of any protocol. The CLOSE primitive is the last primitive exchanged between two ports before the connection is ended. If the connection between a source port and a destination port is closed through an orderly closure, the status of each port and all commands are known after the closure. So the next time the source port or the destination port is needed for other connection, the new connection can be started smoothly and immediately. But if the connection between the source port and the destination port is terminated by a BREAK primitive or some time out, then the status of the outstanding higher level commands may be unknown (although the status of the ports may be known). Before the higher level systems are recovered and reinitialized, those ports are not usable for data transmission.
If for any reasons, the two ports fail to exchange DONE primitives, then the CLOSE primitive cannot be used. Thereafter, the connection will be broken by a BREAK primitive or assumed to be broken.
It is desirable to have a method and an apparatus to reduce the chances of abrupt disconnection between a source port and a destination port. It is desirable to expand the availability of the DONE primitive for various situations when the DONE primitive is not currently available.

Expedited completion done messages, method and apparatus


The present invention relates to expression cassettes comprising transcription regulating nucleotide sequences with seed-preferential or seed-specific expression profiles in plants obtainable from the Arabidopsis thaliana gene described by the locus At1g48130 or its orthologs from other plant species (such as Linum usitatissimum). The transcription regulating nucleotide sequences preferably exhibit strong expression activity especially in seeds and seed tissues.

Manipulation of plants to alter and/or improve phenotypic characteristics (such as productivity or quality) requires the expression of heterologous genes in plant tissues. Such genetic manipulation relies on the availability of a means to drive and to control gene expression as required. For example, genetic manipulation relies on the availability and use of suitable promoters which are effective in plants and which regulate gene expression so as to give the desired effect(s) in the transgenic plant.
The seed-preferential or seed-specific promoters are useful for expressing genes as well as for producing large quantities of protein, for expressing oils or proteins of interest, e.g., antibodies, genes for increasing the nutritional value of the seed and the like. It is advantageous to have the choice of a variety of different promoters so that the most suitable promoter may be selected for a particular gene, construct, cell, tissue, plant or environment. Moreover, the increasing interest in cotransforming plants with multiple plant transcription units (PTU) and the potential problems associated with using common regulatory sequences for these purposes merit having a variety of promoter sequences available.
There is, therefore, a great need in the art for the identification of novel sequences that can be used for expression of selected transgenes in economically important plants. It is thus an objective of the present invention to provide new and alternative expression cassettes for seed-preferential or seed-specific expression of transgenes in plants. The objective is solved by the present invention.

Seed-preferred promoter from peroxiredoxin gene from flax


A method and apparatus of making coiled plate, sheet in coiled form or discrete plate. The apparatus is an intermediate thickness slab caster and inline hot strip and plate line. The apparatus includes a continuous strip caster forming a strand of between 3.5 and 5.5 inches thick; a shear for cutting the strand into a slab of desired length; a slab table including a slab takeoff operable transverse of the conveyor table; a slab collection and storage area adjacent to the slab conveyor table adapted to receive slab from the slab takeoff; a reheat furnace having an entry inline with both the slab conveyor table and the slab collection and storage area for receiving slabs from either; a feed and run back table at the exit of the reheat furnace; a hot reversing mill for reducing the slab to a thickness of 1 inch or less in no more than three flat passes; a pair of coiler furnaces located on opposite sides of the hot reversing mill; and a finishing line downstream of the pair of coiler furnaces.

