Abstract: Multiple parent-dependencies are identified for messages that are received on a network that includes nodes that are configured to avoid the conventional strictly-sequential communications techniques and protocols, in order to accelerate network performance. If a network is known, or assumed, to include intermediate/proxy nodes that are configured to provide acceleration, access control, and other services, the system that analyzes traffic on the network is configured to assume that these nodes may/will provide such features, and thereby introduce multiple dependencies among the messages communicated across the network. For each message transmitted from a forwarding node, messages received at the forwarding node are assessed to distinguish messages from the destination node and messages from an other node, and a dependency is defined for each.

Abstract: A multi-functional graphical user interface facilitates the analysis and assessment of application delays, including delays that occur on multiple paths. A trace file of an application's network events is processed to categorize the causes of delays incurred in the propagation and processing of these events. The system identifies the amount of delay (‘component delay’) that can be eliminated by eliminating each of the components of delay individually, as well as the amount of delay (‘parallel delay’) that can be eliminated by eliminating combinations of the delay components. A user interface displays the amount of reduction that can be achieved by eliminating each component delay individually and the amount of reduction that can be achieved by eliminating combinations of the individual component delays.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for the automatic startup and shutdown of a steam turbine driven chiller unit. The chiller unit includes an integrated central control panel to control operation of both the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system. The central control panel has a startup control system to automatically start the steam turbine driven chiller unit while performing necessary protective actions and a shutdown control system to automatically stop the steam turbine driven chiller unit while performing necessary protective actions.

Abstract: A control system and method for interactive startup and shutdown of a steam turbine driven chiller unit is provided. The chiller unit includes an integrated central control panel to control operation of both the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system. The central control panel has startup control system to assist an operator manually start the steam turbine system and the refrigerant system and a shutdown control system to assist an operator manually shutdown the steam system and the refrigerant system. Both the startup control system and the shutdown control system include logic for performing necessary protective actions and for notifying an operator when to perform required actions.

Abstract: The INERTIAL SENSOR TRACKING SYSTEM is an overall system installation consisting of wireless body pack transmitters, broadband telemetry transceivers, computer and monitoring equipment, and emergency power generation for tracking personnel in an underground mine environment. The system is designed to function with normal primary power and on battery operation in the event of an emergency. In the past inertial sensors have been large spinning mass gyroscopes and large mass-based accelerometers. These inertial sensors have required high voltage three phase electrical supplies. The “wearable” body pack must be battery operated and the sensors must be small and lightweight. Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEM) sensors fulfill both the requirements of low weight and low power consumption. The accuracy of the MEM sensor has been developed sufficiently to incorporate, with de-noising algorithms, an accurate position-sensing device.

Abstract: A control system for a steam turbine driven chiller unit is provided. The control system automatically utilizes the full range of the governor, compressor pre-rotation vanes, and hot gas bypass valve capabilities to control the capacity of the chiller and provide anti-surge and override control functions to prevent undesirable operational ranges while maintaining maximum efficiency of operation.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable mediums and systems provide media player users with a full contextual metadata experience. Metadata include multiple forms of property data, or information, relating to media accessed by a media player, such as a CD in a CD-ROM drive of a computer. Metadata is transferred from a server to a client. Identification parameters associated with the accessed media file are submitted by the client to a server, and property data is retrieved and forwarded to the client. The metadata provides the user with integrated, contemporaneous property data directly related to the media file being played, providing automatic, integrated access to data from multiple databases, simply by accessing a related media file through a media player, without further direction from the user.

Abstract: An electronic or optoelectronic device fabricated from a crystalline material in which a parameter of a bandgap characteristic of said crystalline material has been modified locally by introducing distortions on an atomic scale in the lattice structure of said crystalline material and the electronic and/or optoelectronic parameters of said device are dependent on the modification of said bandgap is exemplified by a radiation emissive optoelectronic semiconductor device which comprises a junction (10) formed from a p-type layer (11) and an n-type layer (12), both formed from indirect bandgap semiconductor material. The p-type layer (11) contains an array of dislocation loops which create a strain field to confine spatially and promote radiative recombination of the charge carriers.

Abstract: A vehicle immobilisation device (60) is provided for securing to a vehicle windscreen, comprising screening means (46a; 46b) which is changeable from a first, more compact configuration to a second configuration and which, when the device is in an in-use disposition on the vehicle windscreen, serves to impair a driver's view through the windscreen. Suction grip means (40a; 40b) are provided for holding said screening means in the in-use disposition on the windscreen by suction. Release means (51) are also provided to enable release of the suction of said suction grip means so as to allow removal of the device from the windscreen.

