U.S. patent application number 15/937488 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for transmission device, system as well as method for transmitting monitoring information.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Bjoern Schmid.
Application Number | 20180287908 15/937488 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58488797 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180287908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmid; Bjoern |
October 4, 2018 |
TRANSMISSION DEVICE, SYSTEM AS WELL AS METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING
MONITORING INFORMATION
Abstract
A transmission device for transmitting monitoring information is
described, wherein the transmission device is configured to gather
the monitoring information of a broadcasting and/or streaming unit
that is configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting
and/or streaming. The transmission device is further configured to
transmit the monitoring information gathered to a cloud unit via a
secure connection. Further, a system and a method for transmitting
monitoring information are described.
Inventors: |
Schmid; Bjoern; (Munich,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG |
Munich |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co.
KG
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
58488797 |
Appl. No.: |
15/937488 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 69/40 20130101;
H04L 63/108 20130101; H04L 63/0853 20130101; H04L 63/0272 20130101;
H04L 43/0847 20130101; G06F 11/0709 20130101; H04L 41/0213
20130101; G06F 2201/805 20130101; H04L 43/08 20130101; G06F 11/0793
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/26 20060101
H04L012/26; H04L 12/24 20060101 H04L012/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2017 |
EP |
17163287.0 |
Claims
1. A transmission device for transmitting monitoring information,
the transmission device being configured to gather the monitoring
information of a broadcasting and/or streaming unit that is
configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting and/or
streaming, the transmission device being further configured to
transmit the monitoring information gathered to a cloud unit via a
secure connection.
2. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the secure
connection is a unidirectional one.
3. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the
monitoring information is provided in real time.
4. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the
transmission device is configured to transmit legacy messages via
the secure connection to the cloud unit.
5. A system for transmitting monitoring information, comprising at
least one broadcasting and/or streaming unit, at least one
transmission device for transmitting monitoring information and a
cloud unit, the transmission device being configured to gather the
monitoring information of a broadcasting and/or streaming unit that
is configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting
and/or streaming, the transmission device being further configured
to transmit the monitoring information gathered to a cloud unit via
a secure connection.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to provide access for a user.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to provide access for a user having a web-enabled end
device, such that the user is enabled to access the monitoring
information on the cloud unit at least partly.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to grant access to the monitoring information based on a
user login.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring
information provided by the cloud unit differs with respect to user
rights defined by the user login.
10. The system according to claim 5, wherein the system comprises a
web-enabled end device that is configured to access the monitoring
information provided by the cloud unit at least partly.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to analyze the monitoring information provided such that
the analyzing results are provided to the web-enabled end
device.
12. The system according to claim 5, wherein the system comprises
several transmission devices.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the transmission
devices are located at different locations, each of the
transmission devices being configured to provide monitoring
information to the cloud unit via a secure connection.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to combine the different monitoring information such
that the different monitoring information is accessible.
15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the cloud unit is
configured to analyze the different monitoring information
provided.
16. The system according to claim 5, wherein several broadcasting
and/or streaming units are located in a common intranet area, these
several units being configured to provide different monitoring
information via a common outgoing port.
17. A method for providing monitoring information to a user at a
remote location, with the following steps: providing monitoring
information of at least one broadcasting and/or streaming unit to a
transmission device, the broadcasting and/or streaming unit being
configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting and/or
streaming, and transmitting the monitoring information gathered via
the transmission device to a cloud unit via a secure
connection.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a user accesses the
cloud unit via a web interface in order to retrieve the monitoring
information provided at least partly.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the monitoring
information is transmitted in real time such that the monitoring
information provided by the cloud unit are up-to-date.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
transmission device for transmitting monitoring information, a
system for transmitting monitoring information as well as a method
for transmitting monitoring information.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the state of the art, systems are known that use a
virtual private network connection (VPN connection) in order to
provide access to a functional unit at a remote location, for
instance a broadcasting and/or streaming unit, by using a mobile
device such as a mobile phone. The VPN connection is typically used
as it ensures high security while providing a secure
infrastructure.
[0003] However, the implementation of a VPN connection is expensive
and a lot of efforts are required in order to ensure that a user
using a VPN connection has only access to certain information, for
instance monitoring information, of the corresponding unit. Thus, a
VPN connection is a complex system with regard to its
implementation and configuration.
SUMMARY
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an easy and secure access
possibility in order to retrieve monitoring information from a
remote location.
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmission
device for transmitting monitoring information, in particular
monitoring information related to broadcasting and/or streaming.
