Author: claimsbot

1. A method for use in a computing utility, wherein the computing utility comprises a plurality of application service provider systems and a utility controller, and an application service provider system comprising an application controller, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining a request of an application to one of the plurality of application service provider systems; and
in response to the application: (i) an application controller of the application service provider system to which the application request is directed computing a value of a first metric associated with a resource action, wherein the application controller comprises an application controller metric function and application controller logic, wherein the application controller metric function computes the value of the first metric and the application controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the first metric value computed by the application controller metric function; and (ii) the utility controller computing a value of a second metric associated with a resource action, wherein the utility controller comprises a utility controller metric function and utility controller logic, wherein the utility controller metric function computes the value of the second metric and the utility controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the second metric value computed by the utility controller metric function;
wherein the resource action is at least one of a request, a release, an allocation, and a reclaiming of computing services;
computing by the application controller, a value of a first metric that comprises computing a total cost from an aggregate service level agreement cost and an aggregate resource cost;
computing by the utility controller, a value of a second metric that comprises computing an aggregated resource cost from different resources;
notifying the application controller that previously allocated resources must be returned; and
notifying the utility controller that resources are returned.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the application controller computing a value of a first metric further comprises computing a service level agreement cost from one or more service level agreement parameters.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the application controller computing a value of a first metric further comprises computing a resource cost from one or more resource parameters.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the application controller computing a value of a first metric further comprises computing an aggregate service level agreement cost from different service level agreements.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the application controller computing a value of a first metric further comprises computing an aggregate resource cost from different resources.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the utility controller computing a value of a second metric further comprises computing a resource cost from one or more resource parameters.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the utility controller computing a value of a second metric further comprises computing an application service provider revenue.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the utility controller computing a value of a second metric further comprises computing an aggregated revenue from individual application service provider revenues.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the utility controller computing a value of a second metric further comprises computing a profit from aggregated application service provider revenues and aggregated resource costs.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the application controller requesting a number of resources of a specific type from the utility controller.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the utility controller notifying the application controller that new resources are available.
12. A method for providing a computing utility service, comprising:
a computing utility provider providing a service associated with a computing utility to a customer, wherein the computing utility comprises a plurality of application service provider systems and a utility controller, and an application service provider system comprising an application controller, the service comprising:
obtaining a request of an application to one of the plurality of application service provider systems; and
in response to the application: (i) the application controller of the application service provider system to which the application request is directed computing a value of a first metric associated with a resource action, wherein the application controller comprises an application controller metric function and application controller logic, wherein the application controller metric function computes the value of the first metric and the application controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the first metric value computed by the application controller metric function; and (ii) the utility controller computing a value of a second metric associated with a resource action, wherein the utility controller comprises a utility controller metric function and a utility controller logic, wherein the utility controller metric function computes the value of the second metric and the utility controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the second metric value computed by the utility controller metric function;
wherein the resource action is at least one of a request, a release, an allocation, and a reclaiming of computing services;
computing by the application controller, a value of a first metric that comprises computing a total cost from an aggregate service level agreement cost and an aggregate resource cost;
computing by the utility controller, a value of a second metric that comprises computing an aggregated resource cost from different resources;
notifying the application controller that previously allocated resources must be returned; and
notifying the utility controller that resources are returned.

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 semiconductor circuit, comprising:
a processor for executing one or more instructions;
a memory; and
a circuit for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light, said circuit comprising a mini-array of non-volatile memory cells dedicated to detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
2. The semiconductor circuit of claim 1, wherein said circuit initiates a clearing of said memory of said semiconductor circuit in response to said detection of said exposure to ultra-violet light.
3. The semiconductor circuit of claim 1, wherein said circuit initiates a disabling of said semiconductor circuit in response to said detection of said exposure to ultra-violet light.
4. The semiconductor circuit of claim 1, wherein said circuit uses a state of the non-volatile memory cells to detect whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
5. A semiconductor circuit comprising:
a processor for executing one or more instructions;
a memory; and
a circuit for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light, said circuit comprises a dedicated mini-array of non-volatile memory cells,

