U.S. patent application number 16/981910 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-06 for machine-learning method for conditioning individual or shared areas.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carrier Corporation. Invention is credited to Alberto Ferrari, Jason Higley, Matteo Rucco, Fabrizio Smith.
Application Number | 20210131693 16/981910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005343913 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-06 |
![](/patent/app/20210131693/US20210131693A1-20210506\US20210131693A1-2021050)
United States Patent
Application |
20210131693 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rucco; Matteo ; et
al. |
May 6, 2021 |
MACHINE-LEARNING METHOD FOR CONDITIONING INDIVIDUAL OR SHARED
AREAS
Abstract
A method and system for conditioning an interior area is
disclosed. A method includes retrieving environmental conditions
regarding the interior area, wherein the environmental conditions
include temperature, humidity, and air speed; retrieving outdoor
environmental conditions; generating a field of environmental
conditions at a plurality of points within the interior area;
estimating clothing insulation of a user based on the outdoor
environmental conditions; calculating a thermal comfort of the user
to determine a predicted mean vote; and operating a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning system based on the calculated
thermal comfort.
Inventors: |
Rucco; Matteo; (Trento,
IT) ; Smith; Fabrizio; (Rome, IT) ; Ferrari;
Alberto; (Rome, IT) ; Higley; Jason;
(Pittsford, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carrier Corporation |
Palm Beach Gardens |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005343913 |
Appl. No.: |
16/981910 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US19/22744 |
371 Date: |
September 17, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62644813 |
Mar 19, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/22 20180101;
F24F 2120/20 20180101; F24F 2110/32 20180101; F24F 11/56 20180101;
F24F 11/63 20180101; F24F 2110/12 20180101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/63 20060101
F24F011/63; F24F 11/56 20060101 F24F011/56 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method for conditioning an interior area
comprising: retrieving environmental conditions regarding the
interior area, wherein the environmental conditions include
temperature, humidity, and air speed; retrieving outdoor
environmental conditions; generating a field of environmental
conditions at a plurality of points within the interior area;
calculating a thermal comfort of the user to determine a predicted
mean vote; and operating a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system based on the calculated thermal comfort.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving usage information regarding the interior area.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising
estimating clothing insulation of a user based on the outdoor
environmental conditions and the usage information.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving feedback from the user regarding the user's comfort
level; and operating the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
system based on the feedback.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:
storing the feedback in a thermal profile associated with the
user.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein: calculating
the thermal comfort of the user comprises using the thermal profile
to calculate the thermal comfort.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: calculating
the thermal comfort of the user comprises using a Fanger equation
to calculate the predicted mean vote.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein: the
predicted mean vote is on a continuous scale ranging from -3 to 3,
wherein a value of -3 indicates a cold thermal condition and a
value of 3 indicates a warm thermal condition.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
calculating the thermal comfort for each user of a plurality of
users in the interior area; and calculating an average thermal
comfort for the plurality of users; wherein: operating a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning system is based on the average
thermal comfort of the plurality of users.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:
calculating a predicted percentage of dissatisfied users based on
the thermal comfort of each of the plurality of users; wherein:
operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
further comprises ensuring that the predicted percentage of
dissatisfied users is below a predetermined threshold.
11. A computer system for facilitating anonymous and automated
communication comprising: a processor; a memory; computer program
instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the
following method: retrieving environmental conditions regarding the
interior area, wherein the environmental conditions include
temperature, humidity, and air speed; retrieving outdoor
environmental conditions; generating a field of environmental
conditions at a plurality of points within the interior area;
calculating a thermal comfort of the user to determine a predicted
mean vote; and operating a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system based on the calculated thermal comfort.
12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method further
comprises: retrieving usage information regarding the interior
area.
13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein: estimating clothing
insulation of a user based on the outdoor environmental conditions
and the usage information.
14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method further
comprises: receiving feedback from the user regarding the user's
comfort level; and operating the heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system based on the feedback.