Since the advent of the continuous casting of slabs in the steel industry, companies have been trying to marry the hot strip mill to the continuous caster through an inline arrangement so as to maximize production capability and minimize the equipment and capital investment required. The initial efforts in this regard consisted of integrating continuous casters producing slabs on the order of 6 inches to 10 inches with existing continuous or semi-continuous hot strip mills. These existing hot strip mills included a reheat furnace, a roughing train (or a reversing rougher) and a six or seven stand finishing mill with a capacity of 11/2 to 5 million tons per year. This mill arrangement is the present day design of large steel company mills and it is unlikely that new hot strip mills of this design would ever be built due to the high capital cost. However, the quest for low cost integrated caster-hot strip mills is not solved by current designs. Further, such prior art integrated mills were extremely inflexible as to product mix and thus market requirements.
These difficulties gave rise to the development of the so-called thin slab continuous hot strip mill which typically produces 1,000,000 tons of steel per year as specialized products. These mills have been integrated with thin slab casters on the order of 2 inches or less. Such integrated thin slab casters are enjoying increased popularity but are not without serious drawbacks of their own. Significant drawbacks include the quality and quantity limitations associated with the so-called thin slab casters. Specifically, the trumpet type mold necessary to provide the metal for the thin slab can cause high frictional forces and stresses along the surface of the thin wall slab which leads to poor surface quality in the finished product. Further, the 2 inch strip casters are limited to a single tundish life of approximately 7 heats because of the limited metal capacity of the mold.
Most importantly, the thin casters by necessity have to cast at high speeds to prevent the metal from freezing in the current ladle arrangements. This, in turn, requires the tunnel furnace which is just downstream of the slab caster to be extremely long, often on the order of 500 feet, to accommodate the speed of the slab and still be able to provide the heat input to a thin slab (2 inches) which loses heat at a very high rate. Since the slab also leaves the furnace at a high speed, one needs the multistand continuous hot strip mill to accommodate the rapidly moving strip and roll it to sheet and strip thicknesses. However, such a system is still unbalanced at normal widths since the caster has a capacity of about 800,000 tons per year and the continuous mill has a capacity of 2.4 million tons/year. The capital cost then approaches that of the earlier prior art systems that it was intended to replace.
In addition, the scale loss as a percentage of slab thickness is substantial for the 2 inch thin cast slab. Because of the extremely large furnace, one must provide a long roller hearth which becomes very maintenance intensive because of the exposed rotating rollers.
The typical multistand hot strip mill likewise requires a substantive amount of work in a short time which must be provided for by larger horsepower rolling stands which, in some cases, can exceed the energy capabilities of a given area, particularly in the case of emerging countries. Thin slab casters likewise are limited as to product width because of the inability to use vertical edgers on a 2 inch slab. In addition, such casters are currently limited to a single width. Further problems associated with the thin strip casters include the problems associated with keeping the various inclusions formed during steelmaking away from the surface of the thin slab where such inclusions can lead to surface defects if exposed. In addition, existing systems are limited in scale removal because thin slabs lose heat rapidly and are thus adversely effected by the high pressure water normally used to break up the scale.
In addition, this thin strip process can only operate in a continuous manner, which means that a breakdown anywhere in the process stops the entire line often causing scrapping of the entire product then being processed.
It is an object of our invention to integrate an intermediate thickness slab caster with a hot reversing mill. It is a further object to adopt a system which balances the rate of the caster to the rate of the rolling mill. It is also an object of our invention to adopt a system using less thermal and electrical energy. It is still a further object to adopt an automated system with small capital investment, reasonable floor space requirements, reasonably powered rolling equipment and low operating costs.

Method and apparatus for intermediate thickness slab caster and inline hot strip and plate line


Planar resonant tunneling sensor devices and methods for using the same are provided. The subject devices include first and second electrodes present on a surface of a planar substrate and separated from each other by a nanodimensioned gap. The devices also include a first member for holding a sample, and a second member for moving the first member and planar resonant tunneling electrode relative to each other. Also provided are methods of fabricating such a device and methods of using such a device for improved detection and characterization of a sample.

