All The Claims

1. An apparatus for providing reservation status relating to a group of objects, comprising:
a database constructed and arranged to contain (i) availability data describing operational status of at least one of the group of objects, and (ii) reservation data describing allocation of at least one of the group of objects, wherein the availability data and the reservation data are stored in sparse form;
a windowing module for extracting, from the database, availability data and reservation data corresponding to a predetermined period of time, and combining the extracted availability data and reservation data to form windowed data in a dense format;
a bit-vector module for receiving the windowed data and for providing the windowed data in a bit-vector view;
a copying module for sampling the windowed data in the bit-vector view to produce sampled data, wherein the sampled data provides the reservation status as a static view of the windowed data in the bit-vector view.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the group of objects includes a fleet of automobiles.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fleet of automobiles is geographically distributed over a predetermined area.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the availability data includes binary information specifying, for each of the at least one of the group of objects, that either (i) the object is functionally capable of performing a task, or (ii) the object is not functionally capable of performing the task.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a receiver module for receiving current availability data from at least one of the group of objects, and for updating the database with the current availability data.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sampled data is provided to at least one of (i) a telephone interface, (ii) a network interface, or (iii) a customer service interface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an application server for receiving a copy of the sampled data, wherein the state between the copy of the sampled data and the data contained in the database is maintained at or near real time.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the copying module provides a copy of the sampled data to each of two or more application servers running application server software.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application server software maintains consistency between the copies of the sampled data on the two or more application servers using a distributed invalidation function to inform the two or more application servers of impending changes to the copies of the sampled data.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application server software maintains consistency between the copies of the sampled data on the two or more application servers by polling a journal table that records changes to the windowed data, and using the recorded changes to update the copy of the sampled data.
11. A method of providing reservation status relating to a group of objects, comprising:
providing a database for containing (i) availability data describing availability of at least one of the group of objects, and (ii) reservation data describing allocation of at least one of the group of objects, wherein the availability data and the reservation data are stored in sparse form;
extracting, from the database, availability data and reservation data corresponding to a predetermined period of time, and combining the extracted availability data and reservation data to form windowed data in a dense format;
receiving the windowed data and providing the windowed data in a bit-vector view;
sampling the windowed data in the bit-vector view to produce sampled data, wherein the sampled data provides the reservation status as a static view of the windowed data in the bit-vector view.
12. The method of claim 11, further including receiving current availability data from at least one of the group of objects, and updating the database with the current availability data.
13. The method of claim 11, further including providing the sampled data to at least one of (i) a telephone interface, (ii) a network interface, or (iii) a customer service interface.
14. The method of claim 11, further including an application server for receiving the sampled data, wherein the copying module maintains the state between the sampled data and the application server at or near real time.
15. The method of claim 11, further including providing a copy of the sampled data to each of two or more application servers running application server software.
16. The method of claim 15, further including maintaining consistency between the copies of the sampled data on the two or more application servers using a distributed invalidation function to inform the two or more application servers of impending changes to the copies of the sampled data.
17. The method of claim 15, further including maintaining consistency between the copies of the sampled data on the two or more application servers by polling a journal table that records changes to the windowed data, and using the recorded changes to update the copy of the sampled data.
18. An apparatus for providing reservation status relating to a fleet of automobiles, comprising:
a database for containing (i) availability data describing operational status of at least one of the fleet of automobiles, and (ii) reservation data describing allocation of at least one of the fleet of automobiles, wherein the availability data and the reservation data are stored in sparse form;
a receiver module for receiving current availability data from at least one of the fleet of automobiles, and for updating the database with the current availability data;
a windowing module for extracting, from the database, availability data and reservation data corresponding to a predetermined period of time, and combining the extracted availability data and reservation data to form windowed data in a dense format;
a bit-vector module for receiving the windowed data and for providing the windowed data in a bit-vector view;
a copying module for sampling the windowed data in the bit-vector view to produce sampled data, wherein the sampled data provides the reservation status as a static view of the windowed data in the bit-vector view.
19. A system for providing reservation status relating to a fleet of automobiles, comprising:
one or more automobiles, each having diagnostic equipment for providing availability data describing operational status associated with the automobile, and communication equipment for transmitting the availability data;
a reservation database platform, including database software operative to provide:
(i) a database constructed and arranged to contain the availability data of at least one of the fleet of automobiles, and reservation data describing allocation of at least one of the fleet of automobiles, wherein the availability data and the reservation data are stored in sparse form;
(ii) a windowing module for extracting, from the database, availability data and reservation data corresponding to a predetermined period of time, and combining the extracted availability data and reservation data to form windowed data in a dense format;
(iii) a bit-vector module for receiving the windowed data and for providing the windowed data in a bit-vector view;
(iv) a copying module for sampling the windowed data in the bit-vector view to produce sampled data, wherein the sampled data provides the reservation status as a static view of the windowed data in the bit-vector view;

wherein the reservation database platform includes a receiver module for receiving current availability data from at least one of the fleet of automobiles, and for updating the database with the current availability data; and,
at least one application server for receiving a copy of the sampled data.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein application server software running on the at least one application server monitors the reservation database platform for a change in the sampled data, and updates the copy of the sampled data when the change in the sampled data is detected.
21. The system of claim 19, wherein the application database software maintains consistency between (i) the availability data and reservation data in the database, and (ii) the sampled data, by propagating changes in the availability data and the reservation data through the windowing module, the bit-vector module and the copying module.