15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the method further
comprises: storing the feedback in a thermal profile associated
with the user.
16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein: calculating the
thermal comfort of the user comprises using the thermal profile to
calculate the thermal comfort.
17. The computer system of claim 11, wherein: calculating the
thermal comfort of the user comprises using a Fanger equation to
calculate the predicted mean vote.
18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein: the predicted mean
vote is on a continuous scale ranging from -3 to 3, wherein a value
of -3 indicates a cold thermal condition and a value of 3 indicates
a warm thermal condition.
19. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method further
comprises: calculating the thermal comfort for each user of a
plurality of users in the interior area; and calculating an average
thermal comfort for the plurality of users; wherein: operating a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is based on the
average thermal comfort of the plurality of users.
20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the method further
comprises: calculating a predicted percentage of dissatisfied users
based on the thermal comfort of each of the plurality of users;
wherein operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
system further comprises ensuring that the predicted percentage of
dissatisfied users is below a predetermined threshold.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of electronics. In
particular, the present disclosure relates to a method and system
for integrating machine-learning capabilities with conditioning
whether they are occupied by an individual or groups.
[0002] Thermal comfort in an indoor location is achieved through
the use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units
placed throughout the indoor location. HVAC can be very expensive,
representing up to 65 percent of energy consumption of a
building.
[0003] In the past, there have been many different ways of
controlling the thermal comfort and thus the energy consumption. A
very approximate way of doing so is to manually control air
conditioning and heating units--turning them on and off as needed,
depending on if a building's occupants are comfortable. Later,
thermometers were added--if too high temperature was sensed, an air
conditioning system could be switched on and if too low a
temperature was sensed, a heating system could be switched on. It
would be desirable to have a more efficient and accurate method of
setting a thermal comfort level of an indoor area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0004] According to one embodiment, a method and system for
conditioning an interior area is disclosed. A method includes
retrieving environmental conditions regarding the interior area,
wherein the environmental conditions include temperature, humidity,
and air speed; retrieving outdoor environmental conditions;
generating a field of environmental conditions at a plurality of
points within the interior area; calculating a thermal comfort of
the user to determine a predicted mean vote; and operating a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system based on the
calculated thermal comfort.
[0005] In addition to one or more features described above, or as
an alternative, further embodiments may include retrieving usage
information regarding the interior area.
[0006] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include estimating clothing
insulation of a user based on the outdoor environmental conditions
and the usage information.
[0007] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include receiving feedback
from the user regarding the user's comfort level; and operating the
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system based on the
feedback.
[0008] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include storing the feedback
in a thermal profile associated with the user.
[0009] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include wherein calculating
the thermal comfort of the user comprises using the thermal profile
to calculate the thermal comfort.
[0010] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include wherein calculating
the thermal comfort of the user comprises using a Fanger equation
to calculate the predicted mean vote.
[0011] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include wherein the predicted
mean vote is on a continuous scale ranging from -3 to 3, wherein a
value of -3 indicates a cold thermal condition and a value of 3
indicates a warm thermal condition.
[0012] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include calculating the
thermal comfort for each user of a plurality of users in the
interior area; and calculating an average thermal comfort for the
plurality of users; wherein operating a heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning system is based on the average thermal comfort of
the plurality of users.
[0013] In addition to features described above, or as an
alternative, further embodiments may include calculating a
predicted percentage of dissatisfied users based on the thermal
comfort of each of the plurality of users; wherein: operating a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system further comprises
ensuring that the predicted percentage of dissatisfied users is
below a predetermined threshold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of one or
more embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates various equations used in one or more
embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system capable of
performing one or more embodiments; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer program
product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the
disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of
exemplification and not limitation with reference to the
Figures.
[0020] The term "about" is intended to include the degree of error
associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon
the equipment available at the time of filing the application.
