All The Claims

Therefore, having thus described the invention, at least the following is claimed:

1. A method for establishing and re-using sessions for the delivery of media content from at least one server to any of a plurality of client devices, comprising the steps of:
establishing a first session to deliver first media content;
receiving a request for a second session to deliver second media content;
determining whether a session can be re-used for the second session; and
re-using the first session for the second session responsive to determining that the first session can be used for the second session.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same resources that were used for the first session.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes determining whether a session includes resources that use at least some of the same resources as the first session.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least the bit rate used in the first session.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same encryption as the encryption used in the first session.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same MPEG program number as the MPEG program number used in the first session.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same QAM modulator as the QAM modulator used in the first session.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of releasing the resources of the first session to configure different resources if none of the resources used by the first session match the resources used by the second session.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of releasing the resources of the first session to configure different resources if the bit rate of the second session exceeds the bit rate used for the first session.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a request for the first session, for delivering the first media content, from one of the client devices.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving, from the one of the client devices, an identification of the first media content, an identification of a user, an address of the server, and billing information for the user.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of interpreting the request for the first session in order to balance the server load among a plurality of server loads, to match proprietary servers to corresponding proprietary client devices, and to optimize signal strength between the client devices and the server.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of forwarding the request to the server.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a request from the server to allocate resources for the first session.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing further comprises the step of allocating the resources for the first session.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the resources are defined in part by resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resource descriptors comprise a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the resource descriptor attributes include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting a QAM modulator and equipping the QAM modulator with an encryption message for later insertion into an output transport stream carrying the first media content, wherein the encryption message includes an interactive session key.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming to the server that resources are allocated for the first session, such that the server can deliver the first media content using the first session.
21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a session confirmation to the one of the client devices, wherein the session confirmation provides the one of the client devices with the frequency to tune to receive the first media content, the output program number to select to receive the first media content, and an interactive session key for decrypting the encrypted first media content.
22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving the first session for the second session request after completing the delivery of the first media content.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of preserving from the first session for the second session an interactive session key for encryption, hardware settings in a headend, and resource descriptor attribute settings, wherein the resource descriptor attribute settings include bit rate, MPEG program number, transport stream identification, and encryption.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the headend hardware includes at least one QAM modulator.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using further comprises the step of re-using the first session for at least one of a plurality of session requests that matches at least some of the resources used for the first session.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using further includes the steps of maintaining a transport stream identification table indexed by transport stream identification for each QAM modulator input.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of accessing a session table for a selected entry of the transport stream identification table, wherein the session table includes session identification and entries for client view resource descriptors and server view resource descriptors, wherein the resource descriptors include a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptors further include resource descriptor attributes including bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of comparing the resource descriptors and corresponding resource descriptor attributes of the first session included in the session table with the resource descriptors and corresponding resource descriptor attributes needed for the second session.
29. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using further includes the step of remapping program number packet identifications for carrying the second media content in the second session.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of re-using further includes the step of renumbering program numbers carrying the second media content when the program number is being used at the output of a QAM modulator for another session.
31. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of releasing the resources for the first session if the first session has been dormant for a defined period of time.
32. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of re-using a plurality of sessions.
