Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and an IO module, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the IO module is subject to a state change, a method of permitting the bus master to collect state information from the IO module, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to a state change of the IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the IO module; and
sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
2. The method of claim 1 including a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to the common bus, wherein each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected one of the IO modules; and
sending a state signal from the selected IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
3. The method of claim 2 comprising:
configuring a plurality of the IO modules as a group;
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of the IO modules; and
sending a state signal from each IO module of the selected group of IO modules to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the group of IO modules is less than the total plurality of IO modules.
5. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the plurality of IO modules are configured as a plurality of groups of IO modules, and each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, a method of permitting the bus master to collect state information from a selected group of IO modules, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the selected group of IO modules; and
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules in the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
6. A CANOpen network comprising:
a bus master;
an IO module subject to state changes;
a common bus communicatively coupling the bus master and the IO module, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the IO module, and the IO module includes means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change and means for sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal to permit the bus master to collect state information from the IO module.
7. The network of claim 6 including a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to the common bus, wherein each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger to a selected one of the IO modules, and the IO modules include includes means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change and means for sending a state signal from the selected IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
8. The network of claim 7, wherein:
each of the IO modules includes means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change;
a plurality of the IO modules are configured as a group;
the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of the IO modules; and
each of the IO modules in the selected group includes means for sending a state signal from each IO module of the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
9. The network of claim 8 wherein the group of IO modules is less than the total plurality of IO modules.
10. A CANOpen network comprising:
a bus master;
a plurality of IO modules subject to state changes, wherein the plurality of IO modules are configured as a plurality of groups of IO modules and the plurality of IO modules include means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change, and
a bus communicatively coupling the bus master and each of the IO modules, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of IO modules; and the each of the IO modules in the selected group includes means for sending a state signal from each of the IO modules in the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
11. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and an IO module, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the IO module is subject to a state change, a method of permitting the bus master to collect state information from the IO module, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to a state change of the IO module;
determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the IO module if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and
sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
12. The method of claim 11 including a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to the common bus, wherein each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected one of the IO modules if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and
sending a state signal from the selected IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
13. The method of claim 12 comprising:
configuring a plurality of the IO modules as a group;
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of the IO modules if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and
sending a state signal from each IO module of the selected group of IO modules to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the group of IO modules is less than the total plurality of IO modules.
15. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the plurality of IO modules are configured as a plurality of groups of IO modules, and each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, a method of permitting the bus master to collect state information from a selected group of IO modules, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the selected group of IO modules if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules in the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
16. A CANOpen network comprising:
a bus master;
an IO module subject to state changes;
a common bus communicatively coupling the bus master and the IO module, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the IO module when the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus, and the IO module includes means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change and means for sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal to permit the bus master to collect state information from the IO module.
17. The network of claim 6 including a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to the common bus, wherein each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger to a selected one of the IO modules when the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus, and the IO modules include means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change and means for sending a state signal from the selected IO module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
18. The network of claim 17, wherein:
each of the IO modules includes means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change;
a plurality of the IO modules are configured as a group;
the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of the IO modules when the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and
each of the IO modules in the selected group includes means for sending a state signal from each IO module of the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
19. The network of claim 18 wherein the group of IO modules is less than the total plurality of IO modules.
20. A CANOpen network comprising:
a bus master;
a plurality of IO modules subject to state changes, wherein the plurality of IO modules are configured as a plurality of groups of IO modules and the plurality of IO modules include means for sending a state signal to the bus master in response to a state change; and
a bus communicatively coupling the bus master and each of the IO modules, wherein the bus master includes means for sending a trigger signal from the bus master to a selected group of IO modules when the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus; and the each of the IO modules in the selected group includes means for sending a state signal from each of the IO modules in the selected group to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.
21. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and an IO module, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the IO module is subject to a state change, a computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution by the bus master to cause the bus master to perform steps for collecting state information from the IO module, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from the IO module to the bus master in response to a state change of the IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the IO module; and
collecting a state signal from the IO module sent by the IO module in response to the trigger signal.
22. For a CANOpen network including a bus master and a plurality of IO modules, each communicatively coupled to a common bus, wherein the plurality of IO modules are configured as a plurality of groups of IO modules, and each of the IO modules is subject to a state change, a computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution by the bus master to cause the bus master to perform steps for collecting state information from a selected group of IO modules, the method comprising:
sending a state signal from each of the IO modules to the bus master in response to a state change of the particular IO module;
sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the selected group of IO modules; and
collecting a state signal from each of the IO modules in the selected group sent by the IO modules in the selected group in response to the trigger signal.

