All The Claims

1. A method comprising:
receiving incoming network packets with a network device;
assigning, with the network device, the network packets to a selected one of a plurality of priority queues maintained by the network device based on one or more priority characteristics of the network packets;
assigning a first one of a plurality of memory pages to the selected one of the priority queues, wherein each of the plurality of memory pages comprises a block of contiguous memory address space;
based at least on the assignment of the network packets to the selected one of the priority queues and the assignment of the first memory page to the selected one of the priority queues, storing each of the network packets to the first memory page by writing the network packets to memory locations in the first memory page;
creating a metadata for each of the network packets, wherein the metadata comprises a reference to the memory location in the first memory page of the corresponding network packet; and
enqueuing the metadata for each of the network packets on the selected one of the priority queues.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein enqueuing the metadata comprises enqueuing the metadata for each of the network packet on the selected one of the priority queues in the order in which the corresponding network packets were received.
3. The method of claim 1,
wherein each of the plurality of priority queues is associated with a respective one of a plurality of quality of service priority levels, and
wherein the network packets are assigned based on the quality of service priority level for the selected one of the priority queues.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory page comprises a block of physical address space of a shared computer-readable storage medium.
5. The method of claim 4,
wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises a memory bank addressable by rows and columns, and
wherein the block of physical address space begins at the first column of a first row of the bank and ends at the last column of a second row of the bank.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a subsequent incoming network packet with the network device;
assigning, with the network device, the subsequent network packet to the selected one of the priority queues; and
determining whether the first memory page has adequate memory for the network packets and for the subsequent network packet.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
assigning a second one of the plurality of memory pages to the priority queue when the first memory page does not have adequate memory; and
writing the subsequent network packet to the second memory page.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
writing a portion of the subsequent network packet to the first memory page at a memory location that is adjacent to a memory location at which the network packets are written when the first memory page has adequate memory; and
writing a remainder of the subsequent network packet to the second memory page.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
scheduling the network packets to be read from the first memory page;
reading the network packets from the first memory page;
writing the network packets to a prefetch buffer;
determining whether additional network packets are stored in the first memory page; and
freeing the first memory page from the selected one of the priority queues when no additional packets are stored in the first memory page.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein scheduling the network packets to be read from the first memory page comprises:
dequeuing metadata for the network packets from the selected one of the priority queues; and
determining the memory addresses for each of the network packets from the corresponding metadata for each of the network packets.
11. A network device comprising:
a control unit comprising a processor; and
a priority queuing system of the control unit, wherein the priority queuing system comprises:
a plurality of priority queues;
a computer-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of memory pages, wherein each of the plurality of memory pages comprises a block of contiguous memory address space;
a packet classification module that receives network packets and assigns the network packets to a selected one of the plurality of priority queues based on one or more priority characteristics of the network packets; and
a memory management module,
wherein the memory management module assigns a first one of the plurality of memory pages to then selected one of the plurality of priority queues, and
wherein the memory management module, based at least on the assignment of the network packets to the priority queue and the assignment of the first memory page to the priority queue, stores the network packets to the first memory page by writing the network packets to memory locations in the first memory page.
12. The network device of claim 11, wherein the memory management module generates a metadata for each of the network packets and enqueues the metadata for each network packet on the selected one of the priority queues in the order in which the corresponding network packets were received by the packet classification module.
13. The network device of claim 12, further comprising:
a prefetch buffer;
wherein the metadata for each network packet comprises a reference to the memory location of the network packet in the first memory page,
wherein the memory management module comprises a scheduler that dequeues the metadata for each network packet,
wherein the memory management module, based on the reference in the metadata for each network packet, reads the network packets from the first memory page, and
wherein the memory management module writes the network packets to the prefetch buffer.
14. The network device of claim 11,
wherein each of the plurality of priority queues is associated with a respective one of a plurality of quality of service priority levels, and
wherein the packet classification module assigns the network packets based on the quality of service priority level for the selected one of the priority queues.
15. The network device of claim 11,
wherein the packet classification module receives a subsequent one or more network packets and assigns the subsequent network packets to the selected one of the priority queues based on one or more priority characteristics of the subsequent network packets, and
wherein the memory management module assigns a second one of the plurality of memory pages to the selected one of the priority queues and stores the subsequent network packets to the second memory page by writing the network packets to memory locations in the second memory page.
