| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07673347B2 |
Information control in federated interaction
Techniques are described for protecting information in a convenient and useful way. A user transmits information from a mobile device to an ambient display, so that other users may receive the information from the ambient display. A display controller detects a presence of a potentially unauthorized user relative to the ambient display, and modifies the outputting of the information at the ambient display so as to hide portions of the information that should not be seen by the potentially unauthorized user. The information, including the hidden portion, is nonetheless output, using one of a plurality of output channels of one or more secondary devices, either to the user and/or the other users. In this way, authorized users may continue to receive the information, and, moreover, may input an indication as to whether an extent of the hidden portion is sufficient to provide adequate security with regard to the information. |
| US07673346B1 |
Intra-data license for using data
Mechanisms for enforcing permissions on stored data. Prior to storing the data, a data structure containing the data is accessed, and then modified to include a license that represents permission(s) for how the data should be used when the data structure is later accessed. The modified data structure is then stored, after perhaps some optional transformation. When the data structure is later accessed, the license is acquired from the data structure. The license is then used to determine whether or not to honor specific requests to use the data. This determination may be made based on license validation instructions executed from a removable media. Furthermore, the license may be the exclusive determining factor for the license validation instructions in determining whether or not to honor specific requests. |
| US07673344B1 |
Mechanism to search information content for preselected data
A method and apparatus for detecting preselected data embedded in information content is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving information content and detecting in the information content a sequence of content fragments that may contain a portion of preselected data. The method further comprises determining whether a sub-set of these content fragments matches any sub-set of the preselected data using an abstract data structure that defines a tabular structure of the preselected data. |
| US07673342B2 |
Detecting e-mail propagated malware
An e-mail client serves to detect mass mailing malware by detecting if over a threshold number of addressees from within the address book of that e-mail client are being sent an e-mail or over a predetermined number of substantially identical e-mails are being sent by that e-mail client. A quarantine queue may be provided in which e-mail messages are held for a predetermined period prior to being sent out in order that separate e-mail messages being sent to a large proportion of the address book addressees may be identified and linked together. |
| US07673341B2 |
System and method of efficiently identifying and removing active malware from a computer
The present invention provides a system, method, and computer-readable medium for identifying and removing active malware from a computer. Aspects of the present invention are included in a cleaner tool that may be obtained automatically with an update service or may be downloaded manually from a Web site or similar distribution system. The cleaner tool includes a specialized scanning engine that searches a computer for active malware. Since the scanning engine only searches for active malware, the amount of data downloaded and resource requirements of the cleaner tool are less than traditional antivirus software. The scanning engine searches specific locations on a computer, such as data mapped in memory, configuration files, and file metadata for data characteristic of malware. If malware is detected, the cleaner tool removes the malware from the computer. |
| US07673340B1 |
System and method for analyzing system user behavior
A system and method for monitoring and analyzing user activity of an interactive system, providing insight and recommendations to improve the interactive system based on the user activity. The present invention analyzes user behavior in the context of the structure of the interactive system as experienced by the user, the analysis of business-critical user tasks, the automated generation of recommendations for improving the interactive system, reports on the interactive system's application logic and data, unique visualizations of user behavior through the use of graphical displays, and secure report viewing and creation. The present invention can be applied to number of interactive systems or a combination thereof. |
| US07673337B1 |
System for secure online configuration and communication
A system for online configuration and communication for a supervisory control and data acquisition system comprising an online configurable enterprise server, at least one intelligent electronic device, an online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module, and a configurable server interface. Both the online configurable enterprise server and the online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module include respective cryptography chips and computer instructions for instructing respective processors to selectively encrypt and decrypt commands, messages, data, and responses, allowing non-encrypted transmissions between the at least one intelligent electronic device and the online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module, and selectively encrypted transmission between the intelligent electronic cryptographic module and the online configurable enterprise server. |
| US07673333B2 |
Flexible method of security data backup
A method of supporting a substantially secure backup copy of a key-server database, said database comprising security information specific to a plurality of users, absent the need for a duplicate key-server is disclosed. According to the method, each individual's security data is stored within the key-server database and is also stored on a portable data storage device, such as a smart card or a PCMCIA token. If the key-server crashes and the database stored thereon is lost, a duplicate key-server database is reconstructed using the aggregate of the partial database files stored on each individual's portable data storage device. Similarly, when a portable data storage device is lost, it can be rebuilt from the data stored within the key-server. |
| US07673332B2 |
Method and system for access authentication
A method and a system for access authentication. A shared services resource includes a second factor authentication module. At least one network resource each include a first factor authentication module. A trusted computing base communicates with the shared services and the at least one network resource through a pipe. An assertion may be obtained on a trusted computing base for accessing at least one network resource. At least one of the at least one network resource may be accessed with the trusted computing base when the assertion has been obtained by the trusted computing base and is valid. |
| US07673328B1 |
Network authentication system using individual services providers and an authentication server
A network system includes a plurality of individual Internet service providers each having access points, and a parallel Internet service provider connected to the plurality of individual Internet service providers, the individual Internet service providers and the parallel Internet service provider each include an authentication server. When the access point of a provider receives a connection request from a user who contracts with the parallel service provider, the provider transfers a connection ID and a password to an authentication server of the parallel Internet service provider to perform user authentication. When a result of the authentication is good, the user terminal is connected to the user terminal through the access point. |
| US07673326B2 |
System and method utilizing clean groups for security management
A system and method that utilizes clean groups for reducing security management complexity. The system reduces the complexity of managing security technologies by automatically assigning objects such as computers or persons to clean groups which are defined by existing management infrastructure. In an embodiment where members are computers, ongoing automatic efforts ensure that clean groups include only computers that satisfy specified security principles, which allows administrators to treat all computers that are in compliance as a group. Separately, the members of the clean group are required to implement self-governance, which is an ability to detect being compromised and to take steps to remove themselves from the clean group when they are compromised. In addition to attempting to remove itself from the clean group, a compromised computer may take additional steps aimed at minimizing further damage, such as erasing or hiding computer domain credentials, hiding/protecting/disabling cryptographic (e.g. EFS) keys, or logging out a user. |
| US07673325B2 |
Configuration of WiFi network parameters
A system and method of configuring network access parameters of a portable computing device is provided. A portable computing device usually includes wireless networking components and may be used with various wireless networks. A configuration server using a device management protocol, such as the OMA-DM protocol, sends network configuration information to a portable computing device. This configuration information includes network parameters such as network identifiers, encryption keys and authentication credentials. The portable computing device then uses the provided parameters to set its configuration information so that it can access a defined wireless network. |
| US07673324B2 |
Method and system for tracking an operating performed on an information asset with metadata associated therewith
A system and method are provided for tracking an operation performed on an information asset. The information asset has metadata associated therewith. In use, the metadata is preserved during the at least one operation. |
| US07673320B2 |
Information transmission/reception system and method and information processing method and apparatus for automatic detection of data for commercial messages
It is targeted that CMs by e.g., television broadcast be detected automatically, an access site to detailed contents of a specified one of the CMs be acquired automatically, and connection be made automatically to the access site to enable accessing to the detailed information. A broadcasting station 302 sends out airing signals containing CMs. A consumer terminal (303) detects these CMs from the aired signals and connects to an access site information furnishing device (305) based on the airing time and the airing channel of the detected CM to acquire the access site information of the distribution terminal (301) for e.g., an article of commerce owning the detailed information pertinent to the CM. Based on the access site information, the consumer terminal (303) accesses the distribution terminal (301) to acquire the detailed information pertinent to the CM. |
| US07673317B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating an interactive radio program
A method and system for the creation of interactive radio programming. A moderator of an interactive radio program uses a moderator client to digitize and transmit a radio program with enhanced content to a moderator server through a wide area network. The moderator server uses the digitized radio program and the enhanced content to generate an interactive radio program for transmission to participants in the interactive radio program. The complete interactive radio program is transmitted to participant clients over the wide area network. An audio portion of the interactive radio program may be transmitted over a conventional radio network as well. |
| US07673313B2 |
Parental control system using program content substitution
A broadcasting signal receiving system includes: an obtaining part for obtaining program information of a receiving program; a broadcasting signal receiving part for receiving a broadcasting signal; an image pick-up part for recording an image of a viewer; a certifying part for comparing the image of the face of the viewer recorded by the image pick-up part with the previously registered image of a face of an individual to certify the viewing individual; an image recording and reproducing part for recording and storing preset useful programs; a harmful program condition setting part for setting harmful program conditions; and a viewing limit control part, wherein when a certified result indicates an individual as an object whose viewing is limited and the receiving program corresponds to a set harmful program, the viewing limit control part reproduces and displays on a monitor screen the useful programs. |
