Abstract: A line break detection system for detecting a break in a conductor (1.004), the system including a first return signal generator (1.020) proximate a first end of a segment of the conductor, the first return signal generator being adapted to apply a first return signal to the conductor, the system including a first return signal detector (1.016) proximate a second end of the segment of the line, the second end being upstream of the first end, the first detector being adapted to receive the first return signal from the line, wherein the first return signal generator ceases to generate the first return signal if the line is broken.

Abstract: A line break detection system for detecting a break in a conductor (1.004), the system including a first return signal generator (1.020) proximate a first end of a segment of the conductor, the first return signal generator being adapted to apply a first return signal to the conductor, the system including a first return signal detector (1.016) proximate a second end of the segment of the line, the second end being upstream of the first end, the first detector being adapted to receive the first return signal from the line, wherein the first return signal generator ceases to generate the first return signal if the line is broken.

Abstract: A cable adapted for suspension between poles in a single wire earth return application is composed of three elements; a core 2.030; a conductive layer 2.032 around the core, and a jacket 2.034 over the conductive layer. The core has high tensile strength to weight ratio and can be made of a composite material such as carbon fibre and epoxy. The conductive material can be aluminium. The jacket can be made from a material having electrical insulating properties. The conductive layer can be formed as a loose tube (7.072) around the core and drawn down to contact the outer surface of the core.

Abstract: A database system stores data relating to media objects and includes a meta table, a supplementary meta table, a content table, a supplementary content table, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record. An object type link table links together records in the meta table, and a content data link table links together records in the content data table. An information retrieval system analyzes the tables and provides, for a selected instance of an object, information about that object's attributes and relationships with other objects in a hierarchical form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramifying composition for forming a fire resistant ceramic under fire conditions the composition comprising: (i) at least 10% by weight of mineral silicate; (ii) from 8% to 40% by weight of at least one inorganic phosphate that forms a liquid phase at a temperature of no more than 800° C.; and (iii) at least 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a polymer base composition comprising at least 50% by weight of an organic polymer.

Abstract: A water detector wire 1.002 for use in a power cable or building, the cable having a wire 1.004 with a water soluble insulating jacket 1.006 made of two or more components, wherein a first component has a first solubility in water, and the second component has a second solubility in water, the second solubility being less than the first solubility. The second component can be substantially insoluble. On exposure to water, the soluble insulation 1.006 dissolves at the location of the water exposing the wire 1.004. This can be detected when the wire is close to a return path such as a return wire 4.038 or a cable screen 13.232. The location of a fault can then be detected by measuring the linear resistance of the wire. Two such wires 3.006, 3.007 can be used together.

Abstract: A fire resistant composition comprising: a silicone polymer; mica in an amount of from 5% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and a limited amount of glass additive sufficient to enable the formation of a self supporting ceramic material at temperatures above the decomposition temperature of the silicone polymer and below the fire rating temperature of the composition. The glass additive addition required to produce the self supporting ceramic material has been found to be preferably from 0.3% to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is applicable to products formed for fire wall linings, fire partitions, screens, ceilings or linings, structural fire protection, fire door inserts, window or door seals, intumescent seals, in electrical switchboard cabinets or cables. In one cable application, the composition may be used as the extruded intermediate material (2) between the conductor (3) and extruded sheath (4).

Abstract: A system is provided to support dynamically changeable virtual mapping schemes in a data processing system. The present invention separates processing of data unit requirements from the selection of which storage subsystems to use for storage by using a storage methodologies inventory. A stored data management subsystem contains one or more hosts. A plurality of data storage elements is functionally coupled to the one or more hosts. The plurality of data storage elements is organized using a plurality of layers of mapping tables. The plurality of layers of mapping tables provides unique identification of location of the data such that individual data entries in a mapping table is variable and self-defining with respect to the amount of data managed.

Abstract: A cable (1) comprises a conductor (3), an insulating layer (2) which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to elevated temperatures experienced in a fire, and an additional heat transformable layer (4). The additional layer (4) can be another layer which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to fire, or it can act as a sacrificial layer which decomposes at or below the temperature that the insulating layer forms a ceramic. The addition layer can enhance the strength of the layers before, during or after the fire, the structural integrity of the insulting layer (2) after the fire, the resistance of the layers to the ingress of water after the fire, or the electrical or thermal resistance of the layers during and after the fire.

Abstract: A system is provided to support dynamically changeable virtual mapping schemes in a data processing system. The present invention separates processing of data unit requirements from the selection of which storage subsystems to use for storage by using a storage methodologies inventory. A stored data management subsystem contains one or more hosts. A plurality of data storage elements is functionally coupled to the one or more hosts. The plurality of data storage elements is organized using a plurality of layers of mapping tables. The plurality of layers of mapping tables provides unique identification of location of the data such that individual data entries in a mapping table is variable and self-defining with respect to the amount of data managed.