The quantum mechanical phenomenon of "resonant tunneling" was first analyzed in 1969 by Esaki and Tsu in 1969 (Esaki et al., IBM J. Res. and Develop. 14:61–69 (1970). The concept of "resonant tunneling" has since evolved into that of the "resonant tunneling diode" (RTD), wherein a central region containing some central moiety, for example a quantum dot, is placed between two quantum mechanical tunneling barriers. Two conducting electrodes in contact with the two quantum mechanical tunneling barriers can therefore allow the injection of electrical current from a first electrode, across a first barrier to the moiety, and from the moiety across a second barrier to the second electrode.
If an energy level in the central moiety matches the electron energy in the first electrode, some enhancement of electrical current through the RTD occurs. This phenomenon can be called matched-level resonance.
If the matched-level resonance condition is present, and if in addition the two quantum mechanical tunneling barriers are equal in magnitude, a tremendous additional enhancement in electrical current through the RTD occurs. This second phenomenon wherein the two quantum mechanical tunneling barriers are equal in magnitude can be called matched-barrier resonance.
A variant of the resonant tunneling diode is used with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in a procedure called "resonant tunneling spectroscopy," which has been refined into a procedure called "shell tunneling spectroscopy" (Bakkers, et al., Nano Letters, 1(10):551–556 (2001)).
The prior shell-tunneling spectroscopy work has been limited because the sample under test is fixed in place in a single position on top of an insulator of constant thickness. In order for the desirable phenomenon matched-barrier resonance to be employed in such a device, the magnitude of the upper quantum mechanical tunneling barrier due to the separation of the STM tip from the sample under test must be matched to the magnitude of the lower quantum mechanical tunneling barrier due to the presence of the insulator between the sample under test and the conducting substrate, and this is difficult to achieve in practice.
Thus there exists a need for a tunneling spectrometer in which the phenomenon of matched-barrier resonance can be effectively employed, and at the same time the phenomenon of matched-energy resonance can also be made to occur, in order to obtain a complete density of states for a test sample. The present invention addresses this need.
Relevant Literature
Bakkers et al., Nano Letters, 1(10):551–556 (2002); Chang et al., Applied Physics Lett., 24(12):593–595 (1974); Goodhue et al., Applied Physics Lett., 49(17):1086–1088 (1986); Sollner et al., Applied Physics Lett., 43(6):588–590 (1983); Esaki et al., IBM J. Res. Dev., 14:61–65 (1970); and Sollner et al., Applied Physics Lett., 45(12):1319–1321 (1984).

Planar resonant tunneling sensor and method of fabricating and using the same


A method and system are provided for configuring or registering an edge device with a video management server (VMS) in a digital video network. The edge device initiates a registration process and sends an unsolicited pre-registration request, including edge-device-specific configuration information, to the VMS. This is in contrast to known approaches in which the VMS initiates registration. The VMS automatically pre-registers the edge device based on the received unsolicited pre-registration request. An edge device registration activator is displayed for the pre-registered edge device. In response to activation or selection of the edge device registration activator, the VMS registers the pre-registered device to the VMS using the edge-device-specific configuration information received in the unsolicited pre-registration request. The registration can be performed in a single operation, without the VMS having to gather further information. The edge device can be configured to more than one VMS at a time.

Video surveillance systems are used to keep watch over physical areas to assist in identifying events of interest. Such events, and associated data, can relate to maintaining safety and security, mitigating risk, increasing operational efficiency, preventing loss of products or revenue, gathering business intelligence, and a variety of other applications.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital video network 100, such as a video surveillance network. The video surveillance network 100 includes a plurality of edge devices 102, shown in FIG. 1 as cameras. The edge devices 102 are in communication with a video management server (VMS) 104, such as via a communications network 106. A client 108, in communication with the edge devices 102 and the VMS 104, can be used to configure various aspects of the network.
To configure a camera 102 to a VMS 104 according to known approaches, the client 108 typically accesses a video management screen in an interface, and makes a selection to display cameras. After selecting the cameras, the user can typically select a "discover" function, which yields a further camera configuration interface.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of such a known camera configuration interface 110. In this screen, or interface, 110, a listing is provided of all cameras found in the network. The listing includes a plurality of camera entries 112. The interface 110 can also include command buttons 114, which can be used to confirm a request to configure a camera identified by selecting its camera entry 112. The selection can be made in various manners, such as using checkboxes, highlighting or clicking the entry 112 itself, or by any other suitable means.
Referring back to FIG. 1, in such an approach, the VMS 104 sends a message to the communications network 106 to obtain information regarding cameras 102 or other elements or devices connected to the VMS 104. To add a camera 102 or other video provider, it is difficult to determine exactly which camera it is, based only on the name that is displayed, such as shown in FIG. 2.
Sometimes an IP address is also displayed. However, this information often does not assist in properly identifying a camera. Even if it is possible to determine which camera it is solely based on the device name or IP address, there is no indication of whether the device has already been configured into the system. The system simply sends a message regarding the presence of edge devices. The edge devices reply only with an indication of their presence, and provide no further information. To add a channel according to known approaches, the user needs to select the camera and the channel, only based on the camera and channel names, and add it. It may also be necessary to log in as an administrator to complete the process.
It is, therefore, desirable to improve on known camera configuration or registration approaches.