| US07673310B2 |
Optical disc having a reduced planar thickness
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an optical disc having a reduced planar thickness is provided. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the optical disc includes a central clamping area that defines a central aperture operable to be engaged by a spindle mechanism of an optical disc drive, an optically-readable data storage area substantially surrounding the central clamping area, the optically-readable data storage area having a planar thickness of less than 1.20 mm, and one or more stacker elements coupled to, or integral with, the central clamping area, the stacker elements configured to increase the thickness of the central clamping area above the planar thickness of the optically-readable data storage area. In particular embodiments, the optical disc may further include a magnetic stripe disposed upon one surface of the optical disc. |
| US07673307B2 |
Managing transactions in a messaging system
A messaging system and method are provided to enable transactional work, done as a result of a recipient processing an asynchronous message, to be involved in the transaction under which message was sent. Involvement may be directly in the senders transaction or indirectly through a separate transaction which can be a subordinate to, a child of, or merged with the transaction under which message was sent. The message is delivered by calling an operation, a definition of which has been registered for the queue. If the message is added to a queue for subsequent delivery to a recipient, details of the transaction under which message was sent are added to the message. As a result the recipient can take appropriate action to ensure that any transactional work, it causes to happen, will be done directly or indirectly under the scope of the transactions under which message was sent. |
| US07673305B2 |
System and method of expediting certain jobs in a computer processing system
In one embodiment, jobs requiring short processing time are given preference over jobs requiring long processing time by processing to completion all jobs for the first N seconds of the job. Jobs requiring longer than N seconds to complete are given a lower priority than a newly arriving job can and continue being processed, but are subject to reduction in resources by new jobs as each new job arrives. |
| US07673304B2 |
Multithreaded kernel for graphics processing unit
Systems and methods are provided for scheduling the processing of a coprocessor whereby applications can submit tasks to a scheduler, and the scheduler can determine how much processing each application is entitled to as well as an order for processing. In connection with this process, tasks that require processing can be stored in physical memory or in virtual memory that is managed by a memory manager. The invention also provides various techniques of determining whether a particular task is ready for processing. A “run list” may be employed to ensure that the coprocessor does not waste time between tasks or after an interruption. The invention also provides techniques for ensuring the security of a computer system, by not allowing applications to modify portions of memory that are integral to maintaining the proper functioning of system operations. |
| US07673303B2 |
Simplified device drivers for hardware devices of a computer system
A computer system uses simplified device drivers for operating hardware devices. A simplified device driver for a hardware device of a given device type, such as a flatbed scanner, works with a system-supplied common driver for that given device type. The common driver and the simplified driver together function like a regular device driver. The simplified device driver implements a small number of entry point functions corresponding to a pre-selected set of operation commands “generic” to hardware devices of that given device type. When an application makes a request for an operation by the device, the request is passed through a device driver interface (DDI) to the common driver. The common driver then calls the entry point functions in the simplified device driver to carry out the requested operation. |
| US07673299B2 |
System and method for dynamically verifying the compatibility of a user interface resource
In a computer operating system having a user interface, a resource loader, and a registry resource database, a method for dynamically verifying whether the resource content of a resource module is compatible with the most current version of the operating system. Upon obtaining a request for a resource, the resource loader verifies that the resource modules remain compatible with the operating system prior to loading a resource from an alternate resource module. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the operating system has a multilingual user interface and utilizes resource modules that are language specific. |
| US07673296B2 |
Method and system for optional code scheduling
A method of scheduling optional instructions in a compiler targets a processor. The scheduling includes indicating a limit on the additional processor computations that are available for executing an optional code, generating one or more required instructions corresponding to a source code and one or more optional instructions corresponding to the optional code used with the source code and scheduling all of the one or more required instructions with as many of the one or more optional instructions as possible without exceeding the indicated limit on the additional processor computations for executing the optional code. |
| US07673294B2 |
Mechanism for pipelining loops with irregular loop control
This invention modifies an irregular software pipelined loop conditioned upon data in a condition register in a compiler scheduled very long instruction word data processor to prevent over-execution upon loop exit. The method replaces a register modifying instruction with an instruction conditional upon the inverse condition register if possible. The method inserts a conditional register move instruction to a previously unused register within the loop if possible without disturbing the schedule. Then a restoring instruction is added after the loop. Alternatively, both these two functions can be performed by a delayed register move instruction. Instruction insertion is into a previously unused instruction slot of an execute packet. These changes can be performed manually or automatically by the compiler. |
| US07673293B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating code for scheduling the execution of binary code
Dynamic binary translators enable binaries of a source platform to execute on a target platform without recompilation. This is achieved by runtime (on-the-fly) translation of source machine instructions into equivalent target machine instructions. Typically dynamic binary translators are used for migrating from an older platform to a newer one, implementing complex instruction set architectures, speeding up simulators and in profiling tools. In all these applications, the speed of translation is critical to ensure that the overheads incurred by the translator do not outweigh the advantages of dynamic translation. One such overhead is created by the analysis required when code is translated for execution in a parallel processing environment. |
| US07673291B2 |
Automatic database diagnostic monitor architecture
Techniques for self-diagnosing performance problems in a database are provided. The techniques include classifying one or more performance problems in a database system. One or more values for quantifying an impact of the one or more performance problems on the database system are then determined. The quantified values are determined based on the performance of operations in the database system. A performance problem based on the one or more quantified values is then determined. A solution for the performance problem is generated and may be outputted. |
| US07673289B1 |
Ignoring output arguments of functions in programming environments
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for ignoring one or more output arguments of a function in a programming environment. Users or programmers may designate one or more output arguments that are not desired by the users. The called function determines which output arguments are designated by the users. The one or more output arguments designated by the users are ignored by the function. The called function may reclaim memory space for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function may also avoid operations for generating values for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function does not need to return values for the output arguments designated by the users. |
| US07673288B1 |
Bypassing execution of a software test using a file cache
A method is provided that speeds up software testing using abbreviation of software tests that skips the execution of a portion of the software test. Intermediate results are generated for one or more software tests, with each intermediate result corresponding to a software test, and a respective key is generated from each intermediate result. A determination is made whether the respective key for each intermediate result is stored in a file cache used for storing files under keys. Generation of a final result for the corresponding software test of each intermediate result is bypassed in response to the respective key being present in the file cache. A final result for the corresponding software test of each intermediate result is generated from the intermediate result in response to the respective key not being present in the file cache. The respective key is stored in the file cache in response to generation of each final result. |
| US07673286B2 |
Architecture for converting control types in a data bound user interface
A mechanism for converting control types in a user interface (UI) development framework. The framework includes a UI generation component that facilitates the development of the UI in which control types will be employed and bound to data of a data source. In communication with the generation component is a conversion component that facilitates changing the default control choice immediately after creation, or for evaluating the UI, and later choosing to change the UI control choice. The conversion component employs a service to inspect all controls on a particular form in the designer, and advertises a “Change To” or similar smart tag item for that control, if the control supports data binding and conversions. Selection of the control type or control group view creates the UI of the user's choice, and intelligently maps all control properties and data bindings across the conversion. |
| US07673281B2 |
Pattern evaluation method and evaluation apparatus and pattern evaluation program
A pattern evaluation method for evaluating a mask pattern includes generating desired wafer pattern data corresponding to the evaluation position of a mask pattern, generating mask pattern contour data based on an image of the mask pattern, and performing a lithography/simulation process based on the mask pattern contour data and generating predicted wafer pattern data when the mask pattern is transferred to a wafer. Further, it includes deriving positional offset between the mask pattern contour data and mask pattern data, correcting a positional error between the desired wafer pattern data and the predicted wafer pattern data based on the positional offset, and comparing the desired wafer pattern data with the predicted wafer pattern data with the positional error corrected. |
| US07673280B2 |
Optical proximity correction (OPC) processing method for preventing the occurrence of off-grid
An optical proximity correction (OPC) processing method may include at least one of the following steps: Detecting coordinate values of individual piece patterns constituting a graphic design system (GDS). Merging to the form of a specific pattern, composed of outermost coordinate values, on the basis of the detected coordinate values. Shrinking the merged GDS pattern and forming a GDS pattern having a desired magnifying power. Performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) process on the GDS pattern having the desired magnifying power. |
