COILED WIRE MESH SYSTEM FOR TRAIN PLATFORM PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/640,206 filed on Apr. 30, 2024, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the invention and its embodiments relate to pedestrian safety and right of way barriers for trains and subway platforms, and more specifically to a coiled wire mesh system for train platform pedestrian safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Every year many people fall from railway platforms and are injured or killed. Passengers may be inadvertently hurled onto an unsafe railway, often through motions of masses of people entering and departing platforms. Several factors can contribute to this issue such as overcrowding, lack of clear signage, distractions, and gaps between platforms and trains.

Right-of-way (ROW) barriers aim to minimize these injuries and deaths and to generally prevent pedestrians from entering a railroad ROW to prevent/minimize vandalism, to restrict use of ROW as shortcuts, and to deter pedestrians from intentionally entering a path of an oncoming train. Noted problems depicted for trains apply equally to other related forms of transportation, such as subways.

ROW barriers near platforms, where passengers enter and leave a train, are especially challenging to viably implement as a balance must be struck between practicality, safety, passenger flow rates, cost, and aesthetics. Some fencing used as a ROW barrier, may be potentially harmful to pedestrians occasionally rubbing against potentially abrasive fencing, may encourage some pedestrians to climb over this fencing, may encourage vandalism, may diminish passenger flow-rates, or may otherwise significantly add to passenger travel time via bottlenecking large quantities of moving pedestrians.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

One aspect of the disclosure is for a barrier system for passenger safety while on a platform for a train or similar transport, collectively referred to as a vehicle. The barrier system includes a first vertical support, a section vertical support, a bottom mesh track, a top mesh track, and a mesh barrier section. The first vertical support and a second vertical support, each extend from a platform surface to a ceiling of a platform. The supports are positioned proximate to an edge of the platform and a drop off leading to a track used by the vehicle. The platforms are positioned so that between the platforms lies a door of the vehicle that intermittently stops at the platform for passenger ingress and egress. The bottom mesh track is positioned approximately parallel to the platform surface and extends substantially between the first and second vertical supports. The top mesh track is positioned approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track and at a distance greater than six feet above the bottom mesh track. The top mesh track extends substantially between the first and second vertical supports. The mesh barrier section is positioned so that a topmost portion is connected to the top mesh track and a bottommost portion is connected to the bottom mesh track. The mesh barrier section is configured so that when closed it substantially extends in a planar fashion between the first vertical support and the second vertical support blocking passenger movement between the supports. The mesh barrier section is further configured so that when open the mesh barrier section permits unobtrusive passage for passengers across the region demarcated by the supports thereby permitting passage between the platform and the door of the vehicle.

In another aspect, a barrier system for passenger safety prevents passengers from falling off a platform edge near a train track when the barrier, which is a steel curtain, is closed. The system includes a bottom mesh track, a top mesh track, a set of rollers, and a flexible metal mesh barrier. The bottom mesh track is positioned approximately parallel to a platform surface and extends approximately parallel to an edge representing a drop off between the platform surface and a track used by a train or subway, The bottom mesh track comprises an upwardly facing opening. The top portion of the bottom mesh track is approximately level with the platform surface. The top mesh track is attached to the ceiling of the platform and is approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track. The top mesh track has a downwardly facing opening. A set of rollers are positioned within an interior of the bottom mesh track and the top mesh track. A flexible metal mesh barrier extends between the openings of the top and bottom mesh tracks. The set of rollers connect to the flexible metal mesh barrier allowing it to be slidably coupled so that it opens and closes along a length defined by the top and bottom mesh tracks.

Another aspect discloses a barrier system for passenger safety while on a platform for a train. The barrier system includes a bottom mesh track, a top mesh track, a right-side mesh barrier, and a left-side mesh barrier. The bottom mesh track is positioned approximately parallel to a platform surface and extending approximately parallel to an edge representing a drop off between the platform surface and a track used by a train or subway. The bottom mesh track includes an upwardly facing opening. A top portion of the bottom mesh track is approximately level with the platform surface. The top mesh track is attached to a ceiling of the platform and configured approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track. The top mesh track has a downwardly facing opening. The right and left side barriers are flexible metal mesh barriers configured to extend between the openings of the top and bottom mesh tracks. The right-side mesh barrier is anchored on a right side and has an opposing end that slidably extends leftward. The left-side mesh barrier is anchored on the left side and has an opposing end that slidably extends rightward. When the right-side and left-side mesh barriers are fully extended the barriers interlock resulting in a closed state that blocks passenger passage between the platform and the train or subway. When the right-side and left-side mesh barriers are fully retracted the barriers do not impede passenger passage between the platform and the train or subway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a mesh barrier system for right-of-way (ROW) safety, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B depicts a schematic diagram of a ROW barrier solution, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A depicts a train station utilizing a mesh barrier system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B depicts a train station platform with closed mesh barriers prior to train arrival, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2C depicts a train station platform with open mesh barriers permitting passenger movement between the platform and a train, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computing device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

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.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein, an “embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one or more manifestations, examples, or implementations of this invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art. Combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, without the need for explicitly describing every possible permutation by example. Thus, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, e.g., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements), etc. . . . .