16. The network device of claim 11,
wherein the memory management module comprises a free queue that contains a reference for each of the memory pages that are not assigned to one of the priority queues.
17. The network device of claim 11,
wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises a bank that comprises the first memory page and is addressable by rows and columns, and
wherein the memory management module stores each of the network packets by writing the network packets to a single row of the bank.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:
receive incoming network packets with a network device;
assign, with the network device, the network packets to a selected one of a plurality of priority queues based on one or more priority characteristics of the network packets;
assign a first one of a plurality of memory pages to the selected one of the priority queues;
store each of the network packets to the first memory page by writing the network packets to memory locations in the first memory page;
create a metadata for each of the network packets, wherein the metadata comprises a reference to the memory location in the first memory page of the corresponding network packet; and
enqueue the metadata for each of the network packets on the selected one of the priority queues.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the programmable processor to:
dequeue the metadata for each of the network packets from the selected one of the priority queues;
read the network packets from the first memory page based on the reference, in the metadata, to the memory location of the corresponding network packet;
write the network packets to a prefetch buffer; and
free the first memory page from the selected one of the priority queues.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the programmable processor to:
receive a subsequent network packet; and
assign a second one of the plurality of memory pages to the selected one of the priority queues and store the subsequent network packet to the second memory page.

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 voltage generation circuit, comprising:
a generator circuit adapted to receive a supply voltage and including a reference node, the generator circuit developing an output voltage from the supply voltage and the output voltage having a value that is a function of a reference voltage applied on the reference node;
a coupling circuit coupled to the reference node and adapted to receive the supply voltage, the coupling circuit being operable in response to a voltage control signal to vary an electronic coupling of the supply voltage to the reference node and thereby adjust the value of the reference voltage; and
a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the reference node to receive the reference voltage and coupled to the coupling circuit, the voltage sensing circuit developing the voltage control signal responsive to the reference voltage.
2-30. (Cancelled)

1. A waveguide core made of hydrogel comprising receptor molecules, such that the hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix for the receptor molecules embedded therein, wherein
the waveguide core is arranged to guide light by utilizing total internal reflection; and
at least a part of the hydrogel is adapted to free-float within a surrounding medium having a refractive index that is lower than that of the hydrogel.
2. The waveguide core of claim 1, which exhibits a length and a cross-section, the cross-section exhibiting a smallest extension at least three times smaller than the length.
3. The waveguide core of claim 2, wherein the cross-section exhibits a largest extension and a smallest extension, the largest extension and the smallest extension ranging from 10 \u03bcm to 20 mm or from 50 \u03bcm to 10 mm or from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
4. The waveguide core of claim 2, wherein the length of the waveguide ranges from 1 mm to 100 mm or from 5 mm to 50 mm.
5. The waveguide core of claim 1, further comprising a transparent support, wherein the hydrogel is disposed on a main surface of the transparent support.
6. The waveguide core of claim 5, wherein the support comprises a thickness perpendicular to the main surface and the thickness ranges from 1 \u03bcm to 500 \u03bcm or from 5 \u03bcm to 100 \u03bcm.
7. The waveguide core of claim 5, wherein the hydrogel is implemented as a layer on the transparent support and the layer comprises a layer thickness ranging from 10 \u03bcm to 1000 \u03bcm.
8. The waveguide core of claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the waveguide core exhibits a square or a rectangular or a round shape.
9. The waveguide core of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel comprises a silicate or a polyacrylamide or an alginate.
10. A waveguide assembly, comprising:
a waveguide core made of hydrogel comprising receptor molecules, such that the hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix for the receptor molecules embedded therein, wherein the waveguide core includes an input side and is arranged to guide light by utilizing total internal reflection; and
a fiber-optic cable; wherein
the fiber-optic cable protrudes into the input side of the waveguide core or is set upon the input side or is optically coupled to the input side via a lens; and
at least a part of the hydrogel is adapted to free-float within a surrounding medium having a refractive index that is lower than that of the hydrogel.
