Abstract: This invention concerns inter-procedural analysis of computer programs. The need for inter-procedural analysis arises, for instance, where information is to be passed across the boundaries between functions; for example, by passing a pointer of variables to another function. The pointer needs to identify a valid memory location when used by a calling function. In one aspect the invention is a method and in another aspect the invention is a computer programmed to perform the method. The heart of the method involves the use of computational tree logic (CTL) model checking each sub-structure of the code to iteratively check alternately whether guarantees associated with the code are true, false or undetermined for each external assumption, and whether the internal assumptions are consistent with the guarantees of the caller sub-structures.

Abstract: A field use optical grain characterising system (101) includes a generally rectangular prismatic composite body (102) that defines a component cavity (103). A substantially vertical elongate channel (104) extends within cavity (103) for housing a grain sample (not shown). An electromagnetic radiation source, in the form of a 12 Volt halogen lamp (105), is disposed within cavity (103.) for directing NIR light into channel (104). An optical detection system (107) is disposed within cavity (103) for sensing selected light emerging from channel (104) and for providing a sensor signal. A processor, which is included within detection system (107), is also disposed within cavity (103) and is responsive to the sensor signal for providing data indicative of a characteristic parameter of the grain sample. A display device, in the form of a 5.7-inch touch screen LCD display (108), is connected with body (102) for selectively presenting the data.

Abstract: A method for improving noise performance in a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter that makes use of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The method • comprising the steps of: receiving a stream of digital data symbols in the form of symbol vectors, for RF transmission after multiplexing onto a subset of a set of sub-carriers according to OFDM and transforming each received symbol vector to the time domain; generating a first time domain cancellation vector from a basis vector that has the same dimensionality as the symbol vectors. In the frequency domain the basis vector has substantially zero value in each of the first subset of sub-carriers of the symbol vector and in the time domain the difference between a first element of the basis vector having the highest value and a second element of the basis vector having the next highest value is maximised.

Abstract: The invention provides a meat stretching device. The device includes a receptacle and a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve is mounted within the receptacle, the flexible sleeve having a cross-section that defines an aperture to receive one or more cuts of meat. The receptacle is connectable to an air pressure device that is capable of generating a positive pressure in the receptacle to cause the flexible sleeve to constrict around and stretch the one or more cuts of meat that are received in the aperture. In one form the flexible sleeve has a first end and a second end, and a cross-section that defines an aperture, the first end being adapted to receive one or more cuts of meat and the second end being adapted to allow the one or more cuts of meat to be removed from the flexible sleeve. In this form the flexible sleeve is mounted within the receptacle such that an airtight volume is formed between the flexible sleeve and the receptacle.

Abstract: This invention concerns the tracking of objects in video data for artificial vision; for instance for a bionic eye. More particularly, the invention concerns a vision enhancement apparatus for a vision-impaired user. In other aspects, the invention concerns a method for enhancing vision and software to perform the method. The image processor operates to process video data representing images of a scene. Automatically detect and track a user selected object, such as a face, in the images. And, automatically modify the video data, by reserving a user selected area of the displayed images for displaying the tracked object as a separate video tile within the scene. The separate video tile remains in the selected area despite movement of the camera relative to the scene, or movement of the user relative to the object or the scene.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns processing of electronic images, such as hyperspectral, multispectral or trichromatic images. In particular, but is not limited to, a method, software and computer for estimating parameters of a reflectance model applied to an image is disclosed. Examples of processing of the images using the estimated parameters includes material recognition, re-colouring and re-shading of objects represented in the image. That is, a computer implemented method is provided of estimating one or more of photogrammetric parameters, ?(u) surface shape N and index of refraction n(u,?) represented in a reflectance image having one or more known illumination directions and a known viewing direction V, the method comprising optimising (802) the difference between the reflectance image and a reflectance model, the reflectance model being based on surface shape N; the material index of refraction n(u,?) and a set of photogrammetric parameters ?(u).