| US07673270B1 |
Method and apparatus for compensating an integrated circuit layout for mechanical stress effects
Method and apparatus for compensating an integrated circuit design for mechanical stress effects. One aspect of the invention relates to designing an integrated circuit. Layout data is obtained that describes layers of the integrated circuit. At least one of the layers is analyzed to detect at least one structure susceptible to damage from mechanical stress. A bias is automatically added to each of the at least one structure to reduce mechanical stress of the at least one structure as fabricated. Augmented layout data is then provided for the integrated circuit. |
| US07673267B1 |
Method and apparatus for reducing jitter in an integrated circuit
Methods and circuits to reduce jitter in a design block including partitioning the design block. A circuit design is partitioned into multiple partitioned design blocks performing the same task as the original circuit deign. In one embodiment, a core clock signal is supplied to each of the partitioned design blocks, having a frequency higher than frequency of the reference clock signal. Additionally each of the partitioned design blocks receives a mutually exclusive enable signal, where each of the partitioned design blocks may be activated once at a given time. |
| US07673264B1 |
System and method for verifying IP integrity in system-on-chip (SOC) design
An intellectual property (IP) integrity verification system and method operable with respect to integrating an IP design into a user's embedded IC design. In one embodiment, the IP design is partitioned into a plurality of IP modules based on the requirements of the embedded IC design. For each IP module, a corresponding integrity checker module is provided, wherein each integrity checker module has a port-wise correspondence with its corresponding IP module. The embedded IC design is simulated with the integrity checker modules rather than the IP modules for generating a netlist, which may be verified with respect to any interconnectivity errors associated with the IP modules. |
| US07673262B2 |
System and method for product yield prediction
A system and method for predicting yield of integrated circuits includes at least one type of characterization vehicle which incorporates at least one feature which is representative of at least one type of feature to be incorporated in the final integrated circuit product. The characterization vehicle is subjected to at least one of the process operations making up the fabrication cycle to be used in fabricating the integrated circuit product in order to produce a yield model. The yield model embodies a layout as defined by the characterization vehicle and preferably includes features which facilitate the gathering of electrical test data and testing of prototype sections at operating speeds. An extraction engine extracts predetermined layout attributes from a proposed product layout. Operating on the yield model, the extraction engine produces yield predictions as a function of layout attributes and broken down by layers or steps in the fabrication process. These yield predictions are then used to determine which areas in the fabrication process require the most improvement. |
| US07673260B2 |
Modeling device variations in integrated circuit design
DFM systems are provided that incorporate manufacturing variations in the analysis of integrated circuits by calculating predicted manufacturing variations on the shapes of interconnects and devices of the drawn layout of a circuit design. The shape variation on interconnects is converted to variations in resistor-capacitor (RC) parasitics. The shape variation on devices is converted to variations in device parameters. The variation in device parameters and wire parasitics is converted to changes in timing performance, signal integrity, and power consumption by determining the impact of device parameter and wire parasitic variations on the behavior of each instance of a standard cell. The results from these analyses are integrated back into the design flow as incremental delay files (timing), noise failures and buffer insertion/driver resizing commands (noise), and leakage power hotspots and cell substitution commands (power consumption). |
| US07673254B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for context and language specific data entry
An apparatus, system and method that allow for context and language specific data entry via a user interface. A user interface is displayed on a display device, where the user interface includes a data entry menu having one or more menu selections. A menu selection is activated. A data entry method is displayed, where the data entry method is context and language specific to the activated menu selection. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07673248B2 |
Combining calendar entries with map views
A method for displaying a calendar event on an electronic map includes steps of: receiving a request to generate a map view of a selected timeline of calendar events, wherein the calendar events are associated with event locations; converting event locations to geographic locations; generating a map view showing the geographic locations of the calendar events and legends representing the calendar events; and displaying the map view with the legends shown in close proximity to the locations of the calendar events. A user can elect to switch between a display of the map view and a display of a view of the selected timeline. A user can also select to create a calendar event on an electronic map by selecting a location associated with the calendar event on the map; receive a graphical user interface display, enter information about the calendar event on the graphical user interface display, and view the electronic map. |
| US07673246B2 |
Image information processing apparatus and method, virtual space presentation apparatus, information administration apparatus, and control methods thereof
An image information processing apparatus is provided to generate, from previously held image data, a display image according to a viewpoint designated by a user, and to communicate with a control apparatus which can communicate with plural image information processing apparatuses respectively generating display images and has a controller for controlling viewpoint information shared by the plural image information processing apparatuses on the basis of viewpoint information sent from the image information processing apparatus. This apparatus comprises a transmitter to calculate the viewpoint information based on a user's instruction and transmit it to the controller, a receiver to receive from the controller the viewpoint information for generating the display image, and an image generator to read the image data corresponding to the viewpoint information from the previously held image data for generating the display image, and generate and output the display image to a display. |
| US07673244B2 |
Responsive environment sensor systems with delayed activation
Systems and methods for delayed function activation in a responsive environment are described. A responsive environment includes an intermediary system and notification manager to determine when a responsive environment will launch an application triggered by a sensed event. The environment includes sensor components and transparent software components that reside wholly within the environment for providing responsiveness. The environment also includes interactive software components that give users the means to provide input and/or experience output. Since changes to the interaction components may disrupt the user by requiring the user's attention when it is not convenient, the system helps the user manage the responsive environment by using an application/function delay technique. The environment uses an intelligence and notification mechanism to determine what might be useful and primes the apparatus to provide that functionality. However, the user actually initiates the execution of that function. |
| US07673241B2 |
User interface for multi-media communication for the visually disabled
A method, user interface module, computer program product, computer system and system that enable a graphical user interface to be used by persons with visual disabilities. The graphical user interface includes a toolbar, which provides features that enable a visually disabled user to navigate and activate the functions provided by buttons or other controls on the communication toolbar. As a user navigates around the user interface, auditory messages are read describing functionality of different features of the graphical user interface. The text can be audibly read by, for example, a screen reader module. By using a hotkey or menu navigation, a user can issue commands that would normally be issued by clicking on the toolbar. Furthermore, the user can type text into text input boxes, select items from combo boxes, enable broadcast messages to be read, and choose to listen to status messages. |
| US07673239B2 |
Synthetic audiovisual description scheme, method and system for MPEG-7
A method and system for description of synthetic audiovisual content makes it easier for humans, software components or devices to identify, manage, categorize, search, browse and retrieve such content. For instance, a user may wish to search for specific synthetic audiovisual objects in digital libraries, Internet web sites or broadcast media; such a search is enabled by the invention. Key characteristics of synthetic audiovisual content itself such as the underlying 2d or 3d models and parameters for animation of these models are used to describe it. More precisely, to represent features of synthetic audiovisual content, depending on the description scheme to be used, a number of descriptors are selected and assigned values. The description scheme instantiated with descriptor values is used to generate the description, which is then stored for actual use during query/search. Typically, a user, to search for a needed synthetic audiovisual content initiates a query that is passed on to a search engine that then retrieves the candidate content from one or more databases whose description closely matches the query criteria specified by the user. |
| US07673236B2 |
Method of inputting text into a data processing apparatus
There is disclosed a method of inputting text into a data processing apparatus, including the steps of (a) providing a database of words arranged hierarchically into a plurality of levels; (b) displaying at least one window on a visual display unit of said data processing apparatus; (c) showing a plurality of said words in said at least one window; (d) choosing a word or words from said plurality of words shown in said at least one window; and (e) outputting an output in response to choosing of said word(s) in said step (d). There is also disclosed a computer program configured and executable, when installed in a data processing apparatus, to (a) provide in said data processing apparatus a database of words arranged hierarchically into a plurality of levels, (b) display at least one window on a visual display unit of said data processing apparatus, (c) show a plurality of said words in said at least one window, (d) choose a word or words from said plurality of words shown in said at least one window; and (e) output an output in response to choosing of said word(s) in (d) above. |
| US07673235B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing an object model to manage document parts for use in an electronic document
A method and apparatus are provided for utilizing a document object model to manage document parts for use in an electronic document. The document object model enables a user to retrieve, insert, add, and delete document parts to and from an electronic document using a programmable interface from within a word processing application program. A document part programming interface is exposed in the object model and methods associated with the object model are called which return objects enabling the location and management of document parts in a document parts collection. |
| US07673230B2 |
Discoverability and navigation of hyperlinks via tabs
A user may discover and navigate among hyperlinks through the use of a keyboard. For example, a user may press a tab key to discover and navigate to a first hyperlink that is part of a hypertext document. The first hyperlink is, in response, given focus and a focus shape is drawn around the text or graphics for the hot region of the hyperlink. If the user again presses the tab key, the next hyperlink is given focus and a focus shape (i.e., an outline that surrounds the next hyperlink) is drawn around the next hyperlink. A user may also tab to a placeholder for an image in order to make a decision whether the image should be downloaded or not. |