11. The waveguide assembly of claim 10, wherein the waveguide core comprises a part directly illuminatable by the fiber-optic cable and a support, the support being arranged outside the directly illuminatable part.
12. The waveguide assembly of claim 10, further comprising a further fiber-optic cable, the further fiber-optic cable protruding into the hydrogel or being set upon the hydrogel or being optically coupled to the hydrogel via a lens so that the fiber-optic cable and the further fiber-optic cable are optically coupled via the hydrogel.
13. The waveguide assembly of claim 10, further comprising a photodetector, and the photodetector being arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation guided by the waveguide assembly or leaving the waveguide assembly laterally through an edge.
14. A waveguide, comprising:
a waveguide core made of hydrogel comprising receptor molecules, such that the hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix for the receptor molecules embedded therein, wherein
the waveguide core is arranged to guide light by utilizing total internal reflection;
a waveguide cladding, the waveguide cladding exhibiting a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the waveguide core; and
the waveguide cladding comprises a further hydrogel.
15. An optical sensor, comprising:
a waveguide core made of hydrogel comprising receptor molecules, such that the hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix for the receptor molecules embedded therein, wherein
the waveguide core is arranged to guide light by utilizing total internal reflection;
a detector arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation leaving the waveguide core; and
at least a part of the hydrogel is adapted to free-float within a surrounding medium having a refractive index that is lower than that of the hydrogel.
16. The optical sensor of claim 15, further comprising a coupler arranged to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide core.
17. The optical sensor of claim 15, further comprising a container arranged to receive a medium so that the medium contacts the waveguide core and the hydrogel is configured to exhibit a refractive index larger than a refractive index of the medium in the container.
18. The optical sensor of claim 15, wherein the detector is configured such that radiation leaving the waveguide core or the waveguide assembly or the waveguide laterally through an edge is detectable.
19. The optical sensor of claim 15, wherein the detector is configured to detect a fluorescent light produced in the hydrogel on contact to a medium.
20. The optical sensor of claim 15, further comprising an evaluation unit, and the evaluation unit being configured to ascertain, from electromagnetic radiation determined by the detector, an analyte concentration in a medium in contact with the waveguide core.
21. The optical sensor of claim 20, wherein the receptor molecules are configured to bind glucose so that a glucose concentration in the medium is determinable.
22. A waveguide core according to claim 5, wherein a refractive index of the hydrogel is lower than a refractive index of the transparent support.
23. A waveguide core according to claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the waveguide core exhibits a square or a rectangular or a polygonic shape.
24. A waveguide core according to claim 10, further comprising a photodetector, the photodetector being arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation leaving the waveguide assembly laterally through a long side of the waveguide core.

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 antimicrobial composition comprising at least three potentiating agents selected from among sequestering agents, efflux pump inhibitor agents, cell membrane disruptor agents, cell membrane permeability enhancement agents, carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives, terpenesterpenoids, amines and amine derivatives, plant-derived oils, sulfonates, phenols, fatty acids, dibenzofuran derivatives, organo isothiocyanates, organo isothiocyanates, peroxides and peroxide donors, and macrolide polyenes agent types,
where at least two of the three or more potentiating agents are of a different type,
wherein the composition displays synergistic antimicrobial activity, and
wherein the composition has synergy index less than 1.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least one agent is a sequestering agent, a phenol, an amine or amine derivative, or a terpeneterpenoid.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the MIC of the combination is less than 100 parts per million.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least two of the potentiating agents have a different apparent modality of action from another potentiating agent in the composition and wherein the apparent modality of action is selected from among chelation, efflux pump inhibition, cell membrane disruption, and cell membrane modulation.
5. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1, which is a synergistic antibacterial composition.
