Author: claimsbot

1. A system for assigning a plurality of client systems to a plurality of servers providing content, the system comprising:
a memory that stores instructions;
a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising:
identifying an ingress point for a first client system;
identifying egress points for the first client system;
calculating a network cost associated with assigning the first client system to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the network cost is calculated based on traffic from the ingress point to a server of the plurality of servers and traffic from the server to an egress point of the egress points; and
determining an optimal rule set for minimizing a rule set cost, wherein the optimal rule set is based on assigning the first client system to an optimal server of the plurality of servers, wherein a total network cost of the optimal rule set cost is equal to a sum of network costs associated with serving each client system from an assigned server, and wherein a total rule cost of the rule set cost is an impact that an evaluation of the optimal rule set has on a performance of the optimal server.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of calculating the network cost further comprises calculating the network cost based on network traffic flows and routing tables.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of identifying the ingress point for the first client system further comprises examining an amount of traffic from the first client system, wherein the amount of traffic is associated with an internet protocol address of the first client system.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the egress points of the first client system comprise routers where traffic to the first client system can exit a network associated with the first client system.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise calculating a distance between the ingress point and each of the plurality of servers based on the network cost.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise calculating distances between the egress points and each of the plurality of servers based on the network cost.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the total rule cost includes a product of a number of rules in the optimal rule set and a per rule cost.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise grouping the first client system and a second client system into the optimal rule set when a network cost of the optimal rule set is lower than a sum of network costs of a rule plus a rule cost for each of the first client system and the second client system.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise combining neighboring subnets into the optimal rule set.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the network cost comprises distance information, link saturation information, and network performance factors.
11. A method for assigning a plurality of client systems to a plurality of servers providing content, the method comprising:
calculating a network cost associated with assigning a first client system to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the network cost is calculated based on traffic from an ingress point of the first client system to a server of the plurality of servers and traffic from the server to an egress point of the first client system; and
determining an optimal rule set for minimizing a rule set cost, wherein the optimal rule set is based on assigning the first client system to an optimal server of the plurality of servers, wherein a total network cost of the optimal rule set cost is equal to a sum of network costs associated with serving each client system from an assigned server, and wherein a total rule cost of the rule set cost is an impact that an evaluation of the optimal rule set has on a performance of the optimal server.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising calculating the network cost based on network traffic flows and routing tables.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the ingress point for the first client system by examining an amount of traffic from the first client system, wherein the amount of traffic is associated with an internet protocol address of the first client system.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the egress point of the first client system comprises a router where traffic to the first client system can exit a network associated with the first client system.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising calculating a distance between the ingress point and each of the plurality of servers based on the network cost.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising calculating distances between the egress point and each of the plurality of servers based on the network cost.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the total rule cost includes a product of a number of rules in the optimal rule set and a per rule cost.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising grouping the first client system and a second client system into the optimal rule set when a network cost of the optimal rule set is lower than a sum of network costs of a rule plus a rule cost for each of the first client system and the second client system.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising combining neighboring subnets into the optimal rule set.
20. A computer-readable device having instructions, which when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
identifying an ingress point for a first client system;
identifying egress points for the first client system;
calculating a network cost associated with assigning the first client system to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the network cost is calculated based on traffic from the ingress point to a server of the plurality of servers and traffic from the server to an egress point of the egress points; and
determining an optimal rule set for minimizing a rule set cost, wherein the optimal rule set is based on assigning the first client system to an optimal server of the plurality of servers, wherein a total network cost of the optimal rule set cost is equal to a sum of network costs associated with serving each client system from an assigned server, and wherein a total rule cost of the rule set cost is associated with an impact that the optimal rule set has on a performance of the optimal server.

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 flexible connector for securing an ablation probe in a looped configuration comprising:
a flexible base member having first and second apertures dimensioned to receive the ablation probe and wherein the flexible base member is slidable along a length of the ablation probe when the ablation probe is positioned within the first and second apertures, the flexible base member further comprising a third aperture dimensioned to receive a looped portion of the ablation probe; and
a tether secured to the flexible base member.
2. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible base member comprises a substantially flat base when not disposed on the ablation probe.
3. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible base member comprises a tubular base when not disposed on the ablation probe.
4. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the tether is secured to a reinforcing member disposed in the flexible base member.
5. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the tether is secured to the flexible base member via one or more of the first, second, and third apertures.
6. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the tether comprises a suture.
7. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible base member comprises a biocompatible elastomeric material.
8. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the apertures are circular.
9. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein the apertures are polygonal.
10. The flexible connector of claim 1, further comprising a separate tubular member having a lumen therein for receiving the tether, the tubular member comprising an insertion tool for slidably moving the flexible connector along the length of the ablation probe.
11. An ablation probe comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member including an ablation antenna disposed at or near the distal end; and
a connector for securing a portion of the elongate member in a looped configuration, the connector comprising a base portion having an aperture dimensioned such that the base portion is slidable along a length of the elongate member, the connector including a tab projecting from the base portion and including an aperture therein, the aperture of the tab being oriented substantially perpendicular to the aperture of the base portion.
12. The ablation probe of claim 11, wherein the aperture in the base portion has a circular cross-sectional shape.
13. The ablation probe of claim 11, wherein the aperture in the base portion has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.
14. The ablation probe of claim 11, further comprising a tether secured to the connector.
15. The ablation probe of claim 11, wherein the tab comprises a biocompatible elastomeric material.
16. The ablation probe of claim 11, further comprising an insertion tool comprising an elongate tubular member having a lumen therein dimensioned for passage of a portion of the elongate member of the probe.
17. A method of positioning an ablation probe around the pulmonary veins of a patient using a flexible connector device having a tether attached thereto, comprising:
providing the flexible connector device on a proximal portion of the ablation probe;
routing the ablation probe around the pulmonary veins;
inserting a distal end of the ablation probe into an aperture contained in the flexible connector device; and
advancing the flexible connector device along a length of the ablation probe to form a looped portion around the pulmonary veins.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of withdrawing the flexible connector in a proximal direction by pulling on the tether.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the flexible connector is advanced along the length of the ablation probe using an elongate pusher member having a lumen therein for receiving the tether.