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, comprising:
contacting an area of a subject with a nanocrystalline silver-containing material, and
killing bacterial spores in the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bacterial spores are selected from the group consisting of Clostridium difficile spores, Clostridium perfringens spores, Clostridium tetani spores, Clostridium botulinum spores, Bacillus cereus spores, Bacillus anthracis spores, and combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the subject further comprises a sporulating bacterial infection.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sporulating bacterial infection comprises a Clostridium infection.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the Clostridium infection is selected from the group consisting of Clostridium difficile infection, Clostridium perfringens infection, Clostridium tetani infection, and Clostridium botulinum infection.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the sporulating bacterial infection comprises a Clostridium difficile infection.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the sporulating bacterial infection comprises a Bacillus infection.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sporulating Bacillus infection is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus cereus infection and Bacillus anthracis infection.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the area with a non-metal antibiotic medication.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is selected from the group consisting of vancomycin, metronidazole, benzoxazinorifamycin, rifaximin, and combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is vancomycin.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is metronidazole.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted to the area after contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted to the area before contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted to the area simultaneously with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline silver-containing material is contacted with the area at a dose of from 0.1 to 1000 mgkg of a subject.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline silver-containing material is contacted with the area at a dose of from 0.1 to 10,000 mg.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline silver-containing material is contacted with the area at a frequency of from one to four times per day.
19. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted with the area at a dose of from 50 to 4000 mgkg of a subject.
20. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted with the area at a dose of from 50 to 4000 mg.
21. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-metal antibiotic medication is contacted with the area at a frequency of from one to four times per day.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is selected from the group consisting of an oral cavity, a gastrointestinal tract, a nasal cavity, a respiratory tract, an ulceration, a connective tissue, and a wound.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline silver-containing material is in a form selected from the group consisting of a solution, a nanodispersion, an aerosol, a cream, and a gel.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystalline silver-containing material is in the form of a controlled-release composition.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the controlled-release composition is selected form the group consisting of a suspension, a capsule, a tablet, and a pill.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the controlled-release composition comprises a bead comprising the nanocrystalline silver-containing material, wherein the bead has a maximum average dimension of from 0.5 to 2 mm.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the bead comprises from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the bead is coated with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the bead further comprises a controlled-release coating.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein the bead comprises sugar or starch.
31. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material comprises oral administration of the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
32. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material comprises rectal administration of the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
33. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material comprises inhalation of the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
34. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the area with the nanocrystalline silver-containing material comprises topical administration of the nanocrystalline silver-containing material.
35. An article, comprising:
a bead comprising from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of a metal-containing material; and
a controlled-release coating on the bead,
wherein the bead has a maximum average dimension of from 0.5 to 2 mm.
36. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material comprises an atomically disordered metal-containing material.
37. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material is selected from the group consisting of silver-containing materials, gold-containing materials, platinum-containing materials, palladium-containing materials, copper-containing materials, zinc-containing materials, and combinations thereof.
38. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material comprises an atomically disordered, nanocrystalline metal-containing material.
39. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material comprises a nanocrystalline silver.
40. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material comprises an atomically disordered, nanocrystalline silver.
41. The article of claim 35, wherein the metal-containing material comprises silver oxide.
42. The article of claim 35, wherein the bead further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sugar, starch, and combination thereof.
43. The article of claim 35, wherein the article comprises from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of the controlled-release coating.
44. The article of claim 35, wherein the controlled-release coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of beeswax, beeswax and glyceryl monostearate, shellac and cellulose, cetyl alcohol, mastic and shellac, shellac and stearic acid, polyvinyl acetate and ethyl cellulose, neutral copolymer of polymethacrylic acid ester (Eudragit L30D), copolymer of methacrylic acid and methacrylic acid methylester (Eudragits), neutral copolymers of polymethacrylic acid esters containing metallic stearates, neutralized hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate polymer, and combinations thereof.
45. The article of claim 35, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a suspension, a capsule, a tablet, and a pill.

1. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card, comprising:
a storage device that stores a plurality of image data, a plurality of music data, and a plurality of advertisement data, respectively for creating the music card;
a receiver that receives a request from a card sender via a network;
a card creating device that creates, in accordance with the request, the music card by selecting an image data and a music data from the plurality of image data and the plurality of music data stored in said storage device, said card creating device having interface accessible by an advertiser and operable to allow the advertiser to designate music data, image data, or both with which advertisement data is selectively added;
an advertisement appending device that appends at least one advertisement data among the plurality of advertisement data stored in said storage device to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged; and
a transmitter that transmits the music card free of charge by appending appended the advertisement data to a card and transmitting said card to a card receiver via the network,
the advertisement appending device being operative to selectively:
(a) list up advertisers corresponding to image data or music data;
(b) list up advertisers corresponding to keyword data;
(c) list up advertisers that have not registered particular contents;
(d) attach a default advertisement image when there is no advertiser associated with the card;
(e) select an advertisement image based on selection by card sender.
2. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card according to claim 1, wherein said receiver receives an advertisement data transmitted from an advertiser, and the advertisement data stored in said storage device are advertisement data either transmitted from said advertiser or supplied as default advertising data in the event the advertiser has not designated advertising data,
further comprising an advertiser charging device that charges an advertisement fee to said advertiser if said advertisement appending device appends said advertisement data transmitted from said advertiser.
3. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card according to claim 1, wherein the music data is a MIDI data.
4. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card according to claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.
5. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card according to claim 1, further comprising a notice mail transmitter that transmits a notice mail to the card receiver, the notice mail notifying that the music card was created and saying a method of displaying the music card.
6. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card according to claim 5, wherein the notice mail is an Internet mail and the method of displaying the music card includes a URL of the Internet.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the advertisement appending device is operative to execute selected ones the recited operations (a) through (e) in the order described, such the features recited in (a) and (b) take precedence over the features recited in (c) and (d) and the features recited in (c) and (d) take precedence over the features recited in (e).
8. An apparatus for appending an advertisement to a music card, comprising:
storage means for storing a plurality of image data, a plurality of music data, and a plurality of advertisement data, respectively for creating the music card;
receiving means for receiving a request from a card sender via a network;
card creating means for creating, in accordance with the request, the music card by selecting an image data and a music data from the plurality of image data and the plurality of music data stored in said storage means, said card creating means having interface accessible by an advertiser and operable to allow the advertiser to designate music data, image data, or both with which advertisement data is selectively added;
advertisement appending means for appending at least one advertisement data among the plurality of advertisement data stored in said storage means to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged; and
transmitting means for transmitting the music card free of charge by appending the advertisement data to a card and transmitting said card to a card receiver via the network,
the advertisement appending means being operative to selectively:
(a) list up advertisers corresponding to image data or music data;
(b) list up advertisers corresponding to keyword data;
(c) list up advertisers that have not registered particular contents;
(d) attach a default advertisement image when there is no advertiser associated with the card;
(e) select an advertisement image based on selection by card sender.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the advertisement appending means is operative to execute selected ones of the recited operations (a) through (e) in the order described, such the features recited in (a) and (b) take precedence over the features recited in (c) and (d) and the features recited in (c) and (d) take precedence over the features recited in (e).
10. A method for appending an advertisement to a music card by a network server having storage means for storing a plurality of image data, a plurality of music data, and a plurality of advertisement data, respectively for creating the music card, the method comprising the steps of;
(a) receiving a request from a card sender via a network;
(b) creating, in accordance with the request, the music card by selecting an image data and a music data from the plurality of image data and the plurality of music data stored in said storage means, at least one of the plurality of music data and the plurality of image data being designated by an advertiser;
(c) appending at least one advertisement data among the plurality of advertisement data stored in said storage means to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged; and
(d) transmitting the music card free of charge by appending the advertisement data to a card and transmitting said card to a card receiver via the network
wherein said appending step includes selectively:
(a) listing up advertisers corresponding to image data or music data;
(b) listing up advertisers corresponding to keyword data;
(c) listing up advertisers that have not registered particular contents;
(d) attaching a default advertisement image when there is no advertiser associated with the card;
(e) selecting an advertisement image based on selection by card sender.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the advertisement appending step performs selected ones of the recited operations (a) through (e) in the order described, such that the steps recited in (a) and (b) take precedence over the steps recited in (c) and (d) and the steps recited in (c) and (d) take precedence over the steps recited in (e).
12. A storage medium storing a program, which a computer executes to realize a process for appending an advertisement to a music card by a network server having storage means for storing a plurality of image data, a plurality of music data, and a plurality of advertisement data, respectively for creating the music card, the process comprising the instructions of;
(a) receiving a request from a card sender via a network;
(b) creating, in accordance with the request, the music card by selecting an image data and a music data from the plurality of image data and the plurality of music data stored in said storage means at least one of the plurality of music data and the plurality of image data being designated by an advertiser;
(c) appending at least one advertisement data among the plurality of advertisement data stored in said storage means to the music card, if either the selected image data or music data is fee-charged; and
(d) transmitting the music card free of charge by appending the advertisement data to a card and transmitting said card to a card receiver via the network,
wherein said appending step includes selectively:
(a) listing up advertisers corresponding to image data or music data;
(b) listing up advertisers corresponding to keyword data;
(c) listing up advertisers that have not registered particular contents;
(d) attaching a default advertisement image when there is no advertiser associated with the card;
(e) selecting an advertisement image based on selection by card sender.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the advertisement appending step performs selected ones of the recited operations (a) through (e) in the order described, such that the steps recited in (a) and (b) take precedence over the steps recited in (c) and (d) and the steps recited in (c) and (d) take precedence over the steps recited in (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 communication apparatus comprising:
registration means for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server;
means for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server,
wherein the registration means includes:
means for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and
means for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
means for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.
3. A communication apparatus comprising:
a registration unit for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and
a receiving unit for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server,
wherein the registration unit includes:
a specifying unit for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and
a requesting unit for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a requesting unit for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.
5. A method for communication of a communication apparatus, the method comprising:
a step for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server;
a step for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server;
a step for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and
a step for requesting the server for deletion of the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.
6. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a step for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.