Abstract: Numerous embodiments of a method and/or apparatus for disruption sensitive network data management are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, a determination is made of the network resources available to a computing system for exchange of data complying with a particular data protocol. A determination is then made of the network resources utilized by a computing system for exchange of data comprising a particular protocol, these two resource values are compared, and the resource allocation is altered in accordance with the comparison.

Abstract: Data is distributed over a network using a first network protocol, for example, a non-reliable protocol. The non-reliable protocol (e.g., multicast) is used to distribute the data from a host system to multiple target systems with reduced overhead as compared to typical reliable protocols. Portions of the data that are not received by one or more of the target systems are requested and transmitted via a second network protocol (e.g., hypertext transport protocol, or HTTP). In one embodiment, the target systems maintain a checkpoint management service that determines the portions of data not received. In an alternative embodiment, target systems evaluate data received to determine whether a portion of the transmitted data was not received.

Abstract: The invention provides allelic ladder mixtures and individual alleles suitable for use in such mixtures. The allelic ladder mixtures give improved identification and distinguishing capabilities, particularly suitable in forensic investigations.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining service from a management server is presented. A client sends a request for service to a management agent. The management agent forwards the request for service to a management server via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The management server sends service information via HTTP to the management agent. The management agent then forwards the service information to the client. As such, the client may obtain service even where network nodes, such as switches and routers, intervene between the client and the management server.

Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

Abstract: The invention relates to the programming of integrated circuit cards. More particularly, the invention concerns systems and methods for integrated circuit card programming, as well as modules used for integrated circuit card programming. Each module includes a movable cassette mechanism having a plurality of card programming stations thereon. The use of multiple card programming stations permits simultaneous programming of a plurality of cards. Further, the use of a single cassette in the module permits the size of the module to be reduced significantly. A modular concept is more readily adaptable to customer needs and requirements. For instance, if a customer requires more card production than that provided by a single module, a second module that is identical to the first module can be connected to the first module so that the two modules working together provide two cassettes. Additional modules can be added to further increase card production capacity.

Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

Abstract: A method of multicasting data from a server computer to a plurality of client computers includes receiving a request for data from one of the plurality of client computers. The method further includes determining whether to multicast the data in response to the request and multicasting the data to the plurality of clients based on the request if it is determined to multicast.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of a method and/or apparatus for disruption sensitive network data management are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, a determination is made of the network resources available to a computing system for exchange of data complying with a particular data protocol. A determination is then made of the network resources utilized by a computing system for exchange of data comprising a particular protocol, these two resource values are compared, and the resource allocation is altered in accordance with the comparison.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a number of messages from at least two different system elements that are located in two different devices. The system elements are associated with a same process, and the number of messages have a common protocol. The method also includes storing the number of messages from the at least two different system elements. Additionally, the method comprises retrieving the number of messages associated with the same process upon request for a status inquiry of the same process.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining service from a management server is presented. A client sends a request for service to a management agent. The management agent forwards the request for service to a management server via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The management server sends service information via HTTP to the management agent. The management agent then forwards the service information to the client. As such, the client may obtain service even where network nodes, such as switches and routers, intervene between the client and the management server.

Abstract: A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units. The pick-up head rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head when a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum is selectively drawn through each pick-up unit to pull the outermost plate into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

Abstract: A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units spaced about its periphery. The pick-up head is attached to and rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head each time a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum device is selectively coupled to each pick-up unit as it passes over the stack to pull the outermost plate away from the stack and into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and stacking thin rigid plates, such as used in storage batteries, receives the plates horizontally in spaced-apart groups, transports the groups horizontally and deposits them into stacks on a stacking apparatus that orients them vertically and delivers them for further processing. The groups of plates are carried on a conveyor system having chains that are spaced further apart than the width of the plates. Opposed pads extending inwardly from the chains engage the edges of the plates. Each pad has a length approximately equal to the height of the plates and is separated from each adjacent pad by a distance that is greater than the height of the plates. Stops located between the chains contact the groups of plates and prevent their continued movement with the chains thus causing them to drop between adjacent pads and off of the conveyor. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a collection system that causes every group of plates in a stack to drop the same distance.

Abstract: Battery plates from the high speed output conveyor of a pasted plate making machine are deposited onto a lower speed first conveyor in an overlapped fashion to create a shingled stream of plates. As plates drop off of the discharge end of the first conveyor they are accumulated in vertical stacks on a second conveyor that is located below the first conveyor. Whenever a stack is completed the second conveyor is moved approximately one plate width to remove the stack and the process continues. In order to provide time to move the stack, the flow of plates on the first conveyor is disrupted when the stack is being moved. In the preferred embodiment the disruption is caused by squeezing the plates between the jaws of a clamping mechanism that the plates pass through.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated handling of battery plate stacks is disclosed. The apparatus includes an endless drive unit having a plurality of upstanding pockets which open to receive the plates and to assemble a predetermined number of them side by side in a vertically arranged stack. The drive unit includes a single revolution clutch which permits the drive unit to move a predetermined amount and then stop each time it is signaled by a controller that the proper number of plates has been inserted into a particular pocket. Thus, movement of the drive unit is interrupted while the plates are being inserted into the pockets and commences again when the pockets are loaded. The stacks of plates then are blocked and centered as they move through the apparatus in their pockets.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotary carrier which carries a plurality of semi-spherical gripping heads having concave gripping surfaces. The gripping heads are positioned such that the gripping surfaces become flush with the forwardmost plate in a vertically arrayed stack of plates as the carrier rotates. Each gripping head is mounted to the carrier through a hollow bellows and vacuum air drawn into a hole in the gripping face passes through the bellows. When the vacuum increases, due to the forwardmost plate in the stack being pulled up against the gripping head, the bellows collapses and pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack. Rollers, which extend beyond the periphery of the carrier, urge the stack away from the gripping head immediately before they become aligned. The vacuum then pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack and into contact with the gripping head before the bellows collapses thereby increasing the gap between them.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing processing oil from thin sheets of microporous plastic material is comprised of a tank having a liquid zone in its bottom portion which is divided into three sub-tanks having decreasing depths extending across the tank. Heating coils in each sub-tank vaporize the solvent to form a cleaning zone, containing vaporized solvent, above the liquid portion, and condensing coils located at the top of the tank condense the vaporized solvent and deposit it into the deepest sub-tank which also is supplied freash make up solvent when required. A series of rollers feeds the material through the tank, from the side having the shallowest sub-tank toward the side having the deepest sub-tank, while repeatedly passing it between the cleaning zone where solvent is condensed on it to clean it, and the condensing zone where it is cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the vaporous solvent.

Abstract: A method for removing processing oil from thin sheets of microporous plastic material is comprised of a tank having a liquid zone in its bottom portion which is divided into three sub-tanks having decreasing depths extending across the tank. Heating coils in each sub-tank vaporize the solvent to form a cleaning zone, containing vaporized solvent, above the liquid portion, and condensing coils located at the top of the tank condense the vaporized solvent and deposit it into the deepest sub-tank which also is supplied fresh make up solvent when required. A series of rollers feeds the material through the tank, from the side having the shallowest sub-tank toward the side having the deepest sub-tank, while repeatedly passing it between the cleaning zone where solvent is condensed on it to clean it, and the condensing zone where it is cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the vaporous solvent.