Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A switch node, for connecting a keyboard video mouse (KVM) combination and a server in an array of servers, each server attached-to the switch node or attached to another switch node, all of the switch nodes constituting a network of interconnected switch nodes, the switch node comprising:
a) a KVM port for providing a connection to an attached KVM;
b) a plurality of server ports for providing connections to a plurality of attached servers;
c) a plurality of expansion ports for providing connections to other switch nodes in the network of switch nodes;
d) a cross connect, for providing connections between the KVM and one of the server ports or one of the expansion ports;
e) a node operating system, for providing to a user of the KVM an indication of each server in the array of servers, for determining a path to use for a connection between the KVM and a server selected by the user, for configuring the cross connect to provide the path, for requesting others of the switch nodes to configure their respective cross connects so as to provide the path determined; and
f) an internode link port, for providing a network connection enabling communication between the node operating system of the switch node and the node operating system of other switch nodes in the network of switch nodes.
2. A switch node as in claim 1, wherein the configuring of the cross connect to provide the path is based on information provided by the node operating systems of other switch nodes in the network of switch nodes.
3. A switch node as in claim 1, wherein the requesting of others of the switch nodes to configure their respective cross connects so as to provide the path determined is according to directions provided by the switch node.

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 automated method of recognizing an inputted information item by matching the inputted information item to a target set of potential information items stored in a database, wherein at least some of the information items in the target set of potential information items is indicated in the database as belonging to one or more different categories, the method comprising:
(a) receiving in a processor:
(i) a currently entered inputted information item, and
(ii) a category designation to be associated with the currently entered inputted information item;

(b) reducing the target set of potential information items to only the information items that belong to the category designation associated with the currently entered inputted information item; and
(c) electronically matching, using the processor, the currently entered inputted information item to the closest information item in the reduced target set of potential information items.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
(d) tracking recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories to which potential information items are indicated in the database as belonging is recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein the processor is configured to receive in step (a)(ii) a category designation of recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receipt of the category designation in step (a)(ii) occurs automatically.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
(d) tracking previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories to which potential information items are indicated in the database as belonging is previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein the processor is configured to receive in step (a)(ii) a category designation of previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the receipt of the category designation in step (a)(ii) occurs automatically.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputted information item is a spoken utterance and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential utterances.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputted information item is a handwritten expression and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential textural expressions.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputted information item is a typed expression and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential typed expressions.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories include types of categories.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories include modality-based categories.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories include phatic communication categories.
15. An automated method of recognizing an inputted information item by matching the inputted information item to a target set of potential information items stored in a database, wherein at least some of the information items in the target set of potential information items is indicated in the database as belonging to one or more different categories, the method comprising:
(a) receiving in a processor:
(i) a currently entered inputted information item, and
(ii) a category designation to be associated with the currently entered inputted information item;

(b) assigning weightings to the information items in the target set of potential information items, wherein the information items that belong to the category designation received in step (a)(ii) are more heavily weighted than the remaining information items; and
(c) electronically matching, using the processor, the currently entered inputted information item to the closest information item in the target set of potential information items, wherein the assigned weightings are used when determining the closest match.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
(d) tracking recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories to which potential information items are indicated in the database as belonging is recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein the processor is configured to receive in step (a)(ii) a category designation of recently entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the receipt of the category designation in step (a)(ii) occurs automatically.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
(d) tracking previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories to which potential information items are indicated in the database as belonging is previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein the processor is configured to receive in step (a)(ii) a category designation of previously entered inputted information items that were entered by a specific user.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the receipt of the category designation in step (a)(ii) occurs automatically.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the inputted information item is a spoken utterance and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential utterances.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein the inputted information item is a handwritten expression and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential textural expressions.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein the inputted information item is a typed expression and the target set of potential information items is a target set of potential typed expressions.
25. The method of claim 15 wherein the categories include types of categories.
26. The method of claim 15 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
27. The method of claim 15 wherein the categories include modality-based categories.
28. The method of claim 15 wherein the categories include phatic communication categories.
29. A method for allowing a user to select a phatic communication item displayed on an electronic device for communicating the phatic communication item to a recipient, the electronic device being in communication with a database of phatic communication items, at least some of the phatic communication items being indicated in the database as belonging to one or more different categories, the electronic device having (i) a first selection mode wherein a category designation of a phatic communication item is selected, (ii) a second selection mode wherein a phatic communication item is selected, and (iii) a display, the method comprising:
(a) receiving by the electronic device when the electronic device is in the first selection mode an indication of the category designation of a phatic communication item that the user wishes to select; and
(b) displaying on the display a plurality of phatic communication items that belong to the category designation; and
(c) receiving by the electronic device when the electronic device is in the second selection mode a selection by the user of one of the plurality of phatic communication items on the display that the user wishes to communicate to a recipient.
30. The method claim 29 wherein step (a) further comprises displaying on the display a plurality of category designations for selection by the user when the electronic device is in the first selection mode.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of category designations displayed on the display when the electronic device is in the first selection mode include non-pictorial graphical patterns or designs that singly or in combination clearly and uniquely identify a specific category designation.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the plurality of phatic communication items displayed on the display in step (b) include non-pictorial graphical patterns or designs that singly or in combination clearly and uniquely identify a specific phatic communication item.
33. The method of claim 29 wherein the plurality of phatic communication items displayed on the display in step (b) convey similar emotive content so that regardless of which selection is made in step (c), a similar emotive message is communicated to the recipient.
34. The method of claim 29 wherein the phatic communication items are textural expressions.
35. The method of claim 29 wherein the categories include types of categories.
36. The method of claim 29 wherein the categories include demographic-based categories.
37. The method of claim 29 wherein the categories include modality-based categories.
38. The method of claim 29 wherein the database further includes recently entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories is recently entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein step (a) further comprises receiving by the electronic device a category designation of recently entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user.
39. The method of claim 29 wherein the database further includes previously entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user, wherein one of the categories is previously entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user, and wherein step (a) further comprises receiving by the electronic device a category designation of previously entered inputted phatic communication items that were entered by a specific user.
40. The method of claim 29 wherein the categories include phatic communication categories.