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

1. An electronic apparatus for training an animal, comprising:
(a) a housing supported against the animal’s skin by a strap;
(b) first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a surface of the housing;
(c) control circuitry in the housing including output terminals producing predetermined aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes;
(d) a non-conductive stabilizing member connected to a location of the surface of the housing that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes,

whereby conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing member are pressed against the skin of the animal and prevent rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes against the skin of the animal to reduce the occurrence and severity of skin sores.
2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second stimulus electrodes includes an elongated conductive probe coupled to the control circuitry and an insulator surrounding a portion of that stimulus electrode, an end portion of that stimulus electrode extending only sufficiently far beyond the insulator to avoid substantial shunting of electrical stimulus current between the first and second stimulus electrodes through the animal’s fur when the animal’s fur is wet.
3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2 wherein the end portion of each stimulus electrode extends approximately {fraction (110)} of an inch beyond the insulator of that stimulus electrode.
4. A collar-mounted electronic apparatus for training an animal, comprising:
(a) a housing supported by a collar for attachment to the animal’s neck;
(b) first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a top surface of the housing;
(c) control circuitry in the housing including output terminals producing predetermined aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes;
(d) a non-conductive stabilizing post connected to a location of the top surface of the housing that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes so that conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and a tip of the stabilizing post define a triangle,

whereby conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing post are pressed against the neck of the animal and prevent rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes against the neck of the animal to reduce the occurrence and severity of neck sores.
5. An electronic apparatus for control of nuisance vocalizations by a dog, comprising:
(a) a housing supported by a strap against the dog’s skin;
(b) first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a surface of the housing;
(c) a sensor supported by the housing for producing signals in response to vocalization by the dog;
(d) control circuitry in the housing having an input coupled to an output of the sensor, the control circuitry including output terminals coupled to produce aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes in response to the signals produced in response to the vocalization by the dog;
(e) a non-conductive stabilizing member connected to a location of the surface of the housing that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes so that conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and a tip of the stabilizing post define a triangle,

whereby conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing member are pressed against the skin of the dog and prevent rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes against the skin of the dog to reduce the occurrence and severity of skin sores.
6. A collar-mounted electronic apparatus for control of barking by a dog, comprising:
(a) a housing supported by a collar for attachment to the dog’s neck;
(b) first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a top surface of the housing;
(c) a vibration sensor supported by the housing for detecting vibrations caused by barking by the dog;
(d) control circuitry in the housing having an input coupled to an output of the vibration sensor, the control circuitry including output terminals coupled to produce aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes in response to barking by the dog;
(e) a non-conductive stabilizing post connected to a location of the top surface of the housing that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes so that conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and a tip of the stabilizing post define a triangle,

whereby conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing post are pressed against the neck of the dog and prevent rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes against the neck of the dog to reduce the occurrence and severity of neck sores.
7. The collar-mounted apparatus of claim 6 wherein the heights of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the stabilizing post are at least approximately equal.
8. A method of training an animal, comprising:
(a) supporting an electronic training device against the animal’s skin, the electronic training device including a housing and first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a surface of the housing and control circuitry in the housing including output terminals producing predetermined aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes; and
(b) preventing rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes on the skin of the animal by providing a non-conductive stabilizing member that is connected to a location of the surface of the housing and that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes wherein conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing member are pressed against the skin of the animal and stabilize the electronic training device so as to prevent the rocking and thereby reduce the occurrence and severity of skin sores.
9. An electronic apparatus for training an animal, comprising:
(a) means for supporting the electronic training device against the animal’s skin;
(b) a housing and first and second stimulus electrodes connected to a surface of the housing;
(c) control circuitry in the housing including output terminals connected to produce predetermined aversive stimulus signals between the first and second stimulus electrodes; and
(d) non-conductive stabilizing means that is connected to a location of the surface of the housing and that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes for preventing rocking of conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes on the skin of the animal wherein conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing member are pressed against the skin of the animal and are prevented from rocking and thereby reduce the occurrence and severity of skin sores.

