FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to emergency devices and in particular to emergency devices for indicating a procedural operation. The invention has been developed primarily for use as an emergency device to indicate the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be

considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Known devices for indicating the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation typically include instructional aids in the form of documentation or signage. However, it will be appreciated that in an emergency situation, the carer can be incapable of reading, comprehending and implementing written instructions.

It has also been observed that a carer in an emergency situation may not be able to observe details of the treatment such at rate and timing of procedures.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide an emergency device for indicating the procedural operations of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect the invention there is provided an emergency device for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response, the device comprising:

a processor module;

at least one input element coupled to the processor module;

at least one output element coupled to the processor module;

wherein the processor module is adapted to receive data indicative of the patient condition and in response to the receive data controls the output element to indicate the rate timing information.

Preferably, the processor prompts the user to provide data indicative of the patient though a series of predetermined questions, the data being provided by the user.

Preferably, the processor prompts the user by illuminating a selections set including one or more key selections indicative of acceptable answers. A first selection set is preferably indicative of the patient being an adult or child.

Preferably, the first selection set can alternatively indicate the patient being selected from any two or more of the set comprising adult, child and infant. A second selection set is preferably indicative of the number of emergency response providers being one or two. A third selection set is preferably indicative of the patient airway being clear or not clear. A fourth selection set is preferably indicative of the patient breathing or not breathing. A fifth selection set is preferably indicative of the patient presetting with a pulse or without a pulse.

The output element preferably includes one or more observable indicators for indicating rate timing information to a user for performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. A first observable indicator is preferably indicative of the rate timing for providing cardiac compressions. A second observable indicator is preferably indicative of the rate timing for providing lung inflation. Preferably, the first observable indicator further alerts of timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions.

One or more observable indicators are preferably illuminated representations.

Alternatively, one or more observable indicators can be auditory representations. A first representation is preferably indicative of the rate and timing of a cardiac compression. A second representation is preferably indicative of the rate and timing of lung inflation. A third representation can preferably indicate the rate and timing of a cardiac compression preceding the next lung inflation. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response, the method comprising the step of:

receiving, at a processor module, data indicative of the patient condition;

determining, in response to the receive data, appropriate rate timing information; controlling at least one output element coupled to the processor module to indicate the rate timing information.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of activating a device as previously described.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of prompting the user to provide data indicative of the patient though a series of predetermined questions, the data being provided by the user.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of prompting the user to provide data indicative of the patient being an adult or child, and receiving response data provided by the user. More preferably, the method comprises the step of prompting the user to provide data indicative of the patient being selected from any two or more of the set comprising adult, child and infant and receiving response data provided by the user.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of prompting the user to provide data indicative of the number of emergency response providers being one or two, and receiving response data provided by the user. Preferably, the method comprises the step of prompting the user to provide data indicative of any one or more of the set including: the patient airway being clear or not clear, the patient being breathing or not breathing, patient presetting with a pulse or without a pulse; and receiving response data provided by the user. The controlling at least one output element coupled to the processor module to indicate the rate timing information preferably comprises indicating rate timing information to a user for performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. A first observable indicator is preferably indicative of the rate timing for providing cardiac compressions. A second observable indicator is preferably indicative of the rate timing for providing lung inflation. Preferably, the first observable indicator further alerts of timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product for implementing a method for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out a method for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an example schematic view of an emergency device according to the

invention;

FIG. 2A is an example flowchart of a method performed by the device of FIG. 1, for indicating the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is an example flowchart of a method performed by the device of FIG. 1, for indicating the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an example schematic view of an emergency device according to the

invention; FIG. 4 is an example flowchart of a method performed by the device of FIG. 3, for indicating the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an example schematic view of an emergency device of FIG. 3, show having a cover; and

FIG. 6 is an example schematic view of an emergency device according to the

invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In an emergency situation, after checking for danger (typically in the form of electrical cords, petrol or other hazards), and checking for signs of life (such at the patient being unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing normally, and/or not moving), an emergency response provider would then be typically expected to check if:

The patient has a clear airway;

The patient is breathing normally; and

The patient has blood circulation.

Checking for a clear airway typically involves placing the patient on their back, tilting the head back (not for infants or injured), removing foreign matter from mouth (and nose of baby); place the patient on side if there is a lot of foreign matter.

In an embodiment, a mini-touch can be either fixedly or releasablly attached to the device for checking the patients airway, if the patient is breathing normally, and/or if there is any foreign matter in a dark environment. This can be particularly useful if the emergency occurs at night).