6. An antimicrobial composition comprising three potentiating agents, displays synergistic antimicrobial activity and the composition has a synergy index less than 1, wherein:
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, a second potentiating agent is a carbohydrate or carbohydrate derivative, and a third potentiating agent is an amine or amine derivative;
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, and a second and third potentiating agents are each an amine or amine derivative;
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, a second potentiating agent is an amine or amine derivative; and a third potentiating agent is a terpeneterpenoid;
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, and a second and third potentiating agents are each a terpeneterpenoid;
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, a second potentiating agent is a carbohydrate or carbohydrate derivative, and a third potentiating agent is a terpeneterpenoid;
one potentiating agent is a sequestering agent, a second potentiating agent is a phenol, and a third potentiating agent is a terpeneterpenoid;
one potentiating agent is an organo isothiocyanate, a second potentiating agent is an amine or an amine derivative, and a third potentiating agent is a sequestering agent.
7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the amine or amine derivative is piperine or nisin; the terpeneterpenoid is limonene or nerolidol; and the carbohydrate or carbohydrate derivative is a chitosan, a glycerol, or an octyl glucoside.
8. The composition of claim 1, comprising three potentiating agents, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combinations ST1-72-2, ST1-73-1, ST1-73-3, ST1-76-1, ST1-76-2, ST1-76-3, ST1-76-4, ST1-78-1, ST1-92-1, ST1-93-1, ST1-95-2, ST2-11-1, ST2-15-1, ST2-34-1, ST2-34-2, ST2-37-1, ST2-39-1, ST2-6-2, ST2-7-2, ST2-8-1, and ST2-8-2, and
wherein the composition displays synergistic antimicrobial activity against E. coli.
9. An antimicrobial composition comprising three potentiating agents, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combinations ST1-72-1, ST1-73-1, ST1-73-3, ST1-76-3, ST1-76-4, ST1-78-1, ST1-78-3, ST1-95-2, ST2-11-1, ST2-14-2, ST2-3-2, ST2-34-1, ST2-34-2, ST2-37-1, ST2-39-1, ST2-55-1, ST2-6-2, ST2-7-2, and ST2-8-2, and
wherein the composition displays synergistic antimicrobial activity against MRSA.
10. The antimicrobial composition of claim 9, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combinations ST1-72-1, ST1-73-1, ST1-76-3, ST21-78-1, and ST2-8-2.
11. An antibacterial composition comprising an antibiotic, an antiviral or an antifungal agent, and at least three potentiating agents selected from among sequestering compounds, efflux pump inhibitors, cell membrane disruptors, carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives, terpenesterpenoids, amines and amine derivatives, plant-derived oils, sulfonates, phenols, fatty acids, dibenzofuran derivatives, organo isothiocyanates, peroxides and peroxide donors, and macrolide polyenes potentiating agent types,
wherein at least two of the three or more potentiating agents are of a different type,
wherein the composition is effective against a bacterium, a virus or a fungus, and wherein the combination shows synergy with the antimicrobial, antiviral, or antifungal agent.
12. The antibacterial composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises an antibiotic agent and displays synergistic antibacterial activity, and
wherein the combination of the potentiating agents with the antibiotic have a synergy index less than 1.
13. The antibacterial composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises an antibiotic agent and displays synergistic antibacterial activity, and
wherein the combination of the potentiating agents with the antibiotic have a synergy index less than 1 and the composition is effective against a bacterium when the antibiotic is at a concentration lower that the effective concentration of the antibiotic without the potentiating agents.
14. The antibacterial composition of claim 13, wherein the antibiotic is selected from a group consisting of beta lactams, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, fluoroquinolones, macroides, tetracyclines, and sulphonamides.
15. The antibacterial composition of claim 14, wherein the antibiotic is gentamycin, tetracycline, deoxycycline, or ciproflaxin.
16. The antibacterial composition of claim 12, comprising three potentiating agents, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combinations ST1-73-1, ST1-73-3, ST1-76-3, ST1-76-4, ST1-78-1, ST1-92-1, ST1-93-1, ST1-95-2, ST2-6-2, ST2-7-2, ST2-8-2, ST2-11-1, ST2-15-1, ST2-34-1, ST2-34-2, ST2-37-1, and ST2-55-1.
17. The antibacterial composition of claim 11, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combinations ST2-7-2, ST2-8-2, ST2-11-1, and ST2-37-1, wherein the combinations in the presence of sub-effective concentrations of antibiotic alone are effective against drug resistant E. coli.
18. The antibacterial composition of claim 17, wherein the potentiating agents are the agents in combination ST2-8-2.