Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a plurality of items each of which has a respective readable validation reference, in which information is read from the validation references, one or more items of the items is identified based on information read by the reading means, and the information is verified by comparison with stored data relating to location, origin or ownership of the one or more items.

Abstract: An authentication and/or tracking system for identifying, tracking, authenticating and/or otherwise checking the legitimacy of one or more items which include a coded identity tag or mark, the system comprising identification means for reading said coded identity tag or mark and identifying said one or more items, storage means for storing information relating to the location, whether actual or intended, origin and/or ownership of said one or more items, and means for displaying or otherwise providing or verifying said information relating to an item when its identity tag or mark has been read.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for generation of nitrogen enriched air for inerting aircraft fuels tanks. One embodiment of the present invention includes a duct assembly; a primary heat exchanger; a gas generating system heat exchanger; a first temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor; a controller monitor; a valve; an air separation module assembly having a primary module and a secondary module; at least one flow control orifice; and a pressure sensor. The present invention utilizes a minimal complement of components and streamlined processes, thus minimizing structural and operational costs while optimizing performance and safety features.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for generation of nitrogen enriched air for inerting aircraft fuels tanks. One embodiment of the present invention includes a duct assembly; a primary heat exchanger; a gas generating system heat exchanger; a first temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor; a controller monitor; a valve; an air separation module assembly having a primary module and a secondary module; at least one flow control orifice; and a pressure sensor. The present invention utilizes a minimal complement of components and streamlined processes, thus minimizing structural and operational costs while optimizing performance and safety features.

Abstract: An authentication and/or tracking system for identifying, tracking, authenticating and/or otherwise checking the legitimacy of one or more items which include a coded identity tag or mark, the system comprising identification means for reading said coded identity tag or mark and identifying said one or more items, storage means for storing information relating to the location, whether actual or intended, origin and/or ownership of said one or more items, and means for displaying or otherwise providing or verifying said information relating to an item when its identity tag or mark has been read.

Abstract: A processor is provided for calculating an output pointer to a first data item by combination of an input pointer to a second data item with an offset. The processor includes logic for generating, in a single operation, a zero value for the output pointer when the input pointer is zero and an output pointer value calculated as the offset value added to, or subtracted from, the input pointer value when the input pointer is non-zero.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotide molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding plasminogen activating (PauA) proteins from Streptococcus uberis, and substantially homologous polypeptides, peptide fragments, and fusion proteins thereof. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for recombinantly expressing the PauA proteins, substantially homologous polypeptides, peptide fragments and fusion proteins encoded by the polynucleotide molecules of the present invention. The present invention further provides a vaccine for protecting a member of a mammalian species against mastitis, comprising a PauA protein, substantially homologous polypeptide, peptide fragment, fusion protein, or polynucleotide molecule of the present invention.

Abstract: An improved cache memory and method of operation thereof. The cache memory includes a doubly-linked loop of cache lines and a single pointer operable to address a cache line in the doubly-linked loop. In the cache memory, the pointer is preferably operable to address a next cache line in the doubly-linked loop, or a previous cache line in the doubly-linked loop. The cache memory as described permits a reduction in the number of instruction steps involved in controlling the cache lines. The improved cache memory may be implemented in a data processing system or within a computer program product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transferring data between source and target databases in a computer system that can adapt to changes in the schema of the source database and/or target database. This adaptability is achieved by determining the intersection of the source and target database schemas prior to a transfer of data between the databases. Since the intersection is determined prior to a transfer, changes in the schema of the source and/or target database are automatically accommodated. In one embodiment, the method includes the ability to specify the desired frequency with which data is to be transferred between source and target databases. The method, which is implemented as a computer program, is also capable of operating in a computer system in which other tasks are competing for processor time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transferring data between source and target databases in a computer system that can adapt to changes in the schema of the source database and/or target database. This adaptability is achieved by determining the intersection of the source and target database schemas prior to a transfer of data between the databases. Since the intersection is determined prior to a transfer, changes in the schema of the source and/or target database are automatically accommodated. In one embodiment, the method includes the ability to specify the desired frequency with which data is to be transferred between source and target databases. The method, which is implemented as a computer program, is also capable of operating in a computer system in which other tasks are competing for processor time.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a plurality of different hardware component types (e.g. interface chip, chip port and chip port DMA channel hardware). The chip may include for example two chip ports, each of which includes twelve DMA channels. The system further includes software for controlling the operation of the hardware, the software providing a software class for each hardware type. Each software class defines a constructor for creating instances of each class, one instance for each member of the type e.g. twelve instances of the chip port DMA class. The constructor further includes or references test code for testing each type member. Thus, on construction of each instance of the chip port DMA class, the associated constructor tests the operation of the DMA channel. If there is a failure, the constructor throws an exception to the chip port constructor which then determines how to handle the error.