Abstract: A vending machine system adapted to open and prepare a contained food item. The system includes a cabinet, a rack frame supported relative to the cabinet, a shelf coupled to the rack frame and configured to support a contained food item, a lid removal apparatus supported relative to the rack frame, and a food item actuator supported relative to the rack frame. The cabinet includes a refrigerated compartment housing the rack frame and a partition separating and selectively allowing access between the refrigerated compartment and a preparation compartment. The lid removal apparatus is configured to selectively retain a lid of the contained food item. The food item actuator is configured to move a container of the contained food item to the preparation compartment of the cabinet while the lid of the contained food item is retained by the lid removal apparatus subsequent to translation of the container.

Abstract: A 3D printing apparatus and method prints a partial part, and continues to print the part after the partially-printed part has been rotated. Each partial printing operation may include reinforcement via application of one or more layers of continuous fiber. The rotation and continued printing of the partially-printed part allows for fiber orientation in different orientations for the printed part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogenic polypeptide from Haemophilus influenzae or an immunogenic fragment thereof and/or an immunogenic polypeptide from Moraxella catarrhalis or an immunogenic fragment thereof, for use in the treatment or prevention of a recurrence of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) resulting from a bacterial infection in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogenic polypeptide from Haemophilus influenzae or an immunogenic fragment thereof and/or an immunogenic polypeptide from Moraxella catarrhalis or an immunogenic fragment thereof, for use in the treatment or prevention of a recurrence of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) resulting from a bacterial infection in a subject.

Abstract: A Circadian Rhythm Monitoring and Regulation (CMR) system and method that includes: a novel non-obtrusive wearable system for increasing the health and productivity of warfighters or other individuals that are disrupted by excessive, abnormal shifts in work or flights across multiple time zones. The CMR system is based on advanced sensor and software technology and models of human circadian system phototransduction and a circadian stimulator oscillator developed by applicants. It measures circadian misalignment and provides lighting suggestions for circadian rhythm maintenance and realignment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogenic polypeptide from Haemophilus influenzae or an immunogenic fragment thereof and/or an immunogenic polypeptide from Moraxella catarrhalis or an immunogenic fragment thereof, for use in the treatment or prevention of a recurrence of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) resulting from a bacterial infection in a subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling state information retention determines at least a state information save or restore condition for at least one processing circuit such as one or more CPU or GPU cores or pipelines, in an integrated circuit. In response to determining the state information save or restore condition, the method and apparatus controls either or both of saving or restoring of state information for different virtual machines operating on the processing circuit, into corresponding on-die persistent passive variable resistance memory. The state information save or restore condition is a virtual machine level state information save or restore condition. State information for each of differing virtual machines is saved or restored from differing on-die passive variable resistance memory cells that are assigned on a per-virtual machine basis.

Abstract: The invention utilizes a separate queue per output port as implemented in the traditional simple queuing schemes of the prior art. Further, it also uses the information found in the packet header to determine the output port and the next output port. Based on this information, it utilizes queues dedicated to congested flows, or “Congested Flow” queues. When the switch determines that, based on the first output port and the second subsequent output port, a packet in the output queue is destined for a congested path, it sets the offending packet aside in a Congested Flow queue, thereby allowing other packets destined for the first output port to continue to be transmitted. In this way, the HOL blocking issue is addressed, without the need for a significantly increased number of output queues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling state information retention determines at least a state information save or restore condition for at least one processing circuit such as one or more CPU or GPU cores or pipelines, in an integrated circuit. In response to determining the state information save or restore condition, the method and apparatus controls either or both of saving or restoring of state information for different virtual machines operating on the processing circuit, into corresponding on-die persistent passive variable resistance memory. The state information save or restore condition is a virtual machine level state information save or restore condition. State information for each of differing virtual machines is saved or restored from differing on-die passive variable resistance memory cells that are assigned on a per-virtual machine basis.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for identifying and communicating congested paths throughout a network fabric. Briefly, the present invention augments the congestion management mechanism defined in ASI to allow for the communication of congested paths through the fabric, rather than the simple congested output port notification supported today through the use of DLLPs. Further, it also uses the communication mechanisms already defined in the ASI specification to implement this additional capability. Specifically, the present invention uses Transaction Layer Packets (TLPs) to communicate the information concerning congested flows throughout the network. This packet type allows the inclusion of much more information than DLLPs, allowing a more comprehensive and elegant solution to the issue of congestion management in an Advanced Switching network fabric.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved architecture for credit based flow control. Briefly, the memory space within the receiving switch is separated into two parts, a statically allocated portion and a dynamically allocated portion. Packets are first placed in the dynamically allocated portion, and the credits are returned immediately. When the dynamically allocated portion has no additional space, the packets are then stored in the memory portion statically allocated to the specific virtual circuit. Credits are returned when the packets are removed from the statically allocated memory portion. This scenario allows the immediate return of credits when there is space available in the dynamically allocated memory portion. It also allows improved sharing of the overall memory since more of the overall memory can be made available to a particular virtual circuit.