1. A rear-entry athletic pack allowing for access to, and storage and control of, a liquids bladder, the rear-entry athletic pack comprising:
a rear side, the rear side residing against the back of a wearer of the rear-entry athletic pack when correctly worn;
a back-side flap, the back-side flap generally following along an entire distance of and openable along at least three-quarters of the outside circumference contour of the rear side;
a rear bladder compartment, accessed by the back-side flap;
a mesh webbing, connected at a bottom end and opposing sides of an interior perimeter of the back-side flap and having at least one cut-out defining an opening at a bottom corner of the mesh webbing;
at least one fastener, positioned near a top end of an interior perimeter of the back-side flap;
a liquids bladder, removably secured flush against the back-side flap by the mesh webbing and the at least one fastener, and
a hose, through which the liquids bladder’s contents may be drawn, attached to the liquids bladder and routed through the at least one cut-out of the mesh webbing to outside of the rear-entry athletic pack,
wherein the bottom end and opposing side connections of the mesh webbing to the interior perimeter of the back-side flap removably secures a bottom portion of the liquids bladder in position when the liquids bladder is placed inside the mesh webbing, and
wherein the at least one fastener is threaded through at least one slot hole formed through a top portion of the liquids bladder and thereby removably secures a top portion of the liquids bladder in position.
2. The athletic pack according to claim 1, further comprising:
a material barrier, integrally connected to an interior of the athletic pack and which operates to separate the rear bladder compartment from a remainder of the interior space.
3. The athletic pack according to claim 1, further comprising:
a means for fastening the back-side flap to the rear side.
4. The athletic pack according to claim 1, further comprising:
a bladder cap, removably fitted to the liquids bladder and positioned so as to be on a side of the liquids bladder which is away from the athletic pack’s wearer’s back.
5. The athletic pack according to claim 1, further comprising:
a piece of elastic, integrally connected to the mesh webbing, which biases the liquids bladder against the back-side flap.
6. The athletic pack according to claim 1, further comprising:
at least one panel, allowing for insertion of a stiffener, residing in the back-side flap.
7. The athletic pack according to claim 1, wherein the rear bladder compartment is insulated.

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. An electrically conductive paste, comprising Cu powder, glass frit and an organic binder resin, wherein the glass frit comprises a Zn- and Cu-containing borosilicate glass having a contact angle in the melt state with respect to Cu of 90 or less measured in a nitrogen atmosphere.
2. The electrically conductive paste according to claim 1, wherein the amount of Zn in the glass frit calculated as ZnO is about 2-40 mol %, and the amount of Cu in the glass frit calculated as CuO allows vitrification and is at least about 0.2 mol %.
3. The electrically conductive paste according to claim 2, wherein the Zn in the glass frit is ZnO and the Cu in the glass frit is CuO.
4. The electrically conductive paste according to claim 2, wherein the contact angle in the melt state with respect to Cu is about 55 or less.
5. An electronic element comprising:
an electronic element body having at least one internal electrode; and
at least one external electrode on an outer surface of the electronic element body electrically connected to the internal electrode, wherein the external electrode comprises copper and a Zn- and Cu-containing borosilicate glass having a contact angle in the melt state with respect to Cu of 90 or less measured in a nitrogen atmosphere.
6. The electronic element of claim 5 in which the internal electrode comprises Cu or Ni.
7. The electronic element of claim 5 in which the internal electrode comprises a metal which forms an alloy with copper.
8. The electronic element of claim 5 having a plurality of internal electrodes and at least two of said external electrodes.
9. The electronic element of claim 8 wherein the electronic element body comprises a plurality of layers and each internal electrode is disposed between adjacent ones of said layers.
10. The electronic element of claim 9 in which the internal electrode comprises Cu or Ni.
11. The electronic element of claim 10 in which the amount of Zn in the glass frit calculated as ZnO is about 2-40 mol %, and the amount of Cu in the glass frit calculated as CuO allows vitrification and is at least about 0.2 mol %.
12. The electronic element of claim 5 in which the amount of Zn in the glass frit calculated as ZnO is about 2-40 mol %, and the amount of Cu in the glass frit calculated as CuO allows vitrification and is at least about 0.2 mol %.
13. An electronic element comprising:
an electronic element body having at least one internal electrode; and
at least one external electrode on an outer surface of the electronic element body electrically connected to the internal electrode, wherein the external electrode comprises a fired electrically conductive paste according to claim 1.
14. The electronic element of claim 13 in which the internal electrode comprises Cu or Ni.
15. The electronic element of claim 13 in which the internal electrode comprises a metal which forms an alloy with copper.
16. The electronic element of claim 13 having a plurality of internal electrodes and at least two of said external electrodes.
17. The electronic element of claim 16 wherein the electronic element body comprises a plurality of layers and each internal electrode is disposed between adjacent ones of said layers.
18. The electronic element of claim 18 in which the internal electrode comprises Cu or Ni.
19. The electronic element of claim 18 in which the amount of Zn in the glass frit calculated as ZnO is about 2-40 mol %, and the amount of Cu in the glass frit calculated as CuO allows vitrification and is at least about 0.2 mol %.