The transmission device is configured to gather monitoring
information of a broadcasting and/or streaming unit that is
configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting and/or
streaming. The transmission device is further configured to
transmit the monitoring information gathered to a cloud unit via a
secure connection.
[0006] Accordingly, the monitoring information can be provided to a
user in an easy manner while forwarding only the monitoring
information gathered from the broadcasting and/or streaming unit to
the cloud unit being accessible by an end device, for instance a
mobile device such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook or any
other suitable electronic end device. The secure connection between
the transmission device and the cloud unit ensures that the
monitoring information is forwarded in a secure manner.
Accordingly, it is not required that the user has direct access to
the broadcasting and/or streaming unit, also called functional
unit, in order to retrieve the monitoring information which
simplifies the establishment of the whole system appropriately. A
complex virtual private network connection (VPN connection) is no
more required for providing the relevant monitoring information to
the user being at a remote location with regard to the broadcasting
and/or streaming unit. The transmission device itself may comprise
the broadcasting and/or streaming unit. The broadcasting and/or
streaming unit is configured to generate a transport stream for
broadcasting and/or streaming.
[0007] A transport stream, for instance a MPEG transport stream,
may comprise audio, video and/or program and system information
protocol (PSIP) data, namely audio data, video data and/or PSIP
data. Usually, the transport stream is used in broadcast systems
such as DVB, ATSC and IPTV.
[0008] Hence, the transport stream may relate to a container format
for the transmission and storage of audio, video, video text and
additional data from digital TV. In fact, the transport stream may
be established by the packetized elementary stream (PES), namely by
encapsulation.
[0009] The packetized elementary stream is produced by packaging
the elementary stream (ES), which is formed by multiplexing the
compressed video and audio signals. Additional information such as
program association table (PAT), the program map table (PMT) and
other additional information is added to the packaged data stream.
For transmission, the transport stream is multiplexed and radiated
appropriately. As already discussed, this technology is used, for
example, in digital video broadcasting (DVB).
[0010] The transport stream may inter alia ensure error checking,
namely error correction and synchronization of the data stream,
since errors may occur during the transmission via the various
transmission media and components.
[0011] According to an aspect, the secure connection is a
unidirectional one. The direct access to the functional unit,
namely the broadcasting and/or streaming unit, via the secure
connection is prohibited due to the unidirectional secure
connection used for transmitting the monitoring information from
the broadcasting and/or streaming unit to the cloud unit. Hence, a
direct connection to the broadcasting and/or streaming unit from
the outside cannot be established via the unidirectional connection
with regard to the data transfer. Therefore, a controlling function
is not provided. The user having access to the cloud unit is not
enabled to control the broadcasting and/or streaming unit via the
cloud unit as the user can only retrieve the monitoring information
being provided. Accordingly, it is not necessary to establish a
complex virtual private network having certain access rights
ensuring that the user can only access the monitoring information
without any controlling function.
[0012] For establishing the unidirectional connection with regard
to the data transfer, a bidirectional protocol can be used, for
instance an Internet Protocol (IP) or a Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP).
[0013] According to another aspect, the monitoring information is
provided in real-time. The cloud unit continuously has access to
the monitoring information provided by the broadcasting and/or
streaming unit which ensures that the monitoring information on the
cloud unit is always up-to-date.
[0014] In addition, the transmission device may be configured to
transmit legacy messages via the secure connection to the cloud
unit. For instance, messages according to the Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP) are used that are transmitted via the
secure connection. Accordingly, the monitoring information can be
sent in an easy manner as SNMP messages are used wherein the
requested security is ensured while using the secure
connection.
[0015] Further, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a
system for transmitting monitoring information, for example
monitoring information related to broadcasting and/or streaming,
wherein the system comprises at least one broadcasting and/or
streaming unit, a cloud unit and at least one transmission device
being established by a transmission device as described above. As
already mentioned, the transmission device is configured to gather
the monitoring information of the functional unit, namely the
broadcasting and/or streaming unit, wherein only the monitoring
information gathered from the broadcasting and/or streaming unit is
forwarded to the cloud unit. Hence, it is ensured that the user has
only access to the monitoring information forwarded to the cloud
unit while using an end device at a remote location with respect to
the location of the broadcasting and/or streaming unit.
[0016] As mentioned above, the broadcasting and/or streaming unit
is configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting
and/or streaming.
[0017] The cloud unit can be considered as an information sink that
provides the monitoring information received from the at least one
transmission device as a unidirectional connection is
established.
