Abstract: Apparatus for measuring displacement between two members. A scale is provided on one member and has an incremental pattern with at least one reference mark embedded in it. A read head is provided on the other member and comprises a periodic diffraction means for interacting with a light pattern modulated by the incremental pattern on the scale to produce interference fringes having movement relative to said readhead responsive to said displacement, first detecting means for detecting the movement of the interference fringes, imaging means for imaging the reference mark and second detecting means for detecting the image of the reference mark.

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: An apparatus is disclosed for displaying a plurality of textile or fabric samples. The apparatus includes a plurality of elongate rail members configured to receive and engage at least one sample member. The at least one or each sample member holds at least one sample and is adapted to slidably and/or pivotally engage at least one rail member by way of one or more corresponding apertures or channels provided therein.

Abstract: A method of making metrological scale for scale reading apparatus includes directing a laser beam onto a scale substrate (12). The laser parameters are such that the local area of the scale substrate (12) on which the laser beam is incident is caused to be displaced, thus creating scale markings (16, 20, 22).

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: The invention provides a method and system of receiving communications from a network device in a network to a source of network data and establishing a secure and/or authenticated network connection between the network device and the source that appears to the network device as a direct connection to the source of network data. Broadly conceptualized, the method and system may also include a parsing module that modifies the network data passing back and forth between the network device and the source of network data.

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: A method of determining the eccentricity of an encoder scale member (10) of a rotary encoder is described. The method comprises taking an encoder scale blank having a geometric centre (N) and mounting the encoder scale blank centred about a second centre (P). A scale can then be produced on the encoder scale blank thereby forming an encoder scale member (10), the scale of the encoder scale member being centred about the second centre (P). Any eccentricity between the geometric centre (N) and the second centre (P) 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 (e.g. to shaft 30) wherein it rotated about a third axis (Q). 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: A rotary ring for use in scale reading apparatus, comprises a flexible ring (10) which has scale markings (14) provided on a surface thereof. The rotary ring is mounted onto a machine part (22) by providing the machine part with a region of increased diameter (26) and stretching or shrinking the flexible rotary scale (10) over said region of increased diameter. The manufacturing tolerance of the rotary scale or differential e.g. thermal expansion is thus taken up by stretching or shrinking it into place. The region of increased diameter may comprise an annular protrusion or an O-ring, for example.

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 present invention provides compositions comprising a gas and a gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxing agent comprising ethyl nitrite in a therapeutically effective amount. The present invention also provides methods of relaxing gastrointestinal smooth muscle, alleviating contraction or spasm of gastrointestinal smooth muscle to facilitate a diagnostic medical procedure and treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder using the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: A system for packaging a flat panel product includes a dispensing device for dispensing a length of inner protective packaging material, a folding table for wrapping the inner protective packaging material around the product and folding an outer protective packaging material around the product, and a binding device for binding the outer packaging material, inner packaging material, and product together, suspending the product relative to at least one of the walls of the sidewall and supporting the product laterally. A data entry device provides data related to the length of inner protective packaging material required, and this data is fed to a controller, which controls the dispensing device to provide an appropriate length of material. The data entry device can also provide shipping information, fed to a printer for printing a shipping label.

Abstract: Techniques for determining payment to a particular health care facility for health care delivery include determining target adverse results rate (ARR) for treatment of a particular range of patient health conditions (RHC). A first actual cost is determined for treatment of the RHC during a first time interval. A first ARR during the first time interval is determined. A second actual cost is determined for treatment of the RHC during a second time interval. A second ARR during the second time interval is determined. It is then determined whether the second actual cost prorated per case (CPC) is less than the first actual CPC and whether the second ARR is not farther from the target ARR. If so, then payments per case to the facility for the RHC are reduced based on a first fraction of the difference between the first actual CPC and the second actual CPC.

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 system for packaging a flat panel product includes a dispensing device for dispensing a length of inner protective packaging material, a folding table for wrapping the inner protective packaging material around the product and folding an outer protective packaging material around the product, and a binding device for binding the outer packaging material, inner packaging material, and product together, suspending the product relative to at least one of the walls of the sidewall and supporting the product laterally. A data entry device provides data related to the length of inner protective packaging material required, and this data is fed to a controller, which controls the dispensing device to provide an appropriate length of material. The data entry device can also provide shipping information, fed to a printer for printing a shipping label.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic compounds for treating pain, mitigating inflammation, effecting analgesia and/or effecting sedation in a subject are described. A subject is administered an effective amount of a therapeutic compound which is a nitrate ester. Novel pharmaceutical compositions are also described.

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 from 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 package of thermographic or photothermographic materials has a primary packaging enclosure, and optionally a secondary packaging enclosure, containing one or more of the materials (such as individual sheets). A non-photosensitive indicator device is associated with either or both of the packaging enclosures. This non-photosensitive indicator device is adapted to provide a visually observable indication of a predetermined cumulative thermal exposure and a predetermined temperature event (that is, single temperature event) of the package. This indicator device is able to provide information as to the time-temperature history of the package.

Abstract: A boot basket for retrieving debris from a well bore, and a method for retrieving debris from said well bore. The boot basket includes a mandrel having an internal wall and an external wall. The mandrel is connectable to a work string. The boot basket further includes a basket having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the basket is disposed on the mandrel such that an annular space exists between the inner wall of the basket and the external wall of the mandrel. A plurality of fingers is pivotally mounted and movable between a first open position and a second closed position. Each of the plurality of fingers blocks a portion of the annular space existing between the inner wall of the basket and the external wall of the mandrel when in the second closed position.

Abstract: An elastomeric adapted to apply constant pressure between orthodontic appliances is formed from silicone. The elastomeric comprises various shapes and configurations. The elastomeric is preferably formed from TUFEL® II 94706, LIM® 6040, or equivalent materials.