Abstract: The invention relates to manufacture of whey protein extracts, to infant formula and to reducing or preventing food allergy. The whey protein extract is produced from a whey protein-containing composition by contacting a whey protein-containing composition with an aqueous solution to form a sample including a soluble protein-containing component and an insoluble component; recovering the soluble protein-containing component from the sample; and acidifying the soluble protein-containing component, thereby producing the whey protein extract. Extracts produced by the method of the invention may be used in infant formula, as a dietary supplement or foodstuff.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of interest management in peer-to-peer networks that provide a virtual environment for multiple users. One example of such an environment is an online gaming environment. The invention includes a switching algorithm (FIG. 9) that efficiently switches (902) the interest management provided by a peer to an entity between three protocols (cell, interest bounded and gossip) in response to the processing load on the relevant peer. This makes the interest management service scalable and reliable. The gossip protocol (FIG. 8) sends interest management information to the neighbours of the an entity, and also reduces the frequency of sending requests for interest management information to an interest management service for that entity.

Abstract: The invention concerns presence of users, such as online presence in a broadcast domain. First one-way encrypted (e.g. hashed) presence information of multiple users is received (42) from their respective devices. Then for each received presence information, attempting to match (44) that received hashed presence information to a token of a stored set of tokens where each token corresponds to a user. The presence of a subset of the multiple users for which a matching token is in the stored set is determined, causing the generation (46) of an indication of the presence of one or more users of the subset of the multiple users. Aspects of the invention include methods, systems and software.

Abstract: The invention relates to computer vision, in particular detection and classification of objects captured in a video stream of images. The invention provides a memory efficient method of storing images that have been pre-processed for use in object detection. The method is based on using histograms of orientation. The invention also includes methods for training and using weak classifiers that use this pre-processing of images. A first weak classifier uses the total count of two orientation values in a histogram as an index to a two dimensional confidence table to determine a confidence value. The second weak classifier projects one or more total counts of orientation values in a histogram into a scalar value that is then used in a one dimensional confidence map to determine a confidence value. Aspects of the invention include methods, computer systems and software.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns processing of electronic images, such as hyperspectral or multispectral images. Processing of the images includes object recognition and image enhancement in a way that harnesses the information available from the image based on the wavelength indexed spectral data these types of images provide. Illumination spectrum of such an image is estimated (FIG. 21) using a cost function based on a dichromatic reflection model and a constraint term. This method may be performed on sub-images of the image. A method for selecting these sub-images (FIG. 23) is also disclosed. A method of determining photometric parameters of the image given the estimated illumination spectrum (FIG. 22) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing sheets from the pseudostems of banana plants in the family Musaceae, each pseudostem having a longitudinal axis. The method includes the steps of feeding a pseudostem (14) into a workstation, supporting (62, 34) the pseudostem for rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis within the workstation, and contacting the rotating pseudostem along substantially its entire length with a fiber-separating device (38), whereby a continuous sheet of fiber (60) is removed from the pseudostem by the fiber-separating device during rotation. Raw paper may also be made by laminating two or more of these sheets together such that the direction of the generally parallel fibers in at least two adjacent sheets is not aligned and then curing the sheets to form raw paper.

Abstract: Odorant from a process stream is removed by passing the stream (18) to a counter-current contacting device (12) for stripping odorants. The odorants passes from the contacting device (12) as contaminated steam (26) whilst the remaining process stream passes directly to a “tube side” of a falling film evaporator (14) and is heated producing steam that passes into the counter-current contacting device (12) to strip that process stream and produce the contaminated steam (26). This contaminated steam from the contacting device (12) passes through a vapour compression step (16) from which it is introduced into a “shell side” of the falling film evaporator (14) and in which it heats the process stream passing from the contacting device (12) into the evaporator (14). The contaminated steam that is not condensed in the falling film evaporator passes as a low flow vent gas (50) in which the odorants have been concentrated.

