Abstract: A device for transporting ski equipment such as a single set of skis and poles. The device includes a receiving member that receives the ski tails. The receiving member includes at least one wheel. The receiving member also preferably includes a pair of holes to receive the respective tips of a pair of ski poles. An elastic cord threads around the receiving member and across the bindings of the skis, holding the skis and poles together. A handle attached to the elastic cord provides a grip to pull the carrier and equipment. When not in use the elastic cord can be tucked into the receiving member. The carrier can be small enough to fit into an equipment bag or a locker. The carrier is designed to roll on hard surfaces and also has a curved underside to help it glide across snow. Skis and poles can stay strapped into the carrier and fit into car-top ski racks that are designed to hold skis that are arranged bottom-to-bottom.

Abstract: To address security that can arise in information systems, the present invention uses novel methods and/or systems to enhance security in information systems, using a new way to deploy selected security policies. Instead of trying to modify a whole binary file all at once to add in code to implement additional security policies, the current invention modifies the code in memory in a piecemeal, as-needed fashion.

Abstract: To address security that can arise in information systems, the present invention uses novel methods and/or systems to enhance security in information systems, using a new way to deploy selected security policies. Instead of trying to modify a whole binary file all at once to add in code to implement additional security policies, the current invention modifies the code in memory in a piecemeal, as-needed fashion.

Abstract: A method of social networking is disclosed in which users may indicate areas of interest to them and/or search for other users with the same or similar interests. Users may specify one or more areas of interest to them and enter those interests in a database, by means of a list of “tags” or keywords, called a taglist. The values of the tags may be weighted. A user wishing to find other users with similar interests may input a search taglist which is compared with the other taglists stored in the database, and a list of the users with the closest matching taglists is returned. The method may also be used to characterize documents, projects, media files or other data objects, so that such items may be searched in similar fashion.

Abstract: Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatviely, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing.

Abstract: Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatively, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing.

Abstract: In a digital video system, high availability distribution is provided using spare modules such as an integrated receiver decoder, multimedia transcoder and streaming module in support of the primary modules. The primary modules multicast status messages which are monitored by the spare modules. When failure of a primary module is detected, the spare module takes over the role of the failed module, for example by joining the same multicast groups as the failed module and taking over processing of the streams of the failed module. Multiple redundancy schemes are described.

Abstract: Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatively, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing.

Abstract: Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatviely, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distributing messages of a ring-topology-based link level communications protocol over a star-topology using a star-topology-based link level communications protocol are disclosed. According to one method, when a packet of the ring-topology-based link level communications protocol is received, it is determined whether the packet is to be sent to a number of destinations and returned to a sender. If the packet is intended for distribution to a number of destinations and return to the sender, the packet is encapsulated in a frame of the star-topology-based link level communications protocol, the destination address in the frame is set to a next destination address in a virtual ring topology, the frame is forwarded to a switch. The switch forwards the packet to the next destination in the virtual ring based on the input port and the destination address of the star-topology-based link level communications protocol.

Abstract: Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A cover that is hinged to the card to normally cover one set of contacts can be rotated out of the way by hand when that set of contacts is being used.

Abstract: Methods for a multiple die package for integrated circuits are disclosed. An insulator layer is provided and one or more vias are formed within it. The insulator may be provided without vias, and vias formed later. At least one integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to at least one lead of a first leadframe overlying one surface of the insulator. At least one second integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to a second leadframe overlying a second surface of the insulator. Electrical connections between the two leadframes and the first and second integrated circuits are made through the insulator at selected locations, by coupling at least one lead of the first and second leadframes one to another. The leads of the first and second leadframe may be physically coupled by a welding process within vias in the insulator. A method for a removable storage card is also described.

Abstract: Use of an plant materials, plant extracts or nature-identical components selected from Lonicera japonica, Gentiana asclepidea, Gentiana lutea, Eugenia caryophyllata, Bellis perennis, Olea europaea, Symphytum officinale, Carduus pycnocephalus, Paeoniae alba radix, Populus tremula, Prunus avium, Salix caprea, Rheum nobile, Helianthemum canum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Peltiphyllum peltatum, Epilobium montanum, Knautia arvensis, Latuca sativa and Urtica dioica and extracts thereof, and &bgr;-myrcene to affect the rumen fermentation and to increase the availability of energy and nitrogen source for a ruminant.

Abstract: A method for delivering an isolated polynucleotide to the interior of a cell in a vertebrate, comprising the interstitial introduction of an isolated polynucleotide into a tissue of the vertebrate where the polynucleotide is taken up by the cells of the tissue and exerts a therapeutic effect on the vertebrate. The method can be used to deliver a therapeutic polypeptide to the cells of the vertebrate, to provide an immune response upon in vivo translation of the polynucleotide, to deliver antisense polynucleotides, to deliver receptors to the cells of the vertebrate, or to provide transitory gene therapy.

Abstract: A card manufacturing technique and the resulting card are provided. The card has a ground and/or power layer extending to the edges of a circuit board for electrostatic discharge protection but also has gaps at the edge of the ground and/or power layer to avoid short circuiting with conductive segments of another layer deformed when the card is trimmed during manufacture.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preserving dynamic random access memory content in response to a hung processor condition are disclosed. In order to preserve dynamic random access memory content, a first watchdog timer is initiated and strobed at a predetermined time interval less than its timeout value. If a hung processor condition occurs and the strobing of the first watchdog timer fails, the first watchdog timer generates a non-maskable interrupt to the processor. The non-maskable interrupt triggers the processor to execute an interrupt service routine. If the processor is able to execute the interrupt service routine, the interrupt service routine controls the processor to perform a selective system reset and preserve dynamic random access memory contents. If the processor is not capable of executing the interrupt service routine, a board reset occurs and dynamic random access memory contents are cleared.

Abstract: A multiple die package for integrated circuits is disclosed. An insulator layer is provided and one or more vias are formed within it. The insulator may be provided without vias, and vias formed later. At least one integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to at least one lead of a first leadframe overlying one surface of the insulator layer. At least one second integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to a second leadframe overlying a second surface of the insulator layer. Electrical connections between the two leadframes and the first and second integrated circuits are made through the insulator, at selected locations, by coupling at least one lead of the first and second leadframes one to another. The leads of the first and second leadframe may be physically coupled by a welding process within vias in the insulator. A removable storage card package is also described.

Abstract: Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A cover that is hinged to the card to normally cover one set of contacts can be rotated out of the way by hand when that set of contacts is being used.

Abstract: Methods for a multiple die package for integrated circuits are disclosed. An insulator layer is provided and one or more vias are formed within it. The insulator may be provided without vias, and vias formed later. At least one integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to at least one lead of a first leadframe overlying one surface of the insulator. At least one second integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to a second leadframe overlying a second surface of the insulator. Electrical connections between the two leadframes and the first and second integrated circuits are made through the insulator at selected locations, by coupling at least one lead of the first and second leadframes one to another. The leads of the first and second leadframe may be physically coupled by a welding process within vias in the insulator. A method for a removable storage card is also described.

Abstract: A scalable fault tolerant cable headend switching system using modular switching or multiplexing devices. A radio frequency switch connects a series of adjacent cable headend element to a series of output cables. At least one spare cable headend element is connected along with the series. Each cable headend element is configured to be readily swapped with adjacent elements. Output cables are cascaded away from a faulty element toward a spare element when a fault is detected.