All The Claims

1. Single-surgery, elongate selectively adjustable, length-change bone-spacing apparatus comprising
an elongate, unidirectionally pre-stressed, length-change, spring-force component having a relaxed condition toward which it is self-biased, and in which relaxed condition it is either one of longer or shorter than when it is in its pre-stressed condition,
a pair of spaced, relatively moveable bone drivers coupleable selectively to selected, spaced bones, and drivingly connected, one each, to opposite ends of said spring-force component, and
a two-state, RF-activated, stress-control constraining medium embedding at least a portion of the length of said spring-force component, and having a hardened state wherein it immobilizes said length portion against any length change, and a softened, fluid state to which it converts reversibly under the influence of received radio-frequency (RF) energy of a defined character which is specific to said constraining medium, and in which softened state, the constraining medium permits length change of said length portion.
2. The bone-spacing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spring-force component takes the form of an elongate coil spring.
3. Single-surgery, elongate, selectively adjustable, length-change bone-spacing apparatus comprising
an elongate, unidirectionally pre-stressed, length-change, spring-force component having a relaxed condition toward which it is self-biased, and in which relaxed condition it is either one of longer or shorter than when it is in its pre-stressed condition,
a pair of spaced, relatively moveable bone drivers coupleable selectively to selected, spaced bones, and drivingly connected, one each, to opposite ends of said spring-force component,
a two-state, RF-activated, stress-control constraining medium operatively linked effectively to said spring-force component, and having a hardened state wherein it effectively immobilizes the spring-force component against any length change, and a softened, fluid state to which it converts reversibly under the influence of received radio-frequency (RF) energy of a defined character which is specific to said constraining medium, and in which softened state the constraining medium permits a spring-force-component length change, and
structure for coupling said drivers to a pair of selected, spaced bones in a manner which, when such coupling exits, permits, with respect to any current condition of internal stress then existing in said spring-force component, reversible relative motion between said drivers in a range of motion which is associated with a lessening of the current condition of internal stress in said spring-force component.
4. The bone spacing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said constraining medium embeds at least a portion of the length of said spring-force component.
5. The bone-spacing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said spring-force component takes the form of a coil spring.
6. A single-surgery method for producing a change in the spacing existing between a pair of selected, spaced bones in a patient comprising
implanting, in a position of driving interposition such selected bones, elongate bone-spacing apparatus including a constraining medium as set forth in claim 1, and
from outside the patient, selectively communicating to the constraining medium in the implanted bone-spacing apparatus radio-frequency (RF) energy of the character associated with the constraining medium in that apparatus.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected bones include a pair of next-adjacent ribs.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected bones include split portions of a single rib.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected bones include the pelvis and a rib.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected bones include a first vertebral body, and one of (a) another, next-adjacent vertebral body, (b) the pelvis, and (c) a rib.
11. The method of claim 6 which is practiced in relation to plural pairs of selected bones, including any combination of (a) next-adjacent ribs, (b) adjacent rib portions of a single rib, (c) the pelvis and one or more rib(s), (d) two next-adjacent vertebral bodies, (e) a vertebral body and a rib, and (f) a vertebral body and the pelvis.
12. A single-surgery method for producing a change in the spacing existing between a pair of selected, spaced bones in a patient comprising
implanting, in a position of driving interposition such selected bones, elongate bone-spacing apparatus including a constraining medium as set forth in claim 3, and
from outside the patient, selectively communicating to the constraining medium in the implanted bone-spacing apparatus radio-frequency (RF) energy of the character associated with the constraining medium in that apparatus.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected bones include a pair of next-adjacent ribs.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected bones include split portions of a single rib.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected bones include the pelvis and a rib.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected bones include a first vertebral body, and one of (a) another, next-adjacent vertebral body, (b) the pelvis, and (c) a rib.
17. The method of claim 12 which is practiced in relation to plural pairs of selected, spaced bones, including any combination of (a) next-adjacent ribs, (b) adjacent rib portions of a single rib, (c) the pelvis and one or more rib(s), (d) two next-adjacent vertebral bodies, (e) a vertebral body and a rib, and (f) a vertebral body and the pelvis.
18. A method for producing a change in the spacing existing between a pair of selected, spaced skeletal bones in a patient comprising
implanting an elongate, unidirectional, distributed-RF-controllable, length-change force-applying instrumentality in an operative driving condition between a pair of such bones,
selectively subjecting the implanted instrumentality to RF activation distributed along its length in a manner wherein length-change action in the instrumentality occurs therealong at plural, distributed points of RF control, and
as a consequence of said subjecting, effecting a controlled spacing change between the selected bones.
