Abstract: A method for providing identification and access with respect to a passive radio-frequency tag in a tag population, including, receiving a command for initiating an inventory round or a command for initiating a tag access, the command including, as a parameter, a number including an identifier of a reader, generating a 16-bit value referred to as first or second binding handle, the first or second binding handle including N juxtaposed bits forming the reader identifier, backscattering the first or second binding handle, receiving an ACK command, analyzing the identification parameter of the ACK command, and in a case where the identification parameter includes the reader identifier then ignoring the ACK command, only tags having the selected inventoried flag value for the session number are inventoried, the first initiating command only including the same inventoried flag for every inventoried tags during a session and wherein the at least other inventoried flag value is never used during the session.

Abstract: A method for providing identification and access with respect to a passive radio-frequency tag in a tag population, including, receiving a command for initiating an inventory round or a command for initiating a tag access, the command including, as a parameter, a number including an identifier of a reader, generating a 16-bit value referred to as first or second binding handle, the first or second binding handle including N juxtaposed bits forming the reader identifier, backscattering the first or second binding handle, receiving an ACK command, analyzing the identification parameter of the ACK command, and in a case where the identification parameter includes the reader identifier then ignoring the ACK command, only tags having the selected inventoried flag value for the session number are inventoried, the first initiating command only including the same inventoried flag for every inventoried tags during a session and wherein the at least other inventoried flag value is never used during the session.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a beacon message, the method generating, with a beacon generating device at least one beacon message, wherein the at least one beacon message is defined by a beacon message format, wherein the beacon message format comprises a preamble field, an access address field, a protocol data unit (PDU) field and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field, wherein the PDU field comprises at least one electronic product code (EPC) encoded EPC-PDU field, and transmitting, with the beacon generating device, the at least one beacon message using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication protocol to a transmission area within a transmission range of the beacon generating device for reception by one or more beacon receiving devices located in the transmission area.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a beacon message, the method generating, with a beacon generating device at least one beacon message, wherein the at least one beacon message is defined by a beacon message format, wherein the beacon message format comprises a preamble field, an access address field, a protocol data unit (PDU) field and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field, wherein the PDU field comprises at least one electronic product code (EPC) encoded EPC-PDU field, and transmitting, with the beacon generating device, the at least one beacon message using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication protocol to a transmission area within a transmission range of the beacon generating device for reception by one or more beacon receiving devices located in the transmission area.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-frequency transponder for communicating at a first frequency according to a first communication protocol and at a second different frequency according to a second communication protocol. The transponder comprises a first physical memory for storing a first data of the first communication protocol; a second physical memory for storing a second data, different from the first data, of the second communication protocol; and a logic unit for accessing the first and second physical memories. The logic unit comprises a first control unit for handling communications according to the first protocol, and a second control unit for handling communications according to the second protocol. The transponder comprises a mapping memory to store a logical memory map of the first or second physical memories. The logical memory map comprises mapping information for the first or second control unit to access data items in first and second physical memories.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-frequency transponder for communicating at a first frequency according to a first communication protocol and at a second different frequency according to a second communication protocol. The transponder comprises a first physical memory for storing a first data of the first communication protocol; a second physical memory for storing a second data, different from the first data, of the second communication protocol; and a logic unit for accessing the first and second physical memories. The logic unit comprises a first control unit for handling communications according to the first protocol, and a second control unit for handling communications according to the second protocol. The transponder comprises a mapping memory to store a logical memory map of the first or second physical memories. The logical memory map comprises mapping information for the first or second control unit to access data items in first and second physical memories.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products and methods for deploying computing infrastructure for managing metadata in a storage subsystem are provided. A call is received from a client to update a portion of a metadata track. Data is also received from the client identifying at least one field of the metadata track to be updated, associated update values for the at least one field to be updated and an update type for the at least one field. A data structure field of a client interface is then populated with the identity of the at least one field and the associated update values and an opcode field of the client interface is populated with the update type. A task control block (TCB) is then allocated to the client call and, at the direction of the TCB, various operations are performed without further activity by the client. The metadata track may also be validated before being updated to ensure that the client has access only to valid updates.