| US07673224B2 |
Low power viterbi decoder using a novel register-exchange architecture
An apparatus and method of reducing power dissipation in a register exchange implementation of a Viterbi decoder used in a digital receiver or mass-storage system without degrading the bit error rate of the decoder, by selectively inhibiting data samples in the Viterbi decoder's register memory from being shifted if the data samples have converged to a single value. FIFO memories keep track of what data samples have converged, the order of the samples, and the converged data value, thereby keeping the decoded data in the FIFO synchronized with data continuing to be shifted through the register memory. |
| US07673222B2 |
Error-correcting apparatus including multiple error-correcting modules functioning in parallel and related method
An apparatus for error-correcting an input signal to generate an output signal. The apparatus includes an unreliable-location determining module for determining unreliable-locations of the input signal and generating an indication signal accordingly, a first error-correcting module for error-correcting the input signal to generate a first candidate signal, a second error-correcting module coupled to the unreliable-location determining module for error-correcting the input signal with reference to the indication signal to generate a second candidate signal, and a selecting module coupled to the first and second error-correcting modules for selecting one of the first and second candidate signals to be the output signal. |
| US07673218B2 |
System for decoding bit stream printed on surface
A system for decoding coded data printed in ink on a surface. The coded data includes an encoded bit stream and associated redundancy data, and a registration structure of clock tracks indicative of a position of the coded data in the direction perpendicular to an alignment direction and two alignment lines for each clock track. The system has a store for storing the coded data and a decoder for determining a codeword format for the coded data, reading the coded data from the store using the determined format, correcting errors in the encoded bit stream, and writing the corrected data to the store. The coded data is read so as to de-interleave the encoded bit stream and redundancy data into codewords. The decoder uses an alignment phase-locked loop (PLL) to determine a position of the alignment lines so as to determine the position of each respective track and update the alignment PLL. |
| US07673217B2 |
Method of detecting data transmission errors in a CAN controller, and a CAN controller for carrying out the method
A method of detecting data transmission errors in a CAN controller includes generating at least one check bit that is verifiable for ensuring the consistency of the transmitted data. A CAN controller that ensures continuous error monitoring during data transmission includes an interface unit for exchanging data with a CAN bus, a memory unit for storing received data and data to be transmitted, and an electronic unit for controlling data transmission between the memory unit and the interface unit. The interface unit of the CAN controller has an arrangement for generating check bits for received data and for verifying check bits for data to be transmitted. |
| US07673211B2 |
Automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol having multiple complementary feedback mechanisms
Methods for efficiently controlling the retransmission of data units in a wireless telecommunication system, wherein multiple complementary feedback mechanisms are used to control retransmission. A receiver attempts to decode each received data unit. If a data unit is successfully decoded, the receiver transmits positive feedback to the transmitter; if a data unit is not successfully decoded, the receiver transmits negative feedback to the transmitter. In all cases, the transmitter employs at least first and second feedback mechanisms for transmitting the positive and negative feedback. In an exemplary embodiment, acknowledgement (ACK) and non-acknowledgement (NACK) messages are sent in response to the receipt of each data unit on a first unreliable channel and Status Messages identifying sequence numbers of particular data units are periodically transmitted on a second reliable channel; the receiver preferably removes data units from its transmit window only upon receipt of a Status Message indicating successful decode. |
| US07673210B2 |
Methods and apparatus for diagnosing a degree of interference between a plurality of faults in a system under test
A method for diagnosing a degree of interference between a plurality of faults in a system under test, the faults being detected by means of applying a test suite to the system under test, includes: 1) for each of the plurality of faults, and for each of a plurality of test syndromes, where a test syndrome is a pattern of passing and failing tests of the test suite, determining relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes; and 2) using the relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes to calculate and display to a user, via a graphical user interface, and for the test suite as a whole, test suite degrees of interference between pairs of the faults. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07673205B2 |
Semiconductor IC and testing method thereof
According to the present invention, the outputs of the last scanning flip-flop circuits 12 included in scan chains 111 are compiled and compressed in an output compression circuit 112, a sum of the outputs from the scan chains 111 and an expected value written in an expected value storage circuit 113 from the outside are compared with each other in an expected value decision circuit 114, the sum being outputted from the output compression circuit 112, a pass/fail decision result obtained by the comparison can be outputted from an output terminal 116 of the expected value decision circuit 114 to the outside, and the decision result can be stored regardless of the reset of a system. |
| US07673204B2 |
Method using non-linear compression to generate a set of test vectors for use in scan testing an integrated circuit
A method is provided that uses non-linear data compression in order to generate a set of test vectors for use in scan testing an integrated circuit. The method includes the steps of initially designing the set of test vectors, and selecting one of multiple available coding schemes for each test vector wherein at least two of the coding schemes selected for encoding are different from one another, and wherein one of the available coding schemes represents non-encoded data. The method further comprises operating a random pattern generator to generate data blocks, each corresponding to one of the test vectors, wherein the data block corresponding to a given test vector is encoded with a bit pattern representing the coding scheme of the given test vector. The corresponding data block also has a bit length that is less than the bit length of the given test vector. Each data block is routed to a plurality of decoders, wherein each decoder is adapted to recognize only one of the coding schemes represented by one of the bit patterns. The decoder recognizing the coding scheme of the data block decodes the bit pattern of the data block and generates the test vectors corresponding to the data block. |
| US07673203B2 |
Interconnect delay fault test controller and test apparatus using the same
An interconnect delay fault test controller and a test apparatus using the same wherein an update operation and a capture operation may be carried out in one interval of a system clock or a core clock when carrying out an interconnect delay fault test between an IEEE P1500 wrapped cores in a SoC as well as an interconnect wire on a board based on an IEEE 1149.1, and wherein the interconnect delay fault test using different system clocks or core clocks may be carried out simultaneously in one test cycle corresponding to each system clock or core clock even when multiple system clocks or core clocks exists is disclosed. |
| US07673202B2 |
Single event upset test circuit and methodology
A method, involving: inputting an initial data pattern into a scan chain circuit of an integrated circuit device; applying a particle beam to the integrated circuit device, while driving the scan chain circuit with a clock signal, to generate an output data pattern; and generating a single event upset error rate test result based on a comparison between the output data pattern and the initial data pattern. |
| US07673201B1 |
Recovering a prior state of a circuit design within a programmable integrated circuit
A method of restoring a selected operational state of a circuit design implemented within a programmable integrated circuit (IC) can include pipelining a clock gating signal that selectively pauses a clock of the circuit design, and storing configuration data specifying an operational state of the circuit design at a first simulation clock cycle in non-configuration memory. At a second simulation clock cycle, the clock of the circuit design can be gated. The stored configuration data can be loaded into configuration memory of the programmable IC, wherein loading the configuration data reconfigures the circuit design and restores the operational state of the circuit design in existence at the first simulation clock cycle. The clock of the circuit design can be advanced a number of clock cycles corresponding to a difference between the second simulation clock cycle and the first simulation clock cycle. |
| US07673197B2 |
Polymorphic automatic test systems and methods
An Analog/mixed signal automatic test system includes a software architecture that creates a virtual composite instruments through novel software dynamic allocation of low level resources. These virtual composite instruments provide backwards and forwards compatibility to a variety of automatic test equipment, known or available on the market. The virtual composite instruments are free from the normal constraints imposed by hardware implementations. Creation of the virtual composite instruments allows a single piece of automatic test equipment system to emulate many implementations of automatic test equipment, providing higher utilization, and therefore a lower cost test solution for device manufacturers. The test instruments are preferably object controls and are preferably instantiated and controlled by the test system server. This allows multiple users to control the tester simultaneously across, for example, the Internet. |
| US07673196B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating with a target circuit
A system and method are disclosed which may include establishing a stored test vector, including a plurality of data bits, within a vector data engine; transmitting the stored test vector to a memory array; performing at least one arithmetic or logical operation upon the stored test vector by a vector data generator within the vector data engine to update the stored test vector; and repeating the steps of transmitting and performing so as to continuously transmit continuously changing stored test vectors to the memory array. |
| US07673192B2 |
System and method of uncorrelated code hopping in a communications system
A system and method are used to provide uncorrelated code hopping in a communications system. A multi-bit linear shift register receives data and clocks the data fifteen times. A word assembler receives the shifted data and outputs a fifteen bit word. A mixer mixes the fifteen bit word with an numerical value of active codes to generate a mixed signal. A divider divides the mixed signal to produce a divided signal. A truncator truncates the divided signal to its seven most significant bits to produce a pseudo random hop number. A code matrix shifter circularly shifts the active codes in a code matrix based on the pseudo random hop number to produce a circularly shifted code. A transmitter transmits the circularly shifted code matrix. |
| US07673191B2 |
Baselining backend component error rate to determine application performance
