Abstract: The present invention aims to control elements to improve operation efficiency of a plant based on a correlation value of the past accumulated data. According to the invention, an optimal operation controller obtains a correlation between a state of a predetermined process and each element based on an operation status of the plant to be controlled, storing the correlation in a correlation table, and compute an operation efficiency for each element based on the operation status of the plant. Also, the operation controller has a categorization efficiency table for storing the computed operation efficiency of the predetermined process. The operation controller refers to the categorization efficiency table based on a data input from the plant, and outputs an instruction to control the each element accordingly.

Abstract: A shelf system with computer-controlled compartment displays, whereby the displays indicate a number of articles to picked out of the compartment. The shelf system has a plurality of sliding shelves in that the shelves have at least one display element in their frontal area for order picking data. The shelf system is configured in such a way that a data exchange between the display elements and the control computer can take place irrespective of the relative position of the shelf vis-à-vis the other components of the shelf system.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outputs and inputs signals over a first communication path, and the second controller outputs and inputs signals over a second communication path. The first and second controllers output signals based on input signals received over the first and second communication paths, respectively, and also based on stored control data. A plurality of input/output modules are provided. Each of the input/output modules has first and second slave controllers. The first slave controller of each of the input/output modules inputs and outputs signals over the first communication path to the first controller, and the second slave controller outputs and inputs signals over the second communication path.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing secure and opaque type libraries to automatically provide secure variables within a programming module. A system for providing secure and opaque type libraries to automatically provide secure variables within a programming module. The system includes an OTL selection module, an OTL substitution module, an OTL type library database, a compiler module; and a linker module to create an executable processing module. The OTL selection module randomly selects or generates one of the possible variable obfuscation functions for each declared secure variable. The OTL substitution module substitutes the separate instance of the selected variable obfuscation function for every reference to the declared secure variable. The OTL type library database receives queries from the OTL selection module a database to identify of possible variable obfuscation functions applicable for the variable type corresponding to the declared secure variables.

Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. The control system includes a controller for controlling the plant based on a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controlled object model is modeled using an input and an output of the plant which are sampled at intervals of a sampling period which is longer than a control period of the controller. The sampled input of the plant is a filtered control output which is obtained by filtering an output of the controller. The controller carries out a control process of the plant at intervals of the control period.

Abstract: A method and methodology are provided for classifying Internet Protocol (IP) data in a packet switch network. Data may be received at a first node and classified based on source routing information of said data. The source routing information may be provided within LSRR/SSRR of IPv4 data or may be provided within a routing header of Ipv6 data.

Abstract: A field apparatus for controlling a controlled element includes a diagnosis unit for diagnosing abnormality of the field apparatus and/or the controlled element and a bidirectional digital communication device to send a digital signal which shows a diagnosis result to outside and to receive a digital signal from outside in order to execute a control of the controlled element. Other predetermined functions are effected based on a command signal in the form of an analog signal received from outside by a analog communications device of the apparatus. Electric power for operation is supplied through a switching means that can switch either a electric power that is supplied by the analog communications device or a electric power that is supplied by the bidirectional digital communication device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling and limiting the amount of time that a television, computer game, or other electrical appliance can be utilized. The apparatus is inserted in the electrical cord leading to the electrical appliance and is programmable to limit the amount of time that electricity flows through the electrical cord tot he electrical appliance. The plug end of the electrical cord of the appliance is locked into the apparatus to prevent the electrical appliance from being unplugged from the apparatus and plugged into an electrical wall outlet.

Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. The control system includes a controller which controls the plant based on a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controlled object model is modeled using an input and an output of the plant which are sampled at intervals of a period which is longer than a control period of the controller. The controller carries out a control process of the plant at intervals of the control period.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for implementing a software agent control architecture. The method includes the step of generating a plurality of agents, wherein the agents are respectively configured to implement a rule-based behaviour. Respective rule sets for each of the agents are accessed, wherein the rule sets are configured for processing using respective rule engines of each of the agents. Respective incoming messages are received and delivered to the agents. The rule-based behaviour for each of the agents is implemented by processing the incoming messages using the rule engines.

