Abstract: A method of categorising defects in a media item. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a binarised image of the media item, where the binarised image comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having either a potential defect intensity or a non-defect intensity; and identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous pixels each having a potential defect intensity. For each identified blob, the method involves comparing a size of the blob with a damage threshold; ignoring the blob if the blob size is smaller than the damage threshold; and for each identified blob having a size exceeding or equalling the damage threshold, categorising the identified blob.

Abstract: A method of detecting staining on a media item is described. An example method includes receiving an image of the media item, including a plurality of pixels having different intensity values within a range of intensity values, applying central weighting to the received image, applying a threshold to each pixel in the centrally-weighted image to transform each pixel to a binary value, comparing a pixel in the evaluation image with a pixel in a binary reference image to create a difference image including (i) a stain pixel at each spatial location in which a pixel in the evaluation image has a low intensity pixel and the corresponding pixel in the binary reference image has a high intensity pixel, and (ii) a non-stain pixel at all other spatial locations. The media item is identified as stained in the event that the difference image meets a staining criterion.

Abstract: A system integrates an intelligent storage switch with a flexible virtualization system to enable the intelligent storage switch to provide efficient service of file and block protocol data access requests for information stored on the system. A storage operating system executing on a storage system coupled to the switch implements the virtualization system to provide a unified view of storage to clients by logically organizing the information as named files, directories and logical unit numbers. The virtualization system may be embodied as a file system having a write allocator configured to provide a flexible block numbering policy to the storage switch that addresses volume management capabilities, such as storage virtualization.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, method, and program product which each provide an enhanced database engine. Access to precise values is provided while permitting unfettered access to those who are not interested in precise values. This is accomplished via an enhanced database index and indexing method. The entries of the database index are normalized to exclude precision. Individuals interested in precision can then specify precision as part of their query through use of a PRECISE keyword. Results are then filtered to account for the specified precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide data security on a parallel computer system using virtual private networks. An access setup mechanism sets up access control data in the nodes that describes which virtual networks are protected and what applications have access to the protected private networks. When an application accesses data on a protected virtual network, a network access mechanism determines the data is protected and intercepts the data access. The network access mechanism in the kernel may also execute a rule depending on the kind of access that was attempted to the virtual network. Authorized access to the private networks can be made via a system call to the access control mechanism in the kernel. The access control mechanism enforces policy decisions on which data can be distributed through the system via an access control list or other security policies.

Abstract: A shoreline erosion mitigation device placed in a body of water including a multiplicity of high density polyethylene pipes each of a given length and diameter with each pipe being generally cylindrical in shape and having a hollow interior, the multiplicity of high density polyethylene pipes arranged in approximately parallel rows with adjacent pipes connected together by a system using clamps and flexible links, which leaves a space between adjacent pipes so that by increasing or decreasing the number, length and/or diameter of the pipes and/or the number of clamps, the design of the device is adjusted to accommodate differing shoreline conditions. When a wave having a given force traveling from the body of water towards the shoreline encounters the device, the force of the wave is reduced by causing the water to travel over the device and through the spaces between adjacent pipes before reaching the shoreline.

Abstract: A technique for use in automatic validation of a media item involves accessing a template that comprises multiple one-class classifiers, each corresponding to one of multiple classes to which the media item might belong, and then applying each of the one-class classifiers to an image of the media item to generate a result set for each of the multiple classes. The result set for each media class is then analyzed to assess whether the media item belongs to that class.

Abstract: An electromagnetic signal transmitter for fraud prevention in a self-service terminal is described. The electromagnetic signal transmitter comprises a plurality of coil drives. The plurality of coil drives may include a first inductive coil drive comprising a first pair of opposing poles; and a second inductive coil drive comprising a second pair of opposing poles, where the second pair of opposing poles are offset from the first pair of opposing poles in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparently handling recurring correctable errors and uncorrectable errors in a mirrored memory system prevents costly system shutdowns for correctable memory errors or system failures from uncorrectable memory errors. When a high number of correctable errors are detected for a given memory location, a memory relocation mechanism in the hypervisor moves the data associated with the memory location to an alternate physical memory location transparently to the partition such that the partition has no knowledge that the physical memory actualizing the memory location has been changed. When a correctable error occurs, the memory relocation mechanism uses data from a partner mirrored memory block as a data source for the memory block with the uncorrectable error and then relocates the data to a newly allocated memory block to replace the memory block with the uncorrectable error.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing folded sheets (160) of foil comprises first advancement means (119, 121) for controllably advancing a strip (161) of foil in a feed direction (F); folding means (147, 135, 139, 129) for folding a leading edge of said strip of foil (161); cutting means (141, 133) for cutting said strip (161) of foil to form a sheet (160) of foil; second advancement means (123, 125) for flattening the fold formed in the leading edge of said sheet (160) of foil and dispensing said folded sheet (160) of foil.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are presented for identifying produce. Multiple images of a produce item captured using five different types of illumination. The captured images are processed to determine parameters of the produce item and those parameters are compared to parameters of known produce to identify the produce item.

