91results about How to "Minimize amount of time" patented technology

A method for initializing a new node in a network. The network has multiple nodes arranged in a virtual tree format. The new node is a node of the tree, and each node of the tree has a set of attributes and a set of rolled up attributes to identify each node. A query is automatically sent to the nodes to determine what contents to download. The contents are then stored as block files in the nodes. The query contains the set of attributes and rolled up attributes for the new node. The query receives replies from a subset of the nodes that have the contents needed for the new node. Each reply identifies what subset of the block files is available and the performance characteristics of that replying node. Then the desired contents from the subset of the block files from nodes that are least congested is downloaded.

Mechanisms and techniques provide the system that allows a sending computer system to capture and store event information related to events that transpire on a sending computer system in event batches. The event information can include event functionality related to event object in the timestamp related to the event. Periodically, in response to the occurrence of the batch transfer condition, the sending computer system transmits an event batch monthly computer network for receipt by a receiving computer system. The event batch may be processed through a collaboration adapter on the networks while prior to being send to the receiving computer system. Upon receipt of an event batch at the receiving computer system, the receiving computer system can compute a lag time required to receive the event batch. The receiving computer system can then recreate events based on the event information in the event batches while compensating for network lag time incurred during transmission of the event batch between a sending and receiving computer systems. By compensating for network lag during the recreation or playback of events, the system of the invention avoids the receiving computer system from reproducing events in a choppy or discontinuous manner or from getting left behind during event recreation due to accumulations of network lag time.

An improved computer network and network device uses characteristics of prior art shared network protocols to control the flow of data and access to the network among a group of transmitting nodes. The invention determines which nodes wish to send data when a collision occurs by detecting and recording which nodes participated in a collision. A scheduling routine is designed to give each connected node a chance to send. A transmission control mechanism is used to prevent a subset of transmitters from transmitting while allowing one ES to transmit without experiencing a collision. The invention has a number of applications including within an improved ethernet repeater in a multimedia ethernet.

A computing system receives status transmissions from nodes within a portion of an electricity distribution network. The status transmissions include information related to hardware problems experienced by nodes within the portion of that network. The computing system determines a “heat” value for each of the status transmissions, where the heat value for a given transmission represents the operating conditions of, and/or the severity of hardware/software problems experienced by, the node responsible for sending that transmission. The computing system aggregates the heat values across the entire portion of the electricity distribution network and compares the aggregated heat values to a threshold value. When the aggregated value exceeds the threshold value, the computing system identifies a crisis situation arising within the portion of the electricity distribution network. The computing system may then convey information associated with the status transmissions to operators of the electricity distribution network.

Relatively high speed methods for increasing the bulk density of coal particles without impacting the coal particles and an apparatus for compacting coal for making metallurgical coke. The method includes depositing coal particles onto a charging plate external to a coking oven. The charging plate has side walls, and at least one movable end wall to provide an elongate bed of dry, uncompacted coal having an upper surface on the charging plate. The uncompacted coal is compacted by passing a vibratory cylindrical compactor along a length of the uncompacted coal for a number of passes sufficient to decrease a thickness of the bed of coal to less than about 80 percent of an original thickness of the uncompacted coal. The vibratory cylindrical compactor has a length to diameter ratio ranging from about 1.4:1 to about 2:1.

Methods and apparatus for smoothly and efficiently upgrading set top boxes, e.g., personal video recorders, which have customer selected content stored thereon are described. The described methods allow content stored on a set top box to be uploaded to a network storage device, e.g., automatically at a predetermined time prior to a scheduled upgrade, or in some cases, via manual control of the set top box to be upgraded. After stored content is uploaded to the network storage device, the set top box is replaced with a new set top box. The new set top box can be preloaded with the previously uploaded content or a content download can be triggered, e.g., by activating a hidden application and by supplying information identifying the set top box being replaced as part of the upgrade process.