[0018] According to an aspect, the cloud unit is configured to
provide access for a user, for example for a user having a
web-enabled end device, such that the user is enabled to access the
monitoring information on the cloud unit at least partly. The cloud
unit is configured to provide web access for the user such that the
user may use an electronic end device having web access for
establishing the connection to the cloud unit, for example for
getting access to the monitoring information provided on the cloud
unit. The connection can be established by a simple web connection,
for instance via the hypertext transfer protocol (http).
[0019] According to another aspect, the cloud unit is configured to
grant access to the monitoring information based on a user login,
for example wherein the monitoring information provided by the
cloud unit differs with respect to user rights defined by the user
login. Thus, the kind of monitoring information provided depends on
the user, for example the user rights related to the user login
used for getting access to the cloud unit. This ensures that
certain users only have access intended by an administrator of the
whole system.
[0020] According to a certain embodiment, the system comprises a
web-enabled end device that is configured to access the monitoring
information provided by the cloud unit at least partly, in
particular wherein the cloud unit is configured to analyse the
monitoring information provided such that the analysing results are
provided to the web-enabled end device. The monitoring information
provided by the cloud unit can be accessed via each end device
being web-enabled provided. As the cloud unit itself is used for
analyzing the monitoring information provided by the transmission
device, more advanced analysis methods can be applied due to the
increased computational power of the cloud unit compared to a
single device or unit, for instance the broadcasting and/or
streaming unit. The cloud unit may be established by several
devices in order to form a cloud computing architecture used for
processing big data.
[0021] Generally, the end device only has access to the cloud unit,
but not directly to the broadcasting and/or streaming unit
providing the monitoring information. This ensures that the end
device being potentially unsecure does not have direct access to
the broadcasting and/or streaming unit processing security relevant
data, in particular the broadcasting and/or streaming unit. The
access for the end device can be ensured by using standard network
applications. Thus, complex virtual private network (VPN)
connections are not necessary for providing access to the
monitoring information of the broadcasting and/or streaming unit.
As the end device only has access to the cloud unit and, further,
the secure connection is a unidirectional one, it is ensured that
the end device is not enabled to control the corresponding
functional unit, for example the broadcasting and/or streaming
unit.
[0022] Furthermore, the system may comprise several transmission
devices, for example at different locations, wherein each of the
transmission devices is configured to provide monitoring
information to the cloud unit via a secure connection. Thus, the
cloud unit may collect the monitoring information of different
functional units, namely broadcasting and/or streaming units, being
located at different locations wherein the collected monitoring
information of the several locations can be accessed by the user
via the cloud unit.
[0023] For instance, the cloud unit is configured to combine the
different monitoring information such that the different monitoring
information is accessible, for example wherein the cloud unit is
configured to analyze the different monitoring information
provided. More data is gathered that can be analyzed appropriately
by the cloud unit having higher computational capacities compared
to a single device, for instance a broadcasting and/or streaming
unit providing the monitoring information. The cloud unit applies
advanced analysis methods and concepts while analyzing the
corresponding monitoring information such that deeper and more
sophisticated analyses of the services are possible as multiple
services are analyzed simultaneously, particular multiple services
of different locations.
[0024] As mentioned above, the system comprises at least one
broadcasting and/or streaming unit. The broadcasting and/or
streaming unit provides the monitoring information that is
forwarded by the transmission device to the cloud unit.
Accordingly, the monitoring information being accessible via the
cloud unit relates to broadcasting and/or streaming data processed
by the broadcasting and/or streaming unit.
[0025] According to a certain embodiment, a transmission device and
the broadcasting and/or streaming unit are formed as a single
device such that the transmission device comprises the broadcasting
and/or streaming unit.
[0026] Furthermore, several broadcasting and/or streaming units are
located in a common intranet area wherein these several units are
configured to provide different monitoring information via a common
outgoing port. The common intranet area represents a certain
location having one transmission device. This transmission device
may use a single outgoing port for providing the several monitoring
information gathered from the different broadcasting and/or
streaming units to the cloud unit. Hence, the information
technology security (IT security) is increased as it is easier to
secure a single outgoing with respect to several ports used by each
broadcasting and/or streaming unit individually.
[0027] The system may comprise several locations each defined by an
intranet area having several functional units, for example several
broadcasting and/or streaming units, wherein each of the intranet
areas use a single common outgoing port for providing the
monitoring information of the several functional units to the cloud
unit.
[0028] Further, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a
method for providing monitoring information to a user at a remote
location, with the following steps: providing monitoring
information of at least one broadcasting and/or streaming unit to a
transmission device, wherein the broadcasting and/or streaming unit
is configured to generate a transport stream for broadcasting
and/or streaming, and transmitting the monitoring information
gathered via the transmission device to a cloud unit via a secure
connection.
