Abstract: A device and a method are provided for determining a characteristic of an interchangeable component of a surgical instrument. An electrically conductive material having a measurable strength measurable by a hall effect sensor is coupled to the component. In another embodiment, a plurality of conductive materials are arranged to form a binary code representing a corresponding of the interchangeable component. The number and/or strength of the magnets measurable by the sensors may be dynamically altered such that the status of the surgical instrument is determinable.

Abstract: A portable computing device (PCD) docking station and method is disclosed. The PCD docking station may include an upper housing portion, a lower housing portion hingedly connected to the upper housing portion, a near field communication (NFC) transceiver connected to a battery and configured to energize the PCD docking station based upon communication with an NFC transceiver in a PCD, and a wireless dock connection configured to provide connectivity between the PCD and the PCD docking station. Further, the portable computing device may include a PCD pocket formed in the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion, or a combination thereof, wherein the PCD pocket is configured receive a PCD.

Abstract: An exchange infrastructure (XI) system provides for the receipt, storage and transmission of limited data to uniform user interfaces to provide an improved exchange of data thereacross. In operation with corresponding processing systems, there is a reduced amount of data received by the XI system as well as a reduced amount of data transmitted from the XI system to a recipient processing system. Furthermore, inclusion of operations for utilizing an associated database for storing data and extracting documents therefrom allows the XI system to operate with the reduction of data being transmitted to and received from the external processing systems. In this technique, the XI system is improved by reducing data transmission requirements, reducing amounts of data processing and conversion overhead and eliminating excess data storage outside of the XI system itself.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a housing, at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing, a channel assembly extending distally from the housing, a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows therein, and a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier. The apparatus also includes a counter mechanism supported in at least one of the housing and the channel assembly. The counter mechanism is configured to transmit a change in status of the apparatus upon each actuation of the at least one handle.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for determining a characteristic of an interchangeable component of a surgical instrument. An electrically conductive material having a measurable strength measurable by a hall effect sensor is coupled to the component. In another embodiment, a plurality of conductive materials are arranged to form a binary code representing a corresponding of the interchangeable component. The number and/or strength of the magnets measurable by the sensors may be dynamically altered such that the status of the surgical instrument is determinable.

Abstract: A portable computing device (PCD) docking station is disclosed and may include an upper housing portion, a lower housing portion hingedly connected to the upper housing portion, and a PCD engagement mechanism formed in the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion, or a combination thereof, wherein the PCD engagement mechanism is configured to removably engage a PCD when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. Further, the portable computing device may include a wired dock connection formed in the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion, or a combination thereof. The wired dock connection may be configured to provide connectivity between the PCD and the PCD docking station.

Abstract: A method of managing applications within a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed. The method may include determining whether the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station when an application is selected and determining whether a first application version is available when the PCD is not docked. Further, the method may include executing a second application version when the first application version is unavailable and executing the first application version when the first application is available.

Abstract: A method of managing telephone calls via a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include receiving a call via the PCD, determining whether the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, and ringing the call through one or more PCD docking station speakers when the PCD is docked. Moreover, the method may include displaying caller identification information at a PCD docking station display. The method may also include determining whether the call is answered through a headset or the PCD docking station, connecting the call through the headset, connecting the call through the PCD docking station, and providing full duplex calling through the one or more PCD docking station speakers and a PCD docking station microphone.

Abstract: A method of managing portable communication device (PCD) and PCD docking station security is disclosed and may include determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station, querying a user for a primary access code, and determining whether the primary access code is correct. The method may also include terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct and providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

Abstract: A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery, and powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery. Further, the method may include determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition and charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition. The method may also include monitoring a PCD docking station battery power, determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition, and transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

Abstract: A portable computing device (PCD) docking station is disclosed and may include an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion. A PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion of the PCD docking pocket may be configured to removably receive a PCD. The PCD docking station may further include a keyboard incorporated into the lower housing portion, a display incorporated into the upper housing portion and a battery. The PCD docking station may be configured to allow access to a PCD via the keyboard when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

Abstract: A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) memory and a PCD docking station memory is disclosed and may include determining whether any changes in the PCD memory have occurred since a previous backup when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station and backing up the PCD memory to the PCD docking station memory when changes in the PCD memory have occurred. Further, the method may include determining a memory requirement for each application stored on the PCD memory and determining whether any application memory requirement equals a transfer condition. Also, the method may include transferring each application associated with the application memory requirement that equals the transfer condition from the PCD memory to the PCD docking station memory and deleting each transferred application from the PCD memory.

