Disclosed are methods for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human body. The invention utilizes an implantable signal generator to deliver stimulation to neural tissue elements. Alternatively, an implantable pump may be utilized to delivery one or more drugs. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to the neural tissue to thereby alter the level of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF expressed by the influenced neural tissue. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of a nervous system disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate the treatment therapy delivered to the body. The invention describes a novel method to regulate the intrinsic levels of neurotrophins and may be used to treat patients with neurological and cognitive disorders.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/671,723 filed Apr. 15, 2005 (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00245), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to techniques for regulating the level of one or more neurotrophic factors within a human body by way of electrical stimulation and/or drug infusion.
It has generally been believed that loss of neurons in the adult human brain—as it occurs in aging humans and in neurological disorders—is an irreversible process. Many major diseases of the human brain involve deficiencies of select neuronal populations. The inability by the adult human brain to generate replacement cells is thought to be a leading cause for the irreversible and progressive nature of several neurological diseases and is responsible for persistent and ongoing impairment. In most regions of the human brain, the generation of neurons is generally confined to a discrete developmental period. After this developmental period, it believed that further generation of brain cells occurs only to a limited extent and is restricted to specific areas in the living human brain.
Neurotrophins play an important role in the development, regeneration, synaptogenesis and connectivity of neurons in mammals. Neurons such as basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, motor neurons and sensory neurons of the central nervous system—remain responsive to neurotrophic factors even in adult humans. The presence of neurotrophic factors may even facilitate the regeneration of neurons and the repair of neural circuits after loss or damage. Work with cell cultures and animal models has shown that neurotrophins prevent neuronal death, induce neural sprouting and enhance neural recovery and repair. In addition to neurogenesis, neurotrophins are known to have a variety of beneficial effects on neurons including, neuroprotection, rescue from toxicity or injury, and induction of synaptogenesis.
Moreover, while no evidence yet exists that a lack of neurotrophins underlies the etiology of any neurodegenerative disease, these studies have spurred on hopes that neurotrophins might be useful symptomatic-therapeutic agents. It is believed that neurotrophins may be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral sensory neuropathies and spinal cord injuries. In addition, neurotrophins may act on neurons affected by other neurological and psychiatric pathologies including ischemia, epilepsy, depression and eating disorders. For example, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is known to modulate synaptic function as well as to promote neuronal growth in the adult brain. The reduction in BDNF expression for example has been implicated to be important in stress and in depression.
In the prior art, attempts have been made to treat neurodegenerative conditions by infusing neurotrophins into to the patient. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,431 discloses methods for intraparenchymal delivery of neurotrophins to defective, diseased or damaged cells in the mammalian brain using a lentiviral expression vector. However, the prior fails to disclose any techniques for regulating the human body's own expression of neurotrophic factors.
An embodiment of the invention uses electrical stimulation of nerve elements of a human body to regulate the expression of neurotrophic factors. The treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator and at least one implantable electrode having a proximal end coupled to the signal generator and having a stimulation portion for electrically affecting nerve elements of the human body. In one embodiment, the method regulates the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the brain to treat various neurodegenerative, neurological, psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Alternatively, the treatment may be carried out by an implantable pump and at least one catheter having a proximal end coupled to the pump and having a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of the one or more drugs into a predetermined infusion site at or near nerve elements. By using the foregoing techniques, the nerve elements may be stimulated to increase or decrease its production of neurotrophic factors. In other embodiments of the invention, drug infusion may be used as treatment therapy instead of or in addition to the electrical stimulation.
In another embodiment of the invention, a sensor is used in combination with the signal generator and stimulating electrodes to regulate expression of neurotrphic factors. Control means responsive to the sensor may thereby regulate the signal generator and/or pump so that the neurological disorder is treated.
By using the foregoing techniques, neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders can be controlled or treated through the regulation of the expression of neurotrophic factors.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electrode implanted in a brain according to a preferred embodiment and a signal generator coupled to the electrode.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a catheter implanted in a brain according to a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a microprocessor and related circuitry of an implantable medical device for use with the invention.
FIG. 4(a) is a diagram depicting the anterior thalamic nuclei complex and FIG. 4(b) is a diagram depicting the dentate gyrus.
The invention discloses techniques for delivering treatment therapy to nerve elements of a human body to regulate the body's expression of neurotrophic factors. In an embodiment, the regulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the brain may be performed to treat various neurodegenerative, neurological, psychiatric and cognitive disorders and/or to treat locations of the body exhibiting neuronal loss or damage. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present application covers regulation of any number of neurotrophic factors and their receptors including, but not limited to, Artemin, CNTF, Erbs, EGF, FGFs, GDNF, GFRas, gp130, IGFs, Neuregulins, Neurturin, b-NGF, NT-3, NT-4, Neuropilins, PDGFs, Persephin, Ret, Trks, and VEGFs.
Moreover, depending on where it is desired to regulate neurotrophin expression, any nerve area of the human body may be influenced including the brain (cortical areas and sub-cortical areas such as deep brain elements), the spinal cord or peripheral nerves. Accordingly, the invention incorporates electrical stimulation and/or drug infusion techniques to directly or indirectly influence tissue elements within the brain. One or more electrodes and/or catheters are implanted in the brain so that the stimulation or infusion portions lie within or in communication with predetermined portions of the brain. The electrical stimulation or drug therapy influences the predetermined brain elements to achieve the desired result in the expression of neurotrophic factors.
These techniques of the present invention are suitable for use within any implantable medical device. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented within an implantable neurostimulator system, however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented generally within any implantable medical device system including, but not limited to, implantable drug delivery systems, implantable systems providing stimulation and drug delivery.
The present invention may be utilized to treat, for example, any number of conditions that result from neuronal loss or damage including, but not limited to, depression, epilepsy, post cranial irradiation, steroid induced impairment, stress disorders, cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Such other neurodegenerative diseases include, for example, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntingtons, Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA's). Moreover, in certain applications, the present application may be desirable to reduce the level of neurotrophins in a body. For example, circumstances where it may desirable to reduce levels of neurotrophins include in cases of painful neuropathies to reduce neural sprouting and in cases of epilepsy to reduce maladaptive sprouting and synaptogenesis.
