Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding systems and methods for managing electric power, particularly a transformer system and method, and more specifically a transformer for transforming direct current to alternating current. An example apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain plasma. The apparatus includes input electrodes disposed at least partially within the chamber, and configured to receive direct current input into the chamber. The input electrodes are configured to cause the input direct current to induce motion in the plasma. Motion induced in the plasma transforms current flowing there-through. Output electrodes extend from the chamber, which output electrodes may rotated in a controlled manner. The output electrodes conduct a three or one phase alternating current, from the induced motion in the plasma, for delivery from the chamber.

Abstract: A sanitization system includes a sanitization manager and one or more sanitization stations. The sanitization manager monitors portable devices (PDs), and schedules sanitization operations for the PDs based on, inter alia, a sanitization policy. The sanitization policy may require a PD to be sanitized based on a time elapsed since a last time the PD was sanitized and/or potential contamination of the PD (e.g., based on PD usage, location, patient exposure, and/or the like). The sanitization stations may be configured to notify the sanitization manager of sanitization operations performed on respective PDs.

Abstract: An alternating current to direct current electrical transformer system, based on helical electrodes applied to a plasma in a chamber. A three-phase AC input voltage is be applied to helically shaped electrodes in the chamber, and a DC output is taken from endcap electrodes at opposite the ends of the device. The secondary current is taken from solid or optionally split or slotted electrodes at the ends of the device. The system uses plasma, input electrodes, an axial magnetic field and a conducting wall that acts as a flux conserver for the frequency of the AC power. The system includes apparatus which contains a radial magnetic field embedded in the helical electrodes. The system also offers methods for changing the output voltage and current relative to the input values. Thus, the system can function as either a stepup or a stepdown transformer.

Abstract: An electrical transformer system using helical electrodes applied to a plasma. Systems and methods transform DC voltages and currents to different DC voltages and currents. Instead of using wires and iron cores similar to known transformers, the present DC to DC transformer system exploits plasma, helical electrodes, an axial magnetic field and radial magnetic field coils, with a control system to specify a radial magnetic field at the edge of a specified magnitude. A DC input voltage is applied, and an output is taken from electrodes at opposite the ends of the central apparatus. The system and apparatus contains a radial magnetic field embedded in the helical electrodes; the secondary current is taken from either solid or split (slotted) electrodes. Methods are disclosed for changing the output voltage and current relative to the input values. The system can function as either a stepup or a stepdown transformer.

Abstract: A system transports a plurality of UDP datagrams from a sending application to a receiving application by creating a TCP tunnel between a TCP sending-end and a TCP receiving-end, encapsulating the datagrams in TCP packets at the TCP transmitting-end, transmitting the TCP packets via the TCP tunnel to the TCP receiving-end over a network using a TCP/IP protocol, and extracting the datagrams from the TCP packet and forwarding the extracted datagrams to the receiving application. The TCP tunnel may provide the same delay and responsiveness as UDP protocol. The TCP receiving-end may detect when a packet is missing and request retransmission when a packet is missing, so that the TCP sending-end retransmits the missing packets. The transmitting of TCP packets to the TCP receiving-end continues when the receiving-end detects a missing packet, so that there is no lag in the forwarding of the extracted datagrams. Retransmitted packets may be discarded.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding systems and methods for managing electric power, particularly a transformer system and method, and more specifically a transformer for transforming direct current to alternating current. An example apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain plasma. The apparatus includes input electrodes disposed at least partially within the chamber, and configured to receive direct current input into the chamber. The input electrodes are configured to cause the input direct current to induce motion in the plasma. Motion induced in the plasma transforms current flowing there-through. Output electrodes extend from the chamber, which output electrodes may rotated in a controlled manner. The output electrodes conduct a three or one phase alternating current, from the induced motion in the plasma, for delivery from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding systems and methods for managing electric power, particularly a transformer system and method, and more specifically a transformer for direct current. An example apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain plasma. The apparatus includes input electrodes disposed at least partially within the chamber, and configured to receive a first direct current input into the chamber. The input electrodes are configured to cause the input direct current to induce motion in the plasma. Motion induced in the plasma transforms current flowing there-through. At output electrodes extend from the chamber. The output electrodes conduct a second direct current, from the induced motion in the plasma, for delivery from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding systems and methods for managing electric power, particularly a transformer system and method, and more specifically a transformer for transforming three-phase alternating current. An example apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain plasma. The apparatus includes input electrodes disposed at least partially within the chamber, and configured to receive a first three-phase AC current input into the chamber. The input electrodes are configured to cause the input AC current to induce motion in the plasma. Motion induced in the plasma transforms current flowing there-through. Output electrodes extend from the chamber, which output electrodes may be rotated in a controlled manner. The output electrodes conduct a second three-phase alternating current, from the induced motion in the plasma, for delivery from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for searching laundry articles to detect foreign objects commingled with the laundry articles, and for removing one or more laundry articles with which at least one detected foreign object is commingled, the apparatus including a detector creating a magnetic field through which the laundry articles are conveyed by a conveyor, and a removal mechanism activated by a trigger signal from the detector for removing from the conveyor one or more of the laundry articles with which at least one detected foreign object is commingled, and leaving other laundry articles on the conveyor for continued conveyance and free from detected foreign objects.