[0029] The monitoring information gathered from the at least one
functional unit, namely the broadcasting and/or streaming unit, is
forwarded to the transmission device and/or the cloud unit in a
secure manner ensuring that an inadvertent access is prohibited
appropriately. For instance, messages according to the Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMP) are used for transmission
purposes wherein these messages are transmitted via the secure
connection.
[0030] According to an aspect, a user accesses the cloud unit via a
web interface in order to retrieve the monitoring information
provided at least partly. This ensures that the user has access
from anywhere, for example from outside of the intranet area that
comprises the broadcasting and/or streaming unit.
[0031] According to another aspect, the monitoring information is
transmitted in real time such that the monitoring information
provided by the cloud unit is up-to-date. The user is enabled to
access the actual monitoring information in an easy manner while
accessing the cloud unit, in particular via the web interface
established by the cloud unit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated
as the same become better understood by reference to the following
detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0033] The FIGURE schematically shows a system for transmitting
monitoring information according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements,
is intended as a description of various embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only
embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is
provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be
construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The
illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise
forms disclosed.
[0035] The system 10 comprises two different locations 12, 14 each
being defined by a local intranet area. The different location 12,
14 each comprise a transmitter, such as a transmission device 16,
18, for transmitting monitoring information. The system 10 further
comprises a central cloud unit 20 that has established a first
secure connection 22 to the first transmission device 16 of the
first location 12 and a second secure connection 24 to the second
transmission device 18 of the second location 14. Both secure
connections 22, 24 each are unidirectional ones with regard to the
data transfer which means that data can only be transmitted in one
direction, in particular from the transmission devices 16, 18 to
the cloud unit 20.
[0036] In some embodiments, however, a protocol can be used
ensuring a bidirectional connection such as an Internet Protocol
(IP) or a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) in order to enable
the exchange of acknowledgement signals, for example sending
acknowledgement signals from the central cloud unit 20 to the
transmission device 16, 18.
[0037] Nevertheless, the data transfer in some embodiments is a
unidirectional one as the transmission device 16, 18 can send data
(packages) to the central cloud unit 20 whereas the central cloud
unit 20 cannot send data (packages) to the transmission device 16,
18. Accordingly, the central cloud unit 16, 18 has no direct access
to the data on the transmission devices 16, 18.
[0038] In the shown embodiment, the system 10 also comprises an end
device 26 being a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a tablet or
a notebook. The end device 26 has access to the cloud unit 20 via
the web such that a bidirectional connection 28 between the end
device 26 and the cloud unit 20 is established. Accordingly, the
end device 26 is web-enabled wherein the cloud unit 20 provides an
appropriate web interface.
[0039] As shown for the first location 12, the first transmission
device 16 communicates with different functional units 28 such that
monitoring information is gathered by the transmission device 16.
This monitoring information gathered is forwarded to the cloud unit
20 such that this information is provided to the user having access
to the cloud unit 20 by its end device 26.
[0040] In the shown embodiment, the functional units 28 are
established by broadcasting and/or streaming units 30, for instance
a serial digital interface 32 (SDI), an encoder 34 (ENC) and other
devices and/or units. In general, the broadcasting and/or streaming
units 30 are configured to generate a transport stream that is
transmitted to a local receiving unit 36 that is allocated to the
dedicated first location 12, for instance Munich, Germany. The
local receiving unit 36 may be a television or any other device
configured to display the broadcasting and/or streaming data
related to the transport stream generated by the broadcasting
and/or streaming units 30.
[0041] In a similar manner, the second location 14 comprises
several functional units 28 being broadcasting and/or streaming
units 30 that are used for generating a transport stream comprising
broadcasting and/or streaming data. The transport stream generated
is transmitted to a local receiving unit 36 being allocated to the
second location 14, for instance Hamburg, Germany.
[0042] Generally, the transmission devices 16, 18 each gather
monitoring information from the several functional units 28 being
allocated to the corresponding location 12, 14, particularly the
broadcasting and/or streaming units 30. The transmission devices
16, 18 forward the monitoring information gathered from the
different functional units 18 to the cloud unit 20 via the
corresponding secure connection 22, 24 for instance a secure
hypertext transfer protocol connection (https connection).
[0043] The transmission devices 16, 18 are configured to transmit
legacy messages via the dedicated secure connection 22, 24 to the
cloud unit 20 such that the monitoring information can be
transmitted in an easy manner, for instance.