As discussed, the targeted treatment site includes any nerve location within the body, and in one embodiment includes the brain (the cortex and/or the sub-cortex). For cortex stimulation, a multi contact cortical brain surface electrode (e.g., Medtronic Resume) may be utilized. For sub-cortex stimulation, a deep brain electrode may be utilized. The sub-cortex can include deep brain elements such as, for example, the anterior thalamic nuclei complex (FIG. 4(a)), the the periventricular zone, the Papez circuit, and the cerebellum. The Papez circuit is generally a neuronal circuit in the limbic system, consisting of the hippocampus, formix, mammillary body, anterior thalamic nuclei, and cingulate gyrus. Stimulation or drug therapy along the Papez circuit may lead to expression of neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus. When the periventricular zone is influenced in accordance with the present invention, new neurons may migrate to the striatum, cortex, or the substantia nigra, and brainstem and therefore lead to expression of neurotrophic factors in such areas. The cerebellum is another brain location where increased expression of neurotrophic factors may be therapeutically desirable. In general, the foregoing techniques may be used to regulate expression of neurotrophic factors by application of electrical stimulation or drug therapy in either the cerebellum or cerebellar afferent or efferents.
Thus, the site of stimulation or drug infusion may be chosen based on the neural structures that are affected by neuronal loss and which ones would benefit from the regulation of neurotrophincs. For example, targeting the hippocampal neuronal loss may utilized to treat depression, epilepsy, post cranial irradiation, steroid induced impairment in neurogenesis, stress disorders, cognitive disorders and Alzheimer's disease. Targeting the cortical, striatal, substantia nigra, brainstem and cerebellar loss may be utilized to treat Huntington's Disease, Alzheimers, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, post-irradiation disorders, paraneoplastic disorders and the Spinocerebellar ataxias. The techniques of the present invention may also be applicable to treat neuronal loss that occurs as a consequence of congenital disorders, stroke, anoxia, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, metabolic disorders, head injury, drug and alcohol toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, auto-immune disorders, immune disorders, infectious and inflammatory processes.
Referring to FIG. 1, an implantable neurostimulator device 16 made in accordance with the preferred embodiment may be implanted below the skin of a patient. A lead 522A is positioned to stimulate a specific site 525 in a brain (B). Device 16 may take the form of a modified signal generator Model 7424 manufactured by Medtronic, Inc. under the trademark Itrel II which is incorporated by reference. Lead 522A may take the form of any of the leads sold with the Model 7424 such as Model 3387, for stimulating the brain, and is coupled to device 16 by a conventional conductor 522. One or more external programmers (not shown) may be utilized to program and/or communicate bi-directionally with the implanted device 16.
As shown, the distal end of lead 522A terminates in four stimulation electrodes implanted into a portion of the brain by conventional stereotactic surgical techniques. Each of the four electrodes is individually connected to device 16 through lead 522A and conductor 522. Lead 522A is surgically implanted through a hole in the skull 123 and conductor 522 is implanted between the skull and the scalp 125 as shown in FIG. 1. Conductor 522 is joined to implanted device 16 in the manner shown. Referring to FIG. 2A, device 16 is implanted in a human body 120 in the location shown. Body 120 includes arms 122 and 123. Alternatively, device 16 may be implanted in the abdomen. Conductor 522 may be divided into twin leads 522A and 522B that are implanted into the brain bilaterally as shown. Alternatively, lead 522B may be supplied with stimulating pulses from a separate conductor and signal generator. Leads 522A and 522B could be 1) two electrodes in two separate nuclei that potentiate each others effects or 2) nuclei with opposite effects with the stimulation being used to fine tune the response through opposing forces. It will be appreciated, however, that any number of electrodes may be implanted within the brain in accordance with the invention. Additionally, one or more secondary electrodes may be implanted so that a secondary stimulation portion lies in communication with another predetermined portion of a brain. Moreover, as will be discussed below, one or more catheters, coupled to a pump, may be implanted so that a secondary stimulation portion lies in communication with the tissue elements of the brain.
The device 16 may be operated to deliver stimulation to deep brain tissue elements to thereby regulate expression of neurotrophic factors within the human brain. The particular stimulation delivered may be performed by selecting amplitude, width and frequency of stimulation by the electrode. The possible stimulations include between 2 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for frequency, between 0.1 Volts and 10.0 Volts for pulse amplitude, and between 30 μSeconds and 450 μSeconds for pulse width. The system may be utilized in monopolar, bipolar, or multipolar configurations, in an either continuous or cyclical mode, and in either an open loop or closed loop mode. In one embodiment, the applicant of the present application has shown through experimentation that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in a rodent model increased the expression of BDNF. The applicant used a Western Blot where the levels of BDNF protein were measured (using a BDNF specific antibody) in the hippocampus of a rat receiving DBS in the anterior thalamus. Stimulation at high frequency using the above parameters caused a large increase in the levels of BDNF protein. This increase was specific to BDNF because the level of other proteins, such as the intracellular general metabolic protein glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, was unaffected by DBS.
Referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the system or device of the present invention may utilize drug delivery as the form of treatment therapy. A pump 10 may be implanted below the skin of a patient. The pump 10 has a port 14 into which a hypodermic needle can be inserted through the skin to inject a quantity of a liquid agent, such as a medication or drug. The liquid agent is delivered from pump 10 through a catheter port 20 into a catheter 422. Catheter 422 is positioned to deliver the agent to specific infusion sites in a brain (B). Pump 10 may take the form of any number of known implantable pumps including for example that which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,147.
Like electrical stimulation, drug delivery may be use to influence nerve tissue to increase or decrease its production of neurotrophins. Any number of drugs may be administered including, but not limited to, an anesthetic, a GABA agonist, a GABA antagonist, a glutamate antagonist, a glutamate agonist, a degrading enzyme, a reuptake blocker, and a dopamine antagonist. An activating chemical may be used and includes any chemical that causes an increase in the discharge rate of neurotrophins from a region. An example (for projection neurons which receive glutamatergic excitation and GABA inhibition) would be an agonist of the transmitter substance glutamate (facilitating the excitation) or a GABA antagonist (blocking the inhibition). Conversely, a blocking chemical may be used and includes any chemical that inhibits the projection neurons thereby causing a decrease in the discharge rate of neurotrophins from a region. An example would be a glutamate antagonist (blocks excitatory input to the projection nerve cells) or a GABA agonist (enhances inhibition of the projection neurons) or a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine and related compounds or an infusion of ions (for example Potassium, Calcium, Sodium, Chloride) or agents to alter ionic concentration or pH level. An example of an activating chemical is a GABA antagonist such as bicuculline and an example of a blocking agent would be a GABA agonist such as baclofen.