As used herein, the word “include,” and its variants, is intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that may also be useful in the compositions and methods of this technology. Similarly, the terms “can” and “may” and their variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation that an embodiment can or may comprise certain elements or features does not exclude other embodiments of the present technology that do not contain those elements or features.

Referring to FIGS. 1A 1B, 2A, 2B, and 2C, a mesh system 110 is disclosed that protects passengers 210 from dangers incurred when entering and leaving a train 214 or similar transport, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 2A, pedestrians 212 are positioned on a platform 212, which is often raised, such that there is a drop 218 due to track 216. A right-of-way (ROW) is selectively available through which passengers 210 enter and leave a train 216, such as through its doorways. As shown in FIG. 2B, during periods where train 214 ingress/egress is unavailable, mesh barrier sections 112 are closed, which protects from mishaps related to passengers 210 entering a region of the track 216 and/or from passengers 210 sustaining injury from drop 218. With reference to FIG. 2C, during periods where train 214 ingress/egress is available, mess barrier sections 112 are opened.

It should be appreciated that the mesh system 110, although well adapted for passenger 210 ROW safety, is not so limited. For example, mesh system 110 also provides additional safety measures for railway maintenance workers, for cargo loading situations, and the like. Further, it prevents vagrants, vandals, and other unauthorized personnel from entering railway tunnels. In one embodiment, the mesh system 110 can be considered an anti-terrorism protective measure.

As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the set of mess barriers 112 extend across a region of platform 212 that passengers 210 traverse. The mesh barrier sections 112 can be positioned on mesh tracks 118, which can be curved consistent with a curve or boundary of an outer edge of platform 212. In embodiments, the mesh barrier sections 112 can be placed and/or connected to a set of platform specific supports 122. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the mesh system 110 can be tailored to a variety of architectural constraints common for different platforms 212. The fabric or mesh of sections 112 are sufficiently strong and tightly woven to significantly inhibit passage and are sufficiently flexible to allow for platform 212 curvatures. The curving nature of the mesh sections 112 ensure passenger 210 safety, as it eliminates or minimizes rough edges, which may contact and abrase passengers 210 and other objects moving proximate to the sections 112. Further, as noted by FIGS. 2B and 2C, the mesh sections 112 can be sufficiently taunt when closed and sufficiently unobtrusively compacted when open to be not only aesthetically pleasing but to also ensure no or minimal bottlenecking results from their use.

As used herein, track 216 refers to a guide pathway for a transportation vehicle, such as a train 214, that typically has a level difference, such as drop 21. Track 216 may be a conventional railway track but is not so limited. A magnetic train, for example, has a similar pathway or track (216) within scope although it lacks conventional grooves within which train 214 wheels spin. In another example, a trolly or other conveyance may have a top-mounted wire guide and/or support mechanism, yet still have a path (216) depression compromising safety of passengers positioned on a raised region (platform 212).

With reference to FIG. 1B, each metal section 112 can extend from a top mesh track 176 affixed (see view 175) at or near the ceiling 172 to a bottom mesh track 178 affixed (see view 177) at or near the platform 174 floor. Such an arrangement is consistent with depictions in FIGS. 2B and 2C. In another embodiment, the top railing 176 need not extend to the ceiling 172 or be directly connected thereto. That is, given various sizes and shapes of platforms 212 and their various building architectures, significant distances may exist between top railing 176 and a ceiling 172 surface. It is preferable that a height 113 of a mesh section 112, and therefore a distance 113 between the top 176 and bottom 178 mesh track sections is substantially uniform. Given that floors (174) and ceilings 172 often have imperfections or level variations, leveling components, shims, and the like can be used to ensure distance 113 is consistent from top to bottom over a span. Even when distance 113 is uniform for a given platform 212 or platform segment, a quantified value of distance 113 itself can vary from location to location based on site conditions. Site conditions include a fact that no uniform distance exists from floor (174) to ceiling 172 for platforms 212. Preferably, distance 113 should be greater than a height and arm reach of a majority of anticipated passengers 210. In embodiments, distance 113 is at least seven feet or at least eight feet. Preferably, the bottom mesh track 178 is inset into the platform 174 surface to ensure no protrusion exists, which passengers 210 may trip over. As can be seen from view 177, bottom mesh track 178 can be designed to minimize a gap distance 167.