[0044] Even though the transport devices 16, 18 each gather the
monitoring information of several functional units 28, for example
the broadcasting and/or streaming units 30, the monitoring
information is forwarded to the cloud unit 20 via a single outgoing
port 38, 40 for each location 12, 14. Thus, the outgoing ports 38,
40 are common outgoing ports for all function units 28 of each
location 12, 14. The security for transmitting the monitoring
information to the cloud unit 20 is easier to establish as only a
single outgoing port 38, 40 has to be secured appropriately. In
addition, it is easier to install a firewall protecting only the
single outgoing port 38, 40 instead of several outgoing ports for
each functional unit 28.
[0045] The end device 26 has only access to the cloud unit 20 as it
has no access to the functional units 28 themselves via the cloud
unit 20, for instance. Thus, the end device 26 may use a standard
network application for accessing the cloud unit 20 since the cloud
unit 20 only provides the monitoring information forwarded by the
transport device(s) 16, 18. The user has no access to the
functional units 28, for example the broadcasting and/or streaming
units 30, in order to control the functional units 28. This is
inter alia ensured by establishing a unidirectional connection 22,
24 between each transmission device 16, 18 and the central cloud
unit 20.
[0046] In addition, the cloud unit 20 provides a web interface for
user login. Thus, the user accessing the cloud unit 20 via the end
device 26 needs a user login. Depending on the user login, in
particular the user rights related to the specific user login, only
certain portions of the monitoring information gathered can be
accessed by the user. Thus, all the information gathered can be
provided partly depending on the user rights, role profile or login
credential.
[0047] Furthermore, the cloud unit 20 may be established by several
different devices, in particular computational units, providing
together an increased computational power such that deeper and more
complex analyses can be applied for analyzing the different
monitoring information forwarded to the cloud unit 20 by the
several transport devices 16, 18, for example the transport devices
16, 18 located at different locations 12, 14.
[0048] As the transport devices 16, 18 forward the monitoring
information of several separately formed functional units 28,
particularly broadcasting and/or streaming units 30, deeper and
more complex analyses can be performed for gathering more
information about the services provided, for instance broadcasting
and/or streaming services.
[0049] In some embodiments, the transmission devices 16, 18 may
comprise a functional unit 28, for example a broadcasting and/or
streaming unit 30.
[0050] Accordingly, a system 10 is provided that ensures that the
user has easy and secure access to the monitoring information of
different locations 12, 14 while it is simultaneously ensured that
the user is not enabled to control the functional units 28 which
monitoring information is accessible by the user. Hence, unwanted
access to the functional units 28 is prevented effectively and
easily. The security of the whole system 10 is increased
appropriately.
[0051] It will be appreciated that several components, including
but not limited to the functional units 28, broadcasting and/or
streaming units 30, cloud unit 20, end device 26, etc., have been
described herein as "processing" signals or that various signals
are being "analyzed" or "compared" by such components. This
analysis, processing, comparing or any other functionality
described herein, can be carried out in some embodiments of the
present disclosure by analog circuitry, digital circuitry, or a
combination of analog and digital circuitry, and can include
discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or
combinations thereof. Such circuitry is configured and arranged in
order to implement the technologies and methodologies set forth
herein.
[0052] These components may include, in some embodiments, logic for
implementing the technologies and methodologies described herein.
This logic can be carried out in either hardware or software, or a
combination of hardware and software. In some embodiments, one or
more of these components includes one or more computing devices
such as a processor (e.g., a microprocessor), a central processing
unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a
field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like, or any
combinations thereof, and can include discrete digital or analog
circuit elements or electronics, or combinations thereof.
[0053] In some embodiments, one or more of these components
includes a microprocessor and a memory storing logic modules and/or
instructions. In an embodiment, one or more of these components
includes one or more ASICs having a plurality of predefined logic
components. In an embodiment, one or more of these components
includes one or more FPGA having a plurality of programmable logic
components. In an embodiment, one or more of these components
includes hardware circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in
analog circuitry, implementations in digital circuitry, and the
like, and combinations thereof). In an embodiment, one or more of
these components includes combinations of circuits and computer
program products having software or firmware instructions stored on
one or more computer readable memories that work together to cause
a device to perform one or more methodologies or technologies
described herein.
[0054] Of course, in some embodiments, two or more of these
components, or parts thereof, can be integrated or share hardware
and/or software, circuitry, etc. In some embodiments, these
components, or parts thereof, may be grouped in a single location
or distributed over a wide area. In circumstances were the
components are distributed, the components are accessible to each
other via communication links.
[0055] The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of
operation of the present disclosure have been described in the
foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure
which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as
limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the
embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative
rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and
changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without
departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly,
it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and
equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure, as claimed.
* * * * *