The distal end of catheter 422 terminates in a cylindrical hollow tube 422A having a distal end 425 implanted, by conventional stereotactic surgical techniques, into a portion of the brain to affect tissue within the human brain. Tube 422A is surgically implanted through a hole in the skull and catheter 422 is implanted between the skull and the scalp as shown in FIG. 2. Catheter 422 is joined to pump 10 in the manner shown. Pump 10 is implanted in a human body in a subcutaneous pocket located in the chest below the clavicle. Alternatively, pump 10 may be implanted in the abdomen.
Catheter 422 may be divided into twin tubes 422A and 422B (not shown) that are implanted into the brain bilaterally. Alternatively, tube 422B (not shown) implanted on the other side of the brain may be supplied with drugs from a separate catheter and pump.
The pump 10 may be programmed to deliver drug according to a particular dosage and/or time interval. For example, the pump may delivery drug therapy over a first period when the dose is higher to increase expression of neurotrophic factors followed by a longer period of ongoing delivery to maintain neurotrophin factor levels and secondary trophic effects like axonal sprouting and synaptogenesis.
Alternatively, a combination of treatment therapies may be delivered to provide influencing of various neuronal types. For example, it may be desirable to concurrently influence, via drug and/or electrical stimulation, the neurons in the hippocampus and other nerve elements in the human body to achieve an improved result. Such a device to utilize both forms of treatment therapy may be that which is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,798. In addition to affecting the deep brain, it may be desirable to affect concurrently other portions of the human body.
Referring to FIG. 3, the overall components of the implanted device 16 are shown (similar components may also be found for pump 10). The stimulus pulse frequency is controlled by programming a value to a programmable frequency generator 208 using bus 202. The programmable frequency generator provides an interrupt signal to microprocessor 200 through an interrupt line 210 when each stimulus pulse is to be generated. The frequency generator may be implemented by model CDP1878 sold by Harris Corporation. The amplitude for each stimulus pulse is programmed to a digital to analog converter 218 using bus 202. The analog output is conveyed through a conductor 220 to an output driver circuit 224 to control stimulus amplitude.
Microprocessor 200 also programs a pulse width control module 214 using bus 202. The pulse width control provides an enabling pulse of duration equal to the pulse width via a conductor 216. Pulses with the selected characteristics are then delivered from device 16 through cable 522 and lead 522A to the desired regions of the brain.
At the time the stimulation device 16 is implanted, the clinician programs certain key parameters into the memory of the implanted device via telemetry. These parameters may be updated subsequently as needed.
The embodiments of the present invention shown above are open-loop systems. The microcomputer algorithm programmed by the clinician sets the stimulation parameters of signal generator 16. This algorithm may change the parameter values over time but does so independent of any changes in symptoms the patient may be experiencing. Alternatively, a closed-loop system discussed below which incorporate a sensor 130 to provide feedback could be used to provide enhanced results. Sensor 130 can be used with a closed loop feedback system in order to automatically determine the level of electrical stimulation and/or drug delivery necessary to achieve the desired regulation of neurotrophic factors. In a closed-loop embodiment, microprocessor 200 executes a control algorithm in order to provide stimulation with closed loop feedback control. Such an algorithm may analyze a sensed signal and deliver the electrical of chemical treatment therapy based on the sensed signal falling within or outside predetermined values or windows, for example, for BDNF and other neurotrophins (e.g., NGF, CNTF, FGF EGF, NT-3) and corticosteroids.
The control algorithm may be operable on-line or in real time by detecting an electophysiological or chemical signal or off line by measuring a predetermined clinical benefit. Alternatively, the therapy could be guided by the goal of maintaining the population of neurotrophic factors at to a certain level. This could be assessed using the techniques described below.
For example, the sensor 130 may generate a sensor signal related to the level of a particular neurotrophic factor (using known techniques such as microdialysis or brain probe). As another example, the sensor 130 may generate a sensor signal related to the extent of neuronal loss. In an embodiment, the extent of electrical activity or the levels of a neurochemical may be measured that are indicative of neuronal loss. For example magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be used to sense the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) ratio (NAA/Cr) as an indicator of neuronal loss. Alternatively, the neuronal loss may be estimated by measuring the volume of the neural structure of interest, which may be achieved by Magnetic Resonance Imaging vollumetry. Any other techniques may also be used to sense the extent of neuronal loss including, for example, MR volumetry, DWI, magnetization transfer MR imaging, and 1H MRS and PET).
As another example, the sensing may provide an indication of a cognitive or neurological disorder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,203 provides examples of various types of sensors that may be used to detect a symptom or a condition of a cognitive disorder and responsively generate a neurological signal. In an embodiment, a neurochemical characteristic of the cognitive function may be sensed, additionally or alternatively. For example, sensing of local levels of neurotransmitters (glutamate, GABA, Aspartate), local pH or ion concentration, lactate levels, local cerebral blood flow, glucose utilization or oxygen extraction may also be used as the input component of a closed loop system. These measurements could be taken at rest or in response to a specific memory or cognitive task or in response to a specific sensory or motor stimulus. In another embodiment, an electro-physiological characteristic of the cognitive function may be sensed, for example, the frequency and pattern of discharge of individual neurons or the amplitude of a local electric field potential. The information contained within the neuronal firing spike train, including spike amplitude, frequency of action potentials, signal to noise ratio, the spatial and temporal features and the pattern of neuronal firing, oscillation behavior and inter-neuronal correlated activity could be used to deliver therapies on a contingency basis in a closed loop system. Moreover, treatment therapy delivered may be immediate or delayed, diurnal, constant or intermittent depending on contingencies as defined by the closed loop system.
