Author: claimsbot

1. A self-directing vertical axis turbine, comprising:
a base;
a first hub rotatably coupled to the base for free rotation about a first generally vertical axis;
a plurality of first support arms extending radially from the first hub, each first support arm having a distal end;
a positioning arm rotatably coupled to the base for free rotation about the first generally vertical axis, attachment of the positioning arm to the base being independent of the attachment of the first hub to the base whereby the positioning arm and the first hub may rotate about the base at different times and speeds;
a second hub rotatably coupled to a distal end of the positioning arm for rotation about a second generally vertical axis;
a plurality of second support arms extending outwardly from the second hub, each second support arm having a distal end; and
a plurality of capturing elements, each capturing element being rotatably coupled to a respective first arm distal end and a respective second arm distal end;
wherein the first support arm distal ends have a common path of travel about the base that circumscribes a first circle having a constant diameter and a constant location relative to the base;
wherein the second support arm distal ends have a common path of travel about the second hub that circumscribes a second circle, the location of the second circle relative to the base moving with rotation of the positioning arm relative to the base, the first and second circles having center points that are offset from one another; and
wherein the positioning arm rotates about the first axis based upon forces imparted by a fluid upon the capturing elements and transferred to the positioning arm by the second support arms and the second hub.
2. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 1, wherein the second circle has a generally constant diameter when the positioning arm is not rotating relative to the base.
3. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 1, further comprising bearings between the first hub and the base, and bearings between the positioning arm and the base.
4. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 3, wherein the base is a pole that extends generally vertically.
5. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 4, wherein a terminal portion of the pole is segmented into portions of differing diameters.
6. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 5, wherein the second hub has a first portion for attaching to the positioning arm and a second portion for rotating relative to the first portion.
7. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 6, wherein the second circle has a generally constant diameter when the positioning arm is not rotating relative to the base.
8. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 7, wherein the first support arms are coupled together.
9. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 7, wherein the first support arms are configured as a sheet without explicit delineations between the first support arms.
10. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 7, wherein the first support arms are configured as a sheet with explicit delineations between the first support arms.
11. A self-directing vertical axis turbine, comprising:
a base;
a primary hub rotatably coupled to the base for rotation about a first axis;
a plurality of primary support arms extending radially from the primary hub, each primary support arm having a distal end;
a positioning arm rotatably coupled to the base for free rotation about the first axis, attachment of the positioning arm to the base being independent of the attachment of the primary hub to the base whereby the positioning arm and the primary hub may rotate about the base at different times and speeds;
a secondary hub rotatably coupled to the positioning arm for rotation about a second axis that is spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first axis, the second axis being fixed relative to the positioning arm and being movable relative to the first axis;
a plurality of secondary arms extending outwardly from the second hub, each secondary arm having a distal end; and
a plurality of capturing elements, each capturing element being rotatably coupled to a respective primary support arm distal end at a first point and a respective secondary arm distal end at a second point;
wherein the first points have a common path of travel about the base that circumscribes a first circle having a constant diameter and a constant location relative to the base;
wherein the second points have a common path of travel about the second hub that circumscribes a second circle, the location of the second circle relative to the base moving with rotation of the positioning arm relative to the base, the first and second circles having center points that are offset from one another; and
wherein the positioning arm rotates about the first axis based upon forces imparted by a fluid upon the capturing elements and transferred to the positioning arm by the secondary arms and the secondary hub.
12. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 11, wherein the secondary hub has a first portion for attaching to the positioning arm and a second portion for rotating relative to the first portion.
13. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 12, further comprising bearings between the primary hub and the base, and bearings between the positioning arm and the base.
14. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 13, wherein the second circle has a generally constant diameter when the positioning arm is not rotating relative to the base.
15. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 14, wherein a terminal portion of the base is segmented into portions of differing diameters.
16. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 15, wherein the plurality of capturing elements is six capturing elements.
17. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 16, wherein each capturing element includes material removably and tautly fastened to a frame.
18. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 11, wherein each capturing element includes material removably and tautly fastened to a frame.
19. The self-directing vertical axis turbine of claim 18, wherein:
the material has a failure strength selected to prevent the capturing elements from fully operating upon receiving a fluid having a speed that is predetermined to be excessive; and
the material includes indicia intended to be viewed while the capturing elements are rotating.