Abstract: A method of managing processor cores within a portable computing device (PCD) is disclosed and may include determining whether the PCD is docked with a PCD docking station when the PCD is powered on and energizing a first processor core when the PCD is not docked with the PCD docking station. The method may include determining an application processor requirement when an application is selected, determining whether the application processor requirement equals a two processor core condition, and energizing a second processor core when the application processor requirement equals the two processor core condition.

Abstract: The automated configuration of a software system includes receiving natural language configuration instructions which may be from a user configuration document. A user enters or selects the appropriate configuration data into the document. The natural language instructions are converted to system-level language instructions for the software system. In converting the instructions, the conversion may be directed to a particular software system or may be applicable to any number of systems. For each system, system-level language instructions allow for the specific configuration. The system-level language instructions are then provided to the corresponding software system. The system, in response to the instructions, then configures itself. The system-level language instructions include any configuration values in addition to the configuration data.

Abstract: There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving input, from a user, specifying a file to be uploaded to a file repository against a generic attribute, the generic attribute being associated with a location in the file repository and one or more default specific attributes; adding metadata to the specified file, the added metadata comprising the one or more default specific attributes; and storing the specified file with the added metadata at the location in the file repository associated with the generic attribute.

Abstract: An exchange infrastructure (XI) system provides for the receipt, storage and transmission of limited data to uniform user interfaces to provide an improved exchange of data thereacross. In operation with corresponding processing systems, there is a reduced amount of data received by the XI system as well as a reduced amount of data transmitted from the XI system to a recipient processing system. Furthermore, inclusion of operations for utilizing an associated database for storing data and extracting documents therefrom allows the XI system to operate with the reduction of data being transmitted to and received from the external processing systems. In this technique, the XI system is improved by reducing data transmission requirements, reducing amounts of data processing and conversion overhead and eliminating excess data storage outside of the XI system itself.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage bottle comprising an outer bottle (2) and an inner container (4). The inner container holds a first liquid (such an alcoholic spirit or a flavoured concentrate) and the space between the outer container and the inner container holds a second liquid (such as a still or carbonated mixer). The inner container (4) is twisted along its length to resist the flow of the first liquid to ensure that if the contents are consumed directly from the beverage bottle, every mouthful contains substantially the same ratio of first and second liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a novel nucleic acid molecule. More particularly, the present invention relates to a male germ line cell specific genetic sequence in plants. Male germ line cells include generative cells and sperm cells. Even more particularly, the present invention provides a male germ line specific gene or functional equivalent thereof. This invention is also directed to the promoter of said gene or its functional derivatives and their use in generating a range of mutant plants including male sterile plants and transposon tagged plants. Preferred nucleic acid molecules of the present invention include the LGC1 gene as well as homologs and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Users and security aware applications are able to request operations on and manipulate role based digital certificates (and their corresponding private keys) distributed among multiple key rings through the use of a Key Ring Organizer (KRO). In a typical use of the KRO, the computer network is coupled to a secure server and at least one end-user terminal; a Registration Authority; and an organization server hosting secure applications. The end-user terminal includes a general purpose Web browser with a KRO plug-in module and a KRO managing a set of key rings, where each key ring may contain multiple keys. The KRO components include the KRO, a set of KRO catalogs (typically one), a built-in key ring, and multiple external key rings. A key ring can be of any type, including a smart card, key disk, or remote file. A catalog (typically a file) contains a set of entries in which each entry contains a set of attributes and a reference to a key record stored in a key ring.

Abstract: A solid composition of matter comprising one or more polysaccharides which has a coarse particle size is provided. The composition demonstrates absorbent properties and is useful in absorbent articles of manufacture. Also provided is a method for preparing the compositions.