What is claimed is:

1. A probe, comprising:
a probe body having a body longitudinal axis and a shoulder; and
a microstylet mechanically coupled to and extending from the shoulder and having a microstylet longitudinal axis coincident the body longitudinal axis, the microstylet having a cross section substantially smaller than a cross section of the probe body.
2. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the microstylet comprises an acerate microparticle selected from the group consisting of:
a carbon whisker;
a metal needle; and
a diamond.
3. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube or a multi-walled carbon nanotube.
4. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the probe body comprises a tube.
5. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the probe body comprises a glass tube.
6. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein a portion of the microstylet resides within the probe body.
7. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the shoulder includes a fastigiate shoulder.
8. The probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the probe is a field emitter, a micromanipulator or a microinjector.
9. A method of manufacturing a probe, comprising:
providing a hollow probe body having a body longitudinal axis and an inner wall;
filling at least a portion of the hollow probe body with a suspension including microstylets;
drawing the portion to align a longitudinal axis of at least one of the microstylets with the body longitudinal axis; and
exposing the at least one of the microstylets.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein exposing includes etching an end of the portion.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the etching includes a first etch and a second etch.
12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising sealing an end of the probe body prior to the filling.
13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein filling includes filling wherein the microstylets are selected from the group consisting of:
a carbon nanotube;
a carbon whisker;
a metal needle; and
a diamond.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein filling includes filling wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube or a multi-walled carbon nanotube.
15. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein filling includes filling with a suspension further comprising a menstruum having high volatility.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising evaporating the menstruum to cause the microstylets to adhere to the inner wall.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein filling includes filling wherein the menstruum is a low carbon number alcohol.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein filling includes filling wherein t he low carbon number alcohol is selected from the group consisting of:
methyl alcohol;
ethyl alcohol; and
isopropyl alcohol.
19. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein drawing includes applying a force aligned with the body longitudinal axis to an end of the probe body.
20. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein drawing includes applying heat to the portion.
21. A probe, comprising:
a probe body having a body longitudinal axis and a shoulder; and
a carbon nanotube mechanically coupled to and extending from the shoulder and having a carbon nanotube longitudinal axis coincident the body longitudinal axis, the carbon nanotube having a cross section substantially smaller than a cross section of the probe body.
22. The probe as recited in claim 21 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube or a multi-walled carbon nanotube.

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 general purpose test equipment system comprising:
hardware having common object request broker architecture software and
a mark-up language enabled input connected to the hardware.
2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language enabled input generates a machine-ingestible document appropriate for configuring and controlling test equipment.
3. A system as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language comprises XML.
4. A system as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language comprises SGML.
5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language comprises HTML.
6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language enabled input comprises a mark-up language reader configured to receive a performance specification document and output a delimited configuration file.
7. A system as in claim 6 wherein the reader selectively outputs a human readable document corresponding to the performance specification document.
8. A system as in claim 6 wherein the performance specification document comprises:
an order of test operations to be performed on equipment, wherein the order of test operations is defined in mark-up language,
a specification of system interfaces for the application of stimulus to and the collection of measurements from the system during test operations, wherein the specification is defined in mark-up language,
a specification of units and values to be applied to the equipment during test operations, wherein the specification is defined in mark-up language,
a specification of units and values to be measured during test operations,
an identification of a test system response to failure, a specification for collection of test results, and
a specification for storage of test results.
9. A method of configuring test equipment comprising;
inputting, in mark-up language format:
an order of test operations,
a specification of system interfaces for the application of stimulus to and the collection of measurements from the system during test operations
units and values to be applied to the equipment during test operations,
units and values to be measured during test operations,
a test system response to a failure,
a specification of collection of test results,
a specification of storage of test results,

generating a delimited configuration file, dependent upon said inputting; and
entering the delimited configuration file into test equipment.
10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the mark-up language comprises SGML.
11. A method as in claim 9 wherein the mark-up language comprises XML.
12. A method as in claim 9 wherein the mark-up language comprises HTML.
13. A method as in claim 9 further comprising generating a human-readable document dependent upon said entering from the same XML source document used to generate the delimited configuration file.
14. A system of configuring test equipment comprising:
means for inputting, in mark-up language format:
an order of test operations,
a specification of system interfaces for the application of stimulus to and the collection of measurements from the system during test operations
units and values to be applied to the equipment during test operations,
units and values to be measured during test operations,
a test system response to a failure,
a specification of collection of test results,
a specification of storage of test results,

means for generating a delimited configuration file, dependent upon said means for inputting; and
means for entering the delimited configuration file into test equipment.
15. A system as in claim 14 wherein the mark-up language comprises SGML.
16. A system as in claim 14 wherein the mark-up language comprises XML.
17. A system as in claim 14 wherein the mark-up language comprises HTML.
18. A system as in claim 14 further comprising means for generating a human-readable document dependent upon said means for entering.