All The Claims

1. A method for application aware de-duplication (de-dup) of data blocks on virtualized storage arrays in a storage area network (SAN), comprising:
enabling a de-dup agent on each of one or more components of the SAN, wherein the one or more components of the SAN comprises a host device, a data path module (DPM), and virtualized storage arrays;
creating a master list of metadata associated with indexed data and storing the masterlist in the virtualized storage arrays;
creating one or more sublists of metadata from the masterlist and storing the one or more sublists in remaining one or more components of the SAN;
upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, determining whether a data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the host device; and
if so, replacing the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
if not, determining whether the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the DPM; and
if it is determined that the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the DPM, replacing the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
if it is determined that the data block being written has no entry in the sublist stored in the DPM, determining whether the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays;
if it is determined that the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, replacing the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays; and
if it is determined that the data block being written is not in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, writing the data block in one of the virtualized storage arrays.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising updating the masterlist in the virtualized storage arrays to include metadata associated with the written data block.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the master list of metadata is an ordered weightage list decided based on number of occurrences of data blocks in each of the virtualized storage arrays.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtualized storage arrays comprise thin provisioned virtual volumes.
7. A SAN, comprising:
a host device;
a DPM connected to the host device; and
one or more virtualized storage arrays connected to the DPM, wherein each of the host device, the DPM and the one or more virtualized storage arrays includes an associated de-dup agent to enable application aware de-dup of data blocks on the one or more virtualized storage arrays in the SAN.
8. The SAN of claim 7, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the one or more virtualized storage arrays creates a master list of metadata associated with indexed data and stores the masterlist in the one or more virtualized storage arrays.
9. The SAN of claim 8, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the host device and the DPM obtains sublists of metadata from the masterlist and stores the sublists in host device and the DPM.
10. The SAN of claim 9, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the host device determines whether a data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the host device upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, and wherein the de-dup agent replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the host device.
11. The SAN of claim 10, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the DPM determines whether the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the DPM, if it is determined that the data block being written has no entry in the sublist stored in the host device, and wherein the de-dup agent replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the DPM.
12. The SAN of claim 11, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the virtualized storage arrays determines whether the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written has no entry in the sublist stored in the DPM, wherein the de-dup agent replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, and wherein the de-dup agent writes the data block in one of the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written is not in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays.
13. A SAN, comprising:
a host device; and
one or more virtualized storage arrays connected to the host device, wherein each of the host device, and the one or more virtualized storage arrays includes an associated de-dup agent to enable application aware de-dup of data blocks on the one or more virtualized storage arrays in the SAN.
14. The SAN of claim 13, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the one or more virtualized storage arrays creates a master list of metadata associated with indexed data and stores the masterlist in the one or more virtualized storage arrays.
15. The SAN of claim 14, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the host device obtains sublists of metadata from the masterlist and stores the sublists in host device.
16. The SAN of claim 15, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the host device determines whether a data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the host device upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, and wherein the de-dup agent replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written has an entry in the sublist stored in the host device.
17. The SAN of claim 16, wherein the de-dup agent associated with the virtualized storage arrays determines whether the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written has no entry in the sublist stored in the host device, wherein the de-dup agent replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written is in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays, and wherein the de-dup agent writes the data block in one of the virtualized storage arrays, if it is determined that the data block being written is not in the masterlist stored in the virtualized storage arrays.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for application aware de-dup of data blocks on virtualized storage arrays in a SAN, having instructions that, when executed by a computing device causes the computing device to:
enable a de-dup agent on each of one or more components of the SAN, wherein the one or more components of the storage array comprises a host device, a DPM, and virtualized storage arrays;
create a master list of metadata associated with indexed data and storing the masterlist in the virtualized storage arrays;
create one or more sublists of metadata from the masterlist and storing the one or more sublists in remaining one or more components of the SAN;
upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, determines whether data block being written has an entry in a sublist stored in the host device; and
if so, replaces the data block with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 18, wherein the master list of metadata is an ordered weightage list decided based on number of occurrences of the data blocks in each of the virtualized storage arrays.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 18, wherein the virtualized storage arrays comprise thin provisioned virtual volumes.

