All The Claims

1.-7. (canceled)
8. A method for building a radial tire on a tire-building machine that has an expandable carcass drum with a cylindrical external circumference and two bellows supports with inflatable bellows, comprising:
laying and splicing a tire inner liner and a carcass ply having projections on the carcass drum, where the projections project beyond edges of the carcass drum;
positioning bead cores with core profiles;
turning up the projections of the carcass ply around outsides of the bead cores by inflation of the inflatable bellows; and
expanding the bellows supports for placing and splicing of tire components so that external surfaces of the bellows together with the external surface of the expanded carcass drum form at least essentially a uniform cylindrical load-bearing surface.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the inner liner is laid and spliced with the inflatable bellows expanded.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the carcass ply is laid and spliced with the inflatable bellows expanded.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein sidewall profiles are laid and spliced with the inflatable bellows expanded.
12. A device for building a radial tire that has an inner liner, a carcass ply, bead cores with core profiles and sections of the carcass ply turned up around the bead cores forming turn-ups, the device comprising:
an expandable carcass drum with a cylindrical external surface; and
two expandable bellows supports with inflatable bellows.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bellows supports have a number of segments extendable and retractable in a radial direction, external surfaces of which together form an essentially cylindrical support for the inflatable bellows.
14. The device according to claim 12, wherein a number of segments of the bellows supports is at least four.
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein a number of segments of the bellows supports is twelve.
16. A device, comprising:
an expandable carcass drum with a cylindrical external surface; and
expandable bellows supports which are expandable such that external surfaces of inflatable bellows together with an external surface of the expanded carcass drum at least essentially form a uniform cylindrical load-bearing surface.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows supports have a number of segments that can be extended and retracted in a radial direction.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the number of segments is at least four.
19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the number of segments is particular twelve.
20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the expandable carcass drum has a cylindrical external circumference and the expandable bellows supports are two bellows supports arranged at a side of the carcass drum.
21. The device according to claim 16, wherein the inflatable bellows is located on an external circumference of each of the bellows supports.
22. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows supports include twelve segments distributed evenly over a circumference thereof.
23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the segments provide support for the inflatable bellows running over a circumference of the bellows supports.
24. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows supports include segments each composed of bellows bearing parts, a guide device and a support.
25. The device according to claim 24, wherein each of the bellows bearing parts is arranged on the support which is mounted on the guides in a retractable and extendable manner.
26. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows supports are pneumatic or hydraulic.

