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(11)

EP 1 543 460 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 24.06.2004 (43) Date of publication: 22.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/25 (21) Application number: 03767050.2 (22) Date of filing: 04.08.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 17/60, G08B 13/14 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/024056 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/013731 (12.02.2004 Gazette 2004/07)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 05.08.2002 US 64665 26.11.2002 US 65865 13.02.2003 US 248739 (71) Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Schenectady, NY 12345 (US)

(72) Inventors: CARBONE, John, William Niskayuana, NY 12309 (US) GANESH, Meena Clifton Park, NY 12065 (US) GUI, John, Yupeng Niskayuna, NY 12309 (US) SCHOLZ, Bernhard, Joseph Ballston Lake, NY 12019 (US) CARNEY, Sean, Douglas Clifton Park, NY 12065 (US) SALVO, Joseph Schenectady, NY 12308 (US) (74) Representative: Goode, Ian Roy  London Patent OperationGeneral Electric International, Inc.15 John Adam Street London WC2N 6LU London WC2N 6LU (GB)