Author: claimsbot

1. A method for coordinating beacon transmission times for a plurality of access points (APs) in a wireless local area network, comprising
generating a first neighboring AP list listing one or more neighboring AP(s) of a first AP, wherein the first AP and the one or more neighboring AP(s) are arranged to offer network services;
deriving a first beacon transmission time for the first AP according to the first neighboring AP list; and
transmitting a beacon message at the first beacon transmission time by the first AP.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first neighboring AP list further lists one or more hidden AP(s) that isare located in the wireless local area network but beyond coverage area of the first AP.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first AP and the one or more neighboring AP(s) occupy a same wireless channel.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating the first neighboring AP list further comprises:
receiving a beacon message from at least one of the one or more neighboring AP(s); and
generating the first neighboring AP list based on the received beacon message.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:
comparing the first neighboring AP list with a second neighboring AP list obtained from the received beacon message; and
updating the first neighboring AP list according to the comparison.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
receiving at least one response message from at least one station receiving the beacon message, wherein the at least one response message comprises a discovered AP list listing one or more AP(s) discovered by the station;
comparing the first neighboring AP list with the discovered AP list; and
updating the first neighboring AP list according to the comparison.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
deriving a second beacon transmission time for at least one of the one or more neighboring AP(s); and
transmitting a beacon message at the second beacon transmission time by the at least one of the one or more neighboring AP(s),
wherein a span of the first beacon transmission time and the second beacon transmission time is less than one beacon interval.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of deriving the first beacon transmission time further comprises:
equally dividing a beacon interval by a total number of APs in the wireless local area network to obtain a plurality of segments, wherein the total number of APs in the wireless local area network is derived by a total number of APs in the first neighboring AP list plus one;
selecting a predetermined segment from the plurality of segments; and
determining a time within the predetermined segment as the first beacon transmission time.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined segment is selected from the plurality of segments by choosing one segment in which an original target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the first AP falls.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
selecting another segment, other than the predetermined segment, from the plurality of segments for deriving the first beacon transmission time for the first AP when receiving a beacon message from at least one of the one or more neighboring AP(s) during the predetermined segment.
11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the time within the predetermined segment is randomly determined based on a random seed.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
changing the random seed utilized for determining the time when transmission of the beacon message of the first AP is detected to collide with transmission of a beacon message of another AP.
13. A communications system with a plurality of access points (APs) forming a Hot Spot that offers network services over a wireless local area network, comprising:
a first AP, generating a first neighboring AP list listing one or more neighboring AP(s) of the first AP, deriving a first beacon transmission time according to the first neighboring AP list, and transmitting a first beacon message at the first beacon transmission time; and
a second AP, receiving the first beacon message, deriving a second beacon transmission time according to the first beacon message so as to coordinate beacon transmission times between the plurality of APs, and transmitting a second beacon message at the second beacon transmission time.
14. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first AP further receives the second beacon message, compares the first neighboring AP list with a second neighboring AP list obtained from the second beacon message so as to find out one or more hidden AP(s) that isare located in the wireless local area network but beyond coverage area of the first AP, and updates the first neighboring AP list according to the comparison so as to add the one or more hidden AP(s) in the first neighboring AP list.
15. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first AP further receives at least one response message from at least one station in the wireless local area network receiving the first beacon message, wherein the at least one response message comprises a discovered AP list listing one or more AP(s) discovered by the station, so as to find out one or more hidden AP(s) that isare located in the wireless local area network but beyond coverage area of the first AP, compares the first neighboring AP list with the discovered AP list, and updates the first neighboring AP list according to the comparison so as to add the one or more hidden AP(s) in the first neighboring AP list.
16. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second AP further generates a second neighboring AP list listing one or more neighboring AP(s) of the second AP, compares the second neighboring AP list with the first neighboring AP list obtained from the first beacon message so as to find out one or more hidden AP(s) that isare located in the wireless local area network but beyond coverage area of the second AP, updates the second neighboring AP list according to the comparison so as to add the one or more hidden AP(s) in the second neighboring AP list and derives the second beacon transmission time according to the second neighboring AP list.
17. The communications system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the firstsecond AP derives the firstsecond beacon transmission time by equally dividing a beacon interval by a total number of APs in the wireless local area network to obtain a plurality of segments, wherein the total number of APs in the wireless local area network is derived from the firstsecond neighboring AP list, selects a predetermined segment from the plurality of segments, and determines a time within the predetermined segment as the firstsecond beacon transmission time.
18. The communications system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the predetermined segment is selected from the plurality of segments by choosing one segment in which an original target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the firstsecond AP falls.
19. The communications system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the firstsecond AP further selects another segment other than the predetermined segment, from the plurality of segments for deriving the firstsecond beacon transmission time when receiving a third beacon message from another AP during the predetermined segment before transmitting the firstsecond beacon message.
20. The communications system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the time within the predetermined segment is randomly determined based on a random seed.
21. The communications system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the firstsecond AP further changes the random seed utilized for determining the time when transmission of the firstsecond beacon message is detected to collide with transmission of another beacon message.

