This invention relates to polymeric thermoplastic moldable compositions comprising poly(alkylene carbonates), which are useful in manufacturing of articles which may be manipulated and shaped by their user, but regain their shape after distortion. These compositions are free from toxic compounds and have a glass transition temperature from about 15xc2x0 C. to about 132xc2x0 C. These compositions are useful in manufacturing of articles such as toys, utensils to convey solids or liquids to the mouth, soothing articles (i.e., teething rings and pacifiers) and articles which support food (i.e., candy/confection sticks or holders.) They are most useful in manufacturing of children""s toys and products.

This invention relates generally to polymeric thermoplastic moldable compositions comprising poly(alkylene carbonates) which are useful in manufacturing articles including, but not limited to articles which may be manipulated and shaped by their users but regain their shape after distortion.
Plastics manufactured today for use in articles such as children""s toys and products which are placed in the mouth of the user either by design or action of the user pose certain health risks to the user, i.e., toxicity to the user from the polymers used to manufacture the article or toxicity from the processing aids used in the manufacturing of the polymeric article. In addition to the direct health risks to the user of these articles, there may be environmental hazards as well.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a commonly used polymeric material for the manufacture of children""s toys and products. Polyvinyl chloride is also used in a number of other articles such as toothbrushes, toys, eating utensils, food storage containers, and dinnerware. Since softness which is the ability of a compound to bend, yield or become flexible when gentle pressure is applied, (i.e., having a glass transition temperature from about 15xc2x0 C. or higher) is not an inherent property of PVC as well as other plastics, and since softness is a desired component for many of the articles made from PVC or other plastics, especially articles intended to be used by children, there is a need to add this property to the PVC. A common way of addressing this need is to add or employ a processing aid in the manufacturing process. Processing aids generally are added in the manufacturing of polymeric materials to increase flexibility, workability and extrudablitiy of the end product. In the case of PVC, processing aids generally referred to as plasticizers and exemplified by a class of compounds known as phthalates are used to add softening and flexibility properties to the end product made from PVC. Phthalates are alkyl esters of isomeric benzenedicarboxylic acids. However, these compounds (phthalates) have been linked to liver and kidney damage. Also, it has been reported in the literature that when used as a processing aid in the preparation of products made of PVC, the phthalates can be leached out of the PVC product. This leaching occurs when the PVC product containing the phthalates comes in contact with human saliva. This situation is of particular concern with products that are intended for use by children, especially children under the age of three.
From an environmental standpoint, the PVCs currently on the market pose health and environmental hazards when the products are eventually destroyed or eliminated through combustion or thermal decomposition. When PVCs are burned, they decompose in to chlorinated chemicals, chlorine and hydrochloric acid, which are toxic. Chlorine and hydrochloric acid are corrosive and the chlorinated compounds are often flammable, as well as corrosive, and destructive to the protective stratosphere which is implicated in global warming and increased cancer hazards due to excessive UV exposure.
Plastics currently on the market, which add potentially toxic plasticizer additives, do not have low glass transition temperatures allowing for more flexibility and softness as desired when a user is handling, i.e., softening them from contact with the body caused by body heat. These plastics also do not offer abrasion resistance, durability, brilliant coloring and weather resistance in one product.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a polymeric material, free of toxic plasticizers, having softness, flexibility, abrasion resistance, durability, coloring and weather resistance properties, and useful in the manufacturing of products which may be placed in the mouth either by design or by the action of the user. A need especially exists for a polymeric material having the aforementioned properties for the manufacturing of products used by children, particularly children under three years of age.
Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,273 discloses a process for modifying and increasing the molecular weight of a poly(alkylene carbonate) polyahl, with at least one modifier having a plurality of moieties that are reactive with the carbonate and/or acting hydrogen moieties of the poly(alkylene carbonate) polyahl at elevated temperatures and at a pressure at which at least one compound other than a monoalkylene glycol which compound is at least as volatile as a tetraethylene glycol is removed in the gaseous state from the poly(alkylene carbonate) polyahl.
Rokicki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,677 discloses a process for preparing poly(alkylene carbonates) of controlled molecular weight by copolymerizing carbon dioxide and one or more oxirane compounds using zinc polycarboxylate catalyst in the presence of a sterically hindered organic proton donor.
Carroll, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,862 discloses a process for regenerating metallo-organic catalyst used in copolymerizing carbon dioxide with epoxides to form poly(alkylene carbonates).
Maximovich, U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,090 discloses a process for preparing polycarbonates from an alkylene carbonate and monomeric polyols.
Myers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,276 discloses a process for preparing poly(alkylene carbonate) polymer by the reaction of alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide and/or an alkylene carbonate at an elevated temperature and pressure.
Sun, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,727 discloses a process for preparing poly(alkylene carbonates) by the reaction of alkylene oxides with carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising zinc carboxylate and or diepoxide.
Kuyper, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,887 discloses a process for preparing polycarbonates by reacting an epoxy compound with carbon dioxide at 40xc2x0 to 200xc2x0 C. and 2 to 40 bar in the presence of a catalyst.
Bezwada, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,950 discloses copolymers comprising p-dioxanone and poly(alkylene carbonates) useful in fabrication of sterile surgical articles and bioabsorbable coatings for sutures.
Stevens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,415 discloses a process for preparing high molecular weight polycarbonates from carbon dioxide and 1,2 epoxides.
While the foregoing discloses a number of processes for preparing the poly(alkylene carbonates) as well as a number of different uses for poly(alkylene carbonates), there is no art which addresses the use of this class of polymers for applicant""s invention. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for this particular application of poly(alkylene carbonates).
The present invention offers a polymeric thermoplastic moldable composition comprising polyalkylene carbonates useful in manufacturing of products which may be manipulated and shaped by the user but regain their shape after distortion. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a moldable composition which is non-toxic. It is an object of the present invention to provide a moldable composition which has the properties of softness, flexibility, abrasion resistance, durability, coloring and weather resistance, polymeric thermoplasticity, elastomeric with recovery and oil resistance. It is a further object of the present invention to provide products which are made from the polymeric thermoplastic moldable composition of the present invention which are safe when placed in the human mouth and exposed to human saliva. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing products which may be manipulated and shaped by the user but will regain their shape after distortion wherein the method is safe and cost-effective. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a polymeric thermoplastic moldable composition which is useful in the manufacturing of articles intended for use by children especially, but not limited to children under the age of three.
The term xe2x80x9cmanipulated and shaped by the userxe2x80x9d is defined as the distortion of the article from its intended, original molded shape by the user of the article. For example, a straw which is molded to be straight can be bent by the user; a teething ring or pacifier can be compressed by the user""s teeth or gums; the handle portion of utensils designed to convey food to the mouth can be bent from its original position.
The term xe2x80x9ctoyxe2x80x9d is defined as an article designed to amuse the user; these types of articles are usually intended to be used by children. Toys can be exemplified by, but not limited, to solid or hollow balls, sphericals, footballs, baseballs, puzzles, blocks, saucers and disks intended for throwing, dolls and figurines.
The term xe2x80x9csoothing articlexe2x80x9d is defined as an article intended to ease or mitigate pain to some degree. These articles can be exemplified by teething rings and pacifiers.
The term xe2x80x9cutensils for the purposes of conveying solids or liquids to the mouthxe2x80x9d is meant to include, but not limited to, spoons, forks, knives, baby bottle nipples, straws, sipping cup lids and cups.
The term xe2x80x9carticles which support foodxe2x80x9d is meant to include, but not be limited to, candy/confection sticks or holders, frozen novelty holders (i.e., ice cream/ice pops).
The present invention relates to a moldable composition comprising poly(alkylene carbonates) which are useful in manufacturing of articles which may be manipulated and shaped by their users, but regain their shape after distortion. The articles which are made from the poly(alkylene carbonate) compositions may be molded into any desired shape and form. The compositions may also be molded into a solid, walled article in which a liquid (i.e., water) may be contained. The poly(alkylene carbonates) of the present invention have a glass transition temperature ranging from about 15xc2x0 C. to about 132xc2x0 C.
Articles which are suitable for the practice of this invention are toys which are created for the amusement of the user especially children; i.e., solid or hollow balls, sphericals, footballs, baseballs, puzzles, blocks, saucers and disks intended for throwing, dolls and figurines, utensils for the purpose of conveying food or liquids to the mouth (i.e., straws, spoons); articles which may be placed in the mouth for soothing purposes (i.e., teething rings and pacifiers ) and articles which support food (i.e., candy/confection sticks or holders).
The properties of poly(alkylene carbonates) allow for safe, durable and creative usage. Because of the low glass transition temperature (preferably from about 15xc2x0 C. to about 40xc2x0 C.) of certain poly(alkylene carbonates), products held in a hand or used in the mouth become more soft and flexible. In products including, but not limited to, feeding utensils, toothbrushes, straws and sticks or holders for candy/confections, there would be less potential for injury to the child if they should fall with the product. The flexibility of the plastic would allow for compression when pressure is applied to products including, but not limited to, teething rings and pacifiers. When pressure is removed, the object will recover to its original shape. In items including, but not limited to, teething rings, pacifiers, toothbrushes, sipping cup lids, feeding utensils and bottle nipples, the abrasion resistant property would minimize teethmark wear and the potential for the user to extract plastic particles from the product. Additionally, poly(alkylene carbonates) are weather resistant and would retain color and durability when used for, but not limited to, furniture and toys that are intended for outdoor use. Finally, the clear property of poly(alkylene carbonates) gives products the ability to color more brilliantly, or to remain clear.
Poly(alkylene carbonates), also known as CO2 copolymers are straight, chains of repeating units of molecules resulting from the reaction of olefinically saturated aliphatic 1,2 epoxides with carbon dioxide.
Olefinically saturated aliphatic compounds which are suitable for use in the syntheses of poly(alkylene carbonates) are exemplified by ethylene, propylene, butylene and pentene. A complete discussion on the synthesis for poly(alkylene carbonates) can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,677 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Poly(alkylene carbonates) have many unique characteristics including some of which are, but not limited to, lubricity, low glass transition temperature, clean products from combustion (primarily carbon dioxide and water), abrasion resistance, weather resistance, clear coloration, and oil resistance. The elastomeric polymers of this class of polymers, poly(ethylene carbonates) and poly(butene carbonate), which can be stretched, are polymeric thermoplastic, oil resistant, have a high degree of recovery, and a low glass transition temperature, are particularly useful in the practice of this invention.
Depending on the specific properties desired for the molded article the composition may contain a single poly(ethylene carbonate) or a blend of two or more poly(alkylene carbonates).
The use of poly(ethylene carbonates) or poly(butene carbonates), for instance, used singly in a composition would produce a molded article having softness and flexibility at relatively low temperatures from body heat. The use of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) having a glass transition temperature of 132xc2x0 C. would produce a molded article having more rigidity. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that additional material other than the poly(alkylene carbonates), may be added to the composition to aid in manufacturing or add additional properties to the composition.
There are many different molding/forming processes for molding articles of the present invention. These processes can be exemplified by coating, swaging, shaping, die-pressing, laminating, extruding and molding, including injection molding.
Poly(alkylene carbonates) are normally polymeric thermoplastic polymers. Polymeric thermoplastic polymers soften on heating and harden when cooled and can be re-softened by reheating. Poly(alkylene carbonates) can be made thermosetting by appropriate cross-linking. Thermosetting polymers soften on heating but harden by continuous exposure to heat and subsequently cannot be softened thereafter by heating again.
Poly(alkylene carbonates) can be made with a wide range of properties. These properties can range from soft elastomeric polymers to hard engineering, rigid type polymers, based on the epoxide used to react with carbon dioxide, e.g., they can have glass transition temperatures, i.e., softening points that range from about 15xc2x0 C. to about 132xc2x0 C. Poly(alkylene carbonates) can also have the following properties depending on the particular epoxide used in the process:
Biodegradable (i.e., poly(ethylene carbonates))
Enzyme degradable (i.e., poly(ethylene carbonates))
Elastomeric with high recovery from deformation (i.e., (poly(ethylene carbonates), poly(butene carbonates))
Clear and amorphous
Durable and printable
Abrasion resistant (i.e., (polyethylene carbonates))
Low glass transition temperatures (i.e., poly(ethylene carbonates)) about 25xc2x0 C.; poly(propylene carbonates) about 40xc2x0 C.; poly(butene carbonates) about 15xc2x0 C.)
Processed easily with conventional equipment, e.g., molding, extrusion, etc.
Coloring brilliance
Excellent adhesion to paper
Recyclable
Oil barrier (i.e., poly(ethylene carbonates), poly(butene carbonates))
Oxygen barrier


