Abstract: A system for coupling and decoupling of a twistlock to and from a container, the system comprising: an actuated linkage having a master effector at an end of said linkage; an array of end effectors, each end effector corresponding to a different type of twistlock; said actuated linkage arranged to move the master effector between a pre-determined end effector within said array, a twistlock storage area and a casting of said container, said casting arranged to receive the twistlock; wherein the master effector is arranged to engage the predetermined end effector and either de-couple a twistlock from the casting before moving the twistlock to the twistlock storage area or engaging a twistlock within the twistlock storage area and moving said twistlock to the casting for coupling to the container.

Abstract: A pipe spreader comprising: a frame, and; a pair of mutually cooperating pipe engagement assemblies, coupled to the frame, for engaging a pipe; each of the pair of mutually cooperating pipe engagement assemblies comprises: at least one spreader assembly, the spreader assembly includes a spreader beam and an end manipulator coupled to the spreader beam, wherein at least a portion of the spreader assembly is arranged to be selectively removable from the pipe engagement assembly.

Abstract: A spreader assembly comprising a spreader having container engagement devices for engaging and disengaging a container; a lid engagement device mounted to the spreader, said lid engagement device having an actuator for positioning a lid engagement frame proximate to a lid of said container, said frame arranged to engage said lid so as to permit the actuator to move said lid relative to the container.

Abstract: A manipulation device (5) for either securing a twist-lock to a shipping container or releasing it therefrom or both, the device (5) comprising an engagement element (20) operative to engage and rotate at least a portion of the twist-lock so as to secure the twist-lock in the shipping container or to release it therefrom; a support member (15) disposed above the an engagement element (20), the support member (15) being arranged to receive and support a mid region of the twist-lock while allowing a lower portion of the supported twist-lock to protect below the member to be engagable with the an engagement element (20), said support member (15) being in the form of a plate incorporating at least one aperture allowing the lower portion of the supported twist-lock to protect below the plate; wherein said support member (15) is selectively movable out of alignment with an axis of rotation of the twist-lock.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for either securing twist-locks (400) to shipping containers (402) or releasing them therefrom or both, comprises a cradle (11) adapted to receive at least one shipping container and at least one manipulation device (14) operative to secure a twist-lock to the shipping container or release it therefrom, the manipulation device comprising an engagement device (27) operative to engage and rotate at least a portion of the twist-lock so as to secure the twist-lock in the shipping container or to release it therefrom. The manipulation device may form part of a twist-lock handling assembly (12) which includes a storage system for twist-locks (16) and a guide assembly (15) for feeding twist-locks into and out of register with the manipulation device (14).

Abstract: A manipulation device (5) for either securing a twist-lock to a shipping container or releasing it therefrom or both, the device (5) comprising engagement means (20) operative to engage and rotate at least a portion of the twist-lock so as to secure the twist-lock in the shipping container or to release it therefrom; a support member (15) disposed above the engagement means (20), the support member (15) being arranged to receive and support a mid region of the twist-lock whilst allowing a lower portion of the supported twist-lock to protect below the member to be engagable with the engagement means (20), said support member (15) being in the form of a plate incorporating at least one aperture allowing the lower portion of the supported twist-lock to protect below the plate; wherein said support member (15) is selectively movable out of alignment with an axis of rotation of the twist-lock.

Abstract: A method, medium and apparatus for managing storage in a thin-provisioning storage device. The method includes ceasing to use storage on thinly provisioned storage delivered by a thin-provisioning storage device and notifying the thin-provisioning storage device of the unused storage. The method may further include reclaiming the unused storage in response to the notification. Alternatively, the notification may include recognizing the storage being freed and communicating the recognition to the storage device. In another form, the invention is a method, medium and apparatus for managing storage in a thin-provisioning storage device. This method includes delivering thinly provisioned storage and receiving notification that part of the thinly provisioned storage is no longer in use. The method may further include reclaiming that part of the thinly provisioned storage in response to the notification. Between receiving and reclaiming, the method may wait for a time to pass.

Abstract: A method, medium and apparatus for transparently virtualizing storage in an operating computer system. The method includes a computer's recognizing a storage device connected to the computer through a physical connection, a storage virtualizing device's virtualizing the storage device, the computer's relating the storage device and the virtualized storage device and, finally, the computer's failing over to the virtualized storage device on the computer. While virtualizing, the storage virtualizing device, the physical connection and the first recognition maybe maintained through the step of virtualizing. While virtualizing, the method may recognize the storage device through a physical connection, virtualize the storage device and expose the virtualized storage device. In an further form of the method, from the time of recognition through the time of failing over, no I/O is interrupted by the method.

Abstract: A method, medium and apparatus for managing storage in a thin-provisioning storage device. The method includes ceasing to use storage on thinly provisioned storage delivered by a thin-provisioning storage device and notifying the thin-provisioning storage device of the unused storage. The method may further include reclaiming the unused storage in response to the notification. Alternatively, the notification may include recognizing the storage being freed and communicating the recognition to the storage device. In another form, the invention is a method, medium and apparatus for managing storage in a thin-provisioning storage device. This method includes delivering thinly provisioned storage and receiving notification that part of the thinly provisioned storage is no longer in use. The method may further include reclaiming that part of the thinly provisioned storage in response to the notification. Between receiving and reclaiming, the method may wait for a time to pass.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for either securing twist-locks (400) to shipping containers (402) or releasing them therefrom or both, comprises a cradle (11) adapted to receive at least one shipping container and at least one manipulation device (14) operative to secure a twist-lock to the shipping container or release it therefrom, the manipulation device comprising engagement means (27) operative to engage and rotate at least a portion of the twist-lock so as to secure the twist-lock in the shipping container or to release it therefrom. The manipulation device may form part of a twist-lock handling assembly (12) which includes a storage system for twist-locks (16) and a guide assembly (15) for feeding twist-locks into and out of register with the manipulation device (14).

Abstract: Brand exposure is measured in a video stream which may be a direct television signal, or a video playback of a recorded program which has been, or is proposed to be, broadcast. A reference mask is provided representing a trade mark of the brand whose exposure is to be measured. Frames are captured from the video stream, and each captured frame is searched using the reference mask to determine a respective correlation value indicative of the likelihood of the presence of the trade mark of the mask in that captured frame in dependence upon correlation between the mask and part of that captured frame. The brand exposure value is calculated for the video stream in dependence upon each determined correlation values and optionally upon the scale and position of each correlation, audience rating, and a weighting for the mask.