Author: claimsbot

1. A federation apparatus to provision database resources, the federation apparatus comprising:
an analysis module configured to analyze a data query stream from an application to a database instance and to determine if the data query stream exhibits a predetermined performance attribute; and
a provision module coupled to the analysis module, the provision module configured to provision a database resource in response to a determination that the data query stream exhibits the predetermined performance attribute.
2. The federation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a query module coupled to the provision module, the query module configured to redirect a data query from the data query stream to the provisioned database resource.
3. The federation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a move module coupled to the provision module, the move module configured to transfer an entire database from the database instance to the provisioned database resource.
4. The federation apparatus of claim 3, wherein the provisioned database resource comprises a new database instance.
5. The federation apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a queue module coupled to the move module, the queue module configured to queue a data query from the data query stream substantially concurrently with the transfer of the database instance.
6. The federation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a replication module coupled to the provision module, the replication module configured to replicate a portion of a database from the database instance to the provisioned database resource.
7. The federation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the provisioned database resource comprises a cache.
8. The federation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the replication module is further configured to update the replicated data in the cache in response to an update to the database.
9. The federation apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a cache module coupled to the replication module, the cache module configured to determine the portion of the database to be replicated on the provisioned database resource.
10. The federation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the provision module is further configured to provision the database resource locally to the federation apparatus.
11. The federation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the provision module is further configured to provision the database resource remotely from the federation apparatus.
12. A system to provision database resources, the system comprising:
a first database resource having data;
an application configured to generate a data query to be submitted to the first database resource; and
a federation apparatus coupled between the first database resource and the application, the federation apparatus configured to provision a second database resource and redirect the data query to the second database resource.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an analysis module coupled to the federation apparatus, the analysis module configured to analyze a data query stream from the application to the first database resource and to determine if the data query stream exhibits a predetermined performance attribute.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a patrol module coupled to the analysis module, the patrol module configured to capture a copy of at least one of the data queries in the data query stream.
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a cache module and a replication module coupled to the analysis module, the cache module configured to determine a portion of the first database resource to be cached, the replication module configured to cache the determined portion on the second database resource.
16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a storage area network (SAN) to which the first and second database resources are coupled
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the second database resource comprises a new database instance.
18. The system of claim 12, wherein the second database resource comprises a cache.
19. The system of claim 12, wherein the federation apparatus is further configured to direct a data query for non-cached data to the first database resource.
20. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable m,, instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to provision database resources, the operations comprising:
analyzing a data query stream from an application to a database instance; determining if the data query stream exhibits a predetermined performance attribute; and
provisioning a database resource in response to a determination that the data query stream exhibits the predetermined performance attribute.
21. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to redirect a data query from the data query stream to the provisioned database resource.
22. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to transfer an entire database from the database instance to the provisioned database resource.
23. The signal bearing medium of claim 22, wherein the provisioned database resource comprises a new database instance.
24. The signal bearing medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to queue a data query from the data query stream substantially concurrently with the transfer of the database instance.
25. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to replicate a portion of a database from the database instance to the provisioned database resource.
26. The signal bearing medium of claim 25, wherein the provisioned database resource comprises a cache.
27. The signal bearing medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to update the replicated data in the cache in response to an update to the database.
28. The signal bearing medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to determine the portion of the database to be replicated on the provisioned database resource.
29. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to provision the database resource locally to the federation apparatus.
30. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to provision the database resource remotely from the federation apparatus.