33. A method for establishing and re-using sessions for the delivery of media content from at least one server to any of a plurality of client devices, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request for a first session, for delivering first media content from the server, from one of the client devices;
receiving, from the one of the client devices, an identification of the first media content, an identification of a user, an address of the server, and billing information for the user;
interpreting the request for the first session in order to balance the server load among a plurality of server loads, to match the server to corresponding proprietary client devices, and to optimize signal strength between the client devices and the server;
forwarding the request for the first session to the server;
receiving a request from the server to allocate resources for the first session;
establishing the first session to deliver the first media content from the server to the one of the client devices, wherein the step of establishing further comprises the step of allocating the resources for the first session, wherein the resources are defined in part by resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes, wherein the resource descriptors comprise a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptor attributes include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number, wherein the step of establishing further comprises the step of selecting a QAM modulator and equipping the QAM modulator with an encryption message for later insertion into an output transport stream carrying the first media content, wherein the encryption message includes an interactive session key;
confirming to the server that the resources are allocated for the first session, such that the server can deliver the first media content using the first session;
sending a session confirmation to the one of the client devices, wherein the session confirmation provides the one of the client devices with the frequency to tune to receive the first media content, the output program number to select to receive the first media content, and an interactive session key for decrypting the encrypted first media content;
saving the first session for a second session request after completing the delivery of the first media content;
preserving from the first session for the second session the interactive session key for encryption, hardware settings in a headend, wherein the headend hardware includes at least one QAM modulator, and resource descriptor attribute settings, wherein the resource descriptor attribute settings include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number;
receiving a request for the second session to deliver second media content;
determining whether a session can be re-used for the second session, wherein the determining step includes determining whether a session includes resources that use at least some of the same resources as the first session; and
re-using the first session for the second session responsive to determining that the first session can be used for the second session, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least some of the same resources that were used for the first session to deliver the first media content;
re-using the first session for the second session request if the second session resources match at least some of the resources used for the first session, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least the bit rate used in the first session, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same encryption as the encryption used in the first session, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same MPEG program number as the MPEG program number used in the first session, wherein the step of re-using includes the step of re-using the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same QAM modulator as the QAM modulator used in the first session;
maintaining a transport stream identification table indexed by transport stream identification for each QAM modulator input;
accessing a session table for a selected entry of the transport stream identification table, wherein the session table includes session identification and entries for client view resource descriptors and server view resource descriptors, wherein the resource descriptors include a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptors include resource descriptor attributes including bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number;
comparing the resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes of the first session included in the session table with the resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes needed for the second session;
remapping program number packet identifications for carrying the second media content in the second session;
renumbering program numbers carrying the second media content when the program number is being used at the output of a QAM modulator for another session;
re-using a plurality of sessions;
releasing the resources of the first session to configure different resources for second session if the second session bit rate exceeds the bit rate for the first session; and
releasing the resources for the first session if the first session has been dormant for a defined period of time.
34. A system for establishing and re-using sessions for the delivery of media content from at least one server to any of a plurality of client devices, the system comprising:
a memory with logic; and
a processor configured with the logic to establish a first session to deliver first media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request for a second session to deliver second media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine whether a session can be re-used for the second session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session responsive to determining that the first session can be used for the second session.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same resources that were used for the first session.
36. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine whether a session includes resources that use at least some of the same resources as the first session.
37. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least the bit rate used in the first session.
38. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same encryption as the encryption used in the first session.
39. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same MPEG program number as the MPEG program number used in the first session.
40. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same QAM modulator as the QAM modulator used in the first session.
41. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to release the resources of the first session to configure different resources if none of the resources used by the first session match the resources used by the second session.
42. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to release the resources of the first session to configure different resources if the bit rate of the second session exceeds the bit rate used for the first session.
43. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request for the first session, for delivering the first media content, from one of the client devices.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive, from the one of the client devices, an identification of the first media content, an identification of a user, an address of the server, and billing information for the user.
45. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to interpret the request for the first session in order to balance the server load among a plurality of server loads, to match proprietary servers to corresponding proprietary client devices, and to optimize signal strength between the client devices and the server.
46. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to forward the request to the server.
47. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request from the server to allocate resources for the first session.
48. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to allocate the resources for the first session.
49. The system of claim 48, wherein the resources are defined in part by resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes.
50. The system of claim 49, wherein the resource descriptors comprise a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor.
51. The system of claim 48, wherein the resource descriptor attributes include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number.
52. The system of claim 48, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to select a QAM modulator and equip the QAM modulator with an encryption message for later insertion into an output transport stream carrying the first media content, wherein the encryption message includes an interactive session key.
53. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to confirm to the server that resources are allocated for the first session, such that the server can deliver the first media content using the first session.
54. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to send a session confirmation to the one of the client devices, wherein the session confirmation provides the one of the client devices with the frequency to tune to receive the first media content, the output program number to select to receive the first media content, and an interactive session key for decrypting the encrypted first media content.
55. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to save the first session for the second session request after completing the delivery of the first media content.
56. The system of claim 55, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to preserve from the first session for the second session an interactive session key for encryption, hardware settings in a headend, and resource descriptor attribute settings, wherein the resource descriptor attribute settings include bit rate, MPEG program number, transport stream identification, and encryption.
57. The system of claim 56, wherein the headend hardware includes at least one QAM modulator.
58. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for at least one of a plurality of session requests that matches at least some of the resources used for the first session.
59. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a transport stream identification table indexed by transport stream identification for each QAM modulator input.