Referring to view 175, in a preferred embodiment, the track component 120 guiding the mesh barrier section 112, includes a set of sliding rollers 165. As shown, rollers 165 can be positioned on opposing sides of a railing portion (175) supporting, at least in part, weight of the mesh barrier section 112 and allowing it to move along the mesh track 118. In one embodiment, the sliding rollers 165 can be linked to a motor (one embodiment of actuator 116) resulting in movement. Other mechanisms for movement are contemplated, such as using an attached wire linked to a motor to change a position of a terminal point of each section 112 between an open and closed state.

Referring to view 177, in a preferred embodiment, the track component 120 guiding the mesh barrier's movement along a bottom track section can similarly utilize a set of sliding rollers or wheels 165. Other arrangements are contemplated, which facilitate movement of the mess barrier section 112 between the opened and closed state along this track defined pathway. For example, a series of magnet guides may exist, which ensure the positioning and may even assist with movement via an electromagnetic force.

In embodiments, top and bottom portions of the mesh barrier section 112 can be directly connected to the track guiding/moving component. As shown, a direct connection between the mesh barrier 112 and the sliding rollers 165 or wheels exists. In another contemplating embodiment, a biasing member, such as a portion of elastic or compressible fabric, a spring, or another tensioner, can be positioned in an intermediate junction point 167 between the track guiding component (165) to increase tension of the mesh barrier section 112.

Referring to view 180, a from view of few mesh barrier sections 112 is shown. In one embodiment, a connection point or lock 126 can be positioned between section 112 portions so that they are lockable when in a closed position (FIG. 2A). For example, a magnetic release can be utilized, as can numerous other conventional locking fasteners. Further, one or more sensors 124 can be integrated so that a locked, open, closed state is able to be determined. In embodiments, a lock state and/or a section 112 actuation (116) state can be controlled by electronics and/or a remote computing system, such as control server 140. Thus, a train conductor, or other authorized system controller, is able to control release of a lock 126, activation of actuator 116, and view a state of the various sensors 124 to ensure proper operation of system 110. As indicated in view 180 for embodiments, a tension applied to each mesh section 112, especially when closed, can be sufficient to resist a level of blunt force consistent with ensuring safety of passengers 210. In one embodiment, a tension sensor (124) can determine an amount of tension based force present, which may be adjusted through one or more biasing or tensioning mechanisms, such as at junction point 167. In other embodiments, slight adjustments to the mesh track 118, track components 120, or wheels 165 can be used to adjust tension of the mesh barrier sections 112.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mesh system 110 can have numerous components that include a set of mesh barrier sections 112, a mesh storage component 114, a section actuator 116, a set of mesh tracks 118, track components 120, supports 122, sensors 124, lock 126, a processor 128, a memory 130, and a transceiver 132. The transceiver 132 can send information over a network 102 to a mesh control server 140. Mesh control server 140 can include a processor 144, a memory 146, one or more transceivers 148, and a barrier application 150. Server 140 can connect to numerous additional devices 108 via network 104.

The mesh barrier section 112 is a flexible fabric metal mesh. Other materials, such as high-impact plastics are able to be utilized in embodiments. Although various metals can be used for section 112, such as aluminum, titanium, and the like, steel is preferred in embodiments. The weave of section 112 can be created by interlocking individual strands of spiraled wire. Although different gauges of wire can be used, in one embodiment wire at least 8 mm wire is preferred for strength. Different weaves can be used, preferably a relatively tight weave that results in less than 50% open space in the resulting fabric sheet is preferred for enhanced strength. Weave patterns used for section 112 vary largely based on aesthetics, but a weave that is durable and able to sustain significant blunt force damage is preferred.

A mesh stage compartment 114 can be utilized to contain portions of the mesh barrier when retracted or in the open position. Section actuator 116 includes mechanical and electrical components for moving the mesh barrier section. Track components 120 include numerous couplers designed to couple the edges of the mesh barrier section 112 to the track(s) 118 and to ensure the section 112 is able to slide along the track 118. Support 122 is a structural support, which will typically extend vertically from a floor to a ceiling, which assists in supporting mesh barrier sections 112.

