Abstract: A spectrally encoded endoscopic probe having high resolution and small diameter comprising at least one flexible optical fiber; an energy source; a grating through which said energy is transmitted such that the energy spectrum is dispersed; a lens for focusing the dispersed energy spectrum onto a sample such that the impingement spot for each wavelength is a separate position on the sample, the wavelength spectrum defining a wavelength encoded axis; means for mechanically scanning the sample with focused energy in a direction perpendicular to the wavelength encoded axis; a means for receiving energy reflected from the sample; and, a means for detecting the received reflected energy. The probe grating and lens delivers a beam of multi-spectral light having spectral components extending in one dimension across a target region and which is moved to scan in another direction. The reflected spectrum is measured to provide two dimensional imaging of the region.

Abstract: A gaseous process stream that can be directed into a workspace or toward a workpiece is formed by feeding fuel, oxidant and process material into a thermal nozzle. The fuel combusts in the thermal nozzle with the oxidant and with combustible components, if any, of the process material, to form the gaseous process stream which is emitted from the thermal nozzle at high and controllable velocity and momentum.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of the compound {3-[2(R)-[(1R)-1-[3,5-bis(tri-fluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy]-3(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-morpholin-4-yl]methyl]-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl}phosphonic acid, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This compound is useful as a substance P (neurokinin-1) receptor antagonist. In particular, the compound is useful e.g., in the treatment of emesis and inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: A computer system for monitoring and enhancing the collateral security underlying a set of loans is provided, including a system for calculating the unsecured value of the set at any time and for initiating additional collateral enhancement instruments when the unsecured value exceeds a certain limit. The system may include a variety of modules in communication with a relational database for storing data about the loans and system elements. The computer system may also be configured to allocate, manage, and execute the waterfall or cascade of funds between and among the various participants in a financial plan. The invention also includes a structured finance plan and related methods for enhancing the collateral security of a loan obtained for a life insurance or annuity product, and a system and method for managing a portfolio of such loans in order to obtain favorable financing and to facilitate securitization.

Abstract: A processing device employs a stack memory in a region of an external memory. The processing device has a stack pointer register to store a current top address for the stack memory. One of several techniques is used to determine which portion or portions of the external memory correspond to the stack region. A more efficient memory policy is implemented, whereby pushes to the stack do not have to read data from the external memory in to a cache, and whereby pops from the stack do not cause stale stack data to be written back from the cache to the external memory.

Abstract: A resource unit has a request interface to allow the unit to receive a request and associated data. The resource unit also has a hashing engine to create a hash of the associated data, a modulo engine to create a modulus result, a read engine to perform a memory read, and a results interface to allow the device to return results.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for making 4-bromotetrahydrofluorenones, including novel bromination and chlorination steps, and interemediates. Also described are novel tetrahydrofluoreneones.

Abstract: A mapping technique allows a forwarding engine of an intermediate node to efficiently compute a starting address within an internal packet memory (IPM) configured to hold a packet received at the node. The starting address is used by direct memory access logic to merge a trailer of the packet stored in the IPM with a modified packet header generated by the forwarding engine. However, the size of the IPM is preferably not a binary number that can be easily manipulated by the forwarding engine when computing the starting address of the packet within the IPM. Therefore, the technique automatically adjusts the starting address to map to a correct location if the address exceeds the size of the IPM, while obviating the need for the forwarding engine to consider a wrap-around condition when computing the starting address.

Abstract: Data is protected using locks, with the protected data sometimes being included in the locking messages, which may reduce overall processing latency, and/or reduce a bandwidth requirement for and/or number of storage operations accessing the native storage of the protected data. For example, the lock manager receives lock requests from each of the requesters, and selectively grants the lock requests. The protected data is typically communicated in the locking messages when the lock is highly contested, or at least two request for access to the data are pending. The lock manager initiates the sequence by indicating in a grant message to a requester to include the protected data in its release message. The lock manager then copies this data received in the release message to its grant message to the next requestor.

Abstract: An option request protocol allows dynamic negotiation of options between a host computer and a control unit of a computer network. The protocol is manifested as an exchange of novel control messages over a control link used to establish logical data links for communication between the host and control unit. The options negotiated by the control message exchange generally pertain to additional functions performed by the control unit or host, or additional parameters for communication over the data links coupling the control unit and host.

Abstract: A cache blocking mechanism ensures that transient data is not stored in a secondary cache of a router by managing a designated set of buffers in a main memory of the router. The mechanism defines a window of virtual addresses that map to predetermined physical memory addresses associated with the set of buffers; in the illustrative embodiment, only transient data may be stored in these buffers. The mechanism further blocks write requests directed to these predetermined memory buffers from propagating to the secondary cache, thereby precluding storage of transient data in the cache.

Abstract: A technique allows dynamic negotiation of application names executing on nodes of a computer network for creating a data link for communication between the nodes. Dynamic negotiation is effected through an exchange of novel control messages over a control link used to establish application-application logical links between the nodes. The control messages instruct the nodes to create applications having names specified within predetermined fields of the messages. The technique obviates the need for a system administrator to issue configuration commands to a responding node to statically configure that latter node for communication over a network.

Abstract: A cache blocking mechanism ensures that transient data is not stored in a secondary cache of a router by managing a designated set of buffers in a main memory of the router. The mechanism defines a window of virtual addresses that map to predetermined physical memory addresses associated with the set of buffers; in the illustrative embodiment, only transient data may be stored in these buffers. The mechanism further blocks write requests directed to these predetermined memory buffers from propagating to the secondary cache, thereby precluding storage of transient data in the cache.

Abstract: An option request protocol allows dynamic negotiation of options between a host computer and a control unit of a computer network. The protocol is manifested as an exchange of novel control messages over a control link used to establish logical data links for communication between the host and control unit. The options negotiated by the control message exchange generally pertain to additional functions performed by the control unit or host, or additional parameters for communication over the data links coupling the control unit and host.

Abstract: A technique enables a control unit to perform checksum operations for packets, which operations are otherwise performed by a host computer of a computer network. The technique involves the use of two data links coupled between the host and control unit; one data link is used for exchanging "normal" IP packets without checksum operations performed thereon by the control unit and the other link is used for exchanging IP packets that have undergone or will undergo checksum operations by the control unit. By "offloading" checksum operations to the control unit, the technique reduces processor cycles consumed by the host, thereby improving the performance of the host computer and network.