60. The system of claim 59, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to access a session table for a selected entry of the transport stream identification table, wherein the session table includes session identification and entries for client view resource descriptors and server view resource descriptors, wherein the resource descriptors include a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptors further include resource descriptor attributes including bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number.
61. The system of claim 60, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to compare the resource descriptors and corresponding resource descriptor attributes of the first session included in the session table with the resource descriptors and corresponding resource descriptor attributes needed for the second session.
62. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to remap program number packet identifications for carrying the second media content in the second session.
63. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to renumber program numbers carrying the second media content when the program number is being used at the output of a QAM modulator for another session.
64. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to release the resources for the first session if the first session has been dormant for a defined period of time.
65. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use a plurality of sessions.
66. A system for establishing and re-using sessions for the delivery of media content from at least one server to any of a plurality of client devices, the system comprising:
a memory with logic; and
a processor configured with the logic to receive a request for a first session, for delivering first media content from the server, from one of the client devices, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive, from the one of the client devices, an identification of the first media content, an identification of a user, an address of the server, and billing information for the user, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to interpret the request for the first session in order to balance the server load among a plurality of server loads, to match the server to corresponding proprietary client devices, and to optimize signal strength between the client devices and the server, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to forward the request for the first session to the server, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request from the server to allocate resources for the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to establish the first session to deliver the first media content from the server to the one of the client devices, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to allocate the resources for the first session, wherein the resources are defined in part by resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes, wherein the resource descriptors comprise a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptor attributes include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number, wherein the step of establishing further comprises the step of selecting a QAM modulator and equipping the QAM modulator with an encryption message for later insertion into an output transport stream carrying the first media content, wherein the encryption message includes an interactive session key, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to confirm to the server that the resources are allocated for the first session, such that the server can deliver the first media content using the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to send a session confirmation to the one of the client devices, wherein the session confirmation provides the one of the client devices with the frequency to tune to receive the first media content, the output program number to select to receive the first media content, and an interactive session key for decrypting the encrypted first media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to save the first session for a second session request after completing the delivery of the first media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to preserve from the first session for the second session the interactive session key for encryption, hardware settings in a headend, wherein the headend hardware includes at least one QAM modulator, and resource descriptor attribute settings, wherein the resource descriptor attribute settings include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request for the second session to deliver second media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine whether a session can be re-used for the second session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine whether a session includes resources that use at least some of the same resources as the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session responsive to determining that the first session can be used for the second session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least some of the same resources that were used for the first session to deliver the first media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session request if the second session resources match at least some of the resources used for the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses at least the bit rate used in the first session wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same encryption as the encryption used in the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same MPEG program number as the MPEG program number used in the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use the first session for the second session if the second session uses the same QAM modulator as the QAM modulator used in the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to maintain a transport stream identification table indexed by transport stream identification for each QAM modulator input, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to access a session table for a selected entry of the transport stream identification table, wherein the session table includes session identification and entries for client view resource descriptors and server view resource descriptors, wherein the resource descriptors include a TSDownstreamBandwidth, an MPEGProgram, a ServerConditionalAccess, a ClientConditionalAccess, and a HeadendID resource descriptor, wherein the resource descriptors include resource descriptor attributes including bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to compare the resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes of the first session included in the session table with the resource descriptors and the corresponding resource descriptor attributes needed for the second session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to remap program number packet identifications for carrying the second media content in the second session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to renumber program numbers carrying the second media content when the program number is being used at the output of a QAM modulator for another session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to re-use a plurality of sessions, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to release the resources of the first session to configure different resources for second session if the second session bit rate exceeds the bit rate for the first session, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to release the resources for the first session if the first session has been dormant for a defined period of time.
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 optical terminal apparatus comprising:
a plurality of signal light units that transmits and receives a signal light having a predetermined wavelength;
at least one pumping light unit that emits a pumping light having a predetermined wavelength to perform Raman amplification for the signal light transmitted; and
an optical multiplexerdemultiplexer that multiplexesdemultiplexes the signal light and the pumping light, the optical multiplexerdemultiplexer having one end connected to an optical transmission path and other end connected to the signal light units and the pumping light unit.
2. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the optical multiplexerdemultiplexer is a wavelength division multiplexing coupler,
the wavelength division multiplexing coupler includes
a plurality of inputoutput ports to which the signal light units or the pumping light unit is connected; and
a predetermined band separation filter for each of the inputoutput ports, and

the wavelength division multiplexing coupler has a wavelength band that is enough to multiplexdemultiplex the signal light and the pumping light.
3. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a predetermined number of attachment slots to which the signal light units or the pumping light unit are attached, wherein
the signal light units and a predetermined number of pumping light units instead of the signal light units can be freely attached to the attachment slots.
4. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength of the pumping light is set on a short wavelength side of the wavelength band of the optical multiplexerdemultiplexer.
5. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein number wavelengths of the pumping lights is set to be equal to number of wavelengths of the signal lights.
6. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength of the pumping light is set to a wavelength at which the Raman amplification of the signal lights can be performed at once.
7. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pumping light unit performs a forward pumping for the Raman amplification.
8. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pumping light unit performs a backward pumping for the Raman amplification.
9. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pumping light unit performs a bidirectional pumping for the Raman amplification.
10. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amplification optical fiber is arranged between the optical multiplexerdemultiplexer and the optical transmission path.
11. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
a wavelength band for multiplexingdemultiplexing the signal light and the pumping light ranges from 1450 nanometers to 1610 nanometers, which is a setting for a plurality of signal lights to be transmittedreceived at a predetermined wavelength interval, and
the at least one pumping light unit uses lights having a plurality of wavelengths on a short wavelength side of the wavelength band as the pumping lights,
the signal light unit uses lights having a plurality of wavelengths on a long wavelength side of the wavelength band as the signal lights, and
a wavelength interval between the pumping lights and the signal lights is 100 nanometers.
12. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the optical multiplexerdemultiplexer includes a filter that demultiplexes a control signal light received from other optical terminal apparatus via the optical transmission path, and
the optical terminal apparatus further comprises
a control signal light unit that acquires reception level information of the signal light in the other optical terminal apparatus based on the control signal light; and
a control unit that controls a transmission level of the signal light based on the reception level information.
13. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit performs a temperature control of the at least one pumping light unit based on the reception level information to control the transmission level of the signal light.
14. An optical terminal apparatus comprising:
a plurality of signal light units that transmits and receives a signal light having a predetermined wavelength;
an erbium-doped fiber amplifier that includes
an erbium-doped fiber;
a pumping light source that inputs a pumping light of a predetermined wavelength to the erbium-doped fiber; and
a first optical multiplexerdemultiplexer that is arranged between the erbium-doped fiber and the pumping light source, and multiplexesdemultiplexes the signal light and the pumping light; and
a second optical multiplexerdemultiplexer multiplexesdemultiplexes signal lights transmitted and received by the signal light units, the second optical multiplexerdemultiplexer having one end connected to the first optical multiplexerdemultiplexer and other end connected to the signal light units.
15. The optical terminal apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a wavelength of the pumping light source is set to a wavelength corresponding to a wavelength of the signal light transmitted and received by the signal light unit.

1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
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12. A method of lowering blood pressure, comprising administering to a mammal isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
13. A method of preventing, treating or ameliorating hypertension, comprising administering to a mammal isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
14. A method of improving or ameliorating vascular flexibility, comprising administering to a mammal isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
15. A method of improving or ameliorating vascular endothelial function, comprising administering to a mammal isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
16. A method of dilating blood vessels or accelerating blood flow, comprising administering to a mammal isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the isohumulones are selected from the group consisting of isohumulone, isoadhumulone, isocohumulones, and combinations thereof.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. A food for lowering blood pressure, comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
25. A food for preventing, treating, or ameliorating hypertension, comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
26. A food for improving or ameliorating vascular flexibility, comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
27. A food for improving or ameliorating vascular endothelial function, comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
28. Food for dilating blood vessels or accelerating blood flow, comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract.
29. The food according to claim 24, wherein the isohumulones are selected from the group consisting of isohumulone, isoadhumulone, isocohumulones, and combinations thereof.
30. The food according to claim 24, wherein the isohumulones are provided daily in a range of 30 mg to 6000 mg on the basis of an amount of isohumulones.
31. The food according to claim 24, which is in the form of a drink.
32. The food according to claim 31, wherein the drink is a non-alcohol drink.
33. The food according to claim 24, which is a health food, a functional food, a food for specific health use, or a food for patients.
34. A non-alcohol drink comprising isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract, wherein the isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract are provided daily in a range of 30 mg to 6000 mg on the basis of an amount of isohumulones.
