Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving dynamic simple network management protocol GetNext processing is disclosed. The method and apparatus supports dynamic information in SNMP by building the “GetNext” list once, then caching that list for a given amount of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locking a database table having a plurality of partitions. In various embodiments, lock status codes are maintained for both a database table and for the partitions of the database table. The partition locks do not need to be updated when a lock is granted for the database table since a separate table lock status code is maintained. The separate table lock status code improves database application performance and simplifies programming of explicit lock operations.

Abstract: Methods for converting from a COM interface pointer to an underlying C++ object are described in various embodiments. In the various embodiments, classes are constructed in support of the underlying C++ object. The classes are used to enforce rules safely convert a COM interface pointer. One rule is that a COM interface to be converted cannot be marshaled. A second rule is that an object requesting the C++ object must have legal access to the COM interface (for example, the same execution unit). A third rule is that the object type of the COM interface must be in the inheritance hierarchy of the C++ object.

Abstract: An excavation system includes a cutting tool coupled to a drill pipe, an adjustable steering mechanism provided on or in the cutting tool, and a driving apparatus coupled to the drill pipe for moving the cutting tool along an underground path. The system further includes a navigation sensor system and a controller. The controller produces a control signal to adjust one or both of the steering mechanism and the driving apparatus for directing the cutting tool along the underground path in accordance with one or both of position information and orientation information produced by the navigation sensor system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for substantially eliminating ripple and transient voltage using a current controlled voltage regulator. Current control (460) senses load current (iL) changes and produces control voltage (VCONTROL) in response to the load current changes. The control voltage increases the conductivity state of shunt transistor (470) such that any deficit of current caused by load changes at load (420) during a positive voltage transient is conducted through shunt transistor (470). The control voltage decreases the conductivity state of shunt transistor (470) such that any excessive current caused by load (420) during a negative voltage transient is balanced by the reduction of current in shunt transistor (470).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of thin film magnetic transducers using a compliant pad or mat or surface in a lapping process is disclosed. The lapping process is applied to heads to eliminate both ductile element connections between the MR and shields and poletip and shield protrusion. A lapping media is dispensed onto an interface surface of a compliant pad. Then, the interface surface is engaged to the surface of a head outside a region comprising transducers defining a head gap. The pad is then moved over the head in a direction parallel to the head gap while using a head rail to guide the pad. The soft, compliant pad conforms to the head rail to ensure parallel movement. The pad is typically not stopped at the elements, but rather moves from one end of the head to the other to prevent bridging and damage that might occur during start/stop on the delicate elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: A method and system provides for generating a snapshot representative of one beat of a patient's normal cardiac rhythm. Cardiac rate channel signals and shock channel signals are sensed. A fiducial point is determined for a predefined number of the cardiac rate channel signals. A predefined number of the shock channel signals are aligned using the fiducial point. A template is generated using the aligned shock channel signals, whereby the template is representative of one of the patient's normal supra-ventricular conducted cardiac beats. The template is updated on a periodic basis.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for cannulating a heart vessel includes a guide handle having proximal and distal ends, a lumen open at least at the distal end of the guide handle, and a stop member disposed within the lumen at a distal end of the guide handle. A catheter of the assembly has a proximal end disposed within the lumen of the guide handle and a preformed distal end. The catheter is longitudinally displaceable within the guide handle to adjust an exposed length of the distal end of the catheter. The stop member is engagable with the proximal end of the catheter to prevent the proximal end of the catheter from passing out of the guide handle. A locking mechanism within the guide handle to selectably prevents and permit axial rotation between the guide handle and catheter while permitting longitudinal displacement of the catheter within the guide handle.

Abstract: A guiding catheter includes a Doppler sensor disposed at a distal end of a flexible shaft. The Doppler sensor can sense a blood flow turbulence level within a chamber of the heart or a blood vessel of the heart. Detecting changes in a blood flow turbulence level is used to assist guiding of the distal end of the flexible shaft. The Doppler sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor or an optical sensor. The sensor readings may be processed to show turbulence through a time domain or frequency domain presentation of velocity. The sensor readings can be used to modulate an audible waveform to indicate turbulence. The guiding catheter may further include steering apparatus enabling deflection of the distal tip.

Abstract: A portable structure supports a subsurface imaging system and is moveable over a given imaging site. At least a first antenna of a plurality of antennae is oriented in a manner differing from an orientation of a second antenna of the plurality of antennae, such as the first antenna being orientated substantially orthogonal to the second antenna. The antennae may operate in a bi-static mode. Transmitter and receiver circuitry, coupled to the antennae, respectively generates electromagnetic probe signals and receives electromagnetic return signals resulting from the probe signals. A processor processes the received electromagnetic return signals. A display may be provided as part of the subsurface imaging system and/or as part of a processing system separate from the subsurface imaging system which processes the received electromagnetic return signals. The processor can generate two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional detection data using the received electromagnetic return signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving write performance in a disk array, wherein unnecessary track grouping is avoided during writes, by using a full track write counter. When a write request is received, the full track write counter for tracks in a stripe of tracks associated with the write request is analyzed to determine whether the write request involves a full track write. A cache destage is subsequently executed based on the analysis. When the write to cache is a full track write, a previous track full track count is fetched from a previous track's full write counter, a full track count of the tracks associated with the write request are set to be equal to the minimum of either the stripe width or the previous track's full track count plus one.

