Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein comprises methods, systems, and computer program products for performing IP link proving using heartbeat messages. The method includes transmitting a plurality of heartbeat messages over an IP communications link. A transmission parameter of the plurality of heartbeat messages is varied and a plurality of heartbeat acknowledgement messages corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of heartbeat messages is received. A measure of processing capabilities of the IP communications link is determined based on the transmission parameters and the heartbeat acknowledgement messages.

Abstract: Soft errors occur during normal use of a solid-state memory such as EEPROM or Flash EEPROM. A soft error results from the programmed threshold voltage of a memory cell being drifted from its originally intended level. The error is initially not readily detected during normal read until the cumulative drift becomes so severe that it develops into a hard error. Data could be lost if enough of these hard errors swamps available error correction codes in the memory. A memory device and techniques therefor are capable of detecting these drifts and substantially maintaining the threshold voltage of each memory cell to its intended level throughout the use of the memory device, thereby resisting the development of soft errors into hard errors.

Abstract: A rock bolt includes a hollow body and a gap along a length of the hollow body. At least one strain gauge is affixed to an inner surface of the rock bolt and is accessible from the gap. The rock bolt may include a data logger within the hollow body and coupled to receive signals from one or more strain gauges, and to record these signals in a memory. The data logger may comprise a data port adapted to be accessible from the outside of a bore hole into which the rock bolt is inserted. The data logger also may include at least one of a visual and auditory alarm. A graphic user interface software program can be used to download data from the data logger and set certain operating parameters of the data logger.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for managing congestion in a multi-layer telecommunications signaling network protocol stack. According to one method, a congestion parameter is set for a first layer in a telecommunications signaling network protocol stack. The congestion parameter is automatically propagated for at least one second layer in the telecommunications signaling protocol stack. The first layer and the at least one second layer are monitored and layer-specific congestion management procedures are triggered using the parameters.

Abstract: A method estimates a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a received direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal. Using the estimated SNR, a control signal is determined that is suitable for modifying a position of a directional antenna. The control signal may be used to modify the position of the directional antenna. In another method, a first estimated SNR is determined for a received radio frequency (RF) signal. An output voltage of an AGC circuit is converted to a second estimated SNR. Using at least the first estimated SNR when the first estimated SNR is within a first range and using at least the second estimated SNR when the second estimated SNR is within a second range, an output SNR is determined. The output SNR may be used to determine the at least one control signal, which may then be used to modify the position of the directional antenna.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically detecting when a memory system has significantly degraded are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a status associated with a memory system which includes a plurality of sectors includes updating a counter, comparing the counter to a threshold value, and generating an appropriate indication when comparing the counter to the threshold value yields a first result. The counter is updated each time a sector is reassigned, and indicates a number of sectors remaining in the memory system. The threshold value indicates a number of sectors which are yet to be reassigned in order for the memory system to be considered as useable, or reliable. The indication is generated when comparing the counter to the threshold value yields a first result to indicate that the memory system is substantially near a failure condition.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory system is formed of floating gate memory cells arranged in blocks as the smallest unit of memory cells that are erasable together. The system includes a number of features that may be implemented individually or in various cooperative combinations. One feature is the storage in separate blocks of the characteristics of a large number of blocks of cells in which user data is stored. These characteristics for user data blocks being accessed may, during operation of the memory system by its controller, be stored in a random access memory for ease of access and updating. According to another feature, multiple sectors of user data are stored at one time by alternately streaming chunks of data from the sectors to multiple memory blocks. Bytes of data in the stream may be shifted to avoid defective locations in the memory such as bad columns. Error correction codes may also be generated from the streaming data with a single generation circuit for the multiple sectors of data.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory system is formed of floating gate memory cells arranged in blocks as the smallest unit of memory cells that are erasable together. The system includes a number of features that may be implemented individually or in various cooperative combinations. One feature is the storage in separate blocks of the characteristics of a large number of blocks of cells in which user data is stored. These characteristics for user data blocks being accessed may, during operation of the memory system by its controller, be stored in a random access memory for ease of access and updating. According to another feature, multiple sectors of user data are stored at one time by alternately streaming chunks of data from the sectors to multiple memory blocks. Bytes of data in the stream may be shifted to avoid defective locations in the memory such as bad columns. Error correction codes may also be generated from the streaming data with a single generation circuit for the multiple sectors of data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing and selectively distributing routing information in a routing node are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for selectively distributing routing information in a routing node includes organizing internal signaling resources are organized so as to facilitate the efficient mapping of signaling system 7 (SS7) message transfer part (MTP) signaling protocol attributes to Internet protocol (IP)-based signaling resources. A routing status information sharing hierarchy is defined, which enables routing status information to be efficiently shared among members of a signaling mateset group. Members of a signaling mateset replicate and distribute SS7 MTP network management information across non-MTP signaling connections, such as IP connections.