The present invention provides a method and system for efficiently scheduling wireless LAN traffic, giving the network the ability to serve both real-time and non-real time applications concurrently, while maintaining a requested level of quality of service for the real time application. It describes a method for scheduling quality of service traffic and a method to optimize this schedule thereby reducing the overall amount of time that is required for serving quality of service traffic (which is coordinated by a centralized network coordinator entity) and increasing the bandwidth available for non-real-time traffic. One application of such a scheduler would be WLANs that carry AV streams, such as may be found in a home based WLAN. Furthermore, a method is provided for announcing the schedule to all nodes in a wireless network to, for example, implement a power savings feature, thereby optimizing battery life and reducing the size and weight of portable network access terminals.

An endoscope sheath includes a web member disposable in a tubular configuration in engagement with an endoscope insertion member, the member being provided with a tear string in the form of a tensile member. The tear string preferably extends longitudinally along the web member. In addition, the tear string preferably extends from one end of the web member to an opposite end thereof and is disposed along a weakened area of the web member. The web member is provided in a plurality of regions with a layer of adhesive material. The adhesive material of at least one of the regions is permanent adhesive, whereas the adhesive material of at least another of the regions forms a separable bond. These regions extend along opposing longitudinal edges of the web member.

A braking system 12 for use with an electric vehicle 10 including an electric motor/generator assembly 14, and a conventional electrical energy storage device 16. Motor/generator 14 selectively drives wheels 20 of vehicle 12. The braking system 12 includes a motor control module 26 which is communicatively coupled to motor/generator 14 and which selectively causes motor/generator 14 to provide a regenerative braking function at wheels 20 of vehicle 10. Braking system 10 further includes an antiskid braking system which selectively provides friction braking at wheels 20 and 24 of vehicle 10. The braking system 12 is effective to detect antiskid braking events at each of the wheels 20, 24, to selectively provide an antiskid braking function at each of wheels 20, 24 where the antiskid braking events are detected, and to selectively disable the regenerative braking function only when an antiskid braking event is detected at either of wheels 20.

To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.

This invention utilizes two sensing technologies in combination with or in isolation of an automated inspection vehicle to conduct inspections of internal rail flaws in steel railroad track. A vehicle equipped with X-radiation sensing is used as a secondary method to assess the deviations in magnetic fields that are sensed by a primary sensor consisting of a single or multiple magnetometers. The magnetometers sense changes in magnetic field that are correlated to the flaws inside the steel rail. The combination of technologies improves the probability to detect railroad flaws and offers the ability to accurately track and monitor flaws.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for plating a conductive material on a workpiece surface in a highly desirable manner. Using a workpiece-surface-influencing device, such as a mask or sweeper, that preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, relative movement between the workpiece and the workpiece-surface-influencing device is established so that an additive in the electrolyte solution disposed on the workpiece and which is adsorbed onto the top surface is removed or otherwise its amount or concentration changed with respect to the additive on the cavity surface of the workpiece. Plating of the conductive material can place prior to, during and after usage of the workpiece-surface-influencing device, particularly after the workpiece surface influencing device no longer contacts any portion of the top surface of the workpiece, to achieve desirable semiconductor structures.

A method of inflating a tire, or vehicle tire, that minimizes the amount of time needed for same is disclosed. The method of inflating a tire with a tire pressure management system includes introducing continuous fluid flow of a fluid into the tire, ascertaining the dynamic pressure of the fluid during said introducing continuous fluid flow, terminating continuous fluid flow when the dynamic pressure exceeds or equals a predetermined amount, and introducing pulsed fluid flow of the fluid into the tire.

A method and apparatus for managing memory usage for three-dimensional computer graphics systems are provided. A scene which is textured and shaded in the system is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas , each comprising a plurality of picture elements in the scene. For each rectangular area a list of objects which may be visible in the scene is derived. Objects which do not contribute to the final textured and shaded scene are then removed from each list and the rectangular area is then textured and shaded using reduced lists of objects.

A system and method for facilitating user entry of a manually-adjustable data setting in an aircraft cockpit normally presents an image of the data setting on the display at a predetermined size. When the user commences to manipulate a control for manually adjusting the data setting, the imaged data setting on the display is automatically enlarged to a predeterminately enlarged size to thereby unambiguously direct the user's attention to the imaged data setting to be adjusted. The imaged data setting on the display is returned from its enlarged size to its normal size when user manipulation of the control has ceased, preferably a predetermined time interval after such user manipulation has ceased.