Abstract: A computer processing system for a shipment transaction involving shippers and carriers. The system is particularly suited to efficiently and automatically audit and effect payment of a shipment transaction and to efficiently provide access to relevant shipment information. According to one example embodiment, the system includes a processor arrangement that monitors shipper credit data and processes shipment transaction information in response to control data from a user identified from a database of shippers and carriers. Validated users of the shippers and carriers are assigned varying communication access levels authorizing transactions, such as payment to carriers. In response, the processor arrangement audits shipment transactions, issues reports on the audits, assists in resolving discrepancies and effect payments.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a pool of threads for executing thread operations. A thread pool is instantiated which includes a plurality of threads, and a work queue having program controllable states is instantiated. Thread operations are queued to the work queue when the work queue is in a running or suspended state, and when the work queue is in a stopped state requests to queue thread operations are denied. The work queue supports controlled allocation of thread resources to a variety of thread operations.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in an implantable medical device (IMD) and provides for the detection of multiple physiologic parameters in response to a single source current event. A high frequency source current signal is propagated through body tissues in the thorax, including the heart. The source current signal has a frequency greater than a frequency of a pacing current signal producible by the IMD. In response to the source current signal, a first voltage is detected between two portions of a first region of the heart substantially concurrently with sensing a second voltage between one of the IMD housing and a header/can electrode and one of the two portions of the first region of the heart. The first voltage is associated with a cardiac function and the second voltage is indicative of a respiratory function. The source current signal may be a single or multiple cycle current pulse. The source current signal may also be a continuous current signal.

Abstract: A disk drive, a servo controller, and a controller which have realized high-degree control by lightening processing load to a microprocessor unit (MPU) without increasing cost is disclosed. An analog/digital (AD) converter (ADC) performs the AD conversions of the regenerated levels A, B, C, and D of burst patterns supplied from a channel and retains the converted levels in an ADC register. A servo assist (SA) computes parameters, such as the position error of a head, independently of an MPU, based on the regenerated levels of the burst patterns retained in the ADC register and an instruction from the MPU retained in a SRAM. Based on the computed parameters, the SA computes servo data (DACOUT) for driving a voice coil motor and supplies the servo data to the DAC section of a VCM driver section through a SIO.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the value of a slider airbearing resonance frequency involves obtaining a readback signal from a data storage medium over a plurality of complete airbearing periods and estimating the value of an airbearing resonance frequency using the readback signal. In one embodiment, a discrete signal segment comprising a plurality of frequency transform components is produced using the readback signal information, and the value of the airbearing resonance frequency is estimated using spectral leakage in the discrete signal segment. A ratio of the magnitudes of a first DFT component to a second DFT component is computed at each of a plurality of sampling rates. Each of these sampling rates is defined by a number of samples per average airbearing cycle multiplied by a frequency falling within a range of expected airbearing frequencies associated with a given implementation.

Abstract: To optimize the life of a magnetic disk data storage device it is recognized that the accessing of data on the disk data surface should mimic the varying effective lubricant protection over the disk surface. The lubricant applied to the disk data surfaces migrates outward during drive operation. To match the disk surface protection to the frequency of data accesses at the storage locations, the stored data files are periodically examined to determine how recently access has occurred and the number of accesses during a most recent fixed period to determine whether the data file is to be stored in radially inner or radially outer portions of the band of concentric data tracks. By thus allocating the data file storage location, the data is accessed and intermittent contact between disk surface and transducer carrying slider occurs with greatest frequency where the lubricant coating is least depleted and most robust.

Abstract: A body implantable system employs a lead system having at least one electrode and at least one pressure transducer at a distal end. The lead system is implanted within a patient's heart in a coronary vein of the left ventricle. The lead system includes an occlusion device at a distal end to occlude flow in the coronary vein. The pressure transducer is attached to a catheter that is disposed within an open lumen of the lead system. The pressure transducer senses a coronary vein pressure, the coronary vein pressure being proportional to the left ventricular pressure. The sensed coronary vein pressure gives indications of hemodynamic state of the left ventricle, and measured coronary vein pressure can be used to change a signal sent to the electrode to adaptively pace the patient's heart. The body implantable system can further utilize a right ventricular pressure measurement in concert with the left ventricular pressure measurement to modify pacing therapy parameters.

Abstract: Detecting atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias involves classifying atrial interval rates in an atrial window having a first length and ventricular interval rates in a ventricular window having a second length. The second length of the ventricular window differs from the first length of the atrial window to enhance detection of ventricular arrhythmias relative to atrial arrhythmia detection. The atrial and ventricular interval rates in the respective windows are classified as fast or acceptable with respect to predefined thresholds. A ventricular episode is declared in response to satisfying the ventricular window according to a second satisfaction criterion. An atrial episode is declared in response to satisfying the atrial window according to a first satisfaction criterion.