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

1. A spinal immobilization board comprising:
an upper section which has an upper section footprint which is symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis and proportioned to support the patient, said upper section being bounded by a substantially planar upper surface;
a lower section having a lower section footprint that is smaller than said upper section footprint and also symmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, thereby forming longitudinal flanges bounding said upper section, said lower section being bounded by a central lower surface which is concave when viewed from below said board and is longitudinally terminated by a pair of spaced apart spars that join said central lower surface to said longitudinal flanges; and
a series of hand passages passing through said longitudinal flanges, forming handgrips for said board.
2. The spinal immobilization board of claim 1 wherein said upper surface of said upper section is slightly concave when viewed from above.
3. The spinal immobilization board of claim 2 wherein said upper section has a upper section length LU and further wherein said lower section has a lower section length LL such that: LU>LL, thereby providing end extensions of said upper section, said board further comprising:
corner hand passages in said end extensions.
4. The spinal immobilization board of claim 3 wherein said board has a head end and a foot end and further wherein said spars diverge such that the separation between said spars increases as the distance from said foot end increases.
5. The spinal immobilization board of claim 4 wherein said spars are defined by substantially L-shaped surfaces, each having a first leg which joins one of said longitudinal flanges and a second leg which joins to said central lower surface, said joints providing a smooth transition between said first leg and said longitudinal flange and between said second leg and said central lower surface, said first leg and said second leg being joined together so as to provide a smooth transition therebetween.
6. The spinal immobilization board of claim 5 wherein said first leg of each of said substantially L-shaped surfaces is skewed with respect to said one of said longitudinal flanges to which said first leg joins.
7. The spinal immobilization board of claim 6 wherein said board further comprises:
a shell of a rigid plastic formed by rotational molding which forms an exterior surface of said board, said shell having a wall thickness of at least about 0.08 inches; and
a foam core filling said shell.
8. The spinal immobilization board of claim 7 wherein said shell is formed from high density polyethylene and said foam core is formed by a blown rigid foam.
9. The spinal immobilization board of claim 8 further comprising:
a stiffening member housed in each of said spars.
10. The spinal immobilization board of claim 3 wherein each of said longitudinal flanges further comprises:
protruding regions adjacent to said hand passages, said protruding regions and said hand passages being configured to provide hand grips.
11. The spinal immobilization board of claim 10 wherein each of said longitudinal flanges further comprises:
restraint strap passages interposed between said hand passages.
12. A spinal immobilization system for supporting a patient, the spinal immobilization system comprising:
a board having,
an upper section which has an upper section footprint which is symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis and proportioned to support the patient, said upper section being bounded by a substantially planar upper surface,
a lower section having a lower section footprint that is smaller than said upper section footprint and also symmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, thereby forming longitudinal flanges bounding said upper section, said lower section being bounded by a central lower surface which is concave when viewed from below said board and is longitudinally terminated by a pair of spaced apart spars that join said central lower surface to said longitudinal flanges, and
a series of hand passages passing through said longitudinal flanges, forming handgrips for said board;

a fluid-impermeable pad configured such that its periphery can be positioned so as to reside on said upper surface of said board, said pad being removably affixable thereto; and
indicia on said upper surface of said board positioned to serve as a pad indexing mark for aligning said fluid-impermeable pad so as to be symmetrically located within said handgrips.
13. The spinal immobilization system of claim 12 wherein said pad indexing mark is formed by one or more ridges raised on said upper surface and configured so as to avoid forming a closed area, and
further wherein said fluid impermeable pad has an adhesive back side for removably attaching to said upper surface of said board and a front side on which a patient to be immobilized rests, said fluid impermeable pad having a beveled edge which slopes toward said front side.
14. The spinal immobilization system of claim 13 further comprising:
a sheet having a first adhesive side for adhering to said pad; and
a second adhesive side serving as said adhesive back side of said pad when said sheet is adhered to said pad, said second adhesive side having a weaker adhesive than said first adhesive side.
15. The spinal immobilization system of claim 12 wherein said pad indexing mark is formed by one or more grooves in said upper surface, and
further wherein said fluid impermeable pad has an adhesive back side for removably attaching to said upper surface of said board and a front side on which a patient to be immobilized rests, said fluid impermeable pad having a beveled edge which slopes toward said front side.
16. The spinal immobilization system of claim 12 further comprising:
an IV support pole for supporting a conventional IV container with respect to said board, said IV support pole having,
a series of pole segments which are joinable to form a rigid extended pole having a pole first free end and a pole second free end, each of said pole segments having adjoining portions with mating ends which can be engaged together;
a hook attaching to said pole first free end and configured to support a conventional IV container;
a clamp for attaching said IV support pole to said upper section of said board, said clamp attaching to said extended pole second free end; and
means for forcibly engaging together said pole segments.