[0021] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a",
"an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0022] As described above, indoor locations, such as office
buildings, warehouses, homes, apartments, classroom buildings,
retail locations, and the like, often have heating, ventilation,
and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to help maintain the indoor
location at a desired temperature. While there are manual controls
to turn HVAC systems on and off, most modern HVAC systems are
controlled by a thermostat. A thermostat has a temperature sensor
at one or more locations. Based on the temperature sensed at that
location, the thermostat can turn portions of an HVAC system on and
off.
[0023] In one or more embodiments, machine-learning methods and
systems can be used to monitor and learn thermal comfort levels of
occupants. Using voting techniques, one or more embodiments can
determine a comfort level of each occupant of a group of occupants.
Thereafter, a thermal profile can be updated based on the received
feedback.
[0024] A thermal profile is used to determine if a user would be
comfortable at a range of interior climate conditions. In some
embodiments, this can be measured using a Thermal Comfort
algorithm. The thermal profile includes temperature of the room. In
some embodiments, a thermal profile also can include aspects of the
room, such as relative humidity, air velocity, and radiation (mean
radiant temperature), as well as characteristics of the user, such
as metabolic rate of the user, and the clothing worn by the user.
While the aspects about the room can be measured using one or more
of a variety of different sensors, the characteristics of the user
can be estimated.
[0025] Estimating the characteristics of the user can utilize a
variety of information known about the user, the time of day, and
potential tasks of the user. Metabolic rates have been estimated
for a wide variety of different tasks. For example, the National
Institute of Health has published tables that provide a variety of
Metabolic Equivalent values for a variety of activities, where 1
Met is equal to 58.15 watts per square meter of body surface.
Because the average adult has 1.7 square meters of surface area, 1
Met is equivalent to a heat loss of approximately 100 watts. To
provide examples, sleeping generates 0.92 Met, preparing food
generates 2.16 Met, playing basketball generates 8.00 Met, and
doing homework generates 1.66 Met.
[0026] Based on the building layout, an estimated MET value for a
user can be estimated based on the activities predicted to be
taking place in a room in which the user is located. A conference
room would have a lower MET value than a basketball gym, but would
have a higher MET value than a bedroom.
[0027] Clothing worn can be estimated based on the season, the time
of day, outdoor weather conditions, as well as the intended use of
the interior space. For example, people wearing business attire
have a different amount of clothing insulation than people in a
workout facility. During cold weather, people near the entrance of
a hotel are wearing additional layers clothing they were wearing
outside, but people in hotel rooms often take off their coats.
Clothing can be classified by its insulation value. Insulation
value may be measured in Clo, where 1 Clo is equal to 0.155
m.sup.2.degree. C./W. There are readily available Clo values for
typical pieces of clothing. The Clo value for a person would then
be the Clo value for each piece of clothing they are wearing. A
person wearing shorts, a shirt, socks, and shoes, may have a Clo
value of 0.38, while a person wearing casual work clothes may have
a Clo value of 0.91.
[0028] As stated above, the remaining data points can be determined
via sensors. The data can then be used in an equation to determine
a user's thermal comfort. The details of exemplary equations will
be set forth below. The manner in which the equations are used will
be discussed in conjunction with method 100.
[0029] With respect to FIG. 1, a method 100 is presented that
illustrates the operation of one or more embodiments. Method 100 is
merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented
herein. Method 100 can be employed in many different embodiments or
examples not specifically depicted or described herein. In some
embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or activities of method
100 can be performed in the order presented. In other embodiments,
one or more of the procedures, processes, and/or activities of
method 100 can be combined, skipped, or performed in a different
order. In some embodiments, method 100 can be executed by a system
200. Method 100 details a training algorithm that can be used to
determine thermal comfort of a guest. Interior environmental
conditions are retrieved from a variety of sensors located in or
near a room to be conditioned (block 102). These conditions can
include temperature, humidity, air speed, mean radiant temperature
(e.g., of objects in the room to be conditioned) and the like.
