Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An index print having a plurality of visual imagettes displayed thereon wherein said visual imagettes on said index print are placed on said index print into a plurality of groups, each of said groups comprising at least two of said visual imagettes, each of said groups corresponds to a particular event andor subject matter and having a visually distinct feature that distinguishes one group from another group.
2. An index print according to claim 1 wherein said visually distinct feature comprises one of said visual imagettes from each of said image groups is enlarged with respect to the other imagettes.
3. An index print according to claim 2 wherein said enlarged imagette of each of said groups indicates the beginning of a new group.
4. A method for producing an index print, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a digital record for each of a plurality of images;
producing imagettes for each said digital record:
grouping said imagettes on said index print into a plurality of visual groups corresponding to particular events andor subject matter and each of said groups having a visually distinct feature that distinguishes one group form another group, wherein each of said groups comprises at least two of said imagettes; and
printing said imagettes onto an index print so that the imagettes in each of said groups are grouped together.
5. A method for producing an index print according to claim 4, wherein said index print further comprises a label for a digital still image storage device.

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 computer-implemented method for automatically generating data maps used by applications, the method comprising:
receiving information at a computer system identifying a section of data in a data repository having a source object and a target object;
receiving information at the computer system specifying a set of map rules, each map rule in the set of map rules configured to match source objects in the data repository to target objects in the data repository in response to a set of criteria;
receiving information at the computer system defining literal data as a set of default values to be assigned to fields of the target objects in the data repository where no match is found by the computer system based on the set of map rules between the source objects in the data repository and the target objects in the data repository, each default value in the set of default values comprising predetermined literal data;
applying the set of rules to the source object and the target object using the computer system to determine a match between the source target and target object based at least one map rule in the set of map rules,
if the computer system determines a match based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically constructing a first map definition for the section of data in the data repository using the computer system based on the at least one rule thereby assigning the source object to the target object, wherein a field map created from the first map definition assigns data in the data repository associated with the source object to the target object;
if the computer system fails to yield a match based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically constructing a second map definition for the section of data in the data repository using the computer system thereby assigning a default value in the set of default values to the target object, wherein a field map created from the second map definition assigns literal data associated with the default value in the set of default values to the target object; and
generating the field map using the computer system based on the first or second map definition.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the literal data associated with the default value comprises a record-level default value.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the literal data associated with the default value comprises a system-level default value.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule in the set of rules specifies information that defines a transformation of the source object to the target object for the first map definition constructed by the computer system.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule in the set of rules specifies information that defines a translation of the source object to the target object for the first map definition constructed by the computer system.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule in the set of rules specifies information that assigns the source object to the target object for the first map definition constructed by the computer system.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprises assigning literal data associated with a system level or a record level default value to the target object using the computer system based on the field map.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing background information using the computer system to further define the target object based on one or more of record structure or data type conversion.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein processing the background information further comprises processing information using the computer system based on a platform type and a data type.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting a modification using the computer system in the section of data in the data repository; and
adjusting the target object using the computer system based on the modification.
11. An automatic mapping system comprising:
a data repository;
application server hardware configured to exchange data with the data repository; and
a mapping engine hosted by the application server hardware and configured to automatically generate a field map, absent direct user intervention, using a source object and a target object from the data repository based on information specifying a set of map rules, each map rule in the set of map rules configured to match source objects in the data repository to target objects in the data repository in response to a set of criteria, and information defining literal data as a set of default values to be assigned to fields of the target objects in the data repository where no match is found based on the set of map rules between the source objects in the data repository and the target objects in the data repository, each default value in the set of default values comprising predetermined literal data,
wherein the mapping engine automatically defines the field map to assign literal data associated with a default value in the set of default values to the target object when the set of map rules fails to yield a match between the target object and the source object, and
wherein the mapping engine automatically defines the field map to assign data in the data repository associated with the source object to the target object when at least one of the map rule in the set of map rules yields a match between the target object and the source object.
12. The automatic mapping system of claim 11 wherein the data repository further comprises:
a management system; and
an interface for exchanging data and information with the application server and the mapping engine.
13. The automatic mapping system of claim 11 wherein the data repository further comprises:
a presentation layer;
a data layer; and
an engine layer.