1. A method for determining an optimal frame size for tag collision prevention in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system in which frame sizes limited to a certain unit are used to identify a plurality of tags, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) calculating, by an RFID reader, an estimated frame size value which minimizes expected time delay per tag, the RFID reader identifying the tags and calculating the estimated frame size value in accordance with the following equation:
*
{

1
–

\u2147
1
+

W
\u2061

(
r
–
1

e

)
m
}
–
1
+
(wherein \u201ce\u201d represents an Euler’s constant,
\u201c

W
\u2061

(
r
–
1

e

)
\u201d
represents a Lambert omega function, \u201c*+\u201d represents a floor function, and \u201cr\u201d represents a rate obtained by dividing a time delay of an idle slot by a time delay of a collision slot);
(b) calculating, by the RFID reader, expected time delays per tag of a left-hand frame size which is smaller than and closest to the estimated frame size value, and a right-hand frame size which is greater than and closest to the estimated frame size value;
(c) comparing, by the RFID reader, the expected time delay per tag of the left-hand frame size with that of the right-hand frame size; and
(d) determining, by the RFID reader, a frame size which has a smaller expected time delay per tag, between the left-hand frame size and the right-hand frame size, to be an optimal frame size.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step (b), the RFID reader calculates the expected time delay per tag of the left-hand frame size, and the expected time delay per tag of the right-hand frame size by means of an equation,
{
m
L

\u2062
(

1
–

1
L
)
m
–
1
}
–
1
\u2062
X
\u2062

{

1
–
(

1
–

1
L
)

m

\u2062

(

1
+

m

L
–
1
)

\u2062
XTcoll

+
(

1
–

1
L
)

m

\u2062
XTidle

+
m
L

\u2062
(

1
–

1
L
)
m
–
1
\u2062
XTsucc
}
(wherein \u201cL\u201d represents the number of slots in one frame (i.e., frame size), \u201cm\u201d represents the number of tags, \u201cTsucc\u201d represents a time delay caused by a success slot, \u201cTcoll\u201d represents a time delay caused by a collision slot, and \u201cTidle\u201d represents a time delay caused by an idle slot).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of (e) transmitting, by the RFID reader, the optimal frame size to the tags.
4. A method for determining an optimal frame size for tag collision prevention in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system in which a plurality of frame sizes are used to identify a plurality of tags, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) calculating, by an RFID reader, a first middle point which is a middle point of the plurality of frame sizes;
(b) calculating, by the RFID reader, an expected time delay per tag with respect to each of the first middle point and first both-sided frame sizes, with the first both-sided frame sizes including a minimum frame size and a maximum frame size among the plurality of frame sizes;
(c) comparing, by the RFID reader, the expected time delay per tag of the first middle with the expected time delays per tag of the first both-sided frame sizes;
(d) determining, by the RFID reader, the first middle point to be an optimal frame size when the expected time delay per tag of the first middle point is smaller than the expected time delays per tag of the first both-sided frame sizes in step (c);
(e) calculating, by the RFID reader, a second middle point, which is a middle point between the first middle point and a first frame size causing a smaller expected time delay per tag between the first both-sided frame sizes when the expected time delay per tag of the first middle point is greater than the expected time delays per tag of the first both-sided frame sizes in step (c), and then calculating an expected time delay per tag with respect to each of the second middle point and second both-sided frame sizes which include the first frame size and the first middle point;
(f) comparing, by the RFID reader, the expected time delay per tag of the second middle point with the expected time delays per tag of the second both-sided frame sizes;
(g) determining, by the RFID reader, the second middle point to be the optimal frame size when the expected time delay per tag of the second middle point is smaller than the expected time delays per tag of the second both-sided frame sizes in step (f); and
(h) repeatedly performing, by the RFID reader, a bisection search process which includes steps (a) to (g) until the optimal frame size is determined from among the plurality of frame sizes, when the expected time delay per tag of the second middle point is greater than the expected time delays per tag of the second both-sided frame sizes in step (f).
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the RFID reader calculates the expected time delays per tag by means of an equation,
{
m
L