Checking for breathing typically involves listening and feeling for breathing, and watch for chest movement (for example using the mini-touch when in the dark). If the patient is breathing normally, the patient is typically left on their side. If the patient is not breathing normally, the patient is typically placed on their back with their head tilted back (not for infants or injured). Two breaths at often provided whilst watching rise and fall of chest. Checking for a circulation typically involves feeling for the presence of a pulse. If there is not detected circulation, the emergency response provider may be required to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

The specifications for performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation can vary from time to time, and is often dependent on the age of the patient and the number of emergency response providers in attendance. The recommended rate of compressions is typically about one hundred compressions per minute and the ratio of compression to breaths is 30: 1 for one response provider and 15: 1 for two response providers.

FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an emergency device 100 for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response. The device comprises an input element 110 and an output element 120. A processor module 130 is coupled to both the input and output elements, and is adapted to receive data indicative of the patient condition from the input element. The processor module is further adapted to control the output element, in response to the receive data, to indicate the rate timing information.

As previously noted the rate timing for cardio pulmonary resuscitation can be dictated by the age of the patient (adult, child and infant) and the number of emergency response providers.

In this embodiment, the processor prompts the user to provide data indicative of the patient though a series of predetermined questions, the data being provided by the user.

FIG. 2 A shows an example embodiment of a flow chart of a method 200 for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response, the method comprising:

STEP 220: receiving data, at a processor module, indicative of the patient condition; STEP 230: determining, in response to the receive data, appropriate rate timing

information;

STEP 240: controlling at least one output element, coupled to the processor module, to indicate the rate timing information.

In an embodiment, the method can comprise STEP 210 of activating a device. In this step the power source (typically in the form of a battery) is connected to the processor module. Activation can be achieved by removing an insulator placed between a battery terminal and a battery connector. In an alternative embodiment, activation can be achieved by having an isolation switch. The isolation switch can be operatively associated with removing a cover from the device. In an embodiment, by way of example only, STEP 230 can determine appropriate rate timing information, in response to the receive data, in which:

It will be appreciated that the compression rate and compression:breath ratio is determined by various medical bodies and change from time to time. Further the compression:breath ratio may require 'n' compressions followed by one or more breaths, as set by the advisory body.

FIG. 2B shows an example embodiment flow chart of a method 200 for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response. In this embodiment the method comprises the steps of:

STEP 241 : determining if a breath (or lung inflation) is required based on the

determined appropriate rate timing information;

STEP 242: if appropriate, indicating a breath is required;

STEP 243 : determining if a compression is required based on the determined

appropriate rate timing information; and STEP 244: if appropriate, indicating a compression is required.

In this embodiment, one or more observable indicators for indicating a compression and/or lung inflation are illuminated representations, typically in the form of flashing lights, graphical displays, or text. However, it would be appreciated that, one or more observable indicators can be auditory representations, including set sounds, signals or voice commands (synthesised or recorded).

In an embodiment, a first representation is indicative of the rate and timing of cardiac compressions and a second representation is preferably indicative of the rate and timing of lung inflation. It will be appreciated that a compression:breath ratio should also be maintained, and therefore, a third representation can be provided to indicate the rate and timing of a cardiac compression preceding the next breath (or lung inflation). For example, an observable indicators for indicating a compression can comprise a plurality of individual indicators that, while indicating the timing for compression, further alerts to the timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions.

Alternatively, an observable indicator for indicating lung inflation can comprise a plurality of individual indicators that further alerts of timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions. A sequence can be indicated visually (for example by flashing lights, graphical displays, or text) or audibly (set sounds, signals or voice commands), or a combination of visual and auditory cues.

FIG. 3 is an example embodiment of an emergency device 100 for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response. The device comprises an input element 110 and an output element 120. A processor module 130 is coupled to both the input and output elements, and is adapted to receive data indicative of the patient condition from the input element. The processor module is further adapted to control the output element, in response to the receive data, to indicate the rate timing information.

As previously noted the rate timing for cardio pulmonary resuscitation can be dictated by the age of the patient (adult, child or baby and new born) and the number of emergency response providers. In this example embodiment, the processor prompts the user to provide data indicative of the patient though a series of predetermined questions, the data being provided by the user. The processor prompts the user by highlighting/illuminating a selections set including one or more key selections indicative of acceptable answers. In an embodiment, a first selection set (311 , 312) is indicative of the patient being an adult or child respectively. It will be appreciated that the first selection set can alternatively indicate the patient being selected from any two or more of the set comprising adult, child and infant. A second selection set (313, 314) is indicative of the number of emergency response providers being one or two respectively. A third selection set 315 is preferably indicative of the patient airway being clear or not clear. A fourth selection set 316 is preferably indicative of the patient breathing or not breathing. A fifth selection set 317 is preferably indicative of the patient presetting with a pulse or without a pulse. In an alternative embodiment, the selections sets 315, 316 and 317 may only highlight to a user (or an emergency response provider) to check the airway, breathing and circulation respectively, thereby only requiring the highlighting and/or confirming that an action should-be and/or has-been conducted.