14. The automatic mapping system of claim 13 wherein the presentation layer further comprises:
a data source for providing a source field;
a map designer for designing the field map; and
a scheduler for integrating the field map.
15. The automatic mapping system of claim 13 wherein the data layer further comprises:
an ETL engine for extracting, transforming, or loading data;
a data transformation module exchanging data with the mapping engine; and
a query module for structured calling of data from the data repository based on the field map.
16. The automatic mapping system of claim 11 wherein the mapping engine further comprises:
an initialization module for initializing field map generation;
a rules module for administering the set of map rules for the mapping engine;
default module for specifying literal data associated with the set of default values;
a map definition module for integrating the set of map rules and the set of default values to define a target field;
a field conversion module for converting the target field using the map definition module; and
a field map generator for generating the field map.
17. An apparatus that includes a processor for automatically generating data maps used by applications, the apparatus comprising:
means for receiving information identifying a section of data in a data repository having a source object and a target object;
means for receiving information specifying a set of rules configured to match source objects in the data repository to target objects in the data repository;
means for receiving information defining literal data as a set of default values to be assigned to target objects in the data repository where no match is found between source objects in the data repository and the target objects in the data repository based on the set of rules, each default value in the set of default values comprising predetermined literal data;
means for determining whether the source target matches the target object based on the set of rules,
means for, if the means for determining yields a match based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically defining a field map for the section of data in the data repository, wherein the field map assigns data in the data repository associated with the source object to the target object;
means for, if the means for determining fails to yield a match based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically defining a field map for the section of data in the data repository, wherein the field map assigns literal data associated with a default value in the set of default values to the target object; and
means for generating the field map.
18. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium storing instructions operational when executed by a computer system for automatically generating field maps used by applications, the computer program product comprising:
code for receiving information identifying a section of data in a data repository having a source object and a target object;
code for receiving information specifying a set of rules configured to match source objects in the data repository to target objects in the data repository;
code for receiving information defining literal data as a set of default values to be assigned to target objects in the data repository where no match is found between source objects in the data repository and the target objects in the data repository based on the set of rules, each default value in the set of default values comprising predetermined literal data;
code for determining whether the source target matches the target object based on the set of rules,
code for, if a match is found based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically defining a field map for the section of data in the data repository, wherein the field map assigns data in the data repository associated with the source object to the target object;
code for, if a match is not found based on the set of rules between the source object and the target object, automatically defining a field map for the section of data in the data repository using, wherein the field map assigns literal data associated with a default value in the set of default values to the target object; and
code for generating the field map.
19. A method performed by a computer system for servicing requests for data, the method comprising:
receiving a request at the computer system from a user interacting with an application to access data stored in a data repository;
identifying a first set of fields in a plurality of database fields at the computer system based on the request;
determining a second set of fields in the plurality of database fields at the computer system;
obtaining a set of required rules, a set of required default values, a set of optional map rules, and a set of optional default values at the computer system; each rule in the set of required rules specifying criteria that enable the computer system to match source fields in a database to target fields in the database, each required default value in the set of required default values specifying literal data used by the computer system to assign to target fields in the database, each optional rule in the set of optional rules specifying criteria that enable the computer system to match source fields in the database to target fields in the database without overriding a matching based on the set of required rules and literal data specified in the set of required default values, each optional default value in the set of optional default values specifying literal data used by the computer system to assign to target fields in the database without overriding a matching based on the set of required rules and literal data specified in the set of required default values;
determining at the computer system whether a field in the first set of fields matches a field in the second set of fields based on the set of required rules;
if a match is determined at the computer system based on the set of required rules, defining a field map at the computer system between the field in the first set of fields and the field in the second set of fields based on an action specified in one or more satisfied required rules in the set of required rules;
if a match is not determined at the computer system based on the set of required rules, determining at the computer system whether to assign a required default value to any fields in the first set of fields;
based on a determination at the computer system to assign a required default value to a field in the first set of fields, defining at the computer system a field map for the field in the first set of fields where literal data associated with a required default value in the set of required default values is specified to populate the field in the first set of fields;
determining at the computer system whether a field in the first set of fields matches a field in the second set of fields based on the set of optional rules;
if a match is determined at the computer system based on the set of optional rules, defining a field map at the computer system between the field in the first set of fields and the field in the second set of fields based on an action specified in one or more satisfied optional rules in the set of optional rules without overriding a matching based on the set of required rules and literal data specified in the set of required default values;
if a match is not determined at the computer system based on the set of optional rules, determining at the computer system whether to assign an optional default value to any fields in the first set of fields;
based on a determination at the computer system to assign an optional default value to a field in the first set of fields, defining a field map at the computer system for the field in the first set of fields where literal data associated with an optional default value in the set of default values is assigned to the first field without overriding a matching based on the set of required rules and literal data specified in the set of required default values;
based on a determination at the computer system that any fields in the first set of fields remain unassigned, assigning a null value at the computer system as the data for unassigned fields in the first set of fields; and
automatically generating a data map at the computer system that maps data to the first set of fields based on field maps defined by the computer system;
wherein the data map is used by the computer system to service the request from the user interacting with the application to access data stored in a data repository.