17. The spinal immobilization system of claim 16 further comprising:
at least one mounting socket provided in said upper section of said board, and
further wherein said clamp lockably engages said mounting socket.
18. The spinal immobilization system of claim 16 further comprising:
a storage pouch for storing said IV support pole when said pole segments are disengaged from each other, said storage pouch having pouch straps for attaching to said hand passages of said board.

1. A system, comprising:
a rolling bearing element assembly configured to enable rotation of a rotary element relative to a stationary element, the rotation being about a bearing system axis of the rolling bearing element assembly;
wherein the rolling bearing element assembly comprises an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rolling bearing elements disposed between the inner and outer races, and a bearing cage configured to hold the rolling bearing elements such that the rolling bearing elements are circumferentially spaced about the bearing system axis;
wherein the rolling bearing element assembly is configured to facilitate oscillatory motion of the rotary element relative to the stationary element such that, when the rotary element rotates in a first direction about the bearing system axis, the rolling bearing elements revolve about the bearing system axis in the first direction, and when the rotary element rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction about the bearing system axis, revolution of the rolling bearing elements about the bearing system axis in the second direction is resisted or prevented.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary element is coupled to the inner race, and wherein the stationary element is coupled to the outer race.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary element is coupled to the outer race, and wherein the stationary element is coupled to the inner race.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the rolling bearing element assembly comprises a spring-loaded indexing element configured to engage with a contact surface to allow revolution of the rolling bearing elements about the bearing system axis when the rotary element is rotating in the first direction and to resist revolution of the rolling bearing elements about the bearing system axis in the second direction when the rotary element is rotating in the second direction.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element is coupled to the rolling bearing elements via the bearing cage, and wherein the contact surface is disposed on the inner race.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element is coupled to the rolling bearing elements via the bearing cage, and wherein the contact surface is disposed on the outer race.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element is coupled to a seal disposed between the inner and outer races, and wherein the contact surface comprises a surface of a bearing cage coupled to the plurality of rolling bearing elements.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element and the contact surface are configured such that a frictional force between the indexing element and the contact surface holds the indexing element and the contact surface in engagement.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein the contact surface comprises ratchet teeth.
10. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element comprises a leading edge rotatably coupled to a component of the rolling bearing element assembly and a trailing edge configured to engage the contact surface.
11. The system of claim 4, wherein the indexing element is configured to slide relative to the contact surface when the rotary element is rotating in the second direction.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the rolling bearing element assembly comprises a sealed rolling bearing element assembly.
13. A bearing system, comprising:
an outer race disposed in alignment with a bearing system axis;
an inner race concentric with the outer race and having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the outer race, wherein the inner race is configured to rotate relative to the outer race about the bearing system axis;
a rotary element coupled to one of the inner race or the outer race;
a plurality of rolling bearing elements disposed between and in rolling contact with the inner race and the outer race;
a bearing cage coupled to the plurality of rolling bearing elements, wherein the bearing cage is configured to keep the plurality of rolling bearing elements circumferentially spaced about the bearing system axis;
a spring loaded indexing element with a first end rotatably coupled to the bearing cage and a second end in contact with a contact surface of the inner race or the outer race;
wherein the indexing element is configured to engage the contact surface via the second end to enable rotation of the bearing cage in a first direction about the bearing system axis when the rotary element is rotating in the first direction, and wherein the indexing element is configured to slide relative to the contact surface to prevent or resist rotation of the bearing cage in a second direction about the bearing system axis when the rotary element is rotating in the second direction opposite the first direction.
14. The bearing system of claim 13, wherein a frictional force between the second end of the indexing element and the contact surface allows rotation of the bearing cage and the plurality of rolling bearing elements in the first direction when the rotary element is rotating in the first direction.
15. The bearing system of claim 13, wherein the contact surface comprises ratchet teeth, and wherein the indexing element is spring-loaded to interlock with the teeth when the rotary element is rotating in the first direction.
16. The bearing system of claim 13, comprising a plurality of spring-loaded indexing elements each coupled to the bearing cage and disposed circumferentially about the bearing system axis.
17. The bearing system of claim 13, wherein the indexing element comprises an asymmetric shape wherein the first end comprises a rounded leading edge and the second end comprises a trailing edge configured to engage the inner race.
