Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing erase counts in a non-volatile memory of a non-volatile memory system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a data structure in a non-volatile memory includes a first indicator that provides an indication of a number of times a first block of a plurality of blocks in a non-volatile memory has been erased. The data structure also includes a header that is arranged to contain information relating to the blocks in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A method and system for booting a microprocessor controlled device. A microprocessor that is designed to read from a linear storage device executes code from a non linear storage device through an interface or emulator that writes and retrieves specially formatted boot instructions to/from the non linear storage device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling protected contents such as device keys to be stored on a reader are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for accessing a memory storage device that includes a memory and is coupled to a host system through an adapter, the memory storage device including a memory includes obtaining a key from the adapter. The key is suitable for encrypting information that is arranged to be stored in the memory, and is also suitable for decrypting the encrypted information. The method also includes processing the information using the key. In one embodiment, the information is stored in the memory, and the obtaining the information that is stored in the memory by processing the information such that the information may be decrypted using the key.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently enabling firmware associated with a flash memory card to be updated are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for updating firmware associated with a memory storage device includes providing new firmware to a host and sending the new firmware from the host to a reader which communicates with the host. The reader interfaces with the memory storage device which includes installed firmware. The method also includes sending the new firmware from the reader to the memory storage device, and incorporating the new firmware into the memory storage device such that the new firmware at least partially replaces the installed firmware. In one embodiment, the method further includes embedding the new firmware into a first command. In such an embodiment, sending the new firmware from the host to the reader includes sending the first command from the host to the reader.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccines comprising recombinant gelatin, to methods of producing and using such vaccines, and to vaccination kits.

Abstract: A secure software package for original equipment manufacturers to run in electronic devices in order to access and dynamically decrypt encrypted audio video or other content from a memory storage device such as a memory card, optical or hard disk such that the user interface of the device need only send simple commands and the decrypted content is output.

Abstract: A secure software system for a portable device or computer that provides a simple interface to the device or computer and that retrieves and dynamically decrypts keys and content from a secure media while minimizing exposure of the keys and eliminating the need for manufacturers of the device or computer to create a their own system to manage these complex processes.

Abstract: A method of determining the severity of oxides rolled onto the surfaces of metal strips subjected to rolling operations. The method includes identifying different types of rolled-on oxides, and comprises providing image pixels of at least a portion of a strip surface that contains oxides. The image pixels are filtered to identify oxides extending in a fixed direction and are thresholded to segment oxides from other surface features extending in the fixed direction. All pixel ares and/or intensities that are above a threshold value employed in the thresholding step are summed to obtain the total amount of oxides on the strip surface.

Abstract: A method of inspecting the surface of an object for the detection and analysis of surface variations that exceed established acceptable surface conditions. The surface has a directionally specific pattern that tends to obscure surface variations in a spatial domain of the surface. The method includes detecting the presence of one or more surface variations with sensors located to view the surface and to provide an electronic image of an area of the surface containing said variations and directionally specific pattern. The electronic image is transmitted from the sensors to a storage device for subsequent display and analysis. The spatial domain of the image is transformed into a two dimensional frequency domain to obtain a spectral response of the image. Frequency components of the two dimensional spectral response are then evaluated to identify the direction of the directionally specific pattern.

Abstract: A grinding adaptive control system and method is described which automatically determines the feed rate to maintain constant wheel sharpness without wheel breakdown. Wheel sharpness at a given feed rate is sensed by the steady state horsepower or normal force, the adaptive control progressively adjusts feed rate in response to changes in wheel sharpness until a steady state feed rate range is reached. Wheel sharpness will then remain essentially constant.

Abstract: A glass size composition comprising a trimellitic anhydride anhydride-containing unsaturated polyester imparts to glass fibers superior reinforcing characteristics when used to reinforce sheet molding compounds.

Abstract: A glass size composition comprising a polyester, the polyester comprising the reaction product of (1) a mixture of acids consisting essentially of isophthalic acid and azelaic acid and, (2) a mixture consisting essentially of trimethylpentanediol and bisphenol A is disclosed.