1. A brake control device for a vehicle having a wheel speed sensor, comprising:
a first means for calculating a required brake axle torque being an axle torque required to brake of the vehicle, wherein a microcomputer serves as the first means;
a second means for causing a brake device of the vehicle to generate a brake pressure corresponding to the required brake axle torque calculated by the first means, wherein a microcomputer serves as the second means,
wherein the first means:
calculates the required brake axle torque so that the required brake axle torque comes closer to zero in accordance with deceleration of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates on an ascending slope; and
at a start timing after calculating the required brake axle torque, determines a final value which is farther apart from zero than the initial value is, and a correction duration, and causing the required brake axle torque to change from the initial value to the final value during the correction duration from the start timing, wherein:
the final value is a torque with which the vehicle can stop at the ascending slope; and
the correction duration is a period from a limit time to a stop time, the limit time being a last moment of a period in which the detected vehicular speed of the vehicle detected based on a detection signal of the wheel speed sensor is equal to or larger than a minimum detectable vehicular speed, the stop time being a time at which an actual speed of the vehicle becomes zero, and the stop time being estimated based on change in a detected vehicular speed at or before the limit time.
2. The brake control device according to claim 1, wherein the start timing is a timing at which the speed of the vehicle on the ascending slope becomes smaller than the minimum detectable vehicular speed.
3. A brake control device installed to a vehicle, comprising:
a target acceleration setting portion for determining a target acceleration which the vehicle should achieve, wherein a microcomputer serves as the target acceleration setting portion; and
a brakingdriving cooperative control portion for calculating, based on the target acceleration determined by the target acceleration setting portion, a required powertrain axle torque required to power the vehicle and a required brake axle torque required to brake the vehicle, transmitting the calculated required powertrain axle torque to a powertrain axle torque realizing portion which performs control so that the powertrain of the vehicle generates the required powertrain axle torque, and transmitting the calculated required brake axle torque to a brake axle torque realizing portion which performs control so that a brake device of the vehicle generates a brake pressure corresponding to the required brake axle torque, wherein a microcomputer serves as the brakingdriving cooperative control portion, wherein:
a microcomputer serves as the powertrain axle torque realizing portion,
a microcomputer serves as the brake axle torque realizing portion,
the target acceleration setting portion calculates, when a speed of the vehicle on an ascending slope decreases to become equal to or smaller than a border vehicular speed, a negative soft acceleration which comes closer to zero in accordance with deceleration of the vehicle, identifies the calculated soft acceleration as the target acceleration, and keeps the soft acceleration constant after the vehicular speed becomes smaller than a minimum detectable vehicular speed of the wheel speed sensor;
the brakingdriving cooperative control portion determines, at a timing at which the speed of the vehicle on the ascending slope becomes smaller than a minimum detectable vehicular speed of the wheel speed sensor, a negative initial value of the required brake axle torque, a negative final value, and a correction duration, and causes the required brake axle torque to change from the initial value to the final value during the correction duration from the timing;
the initial value is a required brake axle torque determined based on the target acceleration;
the final value is a torque with which the vehicle can stop at the ascending slope; and
the brakingdriving cooperative control portion estimates a stop time at which an actual speed of the vehicle becomes zero based on a detected vehicular speed at a limit time and a detected acceleration of the vehicle calculated by the detected vehicular speed, the limit time being a last moment of a period in which the detected vehicular speed of the vehicle detected based on a detection signal of the wheel speed sensor is equal to or larger than a minimum detectable vehicular speed, and the brakingdriving cooperative control portion identifies a period from the limit time to the stop time as the correction duration.

