Author: claimsbot

1. A library for storing a cartridge of data-storage media, comprising:
a removable module;
a chassis having a module receptacle sized to receive the removable module;
cartridge storage slots disposed within the chassis;
a media drive disposed within the removable module and having a drive opening, the media drive operable to receive and eject the cartridge through the drive opening;
a cartridge transporter disposed within the chassis and operable to transport the cartridge between one of the cartridge slots and the media drive when the module is disposed within the module receptacle;
a library control circuit disposed within the chassis and coupled to the cartridge transporter; and
an interface circuit disposed within the removable module and coupled to the media drive, the interface circuit being operable to interface with a host computer that is external to the chassis, and being coupled to the library control circuit when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle.
2. The library of claim 1 wherein the interface circuit comprises:
a library interface circuit coupled to the library control circuit when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle; and
a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive and to the library interface circuit, and operable to interface with the host computer.
3. The library of claim 1 wherein the interface circuit comprises:
a library interface circuit coupled to the library control circuit when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle and coupled to the media drive; and
a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive and to the library interface circuit, and operable to interface with the host computer.
4. The library of claim 1 wherein the library control circuit is operable to provide power to the media drive and to the interface circuit when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle.
5. The library of claim 1 wherein the interface circuit is operable to couple data between the host computer and the media drive when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle.
6. The library of claim 1 wherein the interface circuit is operable to couple control information between the host computer and the library control circuit when the removable module is disposed within the module receptacle.
7. The library of claim 1, further comprising a media-drive read-write-and-control circuit that is disposed within the removable module and that is coupled to the media drive and to the interface circuit.
8. The library of claim 1 wherein the host computer comprises a component of a computer network.
9. A library for storing a cartridge of data-storage media, comprising:
a sled having a first signal connector and a host signal connector;
a chassis having a sled receptacle that is constructed to allow insertion and removal of the sled therein, the sled receptacle having a second signal connector that mates with the first signal connector when the sled is inserted into the sled receptacle;
cartridge storage slots disposed within the chassis;
a media drive mounted within the sled and having a cartridge receptacle;
a cartridge transporter assembly mounted within the chassis;
a library control circuit mounted within the chassis and coupled to the cartridge transporter assembly and to the second signal connector; and
an interface circuit mounted within the sled and coupled to the media drive, to the first signal connector, and to the host signal connector.
10. The library of claim 9 wherein the interface circuit comprises:
a library interface circuit coupled to the second signal connector; and
a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive, to the library interface circuit, and to the host signal connector.
11. The library of claim 9 wherein the interface circuit comprises:
a library interface circuit coupled to the second signal connector and to the media drive; and
a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive, to the library interface circuit, and to the host signal connector.
12. The library of claim 9 wherein:
the chassis has a power connector that is coupled to the library control circuit;
the first signal connector has a power line coupled to the interface circuit; and
the second signal connector has a power line coupled to the library control circuit and coupled to the power line of the first signal connector when the sled is inserted into the sled receptacle such that power is provided from the library control circuit to the interface circuit and to the media drive when the sled is inserted into the sled receptacle.
13. The library of claim 9 wherein the host signal connector includes a data line such that the interface circuit allows data communication between the media drive and a host computer.
14. The library of claim 9 wherein the first, second, and host signal connectors each include a respective data line such that the first, second, and host signal connectors and the interface circuit allow communication of control information between the library control circuit and a host system computer when the sled is inserted into the sled receptacle.
15. The library of claim 9, further comprising a media-drive read-write-and-control circuit mounted within the sled and coupled to the media drive and to the interface circuit.
16. A method for providing a communication interface between a data-storage library and a host computer, the library having a library control circuit and a module receptacle, the method comprising:
coupling the library control circuit to an interface circuit by inserting into the module receptacle a module that includes the interface circuit and a media drive coupled to the interface circuit; and
coupling the host computer to the interface circuit.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising activating the interface circuit to allow communication between the host computer and the media drive and between the host computer and the library control circuit.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein:
the interface circuit comprises a library interface circuit, and a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive and to the library interface circuit;
coupling the library control circuit comprises coupling the library control circuit to the library interface circuit by inserting the module into the module receptacle; and
coupling the host computer comprises coupling the host computer to the host interface circuit.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the host computer comprises a file server.