Abstract: An RFID transponder chip includes at least one antenna to pick-up and transmit radio-frequency signals, a rectifier to store charge on at least one capacitor at a rectified voltage from the picked-up radio-frequency signals, a power-on reset circuit to maintain a logic unit in a reset state if the rectified voltage level is less than a power-on reset or wake-up voltage of the power-on reset circuit for operating the logic unit. The RFID transponder chip further includes a non-volatile memory, in which are stored one or several trim values. Said non-volatile memory is directly connected to the power-on reset circuit to be able to provide at least one trim value to trim the power-on reset circuit at a rectified voltage level below a wake-up voltage level.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products and methods for deploying computing infrastructure for clearing metadata in a storage subsystem. The method includes identifying one or more metadata tracks to clear, receiving a request from a client to clear the identified tracks, quiescing any active processes, clearing the identified tracks and resuming the quiesced processes. The request may be a single request operable to clear all metadata tracks. Alternatively, target volumes having metadata tracks to be cleared are identified and a request is received from a client for each target volume. A dynamic function list may also be created for each target volume, the list including a list of functions in which the target volume is associated. After active processes are quiesced, each function in the dynamic function list of each target volume is invoked whereby the metadata tracks are cleared. The quiesced processes are then resumed.

Abstract: An RFID transponder chip includes at least one antenna to pick-up and transmit radio-frequency signals, a rectifier to store charge on at least one capacitor at a rectified voltage from the picked-up radio-frequency signals, a power-on reset circuit to maintain a logic unit in a reset state if the rectified voltage level is less than a power-on reset or wake-up voltage of the power-on reset circuit for operating the logic unit. The RFID transponder chip further includes a non-volatile memory, in which are stored one or several trim values. Said non-volatile memory is directly connected to the power-on reset circuit to be able to provide at least one trim value to trim the power-on reset circuit at a rectified voltage level below a wake-up voltage level.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products and methods for deploying computing infrastructure for managing metadata in a storage subsystem are provided. A first metadata track is staged from disk storage to a cache storage after which a journal entry is stored in a nonvolatile storage (NVS). The journal entry includes an opcode and update data for the track. The opcode identifies the type of update to be performed and the number of tracks to be updated in the operation. Each of the other metadata tracks is staged and a corresponding journal entry stored. The journaled updates are then applied to the respective metadata track in the cache storage and the tracks destaged from cache to the disk storage.

Abstract: A device for sealing between a first component and a second component is disclosed. The first component has a groove and the groove has a first wall and a second wall. The annular body includes a first side configured to selectively contact the first wall of the groove, a second side opposite the first side configured to selectively contact the second wall of the groove, a first surface in contact with the second component, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A lip is bonded to the second surface and extends at least partially around the second surface of the annular body. A pressure acting on the first side of the annular body forces the second side to contact the second wall of the groove, and a pressure acting on the second side of the annular body forces the first side to contact the first wall of the groove.

Abstract: A vibration damper apparatus has two substantially freely rotatable inertia members disposed within a rotatable hub. Each of the members has a wide semi-cylindrical portion and a narrow semi-cylindrical portion with the wide portion of the first damper member being axially aligned with the narrow portion of the other damper member.

Abstract: A device for sealing between a first component and a second component is disclosed. The first component has a groove and the groove has a first wall and a second wall. The annular body includes a first side configured to selectively contact the first wall of the groove, a second side opposite the first side configured to selectively contact the second wall of the groove, a first surface in contact with the second component, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A lip is bonded to the second surface and extends at least partially around the second surface of the annular body. A pressure acting on the first side of the annular body forces the second side to contact the second wall of the groove, and a pressure acting on the second side of the annular body forces the first side to contact the first wall of the groove.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing resources in which a local processor sends remote operation requests to be executed by a remote processor having multiple resources. In the illustrated embodiment, the local processor and the remote processor each have a resource manager, each of which maintains a control set for each resource of the remote processor. Each control set of the remote processor resource manager includes a queue for queuing remote operation requests awaiting execution in connection with the resource associated with the control set. Each control set of the local processor resource manager includes a credit counter which keeps track of permissible outstanding remote operation requests. Each local processor control set credit counter is decremented for each remote operation request for the associated resource sent to the remote processor and is incremented for each acknowledgment received from the remote processor.

Abstract: Tracks of meta data are cleared in a storage server by allocating task control blocks for executing associated tasks in parallel. Throttling and recycling of task control blocks is provided to efficiently use memory and processing resources. Under the control of a master task, task control blocks are allocated to different hierarchical levels of storage resources in the storage server, such as a logical subsystem level and a subordinate volume level. The task control blocks are not deallocated from memory until there are no further tasks to process.