Abstract: Transfer component monitoring methods, image forming devices, data signals, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a transfer component monitoring method includes counting a plurality of imaging operations performed by an image forming device to form a plurality of hard images and adjusting a result of the counting to determine wear of a transfer component of the image forming device, wherein the transfer component is configured to assist with a transfer of a developing material to form the hard images.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling routers to coordinate via a back-channel communication medium. The information exchanged over the back-channel is used to increase the number of paths considered for the routers during route optimization. The Decision Makers may assert routes and prefixes to the routers under their control. This may be done via a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) feed. The Decision Makers, in turn, communicate separately with one another, in order to coordinate routing policy amongst themselves. This coordination may be performed over a back-channel, which may take the form of physical or logical connections between the Decision Makers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for supporting routing intelligence for evaluating routing paths based on performance measurements. The routing intelligence may include processes executed in a self-contained device. This device may control one or more edge routers, based on performance data from end users. In other embodiments, the routing intelligence device may be used solely to monitor one or more edge routers, producing reports but not effecting any changes to routing. Routing decisions may be injected to the edge routers via BGP updates. The devices may be stationed at the premises of a multihomed organization, such as an enterprise, ISP, government organization, university, or other organization supporting a sub-network coupled to an internetwork. In other embodiments, the routing intelligence comprises processes executed on a router.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for obtaining delay, jitter, and loss statistics of a path between server and an end user coupled via an internetwork are described. The server may comprise a web server in communication with the end user via the Internet. Statistics are obtained by analyzing the details of a TCP connection underlying an HTML transaction. Robust measurements of jitter, delay, and loss are ensured by maximizing traffic between the web server and the surfer in order to generate a robust sample of TCP connections. Content may be updated with one or more html link(s). This existing content may reside on a highly trafficked portal, such as a web portal, and may be encoded in a markup language, such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). The Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) corresponding to the one or more links resolve to the server from which the statistics are to be measured. The actual content supplied by the server may be minimized, in order to preserve bandwidth.

Abstract: A system for the assessment of network performance criteria, and applying this criteria to the classification of network addresses into appropriate ranges, using these ranges to consolidate performance measurements for the associated addresses, and applying these metrics toward the optimization of the network towards performance or policy objectives.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling routers to coordinate via a back-channel communication medium. The information exchanged over the back-channel is used to increase the number of paths considered for the routers during route optimization. The Decision Makers may assert routes and prefixes to the routers under their control. This may be done via a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) feed. The Decision Makers, in turn, communicate separately with one another, in order to coordinate routing policy amongst themselves. This coordination may be performed over a back-channel, which may take the form of physical or logical connections between the Decision Makers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for booting a computer. The method comprises the steps of emulating a floppy disk drive communicatively coupled to a computer in a token via a USB-compatible interface, and booting the computer using the token. The apparatus comprises means for performing these functions, including a token with a processor having one or more memories storing processor instructions and data for performing the method steps. The memory may also securely store sensitive data.

Abstract: A system for the assessment of network performance criteria, and applying this criteria to the classification of network addresses into appropriate ranges, using these ranges to consolidate performance measurements for the associated addresses, and applying these metrics toward the optimization of the network towards performance or policy objectives.

Abstract: A vacuum cup is made from rubber to resist damage and providing a vacuum seal without a separate gasket or O-ring. The vacuum cup may be one of several configurations suitable for different CNC machines and includes a rubber body comprising a bottom surface for mounting, a top surface including a vacuum area for holding a work piece, and a raised edge around the perimeter of the top surface for sealing against the work piece. The bottom surface may have any one of a variety of machine interfaces to cooperate with various machines. A vacuum passage connects the bottom surface with the vacuum area and a check valve may reside in the vacuum passage. The rubber body is sufficiently strong to resist flexing due to vacuum or work piece weight and the vacuum area includes work piece supports for contacting a work piece held on the vacuum cup.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to malate salts of (3S,5S)-7-[3-amino-5-methyl-piperidinyl]-1-cyclopropyl-1,4-dihydro-8-methoxy-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, and its polymorphs. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the described salts and polymorphs.

Abstract: A process for making an amino acid by the steps of: (a) contacting a compound of formula I with a hydroformylation catalyst and synthesis gas to produce a mixture of aldehyde compounds comprising the formulas IIa, IIb and IIc; (b) reacting the mixture of aldehyde compounds from step (a) to produce a mixture of derivative compounds; (c) contacting the mixture of derivative compounds from step (b) with an enantioselective hydrolase enzyme in the presence of water to produce an L-amino acid having the formula IV; (d) isolating the amino acid having the formula IV in substantially pure form, wherein in formulas I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc and IV, R is H, alkyl or aryl and R1 and R2 are the same or different alkyl groups and wherein R1 and R2 may be fused

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for communicating data within measurement traffic are described. Embodiments that send, receive and both send and receive are described. Some embodiments are described that compute statistics based at least partly on measurement traffic. Some embodiments are described that communicate computed statistics within measurement traffic. Some embodiments are described that rank and select paths based at least in part on computed statistics.

Abstract: A system for the assessment of network performance criteria, and applying this criteria to the classification of network addresses into appropriate ranges, using these ranges to consolidate performance measurements for the associated addresses, and applying these metrics toward the optimization of the network towards performance or policy objectives.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula provide pharmacological agents which are potent agonists of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Accordingly, the compounds of the instant invention are useful for the treatment of conditions mediated by the PPAR receptor activity in mammals. Such conditions include dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, hypertriglyceridemia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, vascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, skin disorders, respiratory diseases, ophthalmic disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in mammals as hypoglycemic agents for the treatment and prevention of conditions in which impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are implicated, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, and Syndrome X.

Abstract: A front-oriented, front-access printer (FOFAP) is disclosed, the FOFAP configured with a front-mounted fuser, the FOFAP comprising a print mechanism, a main paper path passing through both the print mechanism and the fuser, a media flipper for directing the paper into a duplex path, a stapler/stacker mounted in proximity to the front-mounted fuser, and a redirector within the front-mounted fuser for redirecting the paper from the duplex path to the stapler/stacker in response to selection of a staple/stacking feature.

Abstract: A drainage product has at least one conveyance component having at least one outlet, and at least one aggregate bundle comprising a quantity of light weight aggregate material encapsulated in a geotechnical material positioned in relation to the drainfield conveyance component in at least one orientation selected from: attached to, placed adjacent to or beneath or on top of or inside or commingled in some iteration of the conveyance component, or adjacent the outlet of the conveyance component, or between two conveyance components, to provide an improved drainfield for a sewage disposal and dewatering systems.

Abstract: An efficient collator. The collator includes a first mechanism for selectively separating physical output from a device. A second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism and facilitates angling and/or rotating the first mechanism based on the physical output. In a specific embodiment, the second mechanism includes a controller that generates control signals to control the second mechanism to facilitate automatic positioning of the first mechanism about a curved track.

Abstract: Network architectures and protocols to support enhancements to the decision making process of standard routing protocols are described. Embodiments allow decisions to be exchanged between networks, or autonomous systems, about which internetwork paths have been chosen for outbound traffic. Some embodiments of the invention allow information about the measured performance of internetwork paths to be exchanged between autonomous systems. Embodiments allow additional policy information to be communicated between networks, including but not limited to information about why local policy decisions have been made; requests of policies from remote networks; performance information about particular paths; and informational status. Such information may be exchanged dynamically between networks.