In one embodiment, the system may provide continuous closed-loop feedback control. In another embodiment, the system may be switchable between open-loop and closed-loop by operator control.
Referring back to FIG. 3, the system may optionally utilize closed-loop feedback control having an analog to digital converter 206 coupled to sensor 130. Output of the A-to-D converter 206 is connected to microprocessor 200 through peripheral bus 202 including address, data and control lines. Microprocessor 200 processes sensor data in different ways depending on the type of transducer in use and regulates delivery, via a control algorithm, of electrical stimulation and/or drug delivery based on the sensed signal. For example, when the signal on sensor 130 exceeds a level programmed by the clinician and stored in a memory 204, increasing amounts of treatment therapy may be applied through an output driver 224. In the case of electrical stimulation, a parameter of the stimulation may be adjusted such as amplitude, pulse width and/or frequency.
Thus, embodiments of REGULATION OF NEUROTROPHINS are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
1. A method for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human body by means of an implantable signal generator and a lead having a proximal end coupled to the signal generator and a distal portion having at least one electrode, the method comprising:
(B) implanting at least one electrode so that a stimulation portion lies at least in communication with the targeted neural tissue of the body;
(E) operating the signal generator to deliver stimulation to the targeted neural tissue to thereby alter the level of the neurotrophin within the body.
2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (B) comprises implanting the at least one electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at least in communication with a brain element.
3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (B) comprises implanting the at least one electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at least in communication with a spinal cord.
4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (B) comprises implanting the at least one electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at least in communication with a peripheral nerve.
5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises selecting amplitude, width and frequency of stimulation by the electrode.
6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator to pulse at a frequency between 2 Hertz and 1000 Hertz.
7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator to pulse at a pulse amplitude between 0.1 Volts to 10.0 Volts.
8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator to pulse at a pulse width between 30 microseconds and 450 microseconds.
9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator in a monopolar configuration.
10. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator in a bipolar configuration.
11. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator in a multipolar configuration.
12. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator in a continuous mode.
13. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein (E) comprises operating the signal generator in a cyclical mode.
14. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (F) selecting between and open loop and a closed loop mode of operation.
16. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein (F) comprises detecting the level of neurotrophic factor within the body.
17. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein (F) comprises detecting the extent of neuronal loss or damage.
18. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein (F) comprises detecting the extent of a neurological disorder.
20. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein (G) comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the stimulation, the parameter being selected from the group consisting of amplitude, pulse width and frequency.
(F) implanting at least one secondary electrode so that a secondary stimulation portion lies in communication with a second portion of the body;
(F) implanting at least one catheter so that a secondary discharge portion lies in communication with second neural tissue elements;
(H) operating the pump to deliver drug to the body to thereby alter the level of a neurotrophin generated by the second neural tissue elements.
23. A therapeutic treatment method for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human by means of an implantable pump and at least one catheter having a proximal end coupled to the pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of at least one drug, the method comprising:
(B) implanting the catheter so that the discharge portion lies in communication with the targeted neural tissue of the body;
(E) operating the pump to deliver the at least one drug to the neural tissue elements to thereby alter the level of the neurotrophin generated by the neural tissue.
24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein (B) comprises implanting the catheter so as to infuse drug in at least a brain element.
25. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein (B) comprises implanting the catheter so as to infuse drug in at least a spinal cord.
26. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein (B) comprises implanting the catheter so as to infuse drug in at least a peripheral nerve.
27. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein (E) comprises selecting a time interval for drug delivery.
30. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein (F) comprises detecting the level of neurotrophic factor within the body.
31. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein (F) comprises detecting the extent of neuronal loss or damage.
32. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein (F) comprises detecting the extent of a neurological disorder.
(F) implanting at least one electrode so that a stimulation portion lies in communication with a second neural tissue element;
(F) implanting at least one secondary catheter so that a second discharge portion lies in communication with a second portion of the neural tissue;
36. A method of using one or more drugs to therapeutically regulate the level of a neurotrophic factor within a human by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said one or more drugs, as well as a signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the method:
(B) surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies in communication with neural tissue elements within the human;
(C) surgically implanting said catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site;
(E) operating the signal generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the neural tissue elements to thereby alter the level of the neurotrophin within the body; and
(F) operating the pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of at least one drug through the discharge portion of the catheter into the predetermined infusion site to thereby further alter the level of the neurotrophin within the body.
A method and apparatus for communicating with a device is provided. A user views a graphical user interface displayed on a client. For example, the graphical user interface may correspond to a web page or a graphical user interface of an operating system. The graphical user interface may display an icon. The display of the icon may indicate, to the user, whether a device, associated with the icon, is in an energy-saving mode. The user may configure the icon to cause the client to issue requests to the device. A request, sent from the client to the device, may instruct the device to exit the energy-saving mode. In this way, the user may instruct a device to exit the energy-saving mode (i.e., to “wake-up”) prior to issuing a request for the performance of a service (such as a request to print an electronic document) to the device.
The present invention generally relates to remotely identifying and/or changing the state of a device, e.g., the state of a device may correspond to an energy-saving mode of the device.
Certain electronic devices may operate in an energy-saving mode. When a device is in an energy-saving mode, the device consumes less power than it normally does by running one or more components of the device at less than full power. For example, certain printers may enter an energy-saving mode if the printer is not used within a specified amount of time. When the printer is in the energy-saving mode, the printer may not be able to provide certain functions that the printer may normally provide when the printer is operating normally.
In order to cause a device to exit an energy-saving mode (or “wake-up” the device), a user may physically manipulate an interface provided by the device to instruct the device to wake-up. For example, to wake-up a printer that is in an energy-saving mode, a user may physically walk up to the printer, and press a button on the printer to cause the printer to wake-up. Another way to cause a printer to exit the energy-saving mode is for a user to send a print request, electronically over a communications link, to the printer.
Unfortunately, devices may require a certain amount of time and/or resources to wake-up. For example, to wake-up a printer, the printer may need a certain amount of time to perform tasks necessary to prepare the printer for printing, such as warming the oil of the printer and readjusting the color ink of the printer. Thus, after the user causes the printer to exit the energy-saving mode, the user will need to wait a certain amount of time for the printer to exit the energy-saving mode before the printer is able to print the requested document.
