Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing precision marks for a metrological scale in the form of a stainless steel ribbon. A laser is used to produce ultra-short pulses which have a fluence at the ribbon such that ablation takes place. The laser light can be scanned via scanner and the pitch of the marks can be controlled. The ablative technique causes little thermal input and improves the accuracy of the scale.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the recovery of iodine are described. In particular, recovery systems and methods produce an iodine complex from an aqueous brine containing iodide. A head tank for maintains a supply of the brine, a pH controller acidifies brine received from the head tank and an oxidizer converts iodide in the acidified brine to elemental iodine. At least one activated carbon contactor module is removably inserted into a stream of the oxidized brine provided by the oxidizer and binds the molecular iodine to form the iodine complex. A container may enclose the head tank, the pH controller and the oxidizer in order to facilitate transportation of the system and performance of the methods and processes in proximity to a brine source. The brine may be employed or associated with oilfield operations.

Abstract: An NOx injection system for treating a vehicle exhaust system comprises an injector for injecting a select material into the vehicle exhaust system and including an electrical coil. An impedance element is connected in series with a flyback diode across the coil. An injector firing control circuit is electrically connected to the injector for driving the coil, the switching circuit operating in an on mode to fire the injector and in an off mode to turn off the injector. The impedance element increases reverse voltage to increase injector turn off response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing precision marks (28) for a metrological scale in the form of a stainless steel ribbon (10). A laser (21) is used to produce ultra-short pulses, which have a fluence at the ribbon such that ablation takes place. The laser light can be scanned via scanner (25) and the pitch of the marks (28) can be controlled. The ablative technique causes little thermal input and improves the accuracy of the scale.

Abstract: A system for product advertising through a telecommunication network is disclosed. The system comprises an advertising engine and an information depot. The advertising engine comprises an information-extraction tool for acquiring product information, an authoring tool for tracking product images appearing in a display of a video recording, and an augmented-display tool for relating product images appearing in a display of a video recording to respective product information. The information depot comprises a global product directory and overlay directories for a set of video recordings. A number of authoring computers connect to the advertising engine of the present invention as well as streaming video sources and advertising databases to generate content of the information depot. The advertising engine distributes the augmented-display tool to viewers' computers which accesses the video-content directory and the product directory to acquire respective overlay directories and associated product data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a discrete event simulation model of a production network including a client and a plurality of servers on a plurality of network tiers connected by a network comprising the steps of executing a business function from the client on the production network, gathering resource data from the plurality of servers, normalizing the resource data, calculating a consumption of resources used by the plurality of servers, estimating a transaction cost associated with the consumption of resources and building a discrete event simulation model from the transaction cost.

Abstract: A method for identifying object images in a display of a video signal, storing object identification information in an overlay directory, and extracting object information relevant to identified objects from respective information databases is disclosed. Overlay directories from several video signals and associated object information are assembled in an overlay server accessed by computers directly or through a telecommunication network. Object images are selected by users of authoring computers accessing the overlay server. An overlay directory for a video recording indicates temporal and spatial coordinates of images of selected objects, a network address of a video source providing the video recording, descriptions of the selected objects, and addresses of servers providing detailed information of the selected objects. The objects may include commercial products, services, or educational material. The disclosed method therefore may be used for advertising or general information dissemination purposes.

Abstract: A method and system for day management using an integrated calendar is disclosed. A user inputs his time available during a period and enters details on time-specific events to be performed during that period. The system fetches information entered by user and stores the details in the integrated calendar. Tasks to be performed are stored on task list in order of priority as entered by the user. The system determines free time available with the user for performing the tasks by subtracting the time allocated for the events from the time available. Further, tasks are allocated time schedules by allocating that free time to the duration of each task, as per priority. If a task cannot be performed in a particular time slot within the time period, the task may be split into multiple smaller tasks and performed at different time slots that are available.

Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus is described. The coordinate positioning apparatus comprises a mounting surface, a motion guide mountable on the mounting surface, a first member comprising a sensor for sensing scale markings, the first member being mountable on the motion guide, and an encoder scale member comprising a first set of scale markings which are, in use, sensable by the sensor. At least part of the encoder scale member is retained between the mounting surface and the motion guide such that the encoder scale member is supported by the mounting surface at least in the vicinity of the first set of scale markings. The motion guide may be a guide rail or a bearing, for example. En encoder scale member for use with such a coordinate positioning apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A method of determining the eccentricity of an encoder scale member of a rotary encoder includes taking an encoder scale blank having a geometric center and mounting the encoder scale blank centered about a second center. A scale can then be produced on the encoder scale blank thereby forming an encoder scale member. The scale of the encoder scale member is centered about the second center. Any eccentricity between the geometric center and the second center is measured by, for example, measuring any change in the apparent radius of the encoder scale member. The encoder scale member may then be mounted in a working location wherein it is rotated about a third axis. The eccentricity when mounted in the working location may be matched to that measured during manufacture thereof and/or the eccentricity errors arising from both manufacture and mounting of the encoder scale member may be determined.

Abstract: An NOx injection system for treating a vehicle exhaust system comprises an injector for injecting a select material into the vehicle exhaust system and including an electrical coil. An impedance element is connected in series with a flyback diode across the coil. An injector firing control circuit is electrically connected to the injector for driving the coil, the switching circuit operating in an on mode to fire the injector and in an off mode to turn off the injector. The impedance element increases reverse voltage to increase injector turn off response.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for influencing the recovery of an animal from the effects of strenuous physical activity. The compositions generally comprise about 4% to 6% readily absorbable carbohydrate; about 10% to 30% maltodextrins; about 20% to 50% starch, for a total of about 40% to 80% carbohydrate; about 20% to about 40% protein; and optionally one or more antioxidants. The methods generally comprise administering the composition to an animal within the period from about 120 minutes before initiation of or 120 minutes after completion of the physical activity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that preparing a discrete event simulation model of a production network is provided including a client and a plurality of servers connected by a network comprising the steps of initiating a single business function trace test on the production network; gathering network flow trace data from the network; deriving a transaction summary from the network flow trace data; initiating a single business function load test on the production network; gathering resource data from the plurality of servers; normalizing the resource data; gathering web log data from at least one server from the plurality of servers; calculating a number of business functions running on the production network; calculating a consumption of resources used by the plurality of servers; calculating a business function cost associated with the consumption of resources; creating a business function profile from the transaction summary and the business function cost; and building a discrete event simulation model from the bus

Abstract: A metrological scale for scale reading apparatus is described, along with a method of manufacture of said metro-logical scale. The scale comprises a fibre reinforced substrate, such as a carbon fibre composite, and a layer of material, such as a plated or stuck on layer of metal, into or onto which scale markings are made. The method of manufacture of said metrological scale comprises the steps of: making a scale body comprising a layer of material, and a fibre reinforced composite substrate, wherein the qualities of the substrate are tailored to achieve the required coefficient of thermal expansion; and, making graduations in or on the layer of material of the scale body to form a scale.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner whilst there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

Abstract: A method of semi-automatic data collection, data analysis and model generation for performance analysis of computer networks and software is provided. The invention provides a graphical user interface which indicates the overall data flow in the performance analysis process and guides the user through the proper sequence of steps in that process. Underneath the graphical user interface, the invention provides software tools which include novel data pipeline for transformation of network traces, resource data and application data into organized hash tables, and further into spreadsheets for introduction into computer network simulation programs. The invention also provides novel algorithms for recognizing transaction and parentage between transactions from low level network trace data. The invention further provides novel methods of visualization of trace data and transaction and parentage associations.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner whilst there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a discrete event simulation model of a production network including a client and a plurality of servers on a plurality of network tiers connected by a network comprising the steps of executing a business function from the client on the production network, gathering resource data from the plurality of servers, normalizing the resource data, calculating a consumption of resources used by the plurality of servers, estimating a transaction cost associated with the consumption of resources and building a discrete event simulation model from the transaction cost.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating background utilization from transaction resource consumption to simulate resource costs on system servers including a computer application server is taught. Transaction throughput combined with resource consumption data. Regression analysis on the resulting data set provides information useful for determining performance and for creating discrete event simulations. In a first embodiment, data from an application server is combined with the application transaction log to find a background utilization on the application servers and to simulate transaction resource cost with a background load. In a second embodiment, data from servers other than the application server are combined with the application transaction log to estimate the resource cost per transaction for a given resource in the system.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a discrete event simulation model of a production network including a client and a plurality of servers on a plurality of network tiers connected by a network comprising the steps of executing a business function from the client on the production network, gathering resource data from the plurality of servers, normalizing the resource data, calculating a consumption of resources used by the plurality of servers, estimating a transaction cost associated with the consumption of resources and building a discrete event simulation model from the transaction cost.