What is claimed is:
1. A method for use in transmitting a data packet along with higher priority traffic, comprising:
segmenting the data packet to reduce transmission delay of the higher priority traffic, and
transmitting the data packet segments with the higher priority traffic.
2. The method in claim 1, wherein all of the segments have approximately the same size.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the segment size is made smaller than a maximum size permitted.
4. The method in claim 1, wherein the segment size is as small as design parameters allow without increasing a number of the data packet segments.
5. The method in claim 1, wherein the last segment is the same size or larger than of all the other segments.
6. The method in claim 1, wherein the last segment is as large as possible given other design constraints.
7. The method in claim 1, further comprising:
using a multilink or other multiplexing protocol to transmit the data packet segments along with the higher priority traffic over a channel.
8. A method for segmenting a data packet, where the data packet segments are transmitted along with higher priority traffic, comprising:
segmenting the data packet so that all the packet’s segments, including the last segment, have approximately the same size.
9. The method in claim 8, wherein the last segment is the same size as or the largest of all the segments.
10. The method in claim 8, wherein the segment size is smaller than a maximum size permitted in order to reduce transmission delay of the higher priority traffic.
11. The method in claim 8, wherein the segment size is reduced without increasing a number of data packet segments.
12. The method in claim 8, wherein the last segment is as large as possible given other design constraints.
13. The method in claim 8, further comprising:
transmitting the data packet segments along with the higher priority traffic.
14. A method for use in transmitting a data packet at a first priority level along with traffic from a second, higher priority level, comprising:
determining a size of the data packet;
determining a first segment size for the data packet and a second segment size for the data packet, where the first and second segment sizes are determined to reduce a delay either in transmitting the higher priority traffic or in transmitting the data packet;
segmenting the data packet into plural segments at the first segment size and a last segment of the data packet at the second segment size; and
transmitting the higher priority traffic along with the data packet segments.
15. The method in claim 14, wherein the first segment size is smaller than a maximum allowed segment size.
16. The method in claim 14, wherein the higher priority traffic is multiplexed with the segments over communications channel.
17. The method in claim 14, wherein the higher priority traffic and the segments are transmitted over a multilink channel.
18. The method in claim 14, wherein all of the data packet segments except the last segment are the first segment size.
19. The method in claim 18, wherein the last segment is the same size as or larger than the first segment size.
20. The method in claim 14, wherein the first segment size is less than the second segment size.
21. The method in claim 14, wherein there are three or more traffic priority levels, and for each at least two of the traffic priority levels the method comprises:
determining a maximum segment size for a data packet at the traffic priority level;
determining a size of the data packet;
determining a first segment size for the data packet and a second segment size for the data packet using the determined maximum segment size;
segmenting the data packet into plural segments at the first segment size and a last segment of the data packet at the second segment size, where the first and second segment sizes are determined to reduce a delay either in transmitting the higher priority traffic or in transmitting the data packet; and
transmitting the higher priority traffic along with the data packet segments.
22. The method in claim 14, further comprising:
determining a number of segments n for the data packet based on the packet size P and a predetermined segment size MSS.
23. The method in claim 22, wherein the first segment size equals Pn, and wherein if Pn equals a first integer and a remainder, the segment size equals a second integer rounded up from the first integer.
24. The method in claim 22, wherein the second segment size is Pn, and wherein if Pn equals an integer and a remainder, the second segment size equals the integer.
25. The method in claim 22, wherein the size S(i) of each segment is determined as using a second approach as follows:
12
S
(
i
)
=
{
if
1
i
n
–
2
then
ceil
P
–
MSS
n
–
1
if
i
=
n
–
1
then
P
–
(
n
–
2
)
ceil
P
–
MSS
n
–
1
if
i
=
n
then
MSS
,
where ceil denotes rounding to a next larger integer.
26. Apparatus for use in transmitting a data packet along with higher priority traffic, comprising:
electronic circuitry configured to segment the data packet to reduce transmission delay of the higher priority traffic, and
a transmitter for transmitting the data packet segments with the higher priority traffic.
25. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein all of the segments have approximately the same size.
27. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the segment size is made smaller than a maximum size permitted.
28. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the segment size is as small as design parameters allow.
29. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the last segment is the same size or larger than of all the other segments.
30. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the last segment is as large as possible given the other design constraints.
31. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to use a multilink or other multiplexing protocol to transmit the data packet segments along with the higher priority traffic over a channel.
32. Apparatus for use in transmitting a data packet at a first priority level along with traffic from a second, higher priority level, comprising:
means for determining a size of the data packet;
means for determining a first segment size for the data packet and a second segment size for the data packet, where the first and second segment sizes are determined to reduce a delay either in transmitting the higher priority traffic or in transmitting the data packet;
means for segmenting the data packet into plural segments at the first segment size and a last segment of the data packet at the second segment size; and
means for transmitting the higher priority traffic along with the data packet segments.
33. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein the first segment size is smaller than a maximum allowed segment size.
34. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein the means for transmitting multiplexes the higher priority traffic with the segments over communications channel.
35. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the higher priority traffic and the segments over a multilink channel.
36. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein all of the data packet segments except the last segment are the first segment size.
37. The apparatus in claim 36, wherein the last segment is the same size as or larger than the first segment size.
38. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein the first segment size is less than the second segment size.
39. The apparatus in claim 32, wherein there are three or more traffic priority levels, and for each at least two of the traffic priority levels the apparatus comprises:
means for determining a maximum segment size for a data packet at the traffic priority level;
means for determining a size of the data packet;
means for determining a first segment size for the data packet and a second segment size for the data packet using the determined maximum segment size;
means for segmenting the data packet into plural segments at the first segment size and a last segment of the data packet at the second segment size, where the first and second segment sizes are determined to reduce a delay either in transmitting the higher priority traffic or in transmitting the data packet; and
means for transmitting the higher priority traffic along with the data packet segments.
40. The apparatus in claim 32, further comprising:
means for determining a number of segments n for the data packet based on the packet size P and a predetermined segment size MSS.
41. The apparatus in claim 40, wherein the first segment size equals Pn, and wherein if Pn equals a first integer and a remainder, the segment size equals a second integer rounded up from the first integer.
42. The apparatus in claim 40, wherein the second segment size is Pn, and wherein if Pn equals an integer and a remainder, the second segment size equals the integer.
43. The apparatus in claim 40, wherein the size S(i) of each segment is determined as using a second approach as follows:
13
S
(
i
)
=
{
if
1
i
n
–
2
then
ceil
P
–
MSS
n
–
1
if
i
=
n
–
1
then
P
–
(
n
–
2
)
ceil
P
–
MSS
n
–
1
if
i
=
n
then
MSS
,
where ceil denotes rounding to a next larger integer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for testing the coefficient of restitution of a golf ball comprising the steps of:
positioning an impacted object in an initial stationary position in an enclosure;
constraining the impacted object to movement within a predetermined path within the enclosure;
moving an impacting object toward and impacting the impacted object, wherein one of either the impacting object or the impacted object is the golf ball;
determining the pre-impact velocity of the impacting object;
determining the post-impact velocity of the impacted object; and
determining the coefficient of restitution of the golf ball.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the impacting object is the golf ball, and the impacted object is a simulated golf club.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the impacting object is a simulated golf club and the impacted object is the golf ball.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically returning the impacted object to the initial position.
5. A method for testing the durability of a golf ball comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning an impacted object in an initial position in an enclosure;
(b) constraining the impacted object to movement within a predetermined path within the enclosure;
(c) moving an impacting object at a predetermined velocity toward and impacting the impacted object, wherein one of either the impacting object or the impacted object is the golf ball;
(d) automatically returning the impacted object to the initial position; and
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until failure of the golf ball is noted.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the impacting object is the golf ball, and the impacted object is a simulated golf club.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the impacting object is a simulated golf club and the impacted object is the golf ball.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a launching device to move the impacting object toward the impacted object.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the impacting object comprises a plurality of golf balls and the impacted object is a simulated golf club.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d) comprises the step of providing a repositioning device to return the impacted object to the initial position.
11. An apparatus for testing golf ball comprising:
an enclosure defining a predetermined path;
an impacted object positioned in an initial position within said predetermined path, wherein the movement of the impacted object after impact is constrained within the predetermined path; and
a launching device configured to launch an impacting object at a predetermined velocity to impact the impacted object, wherein one of either the impacting object or the impacted object is the golf ball.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the enclosure is connected to a dampening device adapted to retain the impacted object after impact.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the enclosure defines a plurality of perforations on its surface.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the other of either the impacting object or the impacted object is a simulated golf club.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the simulated golf club is hollow and comprises an impacted face.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the impacted face is flexible.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the enclosure further comprises a vented section.
18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the enclosure is connected to a repositioning device associated with the impacted object to return the impacted object to the initial position after impact.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the repositioning device is selected from a group consisting of a rod-and-piston mechanism, a rod-and-rotating wheel mechanism, a pneumatically controlled rod, a magnetic or magnetized sleeve, a spring, an energy storing device, a kinetic-to-potential energy converter, and combination thereof.
20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a first sensor for determining the pre-impact velocity of the impacting object and a second sensor for determining the post-impact velocity of the impacted object.
21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the simulated golf club weighs between about 100 grams and about 500 grams.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the simulated golf club weighs between about 180 grams and about 250 grams.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the simulated golf club weighs about 200 grams.