Abstract: The technology is based on subjecting the meat sample to an ultrasonic signal, of a specific frequency, and detects its reflected component. The detected signal will be analyzed using a fully developed and commercially available digital signal processing techniques to extracted ultrasonic parameters that can be directly related to elastic properties of the sample under investigation (piece of meat) and hence used to distinguish among the meats in question.

Abstract: An area is divided into regions or cells each having an associated multicast group address. The cells are organized using a quad-tree data structure that is dynamically updated. Mobile entities within a given cell elect one of their members as coordinator for assessing cost data associated with subdividing or merging the cell with other sibling cells. The coordinators communicate this cost data to a partitioning entity, which may be a central server, that computes a new partition scheme using a greedy algorithm. The new partition scheme is then broadcast to the mobile entities for use in subsequent communication. Mobile entities join multicast groups that intersect with their individual vision domains. In this way, mobile entities can acquire information from other mobile entities without the need to monitor all multicast group transmissions.

Abstract: An area is divided into regions or cells each having an associated multicast group address. The cells are organized using a quad-tree data structure that is dynamically updated. Mobile entities within a given cell elect one of their members as coordinator for assessing cost data associated with subdividing or merging the cell with other sibling cells. The coordinators communicate this cost data to a partitioning entity, which may be a central server, that computes a new partition scheme using a greedy algorithm. The new partition scheme is then broadcast to the mobile entities for use in subsequent communication. Mobile entities join multicast groups that intersect with their individual vision domains. In this way, mobile entities can acquire information from other mobile entities without the need to monitor all multicast group transmissions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented scheduling method and apparatus for scheduling operations relating to a predetermined activity. The activity includes scheduling operations of network-attached storage devices, or other computer-related operations, or non-computer related operations, such as manufacturing plant operations. Operational data is received that is indicative of the operations. Attributes regarding the received operational data are identified. A linear ordering of the attributes is imposed via a predetermined curve. The curve is an aggregation of at least substantially continuous functions from intervals so as to form a substantially repetitive pattern. Operations are scheduled based upon the imposed linear ordering. With such an approach, the overall performance aspects of the system is significantly improved.

Abstract: A transport system allows delivery of MPEG video streams from a network server to a media client while avoiding network delays associated with transition between files contained in these streams. A buffering system, a transport controller, and a counter allow buffering and interim delivery of MPEG stream data. The transport controller can either deliver MPEG stream data directly to the media client, or route data through the buffering system. The buffering system includes a population buffer for storage of interim MPEG stream data, and a transport buffer for temporary storage of MPEG stream data during continuous delivery. During transitional delivery, the transport controller delivers interim data to the media client until the requested file is available and uses the counter to select the proper start location in the requested file.

Abstract: A single queue is utilized for scheduling of prioritized requests having specific deadlines in which to be serviced. New requests are initially inserted into the single queue based upon optimal SCAN order. Once the new request is inserted, the deadlines of all the requests in the queue are checked in order to insure each request deadline is met. In the event a deadline violation is identified, the queue is reorganized by identifying the lowest priority request currently to be processed prior to the request with the deadline violation. If more than one request with the lowest priority exists, the lowest priority request with the greatest deadline slack is selected. Ultimately, the selected request is moved to the tail of the queue, or removed from the queue and considered lost if its deadline is violated with a queue tail placement. This process is repeated until the queue is in a state with no deadline violations.

Abstract: The distributed multimedia server employs modular server elements that connect with client systems through a high bandwidth network. The server elements are connected in interleaved fashion with the switching elements and the data representing different media selections are arranged in stripe groups distributed across the server elements. The server can be as small as a single server element or grown incrementally, as needed, by connecting additional server elements to the system. Multiple copies of hot media selections are stored across the distributed architecture within different stripe groups to minimize bottlenecks within the storage subsystem.