The output element 120 includes a plurality of observable indicators (321, 325, 326, 327, 328 and 329) for indicating rate timing information to a user performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Observable indicators 325, 326, 327, 328 and 329 are indicative of the rate timing for providing cardiac compressions, and indicator 321 is indicative of the rate timing for providing lung inflation.

In this example embodiment, observable indicators 325, 326, 327, 328 and 329 are individually illuminated in time with a cardiac compressions being required. If a compression:breath ratio of 30: 1 is required then, by way of example only, indicator 325 can be illuminated five times, followed by indicator 326 being illuminated five times, followed by indicator 327 being illuminated five times, followed by indicator 328 being illuminated five times, followed by indicator 329 being illuminated five times. After the completion of this sequence, indicator 321 can be illuminated to indicate a lung inflation is now required. As the illuminated compression indicator is successively closer to the indicator 321, this can further alert an emergency response provider of the timing of pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions. It will be appreciated that, many other alternative progressions may be appropriate for alerting an emergency response provider of the timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions. Similarly, if a compression:breath ratio of 15:1 is required, then each of 325, 326, 327, 328 and 329 can be successively sequenced to each indicate (be illuminated) three times.

In an embodiment, by way of example only, one or more observable indicators can comprise auditory representations as provided by a speaker or piezoelectric 340. The auditory representation may be provided in combination with the visual representation discussed herein. Auditory cues can, by way of example, include set sounds, signals or voice (synthesised or recorded).

In an embodiment, a timing module 350 is provided for indicating (recording or displaying) any one or more of the following:

The time of day 351;

The time of day the emergency response commenced; and/or

The current duration of the emergency response 352.

It will be appreciated that a power source 331 (typically in the form of a battery) for powering the processor module 130 can be isolated to preserve the life of the power source. In activating the device, the power source is connected to the processor module. Activation can be achieved by removing an insulator placed between a battery terminal and a battery connector. In an alternative embodiment, activation can be achieved by having an isolation switch 131. The isolation switch can be operatively associated with removing the cover from the device (as shown in FIG. 5).

In an embodiment, an attachment element 360, and/or torch 370 can be included. In such embodiments the torch can be separable and have an independent power source. The device can be manufactured to a size suitable for attaching to a key ring.

It will be appreciated that the device having a detachable mini-touch can provide light assistance in an emergency or non emergency situation.

FIG. 4 is an example flowchart of a method 400 for indicating the procedural operation of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. This method comprises the steps of prompting the user to provide data indicative of the patient though a series of predetermined questions, the data being provided by the user.

This method comprises:

STEP 421 receiving data indicative of the patient being an adult and/or child and/or infant.

STEP 422 receiving data indicative of the number of emergency response providers being one or two.

STEP 423 receiving data indicative of the state being that the patient's airway had been checked;

STEP 424 receiving data indicative of the state being that the patient's breathing had been checked;

STEP 425 receiving data indicative of the state being that the patient's circulation had been checked;

STEP 430: determining, in response to the receive data, appropriate rate timing

information;

STEP 451 : displaying current time;

STEP 452: displaying duration of emergency response;

STEP 441 : determining if a breath (or lung inflation) is required based on the

determined appropriate rate timing information;

STEP 442: if appropriate, indicating a breath required (returning to STEP 441);

STEP 443 : determining if a compression is required based on the determined

appropriate rate timing information; and

STEP 444: if appropriate, indicating a compression required (returning to STEP 443);

And returning from STEP 443 to STEP 241 until the emergency response concludes. Alternatively, steps 433, 434, and 435 may prompt the user to provide data indicative of any one or more of the set including: the patient airway being clear or not clear, the patient being breathing or not breathing, patient presetting with a pulse or without a pulse; and receiving response data provided by the user.

In this example embodiment, steps 441, 442, 443, and 444 controls at least one output element coupled to the processor module to indicate the rate timing information to a user performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. A fist observable indicator is controlled at steps 443 and 444 to indicate the rate timing for providing cardiac compressions. A second observable indicator is controlled at steps 441 and 442 to indicate the rate timing for providing lung inflation. Step 443 can further alert of the timing of pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions. FIG. 5 is an example schematic view of an emergency device 100 having a cover 590. In this embodiment, the opening of the cover can activate the device by connecting the power source to the processor module. Activation can be achieved by removing an insulator place between a battery terminal and a battery connector or actuating an isolation switch 131. The cover can also have a pocket 591 for retaining a safety mask (not shown).