19. The method of claim 18 which further comprises enabling a selected character of relative spacing-change motion between the selected bones notwithstanding the presence therebetween of the implanted instrumentality.

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 liquid cartridge comprising:
a container having a liquid supply port connectable to a flowing path communicating with a recording head of liquid jet printer, said container being a bottomed-box type container having said liquid supply port, and a lid member sealing an opening portion of said container;
a memory unit including a memory section storing therein data about a liquid housed in the container and an electric power generating section; and
an antenna portion provided on a wall opposed to a wall in which said liquid supply port is formed, and including a rectangular conductive pattern electrically connected to said memory unit, which communicates the data in said memory section to a recording apparatus by radio, and said antenna portion can receive a carrier wave, which is converted into DC electric power by said electric power generating section to become working electric power,
wherein the carrier wave is transmitted from the recording apparatus, and
after stopping transmission of the carrier wave, the memory unit calculates an amount of said liquid housed in the container based on a signal from a sensor, and the amount of said liquid and said data about said liquid stored in the memory section are transmitted from said antenna portion to the recording apparatus.
2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said antenna portion is formed with a base body on which the conductive pattern is provided.
3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said memory unit and the sensor are provided on said base body.
4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein an expansion part is formed at one end of said base body, and said sensor is mounted on said expansion part.
5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said antenna portion is formed of a conductive layer formed on a rectangular said base body, said conductive layer having a rectangular and at least one spiral pattern.
6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said conductive pattern of said antenna portion is provided so as to occupy at least 70% of one wall surface region of said container.
7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said antenna portion is formed with the conductive pattern constituting an antenna on a base body and by mounting said memory unit.
8. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said container is formed so that a width thereof is different according to a kind of the liquid, and another antenna portion of the same specification is provided on a wall opposed to a wall of said container on which said liquid supply port is formed.
9. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in a region where said antenna portion is arranged, and the antenna portion is housed in said recess.
10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said recess is formed so that a depth thereof is larger than a thickness of said antenna portion.
11. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a protective cover material is stuck onto at least an upper surface of said antenna portion.
12. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a lever supporting an attachment operation is provided on at least one wall surface.

1. A method including:
identifying a first plurality of colors associated with a color selection interface;
mapping each color in the first plurality of colors to an allowed color in an allowed color set of one or more colors to obtain a second plurality of colors, wherein mapping is performed based at least in part on a color lookup table; and
visually displaying the second plurality of colors in the color selection interface, wherein the color selection interface is configured to receive a color selection from the second plurality of colors.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of colors includes a continuous range of colors.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of colors includes a discrete set of colors.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of colors is initially displayed in the color selection interface.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of colors is displayed in place of the first plurality of colors.
6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein both the first plurality of colors and the second plurality of colors are visually displayed.
7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein mapping includes determining a closest color to one or more colors in the first plurality of colors.
8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of colors is associated with a color library or color theme.
9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of colors is associated with a tag.
10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein mapping includes using multiple color lookup tables to obtain the second plurality of colors.
11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of colors is larger than the second plurality of colors.
12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein mapping includes dividing the color lookup table into two or more subtables.
13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of colors is visually displayed using a color wheel, color grid, or color bar.
14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of colors is visually displayed using a color wheel, color grid, or color bar.
15. A method as recited in claim 1, further including receiving an indication that a color from the second plurality of colors is selected.
16. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
identifying a first plurality of colors associated with a color selection interface;
mapping each color in the first plurality of colors to an allowed color in an allowed color set of one or more colors to obtain a second plurality of colors, wherein mapping is performed based at least in part on a color lookup table; and
visually displaying the second plurality of colors in the color selection interface, wherein the color selection interface is configured to receive a color selection from the second plurality of colors.
17. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the first plurality of colors includes a continuous range of colors.
18. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the second plurality of colors is associated with a color library or color theme.
19. A system including:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
identify a first plurality of colors associated with a color selection interface;
map each color in the first plurality of colors to an allowed color in an allowed color set of one or more colors to obtain a second plurality of colors, wherein mapping is performed based at least in part on a color lookup table; and
visually display the second plurality of colors in the color selection interface, wherein the color selection interface is configured to receive a color selection from the second plurality of colors.
20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the first plurality of colors includes a continuous range of colors.