The barrier control server 140 can be a computing device 140 configured to monitor and control components of mesh system 110. The barrier control server 140 can, for example, turn on/off a section actuator 116 to open and close mesh sections 112. Server 140 can also selectively activate/deactivate lock 126 and may receive input from the sensors 124. Authorized users can perform these functions through an interface of barrier application 150. In embodiments, local electronics proximately positioned to a set of controlled mesh barrier sections 112 can be used as an alternative to and/or in addition to server 140. In one embodiment, each platform 210, such as that shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, can include a local control panel able to override or otherwise control the mesh barrier sections 112 positioned upon that platform 210.

In one embodiment, application 150 and functions related thereto, can be integrated into numerous railways and/or platform systems, which are one embodiment of device(s) 108. For example, a maintenance system for a railway may determine passage along track 216 is unsafe when track 216 has power. Thus, when a maintenance device 108 has scheduled maintenance time for an out-of-service platform 212, the lock 126 can automatically be enabled by application 150, until power along track 216 is disabled. In another embodiment, each platform 210 can be linked to a transportation scheduling system (108) that is aware of a set of times passengers 210 are permitted on platform 212. When no passengers 210 are permitted, the actuator 116 and lock 126, as controlled by application 150, can ensure the related mesh barrier sections 112 are in a closed position (FIG. 2B).

In another example, platform 212 and railway 216 can be monitored via cameras and motion sensors by a security system (108). Authorized personnel can be provided access to open/close or lock/unlock mesh barrier sections 112 based on security system detected events. For example, a human, such as a maintenance worker, can be detected by a security system on a railway side 216 of a closed (FIG. 2B) barrier section 112. A security system (108) administrator may be authorized to selectively unlock and open section 112, which requires communication with server 140 executing code of application 150, to let the maintenance worker out. In still another embodiment, a control system (108) of a train 214 may be authorized to open/close mesh system 110 sections.

For example, train 112 may malfunction and be stopped in a tunnel, such that passengers are expected to briefly exist, once the track has been made safe, through an open, nearby mesh barrier section 112. In still another embodiment, a violent incident may occur on train 112 about to stop at a platform 212, and a code can be entered to ensure the mesh barrier sections 112 of that platform remain locked, for safety purposes of passengers 210. Alternatively, a set of compartment doors on a train 214 can be closed and others opened such that only the mesh barrier sections 112 associated with opened compartment doors may be opened, while the others remain closed.

Systems, Devices and Operating Systems

A basic configuration of a computing device 336 (such as the server 140 and device 108, and in embodiments “smart device(s) linked to system 110) is illustrated in FIG. 3 by those components within the inner dashed line. In the basic configuration of the computing device 336, the computing device 336 includes a processor 334 and a system memory 332. The terms “processor” and “central processing unit” or “CPU” are used interchangeably herein. In some examples, the computing device 336 may include one or more processors and the system memory 332. A memory bus 312 is used for communicating between the one or more processors 334 and the system memory 332.

Depending on the desired configuration, the processor 334 may be of any type, including, but not limited to, a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller (μC), and a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof. In examples, the microprocessor may be AMD's ATHLON, DURON and/or OPTERON; ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or MOTOROLA's DRAGONBALL and POWERPC; IBM's and SONY's Cell processor; INTEL'S CELERON, CORE (2) DUO, ITANIUM, PENTIUM, XEON, and/or X SCALE; and/or the like processor(s).

Further, the processor 334 may include one more levels of caching, such as a level cache memory 326, a processor core 324, and registers 322, among other examples. The processor core 324 may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), and/or a digital signal processing core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. A memory controller 318 may be used with the processor 334, or, in some implementations, the memory controller 318 may be an internal part of the memory controller 318.

Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 332 may be of any type, including, but not limited to, volatile memory (such as RAM), and/or non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or any combination thereof. The system memory 332 includes an operating system 330, one or more engines, such as an engine 320, and program data 314. In some embodiments, the engine 320 may be an application, a software program, a service, or a software platform, as described infra. The system memory 332 may also include a storage engine 316 that may store any information of data disclosed herein.

The operating system 330 may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and secure system such as: APPLE MACINTOSH OS X (Server); AT&T PLAN 9; BE OS; UNIX and UNIX-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; BERKLEY SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION (BSD) variations such as FREEBSD, NETBSD, OPENBSD, and/or the like; Linux distributions such as RED HAT, UBUNTU, and/or the like); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/or less secure operating systems also may be employed such as APPLE MACINTOSH OS, IBM OS/2, MICROSOFT DOS, MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/MILLENNIUM/NT/VISTA/XP (Server), PALM OS, and/or the like. The operating system 330 may be one specifically optimized to be run on a mobile computing device, such as IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS Phone, TIZEN, SYMBIAN, and/or the like.

