Abstract: A system and method in accordance with a non-limiting aspect minimizes echo return loss in a communications system. The dial tone is broken on an analog telephone line connected to a hybrid circuit having selectable impedance configurations and that interfaces a digital communications circuit and the analog telephone line. A white noise signal as a test call is inserted through the hybrid circuit onto the analog telephone line corresponding to a selected impedance configuration. The returned white noise signal is used for measuring the echo return loss. The test call is dropped. This process is repeated at different impedance configurations to obtain echo return loss measurements at each of the impedance configurations. The optimum impedance setting configuration is determined based on the results and applied to the hybrid circuit and typically set during a running telephone configuration.

Abstract: A filesystem checker identifies a metadata block in a filesystem and determines a number of pointers pointing to the metadata block and a number of pointers embedded in the metadata block. The filesystem checker records the number of pointers pointing to the metadata block and the number of pointers embedded in the metadata block in a filesystem checker array. The filesystem checker verifies a consistency of the filesystem using data recorded in the filesystem checker array.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with a non-limiting aspect minimizes echo return loss in a communications system. The dial tone is broken on an analog telephone line connected to a hybrid circuit having selectable impedance configurations and that interfaces a digital communications circuit and the analog telephone line. After the telephone line is quiet, a white noise signal as a test call is inserted through the hybrid circuit onto the analog telephone line corresponding to a selected impedance setting configuration. The returned white noise signal is used for measuring the echo return loss corresponding to the selected impedance setting configuration. The test call is dropped. This process is repeated with multiple test calls each at a selectively different impedance setting configuration to obtain echo return loss measurements at each of the impedance setting configurations. The optimum impedance setting configuration is determined based on the results determined from the different test calls.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a system and a method to detect contention for resource in a cluster file system have been presented. For instance, a processing device may measure time spent performing actual operations by each of a set of nodes in a cluster file system when a respective node holds a lock on a resource and time spent performing overhead operations by the set of nodes without synchronization of clocks across the cluster file system. Then the processing device can determine latency and throughput of the cluster file system based on the time spent performing actual operations and the time spent performing overhead operations.

Abstract: A mechanism for inode event notification for cluster file systems is disclosed. A method of the invention includes implementing a lock scheme for a cache manager associated with an inode of a cluster file system, wherein the lock scheme includes a null lock (NL) used as a reference count for a lock value block (LVB) and an exclusive (EX) lock used for setting up inode event notifications, and associating a first global counter and a second global counter with the cache manager for the inode, wherein the first global counter is configured to track one or more processes that have the inode open in read-only mode and the second global counter is configured to track processes that have the inode open in read-write mode.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a system and a method to detect contention for resource in a cluster file system have been presented. For instance, a processing device executable on a node in a cluster file system may put lock requests for a resource from the node into a local lock request queue, where multiple nodes in the cluster file system share the resource. Then the lock requests for the resource from this node and lock requests for the resource from other nodes may be tracked to measure congestion on the resource.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a system and a method to detect contention for resource in a cluster file system have been presented. For instance, a processing device may measure time spent performing actual operations by each of a set of nodes in a cluster file system when a respective node holds a lock on a resource and time spent performing overhead operations by the set of nodes without synchronization of clocks across the cluster file system. Then the processing device can determine latency and throughput of the cluster file system based on the time spent performing actual operations and the time spent performing overhead operations.

Abstract: A method of and system for managing storage resources in a distributed file system is described. A lock for a storage resource is maintained on a lock-holding node. A master node that controls the lock-holding node receives a lock request from a requesting node. The lock request includes a request to obtain a lock for the storage resource, and a request to perform an action by the lock-holding node on the storage resource if the request to obtain the lock is not granted immediately.

Abstract: Apparatus for sizing and bandsaw cutting of meat, wherein the pieces of product to be cut are mounted in a magazine for rotation around a path which intercepts a sensor means and a bandsaw, with the pieces resting on a vertically adjustable horizontal table, the sensor means being disposed in the surface of the table to sense the area of the lower face of the product, thereby to enable automatic adjustment of the level of the table so that the bandsaw cuts a slice of product of required size from the lower end of the pieces.

Abstract: In apparatus for sizing and bandsaw cutting of meat, the product is conveyed in a rotary path over a table (18) equipped with a radial line of inspection devices (22), the output signals of which are processed to detect the area of the product moving over the table, and the signal output from the inspection devices are weighed to compensate for the greater path length travelled by radially outer regions of the product.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading trays with cut product typically meat chops is described, comprising a delivery conveyor (22) onto which are delivered the pieces of cut product (76) in sequence for movement to a delivery station (26), a tray conveyor (32) extending transversely to the delivery conveyor (22) and adapted to deliver in succession each of a plurality of trays (90) to the delivery station to receive cut product, and a product detector (94, 96) at the delivery station to detect the passage of each piece of cut product therethrough. The tray conveyor drive (230) operates in response to the detection of cut pieces by the detector (94, 96) to move the tray conveyor through a small amount sufficient to present the next available region of a tray to the delivery station, to receive the next piece of cut product so as to fill each tray in turn. A transfer conveyor (34) downstream from the delivery station moves the filled trays away from the delivery station.