Automatic configuration of connection from camera to video management server


A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first region having patterns formed based on grid points as intersections of grid lines; and a second region including a plurality of layout cells an outer edge of which is defined by the grid points, the layout cells having patterns formed based on a wiring rule with patterns connected to patterns of the first region among the patterns being formed based on the grid points at a boundary with the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of designing the semiconductor device. In particular, the invention relates to a semiconductor device including a region designed to lie on grid and a region designed to be off grid, and to a method of designing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a semiconductor device manufacturing process has proceeded toward fine patterning. Further, semiconductor devices can be manufactured by transferring patterns formed on a mask to a semiconductor substrate based on lithography or other such exposure technologies. This manufacturing process has a problem in that if mask patterns are formed finely as compared with the wavelength of light for exposure, transferred patterns for manufacturing a semiconductor device are displaced from the original mask patterns due to light interference or diffraction.
In recent mask pattern formation techniques, OPC (Optical Proximity Correction) has been carried out in consideration of the light interference or diffraction. According to the OPC, a pattern shape is corrected in consideration of a distance between patterns or a combination of patterns of different shapes. For example, if a distance between adjacent patterns is small, a width of a pattern formed on a semiconductor substrate becomes small, so a mask pattern is set wider than that of design data. In other words, the OPC is intended to individually correct various combinations of patterns of different pattern shapes and pitches. If mask pattern shape and pitch can be arbitrarily set, a number of combinations of various correction types are conceivable. As a result, it takes much time to execute the OPC.
To avoid such circumstances, mask patterns used for a micromachining process are formed in accordance with on-grid layout for forming patterns based on grid points as intersections of grid lines arranged at regular intervals. The numbers of pattern pitches and widths can be reduced by forming mask patterns based on the grid point. In other words, the number of combinations for the OPC is reduced to thereby save a period necessary for the OPC. The related art regarding the on-grid layout is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-189683.
FIG. 6 shows a mask pattern example of the related art. In a mask pattern 100 of FIG. 6, via holes 101 are formed on grid. As shown in FIG. 6, the via holes 101 are formed in regions on and around the grid points. Here, an interval between the grid points is set to, for example, the minimum pattern pitch of the manufacturing process.
However, in the on-grid layout of the related art, the grid interval is limited to the minimum pattern pitch. In other words, patterns that could be originally formed at small intervals, should be formed based on grid points. This causes a problem that the total pattern size increases and a chip area in turn increases despite the fine patterning process.

Semiconductor device and method of designing the semiconductor device


A disk storage system is disclosed wherein user data received from a host system is first encoded according to a first channel code having a high code rate, and then encoded according to an ECC code, such as a Reed-Solomon code, wherein the ECC redundancy symbols are encoded according to a second channel code having low error propagation. In the preferred embodiment, the first channel code is a RLL (d,k) code having a long k constraint which allows for longer block lengths (and higher code rates). During read back, a synchronous read channel samples the analog read signal a synchronously and interpolates the asynchronous sample values to generate sample values substantially synchronized to the baud rate. In contrast to conventional synchronous-sampling timing recovery, interpolated timing recovery can tolerate a longer RLL k constraint because it is less sensitive to noise in the read signal and not affected by process variations in fabrication. Additionally, a trellis sequence detector detects an estimated binary sequence from the synchronous sample values, wherein a state transition diagram of the trellis detector is configured according to the code constraints of the first and second channel codes. The estimated binary sequence output by the sequence detector is buffered in a data buffer to facilitate the error detection and correction process, and to allow for retroactive and split-segment symbol synchronization using multiple sync marks.