Abstract: An identifier which indicates a reason why a direct change is disabled upon application of a specific conflict resolution rule can be described in a conflict resolution rule description file (301). In case of a process executed when a UI is not displayed, a status variable list (304) that holds setup values and status values is accessed in place of an internal structure (305) to easily check if each setup item is enabled/disabled. Upon matching overall data, a start point list which lists setup items in a given priority order is loaded to execute conflict resolution in turn, thus resolving conflicts among setup items.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a hi-accuracy three-dimensional cutting apparatus for topographic modeling that is electronically coupled with a computer. The computer has a central processor that executes instructions, a memory for storing instructions to be executed, and non-volatile storage for storing the messages. The executable computer instructions of the system include one or more algorithms for converting the complex and randomly-occurring contours found in natural terrain into an efficient series of modeling material removal swaths defined in simplified 2-axis cross-sections that are cut adjacent and parallel to one another. The swaths are defined in a simplified 2-axis surface contour-following rotation cutting device moved by the system's CPU, driver software, driver circuitry and/or logic circuitry.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for controlling a system with multiple observable variables is disclosed. The apparatus and method disclosed use elements of the bottom-up and top-down strategies of artificial intelligence to provide a control system that is able to learn without a training set of information, and that has an learning process that can handle any amount of input data, i.e., cannot become saturated. The control system disclosed is capable of learning and controlling non linear dynamical systems. The control system is also capable of adding additional observable variables or subtracting existing observable variables to determine the state of the plant or system being controlled.

Abstract: A medical instrument, in particular a generator for high-frequency surgery, comprises setting elements for presetting functions, and also functional elements for performing functions according to the settings. A controller interrogates the setting elements and controls the functional elements accordingly. Furthermore, a safety controller is provided for performing plausibility checks with the aid of information from the setting elements and also the functional elements, and for deactivating, or putting into a safe operating condition, the functional elements in the case of inadmissible working conditions.

Abstract: A method, or corresponding apparatus, for controlling deformation of a structure, in part, includes applying a command signal at a first signal level to at least one actuator mechanically coupled to a structure, the first signal level known to produce an energy level in the actuator(s) substantially the same as an energy level currently stored by the actuator(s). The method enables the actuator(s) to respond to the command signal by applying an electrical reference to the actuator(s). The method drives the command signal from the first signal level to a second signal level, changing the actuator(s) in at least one dimension as a function of the command signal, which results in a corresponding deformation of the structure. The method electrically disables the actuator(s) by removing the electrical reference, which results in maintaining deformation of the structure defined by energy stored by the actuator(s).

Abstract: In a method and system for controlling a device coupled to an information handling system, an object is defined to include a hardware and software component having a corresponding hardware operating state and a software operating state. The hardware component is operable to receive at least one hardware input, which is indicative of a target hardware operating state. The software component is operable to receive at least one software input, which is indicative of a target software operating state. A coordination component is included in the software component to receive the hardware and software inputs, and control the operating state of the device in response to the target hardware operating state and the target software operating state.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a communication component, an integral display operatively connected to the communication component, an operator input component operatively connected to the display and a processing component operatively connected to the communication component, to the display and to the operator input component. The communication component communicates with external electronic devices via a common software interface to send data to and receive data from the devices and to send control signals to the devices to control the operation of the devices. The processing component processes an operator's input to the operator input component and data received by the communication component to formulate the control signals. A method of controlling external electrical components is also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the position of an actuating element (1) which prevent damage to the actuating element by a collision with at least one stop (25, 30) and simultaneously ensure good dynamic characteristics. The position of the actuating element (1) tracks a desired value within a displacement range. The displacement range is limited for the actuating element (1) by at least one stop (25, 30). A check is made as to whether the distance between the desired value for the position of the actuating element (1) and the at least one stop (25, 30) drops below a pregiven value (S1). Only in this case is a change of the desired value limited.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for updating electronic information in a computer environment. A preferred embodiment of the invention automatically inspects a message that is to be delivered to a first address upon receiving the message to determine whether the message contains information about a status of a second address. In response to a determination that the message contains information about the status of the second address, a record for the second address in a database is updated. The record is a portion of an address book of the first user in the database. The message is stored at the first address for retrieval by a first user at the first address. When the status indicates a permanent error in delivering a message to the second address, the address book is updated according to a user preference.

Abstract: A modular formulation of model predictive controller is proposed by this invention (400). The modular formulation offers a robust model predictive controller with unified method of tuning. Explicit use of material and energy balance provides stable and robust performance (412). Use of economic based tuning offers a unified tuning method (411). The unified tuning method establishes consistency of control actions resulting from the steady state optimization and the dynamic control (400). Further, a method for formulating and tuning integrated optimization and control using multiple modular model predictive controllers is presented in this invention (100). The method incorporates a direct and explicit method of integration of a number of modular model predictive controllers. The integration of the modular controllers is achieved seamlessly without requiring any further tuning adjustments (200).