A self-service terminal (10) is described. The terminal (10) comprises a user interface (12) and at least one proximity sensor (40) located adjacent the user interface (12), such that the sensor (40) may detect foreign objects placed in contact with or in close proximity to the user interface (12). A fraud prevention arrangement, and a method of detecting fraud at an SST are also described.

The present invention relates primarily to self-service terminals (SSTs), such as automated teller machines (ATMs), and in particular to an SST incorporating an arrangement for fraud prevention by means of detection of unauthorized interference or tampering with data capture devices.
SSTs, such as ATMs, are commonly and increasingly used to carry out many everyday transactions which do not require human supervision. As such transactions may involve transfer or dispense of valuable media, such as banknotes or payment orders, SSTs may present a target for fraud.
To make use of a conventional ATM, a user is first required to insert a magnetic strip card into a card reader slot to the ATM fascia, the card serving as an identification token. The user must then confirm their identity by, for example, entering a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the card, but known only to the user. The PIN is entered on a keypad incorporated in the ATM.
If an unauthorized individual wishes to gain access to an individual""s account and thus make unauthorized withdrawals of funds, it is necessary to both obtain the data stored on the card, and gain knowledge of the appropriate PIN or other means used to confirm the user""s identity. Thus, potential targets for fraud include the magnetic card reader, and the data input or capture device used for entry of a PIN or other identifier.
Methods which have been used in attempts to execute such frauds include fitting false interfaces to the fascia of an ATM in order to intercept the relevant data as it is being communicated to the ATM. For example, an additional magnetic card reader may be placed in the entry to the existing card reader, so that the information stored on a card may be read as the card is inserted into the ATM. The intercepted data may then be used to construct a fraudulent card.
To obtain knowledge of a user""s PIN a false keypad overlay may be located above the actual keypad, such that when a user enters their PIN, the sequence of digits is recorded by the false keypad. Alternatively, a user may simply be observed while using the ATM and their PIN noted. This information may then be subsequently retrieved and used in conjunction with a false card to withdraw funds from a user""s account, which withdrawals may continue for an extended period before coming to the user""s attention.
Similar methods may be used to interpret readings of biometrics data such as palm prints or iris appearance.
It is among the objects of embodiments of the present invention to provide an SST which reduces the risks of such frauds. It is further among the objects of embodiments of the present invention to provide an SST which alerts the SST operator to unauthorized interference with an SST.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-service terminal (SST) comprising a user interface; and at least one proximity sensor located adjacent the user interface, such that the sensor may detect foreign objects placed in contact with or in close proximity to the user interface.
The sensor may be incorporated in the SST during its assembly or may be retrofitted thereto.
An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the proximity sensor provides a self-contained detection system. That is, the operation of the proximity sensor does not rely on the interruption of a signal from a co-operating device that is located outside the SST; for example, the sensor does not detect a signal from an emitter or a transponder located outside of the SST.
The invention also relates to a method of detecting foreign objects placed in contact with or in close proximity to the user interface of an SST.
In such a manner, attempts to fit false magnetic card readers or keypad overlays to an SST may be detected.
Preferably, the proximity sensor is located rearwardly of the user interface outer surface, or is suitably disguised or concealed, such that the sensor will not be visible to a user of the SST. In a preferred embodiment, the proximity sensor is contained within the SST so that no part of it can be accessed from outside the SST. This has the advantages that a fraudulent third party is not able to see or tamper with the proximity sensor.
Proximity sensors are well known, and will not be described in detail here. Examples of sensors suitable for use in the present invention are available from Pepperl and Fuchs, Postfach 31 04 40, D-6800, Mannheim 31, Germany. Conveniently, the proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor to allow detection of metallic and non-metallic objects, or alternatively may be an inductive sensor.
Preferably also, the SST further comprises at least one data capture device that is part of or incorporated into the user interface, and the sensor is located so as to detect objects in the area immediately adjacent the data capture device. Conveniently, the SST comprises a plurality of data capture devices, each with an associated respective proximity sensor. Most preferably, the proximity sensor is located to sense objects adjacent a card reader mouth. The sensor and its associated control electronics may be powered from the card reader. Alternatively, the sensor and its associated control electronics may be powered by a dedicated unit.
Preferably also, the SST further comprises means for deactivating the SST on detection of a foreign object by the proximity sensor.
Preferably also, the SST comprises means for alerting an SST operator on detection of a foreign object by the proximity sensor. The operator may then, for example, view the SST remotely via a camera and determine if any action is required.
Preferably, the means for deactivating the SST and the means for alerting the SST operator are only actuated once the sensor detects the presence of an object for a certain minimum period of time. This will serve to help prevent said means being activated by, for example, the hands and fingers of users, or bags or purses placed on the SST fascia during a transaction.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an arrangement comprising: a data capture device; means for detecting the presence of an object in proximity to the device; and means for producing an alarm signal on detection of such an object.
In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement is suitable for being entirely enclosed by an SST.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of detecting fraud at an SST, the method being characterized by the steps of: using a proximity detector to detect an object in the vicinity of a data capture device, and generating an alert signal in response to detecting such an object.