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 method of asset management and distribution for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network includes a central content management system that acquires digital assets for distribution to on-demand serving locations for on-demand delivery to users, each digital asset includes a package of files, the files being processed prior to distribution from the central management system to provide trick mode support, the method comprising:
breaking up the digital asset at the central content management system into chunks for departure;
utilizing a pipelined distribution process between the central content management system and the serving locations for the digital asset chunks, each chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next chunks at the serving locations;
re-assembling the digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the digital asset with trick mode support; and
serving the digital asset from a serving location to a user.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital assets include video on-demand (VOD) assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include VOD serving locations.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital assets include audio on-demand assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include audio on-demand serving locations.
4. A method of asset management and distribution for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network includes a central content management system that acquires digital assets for distribution to on-demand serving locations for on-demand delivery to users, each digital asset includes a package of files, the files being processed prior to distribution from the central management system to provide trick mode support, the method comprising:
breaking up a first digital asset at the central content management system into first chunks for departure;
breaking up a second digital asset at the central content management system into second chunks for departure;
utilizing a pipelined distribution process between the central content management system and the serving locations for the first chunks and second chunks, wherein first chunks and second chunks depart from the central content management system and enter the pipelined distribution process on a priority basis, each first chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next first chunks at the serving locations, each second chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next second chunks at the serving locations;
re-assembling the first digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the first digital asset with trick mode support;
re-assembling the second digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the second digital asset with trick mode support;
serving the first digital asset from a serving location to a user; and
serving the second digital asset from a serving location to a user.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the digital assets include video on-demand (VOD) assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include VOD serving locations.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the digital assets include audio on-demand assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include audio on-demand serving locations.
7. A content distribution network comprising:
a central content management system that acquires digital assets for distribution, each digital asset including a package of files, the files being processed prior to distribution from the central content management system to provide trick mode support, wherein the central content management system breaks up the digital asset into chunks for departure;
a plurality of on-demand serving locations receiving distributed digital assets for on-demand delivery to users, wherein the plurality of on-demand serving locations re-assemble the arriving digital asset chunks to recreate the digital assets with trick mode support; and
a pipelined distribution process implemented in the content distribution network between the central content management system and the plurality of on-demand serving locations for distributing the digital asset chunks in a pipelined fashion, each chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next chunks at the serving locations.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the digital assets include video on-demand (VOD) assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include VOD serving locations.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the digital assets include audio on-demand assets and wherein the on-demand serving locations include audio on-demand serving locations.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein the pipelined distribution process receives chunks of multiple digital assets departing from the central content management system that enter the pipeline on a priority basis, and distributes the chunks such that they arrive at the serving locations to recreate the multiple digital assets with trick mode support.
11. A method of asset management and distribution for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network includes a central content management system that acquires digital assets for distribution to on-demand serving locations for on-demand delivery to users, each digital asset includes a package of files, the files being processed prior to distribution from the central management system to provide trick mode support, the method comprising:
utilizing a pipelined distribution process, between the central content management system and the serving locations for a digital asset, the digital asset being broken up into digital asset chunks during at least a portion of the pipelined distribution process each chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next chunks at the serving locations.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
breaking up the digital asset at the central content management system into chunks for departure.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
re-assembling the digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the digital asset with trick mode support; and
serving the digital asset from a serving location to a user.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the digital assets include video on-demand (VOD) assets.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the digital assets include audio on-demand assets.
16. A method of asset management and distribution for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network includes a central content management system that acquires digital assets for distribution to on-demand serving locations for on-demand delivery to users, each digital asset includes a package of files, the files being processed prior to distribution from the central management system to provide trick mode support, the method comprising:
utilizing a pipelined distribution process between the central content management system and the serving locations for first and second digital assets, the first and second digital assets being broken up into first chunks and second chunks during at least a portion of the pipelined distribution process, wherein first chunks and second chunks are handled by the pipelined distribution process on a priority basis, each first chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next first chunks at the serving locations, each second chunk including a well-defined segment of content with trick mode support and any appropriate reconstruction rules to assemble with prior and next second chunks at the serving locations.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
breaking up the first digital asset at the central content management system into first chunks for departure; and
breaking up the second digital asset at the central content management system into second chunks for departure.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
re-assembling the first digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the first digital asset with trick mode support;
re-assembling the second digital asset chunks arriving at the serving locations to recreate the second digital asset with trick mode supports;
serving the first digital asset from a serving location to a user; and
serving the second digital asset from a serving location to a user.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the digital assets include video on-demand (VOD) assets.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the digital assets include audio on-demand assets.