[0030] Mean radiant temperature is the temperature of an imaginary
black enclosure which would result in the same heat loss by
radiation from the person as the actual enclosure. Calculating mean
radiant temperature would require the measuring the temperature of
all surfaces in the room, as well as the angle factor between each
surface and a person. Such a calculation would be very difficult
and time consuming to perform. Therefore, approximations of mean
radiant temperature can be used instead. For example, a Globe
Temperature can be determined, with the mean radiant temperature
determined from the globe temperature.
[0031] These can include integrated temperatures, such as operative
temperature (t.sub.0), equivalent temperature (t.sub.eq), and
effective temperature (ET*). In addition, a parameter called
Operative Temperature also can be calculated. Operative Temperature
at a given point is equal to the temperature an unheated mannequin
dummy adjusts itself to. An Operative Temperature transducer can be
used to determine Operative Temperature. Such a transducer is a
light gray ellipsoid, 160 mm long with a diameter of 54 mm. The
average surface temperature of that transducer is the operative
temperature.
[0032] Outdoor environmental conditions are retrieved (block 104).
Outdoor environmental conditions can be retrieved from sensors
associated with the building. In some embodiments, outdoor
environmental conditions can be retrieved from external sources,
such as via the Internet.
[0033] Data regarding the room to be conditioned are retrieved
(block 106). The data can include the dimensions of the room,
objects within the room, purpose of the room, and the like. Objects
within the room can include any objects that generate heat, such as
electronics, refrigerators, computers, lighting, and the like.
Purpose of the room includes information about which activities are
typically performed in the room. For example, a room may typically
be used for exercise. A room may typically be used for reading and
research. A room may typically be used for sleeping.
[0034] A field of temperature, humidity, air speed, mean radiant
temperature, and the like is created based on the data provided
above (block 108). A field may mean that for a plurality of points
in the room, the indoor environmental conditions are calculated.
This can be accomplished in one of a variety of different manners.
For example, the Kriging method can be used.
[0035] Kriging is a method of interpolation for which interpolated
values are modeled by a Gaussian process that is governed by prior
covariances. The basic idea of Kriging is to predict the value of a
function at a given point by computing a weighted average of the
known values of the function in the neighborhood of a point.
Kriging is used for deriving a field for each indoor environmental
variable for each room. By knowing the value of a quantity in some
points in space (for example the temperature measured close to the
entrance and opposite angles), we can determine the value of the
magnitude at other points for which there are no measures, for
example at the center of the room where there are not
thermometers.
[0036] Estimates are generated regarding clothing insulation of the
guest (block 110). Clothing of the guest can be estimated using a
variety of different factors. For example, the outdoor
environmental conditions are an indication of how much clothing a
typical person could be wearing. However, outdoor environmental
conditions may have a smaller effect depending on the location of
the room and the typical use of the room. For example, a hotel
lobby may have people still wearing outdoor clothing. However,
people may take off their coat or jacket while in a restaurant or
conference room in the same building. A clothing insulation value,
discussed above, can be estimated during this block.
[0037] The thermal comfort of the user is calculated (block 112).
The field of temperatures at a plurality of points (and other
conditions relevant to thermal comfort, such as humidity and air
velocity) generated in block 108 is used to calculate the thermal
comfort at the same plurality of points. The thermal comfort can be
estimated in one of a variety of different manners. For example,
Fanger's Equation can be used to estimate a Predicted Mean Vote of
the user. This can be calculated for each of the points for which
the field was generated in block 108.
[0038] Fanger's equation provides for a calculation of a Predicted
Mean Vote (PMV) based on a variety of different factors. The PMV
can be a scale ranging from -3 (representing a value that is too
cold), to positive 3 (representing a value that is too hot). A
value of 0 would represent a thermally neutral sensation. In some
embodiments, the scale may be a continuous scale, as opposed to
being limited to only the integers between -3 and 3. Fanger's
equation is presented in FIG. 2.
[0039] In equation 1, M represents the metabolic rate, measured in
watts per square meter. W represents the effective mechanical
power, in watts per square meter and can usually be set to zero.