The present invention provides a method and system for playing full-screen video on a user computer. The method includes displaying in the user interface at the user computer a web page containing at least one link to electronic video file, selecting the link to request the video file, downloading the video file to user computer in response to the request, detecting by the user computer receipt of the video file, opening in the user interface to window of the video player in full-screen mode in response to the detecting, and reading the video file by the player to play the video in the window. A feature of the present invention is that the video player may not have its preferences preset by the user to open in any particular mode. The mode in which the video player opens will be determined by the downloaded video file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the viewing in real-time of video content as it is being downloaded from the Internet and, more particularly, to the launching of a video player in full screen mode without user interaction to view the video after requesting its download.
2. Description of the Related Art
The viewing of video content on the Internet continually becomes more popular as the available bandwidth for content providers increases. For example, a news content provider may provide a video of a news story reported live from the location of the news event, similar to the reporting of televised news broadcasts. In such example, a user at a user computer connected to the Internet, through a web browser executing at the user computer, would access the web page of a news service provider, and then read such web page scanning for headlines and abstracts of news stories of particular interest. Typically, the headline of the story is set forth as a hypertext link. Selecting of the link in the user interface, such as by positioning a mouse pointer over the link and clicking the appropriate mouse button, would direct the user to an additional web page containing full text of the desired news story. The additional web page may contain a link to a video file to enable the user to view selectively the "live report," or be encoded to automatically download the video file to the user computer.
Upon the start of the download of the video file, the web browser would detect the receipt of the header of the video file. For the web browser to play to the video file, typically the web browser has been programmed with a helper or browser plug-in which reads the video file and displays the corresponding video in the browser window. Alternatively, the web browser plug-in launches a video player which plays the video in a separate window, usually overlaying the browser window.
In many such examples, similar to the one described above, the quality of the displayed video is of low resolution and is typically displayed in a "postage stamp" window. The low resolution quality is a result of the lack of bandwidth necessary to transmit a sufficient number of pixels to the user computer such that a larger image can be viewed in real-time.
The video file is typically encoded with separate audio and video tracks. For any given time segment of the video, the number of bytes required for the video track far exceeds the number of bytes of the audio track. Real time viewing requires that each track be decoded simultaneously as the video file is being contemporaneously downloaded and played such that the audio and video tracks remain synchronized to each other. Delays in transmission of the video file, caused either by insufficiency of bandwidth or network interruptions, may cause the player to pause playing of the video file until the next frame of data has been received or disconnect completely from the connection with the server from which the video file is being downloaded.
The effect of any such delays may be mitigated by buffering the downloaded electronic data prior to it being read by the video player. As electronic data on the video file is first downloaded, it is temporarily stored in a buffer. The reading of such data by the video player is delayed until a sufficient number of bytes of data have been temporarily stored in the buffer. Ideally, the time rate of reading of the bytes by the video player should not exceed the time rate of storing such bytes in the buffer. Accordingly, the buffer would always contain a number of bytes such that, should any bandwidth or interruption delay occur, there should always be a sufficient number of bytes for the video player and sufficient read without resulting in a pause or disconnect. However, depending on the display size of the video image, for the larger the display size the more bytes that are needed for each frame of data, there may be an insufficient number of bytes in the buffer to prevent such pause or disconnect.
With use of the highest connection speed dial-up modem to connect the user computer to the Internet, there is not much bandwidth available for displaying the video image in real-time much larger than the postage stamp image described above. Otherwise, should the user desire to view a much larger image, the user must download the video file first, and only after the complete video file has been downloaded may the user launched the player and play the video. However, digital subscriber line and cable modem service is becoming more readily available to users. The bandwidth increase of the digital subscriber line and cable modem service will allow for the transmission of more bytes for each frame of video data while enabling the video player to play the video contemporaneously with the download of the video data.
There have been attempts in the prior art to utilize the available bandwidth for the presentation of full-screen video. One such attempt does allow the user to view full-screen video during the download of such video. However, the video player must have its preferences changed by the user to display in full-screen mode the video being downloaded. This change of preferences must occur prior to the actual download in the video. Once the preferences have been changed, the video player cannot be used to view other videos which are not in full-screen mode. Another such attempt claimed that full-screen videos had been accomplished with a novel video player, however, the player window displayed a substantial amount of border adjacent to screen area in which the video is played.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus in which the user can download a video file, and view the corresponding video in real-time irrespective of the screen size which such video requires for viewing. It is also desirable to provide a method and apparatus which does not require the user to change preferences of the video player prior to downloading any such video.

One click full-screen video system and method


In many systems, computer software is a common source of failure or instability. The proliferation of multiple interacting applications from several different software vendors leads to xe2x80x9cemergentxe2x80x9d problems that are difficult or impossible to predict or prevent. The problems are compounded by the use of networks, which introduce the added complexity of applications on multiple machines interacting in complex scenarios. As a result, many business and home users are hindered from using software-based systems to their fullest potential. More effective use of these systems can be aided by an application which can provide services for monitoring, diagnosing, and solving problems that occur in the operation of the machines at a customer facility. In the system described herein, a database contains entries with executable code that can make use of these services in order to monitor, diagnose, and solve specific problems. Each entry in the database addresses a specific problem. The executable code is designed to isolate and recognize the problem, and then implement a fix or workaround for that problem. The executable code is designed to completely automate the entire process of detection and resolution of the problem. Further, manual intervention may be employed to complete the diagnosis or solution.

