Author: claimsbot

1. A mud pulse telemetry system, comprising:
a surface located fluid supply line having a drilling fluid flowing therein;
a non-venting pulser disposed in said drilling fluid in said supply line, said non-venting pulser adapted to generate pressure fluctuations in said drilling fluid;
a downhole receiver in hydraulic communication with said pulser and adapted to detect said pressure fluctuations in said drilling fluid;
a downhole pressure pulser configured to send a signal to a surface location, wherein the non-venting pulser and the downhole pressure pulser perform a signal handshake having an uplink signal and a downlink signal between the surface location and the downhole location; and
a processor configured to determine a data reception rate at one of the surface location and the downhole location, compare the determined data reception rate to a predetermined data reception criterion for the one of the surface location and the downhole location, and instruct the other of the surface location and the downhole location to alter an encoding scheme of the at least one of said uplink signal and said downlink signal when the predetermined data reception rate is not achieved.
2. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 1, wherein the non-venting pulser is one of: (i) an oscillating shear valve pulser; and (ii) a reciprocating poppet pulser.
3. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 2, wherein the oscillating shear valve pulser includes:
i. a non-rotating stator;
ii. a rotor proximate said stator; and
iii. a drive system adapted to drive the rotor in a controllable rotationally oscillating manner for generating pressure fluctuations in the drilling fluid, said drive system controlling at least one oscillating characteristic of interest of the rotor.
4. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 3, further comprising a controller for controlling the drive system.
5. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 1, wherein the downhole receiver includes at least one pressure sensor.
6. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 1, wherein the downhole receiver includes a downhole pulser for transmitting signals to a surface receiver.
7. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 1, further comprising a surface receiver including at least one pressure sensor.
8. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 3, wherein the at least one oscillating characteristic of interest of the rotor is at least one of: (i) an oscillating frequency of the rotor; (ii) an oscillating angle of the rotor; and (iii) an oscillating phase of the rotor.
9. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 3, wherein the drive system is one of: (i) an electric motor; (ii) an electric motor driven gear system; (iii) an electric motor driven adjustable pin and crank system; and (iv) an electric motor driven cam system for converting continuous motor rotation to oscillating rotor motion.
10. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 3, further comprising a torsion spring acting cooperatively with the drive system to reduce power required to drive said rotor in said controlled rotationally oscillating manner.
11. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the torsion spring comprises:
i. an inner magnet assembly adapted to attach to the drive system distal from the rotor, and
ii. a non-rotating outer magnetic assembly concentric with said inner magnet assembly and axially moveable with respect to said inner magnet assembly, said axially moveable outer magnet assembly acting cooperatively with said inner magnet assembly to create a magnetic spring having an adjustable spring constant.
12. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the torsion spring has a predetermined spring constant such that the torsion spring acts cooperatively with a plurality of rotating masses comprising the drive system and the rotor to create a torsional spring-mass system whose torsional resonant frequency is related to a predetermined pressure fluctuation frequency.
13. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 3, further comprising an oil-filled pulser housing having a fluid seal for preventing intrusion of wellbore fluid, the fluid seal comprising a flexible elastomeric bellows.
14. The mud pulse telemetry system of claim 4, wherein the controller comprises circuitry to control the motion of the rotor, said circuitry including a programmable processor adapted to perform programmed instructions for controlling the motion of the rotor.