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. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism comprising:
an ice maker arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice,
an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position relative to said ice maker to receive ice dispensed from said ice maker,
a prevention device arranged to enable the making, harvesting and dispensing of ice by said ice maker when in a first position and to prevent at least one of the making, harvesting and dispensing of ice by said ice maker when in a second position,
an actuator located relative to said ice bucket and said prevention device such that a first portion of said actuator will be in engagement with a movable actuator engagement button carried on said ice bucket when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and a second portion of said actuator is able to move into engagement with said prevention mechanism when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position, and
an actuator biasing element arranged to bias said second portion of said actuator into engagement with said prevention mechanism when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and to move said prevention mechanism to said second position,
said movable actuator engagement button arranged so as to engage said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a first position, and to avoid engagement with said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position or when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a second position,
wherein said prevention device will be moved into said second position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and when said button is in said second position, regardless of a location of said ice bucket.
2. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said movable actuator button is carried on a rear wall of said ice bucket.
3. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said movable actuator button is arranged to slide between said first position and said second position.
4. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a pivotable lever.
5. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said actuator biasing element comprises a spring.
6. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said prevention device comprises a movable bail arm with a portion located between said ice maker and said ice bucket, said bail arm movable between said first position and said second position,
a bail arm biasing element arranged to bias said bail arm towards said first position from said second position,
said bail arm being operably connected to said ice maker such that when said bail arm is in said first position and between said first position and said second position, said ice maker is enabled to make, harvest and dispense ice, and when said bail arm is in said second position, said ice maker is disabled from at least one of making, harvesting and dispensing ice, and said second portion of said actuator is movable into a position to move said bail arm into said second position when not engaged by said button.
7. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said bail arm biasing element comprises a spring.
8. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said prevention device comprises an ice retention cover arranged to prevent dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a second position and to permit dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a first position and said second portion of said actuator being movable into a position to block said ice retention cover to prevent it from moving from said second position to said first position when not engaged by said button.
9. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said ice retention cover is normally oriented vertically and hangs in said second position, but is pivotable to said first position, unless otherwise blocked, when engaged by ice pieces being dispensed from said ice maker.
10. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism comprising:
an ice maker arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice,
an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position relative to said ice maker to receive ice dispensed from said ice maker,
an ice retention cover arranged to permit dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a first position and to prevent dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a second position,
an actuator located relative to said ice bucket and said ice retention cover such that a first portion of said actuator will be in engagement with said ice bucket when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and a second portion of said actuator is able to move into engagement with said ice retention cover when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position, and
a biasing element arranged to bias said second portion of said actuator into blocking engagement with said ice retention cover to hold said ice retention cover in said second position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position.
11. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 10, including a movable actuator engagement button arranged so as to engage said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a first position, and to avoid engagement with said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position or when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a second position, wherein said ice retention cover will be blocked in said first position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and when said button is in said second position, regardless of a location of said ice bucket.
12. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 10, including a movable bail arm with a portion located between said ice maker and said ice bucket, said bail arm movable between a first position and a second position, and
a bail arm biasing element arranged to bias said bail arm towards said first position from said second position,
said bail arm being operably connected to said ice maker such that when said bail arm is in said first position and between said first position and said second position, said ice maker is enabled to make, harvest and dispense ice, and when said bail arm is in said second position, said ice maker is disabled from at least one of making, harvesting and dispensing ice, and

said actuator being located relative to said bail arm such that said second portion of said actuator is able to move into engagement with said bail arm when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position,
wherein said bail arm will be moved into said second position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position.
13. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said biasing element comprises a spring.
14. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said actuator comprises a pivotable lever.
15. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said ice retention cover is normally oriented vertically and hangs in said second position, but is pivotable to said first position, unless otherwise blocked, when engaged by ice pieces being dispensed from said ice maker.
16. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism comprising:
an ice maker arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice,
an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position relative to said ice maker to receive ice dispensed from said ice maker,
an ice height detection system arranged to detect a height of ice in said ice bucket,
said ice height detection system being operably connected to said ice maker such that when said ice height detection system does not detect any obstacles at a first location, said ice maker is enabled to make, harvest and dispense ice, and when said ice height detection system does detect an obstacle at said first location, said ice maker is disabled from at least one of making, harvesting and dispensing ice,

an actuator located relative to said ice bucket and said ice height detection system such that a first portion of said actuator will be in engagement with a movable actuator button on said ice bucket when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and a second portion of said actuator is able to move into said first location and be detected as an obstacle by said ice height detection system when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position,
said movable actuator engagement button arranged so as to engage said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a first position, and to avoid engagement with said first portion of said actuator when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position or when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a second position, and
a biasing element arranged to bias said second portion of said actuator into said first location when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and to move said ice height detction system to said second position,
wherein said first portion of said actuator will be moved into said first location position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and when said button is in said second position, regardless of a location of said ice bucket.
17. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said ice height detection system includes a pivotable bail arm for engaging ice held in said ice bucket.
18. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism for a refrigerator comprising:
an ice maker in said refrigerator arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice,
an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position relative to said ice maker to receive ice dispensed from said ice maker,
a movable bail arm with a portion located between said ice maker and said ice bucket, said bail arm movable between a first position and a second position,
a spring arranged to bias said bail arm towards said first position from said second position,
said bail arm being operably connected to said ice maker such that when said bail arm is in said first position and between said first position and said second position, said ice maker is enabled to make, harvest and dispense ice, and when said bail arm is in said second position, said ice maker is disabled from at least one of making, harvesting and dispensing ice,

an ice retention cover arranged to prevent dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a first position and to permit dispensing of ice from said ice maker when in a second position,
a pivotable lever located relative to said ice bucket and said bail arm and ice retention cover such that a first arm of said lever will be in engagement with a movable actuator engagement button carried on said ice bucket when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and a second arm of said actuator is able to move into engagement with said bail arm and said ice retention cover when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position, and
a spring arranged to bias said second portion of said actuator into engagement with said bail arm when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and to move said bail arm to said second position,
said movable actuator engagement button arranged so as to engage said first arm of said actuator when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a first position, and to avoid engagement with said first arm of said actuator when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position or when said ice bucket is located in said ice receiving position and said button is in a second position,
wherein said bail arm will be moved into said second position and said ice retention cover will be held in said first position when said ice bucket is displaced from said ice receiving position and when said button is in said second position, regardless of a location of said ice bucket.
19. A ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said ice bucket is arranged to move from said ice receiving position when a door of said refrigerator is opened.
20. An ice harvesting prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said movable actuator button is arranged to slide between said first position and said second position.