Deviation of an expected error rate for a backend server invoked by an application to process a request is used to characterize the backend server health. Performance data generated in response to monitoring application execution is processed to select backend error rate data. The selected data is processed to predict future values of a time series associated with backend error rates. The predicted error rate values are compared to actual error rate values in the time series to determine a deviation from the predicted value. Deviation information for the time series data of error rates is then reported to a user through an interface in a simplified manner. |
| US07673189B2 |
Technique for mapping goal violations to anamolies within a system
A computer and method for problem detection and determination for automated system management in a system, wherein the method comprises monitoring system state, workload, and performance parameters of the system; comparing the monitored parameters against normal system performance behavior of the system, wherein the normal system performance behavior is maintained as a mapping of a system state and workload-to-performance parameters; summarizing performance abnormalities at a specified layer in the system as computation and data-processing attributes, wherein the performance abnormalities comprise deviations from the normal system performance behavior; correlating the performance abnormalities across multiple layers in the system using an attribute-based framework; and communicating a root-cause of the performance abnormalities. |
| US07673188B2 |
System and method for controlling synchronous functional microprocessor redundancy during test and method for determining results
A system for testing a processor. The system includes a gold processor and a test access port (TAP). A processor that is a device under test (DUT) is coupled to both the gold processor and the TAP. In the first mode, the TAP provides test signals to both the gold processor and the DUT while they operate in synchronous functional lockstep. In the second mode, the TAP provides signals to the gold processor. In the third mode, the TAP provides test signals to the DUT. A host computer coupled to the interface control unit executes a software application to cause the TAP to drive test signals and to access test output data from the gold processor and the DUT. Test output data accessed from the gold processor may be compared to that accessed from the DUT to determine any differences. The comparison data generated may then be used for further analysis. |
| US07673187B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for reducing trace bandwidth
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for reducing trace bandwidth. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic for generating trace elements for inclusion in the stream, the trace generation logic including compression logic for performing a compression process on at least some trace elements prior to inclusion in the stream. A storage is also provided in association with the trace logic for providing control information which is dependent on an operating environment of the logic producing the data elements. The trace generation logic is arranged to reference that control information in order to adapt the compression process performed by the compression logic having regard to the operating environment. By such an approach, the efficiency of the compression process can be maintained irrespective of the operating environment of the logic producing the data elements. |
| US07673185B2 |
Adaptive SAS PHY configuration
A SAS expander adaptively configures a Serial-Attached-SCSI (SAS) PHY to accommodate varying lengths of a cable coupling the PHY to a remote PHY. The expander (a) configures the SAS PHY with settings of an entry of a table of PHY configuration settings, each entry in the table having different PHY configuration setting values; (b) clears a counter; (c) operates the PHY to communicate with the remote PHY for a monitoring period, after configuring the PHY and clearing the counter; (d) increments the counter when the PHY detects a PHY event during the monitoring period, and otherwise decrements the counter; (e) repeats steps (c) and (d) unless the counter rises above a threshold; and (f) when the counter rises above the threshold, repeats steps (a) through (e), wherein step (a) is performed with the settings of a different entry of the table. |
| US07673184B2 |
Flow control methodology for digital retiming devices
A network diagnostic device or component such as a network analyzer or a jammer that is placed in-line between two nodes in a network to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation. The network diagnostic device may include a diagnostic module configured to perform network analyzer operations, a memory a first flow control module a second flow control module. In some embodiments, when performing the flow control operation, various modules and/or components may cause the network diagnostic device to enter a first pass-through mode and to then enter into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode. The various modules and/or components may also cause the network diagnostic device to enter a second pass-through mode from the first flow control handshaking mode and to then enter into a second flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode. |
| US07673183B2 |
Identifying temporal ambiguity in an aggregated log stream
A method and system for ordering and aggregating log streams. Log streams for events from different sources are received. If different sources have different recording cycles, or time epochs, that lead to different temporal granularities, then all of the log streams are combined into a single time epoch that is equal to the longest time epoch. Log streams from sources having shorter time epochs continue to retain information about their original time epochs, in order to retain information about the order of the events in those log streams. The log streams are re-ordered, both before and after being integrated into the aggregate log, by acquiring additional data from the different sources, thus permitting the likely cause/effect relationship between events. |
| US07673180B1 |
Method and apparatus for dispatching a remote debugging agent in a distributed computing environment
A method for dispatching a remote debugging agent (RDA), involving embedding the RDA in a target program to obtain a remotely debuggable target program, submitting the remotely debuggable target program to a distributed computing environment, wherein the distributed computing environment includes a plurality of nodes, executing the remotely debuggable target program on at least one of the plurality of nodes, establishing a connection between the RDA and a central debugging tool, and debugging the remotely debuggable target program using the central debugging tool. |
| US07673179B2 |
Online testing unification system with remote test automation technology
The present invention is directed to an online product validation solution integrating an online testing module configured to assist a user to create test cases and a remote test automation module configured to execute the created test cases on remote test systems. When a user creates a test plan, complete test coverage for the test plan may be ensured and cross-checked with product specifications stored in the knowledge database. Moreover, seamless integration of the online testing module and the remote test automation module may provide a uniform interface for generating both manual and automated test cases. Test case status is reported within the test plan in synchronicity with test case execution. |
| US07673178B2 |
Break and optional hold on failure
Break and optional hold preserves a state of a computing environment on which a software program has failed. Being able to examine the status of the environment existing upon the occurrence of the failure, including the condition of various processes and values facilitates resolution of the cause of the failure. Upon occurrence of a failure during the execution of a first software program in a first computing environment, execution of the first software program breaks. A first state of the first computing environment existing upon the breaking in execution of the first software program is then held. A failure notification is generated to signal the failure to a monitoring system. The monitoring system accesses hold information to determine whether the first computing environment should hold its current state and whether one or more other computing environments interacting with the first computing environment should also hold their states. |
| US07673176B2 |
Apparatus and method to locate a failed device in a data storage system
A computing device comprising a plurality of devices and a plurality of visual indicators is disclosed. Each of the plurality of visual indicators is interconnected with a power source and is associated with a different one of the plurality of devices. None of the plurality of visual indicators comprises a capacitor. |
| US07673174B2 |
Recovering device drivers
A solution to the problem of maintaining application integrity when device drivers fail. This solution employs a new mechanism, the shadow driver, which is an operating system (OS) kernel agent that monitors communication between the OS kernel and the device driver it “shadows.” When a device driver error occurs, the shadow driver acts in place of the failed device driver, intercepting and responding to calls from the OS kernel and the device driver during cleanup, unloading, reloading, and re-initialization of the failed device driver. Applications and the OS kernel are thus isolated from the failure. An initial embodiment was developed for use with the Linux™ OS and was tested with a dozen device drivers. Results demonstrate that shadow drivers successfully mask device driver failures from applications, impose minimal performance overhead, require no changes to existing applications and device drivers, and can be implemented with relatively little code. |
| US07673171B2 |
Systems and methods for CPU repair
Systems and methods for repairing a processor are provided. In one embodiment, a method for repairing a processor is provided that includes, for example, the steps of initializing and executing an operating system, determining that a cache element is faulty, and swapping in a spare cache element for said faulty cache element while the operating system is executing. |
| US07673169B1 |
Techniques for implementing an adaptive data access error handling policy
Techniques for implementing an adaptive data access error handling policy are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a system comprising a shared storage device communicatively coupled to a network, and a computer cluster communicatively coupled to the network, the computer cluster comprising a plurality of nodes each mounting a shared file system thereon, a first node of the plurality of nodes to send a data access request to the shared storage device, to identify a data access error associated with the data access request, and to determine whether to permit access to the shared file system based on the data access error being a local data access error or a global data access error. |
| US07673167B2 |
RAID array data member copy offload in high density packaging
A computer-implemented method replaces a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array member storage device configured in high density packaging. The high density packaging includes a plurality of field-replaceable units (FRUs). Each FRU has an associated plurality of storage devices. A first spare storage device of a first FRU is captured. The first FRU is dedicated as a plurality of spare storage devices by a RAID controller. A small computer system interface (SCSI) enclosure services (SES) processor (SESP) is initialized to read data from the RAID array member storage device and transfer the data to the first spare storage device. The first spare storage device and the RAID array member storage device are co-resident within a serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) expander local port domain. |
| US07673166B2 |
Computation of processor clock frequency ratios
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for computation of processor clock frequency ratios in a multi-processor system. The apparatus includes a computation engine configured to determine a processor clock frequency ratio by reading counter values of a first counter and of a second counter within a frequency ratio computation interval, and configured to determine a value of the second counter at an end of a frequency ratio valid interval where the frequency ratio is applied, wherein the frequency ratio valid interval is subsequent to the frequency ratio computation interval, and wherein the frequency ratio valid interval does not overlap the frequency ratio computation interval. |