Abstract: A cable (1) having a conductor (3), an insulating layer (2) which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to elevated temperatures experienced in a fire, and an additional heat transformable layer (4). The additional layer (4) can be another layer which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to fire, or it can act as a sacrificial layer which decomposes at or below the temperature that the insulating layer forms a ceramic. The addition layer can enhance the strength of the layers before, during or after the fire, the structural integrity of the insulating layer (2) after the fire, the resistance of the layers to the ingress of water after the fire, or the electrical or thermal resistance of the layers during and after the fire.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for storing self-defining data and mapping elements with either a fixed set of allowed structures or types or with the structures and types determined by rules. Recovery is enhanced by the use of backward and forward pointers between data and mapping elements for the data elements in the order written by the management algorithm. Recovery is also enhanced by the use of companion pointers with metadata. The companion pointers may include pointers to data or mapping elements that are part of the same structural grouping. The metadata may describe the structural grouping. The metadata may also include pointers to the previous and/or next versions of the same elements. Recovery of the data and/or mapping structures is achieved by the reverse application of the management algorithm.

Abstract: A database system stores data relating to media objects and includes a meta table, a supplementary meta table, a content table, a supplementary content table, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record. An object type link table links together records in the meta table, and a content data link table links together records in the content data table. An information retrieval system analyzes the tables and provides, for a selected instance of an object, information about that object's attributes and relationships with other objects in a hierarchical form.

Abstract: A fire resistant composition comprising: a silicone polymer; mica in an amount of from 5% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and a limited amount of glass additive sufficient to enable the formation of a self supporting ceramic material at temperatures above the decomposition temperature of the silicone polymer and below the fire rating temperature of the composition. The glass additive addition required to produce the self supporting ceramic material has been found to be preferably from 0.3% to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is applicable to products formed for fire wall linings, fire partitions, screens, ceilings or linings, structural fire protection, fire door inserts, window or door seals, intumescent seals, in electrical switchboard cabinets or cables. In one cable application, the composition may be used as the extruded intermediate material (2) between the conductor (3) and extruded sheath (4).

Abstract: In a redundant storage subsystem including an array controller and a group composed of a plurality of storage devices, a method is provided. The method includes logically parsing each storage device of the group into a corresponding number of allocation units. A stripe size is selected, and a series of writing operations is performed. Each writing operation includes selecting a subset of the plurality of storage devices based on the stripe size, and writing the stripe of data to the subset of the plurality of storage devices. The selected subset over the series of writing operations varies from operation to operation.

Abstract: A system is provided to support dynamically changeable virtual mapping schemes in a data processing system. The present invention separates processing of data unit requirements from the selection of which storage subsystems to use for storage by using a storage methodologies inventory. A stored data management subsystem contains one or more hosts. A plurality of data storage elements is functionally coupled to the one or more hosts. The plurality of data storage elements is organized using a plurality of layers of mapping tables. The plurality of layers of mapping tables provides unique identification of location of the data such that individual data entries in a mapping table is variable and self-defining with respect to the amount of data managed.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for storing self-defining data and mapping elements with either a fixed set of allowed structures or types or with the structures and types determined by rules. Recovery is enhanced by the use of backward and forward pointers between data and mapping elements for the data elements in the order written by the management algorithm. Recovery is also enhanced by the use of companion pointers with metadata. The companion pointers may include pointers to data or mapping elements that are part of the same structural grouping. The metadata may describe the structural grouping. The metadata may also include pointers to the previous and/or next versions of the same elements. Recovery of the data and/or mapping structures is achieved by the reverse application of the management algorithm.

Abstract: A database system stores data relating to media objects for use in media presentations. The database system includes a primary metadata table containing metadata records and a supplementary metadata table containing supplementary metadata records, each supplementary metadata record being linked to a metadata record and specifying an additional attribute for an object type specified in the linked metadata record. The database further includes a primary content data table containing content data records and a supplementary content data table containing supplementary content data records, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record.

Abstract: In a redundant storage subsystem including an array controller and a group composed of a plurality of storage devices, a method is provided. The method includes logically parsing each storage device of the group into a corresponding number of allocation units. A stripe size is selected, and a series of writing operations is performed. Each writing operation includes selecting a subset of the plurality of storage devices based on the stripe size, and writing the stripe of data to the subset of the plurality of storage devices. The selected subset over the series of writing operations varies from operation to operation.

Abstract: A system is provided to support dynamically changeable virtual mapping schemes in a data processing system. The present invention separates processing of data unit requirements from the selection of which storage subsystems to use for storage by using a storage methodologies inventory. A stored data management subsystem contains one or more hosts. A plurality of data storage elements is functionally coupled to the one or more hosts. The plurality of data storage elements is organized using a plurality of layers of mapping tables. The plurality of layers of mapping tables provides unique identification of location of the data such that individual data entries in a mapping table is variable and self-defining with respect to the amount of data managed.