Magnetic and optical disk storage devices are commonly used by host computer systems to store large amounts of digital data in a non-volatile manner. Typically, a disk storage medium spinning within the storage device is partitioned into a number of radially spaced concentric or spiral data tracks, where each data track is further partitioned into a number of data sectors. To write and read data to and from a target data sector on a particular track, a recording head (read/write head) is positioned over the track by an electromechanical serving mechanism. Then, to write to the track, the data serves to modulate a current in a write coil or intensity of a laser beam of the recording head in order to write a sequence of corresponding magnetic flux or optical transitions onto the surface of the disk. To read this recorded data, the recording head again passes over the track and emits an analog read signal comprising a sequence of polarity alternating pulses induced by the transitions representing the recorded data. These pulses are then detected and decoded into an estimated data sequence by a read channel and, in the absence of errors, the estimated data sequence matches the recorded data sequence.
A conventional data path in a disk storage system is shown in FIG. 2. User data from a host system is transmitted to a disk controller 2 where it is stored in a data buffer 4. The data buffer 4 may perform a conventional disk caching function depending on its size. The user data is read from the data buffer 4 (as arbitrated by controller 6) and then written to the disk using write/read circuitry 9 in a synchronous read channel 8. As it is written to the disk, a redundancy generator 10 processes the user data to generate redundancy symbols which are appended to the user data to form a code word of an error correcting code (ECC). The Reed-Solomon code is the most common error correcting code employed in disk storage devices currently on the market. The above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,743 entitled "COEFFICIENT UPDATE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REED-SOLOMON DECODER" illustrates one possible embodiment of an ECC encoder/decoder that could be employed in the present invention.
The synchronous read channel 8 typically comprises a channel encoder 11 for encoding the ECC code words according to a channel code before writing the data to the disk. The channel code may implement a simple run-length limited (RLL) code, such as a conventional RLL (d,k) code, and possibly a more complex code, such as a spectral shaping code or a trellis code. The RLL (d,k) code constrains to d the minimum distance in "bit cells" between consecutive transitions (i.e., the minimum number of "0" bits that must occur between consecutive "1" bits), and constrains to k the maximum distance in "bit cells" between consecutive transitions (i.e., the maximum number of consecutive "0" bits). The d constraint mitigates the interference between consecutive transitions known as partial erasure, and the k constraint ensures that sufficient timing information can be extracted to maintain proper bit synchronization during a read operation (i.e., proper self-clocking).
Upon read back, write/read circuitry 9 detects an estimated binary sequence from samples of the analog read signal, and a sync detector 12 symbol synchronizes the data stream (i.e., delineates the symbol boundaries) by detecting a sync mark in the estimated binary sequence. Once symbol-synchronized, a channel decoder 13 decodes the estimated binary sequence according to the reverse operation of the channel encoder 11, thereby generating detected ECC code words which may or may not contain symbols in error. The detected code words are then transferred to the disk controller 2 and stored in the data buffer 4. Typically, ECC syndromes are also generated by a syndrome generator 10 as the detected code words are transferred from the read channel. An error detection and correction circuit 15 processes the ECC syndromes to detect and correct errors in the code words, and the corrected user data portion of the code words is then transferred to the host system.
It is well known that the amount of error propagation that can occur when decoding the channel code can impact significantly the effectiveness of the ECC decoder. It is also well known that in decoding the channel code the amount of error propagation tends to grow exponentially as the realized code rate approaches the theoretical capacity (Shannon capacity) of the coding constraints. Thus, the conventional data path of FIG. 2 has precluded the use of longer channel block codes with code rates closer to the theoretical capacity in order to minimize error propagation.
A paper published in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 23, No. 10, March 1981, entitled "CIRCUITRY FOR PERFORMING ERROR CORRECTION CALCULATIONS ON BASEBAND ENCODED DATA TO ELIMINATE ERROR PROPOGATION," discloses a method for performing error correction on the channel encoded data in order to avoid the above described error propagation that occurs if the error correction is performed on the decoded data as in FIG. 2. This technique enables the use of significantly longer channel block lengths (and significantly higher code rates) because errors are corrected before decoding. Conceptually, the user data is encoded using a first channel code (e.g., RLL (d,k)), and the channel encoded data encoded according to an ECC code, such as a Reed-Solomon code. The ECC redundancy generated by the ECC code will typically not satisfy the constraints of the first channel code and, therefore, must be re-encoded using a second channel code with low error propagation (i.e., with a lower code rate) before writing the data to the disk. Upon read back, the ECC redundancy symbols are first decoded using the second channel code, and then used to correct errors in the encoded user data. The corrected user data is then decoded using the first channel code and transferred to the host system. Error propagation does not occur in the decoding process since the user data is corrected before decoding. The present invention discloses various improvements to this basic idea, and overcomes certain problems not currently addressed by the prior art.
One aspect of the present invention concerns timing recovery and, in particular, the problem presented by a long k constraint in a RLL (d,k) channel code. As described in greater detail below, timing recovery in synchronous read channels is typically implemented by synchronizing the sampling of the analog read signal using a variable frequency oscillator (VFO) in a phase-lock loop (PLL). Synchronously sampling the analog read signal typically requires a relatively short k constraint due to the noise sensitivity and fabrication variances of the VFO. However, it is difficult to construct long code words and thereby achieve higher code rates with a short k constraint.
In another aspect of the present invention, the synchronous read channel employs sub-sampling (sampling significantly below the baud rate) together with a channel code that minimizes the bit error rate in the presence of sub-sampling. The sub-sampling channel code can be constructed using a long block length and thereby achieve an efficient code rate because the above described error propagation in the channel decoder is avoided.
Another aspect of the present invention is to modify the read channel detection algorithm according to the code constraints of the first and second channel codes for encoding the user data and redundancy symbols, respectively, in order to minimize the bit error rate in the detected data sequence.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to improve the symbol synchronization function of the storage system through the use of multiple synchronization marks together with retroactive and split-segment symbol synchronization.