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 of storing a data file from a user computer system in a peer-to-peer network of computer systems, each computer system offering storage services at a respective offered service level of a set of service levels, the method comprising:
assigning to each of the computer systems respective peer identifiers from a metric space in such a way that the distance between peer identifiers of computer systems offering storage at the same service level is smaller than between peer identifiers of computer systems offering storage at different service levels,
selecting a desired service level of the set of service levels for storing the data file,
producing one or more data objects from the data file,
assigning to one of the data objects a data identifier from the metric space in such a way that the distance between the data identifier of the one of the data objects and any peer identifier of a computer system offering storage at the desired service level is smaller than the distance between the data identifier of the one of the data objects and any peer identifier of a computer system offering storage at a service level different from the desired service level,
routing the one of the data objects through the peer-to-peer network to a replication computer system having a peer identifier that is closer to the data identifier of the one of the data objects than any peer identifier of another computer system connected to the replication computer system through peer-to-peer interactions, and
storing the one of the data objects on the replication computer system.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the one of the data objects.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data identifier comprises a concatenation of a hash value derived from the desired service level and a hash value derived from the one of the data objects.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the computer systems the respective peer identifier comprises a concatenation of a hash value derived from the service level offered by the respective computer system and a hash value derived from unique properties of the respective computer system.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing the service level offered by each of the computer systems, the assessment being based on any of available disk space, overall disk space, uptime, and networking bandwidth of the respective computer system.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising allotting payment units to each of the computer systems according to the service level offered by the respective computer system.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transferring payment units from the user computer system to the replication computer system in exchange for storing the one of the data objects.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment units transferred depend on the service level selected for the data file.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
evaluating the actual service level at which the data object is stored on the replication computer system, and
routing the data object to a further replication computer system if the actual service level does not match the desired service level.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of data objects produced from the data file depends on the selected service level for the data file.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the steps of assigning, routing, and storing for each of the one or more data objects, the one or more data objects being stored on one or more replication computer systems.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
retrieving a subset of the one or more data objects from a subset of the one or more replication computer systems, and
restoring the data file using the subset of the one or more of the data objects.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the number of data objects required for restoring the data file depends on the selected service level for the data file.
14. A user computer system for providing storage services in a peer-to-peer network of computer systems, comprising:
storage devices,
storage resources available for offering storage services to the peer-to-peer network,
an assessment module for assessing the storage resources and deriving an offered service level of a set of service levels at which the storage services are provided,
an assignment module for assigning to the user computer system a peer identifier from a metric space in such a way that the distance between the peer identifier and any further peer identifier of a further computer system offering storage at the same service level is smaller than the distance between the peer identifier and any further peer identifier of a further computer system offering storage at a different service level
a user interface for selecting a desired service level of the set of service levels for storing a data file in the peer-to-peer network
a splitting module for producing one or more data objects from the data file,
a tagging module for assigning to one of the data objects a data identifier from the metric space in such a way that the distance between the data identifier of the one of the data objects and any peer identifier of a computer system offering storage at the desired service level is smaller than the distance between the data identifier of the one of the data objects and any peer identifier of a computer system offering storage at a service level different from the desired service level, and
a routing module for routing the one of the data objects through the network to a replication computer system having a peer identifier that is closer to the data identifier of the one of the data objects than any peer identifier of another
computer system connected to the replication computer system over the peer-to-peer network.
15. The user computer system of claim 14, the storage resources comprising any of available disk space, overall disk space, uptime, and networking bandwidth.
16. The user computer system of claim 14, the peer identifier comprising a concatenation of a hash value derived from the service level offered and a hash value derived from unique properties of the user computer system.
17. The user computer system of claim 14, further comprising:
a current balance of payment units, and
an accounting module for allotting payment units to the computer system according to the service level offered by the user computer system as determined by the assessment module.
18. The user computer system of claim 14, further comprising a data management module for validating the actual service level at which the data object is stored on the replication computer system.

1. A method of localizing load coils within a multi-section transmission line between two endpoints, wherein a section of the transmission line is defined as a load coil or a cable section of a specific cable type, the method comprising the steps of:
performing a measurement of a Single-Ended Line Testing (SELT) parameter at one of the two endpoints, wherein the measurement provides a measurement of characteristics of the transmission line at a number of frequencies;
generating a model of the multi-section transmission line based on a parameter vector \u03b8 including parameters describing the transmission properties of each section and the length of a plurality of individual cable sections as unknown independent parameters;
determining from the model, an approximation of the measured SELT parameter; and
determining a length of at least one cable section to thereby localize at least one load coil within the multi-section transmission line by minimizing a criterion function that represents a deviation between the measurement of the SELT parameter and the approximation of the SELT parameter determined from the model.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substantial minimization of the criterion function is derived with respect to a plurality of the number of frequencies.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
detecting the number of load coils within the multi-section transmission line utilizing a load coil detection method; and
inserting the number of detected load coils in the model to reduce the number of unknown parameters in the model.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the load coil detection method includes
performing a measurement of a line input impedance spectrum of the multi-section transmission line at one of the two endpoints;
determining a number of amplitude peaks of the measured line input impedance spectrum; and
setting the number of detected load coils to equal the number of determined amplitude peaks.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing the number of unknown parameters in the model, wherein a number of possible numeric estimates or known values of the parameter vector \u03b8, or a subset of the parameter vector \u03b8, is derived from a cable database listing estimates or known values representing the transmission properties of specific cable types.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measured SELT parameter is a one-port scattering parameter S11.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measured SELT parameter is the line input impedance.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the model is based on an approximation that a far end termination impedance of the multi-section transmission line is a frequency-dependent parameter ZT(f).
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the model is a model of the line input impedance and is given by:
Z
model