Computers, computer networks, and other software-based systems are becoming increasingly important as part of the infrastructure of everyday life. Businesses rely more and more on the use of electronic mail as a means of communication, and on Internet browsers as a means of doing research as well as marketing. Even home users are starting to depend on computers and other xe2x80x9cintelligent appliancesxe2x80x9d for everyday household tasks. Networks are used for sharing peripherals and files, as well as for providing Internet access to the entire household. Computer software represents the single most complex component in most systems, and is the most common source of failure or instability. The proliferation of multiple interacting applications from several different software vendors leads to xe2x80x9cemergentxe2x80x9d problems that are difficult or impossible to predict or prevent. The problems are compounded by the use of networks, which introduce the added complexity of applications on multiple machines interacting in obscure and unforeseen ways. As a result, most business and home users find that the cost of keeping these software-based systems running prevents them from making use of all but the simplest features.
There are many commercial products to help diagnose and repair problems with large computer networks. These products provide facilities for recording traffic, analyzing events, and examining configuration settings. They are usually fairly expensive, and are designed for experienced users who understand the details of computer network configuration and operations. In addition, they usually provide very little help in managing the complexity of software configuration.
There are also inexpensive commercial products designed to help diagnose and correct common problems with computer systems and software configuration issues. Typically, these products do a very good job of addressing a relatively small set of issues that occur for many users. Most of the time, these products do not address issues that affect the interaction of multiple applications. In addition, they usually do not address the operation of computer networks.
Commercial anti-virus packages do a very good job of detecting and repairing a very specific type of problem, and are designed in such a way that new viruses can easily be added to the list of problems that the software can handle. These products do not attempt to handle any kind of problem outside the fairly narrow scope of computer viruses.
Another category of commercial software includes programs that save state information about a computer system and then have the capability to revert to a prior saved state. Such software is good for recovering from problems that are introduced by installations or inadvertent modifications, but they recover by disabling the operation that caused the problem. Also, they do not even attempt to prevent common problems with specific known workarounds.
Most complex electronic devices, including computer systems and network hardware, are designed with built-in diagnostics. These diagnostics are specifically designed for the system and usually detect a fairly wide range of problems. Sometimes they can also implement fixes or workarounds, or at least pinpoint a problem to speed its repair. However, they usually cannot handle problems that arise from interactions with other equipment, and they typically cannot be updated to handle new problems that start to happen after the hardware has been released.
The family of software called xe2x80x9cexpert systemsxe2x80x9d has proven its usefulness in situations where problems can only be solved by fairly complex reasoning involving specialized knowledge about a specific field. Diagnosing and repairing computer-related problems is one of the situations that works well for expert systems, and they have been applied to the area with relatively good results. However, the specialized knowledge (and resulting rules for the system) have focused on general troubleshooting and repair, and usually serve as a tool to allow technicians to efficiently access information in order to speed up the repair process. While this approach certainly reduces costs and time, it does little to truly automate the diagnosis and repair process.
Other expert systems have been applied directly to automated problem diagnosis and resolution. These systems have worked well in their scope of use, but have had limits due to the known problem of expert system rule sets becoming xe2x80x9cbrittlexe2x80x9d as they get large, and the requirement of the inference engine to resolve more and more complex interactions between rules in the larger set. The present invention avoids these issues with a database containing entries of very specific symptoms and solutions that rarely ever overlap or otherwise interact. This eliminates the need for an inference engine to resolve or sequence any such interactions.
The family of software called xe2x80x9ccase-based reasoning systemsxe2x80x9d has also been used to advantage in automating customer support tasks. While these systems have been successful in their scope of use, they have typically been used in a role of improving the efficiency of a human technician who is providing support. Their main feature is the ability to generalize existing successes in resolving previous problems and apply the principles to a new problem at hand. They then learn based on the success or failure of this effort, adding this information to their knowledge base. The present invention does not utilize this learning process, and can therefore act in a fully automated way using the much more objective information in its knowledge base, which is represented as executable code.
Support centers are now making good use of technology to allow first-level support staff to handle many of the calls without needing assistance from more senior (and expensive) staff. This staff can search databases using keywords and other criteria to try to find descriptions that match the customer problem, and then help the customer with the solution provided in the database. Since most problems happen to many people, this sharing of information greatly reduces the cost required to handle a single customer. However, the lower limit of this cost is still determined by the minimum time for a person to finish the call, and the minimum wage of the staff with the skills needed to use the technology.
While each of the approaches described provides one or more ways to help make support more accessible, none of them provides a fully automated diagnosis and repair process applicable to a software based system. It would be beneficial to provide a system and method to provide an automated diagnosis, analysis, and implementation process that can effect effortless, reliable, and affordable support for software-based systems.
A system and method to provide general services for monitoring, diagnosing, and solving problems that occur in the operation of the machines at the customer""s facility serves to automate the support process of a software-based system. The system as defined herein includes software that is typically installed on a plurality of machines at the customer""s facility. A database contains entries with executable code that can make use of these general services in order to monitor, diagnose, and solve specific problems. Each entry in the database addresses a specific problem. The executable code is designed to isolate and recognize the problem, and then implement a fix or workaround for that problem. The executable code is designed to completely automate the entire process of detection and resolution of the problem. Further, manual intervention may be employed to complete the diagnosis or solution. The executable code in the database uses the general services of the customer site software to request assistance from the customer.
The database also contains executable code that can be used to extend the general services of the customer site software. This code is stored as procedures that can be called from any executable code in the database, using the same interface as calls to the general services of the customer site software.
The executable code in the database can be loaded and executed on an xe2x80x9cas-neededxe2x80x9d basis, so that it is not necessary to have the entire database in memory at one time. Database entries can also be cached so that commonly accessed entries are always available for quick use. The programming language used for creating database entries is flexible. A simple interface for loading and executing a database entry is defined, so that any language can be used for creating database entries by implementing the interface for that language.
The executable part of each database entry has four parts:
Initialization: registers the database entry with the customer site software. This code is executed once in order to set up the triggers corresponding to system-level events that will be used to activate the database entry.
Immediate response: does any processing that requires low latency, for example, recording state information about a resource that does not exist for a long period of time after the conditions arise that activate the database entry. This code is cached locally in a relatively high-speed memory to make it quickly accessible.
Symptom: determines whether the database entry actually applies. This code can do a more detailed check of the state of the hardware and software than is specified by the conditions of the initialization.
Solution: resolves the issue. This code modifies the state of the system in order to implement the solution.
In addition, each database entry contains information used for administration functions.
It is important for the customer site software to cause little impact on system performance. The software must efficiently decide which database entries to apply, and in what order to apply them. The database organization facilitates this operation. When the initialization part of a database entry executes, it specifies the conditions that must be met in order for the database entry to apply. These conditions are used to configure a table-driven mechanism that responds to system-level events that change the conditions. When an event changes the conditions to a set that matches those identified by the initialization of a database entry, the immediate response code for that entry is executed. Then the symptom code for that entry is retrieved, loaded, and executed. If the symptom code indicates that the database entry applies, then the solution code for the entry is retrieved, loaded, and executed. In this way, the customer site software only runs when it is likely that it will be needed, rather than using a resource-intensive polling mechanism.
Some problems can only be detected and resolved with the cooperation of more than one machine. Because of this, the customer site software must be able to coordinate tests that involve multiple machines. This is done by providing a facility for the executable code in a database entry to run equally easily on any machine in the network. This allows the code to determine relevant state information across the entire network, and also to implement solutions that involve changes on multiple systems. The network capability also allows problem conditions on one machine to be very easily diagnosed, reported, and resolved on another machine. This can be very important, since some machines may not have the facilities to complete the task. For example, a machine such as a server may not have a visual display to report problems. Similarly, a machine that does not have direct access to a connected printer may not be able to resolve a configuration issue with that printer.
Typically, software that involves cooperation of multiple machines in this way is difficult to create and has many different potential problems (such as race conditions) that are difficult to find and fix. The present invention uses a simple symmetric model of remote execution that is conceptually very easy to understand, and can be synchronized in a way that prevents nearly all race conditions but remains efficient in execution. This design is important in that it allows adding database entries with relative ease, encouraging the use of the database for the detection and resolution of a wide variety of different problems.
The organization of the database into independent executable entries provides flexibility in programming the customer site software. Most database entries address specific problems with well-defined symptoms and solutions. Other entries diagnose more general problems, but are set up to be conditional upon specific configurations that are likely to cause those problems, such as those created while installing a new piece of software. Still other database entries address problems that are not errors by themselves, but represent situations where it is likely that the customer has inadvertently made a mistake in configuring the system. Other entries diagnose and repair problems based on general symptoms in much the same way a person uses general troubleshooting guidelines to diagnose and repair problems. Other entries detect situations that are not actual problems, but are likely to indicate that a real problem has gone undetected. Finally, other entries handle cases where the customer finds a problem that was not detected, and guide the customer through the process of gathering information for general diagnosis.
The invention also features software that runs at a central facility. This central facility software is set up to provide updates for the database that is kept locally at the customer site (called the customer knowledge base). It is also set up to process problems that cannot be solved automatically, by involving a customer support technician. The central facility software also allows customer support technicians to use the customer facilities remotely to help them diagnose problems and determine solutions for them. The central facility uses a centralized customer database, stored at the central facility, to keep track of pending and closed customer issues, and to record support information about the customer facility. The same database is used for billing functions, allowing timely and accurate billing. Using this database to support marketing functions as well allows accurate targeted marketing opportunities and helps to meet the customer needs with minimal manual effort.
Updates to the customer knowledge base are done by extracting a subset of database entries from a master knowledge base. The update uses the configuration of the customer facility to extract the relevant entries from the master knowledge base and create a new customer knowledge base. The new customer knowledge base is then compared to the existing customer knowledge base, and the difference is transferred to the customer site. The customer site software uses this difference information to update the customer knowledge base.
When the customer site software detects a problem that cannot be resolved, it initiates an automated problem escalation. The first step in this process is to initiate an update of the customer knowledge base as previously described, and then attempt to resolve the problem using the updated knowledge base. If the solution to the problem has been recently added to the master knowledge base, then this update will resolve the problem successfully. If, however, the problem remains unresolved after the update, then the customer site software continues the escalation process. It collects all relevant information about the configuration of the customer facility, as well as the information gathered while detecting the problem, electronically contacts a call center, and transfers this information to the call center. Technicians at the call center use this information to attempt to reproduce the problem on their test network, and discover a solution for it. If they are successful, they add a new entry to the master knowledge base that can diagnose and resolve the problem. The customer site software periodically checks the status of the problem escalation, and when it discovers that a resolution is available, it initiates an update of the customer knowledge base as previously described. This transfers the new database entry to the customer knowledge base, where it is used to solve the problem.
If technicians at the call center are unable to reproduce the problem based on the information from the customer site software, they may need to access the customer network to find a solution. To enable this access, the customer initiates a remote support session. The customer site software contacts the central facility software using a secure, encrypted protocol. The technicians can then execute code on the customer systems, using the same facility previously described for executing code on other machines. This facility gives the technicians access to, and control of, any information they need for successful diagnosis and resolution of the problem. Once they have been able to code and test a database entry to diagnose and resolve the problem, they add it to the master knowledge base and the customer knowledge base is updated as previously described.
The distribution of the knowledge base is tiered, much like the memory architecture of a modern computer system. The master copy is stored at the central facility, where it can be accessed by any system, but at relatively low speed. Relevant subsets are stored locally at the customer sites, to increase speed of access, and also to allow diagnosis and repair of problems if network connectivity to the central facility is compromised. Only one copy of the customer knowledge base is required at a customer site, but it can be duplicated to increase accessibility and reliability. Similarly, a smaller subset of the customer knowledge base is kept on every machine. This subset contains entries relevant to diagnosing and resolving problems with local network connectivity. That way, if a machine becomes disconnected from the network due to a problem that can be resolved automatically, the problem can still be solved.
The invention features a problem escalation sequence that is modeled after the process used by current call support centers. The customer site software attempts to solve the problem using the customer knowledge base, in the same way that the first-level support staff of a call center attempts to solve the customer problem using a text-based knowledge base. If this attempt is unsuccessful, the customer site software checks to see if there are any updates to the knowledge base and tries again, in the same way that the first-level support staff of a call center checks to see if there are any updates to their text-based knowledge base. If the problem is still not solved, the customer site software collects relevant state information and forwards it to technicians at an electronic call center, in the same way that the first-level support staff of a call center collects as much information about the problem as possible and passes it on to more senior personnel. Finally, if the technicians at the electronic call center cannot resolve the problem, they work with the customer to use a remote support session, in the same way that the final stage of escalation of a call center is a visit to the customer site.
The invention features a mechanism for keeping a record of changes in important state information of the customer systems. This mechanism serves two important functions: to drive the efficient diagnosis of problems, and to keep the customer site up and running during automated problem escalation. By comparing the current state information to previously recorded information, the customer site software can determine what important state information has recently changed. During problem diagnosis, it can then first examine knowledge base entries in which this recently changed state information is relevant. Since recent changes are usually the cause of problems, these entries are much more likely to resolve problems that have just appeared. This method therefore greatly reduces the time and resources used to diagnose problems. If a problem must be escalated to the call center, then the customer site software first checks a number of tests of basic functionality. If any major function of the customer systems is not working correctly, the customer site software goes through a step-by-step process of reverting the state of the systems to a previously recorded state, until the basic functionality is restored. In this way, the customer is left with an operational system while the call center attempts to resolve the problem.
Because of the fact that automated diagnosis and repair will not solve every customer problem, the call center is an integral part of the escalation chain. Since call centers are relatively expensive to build and maintain, there is a large economic incentive to make use of existing call centers. The invention features a technique for easily interfacing to existing call centers. The customer site software formats information in a way that is compatible with the electronic automatic call distributor (ACD) used by an existing call center. The existing call center handles the call tracking, escalation, diagnosis, and resolution in the normal way with its problem management system (PMS). The electronic call center then uses the PMS for access to information about the call, and proceeds with the automated escalation process as previously described.
In this way, the invention provides effortless, reliable, and affordable support for computers, networks, and other software-based systems. The principles of the invention can be extended in many ways and applied to many different environments, as will become apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiment.