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 apparatus for tamper protection of an application code based on self modification, the apparatus comprising:
an input unit that receives input codes to be used for an application;
a code separator that separates the inputted codes into sensitive codes requiring application tamper protection and general codes including a sensitive method calling routine for calling the sensitive codes by analyzing the input codes;
an encoder that encrypts the sensitive codes and inserts the address of a sensitive code connector storing the address information of the sensitive codes;
a controller that converts the sensitive method calling routine to be able to call dummy codes by inserting the dummy codes to the general codes, inserts a vector table generator for creating a vector table including vector information of the sensitive codes, to the sensitive codes, and inserts a sensitive method calling routine converter, which makes the sensitive method calling routine to call the sensitive codes when the application is executed, to the sensitive codes; and
a code combiner that creates the application by combining the general codes and the sensitive codes, wherein,
the sensitive code connector, the vector table generator, the sensitive method calling routine converter, and the sensitive codes are decoded,
the vector table generator creates the vector table, and
the sensitive method calling routine converter converts the sensitive method calling routine to call the sensitive codes, and when the sensitive method calling routine calls the sensitive codes through a vector value in the vector table, the sensitive code connector calls and executes a sensitive code corresponding to the vector value via the vector table and the address information of the sensitive codes.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a first compiler that complies the sensitive codes added with the sensitive code connector, the vector table generator, and the sensitive method calling routine converter under a native environment; and
a second compiler that creates an execution file by compiling general codes converted so that the sensitive method calling routine calls dummy codes, under a managed environment.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the encoder encrypts a binary code by performing a code protection scheme based of self modification on the compiled sensitive codes.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a code converter adds a startup routine to be loaded with the sensitive codes to the general code.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a scrambler that scrambles the sensitive codes and the general codes by replacing sensitive identifiers defined in the codes with meaningless characters or character strings.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when a client receiving the application executes the application, using the startup routine, the general code in the format of DEX file is converted into the format of an ODEX (Optimized DEX) file and loaded on a dalvik virtual machine.
7. A method of tamper protection of an application, using an apparatus for tamper protection of an application, the method comprising:
receiving input codes to be used for an application;
separating the inputted codes into sensitive codes requiring application tamper protection and general codes including a sensitive method calling routine for calling the sensitive codes by analyzing the input codes;
encrypting the sensitive codes and inserting the address of a sensitive code connector storing the address information of the sensitive codes;
converting the sensitive method calling routine to be able to call dummy codes by inserting the dummy codes to the general codes and inserting a vector table generator for creating a vector table including vector information of the sensitive codes, to the sensitive codes;
inserting a sensitive method calling routine converter, which makes the sensitive method calling routine call the sensitive codes when the application is executed, to the sensitive codes;
creating the application by combining the general codes and the sensitive codes;
performing a startup routine when a client receiving the application executes the application;
decoding the encrypted sensitive code connector, the vector table generator, the sensitive method calling routine converter, and the sensitive codes;
creating the vector table by the vector table generator; and
converting the sensitive method calling routine to call the sensitive codes by the sensitive method calling routine converter, wherein when the sensitive method calling routine calls the sensitive codes through a vector value in the vector table, the sensitive code connector calls and executes a sensitive code corresponding to the vector value via the vector table and the address information of the sensitive codes.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
compiling the sensitive codes added with the sensitive code connector, the vector table generator, and the sensitive method calling routine converter under a native environment; and
creating an execution file by compiling general codes converted so that the sensitive method calling routine calls dummy codes, under a managed environment.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein an encoder encrypts a binary code by performing a code protection scheme based of self modification on the compiled sensitive codes.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a general code in the format of DEX file is converted into the format of an ODEX (Optimized DEX) file and loaded on a dalvik virtual machine (DVM).

1. An implantable drug depot for reducing, preventing or treating pam andor inflammation in a patient in need of such treatment, the implantable drug depot comprising dexamethasone in an amount from about 2 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the drug depot, and at least one biodegradable material, wherein the drug depot is capable of releasing dexamethasone over a period of at least three days.
2. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein said dexamethasone comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the drug depot
3. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein said at least one biodegradable material comprises at least 70 wt. % of the drug depot.
4. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein said at least one biodegradable material comprises at least 80 wt. % of the drug depot.
5. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable material comprises one or more of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), polylactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), D-lactide, D,L-lactide, L-lactide, D,L-lactide caprolactone, D,L-lactide-glycolide-caprolactone or a combination thereof.
6. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable material comprises a polymer comprising poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) or poly(orthoester) or both.
7. An implantable drug depot according to claim 6, wherein the at least one biodegradable polymer comprises poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and said poly(lactic-co glycolic acid) comprises a mixture of polyglycolide and polylactide.
8. An implantable drug depot according to claim 7, wherein said mixture comprises more polylactide than polyglycolide.
9. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein the drug depot releases: (i) a bolus dose of the dexamethasone at a site beneath the skin; and (ii) an effective amount of the dexamethasone over a period of at least fifty days.
10. An implantable drug depot for reducing, preventing or treating pain andor inflammation in a patient in need of such treatment, the implantable drug depot comprising dexamethasone in an amount of from about 2 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the drug depot, and at least one biodegradable polymer, wherein the at least one biodegradable polymer comprises poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) or poly(orthoester) or a combination thereof, and said at least one biodegradable polymer comprises at least 70 wt. % of said drug depot, wherein the drug depot is capable of releasing dexamethasone over a period of at least three days.
11. An implantable drug depot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer comprises one or more of poly(lactide-co-glycolide), D-lactide, D,L-lactide, L-lactide, D,L-lactide-caprolactone, and D,L-lactide-glycolide-caprolactone.
12-20. (canceled)

