Author: claimsbot

1-3. (canceled)
4. A workflow system comprising:
manipulating computer terminals, for executing a workflow between persons in charge, said manipulating computer terminals being connected to a network;
a designing computer terminal for designing said workflow by designating project variables for multiplexing a plurality of processes for nodes, each process indicating a unit of operations to be handled; and
a workflow server for managing said workflow designed by said designing computer terminal, and accessing said manipulating computer terminals in accordance with activities that indicate operations assigned to said nodes.
5-18. (canceled)
19. The workflow system of claim 4, wherein the workflow server is coupled to both the designing computer terminal and the manipulating computer terminals through the network.
20. The workflow system of claim 19, wherein the designing computer terminal includes functions for designing said workflow, wherein the designing computer terminal further includes definition functions for realizing duty processing by the workflow system, and wherein the designing computer terminal is used for designing the workflow to design a flow of operations of duties to be performed and a data structure for use in said operations of duties to be performed.
21. The workflow system of claim 20, wherein the designing computer is used for arranging the nodes and connecting the nodes by paths such that said nodes and paths determine a workflow definition that determines a processing order of the nodes in conjunction with said flow of operations of duties to be performed, and wherein designing computer is used for prescribing a data definition relating to the workflow definition and for prescribing attributes of the nodes and of the paths.
22. The workflow system of claim 21, wherein the attributes of the nodes are selected from the group consisting of the names of the nodes, persons in charge of the nodes, and a relationship designation defined by a relationship between users of the nodes.
23. The workflow system of claim 21, wherein the attributes of the paths include conditions for enabling the paths.
24. The workflow system of claim 21, wherein a project created at the designing computer terminal is registered in the workflow server, and wherein each separate duty of said duties has been created from the project and corresponds to a process such that each operation forming the process is assigned to a corresponding person in charge of an activity of said activities.
25. The workflow system of claim 19, wherein a first node of said nodes is adapted to generate and execute child processes as an activity of said activities by using a definition of a project referred to by the first node.
26. The workflow system of claim 25, wherein the first node is adapted to circulate data to different users or departments by separately setting IDs of the child processes.
27. The workflow system of claim 26, wherein the IDs of the child processes are linked to variable IDs of array elements of a variable by an input tag, and wherein data values set to data in the variable IDs are adapted to be substituted into a form.
28. The workflow system of claim 27, wherein the first node refers to a project type array associated with the project, wherein the number of said child processes is equal to the number of array elements, and wherein the first node is adapted to execute the child processes in parallel.
29. The workflow system of claim 28, wherein project type data relating to said project type array facilitates reuse of a workspace definition and data definition of another project.
30. The workflow system of claim 19,
wherein a designer at the designing computer terminal uses the designing computer for arranging the nodes and connecting the nodes by paths such that said nodes and paths determine a workflow definition that determines a processing order of the nodes,
wherein the designer uses the designing computer for prescribing a data definition relating to the workflow definition and for prescribing attributes of the nodes and of the paths wherein a project created by a designer at the designing computer terminal is registered in the workflow server,
wherein the workflow server comprises programs and storages,
wherein the programs comprise a project management program, a process management program, a client request management program, and a user management program, and
wherein the storages comprise a workflow definition storage, a data definition storage, a process storage, a workflow status storage, and a user information storage.
31. A workflow management method, comprising:
executing a workflow between persons in charge, said executing being performed via manipulating computer terminals, said manipulating computer terminals being connected to a network;
designing said workflow, via a designing computer terminal, by designating project variables for multiplexing a plurality of processes for nodes, each process indicating a unit of operations to be handled;
managing said designed workflow via a workflow server; and
accessing said manipulating computer terminals in accordance with activities that indicate operations assigned to said nodes handled.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the workflow server is coupled to both the designing computer terminal and the manipulating computer terminals through the network.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the designing computer terminal includes functions for designing said workflow, wherein the designing computer terminal further includes definition functions for realizing duty processing by the workflow system, and wherein the method further comprises:
designing the workflow, via the designing computer terminal, to design a flow of operations of duties to be performed and a data structure for use in said operations of duties to be performed.