Disk storage system employing error detection and correction of channel coded data, interpolated timing recovery, and retroactive/split-segment symbol synchronization


A fishing reel braking device adapted to apply a braking force to the drive gear, the base end portion of an accommodating cylinder adapted to accommodate the braking member is secured to the base end portion of the drive gear in a non-rotating posture. Hence, the braking device, when compared with the conventional ones is reduced in the number of component, and simplified in structures Furthermore, the braking device of the invention is prevented from being bulky in the direction of axis of the handle shaft, and is improved in fishing operability. Further, seal members of elastic material are provided about the braking member to sealingly accommodate the braking member in an accommodating section.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fishing reels, and more particularly to a braking device which applies a braking force to a drive gear mounted on a handle shaft.
b) Description of the Prior Art
In general, a fishing reel is equipped with a braking device to apply an adjustable braking force to a drive gear mounted on its drive shaft. That is, in a double-bearing type fishing reel, a drive gear is mounted on a handle shaft which is driven with a handle, and a braking member is provided for the drive gear thus mounted in such a manner that the former is frictionally engageable with the latter. The pressure of the braking member which is applied to the drive gear is adjusted to control the braking force between the handle shaft and the drive gear.
The aforementioned drive gear is engaged with the spool pinion to wind the fishing line under a heavy load. Hence, the teeth of the drive gear are made of a material high in mechanical strength. Accordingly, a cylinder which is integral with the drive gear and is adapted to accommodate the braking member is also made of the same material. Hence, the material cost is high, and the manufacturing cost is also high. Thus, the resultant fishing reel is high in manufacturing cost, and heavy in weight.
In order to overcome this difficulty, U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,939 has disclosed a technique that the teeth of the drive gear, and the cylinder adapted to accommodate the braking member are provided as separate components so that they can be formed with different materials, and those components are locked to each other in a non-rotating posture with pins inserted axially.
However, because the cylinder is locked to the surface of the drive gear with the locking members in a non-rotating posture, the axial length of the handle side is increased as much; that is, the fishing reel is increased in size. Accordingly, the center of the weight thereof is shifted towards the handle, which adversely affects the fishing-line winding operation. Furthermore, as was described above, the cylinder and the drive gear are provided as separate components, and they are combined together with the pins inserted axially. Hence, the resultant fishing reel is large in the number of components, and it is rather difficult to assemble the fishing reel.
The braking device of this type should be a water-proof, otherwise water entering it sticks on the braking member, so that the frictional resistance is changed, and accordingly the braking force is lowered, or the braking action becomes irregular. Since no water-proof structure is provided between the drive gear and the shaft, the fishing reel is not sufficiently waterproofed when it is used in an environment where water or sea water is liable to enter the braking mechanism In order to overcome this difficulty, Japanese Utility Patent Application (OPI) No. 107175/1988 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined published application"), Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 167730/1988, and Japanese Utility Patent Application Publication No. 38047/1994 have disclosed techniques that a braking device for applying a braking force to a drive gear mounted on a handle shaft is waterproofed.