Abstract: A backdrive overload clutch mechanism which includes a rotatable drive member and a rotatable driven member mounted concentric with respect to the drive member. A pair of cooperating clutch jaws, including chamfered teeth, are provided with one jaw on each of the drive and driven members for rotation therewith and separable by relative movement between the members longitudinally of their axis of rotation. A first spring normally urges the clutch jaws into driving engagement. A tongue-and-groove disengaging device disengages the clutch jaws automatically in response to relative rotation between the clutch jaws. A second spring maintains the clutch jaws out of driving engagement when the clutch jaws are automatically disengaged.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing uniform pieces of meat or other product when cut or sawn from a non-uniform thickness lump. A band saw or the like is adjustable in position to produce different depths of cut piece under the control of signals produced by a control unit. The control employs a keypad for entering numerically the target weight for the cut pieces and an assumed density value for the product. A display unit displays the numerical values entered. A weighing device checks the weight of each cut piece (or batch multiple cut pieces) to produce the actual weight (or average weight) of the cut piece(s) and the control unit compares the actual or average value with the expected value of weight and adjusts the density value if required. The area of the end face of the product is measured by sampling the height of the end face of the product as it passes a sensor.

Abstract: A machine for portioning meat, comprising a rotatable meat containing drum which moves the meat in a circular path intersecting the cutting flight of a bandsaw, the meat sliding around on a table on to a depth stop in the form of a flush conveyor which assists transport of the meat through the cutting station and to a downstream separating station at which a deflector engages the cut slice of meat below the level of the bandsaw to push said cut slice out from under the main joint, so that the said slice is further transported by the conveyor to an outlet while the main joint is retained by the drum and drops down back on to the table.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a horizontally arranged bandsaw and one or more rotary meat holders arranged to feed primal cuts of meat downwards and onto the bandsaw to be cut into portions. A depth stop, which may be adjustable, determines the thickness of the cut portion. In a preferred form, the bandsaw is substantially totally enclosed and two meat holders are provided, one of which may be loaded while meat in the other is being portioned.

Abstract: A jig for bandsaws (typically meat cutting bandsaws) is described. The jig comprises a main frame (10) which is adapted by rollers (18,20) to be received in the guides normally fitted to a bandsaw to receive and guide a sliding table thereon; a sub-frame (26) movable relative to the main frame in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement dictated by the rollers (18,20); a spring (48) for returning the sub-frame to a rest position on the main frame; a magazine (32) mounted on the sub-frame (26), having a thrust member (76) slidable therealong to enable a slab of meat to be pushed forwardly along the magazine into a position in which its leading end overhangs the end of the magazine and is ready to be severed by a bandsaw blade (82). The thrust member (76) is slidable parallel to the direction of movement of the sub-frame (26) relative to the main frame (10).

Abstract: A surface measurement apparatus of the type in which a sensor is traversed along a path in contact with or adjacent the surface of a component under test. The sensor has three or more transducers which, in the described embodiment, physically contact the surface under test and produce individual signals as they are traversed along the same path over the surface of the component under test. The signals produced by the transducers are amplified and combined in such a way that the composite signal so produced is not dependent on any variation in the position of the body of the transducers as the device is traversed along the surface of the component under test thereby allowing the use of sensors which are not mounted on accurately preformed datum-determining mounts such as a flat bed or an accurate spindle.

Abstract: An optical diffractometer is disclosed in which there is provided a television camera system for displaying light patterns derived from the image plane or the transform plane of the diffractometer. The camera system includes a modulating network for providing a pseudo three dimensional display by mixing signals from the X ramp and Y ramp generators together and by mixing the signal from the Y ramp generator with a signal representative of the television camera beam current. The mixed signals are applied to the X and Y plates of a cathode ray tube to provide a display of the signals.

Abstract: A torsional mode, acoustic delay line is disposed over a strip of conduct, non-magnetic material having aligned teeth along its edges. A voltage source is impressed across the ends of the delay line to produce a quiescent concentric magnetic field thereabout. One or more code wires are interlaced through successive pairs of aligned slots between the teeth. The wire is encoded to act as a matched filter sense wire for a binary sequence by selection of the sense of circumferential direction in which the wire passes across the delay line at each pair of slots. The encoding wire is laced across the rear to the tooth-edge strip in order to allow it to be passed through each next successive pair of slots in the desired direction. These lacings on the rear side do not inductively couple with the delay line because of shielding by Eddy current effects produced by presence of a strip of conductor.

Abstract: Two kinds of apparatus for combining N.sub.2 chirp-Z transform (CZT) modu of length N.sub.1 to perform a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of length N.sub.1 N.sub.2. The first method uses an auxiliary parallel-input, parallel-output, DFT device of size N.sub.2 and allows the transform of size N.sub.1 N.sub.2 to be performed in the same time as is required for a single CZT module to perform a size N.sub.1 transform. The second method uses an auxiliary parallel-input, serial-output, DFT device of size N.sub.2. If the second method is implemented entirely in a single technology, such as with charge-coupled devices (CCDs), it performs the size N.sub.1 N.sub.2 transform in N.sub.2 times the amount of time required for a single CZT module to perform a size N.sub.1 transform. If N.sub.2 is a composite number, say N.sub.2 = M.sub.1 M.sub.2, the second method also permits the same hardware to perform M.sub.1 simultaneous transforms of length N.sub.1 M.sub.2.