35. The non-alcohol drink according to claim 34, wherein the isohumulones, or a hop extract andor an isomerized hop extract are provided daily in a range of 60 mg to 3000 mg on the basis of an amount of isohumulones.
36. The non-alcohol drink according to claim 34, which is a tea drink.

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 apparatus for opening and closing a roof of a container, the roof being formed by joining a cover to an opened top end of the container, the apparatus comprising:
a pair of guide rails installed on top ends of both side walls of the container, respectively;
cover supporting members disposed on the guide rails for supporting the cover, both ends of the cover supporting member being installed to be slid on the guide rails, respectively;
sliding means for sliding the cover supporting member; and brace bars foldably connected to the cover supporting member for connecting the adjacent cover supporting members,
whereby the cover supporting member is slid along the guide rail to open and close the cover.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail includes:
a rail frame having a shape of \u201c\u201d, the rail frame being installed on each top end of both side walls of the container; and
a guide having a shape of the guide being formed on an inner side of a center part of the rail frame to guide the slide of the cover supporting member.
3. The apparatus accounting claim 2, wherein the cover supporting member includes:
a bow bar for supporting the cover;
roller devices connected to both ends of the bow bar, respectively, and slid along the guide rail; and
a brace holder connecting the roller device and the bow bar by interposing between the bow bar and the roller device, the brace holder being connecting with the brace bar.
4. The apparatus accounting claim 3, wherein the roller device includes:
a joining member joined to the brace holder;
a plurality of rollers slid along upper surface and both side surfaces of the guide of the guide rail, respectively; and
a roller supporting member extended to the connecting member to rotatably support each of the rollers.
5. The apparatus accounting claim 4, wherein the roller supporting member includes:
a body extended from the joining member;
a first roller supporting part horizontally extended to the front end of the body to rotatably support the roller slid along the upper surface of the guide;
a second roller supporting part extended vertically downward from the front end of the body to roatatably support the roller slid along one side surface of the guide; and
a third roller supporting part connected to the lower end of the second rollers supporting part to be spaced in parallel with the second roller supporting part, thereby to rotatably support the roller slid along the other side surface of the guide.
6. The apparatus accounting claim 5, wherein each of the roller supporting parts is formed with a center portion having a projected rounding shape toward the guide.
7. The apparatus accounting claim 6, wherein the brace holder includes:
a holder body having a cylindrical shape;
an inserting hollow part extended to one end of the holder body to receive and fasten the joining member;
an inserting projection extended to the other end of the holder body to insert into an inserting groove formed at both ends of the bow bar; and
a pair of wings extended in both directions from the side portion of the holder body to join with the brace bars, respectively.
8. The apparatus accounting claim 7, wherein a stepped surface for restricting the insertion of the joining member is formed between the joining member and the roller supporting member, the joining member being formed with an elongated hole which a fastening member for joining the joining member to the inserting hollow part passes through, the elongated hole being formed in the longitudinal direction of the joining member.
9. The apparatus accounting to claim 7, wherein each of the wings is formed having a different height.
10. The apparatus accounting to claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises an elastic member inserted into an inserting hollow of the bow bar to apply force in the direction of pushing the inserting projection outwardly.
11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliding means includes:
a pulley installed roatatably at a front side or a rear side of the guide rail;
an opening and closing rope wrapped around the pulley, the rope having a portion hung down on the opposite outside of the pulley and both ends joined to one end of the cover supporting member positioned in the front most side or the rearmost side of the container; and
a weight body for preventing the opening and closing rope from becoming loose by pulling down the opening and closing rope with its own weight, while causing the opening and closing rope to pass therethrough when pulling the opening and closing rope.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sliding means further includes a supporting plate provided with the roller device, the supporting plate being formed with a pair of rope passing holes spaced right and left for causing the opening and closing rope to pass therethrough.
13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliding means is on opening and closing rope connected to the center of the bow bar of the cover supporting member positioned at the frontmost side or the rearmost side of the container in order to open and close the cover by pulling at the opening and closing rope.
14. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliding means is a pair of opening and closing ropes respectively connected to the roller devices to open and close the cover when two workers simultaneously pull at the ropes frontward or rearward.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a joining means arrayed right and left on a bottom surface of the cover to detachably join the cover to the cover supporting member.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the joining means is velcro.