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 software architecture for a distributed computing system, the architecture for searching for, downloading, and installing software updates, the architecture being encoded upon one or more computer-readable media, and the architecture comprising:
a program configured to access software updates existing in the distributed computing system, the program comprising:
a first object receiving a set of search criteria from a requestor;
the first object adapted to build a second object, which comprises updates matching the search criteria;
the first object adapted to return the second object to the requestor, wherein the second object provides a third object of a category-collection class and a fourth object of an update-exception-collection class, the third object providing access to a plurality of objects of a category class and the fourth object providing a context of an exception when an update error occurs.
2. The software architecture in claim 1, wherein the distributed computing system comprises one or more client devices and one or more server devices that handle a request from at least one of the one or more client devices for accessing the software updates.
3. The software architecture of claim 1, wherein the program includes an application programming interface (API) to present functions used by an application to access the software updates, and wherein the API includes an first namespace that comprises an update-history-entry-collection class and an update-history-entry class, and wherein an object of the update-history-entry class provides information about an update which has previously been installed or which has previously been uninstalled on a client device.
4. The software architecture of claim 3, wherein the first namespace comprises a synchronization class that enables searching for updates both synchronously and asynchronously.
5. The software architecture of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria comprises:
a history of a software update;
an ID of the software update;
a category of the software update, and
an exception generated for the software update.
6. The software architecture of claim 1 further comprising:
the second object providing a collection of updates found through a search;
the second object providing a fifth object providing access to a plurality of update objects; and
each of the plurality of update objects providing information concerning an individual update.
7. The software architecture of claim 6 wherein the information concerning an individual update comprises an identity of the update, a description of the individual update, uninstall options for the individual update, a download priority of the individual update, a size of the individual update, and an expiration date for the individual update.
8. An application programming interface embodied on one or more computer-readable media, comprising a group of services related to searching, downloading, and installing software updates, the API comprising:
a first namespace adapted to provide a session to access the software updates, a second namespace adapted to automatically begin a software update process, an third namespace adapted to provide information about at least one service that provides the software updates, a fourth namespace adapted to search for the software updates, a fifth namespace adapted to download the software updates to a requestor, and a sixth namespace adapted to install the software updates;
wherein the fourth namespace comprises a search-result class, and wherein an object of the search-result class provides an object of a category-collection class and an object of an update-exception-collection class, the category-collection object providing access to a plurality of objects of a category class and the update-exception-collection object providing a context of an exception when an update error occurs.
9. The application programming interface of claim 8, wherein the group of services includes:
a first group of services related to searching software updates that meet one or more criteria;
a second group of services related to downloading one or more of the software updates; and
a third group of services related to installing one or more of the downloaded software updates.
10. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the first group of services related to searching software updates that meet one or more criteria provides services for an item selected from the group consisting of:
a history of a particular software update;
an ID of the particular software update;
a category of the particular software update, and
an exception generated for the particular software update.
11. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the third group of services related to installing one or more of the downloaded software updates further includes services related to un-installing one or more of the downloaded software updates that have been previously installed.
12. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the application programming interface further includes a fourth group of services related to accessing software updates on the Internet.
13. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the application programming interface further includes a fourth group of services related to automatic installation of software updates.
14. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the application programming interface further includes a fifth group of services related to providing data about a client device that requests one or more software updates.
15. The application programming interface of claim 9, wherein the application programming interface further includes a sixth group of services related to providing information about one or more services through which a software program accesses available software updates.
16. A method of providing software updates, the method comprising the following steps:
receiving, by a first object, a set of search criteria from a requestor;
building, by the first object, a second object, the second object comprising updates matching the search criteria;
returning, by the first object, the second object to the requestor, wherein the second object provides a third object of a category-collection class and a fourth object of an update-exception-collection class, the third object providing access to a plurality of objects of a category class and the fourth object providing a context of an exception when an update error occurs.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of criteria comprises:
a history of a software update;
an ID of the software update;
a category of the software update, and
an exception generated for the software update.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
the second object providing a collection of updates found through a search;
the second object providing a fifth object providing access to a plurality of update objects; and
each of the plurality of update objects providing information concerning an individual update.
19. The software architecture of claim 18 wherein the information concerning an individual update comprises an identity of the update, a description of the individual update, uninstall options for the individual update, a download priority of the individual update, a size of the individual update, and an expiration date for the individual update.

