All The Claims

1. A method comprising:
in a handheld wireless communication device:
discovering one or more available resources in a communication network;
dynamically assessing respective cost functions for performing a task on the handheld wireless communication device and on each of the discovered one or more available resources, each of the respective cost functions based on one or more performance factors associated with one of the discovered one or more available resources or with the handheld wireless communication device; and
detecting a change in the dynamically assessed respective cost functions; and
apportioning, based on the detected change in the dynamically assessed respective cost functions, the task for one or both of local execution by the handheld wireless communication device and remote execution by the discovered one or more available resources.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dynamically assessed respective cost functions are dependent on one or more factors comprising available communication bandwidth, available memory space, available CPU processing power, and available battery power.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more factors are each weighted by a weighting factor.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the weighting factors is based at least in part on a user preference.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the dynamically assessed respective cost functions is based on a user preference.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apportioning the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution is based on a Quality of Service (QoS) associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apportioning the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution is based on a priority associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apportioning the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution is based on a latency associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
in a handheld wireless communication device (HWCD):
discovering one or more available resources in a communication network;
assessing a local cost function for performing a task on the handheld wireless communication device, the local cost function based on one or more performance factors associated with the handheld wireless communication device;
assessing remote cost functions for performing the task on each of the discovered one or more available resources, each of the remote cost functions based on one or more performance factors associated with one of the discovered one or more available resources; and
apportioning, based on a change in the assessed local and remote cost functions, the tasks for one or both of local execution by the handheld wireless communication device and remote execution by the discovered one or more available resources.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, the at least one code section further causing the machine to:
re-assess the remote cost functions for performing the task; and
determining the change in the assessed local and remote cost functions using the re-assessed remote cost functions.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the remote cost functions for performing the task are dependent on one or more factors comprising available communication bandwidth, available memory space, available CPU processing power, and available battery power.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, the at least one code section further causing the machine to apportion the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a Quality of Service (QoS) associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, the at least one code section further causing the machine to apportion the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a priority associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, the at least one code section further causing the machine to apportion the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a latency associated with the local execution or the remote execution.
15. A system comprising:
a handheld wireless communication device (HWCD) comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors operable to
discover one or more available resources in a communication network;
perform an initial assessment of respective cost functions for executing a task on the handheld wireless communication device and on each of the discovered one or more available resources, each of the respective cost functions associated with the task and based on one or more performance factors associated with one of the discovered one or more available resources or with the handheld wireless communication device;
apportion, based on the initially assessed respective cost functions, the task for one or both of local execution by the handheld wireless communication device and remote execution by the discovered one or more available resources;
perform a re-assessment of the respective cost functions for executing the task; and
re-apportion, based on the re-assessed respective cost functions, the task for one or both of the local execution by the handheld wireless communication device and the remote execution by the discovered one or more available resources.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the initially assessed respective cost functions is based on a user preference.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the initially assessed respective cost functions for executing the task are dependent on one or more factors comprising available communication bandwidth, available memory space, available CPU processing power, and available battery power.
18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more processors apportions the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a quality of service (QoS) associated with the task.
19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more processors apportions the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a priority associated with the task.
20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more processors apportions the task for one or both of the local execution and the remote execution based on a latency associated with the task.

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 hydrogel-driven micropump, comprising:
two fluid chambers;
a fluid channel, connecting said two fluid chambers;
a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate each have accommodation chambers which are filled in hydrogel which are placed next to said two fluid chambers and connected by inward extending bridges, with electric terminals leading to said accommodating spaces; and
a middle substrate, sandwiched between said first and second substrate plates and having separated accommodating spaces close to ends thereof, with a separating block being placed between said accommodating spaces;
wherein said middle substrate between said first and second substrate plates forms a micropump body, all of said substrates are separated by membranes, said accommodating spaces are located between said membranes and said first and second substrate plates, respectively, and insulating material, an electrophoretic fluid channel is left between said membranes and said bridges, said fluid channel is placed within said middle substrate between said membranes, and said first substrate plate has through holes from outside to said two fluid chambers, allowing fluid to be injected.
2. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said micropump body is manufactured by a bulk micromachining process.
3. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said first and second substrate plates are glass wafers manufactured by a bulk micromachining process.
4. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said middle substrate is a silicon wafer manufactured by a bulk micromachining process.
5. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said membranes are made of silicon and polymerized poly-acidamide.
6. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said electric terminals are made of platinum.
7. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein electrophoretic fluid containing phosphate is used.
8. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein hydrogel made of polyacrylamide-co-acrylic acid is used.
9. A hydrogel-driven micropump, using expansion and contraction of hydrogel for driving a fluid, with volume changes of said hydrogel causing a membrane to deform, thus driving fluid in fluid chambers.
10. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1 wherein expansion and contraction of said hydrogel is brought about by electrophoresis, with an electrophoretic fluid by an electric field being driven between two ends, causing said hydrogel to change absorption of said electrophoretic fluid and consequently to expand or contract.
11. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 9, wherein expansion and contraction of said hydrogel is brought about by electrophoresis, with an electrophoretic fluid by an electric field being driven between two ends, causing said hydrogel to change absorption of said electrophoretic fluid and consequently to expand or contract.
12. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 9, wherein said hydrogel is made of polyacrylamide-co-acrylic acid.
13. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 10, wherein applied voltage is not larger than 10 V.
14. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 11, wherein applied voltage is not larger than 10 V.
15. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 10, wherein said electrophoretic fluid contains phosphate.
16. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 11, wherein said electrophoretic fluid contains phosphate.
17. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said first and second substrate plates are substrates glass wafers manufactured by a bulk micromachining process.
18. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein said middle substrate is a silicon wafer manufactured by a bulk micromachining process.
19. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein between said first and second substrate plates chambers for hydrogel and electrophoretic fluid are formed.
20. A hydrogel-driven micropump according to claim 1, wherein for said middle substrate, said separating block, said insulating material, said electric terminals and said second substrate plate a substrate plate having a depression is substituted.

1. A valve for regulating the flow of a fluid, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a valve cage disposed within the housing and defining at least one projection wall;
an axial trim at least partially disposed within the valve cage and reciprocally moveable between an open position wherein fluid is able to flow therealong from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a closed position wherein the flow of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is blocked thereby, the axial trim comprising:
an elongate main body defining an axis; and
at least one opposed pair of notches formed in the main body, each of the notches of the pair defining a first wall which extends at an angle in the range of from about 20\xb0 to about 40\xb0 relative to the axis, a second wall which extends to the first wall in generally parallel relation to the axis, and a third wall which extends to the second wall in generally perpendicular relation to the axis;
the notches and the projection wall collectively defining a tortuous flow passage through the valve cage which fluidly connects the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the axial trim is in the open position.
2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the first wall extends at an angle of about 32\xb0 relative to the axis of the main body.
3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the axial trim has a stroke length in the range of from about \xbd inch to about 2 inches during movement between the open and closed positions.
4. The valve of claim 1 wherein:
the valve cage defines at least four projection walls which are disposed in spaced relation to each other; and
the axial trim includes at least four pairs of opposed notches;
each of the projecting walls cooperating with a respective pair of the notches in a manner wherein the notches and the projection walls collectively define the tortuous flow passage when the axial trim is in the open position.
5. The valve of claim 4 wherein:
the valve cage defines a series of inner surface sections, each of the inner surface sections extending between a corresponding pair of the wall projections; and
at least some of the inner surface sections are of progressively increasing diameter as they advance from the fluid inlet toward the fluid outlet of the housing.
6. The valve of claim 5 wherein:
the main body of the axial trim has a distal portion disposed closest to the fluid outlet which is of a first diameter;
the distal portion transitions into a section of the main body which has at least one pair of the notches formed therein, and is of a second diameter which is less than the first diameter; and
the section of the main body which is of the second diameter transitions into a section of the main body which has at least one pair of the notches formed therein, and is of a third diameter which is less than the second diameter.
7. The valve of claim 1 wherein the housing of the valve is configured such that the flow of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet occurs along a flow path which extends generally axially through the housing.
8. The valve of claim 7 wherein the main body of the axial trim further includes a rack portion formed therein and residing within the housing.
9. The valve of claim 8 further comprising a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the housing and including a spline portion which is cooperatively engaged to the rack portion such that the rotation of the drive in a first direction facilitates the movement of the axial trim to the open position, and the rotation of the drive in a second direction opposite the first direction facilitates the movement of the axial trim to the closed position.
10. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flow of the fluid through each of the notches when the axial trim is in the open position initially occurs over the first wall thereof.
11. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flow of the fluid through each of the notches when the axial trim is in the open position initially occurs over the third wall thereof.
12. A valve for regulating the flow of a fluid, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a valve cage disposed within the housing and defining at least one projection wall;
an axial trim at least partially disposed within the valve cage and reciprocally moveable between an open position wherein fluid is able to flow therealong from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a closed position wherein the flow of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is blocked thereby, the axial trim comprising:
an elongate main body defining an axis; and
at least one opposed pair of notches formed in the main body, each of the notches of the pair defining a first wall which extends angularly relative to the axis, a second wall which extends to the first wall in generally parallel relation to the axis, and a third wall which extends to the second wall in generally perpendicular relation to the axis, the first wall defining a first segment and a second segment which are separated from each other by an arcuate, convex third segment;
the notches and the projection wall collectively defining a tortuous flow passage through the valve cage which fluidly connects the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the axial trim is in the open position.
13. The valve of claim 12 wherein the axial trim has a stroke length in the range of from about \xbd inch to about 2 inches during movement between the open and closed positions.
14. The valve of claim 12 wherein:
the valve cage defines at least four projection walls which are disposed in spaced relation to each other; and
the axial trim includes at least four pairs of opposed notches;
each of the projecting walls cooperating with a respective pair of the notches in a manner wherein the notches and the projection walls collectively define the tortuous flow passage when the axial trim is in the open position.