From a physical perspective, W measures the mechanical work done by
an occupant. H represents dry heat losses. E.sub.c represents the
heat exchange by evaporation on the skin. C.sub.res represents the
heat exchange by convection in breathing. E.sub.res represents the
evaporative heat exchange in breathing.
[0040] Equations 2 through 5 illustrate how some of the variable in
equation 1 are determined. In equation 2, H, the dry heat loss, is
calculated using information regarding the clothing, such as
clothing insulation, clothing surface area factor, and the air
temperature. In equation 3, E.sub.c is calculated using the
metabolic rate and water vapor partial pressure (which is a
component of relative humidity). In equation 4, the heat exchange
is calculated using the metabolic rate and the temperature. In
equation 5, the evaporative heat exchange is calculated using the
metabolic rate and water vapor partial pressure (which is a
component of relative humidity).
[0041] Thereafter, the HVAC systems can be set based on the thermal
comfort data (block 114). For example, if the thermal comfort of
the user indicates that the user is cold, a heater can be turned
on. Similarly, if the thermal comfort equation indicates that the
user is hot, air conditioning systems can be turned on.
[0042] Periodically, the user's opinions regarding the current
thermal level can be gathered (block 116). The user's opinions can
be gathered in a variety of different methods. For example, a
software application (also known as an "app") can be utilized by
the user to provide their feedback as to their current comfort
level.
[0043] If there deviations between the calculated thermal comfort
(calculated in block 112) and the perceived thermal comfort
(gathered in block 116), the HVAC can be re-adjusted (block 118).
For a particular user, a thermal profile of the user can be saved
(block 120). The profile of the user can include the user's
characteristics regarding thermal comfort calculations. For
example, the profile can indicate that the user typically feels
colder (or warmer) than the calculated equations would show.
[0044] The profile can be retrieved whenever the user is in the
room to be conditioned. In some embodiments, the room to be
conditioned or the building in which the room is located, can
retrieve the thermal profile and automatically use the thermal
profile to make adjustments to the calculated thermal comfort. For
example, when a user who is unusually sensitive to cold enters the
building, the building can sense the user and automatically take
that user into account when calculating thermal comfort. The
building can be a "smart" building with multiple sensors that
determines the presence and/or location of the user to make use of
the user's thermal profile.
[0045] The above described method deals with a single user's
thermal comfort. To determine how to condition for a group (for
example, a room that contains multiple people), the PMV could be
calculated for each person in the group. Thereafter, an average PMV
can be used instead of the calculated thermal comfort (calculated
in block 112).
[0046] In addition, a calculated PMV can be used to determine a
predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) for group settings. The
PPD is shown as equation 6 in FIG. 2. In general, PPD shows how
many people are dissatisfied with a certain PMV value. For example,
it has been found that a PMV of plus or minus 1.5 results in 50
percent of people being dissatisfied. When calculating an average
PMV, the PPD could be used as a constraint, to ensure that the
percentage of people who are dissatisfied for a given set of
conditions is as small as possible.
[0047] FIG. 3 depicts a high-level block diagram of a computer
system 300, which can be used to implement one or more embodiments.
More specifically, computer system 300 can be used to implement
hardware components of systems capable of performing methods
described herein. Although one exemplary computer system 300 is
shown, computer system 300 includes a communication path 326, which
connects computer system 300 to additional systems (not depicted)
and can include one or more wide area networks (WANs) and/or local
area networks (LANs) such as the Internet, intranet(s), and/or
wireless communication network(s). Computer system 300 and
additional system are in communication via communication path 326,
e.g., to communicate data between them.
[0048] Computer system 300 includes one or more processors, such as
processor 302. Processor 302 is connected to a communication
infrastructure 304 (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or
network). Computer system 300 can include a display interface 306
that forwards graphics, textual content, and other data from
communication infrastructure 304 (or from a frame buffer not shown)
for display on a display unit 308. Computer system 300 also
includes a main memory 310, preferably random access memory (RAM),
and can also include a secondary memory 312. Secondary memory 312
can include, for example, a hard disk drive 314 and/or a removable
storage drive 316, representing, for example, a floppy disk drive,
a magnetic tape drive, or an optical disc drive. Hard disk drive
314 can be in the form of a solid state drive (SSD), a traditional
magnetic disk drive, or a hybrid of the two. There also can be more
than one hard disk drive 314 contained within secondary memory 312.