FIG. 6 is an example schematic view of an emergency device 600 comprising a computer program product for implementing a method, as described herein, for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response.

It will be appreciated that, a computer-readable carrier medium can carrying a set of instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out a method, as described herein, for indicating rate timing information to a user in performing an emergence response.

In this example embodiment, a touch screen based computing device has installed a computer program that when executed carries out a method, as described herein, by displaying the input element 110 and an output element 120, a timing device 350. A processor module 130 is coupled to both the input and output elements, and is adapted to receive data indicative of the patient condition from the input element. In absence of a touch screen, input may be provided by made using buttons or a cursor based selection.

The processor module is further adapted to control the output element, in response to the receive data, to indicate the rate timing information. The output element 120 includes a plurality of observable indicators (621,622 and 633) for indicating rate timing information to a user performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Observable indicators 622 and 623 are indicative of the rate timing for providing cardiac compressions, and indicator 621 is indicative of the rate timing for providing lung inflation. In this example embodiment, observable indicator 623 is displayed to provide a proximity timing of pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac

compressions. It will be appreciated that many alternative progressions may be appropriate for alerting an emergency response provider of the timing of a pending lung inflation relative to a sequence of cardiac compressions.

In an embodiment, one or more observable indicators can comprise auditory

representations as provided by a speaker (or piezoelectric element) 640. The auditory representation may be provided in combination with the visual representation discussed herein. Auditory cues can, by way of example, include any one or more of set sounds, signals or voice (synthesised or recorded).

In an embodiment, an emergency button 680 can be provided to automatically turn on the device and/or initiate execution of the computer program product. When the emergency device 600 is a mobile telephone or other communicating device, pressing the emergency button can also initiate a call to emergency services for obtaining assistance, preferably automatically setting the device to speaker (hands free) mode. In an alternative embodiment, the computer program product is an application installed on the device, which is selected for execution by the user of the device.

A second output element 690 can also be provided to further provide cues in providing an emergency response. By way of example only, these cues for performing an emergency response can include any one or more of graphic images and/or graphic video and/or displayed text. This can be further combined with one or more observable indicators comprising auditory representations.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated device and method indicates procedural operations of performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as

"processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

In a similar manner, the term "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A "computer" or a "computing machine" or a "computing platform" may include one or more processors.

The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included. Thus, one example is a typical processing system that includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. The processing system further may be a distributed processing system with processors coupled by a network. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD). If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth. The term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless explicitly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit. The processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device. The memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein. Note that when the method includes several elements, e.g., several steps, no ordering of such elements is implied, unless specifically stated. The software may reside in the hard disk, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer-readable code.

Furthermore, a computer-readable carrier medium may form, or be included in a computer program product.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a stand alone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The one or more processors may form a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Note that while some diagrams only show a single processor and a single memory that carries the computer-readable code, those in the art will understand that many of the components described above are included, but not explicitly shown or described in order not to obscure the inventive aspect. For example, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that are for execution on one or more processors, e.g., one or more processors that are part of whatever the device is. Thus, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a method, an apparatus such as a special purpose apparatus, an apparatus such as a data processing system, or a computer-readable carrier medium, e.g., a computer program product. The computer-readable carrier medium carries computer readable code including a set of instructions that when executed on one or more processors cause the processor or processors to implement a method. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of carrier medium (e.g., a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium) carrying computer-readable program code embodied in the medium.

The software may further be transmitted or received over a network via a network interface device. While the carrier medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term "carrier medium" should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "carrier medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by one or more of the processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. A carrier medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non- volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non- volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, and magneto-optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and optics fibre, including the wires that comprise a bus subsystem. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications. For example, the term "carrier medium" shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, a computer product embodied in optical and magnetic media, a medium bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of one or more processors and representing a set of instructions that when executed implement a method, a carrier wave bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions a propagated signal and representing the set of instructions, and a transmission medium in a network bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions. It will be understood that the steps of methods discussed are performed in one embodiment by an appropriate processor (or processors) of a processing (i.e., computer) system executing instructions (computer-readable code) stored in storage. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular implementation or programming technique and that the invention may be implemented using any appropriate techniques for implementing the functionality described herein. The invention is not limited to any particular programming language or operating system. As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary

embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carrying out such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying out the method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention. In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further

modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

It will be appreciated that an embodiment of the invention can consist essentially of features disclosed herein. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can consist of features disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.