15. The valve of claim 14 wherein:
the valve cage defines a series of inner surface sections, each of the inner surface sections extending between a corresponding pair of the wall projections; and
at least some of the inner surface sections are of progressively increasing diameter as they advance from the fluid inlet toward the fluid outlet of the housing.
16. The valve of claim 12 wherein the housing of the valve is configured such that the flow of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet occurs along a flow path which extends generally axially through the housing.
17. The valve of claim 16 wherein the main body of the axial trim further includes a rack portion formed therein and residing within the housing.
18. The valve of claim 17 further comprising a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the housing and including a spline portion which is cooperatively engaged to the rack portion such that the rotation of the drive in a first direction facilitates the movement of the axial trim to the open position, and the rotation of the drive in a second direction opposite the first direction facilitates the movement of the axial trim to the closed position.
19. A valve for regulating the flow of a fluid, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
an axial trim disposed within the housing and reciprocally moveable between an open position wherein fluid is able to flow therealong from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a closed position wherein the flow of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is blocked thereby, the axial trim comprising:
an elongate main body defining an axis; and
at least one opposed pair of notches formed in the main body, each of the notches of the pair defining a first wall which extends at an angle in the range of from about 20\xb0 to about 40\xb0 relative to the axis, a second wall which extends to the first wall in generally parallel relation to the axis, and a third wall which extends to the second wall in generally perpendicular relation to the axis;
the notches partially defining a tortuous flow passage through the housing which fluidly connects the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the axial trim is in the open position.
20. The valve of claim 19 wherein the axial trim has a stroke length in the range of from about \xbd inch to about 2 inches during movement between the open and closed positions.

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 self-propelled device for an endoscope comprising:
an attachment portion detachably mounted on an insertion section of an endoscope;
a rotary body formed in a hollow toroidal shape or obtained by forming a belt in a ring shape;
a driving roller disposed to come in contact with said rotary body, said driving roller circulating and moving said rotary body;
a driven roller disposed to face said driving roller across said rotary body, said rotary body being nipped between said driven roller and said driving roller, said driven roller rotating in accordance with the circulation of said rotary body; and
a flange formed on at least one of said driven roller and said driving roller, said flange satisfying the following equation so as to deform a part of said rotary body being nipped between said driven roller and said driving roller:
R1+R2+D>L
wherein,
R1: radius of the flange of said driving roller with the flange, or radius of the roller of said driving roller without flange
R2: radius of the flange of said driven roller with the flange, or radius of the roller of said driven roller without flange
D: thickness of said rotary body being nipped
L: distance between shafts of said driving roller and said driven roller
2. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
said flange has a first flange and a second flange formed at both ends of said driven roller,
said driving roller has a width smaller than said driven roller, and is disposed between said first and second flanges; and
said rotary body is deformed by said driven roller and said driving roller.
3. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:
a gear barrel rotating about a central axis of said insertion section;
a worm gear formed on an outer periphery of said gear barrel; and
a worm wheel being meshed with said worm gear and rotating about an axis perpendicular to said central axis of said insertion section, said worm wheel corresponding to said driving roller.
4. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein
said worm wheel has a tooth row formed on its outer periphery with a tooth tip of said tooth row being tilted with respect to an axis of rotation of said worm wheel, and said frictional force between said rotary body and said driving roller is increased by suppressing said rotary body toward said flange by a thrust load generated due to the tilt of said tooth tip.
5. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:
a linear projection formed on a surface of said rotary body that is in contact with said driven roller, said projection being formed to pass through a center in a width direction of an outer periphery of said driven roller in accordance with the circulation of said rotary body.
6. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 5, further comprising:
a groove formed at the center in the width direction of the outer periphery of said driven roller so that said projection penetrates into said groove.
7. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 6, wherein
a height of said projection is larger than a depth of said groove.
8. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 6, wherein
a height of said projection is equal to or smaller than a depth of said groove.
9. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:
a linear projection formed on a surface of said rotary body that is in contact with said driving roller, said projection being formed to pass through a center in a width direction of an outer periphery of said driving roller in accordance with the circulation of said rotary body; and
a groove formed at the center in the width direction of the outer periphery of said driving roller so that said projection penetrates into said groove.
10. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 9, further comprising:
a protrusion formed at a center in a width direction of an outer periphery of said driven roller so as to press said projection toward said groove.
11. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
said attachment portion has an opening through which said insertion section is inserted, and is mounted on an outer periphery of said insertion section as said insertion section is inserted through said opening.
12. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
said rotary body is an endless belt that is obtained by forming a belt in a ring shape, and a plurality of said rotary bodies is disposed at regular intervals about a central axis of said insertion section.
13. The self-propelled device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
said flange has a first flange and a second flange formed at both ends of said driving roller,
said driven roller has a width smaller than said driving roller, and is disposed between said first and second flanges; and
said rotary body is deformed by said driving roller and said driven roller.