System for automated problem detection, diagnosis, and resolution in a software driven system


A polylactide in a purified state, which meets the requirements of

This invention relates to polylactides in a purified state, to the method of their purification and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the purified polylactides.
The European Patent Application No. 0270987 A2 describes polylactides, e.g. polylactide-co-glycolides, which have been prepared by condensation of lactic acid and glycolic acid or preferably by polymerisation of lactide and glycolide in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. tin di-(2-ethyl hexanoate), also known as tin octoate or tin octanoate.
The polylactides are purified by dissolving them in a solvent, which is not or is only partially miscible with water, e.g. methylene chloride, and washing the solution with an aqueous solution of an acid, e.g. HCl or of a metal ion complexing agent e.g. EDTA, after which the catalyst metal cation or its complex is transferred to the aqueous solution, in which it is better soluble.
However, after separation and isolation of the organic solvent layer and the precipitation of the polylactide from it e.g. by mixing the layer with an organic solvent, e.g. petrol ether or an alcohol, e.g. methanol, which dislodges the polylactide from the solution, the precipitated polylactide still contains a certain amount of the catalyst metal cationxe2x80x94about 2 ppmxe2x80x94and additionally the catalyst anion, e.g. in acid form. Further the polylactide contains a certain amount of brown coloured decomposition by-products which have been formed in the polymer preparation process, especially under the influence of the catalyst.
Since polylactides, e.g. polylactide-co-glycolides, are preferably used as matrices for drug compounds e.g. in implants or microparticles, which are administered parenterally, the remaining impurities can give rise to local irritation reactions of the body tissue and, e.g. depending on the catalyst type, to an instability of the matrix and thus possibly to an accelerated drug compound release. The brown impurities and the catalyst should thus preferably be removed as good as possible.
Catalyst-free polylactides on the basis of the condensation of lactid acid and optionally glycolic acid are known, but have low molecular weights of about 2000 to 4000.
Polylactides of a higher molecular weight are preferred and can only be made in the presence of a catalyst.
According to the European Patent No 0026599 B1 lactic acid and glycolic acid were reacted in the presence of a strong acid ion-exchange resin as a catalyst, which after the reaction could be removed from the copolymer product by filtering the molten reaction mixture or by cooling the reaction mixture, dissolving the copolymer in an organic solvent in which the ion-exchange resin is insoluble, filtering the solution and removing the organic solvent after which a copolymer was obtained from which the solid phase catalyst was removed to a substantially extent.
However, by this method only polylactides were obtained having a molecular weight of from about 6000 to 35000.
Polylactides, e.g. polylactide-co-glycolides, having a broader molecular weight range than up to 35000 are preferably made by using lactide and optionally e.g. glycolide as monomers, but are polymerised in the presence of a metal catalyst, which reaction type, as has been discussed before, leads to a considerable contamination of the reaction product.
We have found now, that polylactides, e.g. polylactide-co-glycolides, especially those prepared from lactide and glycolide as monomers, can be obtained in a better purified state. The invention provides a polylactide in a purified state which meets the requirements of
the colour strengths of reference solutions B2-B9 of the brown colour test of the European Pharmacopoeia, 2nd Edition (1980), part I, Section V, 6.2. and
containing one or more metals in cationic form, the metal ion(s) having a concentration of at most 10 ppm.
The polylactide preferably has the reduced colour strengths of the reference solutions B4-B9, especially of reference solution B9. The colour of a reference solution B9 indicates that the polylactide is an off-white or colourless product.
The polylactides which are preferably prepared contain particularly bivalent metal ions, like Zn++ and especially Sn++.
For the determination of the tin amount, the polymer is decomposed under high pressure with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. The precipitation and concentration of tin from that mixture occurs on a membrane filter and the measurement of the metal amount is carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), as described by H. D. Seltner, H. R. Lindner and B. Schreiber, Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem., 1981, Vol. 10, pp. 7-12 supplemented with a reference graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry method, as discussed on the 6th Colloquim Atomspektrometrische Spurenanalytik, Apr. 8-12th, 1991 in Konstanz, Germany, Authors: H. Seltner, G. Hermann and C. Heppler.
According to the invention the concentration of Sn++ in the purified polyactide of the invention is preferably at most 1.5 ppm, particularly at most 1 ppm; the catalyst anion is preferably ethyl-hexanoate, which is in the purified polylactide of the invention preferably present in a concentration of at most 0.5% by weight of the polylactide.
The purified polylactide preferably contains apart from its lactide units further structural units e.g. such as described in the european Patent Application No 0270987, second passage on page 4, of which the glycolide unit is the preferred unit since, depending on its monomer ratio in the polymer chain, it can shorten the decomposition period of the polymer in the body and thus accelerate the drug compound release time. The glycolide unit is, as is known, the most frequently used additional unit in polylactides.
The monomer molar ratio""s of the lactide/glycolide units in the purified polymers according to the invention are preferably 100-25/0-75, particularly 75-25/25-75, especially 60-40/40-60, more especially 55-45/45-55, e.g. 55-50/45-50.
It is known that the polymerisation reaction of monomers like lactide and glycolide is preferably carried out in the presence of a compound having one or more hydroxylgroups, which functions as a starter in building up a linear polymer chain. Known starters are e.g. lactic acid and glycolid acid. Other hydroxyl group containing compounds can also be used, e.g. alcohols. The starters are in fact used to control the chain length of the polylactides. A smaller amount of starting hydroxyl compound leads to longer chains than greater amounts. Excellent regulators are polyols, e.g. those described in the UK Patent Application GB 2.145.422A, of which mannitol and especially glucose are the most preferred.
By using this type of starting compounds relatively high molecular weight hard polylactide-co-glycolide materials can be obtained, which are very suitable as implants or microparticle materials, and have 2 or 3, preferably more than 3, e.g. 4 relatively short polylactide-co-glycolide chains and can hydrolyse in the body tissues within a relatively short drug release period of some weeks to e.g. 2 months or more, preferably within 4-6, e.g. 5 weeks. Although according to the invention the purified polylactides can have a linear structure, the preferred purified polylactides according to the invention are those having the structure described in the GB Patent 2.145.422 A, being esters of a polyol containing at least 3 hydroxyl groups, preferably those being an ester of a sugar or a sugar alcohol, especially an ester of glucose. They are star shaped, having a centre of e.g. the glucose rest and rays of linear polylactide chains.
After their preparation the star polymers are, more than the linear polymers, contaminated by brown-coloured by-products, since the sugar or sugar alcohol, used for their preparation, is also be partially decomposed by the catalyst. The star polymers have monomer molar ratios of lactid/glycolide units which are preferably those, indicated above for the linear polymers.
The star polymers have preferably a mean molecule weight Mw of from 10000 to 200000, especially of from 25000 to 100000, particularly of from 35000 to 60000, e.g. about 50000 and preferably have a polydipersity Mw/Mn of from 1.7 to 3.0, especially from 2.0 to 2.5. Poly-lactide-co-glycolides of a linear structure, not being star polymers in a purified state according to the invention have preferably a mean molecular weight Mw of from 25000 to 100000 and have preferably a polydispersity Mw/Mn of from 1.2 to 2.
The molecular weight Mw is determined by gelpermeation chromatography, using polystyrene as a standard, e.g. Dupont Ultrastyragel R 1000 or 500 Angstrom, in the column and e.g. tetrahydrofuron as the solvent.
The purified polylactides according to the invention can be obtained in a new process by contacting a solution of the impure polylactide with active charcoal and isolating the purified polylactide from the eluate. This process is also a part of the invention.
It is known from the UK Patent 1.467.970 and the EP 0181.621 A2 to treat polymers, produced in the presence of a catalyst with active charcoal.
According to the GB Patent 1.647.970, the polymer is a polyether, obtained from alkylene oxides, like ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or epichlorohydrin with an active hydrogen containing compound, e.g. glycerol, sorbitol or sucrose, in the presence of a basic catalyst. The polymer is purified with a mixture of active charcoal and magnesium silicate to remove crystals of polyalkylene glycols, e.g. polyethylene glycols, formed as by-products and which give the polymers a cloudy appearance and unsatisfactory viscosity and chemical properties. In a preferred method the polyethers are pretreated by means of a not further described other purification method to remove unreacted alkylene oxides and catalyst (page 2, lines 16-20). The basic catalyst thus could clearly not be removed by the charcoalxe2x80x94magnesium silicate mixture.
According to the EP 0181 621 A2 a solution of a polyalkylene ether in a cyclic ether or in a polyhydric alcohol solvent or the polyalkylene ether itself, e.g. polyoxytetramethylene glycol, prepared by the polymerisation of tetrahydrofuran under the influence of a heteropoly acid catalyst, e.g. 12-tungstophosphoric acid, is mixed with an organic hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon solvent. This solvent, which will contain the greatest part of the heteropoly acid, is separated from the other phase and the residue is contacted for further purification with a solid adsorbent, like charcoal, aluminium oxide or oxides, hydroxides or carbonates of e.g. Mg or Ca or with basic ion-exchange resins. According to Table 2 on page 23, the polymers contain 0.2 to 1.8 ppm of acidic metal contamination after purification with active charcoal.
This purification process is thus used to purify a polyether and to remove a very specific acidic catalyst type and it could not be foreseen, that active charcoal can be used for the removal of cations, like Sn++. Also it could not be foreseen, that such low impurity levels can be obtained as indicated.
The amounts of active charcoal used according to the purification process of the invention are generally from about 10 to 200%, e.g. 70 to 150% of the polymer weight. Any available charcoal can be used, e.g. as described in the Pharmacopoeia. A representative charcoal type is Norit of Clydesdate Co. Ltd., Glasgow/Scotland.
Typically powdered charcoal is used e.g. finely ground charcoal wherein at least 75% passes through a 75 micrometer sieve. Suitable charcoals as used in the Example hereafter, are described in brochures, available from Norit, e.g. xe2x80x9cSummary of methods for testing Norit activated carbons on specificationsxe2x80x9d by J. Visser.
The new purification process with charcoal is especially of interest for star polymers which have a dark brown colour. The colour effect may partly be caused by the polyol, e.g. the glucose, being instable to heat, especially in the presence of a catalyst and is more pronounced than a reference solution of colour strength B1.
It is believed that the presence of small amounts of acidic groups in the active charcoal are responsible for the surprisingly efficient removal of the cations. If a solution of the catalyst in an organic solvent is treated with charcoal, the catalyst compound is decomposed and the tin is removed with the charcoal, which is filtered of, whereas the anionic part of the catalyst is quantitatively found back in the remaining solution.
For this reason the invention also provides a method for the purification of the polylactide by contacting a solution of the impure polymer with a matrix having on its surface acidic groups and isolating the purified polylactide from the eluate.
If desired a weakly acidic cationic exchanger with a carboxylic acid functionality may be used if it is of an appropriately small particle size. For example, one with a hydrogen ionic form, a density when wet of about 0.69 g/ml (apparent) and 1.25 g/ml (true), a shipping weight of 690 g/liter, an effective particle size of 0.33 to 0.50 mm, a moisture content of 43 to 53 percent, a pH tolerated range of 5 to 14, a maximum operating temperature of 120xc2x0 C., a total exchange capacity of 10 meq (dry) and 3.5 meq/ml (wet). An example is Amberlite IRC-50 Methacrylic aci DVB (available from Fluka, Switzerland) which is ground to have the particle size diameter reduced e.g. to below 1 mm or 100 microns.
The matrix for the purification, e.g. the charcoal, preferably has a suitable concentration of from 0.01 o 0.1 millimole of acidic groups per gram of matrix and is conveniently in the form of particles which may be finely divided. Typical particle diameters are e.g. from 1 micrometer to 1 mm, e.g. from 10 to 100 micrometers.
They have therefore a large surface area. For example active charcoal has a surface area of 1000 square metres for each ml of matrix substance.
The purification process of the invention is preferably related to a polylactide preparation using lactide and glycolide as monomers and metal cations, like Sn++ as a catalyst, since this polymerisation process gives a better yield and, if desired, a higher molecular weight than the preparation process using lactid acid and glycolic acid as starting compounds and the strong acid ion-exchange resin as a catalyst, described in the European Patent No. 0026599.
Starting with an impure polylactide-co-glycolide containing about 1800 ppm of Sn++, the concentration of Sn++ can be lowered to about 200 ppm. A purification with charcoal can lower the Sn++ content, as already mentioned, to less than 1.5, e.g. less than 1 ppm.
The purification process of the invention is preferably carried out with a solution of an impure polylactide in acetone although other solvents are possible.
The process may be followed by another purification process, preferably the process of ultrafiltration, which reduces the content of low molecular compounds, e.g. of lactide and glycolide. Also in this process a polylactide solution in acetone can be used.
After the second purification process purified polylactides can be obtained, having a monomer content of at most 1% by weight of polymer, preferable of at most 0.25% of polymer, e.g. of at most 0.2 % of lactide and 0.05% of glycolide, a water content of at most 1%, an organic solvent, e.g. methylene chloride or acetone, content of at most 1%, preferably of at most 0.5% e.g. of at most 0.3% and an ash content of at most 0.1% by weight of polylactide. Their acid number is preferable at most 10. The thus purified polylactides are preferably parenterally used, e.g. as a matrix for drug compounds, especially such in implants or in microparticles form. These forms may be prepared in conventional manners, which have abundantly been described in the literature e.g. in the European Application No 58481, the UK Patent Application GB 2.145.422, the European Patent Application No 52510 the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,652,441 and 4,711,782, the French Application No 2.491.351, the U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919.
The forms are suitable for e.g. incorporating a hydrophilic drug like a peptide, e.g. a cyclopeptide and particularly a hormonally active peptide, like a somatostatin, especially octreotide, or an acid addition salt or a derivative thereof, or a lipophilic drug, like an ergot alkaloid, e.g. bromocriptine.
The pharmaceutical compositions are formed by working up the purified polylactide with the drug compound to form an implantate or a microparticle.

Abstract: the color strengths of reference solutions B2-B9 of the brown color test of the European Pharmacopoeia, 2nd Edition (1980) part I, Section V, 6.2 and

Abstract: The polylactide is especially suitable for use as microparticles or implants, and contains preferably a hydrophilic drug, like octreotide or a lipophilic drug like bromocriptine.


This invention relates to powdered flux compositions and their use in purifying molten mixtures of aluminum and silicon before casting. The powered flux compositions comprise a carbonate, a sodium and hydrogen free fluoride, and amorphous or encapsulated red phosphorus. The major advantage of the powered flux is that all necessary components needed to purify the molten mixtures of aluminum and silicon and refine the silicon particles are together in one package, and purification can be carried out in one step.

It is known to prepare castings from hyper-eutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. Such alloys have from 12.5 to 25.0 percent by weight of silicon and have better strength and ductility than those made purely from aluminum. Consequently, they exhibit better wear resistance than those with lower silicon content. The exceptional wear resistance of the alloys make them suitable for casting heavy duty parts such as automotive engines and pistons. Castings from such alloys are prepared by conventional means by pouring a molten alloy mixture into a core or pattern mold and allowing it to harden. The casting is then removed.
If the castings are to be acceptable they must not contain significant defects in the grain of the casting. Such defects result from impurities in the aluminum-silicon alloy such as hydrogen and oxides. They also result because the primary silicon particles may agglomerate with the result that they enlarge and are not uniformly distributed in the casting.
These defects in the castings can cause the casting to be brittle, and to have weak and strong areas in the grain. Consequently, the castings may chip or break during machining. Reduced machine tool life and down time are also likely to result.
Therefore, it is important to reduce or eliminate impurities and refine primary silicon particles in the molten aluminum alloy in order to enhance the physical properties and machinability of the castings.
Generally, impurities such as those mentioned, are removed from the aluminum-silicon alloy in separate steps. Usually the hydrogen gas is removed followed by the removal of oxide impurities. Then the silicon is refined with phosphorus to prevent it from agglomerating.
The standard method is time consuming and often inefficient. It would be more efficient to reduce the steps involved.

Powdered flux for treating aluminum-silicon alloys


A transparent and shark-repelling surfboard or flotation board made of transparent super microcellular polymer foam with transparent coating. The surfboard or the flotation board has a locater device for locating large aquatic animals, and an alarm device for alerting a rider of large aquatic animals, such as sharks, located by the locater device. The surfboard or the flotation board also comprises a repellent or deterrent signal generator that is configured for transmitting interference signals to disrupt the electro-sensory perception system of the aquatic animals.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a transparent wave riding vehicle. More specifically, the present invention also relates to a transparent surfboard with an optional embedded or surface mounted locater and alarm for large aquatic animals, specifically prepared to identify such animals as sharks, and an optional shark-resistant signal generator that transmits an interference signal to interrupt the electrical signals used by aquatic animals for electrical sense. More specifically these aquatic animals maybe greater than three feet in length (such as a shark) and within at least a specified radius of the wave riding vehicle with regard to the sensory perception of a shark, thus diverting or distracting it from a surfer. The wave riding vehicle may include surfboards, wind surf-boards, kite surfboards, knee boards, boogie boards, as well as jet skis and the like.
2. Background Art
Description of Prior Art
The incorporation of unique features on or pertaining to a surfboard is well known in the prior art. Such prior art includes, for example, a hydrofoil surfboard (U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,138), a steerable surfboard (U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,195), a foldable water sports board (WO 00/24631), a travel surfboard (U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,568), and a motor-driven surfboard (U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,840). No known invention exists, however, describing a surfboard which is fully transparent, allowing one to see clearly and completely through the surfboard in its entirety. Additionally, no known invention exists describing methods or devices for controlling or deterring sharks in combination with the use of a surfboard or other aquatic sports devices used where sharks or other predatory marine animals harmful to humans may be present.
U.S. Pat. Des. 377,072, Surfboard with Transparent Window, published Dec. 13, 1996, describes a design in which a surfboard has a small transparent window that is rectangular or oval in shape. The transparent portion of the surfboard in this design patent, located in the front center of the board, is only a small portion of the entire board surface area. The present invention describes a surfboard that is transparent in its entirety. No documentation is known in which a completely transparent surfboard is described.
To be fully transparent, all parts of a surfboard must be transparent—both the foam blank which forms the center or core of the surfboard and the epoxy or other polymeric coating which is covers the blank to form the outer surface of the surfboard. There are in existence clear epoxies and other polymers that can be spread over a foam blank, but clear foam blanks themselves do not exist. The following two patents, each incorporated herein by reference, discuss and describe existing methods to develop and manufacture transparent foam. It is an embodiment of the present invention to use such foam in the manufacturing process that forms the foam blank which constitutes the core of a surfboard. A clear epoxy or other transparent polymer can then be used to cover the clear foam blank, thus creating a fully transparent surfboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,589, entitled Transparent Supermicrocellular Polymer Foams and Method for Their Manufacture, which was granted Apr. 29, 2003, describes a novel class of transparent polymeric foams comprising submicron cells and a process for their production. This patent further describes polymers that are preferably high glass transition materials and the process comprises saturating a consolidated polymer shape with an inert gas at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and under a pressure of at least 9000 psi for a period adequate to dissolve the gas in the polymer shape and then controllably cooling the polymer shape to produce the submicron cell structure. These novel polymeric foams, because of their sub-micron or even nano-size of their component bubbles, are transparent and demonstrate enhanced optical properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,590, entitled Transparent Super-microcellular Polymer Foams from High Tg Polymers and Method for Manufacture, by the same inventor on the patent cited immediately above, granted Apr. 29, 2003, describes a novel class of transparent polymeric foams from high Tg polymers comprising submicron cells and a process for their production. This patent similarly describes novel polymer foams that are transparent and a method for their manufacture.
In addition to the transparency of the surfboard or wave riding vehicle in the present invention, which alone aids the surfer, swimmer, or diver in shark detection simply based on increased visibility, the surfboard also contains a shark-resistant signal generator. Shark attack is a long-recognized hazard that must be considered by surfers, divers, and swimmers in marine waters. In fact much concern exists about all marine elasmobranches (sharks, skates, and rays) and their potential dangers.
Addressing this concern regarding the danger of sharks, much prior art exists describing methods in which sharks are repelled, deterred, destroyed, etc. by electrical, mechanical, and chemical methods each designed to aid a surfer, diver, or swimmer.
The following patents provide existing methods and devices to control aquatic animals, particularly sharks, using electrical or electromagnetic techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,643, entitled 'Control of Sharks', which was granted Oct. 22, 1996, describes a method and apparatus for controlling sharks and other aquatic animals. The method uses electrodes that are immersed in a body of water to create an electric field by applying electrical pulses. The pulses may have a duration of between 0.1 and 200 ms, a repetition rate of between 1 and 60 Hz, and a field strength of 1 to 10 V.m−1 in the body of water at a distance of 1 m from the electrodes. Such apparatus acts to repel aquatic animals from the vicinity of the electrodes. The patent states that in a preferred form of the invention, the pulses are generated in pulse trains each comprising a plurality of pulses, with each pulse having a duration of between 0.1 and 3 ms, the pulses in each train being spaced at intervals of between 1 and 30 ms, and the pulse trains being repeated at intervals of between 100 and 1000 ms. The patent further states that in a specific form of the invention, each pulse in such a pulse train has a duration of 2 ms, the pulses in each train are spaced at intervals of 20 ms and the pulse trains are repeated at a frequency of between 2 and 5 Hz.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,280, entitled Shark Repelling Device Including Pulse Generator Producing Electrical Field in Water between Widely Spaced Electrodes, which was granted published Aug. 8, 1972, is based on the repeated charging and discharging of a capacitor to establish an electric field in a body of water. This invention is primarily concerned with aiding the fishing industry and is used alongside fishing nets to prevent sharks from entering the open mouths of nets drawn by trawlers, so as to preserve the catch in the nets from devastation by sharks. The invention is, nonetheless, an electrical pulse generator concept designed for the control of sharks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,980, entitled Method of Creating an Electric Field for Shark Repellent, which was granted Jul. 8, 1980, describes a method for repelling sharks and the like by creating an electric field containing a zone about an anode and/or cathode electrodes submersed in salt water. The patent further describes a voltage gradient of sufficient magnitude to overstimulate the nervous system of a shark yet which is insufficient to disturb most scaled fish and man. The electric field created is maintained only long enough to allow nerve cell response in a shark. It is turned on with a frequency near a shark's nervous system's normal frequency.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,403, entitled Apparatus and Method for Repelling Sharks and the Like, which was granted Jul. 2, 1974, describes an apparatus and method for electromagnetically repelling elasmobranches, such as sharks and the like, where an electric circuit, including a timing circuit, a plurality of spaced electrodes and a source of electrical energy, is connected in a housing and is energized upon submergence of electrodes in a body of water, the electric circuit including means for rapidly pulsing a direct current between the electrodes to generate an electromagnetic field in the body of water to repel sharks and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,810, entitled Electric Barrier for Fish, which was granted May 2, 1989, describes a fish barrier to prevent passage there past of fish is established by applying alternating asymmetrical pulses across water immersed anode and cathode electrodes, where the cathode electrode represents the barrier. A higher voltage negative pulse produces a direct current field in a first zone adjacent the cathode electrode which zone is sensed by the fish at a threshold value of field intensity. The first zone induces a neuromuscular twitch response to turn the fish away from the negative electrode. A lower voltage positive pulse produces an alternating current field in a second zone closer to the cathode electrode, which zone is sensed only by those fish in close proximity to the cathode electrode. The second zone induces muscular contraction followed by tetany and usually death. By placing the cathode electrode across a stream or canal to prevent upstream fish movement, most of the fish will be involuntarily prevented from swimming close to the barrier. The dying and dead fish which did swim too close to the cathode electrode will be carried downstream and away from the barrier by the water flow. The use of alternating pulses of essentially equal energy level prevents degradation of the field intensity by preventing a build-up of metallic oxides on the cathode electrode due to electrolysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,833, entitled Shark Diverting Apparatus, which was granted Nov. 14, 1989, describes a shark diverting apparatus in which a signal generator is used to attract sharks and further uses the release of air pressure to create air bubbles to draw sharks away from and below an individual, thus protecting a person in marine waters from shark attack.
Although each of these inventions may be useful in the scope of their limited design, further means are necessary to adequately protect a surfer, swimmer, or diver from possible shark attack.