20. A method for providing a communication interface between a data-storage library and a host computer, the library having a library control circuit, a first signal connector coupled to the library control circuit, and a module receptacle, the method comprising:
coupling the first signal connector to a second signal connector by inserting into the module receptacle a first module that includes the second signal connector, a third signal connector, a first media drive, and a first interface circuit coupled to the second and third signal connectors and to the media drive; and
coupling the host computer to the third signal connector.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising before the coupling the first signal connector:
uncoupling a fourth signal connector from the first signal connector by removing from the module receptacle a second module that includes the fourth signal connector, a fifth signal connector, a second media drive, and a second interface circuit different than the first interface circuit and coupled to the fourth and fifth signal connectors and to the second media drive; and
uncoupling the host computer from the fifth signal connector.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the interface circuit comprises:
a library interface circuit coupled to the second connector; and
a host interface circuit coupled to the media drive, to the third signal connector, and to the library interface circuit.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the host computer comprises a component of a computer network.

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 conveying apparatus for baking products, where a conveying unit (1), connected to a heating device is connected at one side to a supply apparatus (2) and at an other side to a removal apparatus (3), the conveying apparatus comprising: the conveying unit (1) including a helical face (1.2) settable to vibrate by an oscillating drive (1.1) to convey the baking products upwards, and the supply apparatus (2) connected in a lower region of the conveying unit (1) and the removal apparatus (3) connected in an upper region of the conveying unit (1).
2. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the helical face (1.2) is wound in a concentric manner about a hollow central section (1.3).
3. The conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the central section (1.3) is included in a recirculating air heating circuit (1.4) which leads over the helical face (1.2) for heating the baking products.
4. The conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the helical face (1.2) includes steps (1.5) for turning the baking products when conveyed.
5. The conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the oscillating drive (1.1) includes two out-of-balance drive units having power vectors aligned and inclined to a vertical and inclined to one another.
6. The conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the removal apparatus (3) is disposed above the supply apparatus (2) on a same side of the conveying unit (1).
7. The conveying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the supply apparatus (2) includes a supply section (2.3), connected to the conveying unit (1) and which has a singling-out function, and a loading unit (2.4) which leads downwards to the supply section (2.3) and is set at an incline or is adjustable at an incline relative to the supply section (2.3).
8. The conveying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein for supplying the baking products, the loading unit (2.4) is driveable by a supply drive (2.5) and the supply section (2.3) is drivable by an additional supply drive.
9. The conveying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supply apparatus (2) has an individual loading section (2.1) connected to the supply section (2.3).
10. The conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the removal apparatus (3) includes a removal section (3.1), connected to the upper region of the helical face (1.2) and an output section (3.2), leading inclinedly downwards to a removal apparatus (3.3).
11. The conveying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein heat of the baking products situated in the removal apparatus (3) is conducted in part to the baking products in the supply apparatus (2).
12. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the helical face (1.2) includes steps (1.5) for turning the baking products when conveyed.
13. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating drive (1.1) includes two out-of-balance drive units having power vectors aligned and inclined to a vertical and inclined to one another.
14. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removal apparatus (3) is disposed above the supply apparatus (2) on a same side of the conveying unit (1).
15. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply apparatus (2) includes a supply section (2.3) connected to the conveying unit (1) and which has a singling-out function, and a loading unit (2.4) which leads downwards to the supply section (2.3) and is set at an incline or is adjustable at an incline relative to the supply section (2.3).
16. The conveying apparatus according to claim 15, wherein for supplying the baking products, the loading unit (2.4) is driveable by a supply drive (2.5) and the supply section (2.3) is drivable by an additional supply drive.
17. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply apparatus (2) has an individual loading section (2.1) connected to the supply section (2.3).
18. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removal apparatus (3) includes a removal section (3.1) connected to the upper region of the helical face (1.2) and an output section (3.2) leading inclinedly downwards to a removal apparatus (3.3).
19. The conveying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein heat of the baking products situated in the removal apparatus (3) is conducted in part to the baking products in the supply apparatus (2).

1. A method of processing multi-media service requests, the method comprising:
receiving a request message in a first format for a multi-media service at a gateway controller and translating the request message in the first format into a request message in a second format;
receiving the request message in the second format at a switching device and translating the request message in the second format into a request message in a third format;
receiving the request message in the third format at a processor and processing the request message in the third format at the processor for generating a media server instruction message in the third format including an interactive voice response message set information;
receiving the media server instruction message in the third format at the switching device and processing the media server instruction message in the third format at the switching device to translate the media server instruction message into the second format including the interactive voice response message set information; and
receiving the media server instruction message in the second format at the gateway controller, wherein the gateway controller is operative for mapping the interactive voice response message set information from the media server instruction message in the second format into a media server instruction message in the first format and wherein a media server receives and responds to the media server instruction message in the first format including the interactive voice response message set information by forming a multi-media communication path with a communication device.
2. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, further including:
playing a predetermined announcement to the communication device over the multi-media communication path.
3. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 2, further including:
receiving caller-entered data at the media server in response to the predetermined announcement.
4. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 3, further including
processing the caller-entered data at the media server to generate a validation message in the first format and including the caller-entered data.
5. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 4, further including:
receiving and processing the validation message in the first format at the gateway controller to generate a validation message in the second format and including the caller-entered data.
6. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 5, further including:
receiving and processing the validation message in the second format at the switching device to generate a validation message in the third format and including the caller-entered data.
7. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 6, further including:
receiving and processing the validation message in the third format at the processor to validate the caller-entered data.
8. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 7, further including:
declaring the caller-entered data as valid and connect; and
controlling the gateway controller to form a multi-media communication path between the communication device and one other communication device.
9. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 8, wherein controlling the gateway controller includes:
executing a predetermined conference call protocol at the gateway controller to form the multi-media communication path between the communication device and the one other communication device.
10. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 9, wherein executing the predetermined conference call protocol at the gateway controller includes executing a third party call control protocol.
11. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 7, further including:
declaring the caller-entered data as invalid and re-prompt; and
controlling the media server to re-play the predetermined announcement to the communication device over the multi-media communication path.
12. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 11, further including:
receiving caller-entered data at the media server in the response to the re-play of the predetermined announcement to the communication device; and
repeating the processing the caller-entered data at the media server to generate the validation message in the first format and including the caller-entered data.
13. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 7, further including:
declaring the caller-entered data as invalid and disconnect;
controlling the media server to play a termination announcement to the communication device over the multi-media communication path; and
disconnecting the multi-media communication path formed between the media server and the communication device.
14. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein translating the request message in the first format into the request message in the second format includes translating the request message from a session initiation protocol invite format to a diameter-plus format.
15. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein translating the request message in the second format into the request message in the third format includes translating the request message from a diameter-plus format to an advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format.
16. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein generating the media server instruction message in the third format includes generating the media server instruction message in an artificial-intelligence-network transactions capabilities format.
17. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein prior to the receiving the request message in the first format, the method further includes:
receiving the request message in the first format at the switching device; and
re-directing the request message in the first format for the multi-media service to the gateway controller.
18. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein the gateway controller is further operative to construct a multipurpose internet mail extensions GR-1129 media type in a message body portion of the media server instruction message in the first format.
19. The method for processing multi-media service requests of claim 1, wherein the interactive voice response message set information includes GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information.
20. A system for processing multi-media service requests, the system comprising:
a gateway controller being adapted to receive a request message in a first format for a multi-media service and to translate the request message in the first format into a request message in a second format;
a switching device coupled to the gateway controller and being adapted to receive the request message in the second format and to translate the request message in the second format into a request message in a third format; and
a processor coupled to the switching device and being adapted to receive the request message in the third format and to process the request message in the third format to generate a media server instruction message in the third format including at least GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information,
wherein the switching device receives and translates the media server instruction message in the third format to a media server instruction message in the second format including the GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information, and the gateway controller receives and translates the media server instruction message in the second format to a media server instruction message in the first format including the GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information, and
wherein a media server coupled to the gateway controller receives and responds to the media server instruction message in the first format by forming a multi-media communication path with a communication device.