Abstract: In order to synchronise video and audio signals, a video test signal and an audio test signal are generated at the transmitting end of a transmission link, and transmitted over the link. The video test signal has first and second active picture periods of contrasting states. The audio test signal has first and second periods of contrasting states. As generated, the video and audio test signals have a predetermined timing relationship—for example, their changes of respective states may be coincident in time. At the receiving end of the link, the video and audio test signals as received are detected, and any difference of timing between the video and audio test signals is derived from their changes of respective states, measured and displayed, including an indication of whether the video signal arrived before the audio signal or vice-versa.

Abstract: A dual centrifugal compressor refrigeration system has one evaporator for both compressors. The evaporator provides the centrifugal compressors with refrigerant vapor through separate suction connections for each compressor. Each suction connection has a protrusion that extends into the evaporator vessel to disturb the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel. The disturbance of the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel permits a surging compressor to draw refrigerant vapor in order to recover from the surge condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for wireless communication among integrated circuit devices within a single enclosure. Each of a plurality of integrated circuit devices within a single enclosure has one or more antennas that permit wireless communication. A signal destined for one or more integrated circuit devices within the same enclosure is transmitted by the transmitting integrated circuit device using an associated antenna. The transmitted signal is received by the antennas of each destination integrated circuit device. The present invention provides for pin to pin wireless transmission and reception among at least two integrated circuit devices. A plurality of channels may be achieved using known multiplexing techniques, such as time division multiplexing or the transmission of multiple signals at different carrier frequencies or on different antennas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved process for producing ethyl acetate comprising contacting acetic acid and ethanol in a reaction zone in the presence of an acid catalyst, distilling formed vapors and condensing to form an organic phase rich in ethyl acetate and an aqueous phase rich in water, separating the phases and further distilling each phase to obtain a final purified ethyl acetate product and a water stream low in organic components, the improvement comprising directing the organic phase from the first distillation to the reaction zone. An alternate embodiment involves directing at least a portion of the organic phase from the first distillation to a membrane separation unit which removes water and/or alcohol from the organic phase rich in ethyl acetate.

Abstract: A dual centrifugal compressor refrigeration system has one evaporator for both compressors. The evaporator provides the centrifugal compressors with refrigerant vapor through separate suction connections for each compressor. Each suction connection has a protrusion that extends into the evaporator vessel to disturb the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel. The disturbance of the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel permits a surging compressor to draw refrigerant vapor in order to recover from the surge condition.

Abstract: An electronic or optoelectronic device fabricated from a crystalline material in which a parameter of a bandgap characteristic of said crystalline material has been modified locally by introducing distortions on an atomic scale in the lattice structure of said crystalline material and the electronic and/or optoelectronic parameters of said device are dependent on the modification of said bandgap is exemplified by a radiation emissive optoelectronic semiconductor device which comprises a junction (10) formed from a p-type layer (11) and an n-type layer (12), both formed from indirect bandgap semiconductor material. The p-type layer (11) contains an array of dislocation loops which create a strain field to confine spatially and promote radiative recombination of the charge carriers.

Abstract: A processor interface chip and a maintenance diagnostic chip are provided coupled with two microprocessors designed to be run in tandem. The processor interface chip includes logic for interfacing between the microprocessors and a main memory, logic for pipelining multiple microprocessor requests between the microprocessors and main memory, logic for prefetching data before a microprocessor issues a read request, logic for allowing a boot to occur from code anywhere in physical memory without regard to the microprocessors' fixed memory location for boot code, and logic for intelligently limiting the flow of interrupt information over a processor bus between the microprocessors and the processor interface chip.

Abstract: A processor interface chip and a maintenance diagnostic chip are provided coupled with two microprocessors designed to be run in tandem. The processor interface chip includes logic for interfacing between the microprocessors and a main memory, logic for pipelining multiple microprocessor requests between the microprocessors and main memory, logic for prefetching data before a microprocessor issues a read request, logic for allowing a boot to occur from code anywhere in physical memory without regard to the microprocessors' fixed memory location for boot code, and logic for intelligently limiting the flow of interrupt information over a processor bus between the microprocessors and the processor interface chip.