Additionally there are means by which a shark or other elasmobranch may be controlled or deterred without the use of large electrical or electro-magnetical fields. The following patents discuss existing methods and devices to control aquatic animals, particularly sharks, using techniques that are or resemble an underwater firearm. Previous inventions include an underwater repeating shotgun (U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,031) specifically designed to fire against a shark, a shark prod (U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,431) whereby a shark is repelled by electrically conductive prongs upon impact with the device, a shark protecting device (U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,194) whereby a probe must be armed by the swimmer and the probe contains a dart that, once launched, enters a shark's body causing bloating and the inability to maneuver, and an underwater protection device (U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,692) whereby a cylindrical barrel carries a firearm shell which detonates upon contact of a shark or like animal and the barrel itself.
These inventions of course will likely destroy or severely harm the shark. The present invention is primarily directed with deterring the shark such that a surfer is protected from shark attack. In addition, these inventions require much intervention by the surfer, swimmer, or diver. Additionally the devices described in the art would be difficult, if not impossible, to operate while in the process of surfing. The present invention is different in that it does not require intensive participation.
There are still further examples of art in which the control of sharks or like animals is concerned. The following patents discuss existing methods and devices to control aquatic animals, particularly sharks, using techniques that essentially surround a person by a protective barrier. Such prior art includes a shark screen (U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,220) in which a survivor of a shipwreck has increased protection from shark attack by means of a vacuum-packed screen that unfolds to fully surround one floating in the water. Another invention also includes a waterborne life-saving apparatus (U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,415) in which a buoyant raft includes a bag which surrounds the underwater side of the raft and protects the persons contained within from shark attack. These inventions are more likely to be used in a life-saving event such as after a plane crash over marine waters or a boat wreck.
There are additional examples of art in which the control of sharks or like animals is concerned. The following patent discusses an existing method and device to protect a person in marine waters from a shark. Prior inventions include a shark protector suit (U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,729) in which a person wears a rubber suit and helmet which is covered with a plurality of long spikes. Such an invention would not be well-suited for a surfer or recreational swimmer in marine waters.
There are still further examples of art in which the control of sharks is concerned. The following patents discuss existing methods and devices to control aquatic animals, particularly sharks, using techniques that are more chemical in nature. Earlier inventions exist describing a shark-repellant patch (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,407,679 and 5,616,333) in which a patch is worn by a person or in which a patch is placed on an object. Such patch includes an impermeable membrane containing a shark repelling substance that upon bite or attack by shark ruptures and thus deters the shark. This invention presumes that the wearer of such a patch can withstand even the initial contact that would then release the shark-repelling substance into the waters. This invention may perhaps deter a shark attack once in progress, but it offers little in the way of prevention of the initial attack of the shark.
In addition to the transparency of the surfboard or other wave riding vehicle in the present invention and the associated shark-resistant signal generator, this invention also describes a component of the device in which aquatic animals that are about three feet in length (such as a shark) and within about a one-hundred foot radius of the surfboard can be identified by location. The following patents discuss existing methods and devices to identify or locate fish or other aquatic animals and are incorporated by reference herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,912, entitled Side-Looking Fish Finder, which was granted Nov. 9, 1993, describes a side-looking fish finding apparatus that transmits a sonar pulse approximately horizontally into a body of water, and then monitors echoes from the pulse. This invention and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,912 is incorporated by reference herein. Such a device is useful to a surfer who needs to know not only what large aquatic animals are beneath but also needs to know what large aquatic animals are within a certain horizontal radius of the surfboard. The patent further describes the echo device to be sensitive such that an individual echo is treated as the detection of a fish if it has a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. Additionally, the device is sensitive if the fish has a length within a predetermined range bounded by upper and lower limits.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,438, entitled Hand-Held LCD Fish Finder, is incorporated by reference herein. This patent describes a hand-held LCD game machine used as a hand-held LCD fish finder. This patent is incorporated by reference herein and provides the availability, portability, and compactness of such a fish-finder type device. This type of device may be used by embedding the device within the shark-safe surfboard described in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,783, entitled Fish Finder Capable of Discriminating Sizes of Fish, which was granted Mar. 28, 1978, is incorporated by reference herein. This patent describes a fish finder wherein one transducer is used to generate both high- and low-frequency ultrasonic waves which are simultaneously emitted and the electrical signal representative of the reflected high- or low-frequency ultrasonic waves is extracted by the signal representative of the reflected low- or high-frequency ultrasonic waves, thereby discriminating the sizes of fish detected. This invention is particularly useful to the present invention because a surfer need not be informed of all aquatic animals in the immediate vicinity. A surfer need only be made aware of large predatory aquatic animals that are at least a certain size in length, such as a shark, that may cause harm and this patent describes an invention which is easily incorporate into the body of a surfboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,609, entitled Fish Finder, which was granted Aug. 1, 1978, describes a fish-finder of the type emitting ultrasonic pulses into the water and receiving and displaying the reflected waves, the received reflected waves are converted into digital signals corresponding to their levels and written into a main memory as information of one display line of a color cathode ray tube display. The main memory has a capacity of storing information of one picture frame of the color cathode ray tube display, and is read out repeatedly. The read-out signals are converted into color signals according to their levels and the color signals are supplied to the color cathode ray tube. Every time a new reflected wave is written into the main memory, the stored content of the main memory is partly removed so that the oldest display on the screen may disappear and, at the same time, the display on each display line is shifted to the older display line. This invention and U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,609 is incorporated by reference herein. The use of color in this invention would be helpful to a surfer who needs to be able to easily read the display and be informed of a nearby shark, especially in conjunction with an otherwise transparent surfboard.
Additional art exists describing a fish finder (U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,707) that discloses the condition of the water bottom and displays obstacles that might interfere with a boat. Design patents also exists for fish finders (US D 459,250 and US D 398,546), each suggesting ornamental designs of fish finders. These design patents suggest the potential compactness of such a device, as would be necessary for the incorporation into a surfboard.
It is an object of the present invention to address all of the above-mentioned concerns regarding protection of a surfer, swimmer, or diver from shark attack. While each of the above mentioned embodiments is each useful in its own right and limited scope, none suggest a comprehensive solution for a surfer, swimmer, or diver to be protected from shark attack by means of a transparent surfboard, shark resistant signal-generator and alarm, and locator of large aquatic animals.
The present invention is partially based on recognition of the electrical sensory perception of elasmobranches. The following science journal articles discuss electro-sensory capabilities of sharks.
One article of significance is "Electrical Characterization of Gel Collected from Shark Electro-sensors," by Brandon R. Brown et al. published in Physical Review E, Volume 65, 061903, Jun. 12, 2002. These article states, "To investigate the physical mechanism of the electric sense, we present an initial electrical characterization of the glycoprotein gel that fills the electro sensitive organs of marine elasmobranches sharks, skates, and rays. We have collected samples of this gel, postmortem, from three shark species, and removed the majority of dissolved salts in one sample via dialysis. Here we present the results of dc conductivity measurements, low-frequency impedance spectroscopy, and electrophoresis. Electrophoresis shows a range of large protein-based molecules fitting the expectations of glycoprotein, but the gels of different species exhibit little similarity. The electrophoresis signature is unaffected by thermal cycling and measurement currents. The dc data were collected at various temperatures, and at various electric and magnetic fields, showing consistency with the properties of seawater. The impedance data collected from a dialyzed sample, however, show large values of static permittivity and a loss peak corresponding to an unusually long relaxation time, about 1 ms. The exact role of the gel is still unknown, but results suggest its bulk properties are well matched to the sensing mechanism, as the minimum response time of an entire electric organ is on the order of 5 ms."
Another article of significance is "Modeling an Electro sensory Landscape: Behavioral and Morphological Optimization in Elasmobranches Prey Capture," by Brandon Brown, which was published in The Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 999 1009 (2002). This article states, "Most biological sensory systems benefit from multiple sensors. Elasmobranches (sharks, skates and rays) possess an array of electro receptive organs that facilitate prey location, mate location and navigation. Here, the perceived electro sensory landscape for an elasmobranches approaching prey is mathematically modeled. The voltages that develop simultaneously in dozens of separate sensing organs are calculated using electrodynamics. These voltages lead directly to firing rate modifications in the primary afferent nerves. The canals connecting the sense organs to an elasmobranches surface exhibit great variation of location and orientation. Here, the voltages arising in the sense organs are found to depend strongly on the geometrical distribution of the corresponding canals. Two applications for the modeling technique are explored: an analysis of observed elasmobranches prey-capture behavior and an analysis of morphological optimization. For the former, results in specific predator-prey scenarios are compared with behavioral observations, supporting the approach algorithm suggested by A. Kalian. For the latter, electro sensory performance is contrasted for two geometrical models of multiple sense organs, a rounded head and a hammer-shaped head."

Transparent surfboard with shark locating and repelling system