Techniques are provided for remotely identifying or changing the state of a device. These techniques may be used to remotely instruct a device to exit an energy-saving mode. These techniques may also be used to inquire about the current status of the device, e.g., a user may be able to ascertain whether the device is currently operating in an energy-saving mode.
In an embodiment, a user may view a graphical user interface displayed on a client. For example, the graphical user interface may correspond to a web page or a graphical user interface of an operating system. The graphical user interface may display an icon. The display of the icon may indicate, to the user, whether a device, associated with the icon, is in an energy-saving mode. The user may configure the icon to cause the client to issue requests to the device. A request, sent from the client to the device, may instruct the device to exit the energy-saving mode. In this way, the user may instruct a device to exit the energy-saving mode (i.e., to “wake-up”) prior to issuing a request for the performance of a service (such as a request to print an electronic document) to the device.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an illustration of an icon representing different states of a device according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a graphical user interface displaying a menu according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a process diagram of a user instructing a device to exit an energy-saving mode according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a process diagram of a device exiting an energy-saving mode according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is an illustration of communications exchanged between a client module and a communications module according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a process diagram of a client module communicating with a communications module according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a process diagram of a system involving two or more logical device groups according to an embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 10 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention described herein. It will be apparent, however, that the embodiments of the invention described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention described herein.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, system 100 comprises client 110, device 120, and communications link 130. A user may use client 110 to determine whether or not device 120 is currently in an energy-saving mode. A user may also use client 110 to instruct device 120 to either enter an energy-saving mode or exit an energy-saving mode.
Client 110 may be implemented by any medium or mechanism that provides for communicating with device 120. For example, client 110 may be a desktop computer, an embedded computer, a wireless device, a personal digital assistance (PDA), or a cell phone. Client 110 may provide an interface, which may be a graphical user interface, to a user of client 110. Non-limiting, illustrative examples of this interface include a web page, a graphical user interface provided by an operating system, a command line interface, and an application program interface (API). The user of client 110 may use this interface to interact with client 110. The interface provided by client 110 is described in further detail below.
In an embodiment, client 110 may contain client module 112. Client module 112 corresponds to software instructions, which when executed by client 110, perform certain functions, such as updating an interface provided by client 110 and/or communicating with device 120. For purposes of providing a clear illustration, only a single client is shown in FIG. 1; however, other embodiments of the invention may include any number of clients.
Device 120 represents any electronic device that is capable of operating in at least two modes, namely an energy-saving mode and a ready mode. Device 120 is intended to represent a wide variety of devices. However, for purposes of providing a clear description, examples in the specification will be described in terms of device 120 being a multi-function peripheral; however, device 120 may also be, in other embodiments, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a scanner, a vending machine, a kitchen appliance, a personal computer, an embedded computer, and any other electronic device capable of operating in at least two modes that includes an energy-saving mode.
When device 120 is operating in an energy-saving mode, device 120 consumes less power by powering down one or more components of device 120 or running one or more components of device 120 at reduced power. On the other hand, when device 120 is in the ready mode, all components of device 120 are operating at full power.
In an embodiment, device 120 comprises communications module 122, controller 124, printer engine 126, and other modules 128. Communications module 122 may be implemented by any medium or mechanism that provides for exchanging communications with client module 112. For example, communications module 122 may be a set of software instructions, executed by device 120, which are responsible for exchanging communications with client module 112. Communications module 122 may also communicate with other components of device 120.
Controller 124 may be implemented by any medium or mechanism that provides for communicating with communications module 122 and processing electronic documents. For example, controller 124 may receive an electronic document that a user wishes device 120 to print, and may thereafter convert the received electronic document from being described using a page description language (PDL) into being describing using a native format that printer engine 126 can process. Controller 124 may then provide the electronic document, described using the native format that printer engine 126 can process, to printer engine 126.
Printer engine 126 refers to the component of a printing device that is responsible for performing printing functions. Thus, printer engine 126 can process an electronic document to cause one or more printed copies of the electronic documents to be produced by device 120.
Other modules 128 collectively refer to any other modules of device 120 which individually are responsible for the performance of other functionality provided by device 120. For example, device 120 may be a multi-function peripheral that provides, in additional to printing functionality, scanning, facsimile, and copying functionality. In such an exemplary device 120, one module, of modules 128 would be responsible for performing scanning functionality, another module, of modules 128, would be responsible for performing facsimile functionality, and another module, of modules 128, would be responsible for performing copying functionality.
Communications link 130 may be implemented by any medium or mechanism that provides for the exchange of data between client 110 and device 120. Examples of communications link 130 include, without limitation, a network such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Ethernet or the Internet, or one or more terrestrial, satellite or wireless links.
Having described system 100 at a high level, additional description will now be presented regarding an interface that is provided by client 110 in an embodiment of the invention.
Client 110 may provide an interface to the user to enable the user to interact with client 110. In an embodiment, the interface provided by client 110 may be a graphical user interface. To illustrate, FIG. 2 is an illustration of a graphical user interface 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. Graphical user interface 200 includes a screen portion 202, a toolbar 204, and an icon 210. Note that the visual depiction of graphical user interface 200 is merely exemplary, as other graphical user interfaces may lack a toolbar 204, display icon 210 in a different location, or otherwise differ from the illustration of FIG. 2.
Graphical user interface 200 may be implemented by a variety of mechanisms. For example, graphical user interface 200 may correspond to a web page displayed on client 110 or a graphical user interface provided by an operating system executing on client 110.
In an embodiment, the current state of device 120 is represented by the visual appearance of icon 210. In this way, a viewer of icon 210 may be able to visually ascertain information about the current state of device 120.
For example, FIG. 3 is an illustration of icon 210 representing different states of device 120 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 depicts icon 210 having different visual appearances which each identify certain information about the current operational state of device 120. As shown in FIG. 3, if device 120 is currently in the ready mode, then icon 210 may be visually portrayed using a particular color on interface 200 to indicate information about the current state of device 120. For example, icon 210 may be depicted using the color green if device 120 is currently operating normally, icon 210 may be depicted using the color orange if device 120 is currently printing a document (or currently processing a request), and icon 210 may be depicted using the color red if device 120 is currently experiencing an error. As another example, icon 210 may be depicted using the color blue if device 120 is currently in an energy-saving mode.
