1. An optical disc assembly, comprising:
a cover portion comprising at least one insert having a surface capable of receiving an analyte which can be detected by an optical disc reader; and
a main portion comprising
an outer assay area, and
an inner data area containing encoded instructions that directs an optical disc reader to adjust its focus to the correct data layer in order to read analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.
2. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical disc reader is a DVD reader.
3. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area further contains data used to adjust the firmware or flash components of the optical disc reader chipset so that the optical disc reader can correctly read and interpret analyte-specific signals.
4. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer assay area comprises at least one operational structure.
5. The optical disc assembly of claim 4, wherein the operational structure comprises a radial plane tracking feature to provide tracking information to the optical disc reader.
6. The optical disc assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one operational structure comprises a wobble groove.
7. The optical disc assembly of claim 6, wherein the wobble groove comprises a forward image groove.
8. The optical disc assembly of claim 6, wherein the wobble groove comprises a reverse image groove.
9. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein programs, instructions, or data can be stored in either the first layer or the second layer.
10. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein programs, instructions, or data are stored in both the first layer and the second layer.
11. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion comprises a translucent optical material.
12. The optical disc assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical material comprises polycarbonate, polymethyl acrylic, or glass.
13. The optical disc assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical material affects a light beam from the optical disc reader so as to optimize the detection of the analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.
14. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert comprises analyte-specific signal elements, and wherein the cover portion is configured such that the analyte-specific signal elements are physically segregated from operational structures in the cover portion or the main portion.
15. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the main portion are permanently affixed to each other.
16. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the main portion are affixed to each other such that they can be separated.
17. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is inserted into the cover portion.
18. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is attached to the cover portion.
19. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is assembled over the outer assay area of the main portion.
20. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area and a cutout portion of the cover portion are configured so as to permit a snug coupling between the main portion and the cover portion.
21. A method of detecting an analyte held by the optical disc assembly of claim 1, comprising:
providing the optical disc assembly to the optical disc reader;
reading the optical disc assembly; and
obtaining a signal which is indicative of the presence of the analyte.
22. A kit for detecting an analyte, comprising:
an insert having a surface capable of receiving an analyte and analyte-specific signal elements which can be detected by an optical disc reader; and
a disc comprising a cover portion capable of receiving the insert, and further comprising a main portion comprising an outer assay area and an inner data area, the inner data area containing encoded instructions that directs an optical disc reader to adjust its focus to the correct data layer to enable the optical disc reader to read the analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.
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 generating a list of candidate alternative spellings, comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling;
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings;
conducting a search based on a query in which said first spelling has been replaced by a spelling from said filtered list but wherein query terms other than said first spelling remain as entered by said user; and
presenting, to said user, one or more results of said search;
wherein the steps of comparing, adding, and generating are performed by one or more computing devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first spelling comprises multiple words and wherein said second spelling comprises multiple words.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings further comprises:
in response to determining that said first frequency is greater than said second frequency, removing said second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said first spelling is a plural form of said second spelling.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said second spelling is a plural form of said first spelling.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, at a search engine, from said user, query terms that contain said first spelling.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.
8. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling; and
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings; and
conducting a search based on a query in which said first spelling has been replaced by a spelling from said filtered list but wherein query terms other than said first spelling remain as entered by said user; and
presenting, to said user, one or more results of said search.
9. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said first spelling comprises multiple words and wherein said second spelling comprises multiple words.
10. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings further comprises:
in response to determining that said first frequency is greater than said second frequency, removing said second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings.
11. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said first spelling is a plural form of said second spelling.
12. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said second spelling is a plural form of said first spelling.
13. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
receiving, at a search engine, from said user, query terms that contain said first spelling.
14. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.
15. A method for generating a list of candidate alternative spellings, comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling;
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings;
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list;
wherein the steps of comparing, adding, and generating are performed by one or more computing devices.
16. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling; and
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings; and
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.