34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
arranging the nodes and connecting the nodes by paths such that said nodes and paths determine a workflow definition that determines a processing order of the nodes in conjunction with said flow of operations of duties to be performed; and
prescribing a data definition relating to the workflow definition and for prescribing attributes of the nodes and of the paths, said arranging and said prescribing being performed via said designing computer.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the attributes of the nodes are selected from the group consisting of the names of the nodes, persons in charge of the nodes, and a relationship designation defined by a relationship between users of the nodes.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the attributes of the paths include conditions for enabling the paths.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein a project created at the designing computer terminal is registered in the workflow server, and wherein each separate duty of said duties has been created from the project and corresponds to a process such that each operation forming the process is assigned to a corresponding person in charge of an activity of said activities.
38. The method of claim 32, generating and executing, via a first node of said nodes, child processes as an activity of said activities by using a definition of a project referred to by the first node.
39. The method of claim 38, circulating data to different users or departments by separately setting IDs of the child processes, said circulating being performed via said first node.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the IDs of the child processes are linked to variable IDs of array elements of a variable by an input tag, and wherein data values set to data in the variable IDs are adapted to be substituted into a form.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first node refers to a project type array associated with the project, wherein the number of said child processes is equal to the number of array elements, and wherein the first node is adapted to execute the child processes in parallel.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein project type data relating to said project type array facilitates reuse of a workspace definition and data definition of another project.
43. The method of claim 32,
wherein a designer at the designing computer terminal uses the designing computer for arranging the nodes and connecting the nodes by paths such that said nodes and paths determine a workflow definition that determines a processing order of the nodes,
wherein the designer uses the designing computer for prescribing a data definition relating to the workflow definition and for prescribing attributes of the nodes and of the paths wherein a project created by a designer at the designing computer terminal is registered in the workflow server,
wherein the workflow server comprises programs and storages,
wherein the programs comprise a project management program, a process management program, a client request management program, and a user management program, and
wherein the storages comprise a workflow definition storage, a data definition storage, a process storage, a workflow status storage, and a user information storage.

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 to select devices (12, 14, 16) of a wireless network, particularly a network of wireless lighting devices, comprising the following steps:
sending out a broadcast message (18) at a first output power by a wireless remote device (10), wherein the broadcast message contains a first threshold value for a predetermined communication link quality (S10),
receiving the broadcast message (18) by each of a plurality of devices (12, 14, 16) of the wireless network (S12),
determining the communication link quality of the received broadcast message in each receiving device (S14),
comparing the threshold value contained in the broadcast message with the determined communication link quality in each receiving device (S18),
transmitting an unicast message (20, 22) containing the determined communication link quality and a device identifier to the remote control device (10) by a receiving device (14, 16) if the communication link quality determined by a device is larger than the threshold value (S18, S20), and
selecting the one of the devices with the largest value of determined communication link quality (S22, S24, S26, S28, S30, S32, S34).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting comprises
storing all unicast messages (20, 22) received from devices (14, 16) in the wireless remote device (10; S22),
sorting the stored unicast messages by the values of the contained determined communication link qualities in a list with the largest value of communication link quality on top of the list (S24), and
sending a command to the device on top of the list in order to select the device (S26, S28).
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command is sent for a predefined time span.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of
determining after the predefined time span whether a selection button is pressed (S30), and
sending a command to the next device in the list in order to select this device if the selection button is still pressed after the predefined time span (S28, S32, S34).
5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one further broadcast message (18) is sent out at a second output power, which is higher than the first output power, by the wireless remote device (10), wherein the further broadcast message contains a second threshold value for a predetermined wireless communication link quality, which is smaller than the first threshold value.