Abstract: A system transports a plurality of UDP datagrams from a sending application to a receiving application by creating a TCP tunnel between a TCP sending-end and a TCP receiving-end, encapsulating the datagrams in TCP packets at the TCP transmitting-end, transmitting the TCP packets via the TCP tunnel to the TCP receiving-end over a network using a TCP/IP protocol, and extracting the datagrams from the TCP packet and forwarding the extracted datagrams to the receiving application. The TCP tunnel may provide the same delay and responsiveness as UDP protocol. The TCP receiving-end may detect when a packet is missing and request retransmission when a packet is missing, so that the TCP sending-end retransmits the missing packets. The transmitting of TCP packets to the TCP receiving-end continues when the receiving-end detects a missing packet, so that there is no lag in the forwarding of the extracted datagrams. Retransmitted packets may be discarded.

Abstract: A system for congestion control of traffic in a network that uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) includes a plurality of TCP congestion control programs having one or more parameters, a plurality of TCP congestion control units running the TCP congestion control programs, and a TCP mapper adapted to map incoming TCP traffic flow from a plurality of incoming TCP traffic flows to the TCP congestion control units based on at least one of (a) the type of application program from which the incoming TCP traffic flow originated (b) the type of network for which the incoming TCP traffic flow is destined, (c) parameters related to network performance (d) network constraints (e) source of the incoming TCP traffic flow, and (f) destination of the incoming TCP traffic flow.

Abstract: A system for congestion control of traffic in a network that uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) includes a plurality of TCP congestion control programs having one or more parameters, a plurality of TCP congestion control units running the TCP congestion control programs, and a TCP mapper adapted to map incoming TCP traffic flow from a plurality of incoming TCP traffic flows to the TCP congestion control units based on at least one of (a) the type of application program from which the incoming TCP traffic flow originated (b) the type of network for which the incoming TCP traffic flow is destined, (c) parameters related to network performance (d) network constraints (e) source of the incoming TCP traffic flow, and (f) destination of the incoming TCP traffic flow.

Abstract: A system for congestion control of traffic in a network that uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) includes a plurality of TCP congestion control programs having one or more parameters, a plurality of TCP congestion control units running the TCP congestion control programs, and a TCP mapper adapted to map incoming TCP traffic flow from a plurality of incoming TCP traffic flows to the TCP congestion control units based on at least one of (a) the type of application program from which the incoming TCP traffic flow originated (b) the type of network for which the incoming TCP traffic flow is destined, (c) parameters related to network performance (d) network constraints (e) source of the incoming TCP traffic flow, and (f) destination of the incoming TCP traffic flow.

Abstract: An improved method of making a ceramic tile mural or mosaic comprises printing out an image from a digital device using special high fire ceramic toners onto decal paper, printing out the decals in sizes permitting multiple tiles to be covered by a single decal. After transfer, the decal is cut along tile edges and the tiles high fired. After high firing, ceramic luster is applied to the tiles and the tiles are low fired. A mural/mosaic made by the method of the invention is also taught.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a distributed data processing system for providing proxy services. Requests are processed by a primary proxy, using a shared memory in the distributed data processing system. A challenge from a secondary proxy to the primary proxy is detected. A determination is made as to whether the secondary proxy has priority over the primary proxy. This may be determined using priorities assigned to the proxies. Responsive to determining whether the secondary proxy has priority over the primary proxy, a priority of the secondary proxy is stored. Responsive to the secondary proxy having priority over the primary proxy, the secondary proxy to is allowed access the shared memory. Further, the secondary proxy is then allowed to multi-cast a message to clients indicating the secondary proxy's location. This message indicates that the secondary proxy is now the primary proxy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a distributed data processing system for scaling servers. Access to a shared memory for a period of time is selectively provided to a server within a plurality of servers, wherein the shared memory is used by the server to process requests. All other servers within the plurality of servers are prevented from accessing the shared memory during the period of time.