15. A method of selecting a transmission parameter for bi-directional signal transmission between a surface location and a downhole location in a drilling mud communication channel, comprising:
a. performing a signal handshake having an uplink signal and a downlink signal between said surface location and said downhole location;
b. determining a data reception rate at one of the surface location and the downhole location and comparing the determined data reception rate to a predetermined data reception criterion for the one of the surface location and the downhole location;
c. instructing the other of the surface location and the downhole location to alter an encoding scheme of at least one of said uplink signal and said downlink signal if the predetermined data reception rate is not achieved; and
d. repeating steps a-c until the determined data reception rate meets the predetermined data reception criterion.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one transmission parameter is chosen from a group consisting of: (i) a type of encoding scheme, (ii) a baseline pulse amplitude, and (iii) a baseline frequency.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
disposing a non-venting pulser in a surface-located fluid supply line having a drilling fluid flowing therein;
actuating said non-venting pulser to generate pressure fluctuations according to a predetermined encoding scheme in said flowing drilling fluid; and
detecting said pressure fluctuations with a downhole receiver in hydraulic communication with said non-venting pulser.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the non-venting pulser is one of (i) an oscillating shear valve pulser and (ii) a reciprocating poppet pulser.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of actuating the non-venting pulser comprises controlling the actuation of the non-venting pulser with a controller.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising modifying the actuation of a downhole pulser in response to said detected pressure fluctuations.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined encoding scheme is at least one of (i) a phase shift key (PSK) encoding scheme, (ii) a frequency shift key (FSK) encoding scheme, (iii) an amplitude shift key (ASK) encoding scheme, (iv) a combination of an amplitude shift key (ASK) encoding scheme and a frequency shift key (FSK) encoding scheme, and (v) a combination of an amplitude shift key (ASK) encoding scheme and a phase shift key (PSK) encoding scheme.

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 implemented in a data processing system, the method comprising:
identifying a candidate instruction in a code of an application being loaded during load time, wherein the candidate instruction is specific to a hardware facility;
responsive to identifying the candidate instruction, determining whether the hardware facility is present in the data processing system to execute the candidate instruction; and
responsive to a determination that the hardware facility is absent from the data processing system, substituting the candidate instruction with a second set of instructions.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
responsive to a determination that the hardware facility is present in the data processing system, retaining the first set of instructions.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of instructions comprises a no-op instruction.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the candidate instruction is one of a single instruction and a plurality of instructions.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of instructions is one of a single instruction and a plurality of instructions.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the candidate instruction is one of a single instruction and a plurality of instructions and wherein the second set of instructions is one of a single instruction and a plurality of instructions.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the candidate instruction is identified by a fix-up type associated with the candidate instruction.

1. A method comprising:
requesting, with a peripheral printing device via a communications network connected to the peripheral printing device, identity of a plurality of suppliers for at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device;
receiving, at the peripheral printing device via the communications network, information identifying a plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable in response to the request; and
indicating, with the peripheral printing device, one of the identified plurality of suppliers to submit an order for the at least one consumable to the indicated supplier based on the received information, via the communication network,
wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a quantity of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and the method further comprising the step of displaying or printing each identified quantity of the at least one consumable.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising indicating, at the peripheral printing device, when replacement of at least one of the consumables in the peripheral printing device is recommended, wherein the request is based on the indication of the recommended replacement.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a price of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and the method further comprising the step of displaying or printing each identified price of the at least one consumable.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a location of each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and the method further comprising the step of displaying or printing each location of the identified plurality of suppliers.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
processing the submitted order; and
supplying the at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the processing the submitted order further comprises receiving a payment for the at least one consumable.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1, comprising:
receiving the request, and
identifying the plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable based on the received request.
8. The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising retrieving information about the peripheral printing device making the request, wherein the identifying the plurality of suppliers is based on the retrieved information.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one of displaying said received identification information and printing said received identification information.
10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the peripheral printing device is a device selected from a printer, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine.
11. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for shopping for at least one consumable for a peripheral printing device which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
requesting, with a peripheral printing device via a communications network connected to the peripheral printing device, identity of a plurality of suppliers for at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device;
receiving, at the peripheral printing device via the communications network, information identifying a plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable in response to the request; and
indicating, with the peripheral printing device, one of the identified plurality of suppliers to submit an order for the at least one consumable to the indicated supplier based on the received information, via the communication network,
wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a quantity of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and further comprising the step of displaying or printing each identified quantity of the at least one consumable.
12. The medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising indicating, at the peripheral printing device, when replacement of at least one of the consumables in the peripheral printing device is recommended, wherein the requesting is based on the indication of the recommended replacement.