6. A system to select devices (12, 14, 16) of a wireless network, particularly a network of wireless lighting devices, comprising
a wireless remote device (10) adapted to send out a broadcast message (18) at a first output power, wherein the broadcast message (18) contains a first threshold value for a predetermined communication link quality,
a plurality of devices (12, 14, 16) of the wireless network each being adapted to receive the broadcast message (18), to determine the communication link quality of the received broadcast message, to compare the threshold value contained in the broadcast message with the determined communication link quality, and to transmit an unicast message (20, 22) containing the determined communication link quality and a device identifier to the remote control device (10) if the communication link quality determined by a device is larger than the threshold value, and wherein
the wireless remote device (10) is further adapted to select the one of the devices with the largest value of determined communication link quality.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein
the wireless remote device (10) is further adapted to store all unicast messages (20, 22) received from devices (14, 16), to sort the stored unicast messages by the values of the contained determined communication link qualities in a list with the largest value of communication link quality on top of the list, and to send a command to the device on top of the list in order to select the device.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless remote device (10) is further adapted to send the command for a predefined time span.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein
the wireless remote device is further adapted to determine after the predefined time span whether a selection button (24) is pressed, and to send a command to the next device in the list in order to select this device if the selection button (24) is still pressed after the predefined time span.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein
the wireless remote device (10) is further adapted to send out at least one further broadcast message at a second output power, which is higher than or equal to the first output power, wherein the further broadcast message contains a second threshold value for a predetermined wireless communication link quality, which is smaller than or equal to the first threshold value.
11. The system of claim 6, wherein
the devices (12, 14, 16) of the wireless network are lighting devices each being adapted for a wireless control, and
the wireless remote device (10) is a wireless lighting controller.
12. A wireless remote device (10) adapted for selecting devices of a wireless network according to claim 1 and comprising
a transceiver for sending out and receiving messages via a wireless communications link, and
a controller configured to process received messages from the devices and to select the one of the devices with the largest value of a determined communication link quality.

1. A method comprising:
disabling a first core of a multi-core microprocessor; and
testing a second core.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
enabling the first core;
disabling the second core; and
testing the first core.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
enabling the first core; and
testing both the first and the second cores.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein testing the core comprises running manufacturing tests designed to test a single-core microprocessor.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the core comprises programming a read only memory (ROM) within the core with a value that causes the core to not be logically present.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising programming the ROM using an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1149.1-2001 compliant test access port (TAP).
7. An electronic appliance, comprising:
a memory to store data;
a network controller to communicate data; and
a multi-core processor to process data coupled with the network controller and the memory, wherein the processor includes circuitry to disable one or more cores and function with the remaining core(s).
8. The electronic appliance of claim 7, further comprising programmable read only memory (PROM) within the cores to store the status of the core.
9. The electronic appliance of claim 8, further comprising a test access port (TAP) to program the PROM.
10. The electronic appliance of claim 7, wherein the processor comprises two cores.
11. A processor comprising:
a test access port (TAP); and
a plurality of cores, wherein each core includes a test agent, wherein the test agent to disable the core, to configure a mode, and to configure a site.
12. The processor of claim 11, wherein the test agent to disable the core comprises the test agent to disable the core clocks and to tri-state outputs in response to a request received through the TAP.
13. The processor of claim 11, wherein the test agent to configure a mode comprises the test agent to drive on-die termination depending on the number of active cores in response to a request received through the TAP.
14. The processor of claim 11, wherein the test agent to configure a site comprises the test agent to reorder bus request logic depending on the logical location of a core in response to a request received through the TAP.
15. The processor of claim 11, wherein the TAP complies with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1149.1-2001 specification.
16. A storage medium comprising content which, when executed by an accessing machine, causes the accessing machine to disable a first core of a multi-core microprocessor and to test a second core.
17. The storage medium of claim 16, further comprising content to enable the second core to function as a primary core.
18. The storage medium of claim 16, further comprising content to enable the first core, to disable the second core and to test the first core.
19. The storage medium of claim 16, further comprising content to enable the first core to function as a primary core and to test both the first and the second cores.
20. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the content comprises a manufacturing test routine.
21. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of cores;
a programmable read only memory (PROM) within each core; and
circuitry to disable each core in response to a PROM value.
22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising circuitry to configure each core as a primary core in response to a PROM value.
23. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising circuitry to configure each core as terminating core in response to a PROM value.
24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the circuitry to disable each core comprises circuitry to disable clocks and tri-state outputs.
25. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a test access port to program the PROM.