Removable storage drive 316 reads from and/or writes to a removable
storage unit 318 in a manner well known to those having ordinary
skill in the art. Removable storage unit 318 represents, for
example, a floppy disk, a compact disc, a magnetic tape, or an
optical disc, etc. which is read by and written to by removable
storage drive 316. As will be appreciated, removable storage unit
318 includes a computer-readable medium having stored therein
computer software and/or data.
[0049] In alternative embodiments, secondary memory 312 can include
other similar means for allowing computer programs or other
instructions to be loaded into the computer system. Such means can
include, for example, a removable storage unit 320 and an interface
322. Examples of such means can include a program package and
package interface (such as that found in video game devices), a
removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, secure digital card (SD
card), compact flash card (CF card), universal serial bus (USB)
memory, or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage
units 320 and interfaces 322 which allow software and data to be
transferred from the removable storage unit 320 to computer system
300.
[0050] Computer system 300 can also include a communications
interface 324. Communications interface 324 allows software and
data to be transferred between the computer system and external
devices. Examples of communications interface 324 can include a
modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a
communications port, or a PC card slot and card, a universal serial
bus port (USB), and the like. Software and data transferred via
communications interface 324 are in the form of signals that can
be, for example, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other
signals capable of being received by communications interface 324.
These signals are provided to communications interface 324 via
communication path (i.e., channel) 326. Communication path 326
carries signals and can be implemented using wire or cable, fiber
optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link, and/or
other communications channels.
[0051] In the present description, the terms "computer program
medium," "computer usable medium," and "computer-readable medium"
are used to refer to media such as main memory 310 and secondary
memory 312, removable storage drive 316, and a hard disk installed
in hard disk drive 314. Computer programs (also called computer
control logic) are stored in main memory 310 and/or secondary
memory 312. Computer programs also can be received via
communications interface 324. Such computer programs, when run,
enable the computer system to perform the features discussed
herein. In particular, the computer programs, when run, enable
processor 302 to perform the features of the computer system.
Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the
computer system. Thus it can be seen from the forgoing detailed
description that one or more embodiments provide technical benefits
and advantages.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 4, a computer program product 400 in
accordance with an embodiment that includes a computer-readable
storage medium 402 and program instructions 404 is generally
shown.
[0053] Embodiments can be a system, a method, and/or a computer
program product. The computer program product can include a
computer-readable storage medium (or media) having
computer-readable program instructions thereon for causing a
processor to carry out aspects of embodiments of the present
invention.
[0054] The computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium
can be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer-readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer-readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0055] Computer-readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer-readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network can comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers, and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer-readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer-readable program instructions for storage
in a computer-readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0056] Computer-readable program instructions for carrying out
embodiments can include assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object
code written in any combination of one or more programming
languages, including an object-oriented programming language such
as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The computer-readable program
instructions can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on
the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection can be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry
including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays
(PLA) can execute the computer-readable program instructions by
utilizing state information of the computer-readable program
instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to
perform embodiments of the present invention.
[0057] Embodiments may be implemented using one or more
technologies. In some embodiments, an apparatus or system may
include one or more processors and memory storing instructions
that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the
apparatus or system to perform one or more methodological acts as
described herein. Various mechanical components known to those of
skill in the art may be used in some embodiments.
[0058] Embodiments may be implemented as one or more apparatuses,
systems, and/or methods. In some embodiments, instructions may be
stored on one or more computer program products or
computer-readable media, such as a transitory and/or non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The instructions, when executed, may
cause an entity (e.g., a processor, apparatus or system) to perform
one or more methodological acts as described herein.
[0059] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure
without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it
is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present
disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of
the claims.
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