| US07673162B2 |
Information processing terminal with wake on LAN and power control method thereof
An information processing terminal includes a WOL monitoring unit for monitoring whether or not a particular packet for indicating resumption of operation from a suspended state is received, a resume processing unit for resuming the operation from the suspended state, a factor monitoring unit for recording a factor of the resumption to a memory, a cancel monitoring unit for monitoring whether or not a cancel signal to a communication request received after the resumption is received, and a suspend processing unit for switching the operation to the suspended state when the factor of the resumption is reception of the particular packet as well as the cancel signal is received after the resumption. With this arrangement, power consumption of the information processing terminal can be suppressed. |
| US07673156B1 |
Multimedia electronic device
An SCP (System Control Processor) 7 is provided in addition to a CPU 1 responsible for control of circuits in a computer. Upon receiving a Main ON signal (low level) indicative of the CPU 1 being inactive, the SCP 7 responds to a switch operation on a control panel 6 to supply a CD-ROM drive 2 with a command corresponding to the switch operation on said control panel 6 independently of the CPU 1 as well as to feed a high-level CD-POWER-ON signal to a power supply circuit 8 through an OR circuit 9. The power supply circuit 8 selectively supplies the CD-ROM drive 2 and an Audio amplifier 10 with driving power upon receiving the high-level signal. |
| US07673154B2 |
Recording medium, recording method, information transmission method, terminal device, and server device
A recording medium including at least a lead-in region, a recording region in which information is recorded, and a lead-out region. In this configuration, medium information including medium identification information and relevant information is recorded in at least any one of the lead-in region, the recording region, and the lead-out region. |
| US07673146B2 |
Methods and systems of remote authentication for computer networks
As part of a network node authentication process, a MAC address or other globally unique identifier of an access point through which the network node will access a computer network is transmitted in an EAP or other authentication message to an authentication server to uniquely identify the access point to the authentication server. |
| US07673143B1 |
JXTA rendezvous as certificate of authority
A method for securing a communication between a peer node and an intermediary peer node in a peer-to-peer network comprises the peer node generating a secured communication request to the intermediary peer node. The intermediary peer node authenticates the peer node in response to the secured communication request. The intermediary peer node issues a signed certificate of authority upon successful authentication. |
| US07673137B2 |
System and method for the managed security control of processes on a computer system
Managing and controlling the execution of software programs with a computing device to protect the computing device from malicious activities. A protector system implements a two-step process to ensure that software programs do not perform malicious activities which may damage the computing device or other computing resources to which the device is coupled. In the first phase, the protector system determines whether a software program has been previously approved and validates that the software program has not been altered. If the software program is validated during the first phase, this will minimize or eliminate security monitoring operations while the software program is executing during the second phase. If the software program cannot be validated, the protector system enters the second phase and detects and observes executing activities at the kernel level of the operating system so that suspicious actions can be anticipated and addressed before they are able to do harm to the computing device. |
| US07673134B2 |
Backup restore in a corporate infrastructure
A method and system for remotely storing a user's admin key to gain access to an intranet is presented. The user's admin key and intranet user identification (ID) are encrypted using an enterprise's public key, and together they are concatenated into a single backup admin file, which is stored in the user's client computer. If the user needs his admin file and is unable to access it in a backup client computer, he sends the encrypted backup admin file to a backup server and his unencrypted intranet user ID to an intranet authentication server. The backup server decrypts the user's single backup admin file to obtain the user's admin key and intranet user ID. If the unencrypted intranet user ID in the authentication server matches the decrypted intranet user ID in the backup server, then the backup server sends the backup client computer the decrypted admin key. |
| US07673131B2 |
Booting an operating system in discrete stages
A computing device is configured to assemble and boot an operating system in stages. A primary boot image is first obtained that includes enough of the operating system to support basic networking. Once the primary boot image is obtained, either through download or from storage on the device, the primary boot image is booted to start the networking. Once the networking is active, the boot activity for the device is suspended and one or more secondary operating system images are downloaded by the device. These images are chained to the primary boot image thereby creating a single/cohesive operating system. These secondary operating system images are successively booted in “stages” with each successive stage building upon the functionality of the previous stage. |
| US07673127B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling a computer system by loading and executing an updated hardware specific boot routine to modify the operating system
A system and method for utilizing generic computer operating system software for computer hardware systems designed subsequent to the operating system software. The system and method of the present invention employs a separate modular software file called a System Enabler that has all patches, code, data and resources needed to make a particular computer system operational. The System Enabler file is matched to a particular hardware system and may be bundled with that hardware system. During computer system start up the System Enabler file modifies the generic operating system software for optimum operation with the particular computer hardware system. |
| US07673126B2 |
Methods and apparatus to self-initialize a processor
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self-initialize a processor. An example method disclosed herein detects a processor reset, receives initialization instructions from a core zone, establishes a core zone boundary, executes received initialization instructions, and publishes a data structure, the data structure comprising state information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07673125B2 |
Resetting multiple cells within a partition of a multiple partition computer system
One embodiment of the invention is a method for resetting a partition of a multiple partition system, wherein the partition comprises a plurality of processors, the method comprising executing, by one processor of the plurality of processors, reset code from firmware, building a list of reset register addresses associated with the plurality of processors, sending an interrupt to the other processors of the plurality of processors, resetting the other processors by writing a reset code to their associated reset registers, and resetting the one processor by writing to its associated reset register. |
| US07673122B1 |
Software hint to specify the preferred branch prediction to use for a branch instruction
Software hints embedded in branch instructions direct selection of one of a plurality of branch predictors to use when processing the branch instructions, leading to improved branch prediction (i.e. fewer mis-predictions) over conventional schemes. A software agent assembles branch instructions having associated respective branch predictor control fields compatible with a branch predictor selector and a plurality of branch predictors. Each branch predictor control field is used to perform branch predictor selection, branch predictor control, or both. Branch predictor selection enables selective branch prediction according to an appropriate one of the branch predictors as determined by the software agent by examining context surrounding the branch instruction. Branch predictor control enables control of operation of one or more of the branch predictors. For example, a history-based branch predictor may be instructed to provide branch prediction according to a history-depth specified by the branch predictor control. |
| US07673120B2 |
Inter-cluster communication network and heirarchical register files for clustered VLIW processors
A VLIW processor has a hierarchy of functional unit clusters that communicate through explicit control in the instruction stream and store data in register files at each level of the hierarchy. Explicit instructions transfer values between sub-clusters through a cluster level switch network. Transfer instructions issue in dedicated instruction issue slots in parallel with instructions that perform computation in functional units. The switch network can perform permutations on the data being moved. The switch network enables for operands to be broadcast between the sub-clusters, global register file and memory. |
| US07673116B2 |
Input/output memory management unit that implements memory attributes based on translation data
In one embodiment, an input/output (I/O) memory management unit (IOMMU) comprises at least one memory and control logic coupled to the memory. The memory is configured to store translation data corresponding to one or more I/O translation tables stored in a memory system of a computer system that includes the IOMMU. The control logic is configured to translate an I/O device-generated memory request using the translation data. The translation data includes a type field indicating one or more attributes of the translation, and the control logic is configured to control the translation responsive to the type field. |
| US07673115B1 |
Data operation validation
Described are techniques for processing a data operation. A data operation is received at a data storage system. The data operation requests a modification of data stored in the data storage system. A first address is obtained that represents a starting address of the data operation. A calculation is performed representing a boundary condition of the starting address of the data operation. Based on the calculation, it is determined whether the data operation has a starting address which is properly aligned. |
| US07673110B2 |
Control method of device in storage system for virtualization
In a system where a first storage system and a second storage system are connected to a third storage system, when the first storage system virtualizes and provides a device in the third storage system as a device in its own storage system, update data stored in a cache in the first storage system is written into the device of the third storage system to be reflected, attributes of the device are transferred to the second storage system, and the second storage system virtualizes the device of the third storage system as a device of its own storage system. |
| US07673108B2 |
Methods and systems for distributed caching in presence of updates and in accordance with holding times
Techniques for cache management including cache replacement are provided. In one aspect, a distributed caching technique of the invention comprises the use of a central cache and one or more local caches. The central cache communicates with the one or more local caches and coordinates updates to the local caches, including cache replacement. The invention also provides techniques for adaptively determining holding times associated with data storage applications such as those involving caches. |
| US07673107B2 |
Storage system and storage control device