\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
=
A
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
\ue89e
Z
T

\ue8a0

(
f
)
+

B
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
C
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
\ue89e
Z
T

\ue8a0

(
f
)
+

D
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
,
where \u03b8 is the parameter vector, f denotes frequency and A, B, C and D are chain matrix elements of a matrix
M
=
M
1

\xd7

M
2

\ue89e
\u2026
\xd7

M

n
\ue89e
\ue89e
s
=
A
B
C
D
,
where ns is the number of sections of the multi-section transmission line, and where a section s is represented by a transmission matrix Ms.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the model is based on an approximation that a far end termination impedance of the multi-section transmission line is infinite.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the model is a model of the line input impedance and is given by:
Z
model

\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
=
A
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
C
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
,
where \u03b8 is the parameter vector, f denotes frequency, and A and C are chain matrix elements of a matrix
M
=
M
1

\xd7

M
2

\ue89e
\u2026
\xd7

M

n
\ue89e
\ue89e
s
=
A
B
C
D
,
where ns is the number of sections of the multi-section transmission line and where a section s is represented by a transmission matrix Ms.
12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
initially determining whether the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric; and
when the multi-section transmission line is determined to be substantially symmetric, determining the length of at least one cable section utilizing a load coil localization method for symmetric lines.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of initially determining whether the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric includes:
computing a first estimate {circumflex over (d)}tolSYM of the total line length of the multi-section transmission line utilizing a load coil localization method for symmetric lines; deriving a second estimate {circumflex over (d)}tol, independent of the first estimate, of the total line length of the multi-section transmission line;
comparing the first and second line-length estimates; and
determining that the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric if an absolute difference between the first and second line-length estimates is below a predetermined threshold value \u03b5.
14. A load coil localization unit for localizing load coils within a multi-section transmission line between two endpoints, wherein a section of the transmission line is defined as a load coil or a cable section of a specific cable type, the load coil localization unit comprising:
an input unit for receiving a measurement of a Single-Ended Line Testing (SELT) parameter at one of the two endpoints, wherein the measurement provides a measurement of characteristics of the transmission line at a number of frequencies;
a model generator for generating a model of the multi-section transmission line based on a parameter vector e including parameters describing the transmission properties of each section and the length of a plurality of individual cable sections as unknown independent parameters; and
a processing unit for determining from the model, an approximation of the measured SELT parameter, and for determining a length of at least one cable section to thereby localize at least one load coil within the multi-section transmission line by minimizing a criterion function that represents a deviation between the measurement of the SELT parameter and the approximation of the SELT parameter determined from the model.
15. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, wherein the substantial minimization of the criterion function is derived with respect to a plurality of the number of frequencies.
16. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, further comprising a load coil detector unit for detecting the number of load coils within the multi-section transmission line utilizing a load coil detection method;
wherein the model generator inserts the number of detected load coils in the model to reduce the number of unknown parameters in the model.
17. The load coil localization unit according to claim 16, wherein the load coil detection unit includes:
an input unit for receiving a measurement of the line input impedance spectrum of the multi-section transmission line at one of the two endpoints, and
a processing unit for determining a number of amplitude peaks of a measured line input impedance spectrum, and to set the number of detected load coils to equal the number of determined amplitude peaks.
18. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, wherein the model generator includes means for reducing the number of unknown parameters in the model, wherein a number of possible numeric estimates or known values of the parameter vector \u03b8, or a subset of the parameter vector \u03b8, is derived from a cable database listing estimates or known values representing the transmission properties of specific cable types.
19. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, wherein the measured SELT parameter is a one-port scattering parameter S11.
20. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, wherein the measured SELT parameter is the line input impedance.
21. The load coil localization unit according to claim 20, wherein the model is based on an approximation that a far end termination impedance of the multi-section transmission line is a frequency-dependent parameter ZT(f).
22. The load coil localization unit according to claim 21, wherein the model is a model of the line input impedance and is given by:
Z
model

\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
=
A
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
\ue89e
Z
T

\ue8a0

(
f
)
+

B
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
C
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
\ue89e
Z
T

\ue8a0

(
f
)
+

D
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
,
where \u03b8 is the parameter vector; f denotes frequency; and A, B, C, and D are chain matrix elements of a matrix
M
=
M
1