13. The medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a price of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and further comprising the step of displaying or printing each identified price of the at least one consumable.
14. The medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a location of each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and further comprising the step of displaying or printing each location of the identified plurality of suppliers.
15. The medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:
processing the submitted order; and
supplying the at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device.
16. The medium as set forth in claim 15, wherein the processing the submitted order further comprises receiving a payment for the at least one consumable.
17. The medium as set forth in claim 11, comprising:
receiving the request, and
identifying the plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable based on the received request.
18. The medium as set forth in claim 17, further comprising retrieving information about the peripheral printing device making the request, wherein the identifying the plurality of suppliers is based on the retrieved information.
19. The medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising at least one of displaying said received identification information and printing said received identification information.
20. The medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the peripheral printing device is a device selected from a printer, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine.
21. A system comprising:
a requesting system that requests, with a peripheral printing device via a communications network connected to the peripheral printing device, identity of a plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device;
a receiving system of the peripheral printing device that receives, via the communications network, information identifying a plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable in response to the request;
an indication system, with the peripheral printing device, that indicates one of the identified plurality of suppliers; and
an ordering system, with the peripheral printing device, for submitting an order for the at least one consumable to the indicated supplier based on the received information, via the communication network,
wherein the received information identifies a quantity of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, wherein the indication system indicates the identified quantity of the at least one consumable.
22. The system as set forth in claim 21, further comprising an indication system that indicates at the peripheral printing device when replacement of one or more of the consumables in the peripheral printing device is recommended, wherein the request by the requesting system is based on the indication of the recommended replacement.
23. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying a price of the at least one consumable at each of the identified plurality of suppliers, and the indication system indicates each identified price of the at least one consumable.
24. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the received information further comprises information identifying locations of the identified plurality of suppliers, and the indication system indicates the locations of the identified plurality of suppliers.
25. The system as set forth in claim 21, further comprising an order processing system for processing the submitted order for the at least one consumable for the peripheral printing device.
26. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the processing system processes a payment for the at least one consumable.
27. The system as set forth in claim 21, comprising an identification system for receiving the request and identifying the plurality of suppliers for the at least one consumable based on the request.
28. The system as set forth in claim 27, further comprising a retrieval system that retrieves information about the peripheral printing device making the request, wherein the identification system identifies the plurality of suppliers based on the retrieved information.
29. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the system comprises at least one of a display for displaying received identification information and a printer for printing received identification information.
30. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the peripheral printing device is a device selected from a printer, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine.

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 printed wiring board, comprising:
a resin insulating layer;
a first conductor layer embedded into a first surface of the resin insulating layer and comprising a plurality of connecting portions positioned to connect an electronic component;
a second conductor layer projecting from a second surface of the resin insulating layer on an opposite side of the resin insulating layer with respect to the first surface;
a solder resist layer formed on the first surface of the resin insulating layer such that the solder resist layer is covering the first conductor layer and has an opening structure exposing the plurality of connecting portions of the first conductor layer;
a barrier metal layer formed on the plurality of connecting portions of the first conductor layer such that the barrier layer is projecting from the first surface of the resin insulating layer; and
a plurality of metal posts formed on the barrier layer such that the plurality of metal posts is positioned on the plurality of connecting portions of the first conductor layer, respectively,
wherein the plurality of metal posts is formed such that each of the metal posts has a width which is greater than a width of a respective one of the connecting portions, and the barrier metal layer comprises a metal material which is different from a metal material forming the metal posts and a metal material forming the first conductor layer.
2. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, further comprising:
a via conductor penetrating through the resin insulating layer such that the via conductor is connecting the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.
3. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein each of the metal posts has a first end portion in contact with a respective one of the connecting portions such that the first end portion has a width which is greater than a width of a second end portion on an opposite end.
4. The printed wiring board according to claim 3, wherein each of the metal posts has a curved side surface curving from the first end portion to the second end portion.
5. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein each of the metal posts has a first end portion in contact with a respective one of the connecting portions, and the barrier metal layer is formed such that the barrier metal layer comprises a plurality of portions each having a surface area which is larger than a contact surface area of a respective one of the metal posts at the first end portion.
6. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein each of the metal posts has a first end portion in contact with a respective one of the connecting portions, and the barrier metal layer is formed such that the barrier metal layer consisting of a plurality of portions each having a surface area which is equal to a contact surface area of a respective one of the metal posts at the first end portion.
7. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the metal material forming the plurality of metal posts comprises copper, and the metal material of the barrier metal layer comprises one of nickel and titanium.
8. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of metal posts comprise a plurality of metal foil portions, respectively, and the first conductor layer comprises a plated metal film layer.
9. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein each of the metal posts has a height which is greater than a thickness of the solder resist layer.
10. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein each of the metal posts has a thickness of 10 \u03bcm or greater.
11. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the opening structure of the solder resist layer comprises an opening portion exposing the plurality of the connecting portions of the first conductor layer.
12. The printed wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the opening structure of the solder resist layer comprises a plurality of opening portions exposing the plurality of the connecting portions of the first conductor layer, respectively.
13. The printed wiring board according to claim 2, wherein each of the metal posts has a first end portion in contact with a respective one of the connecting portions such that the first end portion has a width which is greater than a width of a second end portion on an opposite end.
14. The printed wiring board according to claim 13, wherein each of the metal posts has a curved side surface curving from the first end portion to the second end portion.
15. A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board, comprising:
laminating a metal film on a carrier comprising a carrier metal layer such that the metal film is laminated on a surface of the carrier metal layer;
forming a barrier metal layer on an entire surface of the metal film such that the barrier metal layer comprises a metal material which is different from a metal material forming the metal film;
forming a first conductor layer on the barrier metal layer such that the first conductor layer comprises a metal material which is different from the metal material forming the barrier metal layer and includes a plurality of connecting portions positioned to connect an electronic component;
forming a resin insulating layer on the first conductor layer such that the first conductor layer is embedded into a first surface of the resin insulating layer;
forming a second conductor layer on a second surface of the resin insulating layer on an opposite side of the resin insulating layer with respect to the first layer;
removing the carrier from the metal film such that a surface of the metal film is exposed;
etching the metal film such that a plurality of metal posts is formed on the connecting portions of the first conductor layer, respectively, and each of the metal posts has a width which is greater than a width of a respective one of the connecting portions;
etching the barrier metal layer such that the barrier metal layer comprises a plurality of portions formed between the metal posts and the connecting portions, respectively; and
forming a solder resist layer on the first surface of the resin insulating layer such that the solder resist layer covers the first conductor layer and has an opening structure exposing the plurality of metal posts.
16. The method for manufacturing a printed wiring board according to claim 15, wherein the forming of the second conductor layer comprises forming a through hole penetrating through the resin insulating layer and reaching the first conductor layer, filling a conductor material into the through hole and forming a second conductor layer on the second surface of the resin insulating layer such that a via conductor connecting the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer is formed through the resin insulating layer.
17. The method for manufacturing a printed wiring board according to claim 15, further comprising:
forming a metal coating on the barrier metal layer,
wherein the forming of the barrier metal layer comprises electrolytically plating the metal material of the barrier metal layer on the entire surface of the metal film, and the forming of the first conductor layer comprises electrolytically plating the metal material of the first conductor layer on the metal coating.
18. The method for manufacturing a printed wiring board according to claim 15, wherein the metal material forming the plurality of metal posts comprises copper, and the metal material of the barrier metal layer comprises one of nickel and titanium.
19. The method for manufacturing a printed wiring board according to claim 15, wherein the metal film comprises a metal foil such that the plurality of metal posts comprise a plurality of metal foil portions, respectively, and the first conductor layer comprises a plated metal film layer.
20. The method for manufacturing a printed wiring board according to claim 15, wherein the forming to the metal posts comprises forming the metal posts such that each of the metal posts has a thickness of 10 \u03bcm or greater.