A virtualization system, including: at least one first port coupled to at least one host system; at least one second port coupled to a plurality of storage systems; wherein the virtualization system is capable to control to perform processes of splitting a relationship between the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume; storing first differential information identifying data of a first write request; write data of first write request to a storage area of the disk drives related to the first logical volume; storing second differential information identifying data of a second write request, the data of the second request being written after the splitting step, receiving a differential copying request; to copy differential data from the first virtual volume to the second virtual volume, or to copy differential data from the second virtual volume to the first virtual volume. |
| US07673102B2 |
Method and system for maximum residency replacement of cache memory
Techniques for use in CDMA-based products and services, including replacing cache memory allocation so as to maximize residency of a plurality of set ways following a tag-miss allocation. Herein, steps forming a first-in, first-out (FIFO) replacement listing of victim ways for the cache memory, wherein the depth of the FIFO replacement listing approximately equals the number of ways in the cache set. The method and system place a victim way on the FIFO replacement listing only in the event that a tag-miss results in a tag-miss allocation, the victim way is placed at the tail of the FIFO replacement listing after any previously selected victim way. Use of a victim way on the FIFO replacement listing is prevented in the event of an incomplete prior allocation of the victim way by, for example, stalling a reuse request until such initial allocation of the victim way completes or replaying a reuse request until such initial allocation of the victim way completes. |
| US07673101B2 |
Re-assigning cache line ways
An information carrier medium containing software that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to receive information from circuit logic that is adapted to collect the information from caches on different cache levels. Each of the caches comprises a plurality of cache lines, and each cache line is associated with a way. The software also causes the processor to reassign the way of a cache line to a different way. |
| US07673099B1 |
Affinity caching
Described are techniques for initializing a cache in connection with storing a received data set. A previously stored data set that is similar to the received data set is identified. A cache is initialized in accordance with the previously stored data set. Processing is performed using the cache to store the received data set. |
| US07673091B2 |
Method to hide or reduce access latency of a slow peripheral in a pipelined direct memory access system
A bus bridge between a high speed DMA bus and a lower speed peripheral bus sets a threshold for minimum available buffer space to send a read request dependent upon a frequency ratio and the DMA read latency. Similarly, a threshold for minimum available data for a write request depends on the frequency ratio and the DMA write latency. The bus bridge can store programmable values for the DMA read latency and write latency. |
| US07673090B2 |
Hot plug interface control method and apparatus
Hot plug modules comprising processors, memory, and/or I/O hubs may be added to and removed from a running computing device without rebooting the running computing device. The hot plug modules and computing device comprise hot plug interfaces that support hot plug addition and hot plug removal of the hot plug modules. |
| US07673086B2 |
Retrieving lock attention data using an attention connection path selected from a group of attention connection paths associated with a host
Provided are techniques for retrieving lock attention data. A group of attention connection paths configured to transmit lock attention interrupts and lock attention data between the host and the control unit are identified. A lock attention interrupt is received from the control unit. In response to receiving the lock attention interrupt, a connection path from the group of attention connection paths is selected and lock attention data is retrieved from the control unit using the selected connection path. |
| US07673085B2 |
Multi-channel communication circuit
A multi-channel communication circuit includes a master device, a plurality of slave devices, and a multiplexer (MUX). A transmitting pin and a receiving pin of a serial interface of the master device are respectively connected to a first data input pin and a first data output pin of the MUX. Two control pins of the serial interface of the master device are connected to two selecting pins of the MUX. Four pins of the serial interface of the master device are connected to a power pin of the MUX. Transmitting pins of a serial interface of each slave device are respectively connected to a plurality of second data input pins of the MUX and receiving pins of a serial interface of each slave device are respectively connected to a plurality of second data output pins of the MUX, the master device communicates with one slave device via transmitting a corresponding selecting signal to the two selecting pins of the MUX to select one slave device. |
| US07673084B2 |
Bus system and methods of operation using a combined data and synchronization line to communicate between bus master and slaves
A bus system and methods for initialization and communication in a bus system are presented. |
| US07673080B1 |
Differential data transfer for flash memory card
A flash memory card includes a differential datapath that enables communications between the flash memory card and a host device to be performed using differential signals. The differential datapath can translate between the differential signals and card-specific signals that control read/write operations to the memory array of the flash memory card. The card-specific signals can be standard MultiMediaCard, Secure-Digital card, Memory Stick, or CompactFlash card signals, among others. A host device that provides differential data transfer capability can include a similar differential datapath. By using differential data transfer rather than conventional clocked data transfer, overall data bandwidth between a flash memory card and a host device can be significantly increased, while simultaneously decreasing power consumption and pin requirements. |
| US07673079B2 |
Peripheral accessory specification identification and transmission
In an apparatus to be controlled 20 such as a USB-compatible peripheral device connected to a controlling apparatus such as a personal computer, when a specification change is detected such as a change in the apparatus to be controlled 20 itself and a change in the connection situation of an attached device 30 (S201: YES), identification information corresponding to the changed specification is extracted (S205) and the extracted identification information is set as identification information to be transmitted to the controlling apparatus 10 (S206). The identification information having been set is transmitted to the controlling apparatus 10, and the controlling apparatus 10 controls the apparatus to be controlled 20 having the changed specification, on the basis of the identification information. This controlling apparatus for controlling the apparatus to be controlled on the basis of the identification information for identifying the apparatus to be controlled adjusts easily to the change in the specification of the apparatus to be controlled. |
| US07673077B2 |
Multi-protocol iSCSI device discovery for on demand device enumeration
A target discovery manager associated with a target discovery layer is interposed between a host initiator and one or more discovery protocols. The target discovery manager maintains a list of target devices found by each of several target discovery protocols. For each discovered target device listed, the associated discovery protocols that discovered the target device are prioritized and coalesced into a single enumerated target device register. The target device register provides the host initiator with a single list of known target devices produced from multiple discovery protocols with the discovery protocols that independently discovered each device prioritized according to various parameters. |
| US07673076B2 |
Concurrent read response acknowledge enhanced direct memory access unit
An enhanced direct memory access (EDMA) operation issues a read command to the source port to request data. The port returns the data along with response information, which contains the channel and valid byte count. The EDMA stores the read data into a write buffer and acknowledges to the source port that the EDMA can accept more data. The read response and data can come from more than one port and belong to different channels. Removing channel prioritizing according to this invention allows the EDMA to store read data in the write buffer and the EDMA then can acknowledge the port read response concurrently across all channels. This improves the EDMA inbound and outbound data flow dramatically. |
| US07673075B1 |
Pass-through information transfers in serial communications between a device and a host
A device communicatively coupled to a host in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format. The device includes a processor to control operations in the device and a serial interface to control serial communication in accordance with the SATA format with the host. The serial interface during the transmission of primitives in a pass-through phase, inserts pass-through information to the host within or outside of a Frame Information Structure (FIS). If the host is not pass-through enabled, the host ignores the pass-through information. However, if the host is pass-through enabled, the host recognizes the pass-through information. |
| US07673069B2 |
Strong routing consistency protocol in structured peer-to-peer overlays
A structured peer-to-peer overlay performs a key-based routing (KBR) that achieves a strong routing consistency guarantee as well as reasonable scalability. The key space of the structured overlay is partitioned into zones, each separately managed by a group membership service that provides total ordering of membership query and change actions. The strongly consistent KBR has two phases: first, a key value is routed to a contact node in its zone via a weakly consistent KBR protocol; and then performing a lookup of the destination node for the key value by the contact node using the group membership service of the zone. By appropriately tuning the zone size, the strongly consistent KBR balances the trade-off between scalability and routing liveness. The KBR can maintain this balance by merging and splitting zones to account for system chum and scale changes. |
| US07673066B2 |
File transfer protocol for mobile computer
A method is disclosed for communicating using a device having a Palm OS. SMB is preferentially used to communicate with a node, and if use of SMB is not possible, FTP is used, and if use of FTP is not possible, Bluetooth is used. If FTP or Bluetooth is selected as the protocol, file sharing between the device and node that entails a read or write is executed by temporarily copying a file to an internal Palm OS memory of the device, performing the read or write on the file, and then copying the file back to the node to overwrite a previous version of the file at the node. For non-Palm OS file transfer to the internal memory, the file is wrapped in a Palm OS stream in the internal memory for executing reads or writes. For file transfer to an expansion Palm OS memory card, byte-to-byte copying of the file is executed using the FAT of the expansion memory, with the file being transferred through an internal Palm OS memory of the device. |
| US07673065B2 |
Support for sharing computation between aggregations in a data stream management system
A computer is programmed to process a continuous query that is known to perform a new aggregation on one or more stream(s) of data, using one or more other aggregations on the stream(s). The computer creates an operator to execute the continuous query, and schedules the operator for execution in a specific order. In several embodiments, the computer determines the order based on dependency of the new aggregation on other aggregation(s), and on the order of performance of the other aggregation(s). The new aggregation is scheduled for performance after performance of each of the other aggregations. The computer is further programmed to pass results of the other aggregations to the new aggregation, by execution of a predetermined function. Support for use of the other aggregations results within the new aggregation eliminates redundant computation of the other aggregations within the new aggregation. The new aggregation may be user defined or built-in. |
| US07673062B2 |