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. Apparatus for the lifting of pipelines, comprising:
a. a frame having two vertical side beams and a transverse top beam interposed between said vertical beams;
b. two concave and symmetrically disposed supporting members pivotally connected to said two vertical beams, respectively, and configured to achieve a pipe supporting position without applying a radial inwardly directed force to the bottommost portion of said pipe when said frame is suitably lowered and said supporting members are suitably pivoted;
c. a driving unit disposed within, and fixedly attached to, each of said supporting members, for generating a linear downwardly directed force;
d. a force transmitting element connected to a driving unit rod along which a corresponding driving unit housing is slidingly displaceable;
e. a control unit for independently controlling each of said driving units; and
f. at least one connecting means for releasably connecting said two supporting members to one another when said supporting members are in a pipe supporting position,

wherein said control unit is adapted to immobilize said force transmitting elements against a trench bed in a pre-lifting mode when a first force is generated by said driving units, and to lift each of said driving unit housings together with the corresponding supporting member with respect to the corresponding force transmitting element in a lifting mode when a suitable second force greater than said first force is generated by each of said driving units.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each supporting member comprises two identical, spaced plates having an inner edge, a pipe supporting surface having an essentially similar profile as, and extending between the corresponding inner edge of, said plates, and an outer plate.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each plate is formed with a planar outer edge, an inner edge having an upper planar portion substantially parallel to said outer edge, and a lower concave portion tangential to said upper planar portion by which the pipe is supported.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the concave portion has a radius of curvature essentially equal to that of the pipe, a continuous semicircle being traced by the concave portion of each of the two supporting members being in a pipe supporting position.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the concave portion subtends an angle of approximately 65 to 75 degrees.
6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each plate is further formed with a lower edge of varying shape, a straight lower edge, and an upper edge.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the upper edge is oblique with respect to the outer edge and the upper planar portion of the inner edge, a pivot connecting a supporting member and a corresponding vertical beam being engaged by an aperture formed in each plate in the vicinity of the upper edge.
8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each plate is further formed with a wheel guard.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the lower edge of varying shape is V-shaped, said V-shaped lower edge being interposed between said wheel guard and the straight lower edge, said straight lower edge extending from, and being substantially perpendicular to, the outer edge.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a guide wheel mounted within two opposed wheel guards of the two plates, respectively, of a corresponding supporting member.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the two supporting members are self-positioning during the lowering mode.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supporting members are pivotable during the lowering mode once the two guide wheels contact a pipe periphery, on opposite sides of the pipe vertical centerline.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the guide wheels are in continuous rolling contact with a pipe periphery from an initial contact point to a pipe supporting position.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the supporting members are outwardly pivotable until the horizontal centerline of the pipe and are inwardly pivotable from the horizontal centerline of the pipe until the pipe supporting position.
15. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pipe supporting surface is covered by an intermediate layer of padding.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises means for determining that terrain underlying the force transmitting elements is sufficiently compressed during the pre-lifting mode to allow commencement of the lifting mode.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the terrain compression determining means comprises:
a. a controller;
b. an actuator for each driving unit in communication with said controller by which the magnitude of the first and second forces generated by the corresponding driving unit is determinable; and
c. a sensor in communication with said controller for detecting the axial displacement of each force transmitting element with respect to the corresponding driving unit housing,

said controller being adapted to determine that terrain underlying a force transmitting element is essentially completely compressed when the corresponding axial displacement sensor detects substantially no axial displacement of the corresponding force transmitting element during generation of the first force by the corresponding driving unit.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit a command to an actuator to terminate operation of the corresponding driving unit when the terrain underlying the corresponding force transmitting element is essentially compressed.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit a command to the actuator of each driving unit to generate the second force which is sufficient to produce an upwardly directed reactant force applied to the corresponding driving unit housing when the terrain underlying both force transmitting elements is essentially compressed, the two driving unit housings thereby being vertically lifted at the same rate.
20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control unit further comprises one or more orientation sensors in communication with the controller, for determining whether the lifting apparatus is balanced.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each driving unit is a hydraulic system by which hydraulic fluid for actuating a piston displaceable within a cylinder housed within a corresponding supporting member is supplied during the pre-lifting and lifting modes.
22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each vertical beam has a horizontal rod with which a tension supporting member extending to a link displaceable by means of a crane is engaged.