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 ultrasonic coagulation and cutting apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer for converting electric signals into ultrasonic vibrations to perform a treatment using ultrasonic vibrations on body tissue;
a probe comprising a rod member having a predetermined length and a predetermined outer diameter, the probe transmitting ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the distal end thereof, the proximal end thereof being connected to the ultrasonic transducer;
a gripping member for cooperating with the outer surface of the probe in gripping therebetween body tissue, the member being movable closer to and farther away from the probe so that the gripped body tissue is coagulated and cut;
an operation unit operated to move the gripping member closer to or farther away from the probe;
an operation transmitting member for transmitting the operation of the operation unit to the gripping member such that the gripping member is moved closer to or farther away from the probe in accordance with the amount of operating the operation unit; and
high frequency power supply connecting portions for electrically connecting the probe and the gripping member to predetermined portions of a high frequency power supply to perform a treatment using high frequency current on the body tissue, wherein
at least coagulation of the body tissue using high frequency current supplied from the high frequency power supply is started in a first gripping state in which the body tissue is gripped between the outer surface of the probe and the gripping member moved closer thereto by operating the operation unit, and
cutting of the body tissue, including coagulated part, using ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer is started in a second gripping state in which the gripping member is further moved closer to the probe after the coagulation of the body tissue is performed.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member includes a conductive segment and an insulating segment, the insulating segment serving as a probe contact member for preventing the conductive segment from being in direct contact with the probe when the gripping member is moved closer to the probe.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member includes a toothed gripping portion for pressing the body tissue in the first and second gripping states.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
a path for the flow of high frequency current for coagulation from the toothed gripping portion to the probe is provided in the first gripping state in which the body tissue is gripped between the toothed gripping portion and the probe, and
ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer to the probe are transferred to the body tissue in addition to the flow of high frequency current from the toothed gripping portion to the probe in the second gripping state in which the body tissue is gripped between the toothed gripping portion, the probe contact member, and the probe.
5. An ultrasonic coagulation and cutting apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer for converting electric signals into ultrasonic vibrations to perform a treatment using ultrasonic vibrations on body tissue;
a probe comprising a rod member having a predetermined length and a predetermined outer diameter, the probe transmitting ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the distal end thereof, the proximal end thereof being connected to the ultrasonic transducer;
a gripping member for cooperating with the outer surface of the probe in gripping therebetween body tissue, the gripping member being movable closer to and farther away from the probe so that the gripped body tissue is cut or coagulated, the gripping member including:
a conductive segment arranged so as to face the probe, the conductive segment having conductivity such that high frequency current from a high frequency power supply is supplied to the probe through the body tissue gripped by moving the gripping member closer to the probe; and
an insulating segment having an opening whose width is larger than the outer diameter of the probe and a surface extending from the edge of the opening, the insulating segment preventing the probe from being in electrical contact with the gripping member when the gripping member is moved closer to the probe; and

high frequency power supply connecting portions for electrically connecting the probe and the gripping member to predetermined portions of the high frequency power supply to perform a treatment using high frequency current on the body tissue, wherein
the conductive segment is a diathermy member having a recess, whose width is larger than the outer diameter of the probe, for receiving the insulating segment, a portion surrounding the recess serving as a toothed gripping portion that is contactable with the body tissue in accordance with the movement of the gripping member closer to the probe, the toothed gripping portion supplying high frequency current from the high frequency power supply to the probe through the body tissue, and
the insulating segment is an ultrasonic treatment member for pressing the body tissue against the outer surface of the probe when approaching the probe in accordance with the further movement of the gripping member closer to the probe.
6. An ultrasonic coagulation and cutting apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer for converting electric signals into ultrasonic vibrations to perform a treatment using ultrasonic vibrations on body tissue;
a probe comprising a rod member having a predetermined length and a predetermined outer diameter, the probe transmitting ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the distal end thereof, the proximal end thereof being connected to the ultrasonic transducer;
a gripping member for cooperating with the outer surface of the probe in gripping therebetween body tissue, the gripping member being movable closer to and farther away from the probe so that the gripped body tissue is cut or coagulated, the gripping member including:
a conductive segment having conductivity such that high frequency current from a high frequency power supply is supplied to the probe through the body tissue gripped by moving the gripping member closer to the probe; and
an insulating segment whose width is larger than the outer diameter of the probe, the insulating segment being arranged on one surface of the conductive segment so as to split the conductive segment into a plurality of toothed gripping portions, the surface being opposed to the probe; and

high frequency power supply connecting portions for electrically connecting the probe and the gripping member to predetermined portions of the high frequency power supply to perform a treatment using high frequency current on the body tissue.