The above-described braking devices are each designed as follows. Its drive gear has a cylindrical portion. A braking board and a frictional board, which form a braking member, are arranged in the cylindrical portion of the drive gears and the cylindrical portion is covered with a cover member. In the technique disclosed by Japanese Utility Patent Application (OPI) No. 107175/1988, a seal member made of an elastic material is arranged between the cover member and the shaft. In the technique disclosed by Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 167730/1988, a seal member is provided between the cylindrical portion of the drive gear and the cover member. In the technique disclosed by Japanese Utility Patent Application Publication no. 38047/1994, a drag shaft cylinder is engaged with the handle shaft in a non-rotating posture, and a frictional board and a braking board are arranged on the drag shaft cylinder, and seal members are arranged between the drag shaft cylinder and the drive gear, between the drag shaft cylinder and the cover member, and between the drive gear's cylindrical portion and the cover member, respectively.
In the techniques disclosed by the Japanese Utility Patent Application (OPI) No. 107175/1988 and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 167730/1988, no water-proof structure is provided between the drive gear and the shafts Hence, in a fishing operation which is carried out in a circumference where water or sea water is liable to enter the braking device, those techniques are not satisfactory in water-proof function.
In the technique disclosed by the Japanese Utility Patent Application No. 38047/1994, the drag shaft cylinder is fitted on the handle shaft, and the drive gear, the frictional board, etc. are provided on the drag shaft cylinder. Accordingly, the drive gear is necessarily large in diameter. As a result, the gear box; that is, the reel side boards are bulky. In addition, the reel is intricate in structure, and accordingly it is large in weight; more specifically, the reel is poor in weight balance; that is, the reel is low in fishing operability. Furthermore, since, as was described above, the drag shaft cylinder is engaged with the handle shaft in a non-rotating posture, it is difficult to maintain the engagement of the drive gear with the pinion high in accuracy


A height-adjustable furnishing system includes a base component, a plurality of legs, a height adjustment mechanism, and a platform component. The base has a planar bottom surface and a top surface with a plurality of attachment points for pivotally attaching two, three or four legs. The height-adjustment mechanism is adjustably attached between the base component and at least one of the plurality of legs, or between a forward leg and a rear leg. A platform component is pivotally attached to the plurality of legs to form a parallelogram linkage when viewed from the side. The height-adjustment mechanism may include a gas spring, a cam clamp, a travel block, a release lever, a cable release, a release trigger and may also be hand- or foot-operated. The entire system folds to a generally planar configuration for storage. The legs are erect when they are approximately 10 degrees from vertical.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable height furnishing system, and more particularly to a chair or table with adjustable legs and tops.
2. Description of the Related Art
Adjustable furniture is all around us. Desk chairs are often suspended on a gas spring column which allows the chairs to swivel and to be raised and lowered. Such chairs might even include a reclining feature or adjustable-height armrests. This is a great benefit to those who spend long hours at a desk, but there are innumerable other locales where improved ergonomics and adjustability is desired.
Simply raising a chair up or lowering it is fine, but if the chair's legs or base prevent the chair from approaching a table or chair, then the height adjustment is not so useful.
Tables can benefit from adjustability too. A table top that can be adjusted down and forward to be used while seated at a sofa or lounge chair allows use of the table and associated items on the table (i.e.: food, computer, highchair, drawing materials, grooming items, etc.) while seated comfortably in a chair designed for relaxation. The elderly, infirm or others of limited mobility could also benefit from a table or highchair or work surface that can be easily raised, lowered, or moved closer.
Thus a height-adjustable furnishing system, which solves the aforementioned problems, is desired.