18. The bearing system of claim 13, wherein the rotary element is coupled to the inner race and wherein the inner race comprises the contact surface.
19. The bearing system of claim 13, wherein the rotary element is coupled to the outer race and wherein the outer race comprises the contact surface.
20. A method, comprising:
facilitating oscillatory rotation of a rotary element about a bearing system axis and relative to a stationary element via a rolling bearing element assembly, wherein the rolling bearing element assembly comprises an inner race coupled to the rotary element, an outer race coupled to the stationary element, and a plurality of rolling bearing elements disposed between the inner and outer races;
allowing the rolling bearing elements to revolve about the bearing system axis in a first direction when the rotary element rotates in the first direction about the bearing system axis; and
preventing or resisting revolution of the rolling bearing elements about the bearing system axis in a second direction when the rotary element rotates in the second direction about the bearing system axis.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein allowing the rolling bearing elements to revolve about the bearing system axis in the first direction comprises engaging a spring-loaded indexing element coupled to the rolling bearing elements with a contact surface of the inner race when the rotary element rotates in the first direction, and wherein preventing or resisting the rolling bearing elements from revolving in the second direction comprises sliding the contact surface of the inner race relative to the indexing element when the rotary element rotates in the second direction.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein allowing the rolling bearing elements to revolve about the bearing system axis in the first direction comprises engaging a spring-loaded indexing element coupled to the rolling bearing elements with a contact surface of the outer race when the rotary element rotates in the first direction, and wherein preventing or resisting the rolling bearing elements from revolving in the second direction comprises sliding the contact surface of the outer race relative to the indexing element when the rotary element rotates in the second direction.
23. The method of claim 20, comprising engaging the rolling bearing elements with the inner race when the rotary element rotates in the first direction, and allowing the rolling bearing elements to slide relative to the inner race when the rotary element rotates in the second direction.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A pearl luster pigment comprising:
a platelet-shaped substrate coated with at least metal oxide, and a top layer located on the metal oxide layer, wherein the top layer comprises:
a first layer, comprising a hydroxide or an oxide hydrate of aluminum or silicon;
a second layer, comprising at least one hydroxide or oxide hydrate of aluminum, silicon, cerium or zirconium, with the exception of the hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the first layer; and

a third layer, comprising at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent.
2. A pearl luster pigment according to claim 1, wherein the coupling reagent is a silane and has at least one functional group of a straight-chain or a branched alkyl group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine, and an aryl group, unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine, and an aryl group, unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C10 alkyl group andor a nitro group.
3. A process for preparing a pearl luster pigment according to claim 1, comprising:
suspending the substrate coated with a metal oxide in water, heated at 30-100 C.,
adjusting the suspension to a pH of 3-9,
adding at least water-soluble metal salt,
depositing these salts in whole or in part as a metal hydroxide andor a metal oxide hydrate by adding at least one water-soluble silicate, aluminum salt, cerium salt andor zirconium salt at a pH of 3-9,
depositing corresponding hydroxide or oxide hydrate thereof; and
adding at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent that binds to the deposited oxide hydrate layer at a pH of 3-9.
4. A process according to claim 3, further comprising separating by sedimentation, washing, filtering, drying at 80-160 C. the pigment after adding at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent.
5. A process according to claim 3, wherein the metal hydroxide andor metal oxide hydrate is a hydroxide andor oxide hydrate of aluminum or silicon.
6. A process according to claim 3, wherein the coupling reagent is a silane and has at least one functional group of a straight-chain or a branched alkyl group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine, and an aryl group, unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C10 alkyl group andor a nitro group.
7. A method of pigmenting a paint, an ink, a plastic, a coating or a cosmetic by incorporating a pearl luster pigment according to claim 1 therein.
8. A paint, an ink, a plastic, a coating or a cosmetic pigmented with a pearl luster pigment according to claim 1.
9. A process according to claim 3, wherein suspending the substrate coated with a metal oxide in water is heated at 40-75 C. and adjusted to a pH of 6-7.
10. A process according to claim 3, wherein depositing these salts is at a pH of 6-7.
11. A process according to claim 3, wherein the adding of at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent is at a pH of 6-8.
12. A process according to claim 4, wherein the drying is at 120-160 C.
13. A process for preparing a pearl luster pigment comprising adding a coupling reagent that binds to a metal hydroxide andor metal oxide hydrate layer and forms a layer thereon.