Abstract: An electromagnetic signal transmitter for fraud prevention in a self-service terminal is described. The electromagnetic signal transmitter comprises a plurality of coil drives. The plurality of coil drives may include a first inductive coil drive comprising a first pair of opposing poles; and a second inductive coil drive comprising a second pair of opposing poles, where the second pair of opposing poles are offset from the first pair of opposing poles in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: A method of preventing fraud at a self-service terminal is described. The method comprises: receiving a signal from an electromagnetic sensor located in the vicinity of an electromagnetic signal transmitter; monitoring a drive signal being delivered to the electromagnetic signal transmitter; and comparing the drive signal with the electromagnetic sensor signal. The method then ascertains if a state of the electromagnetic sensor signal is inconsistent with a state of the drive signal; and triggers an alarm when the state of the electromagnetic sensor signal is inconsistent with a state of the drive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizing wave energy to capture ocean water and send it to shore for hydroelectricity, hydrodynamic energy conversion or desalination. The submerged device is located offshore and is preferably oriented orthogonal to the shoreline or the incoming water surges. Responding to underwater wave surges, a deformable bladder filled with sea water is compressed and the seawater contained therein is expelled and sent to shore. A one-way valve responds to the differential in water pressure inside the empty bladder as compared to outside the bladder and permits seawater to enter and refill the bladder. The bladder may have any of several forms including that of a bellows. The present invention discusses several ways by which the bladder may be compressed and several ways by which it can sense and respond to underwater wave surges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparently handling recurring correctable errors to prevent costly system shutdowns for correctable memory errors or system failures from uncorrectable memory errors. When a high number of correctable errors are detected for a given memory location, the hypervisor moves the data associated with the memory location to an alternate physical memory location transparently to the partition such that the partition has no knowledge that the physical memory actualizing the memory location has been changed. Similarly, the hypervisor can move direct memory access (DMA) memory locations using an I/O translation table.

Abstract: The invention provides containers and methods of use for the storage, transportation and preparation of samples, such as DNA samples for analysis. The container is pre-provided with the reagents in sealed chambers. The sample can be introduced and the container manipulated to release the reagents, provide the necessary conditions and give a fully prepared sample. The container can then be engaged with an analysis device to identify characteristics of the sample or perform other operations thereon.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets is disclosed. The sensor comprises a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation. The sensor also comprises a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation. The sensor further comprises a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, method, and program product which each provide an enhanced database engine. Access to precise values is provided while permitting unfettered access to those who are not interested in precise values. This is accomplished via an enhanced database index and indexing method. The entries of the database index are normalized to exclude precision. Individuals interested in precision can then specify precision as part of their query through use of a PRECISE keyword. Results are then filtered to account for the specified precision.

Abstract: A produce recognition method which uses hierarchical Bayesian learning and kernel combination, and which offers classification-oriented synergistic data integration from diverse sources. An example method includes providing a classifier having a plurality of inputs, each input being adapted to receive produce data of a different modality; mapping the produce data to the respective input of the classifier by a computer; for each input, independently operating on the data relating to that input to create a feature set by the computer; comparing each feature in the feature set to respective pre-trained data for that feature to produce a similarity description set; combining all similarity description sets using a dedicated weighting function to produce a composite similarity description by the computer; and deriving a plurality of class values from the composite similarity description to create a recognition result for the produce item by the computer.

Abstract: A soft lock mechanism controls access by multiple processes to a shared resource to make simultaneous access an unlikely event, while not necessarily preventing simultaneous access. Preferably, the soft lock contains a next_free_time field, specifying when the soft lock will next be available, and a lock_duration, specifying a sufficiently long interval for most accesses to the resource to complete. The lock is obtained by comparing the current time to next_free_time. If the current time is later than next_free_time, then the lock is obtained immediately, and next_free_time is updated to the current time plus lock_duration. If the current time is before next_free_time, then next_free_time is incremented by lock_duration, and the requesting process waits until the old next_free_time to obtain the lock. No action is required to release the lock.