\xd7

M
2

\ue89e
\u2026
\xd7

M

n
\ue89e
\ue89e
s
=
A
B
C
D
,
where ns is the number of sections of the multi-section transmission line, and where a section s is represented by a transmission matrix Ms.
23. The load coil localization unit according to claim 20, wherein the model is based on an approximation that a far end termination impedance of the multi-section transmission line is infinite.
24. The load coil localization unit according to claim 23, wherein the model is a model of the line input impedance and is given by:
Z
model

\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
=
A
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
C
\ue8a0

(

f
,
\u03b8

)
,
where \u03b8 is the parameter vector; f denotes frequency; and A and C are chain matrix elements of a matrix
M
=
M
1

\xd7

M
2

\ue89e
\u2026
\xd7

M

n
\ue89e
\ue89e
s
=
A
B
C
D
,
where ns is the number of sections of the multi-section transmission line, and where a section s is represented by a transmission matrix Ms.
25. The load coil localization unit according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit also includes:
means for determining whether the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric; and
means for determining the length of at least one cable section utilizing a load coil localization method for symmetric lines, responsive to a determination that the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric.
26. The load coil localization unit according to claim 25, wherein the processing unit determines whether the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric by:
computing a first estimate {circumflex over (d)}tolSYM of a total line length of the multi-section transmission line utilizing a load coil localization method for symmetric lines;
deriving a second estimate {circumflex over (d)}tol, independent of the first estimate, of the total line length of the multi-section transmission line;
comparing the first and second line-length estimates; and
determining that the multi-section transmission line is substantially symmetric when an absolute difference between the first and second line-length estimates is below a predetermined threshold value E.

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 non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more programs stored therein for execution by one or more processors of a mobile device with a touch screen display and a home button, the one or more programs including instructions for:
when the mobile device is operating in a primary access mode, presenting a plurality of icons that correspond to applications accessible in the primary access mode; and
determining an application of the plurality of applications to share in a secondary access mode of the mobile device by:
detecting a selection of a first icon in the plurality of icons that correspond to the applications accessible for use at the mobile device in the primary access mode, the first icon corresponding to a first application;
while maintaining the selection of the first icon, detecting a touch input on the home button; and,
in response to detecting both the selection of the first icon and the touch input on the home button, placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode, wherein in the secondary access mode, a user only has access to the first application in the plurality of applications.
2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein in the primary access mode, a user has access to all applications that execute on the mobile device.
3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is activated.
4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is launched immediately after placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode.
5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the home button is a physical button.
6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the home button is a selectable user interface item.
7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein in the secondary access mode, icons in the plurality of icons that are distinct from the first icon have a different appearance indicating the corresponding applications are not accessible in the secondary access mode.
8. A method, comprising:
at a mobile device with one or more processors, a memory, a touch screen display, and a home button:
when the mobile device is operating in a primary access mode, presenting a plurality of icons that correspond to applications accessible in the primary access mode; and
determining an application of the plurality of applications to share in a secondary access mode of the mobile device by:
detecting a selection of a first icon in the plurality of icons that correspond to the applications accessible for use at the mobile device in the primary access mode, the first icon corresponding to a first application;
while maintaining the selection of the first icon, detecting a touch input on the home button; and,
in response to detecting both the selection of the first icon and the touch input on the home button, placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode, wherein in the secondary access mode, a user only has access to the first application in the plurality of applications.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein in the primary access mode, a user has access to all applications that execute on the mobile device.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is activated.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is launched immediately after placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the home button is a physical button.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the home button is a selectable user interface item.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein in the secondary access mode, icons in the plurality of icons that are distinct from the first icon have a different appearance indicating the corresponding applications are not accessible in the secondary access mode.
15. A mobile device, comprising:
a touch screen display;
a home button;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs for executing by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
when the mobile device is operating in a primary access mode, presenting a plurality of icons that correspond to applications accessible in the primary access mode; and
determining an application of the plurality of applications to share in a secondary access mode of the mobile device by:
detecting a selection of a first icon in the plurality of icons that correspond to the applications accessible for use at the mobile device in the primary access mode, the first icon corresponding to a first application;
while maintaining the selection of the first icon, detecting a touch input on the home button; and,
in response to detecting both the selection of the first icon and the touch input on the home button, placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode, wherein in the secondary access mode, a user only has access to the first application in the plurality of applications.
16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein in the primary access mode, a user has access to all applications that execute on the mobile device.
17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is activated.
18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein in the secondary access mode, the first application is launched immediately after placing the mobile device in the secondary access mode.
19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the home button is a physical button.
20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the home button is a selectable user interface item.
21. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein in the secondary access mode, icons in the plurality of icons that are distinct from the first icon have a different appearance indicating the corresponding applications are not accessible in the secondary access mode.