As shown in FIG. 3, if device 120 is currently in an energy-saving mode, then icon 210 may be visually portrayed using a visual indictor on interface 200 that indicates device 120 is currently in an energy-saving mode. For example, icon 210 may be depicted with a thought bubble with a “Zzzz . . . ” caption indicating that device 120 is asleep.
As another example, the display of icon 210 may indicate to a viewer that device 120 is currently in the process of exiting an energy-saving mode (i.e., device is “waking-up,” but not yet “awake”). In this way, the appearance of icon 210 may be updated a first time to show that device 120 is transitioning from being in an energy-saving mode to beginning to awaken from the energy-saving mode. Thereafter, the appearance of icon 210 may be updated a second time to show that device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode (i.e., device 120 is in the ready mode).
As shown in FIG. 3, if device 120 is currently in need of consumables (such as paper or ink), then icon 210 may be visually portrayed using visual indictor on interface 200 that indicates device 120 is currently in need of consumables. For example, icon 210 may be depicted with a speech bubble within a “!” caption indicating that device 120 is in need of consumables.
The particular appearance of icon 210 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is merely illustrative, as the visual appearance of icon 210 may correspond to any shape, e.g., the shape of icon 210 may correspond to the device that it represents. Similarly, the various ways of depicting icon 210 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 are merely illustrative, as icon 210 may be depicted any number of ways to visually portray the current operational state of device 120.
Having described the interface provided by client 110 in additional detail, additional description will now be presented regarding how a client may use the interface to issue a command to device 120 according to an embodiment of the invention.
Client 110 may provide an interface to the user to enable the user to interact with client 110. The user may use the interface to issue a command, from client 110 to device 120, e.g., the user may instruct device 120 to either enter an energy-saving mode or exit an energy-saving mode. In an embodiment, the interface provided by client 110 may be a graphical user interface. In such an embodiment, the user may issue a command to device 120 by configuring icon 210.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a graphical user interface displaying menu 220 according to an embodiment of the invention. Menu 220 may be displayed on graphical user interface 400 in response to client 110 receiving user input. Such user input may correspond to the user selecting icon 210 with a mouse pointer or the user pressing a button of a mouse or keyboard.
Menu 220 displays a list of commands from which the user may select. When the user selects a command from menu 220, client 110 issues a request for the performance of the command to device 120 over communications link 130. For example, menu 220 in FIG. 4 displays two commands. By selecting “Wake-up device,” a user may cause a request for device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode to be sent from client 110 to device 120 over communications link 130. By selecting “check consumables,” a user may cause a request for information about the level of consumables currently at device 120 to be sent from client 110 to device 120 over communications link 130.
The particular commands lists in menu 220 are merely illustrative, as any command may be included in menu 220, e.g., menu 220 may also contain a command that, when selected by a user, causes a request for device 120 to enter an energy-saving mode to be sent from client 110 to device 120 over communications link 130.
As another example, menu 220 may also contain a command that allows a user to specify that device 120 is to either enter or exit an energy-saving mode at a particular day and/or time. For example, the user may specify through menu 220 that device 120 is to enter an energy-saving mode at 6:00 PM EST Monday-Friday. In this way, device 120 may consume less power at the end of a workday. As another example, the user may specify through menu 220 that device 120 is to exit an energy-saving mode the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM PST. In this way, device 120 may be in the ready state when an employee drops by the office on the weekend. In an embodiment, scheduling a command to be enacted at a future date may be performed by the command being sent from client 110 to device 120 after the user has specified the command, and thereafter device 120 performs the command at the appropriate date and time. In another embodiment, scheduling a command to be enacted at a future date may be performed by the command being saved at client 110 the user configures the command, client 110 checking to determine when the command should be performed, and client 110 sending a request to perform the command to device 120 at the appropriate date and time.
In another embodiment, menu 220 may allow a user to specify commands directed to a particular component of device 120. In this way, the user may be able to instruct a specific component of device 120 (such as a printer component of a multi-function peripheral) to exit an energy-saving mode while another component of device 120 (such as a facsimile component of a multi-function peripheral) remains in the energy-saving mode. Also, the user may be able to instruct a specific component of device to enter an energy-saving mode (such as a copier component of a multi-function peripheral) while another component of device 120 is not in the energy-saving mode (such as a printer component of a multi-function peripheral).
In another embodiment, menu 220 may allow a user to specify how long device 120, or a particular component thereof, is to remain in an energy-saving mode or a ready mode. In this way, the user can instruct device 120 to remain in a ready mode or an energy-saving mode for a desired period of time.
Having described how a client may use an interface to issue a command to device 120 in additional detail, additional description will now be presented regarding the processing of such a command according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a process diagram 500 of a user instructing device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode according to an embodiment of the invention. Process diagram 500 shall be explained with reference to a command to exit an energy-saving mode; however, the process discussed below may also be used to send other commands, such as those discussed above, from client 110 to device 120.
As shown in FIG. 5, initially a user of client 110 decides that he or she may wish to print a document in the near future. This step may be generalized as the user deciding to use device 120 in a manner that requires that device 120 to be in the ready mode. After the user decides that he or she has need to use device 120 in the ready mode, the user may access the interface provided by client 110 to determine whether device 120 is currently in the ready mode or an energy-saving mode. For example, the user may view icon 210 on a graphical user interface provided by client 110. The display of icon 210 informs the user of whether device 120 is currently in the ready mode or an energy-saving mode.
Thereafter, the user configures icon 210 for purposes of issuing a command to device 120. For example, the user may select icon 210 to cause a menu of selectable commands to be displayed, and subsequently the user may select a command from the menu. Client module 112, residing on client 110, receives input that the user has selected a command from the menu. If the user has configured the command in a particular manner, (such as supplying a particular component of device 120 or by supplying a particular day and time when the command is to be performed by device 120), then client module 112 also receives information about how the user has configured the command. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the user may configure icon 210 for purposes of instructing device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode.