Systems and methods for using sensors with electronic devices are described. In one embodiment, a resistive-type sensor, such as a force sensor, is connected between the audio input and audio output of the electronic device. The device is programmed to provide a signal to the audio output and measure a signal at the audio input. The resistance of the sensor, and thus sensor measurement, may thus be determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to measurements and methods of measuring using sensors, and more particularly to a system and method for making sensor measurements using standard electronic components.
2. Discussion of the Background
The use of many types of sensors with a computer generally requires specialized circuitry between the sensor and the computer, and/or specialized circuitry within the computer. Thus, for example, resistive-type sensors may require some or all of the following: a voltage divider; a stable regulated source voltage and a signal return path that returns to ground; a dedicated discrete comparator circuit connected to the signal return side of the sensor; and/or a separate and individual signal return path and comparator. Resistive-type sensor circuits may also include additional circuit protection devices to prevent excess current flow in case of an unintended ground or short circuit
The circuit features and functions described above require design, control, and manufacturing features that are complex and expensive to build. Such circuits are not incorporated within standard personal computers, smart phones, PDAs, netbooks, tablets, and similar devices (platforms) due to the mechanical and software requirements. The use of sensors with standard computing systems typically place the required components at the sensor in a package that processes the sensed parameter and transmits a digital signal on shared communication circuits for utilization by any connected processor or interface.
There is, in general, a need for a simple and inexpensive system and method of using a variety of sensors.


An apparatus and method for providing a music-on-hold service to an originating subscriber requesting a call connection to a busy terminating subscriber in a key telephone system, using an external music-on-hold source coupled to a previously selected central office line port of a central office line circuit to provide a pre-recorded melody.

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 arising from an application entitled, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MUSIC-ON-HOLD SERVICE IN KEY TELEPHONE SYSTEM, filed earlier in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Oct. 24, 1998, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1998-44748.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key telephone system, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for providing a music-on-hold (MOH) service in a key telephone system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a key telephone system has a music-on-hold (MOH) feature for transmitting a pre-recorded MOH melody to a call originator requesting a connection using a melody transmitter provided in the key telephone system. The pre-recorded MOH melody is played when an incoming call is being conversed into a designated extension of a phone line or a central office line associated with the incoming call, or when the extension directed by the incoming call is busy. As the originator of an incoming call hears the transmitted melody, he or she can recognize whether the state in which the calling signal is conversed into: a) the designated extension; b) the central office line; or, c) a busy extension. Hearing such MOH melody, he or she could reduce tedious waiting while the call connection is being made to the central office line or to a specific telephone line.
Conventional key telephone systems are equipped with additional hardware to provide such MOH melody, which causes high manufacturing cost. In addition, it is necessary to use separate jacks and reduce the number of subscriber""s lines to be placed in the key telephone system due to the additional hardware requirement.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for providing an MOH service in a key telephone system without using any separate hardware, such as an MOH melody transmitter.
According to one aspect of the invention, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing an external music-on-hold service in a key telephone system of the type having a central office line circuit for reserving a central office line, thereby forming a central office communication loop; an external music-on-hold melody source connected to the reserved central office line port via the central office line circuit, the external music-on-hold melody source serving to transmit a pre-recorded MOH melody via the reserved central office line port connected thereto; and, a control unit for connecting an incoming call externally received via the central office line circuit to the reserved central office line port coupled to the external music-on-hold melody source when a central office line or extension associated with the incoming call is busy, thereby allowing the previously recorded music-on-hold melody to be transmitted.
According to another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a method for providing a music-on-hold service in a key telephone system connected to an external music-on-hold service via a central office line port, the method comprising the following steps: (a) in response to an incoming call externally received to the key telephone system via a central office line circuit, checking whether or not a central office line or extension associated with the incoming call is busy; (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the central office line or extension is busy, then checking whether a music-on-hold service for the key telephone system has been set; and (c) if it is determined in step (b) that the music-on-hold service has been set, then connecting the incoming call to the central office line port coupled to the external music-on-hold service, and transmitting a pre-recorded music-on-hold melody for providing the music-on-hold service.

Apparatus and method for providing music-on-hold service in key telephone system