Abstract: The present invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet; c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.

Abstract: A beverage preparation system is provided comprising a beverage preparation machine, a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients, and a coded insert. The beverage preparation machine comprises a brew head for receiving the cartridge. The cartridge comprises a primary code configured to provide operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a beverage from the cartridge. The coded insert is separate from the cartridge and insertable along with the cartridge into the brew head. The coded insert comprises a secondary code configured to provide alternative operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a modified beverage from the cartridge.

Abstract: SAS/SATA Store-Forward (SSSF) buffering enables SAS/SATA block storage devices capable of slower physical link rates to transfer data at a SAS topology data rate. 6 Gbps SAS and SATA disk drives can exchange data at 12 Gbps with 12 Gbps hosts through 12 Gbps SAS expanders employing an SSSF device. The SSSF device improves data transfer performance in the storage area network by optimizing host-side link utilization. The device includes a host-side interface communicating with the host at a host-side rate, a drive-side interface communicating with the target at a drive-side rate equal to or less than the host-side rate, a buffer receiving SAS frames or SATA FIS's, and control logic to control communication between the host-side interface and buffer at the host-side rate and between the drive-side interface and the buffer at the drive-side rate.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packed cartridges of beverage ingredients. The cartridges may be designed so that air becomes entrained so as to produce a desired foam or crema. Air inlets are provided in an outlet nozzle to allow air to enter the beverage preparation machine and so be available for entrainment. Advantageously, the air inlets extend through the sides of the nozzle in an elevated position at a widened portion of the nozzle. This reduces the flow of beverage into and through the air inlets, aiding cleanliness.

Abstract: A system and method for providing redundant access paths to a storage device make use of a processor to analyze instructions received from hosts to allow for command queuing, host switching, and command replacement where necessary. The system allows for either Serially Attached SCSI or Serial ATA hard drives to be connected to the same topology and to require no host intervention on the coordination of drive access in a multi-host environment. A single ported SATA device can then appear multi-ported and can support a redundant architecture within a SAS topology.

Abstract: Broadcast primitive filtering in a SAS expander using virtual domains. The virtual domains can be non-overlapping or overlapping logical subsets of the physical topology, or a logical construct based on the membership of a device within a group. Broadcast event propagation is handled in accordance with predetermined policies associated with the virtual domains. These policies can, for example, include limiting the broadcast traffic within the boundaries of the logical zones defined by the subsets, or routing the broadcast events in accordance with access policies, or privileges, associated with the group.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for broadcast message filtering in SAS expanders. Common SAS topology defined by ANSI T10 specification only supports spanning tree topology (without loops) interconnection among multiple end devices and expander devices. Broadcast message filtering provides a mechanism to selectively discard broadcast messages, or primitives, in the SAS expanders to break the infinite loop path that broadcast primitives can traverse. This enables new SAS physical topologies with loops that are otherwise difficult or impossible to realize using SAS expanders that handle primitive broadcasts according to the definition of the SAS standard. By allowing redundant paths in a SAS topology, the problem of infinite broadcast flooding in SAS topology is reduced. Selectively forwarding broadcast messages can be based on whether the broadcast was originated at the source phy, or received by the source phy, or based on whether the source phy is a filtered phy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a set of common link rates for communication between two storage network elements in a storage network system. During the speed negotiation process, a controlling storage network element receives supported link rate information from a connected storage network element without providing any information in return. By not providing such information, although the speed negotiation process may not be completed, the controlling storage network element is still able to determine the supported link rates of the connected storage network element.

Abstract: A multi-port switch and a method of command switching using such a switch. Multiple virtual targets provide multiple hosts with access to the physical target device attached to the target interface of the switch. The switch intelligently dispatches operations received by the virtual targets to the physical storage target device to provide shared access. In doing so, the communication between the switch and the physical target can fully comply with the SATA protocol without the physical target being aware that the operations have originated from multiple physical hosts, and without the multiple physical hosts being aware of the shared nature of the physical SATA target device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for routing in an SAS expander for logical zoning. Common SAS topology defined by the ANSI T10 specification only relates to physical topology with multiple end devices, as well as to expander devices and the broadcast handling mechanisms in such physical topologies. The present invention introduces the concept of virtual topologies that can be non-overlapping or overlapping subsets of the physical topology and the routing mechanism that handles the routing issues with the virtual topologies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the powering-up or spin-up of devices such as hard drives using expanders in a SAS topology. The method and apparatus provides a mechanism to coordinate spin-up control among a topology of expanders. The present invention enables an expander to both process the reception of the NOTIFY command to spin up attached devices and to propagate such command to further expanders. Hierarchical spin-up control provides an advantageous, in-band mechanism that controls the expanders within the topology to limit the total number of devices powering-up at any given time.

Abstract: A Forward Propagation Architecture is a novel switch architecture based on well-known unicast switching architectures, and provides two desirable properties: (1) no rearrangement of established calls is ever required and (2) the architecture is strictly non-blocking for multicast, even when multicast destinations are dynamically added to existing calls. These properties (excluding dynamic multicast destination addition) can be provided by standard architectures or Time:Space:Time architectures with speedup proportional to the width of the widest multicast to be supported. The speedup required by the FPA is constant and practical (approximately 4× speedup) and at significantly less hardware cost than n2 architectures. The key to the FPA's capability is a sequentially doubled fabric with a feedback loop. The FPA requires a routing algorithm for connection setting. The connection-setting algorithm is sufficiently simple to be implemented in hardware.

Abstract: A plurality of time-division multiplexed data streams which are merged into a single data stream containing a plurality of data words and which are characterized by state vectors, are concurrently processed. The state vectors are stored in a read-write memory having a plurality of addressable memory locations. During an initial clock cycle, a pipeline receives an input data word from one of the data streams, an input state vector characterizing that data stream, and the memory location address of the input state vector. During one or more intermediate clock cycles, the pipeline processes the input data word and the input state vector to yield an output data word and an output state vector. During a final clock cycle, the pipeline transfers the output data word to an outgoing data stream, and transfers the output state vector into the aforementioned memory location address. A controller coupled to the memory and to the pipeline synchronizes operation thereof.

Abstract: A multi-channel network device for interfacing between a plurality of physical data links and a control processor, where each physical data link is characterized by a data stream of data packets communicated according to a data link control protocol. The multi-channel network device includes a plurality of receive-side line interfaces, with each with each receive-side line interface having at least one channel associated therewith. Each receive-side line interface is operative to receive incoming data packets from one of the physical data links such that each incoming data packet is received in at least one incoming data segment. Each receive-side line interface is also operative to determine a time-slot number for each incoming data segment arriving thereon.

Abstract: A bus holder for coupling to an integrated circuit bus driven by a plurality of tri-state devices. The bus holder has a bidirectional port and first and second test ports. Logic circuitry coupled between the respective ports is configured such that application of a logic 0 to the first test port causes the bidirectional port to drive whatever logic value is applied to that port; application of a logic 1 to the first test port and application of a logic 0 to the second test port pulls the bidirectional port down to a logic 0; and, application of a logic 1 to both the first and second test ports pulls the bidirectional port up to a logic 1.