Abstract: The invention is a distributed implantable neuro-stimulation system, comprising an implant controller including control logic to transmit two time-varying power signals, varying between two levels and out of phase with the other, and a command signal modulated onto at least one of the power signals. One or more electrode cells, each having control logic to extract charge from the power signals and recover commands from the command signal. A two-wire bus interconnecting the implant controller and all the electrode cells, to carry one of the time varying signals in each of the two wires, and to carry the command signal.

Abstract: This invention concerns soft-decision demapping of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals to enable soft-decision channel decoding in a communications system. In a first aspect the invention is a method for performing the soft-decision demapping of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals to enable soft-decision channel decoding in a communications system. The method comprises the steps of: Extracting baseband signals from both I-and-Q channels. Sampling the baseband signals to extract a stream of complex numbers. Converting the stream of complex numbers to frequency domain vectors with components for each subcarrier frequency. Approximating bit log-likelihood ratios for each symbol directly from the real and imaginary parts of the corresponding frequency vector, without equalisation by the estimated channel. And, soft-decoding of the channel codes using the approximated log-likelihood ratios.

Abstract: A field use optical grain characterising system (101) includes a generally rectangular prismatic composite body (102) that defines a component cavity (103). A substantially vertical elongate channel (104) extends within cavity (103) for housing a grain sample (not shown). An electromagnetic radiation source, in the form of a 12 Volt halogen lamp (105), is disposed within cavity (103.) for directing NIR light into channel (104). An optical detection system (107) is disposed within cavity (103) for sensing selected light emerging from channel (104) and for providing a sensor signal. A processor, which is included within detection system (107), is also disposed within cavity (103) and is responsive to the sensor signal for providing data indicative of a characteristic parameter of the grain sample. A display device, in the form of a 5.7-inch touch screen LCD display (108), is connected with body (102) for selectively presenting the data.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing information to an air traffic controller. The method comprises the steps of: displaying, on a video display, a symbol representative of a position of an aircraft and a first stage of a multi-stage label comprising information relating to the aircraft (210); and displaying, on the video display, a second stage of the multi-stage label comprising additional information relating to the aircraft when a user-controlled cursor is brought into a vicinity of the multi-stage label (220). The first stage of the multi-stage label occupies a smaller footprint on the video display than the second stage. Additional stages of the multi stage label may also be displayed in response to user action (e.g. rotation of a scroll wheel of a computer mouse or other pointing device). Each stage of the multi-stage label may be locked in place, or pinned, through selection of part of the label, via a mouse click or similar action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing sheets from the pseudostems of banana plants in the family Musaceae, each pseudostem having a longitudinal axis. The method includes the steps of feeding a pseudostem (14) into a workstation, supporting (62, 34) the pseudostem for rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis within the workstation, and contacting the rotating pseudostem along substantially its entire length with a fibre-separating device (38), whereby a continuous sheet of fibre (60) is removed from the pseudostem by the fibre-separating device during rotation. Raw paper may also be made by laminating two or more of these sheets together such that the direction of the generally parallel fibres in at least two adjacent sheets is not aligned and then curing the sheets to form raw paper.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid herbicide composition comprising a solution of at least one of 2,4-D and dicamba in the form of the monomethylamine salt and at least one of 2,4-D and dicamba in the form of the dimethylamine salt wherein the molar ratio of monomethylamine to dimethylamine is in the range of from 1:20 to 4:6.

Abstract: The invention concerns accepting documents for publication. In particular, but not limited to, the invention concerns the publication of research related papers, such as publishing academic manuscripts on the Internet. The invention also concerns determining an indication of the quality of a document. Using the invention documents are accepted or rejected for publication, and/or an indication of the quality of a document is determined based on market forces associated with the selling of shares in the document. The participants all trade in the virtual market place with the aim of increasing the number of tokens that they own which reflects their reputation as an assessor of documents. This affects the value of shares in documents by increasing the value of documents of a higher quality. Aspects of the invention includes methods, a computer system and software applications used to perform the methods.