Abstract: A portable modular ladder system which comprises a plurality of stiles. A plurality of steps are spaced apart which extend laterally from opposite sides of each stile in an alternating manner. A plurality of stabilizers are spaced apart which extend rearwardly from each stile. A mechanism is for interconnecting the plurality of stiles together end to end. .A mechanism is for retaining the plurality of stabilizers against a substantially vertical structure, wherein a person can climb up the plurality of steps on the plurality of stiles.

Abstract: The invention utilizes a separate queue per output port as implemented in the traditional simple queuing schemes of the prior art. Further, it also uses the information found in the packet header to determine the output port and the next output port. Based on this information, it utilizes queues dedicated to congested flows, or “Congested Flow” queues. When the switch determines that, based on the first output port and the second subsequent output port, a packet in the output queue is destined for a congested path, it sets the offending packet aside in a Congested Flow queue, thereby allowing other packets destined for the first output port to continue to be transmitted. In this way, the HOL blocking issue is addressed, without the need for a significantly increased number of output queues.

Abstract: The invention utilizes a separate queue per output port as implemented in the traditional simple queuing schemes of the prior art. Further, it also uses the information found in the packet header to determine the output port and the next output port. Based on this information, it utilizes queues dedicated to congested flows, or “Congested Flow” queues. When the switch determines that, based on the first output port and the second subsequent output port, a packet in the output queue is destined for a congested path, it sets the offending packet aside in a Congested Flow queue, thereby allowing other packets destined for the first output port to continue to be transmitted. In this way, the HOL blocking issue is addressed, without the need for a significantly increased number of output queues.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for identifying and communicating congested paths throughout a network fabric. Briefly, the present invention augments the congestion management mechanism defined in ASI to allow for the communication of congested paths through the fabric, rather than the simple congested output port notification supported today through the use of DLLPs. Further, it also uses the communication mechanisms already defined in the ASI specification to implement this additional capability. Specifically, the present invention uses Transaction Layer Packets (TLPs) to communicate the information concerning congested flows throughout the network. This packet type allows the inclusion of much more information than DLLPs, allowing a more comprehensive and elegant solution to the issue of congestion management in an Advanced Switching network fabric.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved architecture for credit based flow control. Briefly, the memory space within the receiving switch is separated into two parts, a statically allocated portion and a dynamically allocated portion. Packets are first placed in the dynamically allocated portion, and the credits are returned immediately. When the dynamically allocated portion has no additional space, the packets are then stored in the memory portion statically allocated to the specific virtual circuit. Credits are returned when the packets are removed from the statically allocated memory portion. This scenario allows the immediate return of credits when there is space available in the dynamically allocated memory portion. It also allows improved sharing of the overall memory since more of the overall memory can be made available to a particular virtual circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for identifying and communicating congested paths throughout a network fabric. Briefly, the present invention augments the congestion management mechanism defined in ASI to allow for the communication of congested paths through the fabric, rather than the simple congested output port notification supported today through the use of DLLPs. Further, it also uses the communication mechanisms already defined in the ASI specification to implement this additional capability. Specifically, the present invention uses Transaction Layer Packets (TLPs) to communicate the information concerning congested flows throughout the network. This packet type allows the inclusion of much more information than DLLPs, allowing a more comprehensive and elegant solution to the issue of congestion management in an Advanced Switching network fabric.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for utilizing the Advanced Switching network protocol to communicate over long distances, such as multiple kilometers. The present invention utilizes an existing status bit, referred to as the Perishable Bit, within the AS packet header, to reduce the number of packets which must be stored in the retry buffer. This reduces the required size of the retry buffer and simultaneously reduces the latency associated with retransmitting time critical packets after NAKs are received. The receiving device also utilizes the Perishable Bit in determining which packets to accept and which to discard.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring data between two relatively autonomous processors using a sockets interface. In particular, a source SDT (“socket data transfer”) engine tells a destination SDT engine that data is available. Next the destination SDT engine then sends a data request to the source SDT engine. The source SDT engine then sends data to the destination SDT engine.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved architecture for credit based flow control. Briefly, the memory space within the receiving switch is separated into two parts, a statically allocated portion and a dynamically allocated portion. Packets are first placed in the dynamically allocated portion, and the credits are returned immediately. When the dynamically allocated portion has no additional space, the packets are then stored in the memory portion statically allocated to the specific virtual circuit. Credits are returned when the packets are removed from the statically allocated memory portion. This scenario allows the immediate return of credits when there is space available in the dynamically allocated memory portion. It also allows improved sharing of the overall memory since more of the overall memory can be made available to a particular virtual circuit.