Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a soil sampling data transmission method and system for geological drilling, which can overcome the defects of the prior art.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling, which is characterized by comprising the steps of:
acquiring soil sampling data for geological drilling by a mobile terminal;
establishing communication connection between a mobile terminal and a base station;
receiving, by the mobile terminal, low power consumption configuration information transmitted by the base station in response to establishing a communication connection with the base station;
in response to receiving the low power configuration information, determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal has uplink data to send and determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal is to receive downlink data;
entering a first low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
in response to entering the first low power consumption state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a first listening period, wherein the first listening period has a first length in time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length in time and the first number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
if the initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a first monitoring period, attempting to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station by the mobile terminal after a first time interval, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the first monitoring period, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number;
in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource, receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the starting signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the first monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message sent by the base station in the rest time of the first monitoring period;
in response to an end of the first listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a second listening period, wherein the second listening period begins immediately after the first listening period, wherein the second listening period has a first length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
entering a second low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if the start signal is not monitored on the first time resource of a predetermined number of monitoring periods, wherein the predetermined number is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
in response to entering the second low power state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a third listening period, wherein the third listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second length of time is greater than the first length of time;
if the activation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a third monitoring period, attempting to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station by the mobile terminal after a first time interval, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the third monitoring period, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number;
in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource, receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the starting signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the third monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message sent by the base station in the remaining time of the third monitoring period;
in response to the end of the third listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a fourth listening period, wherein the fourth listening period starts immediately after the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
entering, by the mobile terminal, a third low power consumption state if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the third low power consumption state is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
in response to entering the third low power state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a first time resource in a fifth monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal does not monitor for the initiation signal, wherein the fifth monitoring period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
if the PDCCH message sent by the base station is monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal receives a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is not monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station in the remaining time of the fifth monitoring period;
in response to an end of the fifth listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a sixth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period starts immediately after the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information.
The invention provides a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling, which is characterized by comprising the following components:
means for obtaining soil sampling data for geological drilling by a mobile terminal;
means for establishing a communication connection by a mobile terminal with a base station;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, low power consumption configuration information transmitted by the base station in response to establishing a communication connection with the base station;
means for determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal has uplink data that needs to be transmitted and determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal is to receive downlink data in response to receiving the low power configuration information;
means for entering a first low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a first listening period in response to entering a first low power consumption state, wherein the first listening period has a first length in time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length in time and the first number are indicated in low power consumption configuration information;
means for initiating, by the mobile terminal, an attempt to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station after a first time interval if an initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a first monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the first monitoring period, wherein the first number is less than the second number;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the initiation signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the first monitoring period, the mobile terminal not monitoring the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the first monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a second listening period in response to an end of the first listening period, wherein the second listening period begins immediately after the first listening period, wherein the second listening period has a first length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
means for entering a second low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if the initiation signal is not listened to on the first time resource for a predetermined number of listening periods, wherein the predetermined number is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a third listening period in response to entering the second low power consumption state, wherein the third listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the second length of time is greater than the first length of time;
means for initiating, by the mobile terminal, an attempt to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station after a first time interval if the initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a third monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the third monitoring period, wherein the first number is less than the second number;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the initiation signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the third monitoring period, the mobile terminal not monitoring the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the third monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a fourth listening period in response to an end of the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period starts immediately after the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for entering, by the mobile terminal, a third low power consumption state if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the third low power consumption state is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to monitor a PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a first time resource in a fifth monitoring period in response to entering the third low power consumption state, wherein the mobile terminal does not monitor for the initiation signal, wherein the fifth monitoring period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command transmitted by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is not monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal not to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the fifth monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a sixth listening period in response to an end of the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period starts immediately after the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that geological drilling is often carried out in the field, and the drilling site is generally far away from the place of scientific research personnel. The problem that scientific research personnel often meet at present is that the test of the drilled sample can be carried out on site, but the detailed data analysis must be carried out by a large-scale computer, and a common portable computer cannot complete the task at all. Thus, the researchers typically collect multiple samples and return to the site for calculation using a mainframe computer to obtain results, and if the results are not satisfactory, the researchers may return to the survey site for collection again, which takes a lot of time and money. If the wireless communication method is used for transmitting the survey data and receiving the analysis result, the power consumption problem of the mobile terminal cannot be effectively solved, and therefore the invention provides the soil sampling data transmission method and system for geological drilling.
Detailed Description
The following detailed description of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments.
Throughout the specification and claims, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or component but not the exclusion of any other element or component.
FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, the method of the present invention comprises the steps of:
step 101: acquiring soil sampling data for geological drilling by a mobile terminal;
step 102: establishing communication connection between a mobile terminal and a base station;
step 103: receiving, by the mobile terminal, low power consumption configuration information transmitted by the base station in response to establishing a communication connection with the base station;
step 104: in response to receiving the low power configuration information, determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal has uplink data to send and determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal is to receive downlink data;
step 105: entering a first low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
step 106: in response to entering the first low power consumption state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a first listening period, wherein the first listening period has a first length in time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length in time and the first number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
step 107: if the initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a first monitoring period, attempting to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station by the mobile terminal after a first time interval, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the first monitoring period, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number;
step 108: in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource, receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
step 109: in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the starting signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the first monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message sent by the base station in the rest time of the first monitoring period;
in response to an end of the first listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a second listening period, wherein the second listening period begins immediately after the first listening period, wherein the second listening period has a first length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
entering a second low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if the start signal is not monitored on the first time resource of a predetermined number of monitoring periods, wherein the predetermined number is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
in response to entering the second low power state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a third listening period, wherein the third listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second length of time is greater than the first length of time;
if the activation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a third monitoring period, attempting to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station by the mobile terminal after a first time interval, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the third monitoring period, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number;
in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource, receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the starting signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the third monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message sent by the base station in the remaining time of the third monitoring period;
in response to the end of the third listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a fourth listening period, wherein the fourth listening period starts immediately after the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
entering, by the mobile terminal, a third low power consumption state if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the third low power consumption state is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
in response to entering the third low power state, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a first time resource in a fifth monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal does not monitor for the initiation signal, wherein the fifth monitoring period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
if the PDCCH message sent by the base station is monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal receives a soil sampling data uploading command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message;
in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission method for geological drilling includes the steps of:
if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is not monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal does not monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station in the remaining time of the fifth monitoring period;
in response to an end of the fifth listening period, attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a sixth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period starts immediately after the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information.
The invention provides a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling, which is characterized by comprising the following components:
means for obtaining soil sampling data for geological drilling by a mobile terminal;
means for establishing a communication connection by a mobile terminal with a base station;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, low power consumption configuration information transmitted by the base station in response to establishing a communication connection with the base station;
means for determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal has uplink data that needs to be transmitted and determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the mobile terminal is to receive downlink data in response to receiving the low power configuration information;
means for entering a first low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a first listening period in response to entering a first low power consumption state, wherein the first listening period has a first length in time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length in time and the first number are indicated in low power consumption configuration information;
means for initiating, by the mobile terminal, an attempt to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station after a first time interval if an initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a first monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the first monitoring period, wherein the first number is less than the second number;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the initiation signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the first monitoring period, the mobile terminal not monitoring the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the first monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a second listening period in response to an end of the first listening period, wherein the second listening period begins immediately after the first listening period, wherein the second listening period has a first length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the first length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information;
means for entering a second low power consumption state by the mobile terminal if the initiation signal is not listened to on the first time resource for a predetermined number of listening periods, wherein the predetermined number is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for an initiation signal on a first time resource in a third listening period in response to entering the second low power consumption state, wherein the third listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the second length of time is greater than the first length of time;
means for initiating, by the mobile terminal, an attempt to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station after a first time interval if the initiation signal is monitored on a first time resource in a third monitoring period, wherein the mobile terminal attempts to listen to the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a second time resource, wherein the second time resource comprises a second number of symbols, wherein the first time interval and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information, wherein the second time resource is included in the third monitoring period, wherein the first number is less than the second number;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command sent by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message in response to monitoring the PDCCH message sent by the base station on the second time resource;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the initiation signal is not monitored on the first time resource in the third monitoring period, the mobile terminal not monitoring the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the third monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a fourth listening period in response to an end of the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period starts immediately after the third listening period, wherein the fourth listening period has a second length of time, wherein the first time resource includes a first number of symbols, wherein the second length of time and the first number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for entering, by the mobile terminal, a third low power consumption state if it is determined that the mobile terminal does not have uplink data to send and the mobile terminal does not receive downlink data for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information, wherein the third low power consumption state is indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to monitor a PDCCH message transmitted by the base station on a first time resource in a fifth monitoring period in response to entering the third low power consumption state, wherein the mobile terminal does not monitor for the initiation signal, wherein the fifth monitoring period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power consumption configuration information;
means for receiving, by the mobile terminal, a soil sampling data upload command transmitted by the base station on a PDSCH channel indicated by the PDCCH message if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period;
means for transmitting, by the mobile terminal, soil sampling data for geological drilling to the base station in response to receiving the soil sampling data upload command.
In a preferred embodiment, a soil sampling data transmission system for geological drilling comprises:
means for, if the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station is not monitored on the first time resource in the fifth monitoring period, the mobile terminal not to monitor the PDCCH message transmitted by the base station for the remaining time of the fifth monitoring period;
means for attempting, by the mobile terminal, to listen for the initiation signal on a first time resource in a sixth listening period in response to an end of the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period starts immediately after the fifth listening period, wherein the sixth listening period has a first time length, wherein the first time resource includes a second number of symbols, wherein the first time length and the second number are indicated in the low power configuration information.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.
The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to make and use various exemplary embodiments of the invention and various alternatives and modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalents.