Abstract: A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for allocating storage for virtual machine instances. The input/output (I/O) usage of disk extents utilized by a virtual machine is saved in an I/O profile of the virtual machine. In response to deallocating the virtual machine, the I/O usage of the disk extents is extracted from its I/O profile and saved in a data structure. Upon starting a new instance of the virtual machine, new disk extents are allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The I/O usage of the disk extents for the previous incarnation of the virtual machine is applied to the disk extents allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The newly allocated disk extents can now be placed in either a solid-state drive device or a hard disk drive device based on this I/O history without requiring a twenty-four hour long cycle.

Abstract: An improved industrial automation system and communication system for implementation therein, and related methods of operation, are described herein. In at least some embodiments, the improved communication system allows communication in the form of messages between modules in different control or enterprise domains. Further, in at least some embodiments, such communications are achieved by providing a communication system including a manufacturing service bus having two internal service busses with a bridge between the internal busses. Also, in at least some embodiments, a methodology of synchronous messaging is employed.

Abstract: A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to mitigate noise in a signal line extending across rails arranged in a split plane configuration. In an embodiment, respective sides of a first rail and a second rail define opposite sides of a boundary region between the rails. The first rail forms a groove and the second rail forms a branch portion that extends at least in part into the groove. In another embodiment, one or more signal lines each extend across the boundary region and proximate to the branch portion, the one or more signals each to communicate a respective signal while the first rail is at a first voltage and while the second rail is at a second voltage. The branch portion and groove contribute to a reduced impedance discontinuity across the boundary region, which mitigates the creation of signal noise in the one or more signal lines.

Abstract: Some example forms relate to an electrical interconnect for an electronic package. The electrical interconnect includes a dielectric layer that includes a trench formed into one surface of the dielectric layer and a signal conductor that fills the trench and extends above the one surface of dielectric layer. The electrical interconnect further includes a conductive reference layer mounted on an opposing side of the dielectric layer. The conductive reference layer is electromagnetically coupled to the signal conductor when current passes through the signal conductor.

Abstract: An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth, wherein light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least first and second light sources operatively disposed adjacent to each other beneath the container base and having differing operating characteristics. Light transmitted through the container mouth is sensed, and a composite image of the container mouth may be produced from two or more images of portions of the container mouth.

Abstract: Techniques for encoding data are described herein. An example of a device in accordance with the present techniques includes a signaling module coupled to a plurality of digital inputs. The signaling module is to encode data received at the plurality of digital inputs to generate encoded data. Based on the encoded data, the signaling module can drive line voltages on a plurality of signal lines of a bus. Each one of the plurality of line voltages corresponds to a weighted sum of the data received at the plurality of digital inputs.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an optical train (50) and optional wavelength-selective photodetectors. The optical train (50) uses reflecting elements (600) including mirrors and/or prisms to fold the light path of the transmitted UV light beam to direct it through the body (100) of the instrument, through a sample vessel (200) using at least one pass but preferably two or more passes and into illumination contact with a photodetector (400). With each additional pass, the Beer-Lambert path length is effectively increased. Separate second optical train (53) and third optical train (54) exist for the detection and measurement of scattered light by illumination contact with one or more photodetectors.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method including providing a substrate with at least one insulating layer disposed thereon, the at least one insulating layer including a trench; forming at least one liner layer on the at least one insulating layer; forming a nucleation layer on the at least one liner layer; forming a first metal film on a surface of the nucleation layer; etching the first metal film; and depositing a second metal film on the etched surface of the first metal film, the second metal film substantially forming an overburden above the trench.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein. The apparatus includes a plurality of conductors, wherein at least one conductor is a common-mode conductor. The apparatus also includes an encoder to encode data to be transmitted on the plurality of conductors, wherein a data speed of the common-mode conductor is limited and a data speed of other conductors is maximized according to an encoding matrix.

Abstract: An input module for an industrial controller is configurable to simplify setup and commissioning. The input module includes input terminals configurable, for example, as a counter input. Still other input terminals may be configured to trigger events as a function of the input signals present at the terminals. Time signals corresponding to transitions in state of the input terminals, triggering of events or operation of the counters may be recorded. The input module is further configurable to transmit data back to the processor or to transmit data directly to another module in the industrial control network.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for allocating storage for virtual machine instances. The input/output (I/O) usage of disk extents utilized by a virtual machine is saved in an I/O profile of the virtual machine. In response to deallocating the virtual machine, the I/O usage of the disk extents is extracted from its I/O profile and saved in a data structure. Upon starting a new instance of the virtual machine, new disk extents are allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The I/O usage of the disk extents for the previous incarnation of the virtual machine is applied to the disk extents allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The newly allocated disk extents can now be placed in either a solid-state drive device or a hard disk drive device based on this I/O history without requiring a twenty-four hour long cycle.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method including providing a substrate with at least one insulating layer disposed thereon, the at least one insulating layer including a trench; forming at least one liner layer on the at least one insulating layer; forming a nucleation layer on the at least one liner layer; forming a first metal film on a surface of the nucleation layer; etching the first metal film; and depositing a second metal film on the etched surface of the first metal film, the second metal film substantially forming an overburden above the trench.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of selective aquaporin inhibitors, e.g., of aquaporin-4 or aquaporin-2, e.g., certain phenylbenzamide compounds, for the prophylaxis, treatment and control of aquaporin-mediated conditions, e.g., diseases of water imbalance, for example edema (particularly edema of the brain and spinal cord, e.g., following trauma or ischemic stroke, as well as the edema associated with glioma, meningitis, acute mountain sickness, epileptic seizures, infections, metabolic disorders, hypoxia, water intoxication, hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, diabetic ketoacidosis, abscess, eclampsia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and lupus cerebritis, as well as edema consequent to microgravity and/or radiation exposure, as well as edema consequent to invasive central nervous system procedures, e.g.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein describes a method to allocate and prioritize data communications on an industrial control network. A transmission schedule including multiple priority windows and multiple queues is established. Each queue is assigned to at least one priority window, and each priority window may have multiple queues assigned thereto. A control device communicating on the control network transmits data packets according to the transmission schedule. Within each priority window, data packets corresponding to one of the queues assigned to the priority window may be transmitted. The data packets may be transmitted at any point during the priority window, but will only be transmitted if no data packet from a higher queue is waiting to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth. Light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least one light source disposed beneath the container base. A plurality of images of the container mouth is obtained from the light transmitted through the container mouth. Minimum bore diameters of the container mouth are calculated from the plurality of images, and an overall lowest minimum bore diameter (OLMBD) of the minimum bore diameters is identified. A value other than the OLMBD is determined to be an effective minimum bore diameter of the container mouth.

Abstract: The present application discloses low temperature, low pressure methods (LTLP) for upgrading and/or stabilizing bio-oil or a bio-oil fraction. One method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction and hydrogen, which are reacted in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of less than 150° C. and a pressure of less than 100 bar (absolute) to produce a hydrogenated liquid oil at a carbon yield of over 75%. Another method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction, providing oxygen reducing reaction conditions, and reacting the bio-oil or bio-oil fraction under the oxygen reducing reaction conditions at LTLP to produce an upgraded bio-oil product containing fewer carbonyls than the bio-oil or bio-oil fraction. Yet another method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction and a solution comprising one or more fermentation organisms and a sugar source. The solution and bio-oil or bio-oil fraction are combined to obtain a fermentation mixture, which is incubated at 15° C. to 30° C.