After client module 112 receives input that the user has issued a command through the interface, client module 112 issues a request for the performance of the command to device 120. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the command requests that device 120 exit an energy-saving mode. After device 120 performs the command, device 120 communicates with client module 112 that the command has been performed, e.g., device 120 communicates with client module 112 to inform client module 112 that device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode.
In an embodiment, after client module 112 has been informed that device 120 has performed the command, client module 112 may update the display of icon 210 to reflect that the command has been performed by device 120. For example, icon 210 may now be displayed in a particular color that indicates device 120 is in the ready mode. After the display of icon 210 has been updated to reflect that the command has been performed by device 120 (i.e., that device 120 is currently in the ready mode in this example), the user is able to visually ascertain that device 120 is currently in the ready mode by viewing icon 210.
As it may take some time for device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode (i.e., “wake-up”), device 120 may communicate with client module 112 to inform client module 112 that device 120 is starting the process to exit an energy-saving mode. Thereafter, once device 120 successfully exits the energy-saving mode (i.e., device 120 is awake), device 120 may communicate with client module 112 to inform client module 112 that device 120 is currently awake. In this way, client module 112 may update the display of icon 210 to reflect the progress of device 120 waking up. For example, client module 112 may initially update the display of icon 210 to indicate that device 120 has begun the process of waking up, and once client module 112 has been informed by device 120 that device 120 is awake, client module 112 may update the display of icon 210 to indicate that device is currently awake.
For purposes of describing the activity performed at device 120 in greater detail, consider FIG. 6, which is a process diagram of device 120 exiting an energy-saving mode according to an embodiment of the invention. Upon client module 112 sending a request for the performance of a command (such as a command to exit an energy-saving mode) to device 120, the request is received at device 120 by communications module 122. Communications module 122 parses the received request. The purpose of parsing the received request is for communications module 122 to ensure that it is a correctly formed request and to identify the type of request.
After communications module 122 has parsed the request, communications module 122 communicates with any component of device 120 necessary to perform the request. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the request is a request for device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode, communications module 122 communicates with controller 124 to instruct controller 124 to exit an energy-saving mode. Communications module 122 may communicate with controller 124 by making a call to an application program interface (API) of controller 124. Controller 124 may, in turn, communicate with any other components of device 120 identified by the request. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, controller 124 may communicate with printer engine 126 and/or other modules 128 to instruct those components to exit an energy-saving mode as instructed by the request. After each component has exited the energy-saving mode, those components inform controller 124.
Upon controller 124 being informed by all components involved in the request that they have exited the energy-saving mode, controller 124 informs communication module 122 that all the components of device 120 involved in the request to exit the energy-saving mode have done so. After communication module 122 has been so informed, communication module 122 notifies client module 112 that device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode as requested by client module 112.
Having described the exchange of communications between client 110 and device 120 in additional detail, additional description will now be presented about protocols that may be used in the exchange of communications between client 110 and device 120 according to an embodiment of the invention.
Communications may be exchanged between client 110 and device 120 using a variety of protocols. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to any protocol for exchanging communications between client 110 and device 120.
In an embodiment, communications may be exchanged between client 110 and device 120 using a set of protocols called Web services. The World Wide Web Consortium (“W3C”) is an international consortium that develops standards for the World Wide Web. The W3C defines a “web service” as a software system that is designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. This definition encompasses many different systems, but in common usage, the term refers to those services that use SOAP-formatted Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) envelopes and that have their interfaces described by Web Services Description Language (“WSDL”). Web services allow devices and applications to communicate with each other over one or more networks without the intervention of any human being, while using the same suite of protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”)) that a human being would use to communicate with such devices and applications over one or more networks.
The specifications that define web services are intentionally modular, and, as a result, there is no one document that defines all web services. Instead, there are a few core specifications that are supplemented by other specifications as the circumstances and choice of technology dictate. Common core specifications include SOAP, WSDL, WS-Security, WS-Eventing, WS-addressing, Printer DCP, and WS-ReliableExchange. Different specifications address different tasks and functions. These specifications are publicly available from the W3C.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of communications exchanged between client module 112 and communications module 122 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the request from client module 112 to communications module 122 has a SOAP-formatted XML envelope. Portion 702 of the request may correspond to a command to instruct device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode. The portion 702 may also include optional data that contains additional instructions for how device 120 is to exit the energy-saving mode. For example, as shown in portion 702, portion 702 may instruct device 120 to remain awake (i.e., in the ready mode) for at least 30 minutes and may specifically identify the component of device responsible for printing to exit an energy-saving mode.
The response from communications module 122 to client module 112 depicted in FIG. 7 also has a SOAP-formatted XML envelope. The response of FIG. 7 illustrates that device 120 has awakened the printing capabilities of device 120 (i.e., the component responsible for printing of device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode).
FIG. 8 is a process diagram of client module 112 communicating with communications module 122 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, communications between client module 112 and communications module 122 may be performed using WS-eventing. WS-eventing is a web services protocol that allows subscribers to register to receive notification of status updates concerning certain events. In this way, client module 112 may register with communications module 122 to receive status updates concerning various operational characteristics of device 120. For example, client module 112 may register with communications module 122 to receive status updates concerning whether device 120 is in an energy-saving mode or whether device 120 has a specified amount of consumable resources.
As shown in FIG. 8, client module 112 sends a request to subscribe to an event, in accordance with the WS-eventing protocol, to communications module 122. For purposes of this example, the event is a change in the mode device 120 is operating in, i.e., when device 120 enters or exits an energy-saving mode. After communications module 122 receives the request to subscribe to the event from client module 112, communications module 122 sends a response to client module 112 to inform client module 112 whether the request to subscribe to the event was successful. Assuming the request to subscribe to the event was successfully performed by communications module 122, communications module 122 sends a response to client module 112 to inform client module 112 that client module 112 has successfully subscribed to the event.
Client module 112 may thereafter send, to communications module 122, a command to cause device 120 to exit an energy-saving mode. Upon receiving the command, communications module 122 sends a message to client module 112 informing client module 112 that the command was received.
Once device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode, communications module 122 notifies client module 112 that device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode. In response, client module 112 may update the display of icon 210 to reflect that device 120 is currently not in an energy-saving mode.