1. A method to derive information regarding one or more bone parameters from an image comprising:
(a) obtaining image data of bone from a subject;
(b) defining a region of interest from the image data;
(c) defining within the region of interest at least first and second windows, wherein the first and second windows overlap;
(d) analyzing information in the first window to determine at least a first value for a parameter, the parameter selected from the group consisting of bone microarchitecture, bone macroanatomy, biomechanical parameters and combinations thereof;
(e) analyzing information in the second window to determine at least a second value for the parameter; and
(f) generating a set of data at least in part from the first and second values.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the first window is further analyzed to determine a third value of a second parameter; wherein the information in the second window is further analyzed to determine a fourth value of the second parameter, and wherein the set of data is generated based at least in part on the first, second, third and fourth values.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a field of sampling points of the image, the sampling points being distributed at regular intervals in the image, and the first window being located at a first sampling point of the field of sampling points, and the second window being located at a second sampling point of the field of sampling points.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a field of sampling points of the image, the sampling points being distributed at irregular intervals in the image, and the first window being located at a first sampling point of the field of sampling points, and the second window being located at a second sampling point of the field of sampling points.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is bone micro-architecture.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is bone macro-anatomy.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is two-dimensional.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein image is an x-ray image.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is three-dimensional.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is an electronic image.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is an osteoporosis subject.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising
creating a parameter map based at least in part on the values associated with the parameter.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
(a) generating multiple parameter maps;
(b) generating a composite parameter map from the multiple parameters maps of step (a); and
(c) analyzing the composite parameter map.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
analyzing the parameter map, wherein the analysis is watershed segmentation analysis or Markov random field analysis.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
(a) generating a finite element model from the parameter map; and
(b) applying simulated force vectors to the finite element model.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
(a) predicting a fracture path using the composite parameter map; and
(b) evaluating one or more selected bone parameters along the predicted fracture path.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
(a) predicting a fracture path using the analyzed parameter map; and
(b) evaluating one or more selected bone parameters along the predicted fracture path.
18. The method of claim 1, further comprising
diagnosing a bone disease based on the generated set of data and
selecting and administering a suitable treatment to said subject based on said diagnosis.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an array of photoreceptor pixels, each pixel of the array including a photoreceptor part and control part which selects some aspect of an associated photoreceptor pixel for readout; and
a control element, which selects only specified ones of the photoreceptor pixels in a specific row for integration at any given readout time such that at least each two adjacent pixels integrate at different times.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said only specified ones include only alternate ones of the photoreceptor pixels, to provide two separate image fields respectively from said array.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said only specified ones include one pixel out of every N pixels in said array, to provide N separate image fields respectively.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an image processor, separating said specified groups of photoreceptor pixels into separate image fields, and providing respective outputs indicative of said separate image fields.
5. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising an image processor, receiving a pixel stream including two interleaved images and operating to separate said two image fields.
6. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a readout system, reading out a first image field at a first time to produce a first image, and a second image field at a second time to produce a second image.
7. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising a readout system, reading out pixels from each row in a specified order in which at least one pixel in each row is skipped between each two read pixels, to read out pixels in the order 0, N, 2N . . . to provide a first image, and 1, N1, 2N1 to provide a next image and so one to provide the N images.
8. A method, comprising:
integrating light indicative of a scene being imaged in a plurality of pixels forming an array, said integrating comprising integrating each of said pixels in said array beginning and ending at substantially the same time but in at least two different groups; and
forming at least two different image fields from the at least two different groups.
9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said integrating comprises integrating only certain pixels at any time, with at least one non-integrated pixel being between each integrated pixel at any integration time.
10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said forming comprises reading alternate pixels to provide two separate image fields.
11. A method as in claim 9, wherein said forming comprises reading one of every N pixels to provide N separate image fields.
12. A method as in claim 9, wherein said reading reads all pixels, including multiple interleaved images, and further comprising separating said multiple interleaved images.
13. A method as in claim 9, wherein said forming reads a single interleaved image at any time.
14. An apparatus, comprising:
an array of active pixel sensors, each including a photoreceptor portion, and a control portion, said control portion enabling activation of said photoreceptors between an integrating state and into a non integrating state, and also enabling transfer of charge from said photoreceptor to an output; and
a controller, controlling said photoreceptors to integrate in a plurality of different periods, such that at least a first group of photoreceptors integrates during a different time than a second group of said photoreceptors.
15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said plurality is two.
16. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said control portion includes a follower buffer transistor, and a selector.
17. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said controller controls said photoreceptors to produce said charge from each individual group at a time.
18. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said controller controls said photoreceptors to produce their respective charge in order, and further comprising an image processor which separates a first image field within said photodetectors from a second image field within said photodetectors.