1. A method for determining a distance of a vehicle passing a radio beacon of a road toll system, from said radio beacon, wherein the vehicle is equipped with an onboard unit, which emits a signal with a known curve of a signal frequency over time, the method comprising:
receiving the signal in the radio beacon and recording a frequency curve of the signal frequency over time, in relation to the known frequency curve;
detecting a change in the recorded frequency curve exceeding a first predetermined threshold value;
determining two far regions in the recorded frequency curve, wherein the far regions lie before and after the detected change in the recorded frequency curve and indicate a frequency change below a second predetermined threshold value;
scaling the recorded frequency curve in such a manner that the far regions assume predetermined values; and
determining the distance from a gradient of the scaled frequency curve in an inflection point thereof.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a lane of a multi-lane road, on which the vehicle is moving, is determined from the distance.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inflection point is determined by determining a point in the frequency curve, at which the recorded frequency has a predetermined value.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inflection point is determined by determining a point in the recorded frequency curve, which corresponds to a frequency mean value of the far regions.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal is emitted by the onboard unit as at least one carrier frequency modulated with a modulation frequency, wherein the signal frequency is the modulation frequency.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) or a wireless access in a vehicle environment (WAVE) transmitter in the onboard unit is used to emit the signal.
7. A radio beacon for a road toll system for determining a distance of a vehicle passing the radio beacon, wherein the vehicle is equipped with an onboard unit which emits a signal with a known frequency curve of a signal frequency over time, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive the signal of the vehicle;
a memory coupled to the receiver configured to record a curve of the frequency of the received signal over time in relation to the known frequency curve over time;
a detector coupled to the memory and configured to detect a change in the recorded frequency curve exceeding a first predetermined threshold value;
an evaluation device coupled to the detector and the memory and configured to determine two far regions in the frequency curve lying before and after the detected change in the recorded frequency curve, the two far regions showing a frequency change below a second threshold value;
a scaling device coupled to the memory and the evaluation device and configured to scale the recorded frequency curve in such a manner that the far regions assume predetermined values; and
a differentiator coupled to the scaling device configured to determine a gradient of the scaled frequency curve in an inflection point thereof and to determine the distance therefrom.
8. The radio beacon according to claim 7, wherein the radio beacon is installed on a multi-lane road and the differentiator is configured to determine a lane, on which the vehicle is passing, from the distance.
9. The radio beacon according to claim 7, wherein the differentiator determines the inflection point by determining a point in the frequency curve, at which the frequency has a predetermined value in the frequency curve.
10. The radio beacon according to claim 7, wherein the differentiator determines the inflection point by determining a point in the frequency curve, at which the frequency corresponds to a frequency mean value of the far regions.
11. The radio beacon according to claim 7, wherein the received signal has at least one carrier frequency modulated with a modulation frequency, and the signal frequency is the modulation frequency, which is obtained in the receiver by demodulation.
12. The radio beacon according to claim 7, wherein the receiver is a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) or a wireless access in a vehicle environment (WAVE) transceiver.

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

It is claimed:

1. An apparatus for detecting hydrogenous materials, comprising:
a. a time-tagged neutron source that provides a stream of fast neutrons directed toward a target;
b. at least one sensing head comprising a neutron sensor and a neutron shield, wherein a portion of said stream of fast neutrons is backscattered from said target to said neutron sensor that produces a neutron count signal dependent on the amount of hydrogenous material present in said target; and
c. a control system comprising a timing circuit, wherein said timing circuit disables said neutron sensor during a time delay beginning at the time said stream of fast neutrons is emitted from said neutron source and enables said neutron sensor after said time delay.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said timing circuit enables said neutron sensor after said time delay during a window and disables said neutron sensor after said window.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a pulse-height analyzer with at least one pulse-height discriminator setting.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one pulse-height discriminator setting is an upper level discriminator setting.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron sensor is capable of spatially resolving said neutron count signal so that the location of said target can be determined.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said neutron sensor comprises a collimating material.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said neutron sensor comprises a coded-array aperture.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron source is selected from the group consisting of a fission source, an (alpha, n) source, a (gamma, n) source, and combinations thereof.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said fission source comprises 252Cf.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron source is a neutron generator that is capable of being operated in pulse mode.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron sensor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of 3He, 10B, 6Li, and combinations thereof.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron sensor is selected from the group consisting of a 3He gas-proportional counter, a 10BF3 gas-proportional counter, a scintillating glass containing 6Li, a scintillating glass containing 10B, a scintillating plastic containing 6Li, a scintillating plastic containing 10B, a scintillating crystal containing 6Li, a scintillating crystal containing 10B, and combinations thereof.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neutron shield comprises a material selected from the group consisting of 10B, 6Li, and combinations thereof.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an extension arm, one end of said extension arm connected to said sensing head and the other end of said extension arm connected to said control system.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface wherein said user interface comprises a means for communicating said neutron count signal to a user.
16. A method for detecting hydrogenous materials comprising the steps of:
a. directing a stream of fast neutrons from a neutron source toward a target;
b. detecting the time when said stream of fast neutrons is emitted from said neutron source;
c. measuring a portion of said stream of fast neutrons that is backscattered from said target after a time delay beginning when said stream of fast neutrons is emitted from said source; and
d. communicating said measurement to a user.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said measuring occurs after said time delay and only during a window.
18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of pulse-height discriminating said measurement.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said discriminating is performed using an upper level discriminator setting.
20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said target comprises an explosive.
21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said explosive is a land mine.
22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said explosive is unexploded ordinance.
23. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said target is contraband narcotics.
24. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said target is biological tissue.