21. A method of processing multi-media service requests, the method comprising:
receiving a request message in a session initiation protocol format for a multi-media service at a gateway controller and translating the request message in the session initiation protocol format into a request message in a diameter-plus format;
receiving the request message in the diameter-plus format at a switching device and translating the request message in the diameter-plus format into a request message in an advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format;
receiving the request message in the advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format at a processor and processing the request message in the advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format at the processor for generating a media server instruction message in the advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format including a GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information;
receiving the media server instruction message in the advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format at the switching device and processing the media server instruction message in the advanced-intelligent-network transactions capabilities format at the switching device to translate the media server instruction message into the diameter-plus format including the GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information; and
receiving the media server instruction message in the diameter-plus format at the gateway controller, wherein the gateway controller is operative for mapping the GR-1129 advanced intelligent network message set information from the media server instruction message in the diameter-plus format into a media server instruction message in a session initiation protocol format and wherein a media server receives and responds to the media server instruction message in the session initiation protocol format by forming a multi-media communication path with a communication 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 medical device comprising:
a syringe barrel including a side wall having an inside surface defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end and a distal end including a distal wall with a tip extending distally therefrom having an open passageway in fluid communication with said chamber;
a plunger rod comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a body extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the plunger rod disposed within the chamber and moveable in the proximal and distal direction within the chamber, wherein the distal end of the plunger rod includes a tapered neck shaped to form a releasable seal with the opening and the opening includes an undercut that is shaped to receive the tapered neck of the plunger rod;
a stopper assembly disposed within the chamber and moveable in the proximal and distal direction within the chamber, the stopper assembly forming a fluid-tight seal with the inside surface of the syringe barrel, a stopper including a distal face, a proximal end, an expandable portion adjacent to the proximal end comprising a bendable wall formed from an elastomeric material having a spring constant that expands a stopper cavity to create a vacuum within the stopper cavity, and a body extending from the distal face to the proximal end defining the stopper cavity, wherein the stopper is attached to the distal end of the plunger rod and the proximal end of the stopper includes an opening in fluid communication with the stopper cavity, wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is disposed within the stopper cavity and forms a releasable seal with the opening and is proximally and distally moveable within the stopper cavity; and
a porous portion associated with the stopper to permit air to flow into the stopper cavity and to prevent liquid from entering the stopper cavity, the plunger rod and stopper configured to create a pressure differential between the stopper cavity and a portion of the chamber extending from the distal wall and the distal face of the stopper assembly, wherein the porous portion comprises a selective barrier that defines a liquid penetration pressure and an air penetration pressure that is less than the liquid penetration pressure.
2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a vent associated with the stopper to release the air from the stopper cavity.
3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the porous portion comprises one of a hydrophilic filter, hydrophobic filter, a swellable polymer or a combination thereof.
4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein an initial movement of the plunger rod in a proximal direction relative to the stopper forms the releasable seal between the distal end of the plunger rod and the opening, and the expandable portion expands and draws air from the chamber into the stopper cavity through the porous portion disposed between the distal face and the stopper cavity.
5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein upon movement of the plunger rod in a distal direction relative to the stopper subsequent to the initial movement in the proximal direction, the releasable seal is released, allowing the air within the stopper cavity to escape through the opening of the stopper.
6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the expandable portion is configured so that upon a continuous movement of the plunger rod relative to the stopper in a distal direction, the distal end of the plunger rod blocks the porous portion and prevents air from exiting the stopper cavity through the porous portion.
7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the stopper further comprises a sealing portion disposed between the distal face and the expandable portion forming a fluid-tight seal with the inside surface of the syringe barrel, the expandable portion configured so that upon an initial movement of the plunger rod in a proximal direction, the sealing portion remains stationary and the expandable portion expands to draw air into the stopper cavity through the porous portion.
8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the elastomeric material permits expansion of the bendable wall.
9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the distal face is flexible and flexes concavely during movement of the plunger rod in a proximal direction and flexes convexly during movement of the plunger rod in the distal direction.
10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the distal face is convexly shaped and conforms to the distal wall of the barrel.
11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the expandable portion comprises a pump body having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the stopper and a proximal end defining a plunger-engaging portion attached to the proximal end of the plunger rod, the pump body including a wall that defines a pump cavity in fluid communication with the stopper cavity.
12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the pump body is configured so that upon application of an initial force on the plunger rod in the distal direction relative to the stopper causes the pump body to compress and a release of the initial force on the plunger rod in the distal direction allows the pump body to expand and draw air from the chamber into the stopper cavity through the porous portion disposed between the distal face and the stopper cavity.
13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the stopper further comprises a sealing portion disposed between the distal face and the expandable portion forming a fluid-tight seal with the inside surface of the syringe barrel, wherein the sealing portion remains stationary as the pump body expands.
14. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the wall comprises a corrugated wall formed from an elastomeric material and has a spring constant that permits expansion of the corrugated wall.
15. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a first protrusion positioned distally adjacent the tapered neck, a boss member distally adjacent the first protrusion and a second protrusion distally adjacent the boss member.
16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the first protrusion has a cross-sectional width to prevent separation of the plunger rod from the stopper.
17. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the second protrusion includes a perpendicular face having a cross-sectional width equal to or greater than a cross-sectional width of the porous portion.
18. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the boss member has a length that permits movement of the plunger rod without separation of the plunger rod from the stopper.
19. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the tapered neck has a cross-sectional width that increases from the body of the plunger rod to the first protrusion.
20. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the tapered neck has a cross-sectional width that increases at an angle identical to an angle of the undercut of the stopper.
21. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the tapered neck is contoured so that at least one portion of the tapered neck forms a fluid-tight engagement with the undercut as the plunger rod and stopper move in a proximal direction.