wherein said dedicated mini-array of non-volatile memory cells includes at least two active bit lines, corresponding to program and erase, and wherein said first bit line, is only programmable and said second bit line, is only erasable.
6. The semiconductor circuit of claim 5, wherein said cells in said dedicated mini-array of non-volatile memory are initially in approximately a same state and wherein said exposed state is detected by sensing said at least two active bit lines.
7. The semiconductor circuit of claim 5, wherein an offset current is added to one of said at least two active bit lines, to detect when said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
8. The semiconductor circuit of claim 1, wherein said memory is a non-volatile memory array.
9. The semiconductor circuit of claim 5, wherein cells in said dedicated mini-array of non-volatile memory are in a neutral state when said semiconductor circuit is unexposed and wherein an exposed state of said semiconductor circuit is detected by evaluating a current generated by said cells.
10. The semiconductor circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of other circuits for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
11. A semiconductor circuit comprising:
a processor for executing one or more instructions:
a memory; and
a circuit for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light, said circuit comprises a dedicated mini-array of non-volatile memory cells,
wherein said circuit for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light can detect a previous exposure to ultra-violet light that occurred without power being applied to said semiconductor circuit.
12. A method for detecting a security violation in a semiconductor circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
employing an array of dedicated non-volatile memory cells to detect whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light; and
initiating a security procedure if said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said security procedure clears a memory of said semiconductor circuit in response to said detection of said exposure to ultra-violet light.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein said security procedure initiates a disabling of said semiconductor circuit in response to said detection of said exposure to ultra-violet light.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said employing step further comprises the step of evaluating a circuit indicating whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein said array of non-volatile memory cells is embedded on said semiconductor circuit.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of evaluating a plurality of other circuits for detecting whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light.
18. A method for detecting a security violation in a semiconductor circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
employing an array of non-volatile memory cells to detect whether said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light;
initiating a security procedure if said semiconductor circuit is exposed to ultra-violet light; and
detecting a previous exposure to ultra-violet light that occurred without power being applied to said semiconductor circuit.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting device for lighting a display surface (7, 22) having a light source (1, 10) and a lighting well (4, 12), the light source (1, 10) being situated in the lighting well (4, 12); the display surface (7, 22) being situated on the side of the lighting well (4, 12) facing away from the light source (1, 10); the light of the light source (1, 10) being beamable into the lighting well (4, 12) and guidable toward the display surface (7, 22); the light being reflectable off of one wall of the lighting well (4, 12); a lens (3, 15) being situated between the light source (1, 10) and the display surface (7, 22), and the distance between the lens (3, 15) and the light source (1, 10) being approximately equal to the focal distance of the lens (3, 15).
2. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting well (4, 12) is designed as a parabolic reflector.
3. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (1, 10) is a light-emitting diode, an incandescent lamp, a glow lamp, andor a fluorescent lamp.
4. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens (3) is rotationally symmetrical with an optical axis (40) from the light source to the display surface (22).
5. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens (3, 15) is designed to be at least partially convergent.
6. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens (3, 15) is made of a transparent plastic material, preferably by the injection molding method.
7. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens (15) is situated between the lighting well (12) and the display surface (22) on the side of the lighting well (12) facing away from the light source (10).
8. The lighting device as recited in claim 7, wherein the lens (15) is integrally molded on a light guide (16), light is injectable laterally into the light guide (16); and the light is deflectable through the light guide (16) toward the display surface (22).
9. The lighting device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a lens (3) is provided on the light source (1).
10. The lighting device as recited in claim 9, wherein the lens (3) provided on the light source (1) has a first region (38) which is bordered by a predetermined radius around the optical axis (40) which is smaller than a lens radius; the lens (3) has a second region (37) situated outside the first region (38) of the lens (3) around the optical axis (40); the lens refracts light emitted by the light source in the first region (38) and transmitted through the surface of the lens, away from the optical axis (40) of the lens; and in the second region (37) the lens refracts the light emitted by the light source and transmitted through the surface of the lens, toward the optical axis (40).
11. The lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein the lens (3) provided on the light source (1), preferably designed as a top light-emitting diode, is formed from a body of the light-emitting diode.
12. A backlighting device for backlighting a planar display, preferably a dial or a liquid crystal display, wherein a plurality of lighting devices are situated on the planar display (7, 60), as recited in one of the preceding claims; and the planar display (7, 60) is backlightable by the lighting devices.
13. A scale display in a motor vehicle, the scale being situated in a dial, the scale having scale segments; the segments being individually lightable; wherein a lighting device as recited in one of claims 1 through 12 is situated on each scale segment (66).
14. The scale display as recited in claim 13 for display of a set setpoint speed of a cruise control display in a motor vehicle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for writing image information that is assigned to several images (B1-B13) onto recording material, said device comprising in combination:
(a) marking means for marking the recording material with marks (M1-M14) that are assigned to the several images (B1-B13);
(b) an output unit for outputting image information onto the recording material;
(c) a first transport means for transporting the recording material in the marking means; and
(d) a second transport means for transporting the recording material in the output unit;
said first transport means and the second transport means being operative such that the transport direction (T4, R4) of the recording material in the output unit is set independently of the transport (T3) of the recording material in the marking means.
2. Device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control device connected to the first and the second transport means, for providing control signals to said first and second transport means.
3. Device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control device separately controls the first and the second transport means.
4. Device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a receiving means for receiving image data with the image information of the several images (B1-B13).
5. Device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control device is connected with the output unit for providing control signals thereto.
6. Device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first transport means is operative such that stopping of the transport of the recording material in the marking means is carried out in dependence upon the non-reception of the image data of one of the several images (B1-B13).
7. Device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first transport means is operative such that, after stopping the transport, a continuation of the transport of the recording material in the marking means is initiated in dependence upon the reception of a complete image information of that image (B13) whose image data has not been received before.
8. Device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first transport means is designed such that a stopping of the transport of the recording material in the marking means is carried out in dependence upon a non-reception of format information concerning the length (L13), viewed in the transport direction (T4, T3) of the recording material, of an image (B13) to be written to the recording material.
9. Device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first transport means is designed such that, after stopping the transport, a continuation of the transport of the recording material in the marking means is initiated in dependence upon the reception of the format information concerning the length (L13) of the image (B13) to be written to the recording material.
10. Device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second transport means is designed such that a stopping of the transport of the recording material in the output unit is carried out in dependence upon the non-reception of image data of one of the several images and in dependence upon the output of the complete image information of that image (B1), whose image information is put out at the non-reception of the image data of the image using the output unit.
11. Device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the second transport means is designed such that the transport direction (T4, R4) of the recording material in the output unit is reversible after the interruption of the transport of the recording material.
12. Device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the control means controls the second transport means such that the recording material is transported so far back in the direction of the marking means that pre-specified transport conditions are present at the continuation of the transportation of the recording material for the renewed output of image information.
13. Device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the specified transport conditions are present when a steady, essentially constant transport speed of the recording material in the area of the output unit is given.
14. Method for writing image information that is assigned to several images (B1-B13) onto recording material, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) marking the recording material with marks (M1-M14) that are assigned to the several images (B1-B13);
(b) outputting image information onto the recording material; and
(c) transporting the recording material for marking the same for outputting the image information, wherein the transporting of the recording material for marking the same is set independently of the transport direction (T4, R4) of the recording material for outputting the image information.