As explained supra, the GUI of the device 336 may provide a baseline and means of accessing and displaying information graphically to users. The GUI may include APPLE MACINTOSH Operating System's AQUA, IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's WINDOWS 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/MILLENNIUM/NT/XP/Vista/7 (i.e., AERO), UNIX'S X-Windows (e.g., which may include additional UNIX graphic interface libraries and layers such as K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT (KDE), MYTHTV and GNU Network Object Model Environment (GNOME)), web interface libraries (e.g., ActiveX, AJAX, (D) HTML, FLASH, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, etc. interface libraries such as, but not limited to, DOJO, JQUERY (UI), MOOTOOLS, PROTOTYPE, SCRIPT.ACULO.US, SWFOBJECT, or YAHOO! User Interface, any of which may be used.

Additionally, a web browser component (not shown) is a stored program component that is executed by the CPU. The web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewing application such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, EDGE, CHROME, FIREFOX, or NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR. SECURE WEB browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryption by way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for the execution of program components through facilities such as ACTIVEX, AJAX, (D) HTML, FLASH, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, web browser plug-in A Pls (e.g., FIREFOX, SAFARI Plug-in, and/or the like A Pls), and/or the like. Web browsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs, cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices.

A web browser may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the web browser communicates with information servers, operating systems, integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. Of course, in place of a web browser and an information server, a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions of both. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining and the provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like from the enabled nodes of the present invention.

Moreover, the computing device 336 may have additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basic configuration and any desired devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller is used to facilitate communications between the basic configuration and data storage devices via a storage interface bus 302. The data storage devices may be one or more removable storage devices, one or more non-removable storage devices, or a combination thereof. Examples of the one or more removable storage devices and the one or more non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices (such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDD)), optical disk drives (such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives), solid state drives (SSD), and tape drives, among others. Data stores (not shown by contained by devices 108), memories 130 and 146, and/or repositories are data storage devices.

In some embodiments, an interface bus facilitates communication from various interface devices (e.g., one or more output devices 338, one or more peripheral interfaces 346, and one or more communication devices 354) to the basic configuration via the bus/interface controller 310. Some of the one or more output devices 338 include a graphics processing unit 340 and an audio processing unit 344, which are configured to communicate to various external devices, such as a display or speakers, via one or more A/V ports 342.

The one or more peripheral interfaces 346 may include a serial interface controller 350 or a parallel interface controller 352, which are configured to communicate with external devices, such as input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a voice input device, or a touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., a printer or a scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 348.

Further, the one or more communication devices 354 may include a network controller 356, which is arranged to facilitate communication with one or more other computing devices 360 over a network 102, 104 communication link via one or more communication ports 358. The one or more other computing devices 360 include servers, the database, mobile devices, and comparable devices.

The network communication link is an example of a communication media. The communication media are typically embodied by the computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and include any information delivery media. A “modulated data signal” is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, the communication media may include wired media (such as a wired network or direct-wired connection) and wireless media (such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR), and other wireless media). The term “computer-readable media,” as used herein, includes both storage media and communication media.

It should be appreciated that the system memory 332, the one or more removable storage devices 304, and the one or more non-removable storage devices 306 are examples of the computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable storage media is a tangible device that can retain and store instructions (e.g., program code) for use by an instruction execution device (e.g., the computing device 336). Any such, computer storage media is part of the computing device 336.

The computer readable storage media/medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage media/medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, and/or a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage media/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, and/or 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.

The computer-readable instructions are provided to the processor 334 of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus (e.g., the computing device 336) to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor 334 of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks. These computer-readable instructions are also stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions, which implement aspects of the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks.

The computer-readable instructions (e.g., the program code) are also loaded onto a computer (e.g. the computing device 336), another programmable data processing apparatus, or another device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, the other programmable apparatus, or the other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer, the other programmable apparatus, or the other device, implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can also 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 (e.g., the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and/or a wireless network). The network may 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.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, 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 procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer/computing device, partly on the user's computer/computing device, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer/computing device and partly on a remote computer/computing device or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may 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 may 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) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to block diagrams of methods, computer systems, and computing devices according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block and combinations of blocks in the diagrams, can be implemented by the computer readable program instructions.

The block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of computer systems, methods, and computing devices according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the block diagrams may represent a module, a segment, or a portion of executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block and combinations of blocks can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others or ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.