At some point after device 120 has exited the energy-saving mode, device 120 may reenter the energy-saving mode (for example, perhaps due to inactivity). As before, when device 120 enters the energy-saving mode, communications module 122 informs client module 112 that device 120 is in an energy-saving mode. In response, client module 112 may update the display of icon 210 to reflect that device 120 is currently in an energy-saving mode.
While the interaction depicted in FIG. 8 involves client module 112 receiving information from communications module 122 concerning whether device 120 is in an energy-saving mode, using the process described above, client module 112 may receive information about other characteristics of device 120 which may change over time. For example, using the process depicted in FIG. 8, client module 112 may be informed of the level of consumable resources at device 120.
Embodiments of the invention may be used in a production environment where different physical machines perform different tasks of a single project. For example, a document processing company may employ one or more machines directed towards printing, another one or more machines directed towards applying finishes to the printed document, another set of one or more machines directed towards binding the finished documents, another set of one or more machines directed towards cutting the bound documents, and so on. Each set of one or more machines directed towards a single task (such as printing or finishing) shall be referred to as a logical device group.
FIG. 9 is a process diagram of a system 900 involving two or more logical device groups according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 depicts several logical device groups. The logical device groups depicted in FIG. 9 are directed towards the tasks of printing, finishing, binding, and cutting. FIG. 9 also depicts a controller program. A controller program is software that instructs each of the logical device groups to begin a unit of work.
As shown in FIG. 9, the controller program may send an instruction to the logical device group directed to printing (“the print group”) to start a job. Once the print group is done printing, the logical device group directed to finishing (“the finish group”) is able to start processing the printing documents. The controller program may estimate how long it will take for the print group to finish performing the work it has been instructed to do, and may send an instruction to the finish group to wake-up (exit an energy-saving mode and enter a ready mode) so that when the finish group wakes-up contemporaneous with when the print group is finished printing the work it has been assigned.
Similarly, the controller program may estimate how long it will take for the finish group to finish performing the work it has been instructed to do, and may send an instruction to the group directed to binding (“the binding group”) to wake-up (exit an energy-saving mode and enter a ready mode) so that the binding group wakes-up contemporaneous with when the finish group is finished performing the work it has been assigned. Similarly, the controller program may estimate how long it will take for the binding group to finish performing the work it has been instructed to do, and may send an instruction to the group directed to cutting (“the cutting group”) to wake-up (exit an energy-saving mode and enter a ready mode) so that the cutting group wakes-up contemporaneous with when the binding group is finished performing the work it has been assigned.
In this way, greater efficiency may be obtained in a production environment as devices may be woken up (i.e., entering a ready mode from an energy-saving mode) just in time to process new work. Thus, devices may be operated at reduced power when the devices are not performed work, yielding cost savings for the owner of the devices.
The invention is related to the use of computer system 1000 for implementing the techniques described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, those techniques are performed by computer system 1000 in response to processor 1004 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 1006. Such instructions may be read into main memory 1006 from another machine-readable medium, such as storage device 1010. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 1006 causes processor 1004 to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
The term “machine-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operation in a specific fashion. In an embodiment implemented using computer system 1000, various machine-readable media are involved, for example, in providing instructions to processor 1004 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, and volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 1010. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 1006.
Network link 1020 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 1020 may provide a connection through local network 1022 to a host computer 1024 or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 1026. ISP 1026 in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet” 1028. Local network 1022 and Internet 1028 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams.
1. A computer-implemented method for performing a process involving a first device and a second device, wherein the second device operates upon output produced by the first device, the method comprising:
determining an estimate of how much time the first device will require to perform the unit of work; and
instructing, based on the estimate, the second device to exit an energy-saving mode so that the second device is able to perform work on the output produced by the first device substantially contemporaneous with when the first device has finished performing said unit of work.
2. A machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for performing a process involving a first device and a second device, wherein the second device operates upon output produced by the first device, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes: instructing the first device to perform a unit of work;
3. An apparatus for performing a process involving a first device and a second device, wherein the second device operates upon output produced by the first device, the apparatus comprising:
4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device is a printer and the output produced by the first device includes a printed document.
5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are one or more of a printing device, a finishing device, a binding device or a cutting device.
6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of determining the estimate and instructing the first device and instructing the second device are performed by a control process executing on a client device that is different than the first device and the second device.
7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising instructing the first device to exit an energy-saving mode prior to instructing the first device to perform a unit of work.
determining a second estimate of how much time the second device will require to perform the work on the output produced by the first device; and
instructing, based on the second estimate, a third device to exit the energy-saving mode so that the third device is able to perform work on second output produced by the second device substantially contemporaneous with when the second device has finished performing the work on the output produced by the first device.
9. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the first device is a printer and the output produced by the first device includes a printed document.
10. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the first device and the second device are one or more of a printing device, a finishing device, a binding device or a cutting device.
11. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the steps of determining the estimate and instructing the first device and instructing the second device are performed by a control process executing on a client device that is different than the first device and the second device.
12. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes instructing the first device to exit an energy-saving mode prior to instructing the first device to perform a unit of work.
13. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes:
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the first device is a printer and the output produced by the first device includes a printed document.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device are one or more of a printing device, a finishing device, a binding device or a cutting device.
16. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the steps of determining the estimate and instructing the first device and instructing the second device are performed by a control process executing on a client device that is different than the first device and the second device.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes instructing the first device to exit an energy-saving mode prior to instructing the first device to perform a unit of work.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes:
US6594767B1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2003-07-15 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, Lp. System for preventing power save mode during a pre-set condition while tracking patterns of use in order to modify the pre-set condition to accommodate the patterns of use
Cultures of Delftia bacteria are disclosed. Antimicrobial agents derived therefrom are also disclosed.
﻿A Beautiful video of the the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of Russia’s Easternmost lands on the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by a Russian song about Kamchatka.
A Beautiful video of the the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of Russia’s Easternmost lands on the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by a Russian song about Kamchatka. Gorgeous pristine nature, vulcanoes, snow, bears, sea.
Filed under: Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula |	Comments Off on ﻿A Beautiful video of the the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of Russia’s Easternmost lands on the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by a Russian song about Kamchatka.