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 use with wooden in-ground posts having a portion extending below ground level and a portion extending above ground level, comprising:
a waterproof sleeve surrounding the below ground portion of said post and a portion of said sleeve extending above the ground level;
a waterproof collar adapted for being wrapped around said post and having a lower edge on or adjacent to the ground level, an upper edge sealed against said post, and a lower section that is spaced apart from said post around said post, wherein said portion of said sleeve that extends above the ground level is contained in the lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including plural holes in said collar opening into said lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said collar includes an interior wall that is spaced apart from said post, and including a lip formed on the interior wall below said plural holes.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lip has a distal end and the distal end is spaced apart from said post.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said portion of said sleeve that extends above the ground level is contained in the lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post, below said lip.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 including a fluid flow path from the spaced apart portion past said lip and through said plural holes.
7. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lip is positioned relative to said plural holes to block sunlight entering through said holes from impinging on said sleeve.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said lip is position relative to said plural holes to prevent watering from entering the lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said collar includes a circumferential seat between the upper edge and the lower portion and including a fastener extending around said collar in said circumferential seat.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collar defines a wall thickness and the wall thickness at the lower section is relatively less than the wall thickness at the upper edge.
11. Apparatus for use with wooden in-ground posts having a portion extending below ground level and a portion extending above ground level, comprising:
a waterproof sleeve adapted for surrounding the below ground portion of said post wherein a portion of said sleeve extends above the ground level to define a space between the post and said sleeve, said sleeve having an open top, a closed bottom and closed sidewalls, and a circumference greater than the circumference of the in-ground post;
a waterproof collar adapted to be wrapped around said post at the ground level and having a lower edge on or adjacent to the ground level, an upper edge sealed against said post, and a lower section that is spaced apart from said post around said post around the circumference thereof, wherein said portion of said sleeve that extends above the ground level is contained in the lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post, and said waterproof collar defining a fluid flow path from the space between the post and the sleeve; and said waterproof collar including water and light blocking means for preventing water and light from outside of said collar from entering the space between the post and the sleeve.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the fluid flow path from the space between the post and the sleeve is defined by plural holes in said collar opening into said lower portion of said collar that is spaced apart from said post.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said light blocking means for preventing water and light from outside of said collar from entering the space between the post and the sleeve is defined by an interior wall that is spaced apart from said post with a lip formed on the interior wall below said plural holes and extending circumferentially around said collar.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said lip has a distal end and the distal end is spaced apart from said post.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said lip is positioned relative to said plural holes to block sunlight entering through said holes from impinging on said sleeve.
16. A method for use with a wooden in-ground post having a portion extending below ground level and a portion extending above ground level, for extending the effective life of said post, comprising the steps of:
a) forming a hole in the ground for receiving said post;
b) providing a post;
c) covering a lower portion of said post with a waterproof sleeve and inserting said post in said hole so that a portion of said waterproof sleeve extends above the ground level;
d) in-filling the hole;
e) wrapping a waterproof collar having opposite ends around said post so that a bottom edge of the collar is on or adjacent to ground level, mating the opposite ends of said collar and securing the collar to the post so that an upper portion of said collar is sealed against said post and a lower portion of said collar is spaced apart from said post, and wherein a portion of said waterproof sleeve that extends above the ground level is captured between the collar and the post in the spaced apart portion.
17. The method according to claim 16 including the step of providing holes in said collar in said spaced apart portion to define a fluid flow path from said post into said spaced apart portion and through said holes.
18. The method according to claim 16 of allowing moisture from said post to evaporate therefrom through the fluid flow path.
19. The method according to claim 18 including the step of blocking light and water from entering said spaced apart portion.
20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of securing the collar to the post includes the step of wrapping a tie around the upper portion of the collar and tightening the tie against the collar.