Abstract: Soft errors occur during normal use of a solid-state memory such as EEPROM or Flash EEPROM. A soft error results from the programmed threshold voltage of a memory cell being drifted from its originally intended level. The error is initially not readily detected during normal read until the cumulative drift becomes so severe that it develops into a hard error. Data could be lost if enough of these hard errors swamps available error correction codes in the memory. A memory device and techniques therefor are capable of detecting these drifts and substantially maintaining the threshold voltage of each memory cell to its intended level throughout the use of the memory device, thereby resisting the development of soft errors into hard errors.

Abstract: Soft errors occur during normal use of a solid-state memory such as EEPROM or Flash EEPROM. A soft error results from the programmed threshold voltage of a memory cell being drifted from its originally intended level. The error is initially not readily detected during normal read until the cumulative drift becomes so severe that it develops into a hard error. Data could be lost if enough of these hard errors swamps available error correction codes in the memory. A memory device and techniques therefor are capable of detecting these drifts and substantially maintaining the threshold voltage of each memory cell to its intended level throughout the use of the memory device, thereby resisting the development of soft errors into hard errors.

Abstract: Soft errors occur during normal use of a solid-state memory such as EEPROM or Flash EEPROM. A soft error results from the programmed threshold voltage of a memory cell being drifted from its originally intended level. The error is initially not readily detected during normal read until the cumulative drift becomes so severe that it develops into a hard error. Data could be lost if enough of these hard errors swamps available error correction codes in the memory. A memory device and techniques therefor are capable of detecting these drifts and substantially maintaining the threshold voltage of each memory cell to its intended level throughout the use of the memory device, thereby resisting the development of soft errors into hard errors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically detecting when a memory system has significantly degraded are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a status associated with a memory system which includes a plurality of sectors includes updating a counter, comparing the counter to a threshold value, and generating an appropriate indication when comparing the counter to the threshold value yields a first result. The counter is updated each time a sector is reassigned, and indicates a number of sectors remaining in the memory system. The threshold value indicates a number of sectors which are yet to be reassigned in order for the memory system to be considered as useable, or reliable. The indication is generated when comparing the counter to the threshold value yields a first result to indicate that the memory system is substantially near a failure condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying a set of specific DNA molecules to be used in DNA-DNA hybridisations, as well as to DNA probes containing less than 2% Cot-1 DNA.

Abstract: A surface mount balun includes a first stripline segment having a first and second end, a first balanced port connected to the first end, and a second balanced port connected to the second end, a second stripline segment overlapping and coupled to the first stripline segment, and having a third end adjacent to the first end of the first stripline segment and a fourth end disposed approximately adjacent to the center of the first stripline segment, a third stripline segment overlapping and coupled to the first stripline segment, and having a fifth end adjacent to the second end of the first stripline segment and a sixth end disposed approximately adjacent to the center of the first stripline segment, and a third, unbalanced port connected to the sixth end of the third stripline segment.

Abstract: A balun includes first and second symmetrical couplers, preferably first and second backward wave couplers connected to form a balun having an unbalanced port and a balanced port. More specifically, a balun in accordance wit this invention includes first and second backward wave symmetrical couplers each having an input port, a direct port, coupled port, and an isolate port in which the input port of a first coupler is connected to an input port of the second coupler, and the isolated port of the first coupler and the direct port of the second coupler are connected to the balanced ports of the balun respectively.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which update firmware in a network computer by replacing the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer with a firmware update operating system. The firmware update operating system is then downloaded to the network computer and initiated to update the firmware of the network computer. The firmware update operating system may then be replaced with the standard operating system to be loaded at the initialization of the network computer. The network computer may then be reinitialized by, for example, a cold boot, so as to load the standard operating system. The cold boot may be server initiated so as to allow for firmware updates with intervention by an operator at the network computer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which control a network computer having an access port for receiving an access card, such as a short card which includes a processor and storage for providing secure user information. The network computer is controlled by detecting the presence in the network computer of the access card and accessing the access card to obtain user specific information. The power management of the network computer may then be controlled based upon the user specific information on the detailed access card. Also provided are methods, systems and computer program products for providing user information to a network computer by storing user specific information on an access card which includes a processor and storage such that information stored on the access card may only be accessed through the processor of the access card so as to provide secure data on the access card.