\u2062
(

1
–

1
L
)
m
–
1
}
–
1
\u2062
X
\u2062

{

1
–
(

1
–

1
L
)

m

\u2062

(

1
+

m

L
–
1
)

\u2062
XTcoll

+
(

1
–

1
L
)

m

\u2062
XTidle

+
m
L

\u2062
(

1
–

1
L
)
m
–
1
\u2062
XTsucc
}
(wherein \u201cL\u201d represents the number of slots in one frame (i.e. frame size), \u201cm\u201d represents the number of tags, \u201cTsucc\u201d represents a time delay caused by a success slot, \u201cTcoll\u201d represents a time delay caused by a collision slot, and \u201cTidle\u201d represents a time delay caused by an idle slot).
6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising, after step (d), a step of (d1) stopping, by the RFID reader, the bisection search process, and transmitting a frame size of the first middle point to the plurality of tags.
7. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising, after step (g), a step of (g1) stopping, by the RFID reader, the bisection search process, and transmitting a frame size of the second middle point to the plurality of tags.
8. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a step of (i) stopping, by the RFID reader, the bisection search process when the optimal frame size is determined in step (h), and transmitting the optimal frame to the plurality of tags.

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

I claim:

1. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a semi-conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, and the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids.
2. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein the bipolar plate has a thickness ranging from about 50 microns to about 2,000 microns.
3. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein the bipolar plate has a thickness ranging from about 500 microns to about 1,000 microns.
4. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the flow channels has a width ranging from about 1 micron to about 5,000 microns.
5. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the flow channels has a width ranging from about 20 microns to about 500 microns.
6. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the flow channels has a depth ranging from about 1 micron to about 3,000 microns.
7. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the flow channels has a depth ranging from about 5 microns to about 500 microns.
8. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein the semi-conductive body is selected from the group consisting of the Group IV semiconductors, the Group III-V semiconductors, and the Group II-VI semiconductors.
9. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 8 wherein the semi-conductive body is a doped semiconductor.
10. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein the semi-conductive body is silicon.
11. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1 wherein the first flow channel is further coated with a reforming catalyst or catalytic combuster.
12. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 11 wherein the reforming catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, cerium, iron, chromium, cobalt, manganese, copper, aluminum, oxides thereof, and mixtures thereof.
13. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1, the bipolar plate further comprising a conduit therethrough.
14. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 13 wherein the conduit is adapted to receive a cooling fluid or a heating fluid.
15. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 14, the bipolar plate further comprising a recuperative heat exchanger.
16. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 13 wherein the conduit is further coated with a reforming catalyst or catalytic combuster.
17. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1, the bipolar plate further comprising a resistive element located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate and adapted to heat the bipolar plate.
18. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 17 wherein the resistive element is selected from the group consisting of thin film resistive elements, thick film resistive elements, and diffused resistors.
19. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 17 wherein the resistive element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of doped silicon, nickel, chromium, tantalum, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, palladium, platinum, silicides thereof, oxides thereof, and mixtures thereof.
20. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 1, the bipolar plate further comprising a sensor located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate.
21. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 20, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of mechanical, thermal, magnetic, electrical, chemical, and radiation sensors.
22. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 20 wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of pressure, temperature, voltage, and flow sensors.
23. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 21 wherein the chemical sensor is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen ion, hydrogen, oxygen, water, hydrogen peroxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur, sulfur oxide, methanol, ethanol, methane, ethane, butane, propane, and pentane sensors.
24. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids; and
a sensor located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate.
25. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 24 wherein the conductive body is selected from the group consisting of graphite, stainless steel, nickel, iron, chrome, tungsten, cobalt, titanium, and alloys thereof.
26. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 24 wherein the first flow channel is further coated with a reforming catalyst.
27. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 24, the bipolar plate further comprising a conduit therethrough.
28. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 27 wherein the conduit is adapted to receive a cooling fluid or a heating fluid
29. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 27 wherein the conduit is further coated with a reforming catalyst or catalytic combuster.
30. The bipolar plate as defined in claim 24, the bipolar plate further comprising a resistive element located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate and adapted to heat the bipolar plate.
31. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids, wherein the first flow channel is further coated with a reforming catalyst.
32. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids; and
a conduit therethrough adapted to receive cooling or heating fluid.
33. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids; and
a conduit therethrough coated with a reforming catalyst.
34. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to contact an anode of a first fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact a cathode of a second fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids; and
a resistive element located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate and adapted to heat the bipolar plate
35. A method of making a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack, the method comprising steps of:
providing a semi-conductive or conductive substrate having a first face and a second face;
etching a first flow channel from the first face; and
etching a second flow channel from the second face.
36. The method as defined in claim 35 wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of semiconductors, graphite, and metals.
37. The method as defined in claim 35 wherein the step of etching is performed using an etchant selected from the group consisting of wet anisotropic etchants, wet isotropic etchants, plasma anisotropic etchants, plasma isotropic etchants, and combinations thereof.
38. The method as defined in claim 35, the method further comprising the step of applying a mask to the first or second face of the substrate before the step of etching a flow channel from the masked face.
39. The method as defined in claim 38, the method further comprising the step of patterning the mask by photolithography before the step of etching the flow channel from the first or second face.
40. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of coating the first channel with a reforming catalyst.
41. The method as defined in claim 40 wherein the step of coating the first flow channel with a reforming catalyst is performed by a coating method selected from the group consisting of sputter deposition, chemical vapor deposition, evaporation, electroplating, solution deposition, and combinations thereof.
42. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of creating a conduit wherein the conduit passes through the substrate.
43. The method as defined in claim 42 wherein the step of creating a conduit is performed by etching or a combination of etching and bonding.
44. The method as defined in claim 42 wherein the step of creating a conduit is performed by a method selected from the group consisting of drilling, abrasive machining, laser machining, and laser ablation.
45. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of coating the conduit with a reforming catalyst.
46. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of creating a resistive element wherein the resistive element is located within the bulk of the bipolar plate or on the surface of the bipolar plate and is adapted to heat the bipolar plate.
47. The method as defined in claim 45 wherein the step of creating the resistive element is performed by a combination of one or more methods selected from the group consisting of photolithography, wet etching, plasma etching, ion implantation, high temperature diffusion, boron concentration dependent etching, electrochemical etching, bonding, lift off, spin coating, dip coating, sputter deposition, evaporation, electroplating, solution deposition, and chemical vapor deposition.
48. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of micromachining a sensor from the bulk of the substrate or micromachining a sensor on the surface of the substrate.
49. The method as defined in claim 48 wherein the step of micromachining is performed by a combination of one or more methods selected from the group consisting of photolithography, wet etching, plasma etching, boron concentration dependent etching, electrochemical etching, bonding, lift off, spin coating, dip coating, sputter deposition, evaporation, electroplating, solution deposition, and chemical vapor deposition.
50. An end plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a semi-conductive body having a first face adapted to collect current and a second face adapted to contact an electrode of the fuel cell, the first face having a substantially planar surface, and the second face comprising an etched flow channel adapted to confine fluids.
51. The end plate of claim 50, the end plate further comprising a sensor located within the bulk of the end plate or on the surface of the end plate.
52. The end plate of claim 50, the end plate further comprising a resistive element located within the bulk of the end plate or on the surface of the end plate and adapted to heat the end plate.
53. An end plate for a fuel cell stack comprising:
a conductive body having a first face adapted to collect current and a second face adapted to contact an electrode of the fuel cell, the first face having a substantially planar surface, and the second face comprising an etched flow channel adapted to confine fluids; and
a sensor located within the bulk of the end plate or on the surface of the end plate.
54. The end plate of claim 53, the end plate further comprising a resistive element located within the bulk of the end plate or on the surface of the end plate and adapted to heat the end plate.
55. A method of making an end plate for a fuel cell stack, the method comprising steps of:
providing a substantially planar semi-conductive or conductive substrate having a face; and
etching a flow channel from the face.
56. A fuel cell stack comprising:
a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte arranged between the cathode and anode;
bipolar plates arranged between the fuel cells, each bipolar plate comprising a semi-conductive body having a first face adapted to contact the anode of a fuel cell and a second face adapted to contact the cathode of a fuel cell, the first face comprising a first flow channel adapted to confine fuel fluids, and the second face comprising a second flow channel adapted to confine oxidizing fluids; and
end plates, each end plate comprising a semi-conductive or conductive body having a first face adapted to collect current and a second face adapted to contact an electrode of a fuel cell, the first face having a substantially planar surface, and the second face comprising a flow channel adapted to confine fluids.
57. A method of making a fuel cell stack comprising steps of:
providing a plurality of fuel cells;
providing a plurality of bipolar plates according to claim 1;
assembling the fuel cells and bipolar plates alternately to form a stack;
providing end plates; and
completing the stack with the end plates.
58. An electronic device comprising a fuel cell stack according to claim 56.