Method and apparatus for assisting with playback of remotely stored media files
A software based system for facilitating streaming of media files to a device over a wide area network (WAN) includes an agent process, an authentication process, a client services process and a client process. The agent process catalogs local media files and advises the authentication process of it's availability on the WAN and the address at which it may be contacted. The client process contacts the client services process to obtain, after authenticating with it, the WAN address of the agent process and contacts the agent process to receive information or meta-data describing the media files available for streaming. The client process obtains information for forming a URI or playlist, that it then passes to a media player to request the stream over the WAN. Alternately, the client process may direct the agent process to pass the URL to another client process on, for example, the same local area network. |
| US07673059B2 |
Tracking electronic content
A method of tracking electronic content includes producing a file of electronic content and executable instructions that collect notification information and attempt to transmit the notification information to an address when triggered by an event. The executable instructions deny access to the electronic content until the notification information is transmitted successfully. |
| US07673055B2 |
System and method for automatically responding to a received communication
A device and a method of responding to a received interrupt event received by a communication device is provided. The method comprises accessing data associated with a calendar application and/or a location application to determine a current state of availability of a user of the device using data; determining whether a response action is to be sent in response to the event when the device is note available; and sending the response action. The device incorporates modules to perform the method. |
| US07673053B1 |
System and method for providing a communications service in distributed computing environment
A broker of the present invention enables distributed applications to communicate with a server in distributed computing environment. The broker receives from a client a request to execute a transaction. The broker receives input parameters including input data. The broker uses a routing service to locate the server. The broker then establishes a communications connection to the server and forwards the input data. The transaction is executed and the broker receives a response from the server. The broker forwards the response to the client. The broker can segment the input data before forwarding the input data to the server. If the response is in multiple segments, the broker can combine the multiple segments into one string before forwarding the response to the client. Further, the broker may receive requests from multiple clients via multiple communications connections. The broker then consolidates the multiple communications connections and establishes one communications connection to the server. |
| US07673049B2 |
Network security system
Methods and systems for preventing unacceptable communication requests from being transmitted to a network-accessible service are disclosed. A domain name server for a local network including a network-accessible service returns an address for a network security system remote from the local network in response to a request for the address of the network-accessible service. The network security system processes communication requests directed to the network-accessible service to determine whether the communication request is a network intrusion attempt. If so, the network security system performs a network intrusion prevention technique, such as discarding the communication request, generating an alert or message or storing at least a portion of the communication request. Otherwise, the network security system forwards the communication request to the network-accessible service. A firewall on the local network may discard requests destined for the network-accessible service unless the source address equals a public address of the network security system. |
| US07673038B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for maintaining connections between computers using connection-oriented protocols
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for maintaining a connection between a server and a client by receiving a message, determining whether to store one or more elements of the message, storing the one or more elements of the message when the one or more elements of the message are to be stored, transmitting the message, and determining whether the server has failed and when the server has failed, restoring the server to a pre-failure connection state using the one or more stored message elements. |
| US07673037B2 |
Cable telephony monitoring system
A method and system for monitoring the statuses of components within a telephony system, especially a cable-based telephony system, and to monitor quality issues within such system. By determining how components with the system are behaving, a network administrator may be able to troubleshoot problems remotely using a known set of problem resolution techniques. Such techniques may be applied stepwise by the administrator or may be automated through computer intervention. |
| US07673027B2 |
Method and apparatus for designing multi-tier systems
A system and method for selecting a preferred design for a multi-tiered architecture of components based on a set of established criteria is provided. The system and method receive a model describing different design constructions and a set of performance and availability requirements and produces a design or set of designs that best meet these requirements. The system and method include a model for representing the infrastructure design space for multi-tier systems and their properties appropriate for judging performance and availability properties of services as well as associated cost. The method and system further include a method for searching the design space in an efficient manner. |
| US07673026B2 |
Speed sensitive content delivery in a client-server network
The response time from a client on a network is measured and a destination address is selected based on the measured response time. The client requests an address from the network. The network may be a local network or a wide area network such as the Internet. The response time of the client is measured to determine the optimum speed at which the client may operate. The measured response time is communicated to the server, where a destination address is selected based on the requested address and the measured response time. The client may then be connected to the destination address. |
| US07673023B1 |
Method and apparatus for service processor updates
A service processor computing arrangement is associated with a cellular multiprocessing cell. The arrangement includes a scan machine coupled to communicate with processing hardware of the cell and a service processor coupled to an external communications interface of the scan machine. The scan machine includes remote scan software that performs at least one of monitoring and configuration of the processing hardware, and a first remote install program that receives update data via the external communications interface and applies the update data to the remote scan software. The service processor includes a server control program that performs at least one of monitoring and configuring the cell via the remote scan machine, and a second remote install program that applies the update data to the scan machine via the first remote install program. |
| US07673021B2 |
Automated provisioning of phones in packet voice networks
Approaches for provisioning phones in packet voice networks are disclosed. One approach provides determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; generating a configuration for the IP phone based on the user identifier; and providing the configuration to the IP phone. Various approaches for deriving a user identifier based on the unique identifier of the phone are disclosed. |
| US07673019B2 |
System and method for determining a quantitative measure of qualitative usability of related Web pages
A system and method for determining a quantitative measure of qualitative usability of related Web pages. Web pages are accepted that each include at least one hyperlink referencing and proximal cues relating to distal content included in another Web page. An information goal identifying a target Web page is specified. An activation network is formed. A directed graph including nodes corresponding to the Web pages and arcs corresponding to the hyperlinks is built. A weight is assigned to each arc to represent a probability of traversal of the corresponding hyperlink based on a relatedness of keywords in the information goal to the proximal cues included in the referenced Web page. A traversal through the activation network to the node corresponding to the target Web page is evaluated as a quantitative measure of usability. |
| US07673012B2 |
Virtual file servers with storage device
A system renting out file servers to many companies in a data center has a security problem so that the user cannot perform operation needing manager authorization in the file servers. An OS provides execution administrative area information of an application program designated by process information which can specify the range of an accessible device to operate the server system of the customer in the administrative area information. |
| US07673009B2 |
Media delivery in data forwarding storage network
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for media delivery in data forwarding storage network. A method includes, in a network of interconnected computer system nodes, directing unique data items to a computer memory, and continuously forwarding each of the unique data items, independent of each other, from one computer memory to another computer memory in the network of interconnected computer system nodes without storing on any physical storage device in the network. |
| US07673008B2 |
Network system and device
A network system includes devices connected to a network each of which is assigned an ordinal rank in the system, in which a device of the highest ordinal rank functions as a master device and devices of the other ordinal ranks function as general devices. In the network system, each device includes: a master device checking unit configured to operate when the device is functioning as a general device to check that a device functioning as the master device exists in the system; an ordinal rank judging unit configured to judge the ordinal rank of the device when no device functioning as the master device exists; and a first control unit configured to control the device to function as the master device when the ordinal rank of the device is judged to be the highest by the ordinal rank judging unit. |
| US07673007B2 |
Web services push gateway
A system and method for interfacing Web Services push applications and mobile terminals operable with one of a plurality of different mobile push technologies. A Web Services push gateway includes a Web Services endpoint to terminate Web Services protocols utilized by the Web Services push applications in providing push messages. A plurality of mobile push bearers are each configured to communicate with a different one of the plurality of mobile push technologies. The Web Services push gateway includes a push router coupled to the Web Services endpoint to receive the push messages, and to forward the push messages to an elected one of the mobile push bearers, from where is it ultimately delivered to a recipient mobile terminal employing a mobile push technology corresponding to the elected mobile push bearer. |
| US07673005B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium comprising program element for electronic mail communication
A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program element for execution by a processing device to implement an electronic mail processing entity. The program element comprises program code for receiving an indication of an electronic mail message selected by a user, the electronic mail message including a header portion, a body portion, and an attachment. The program element also comprises program code for providing the user with an opportunity to select an option to exclusively transmit the attachment of the electronic mail message. Also provided are an apparatus for processing electronic mail, a method for processing electronic mail, and a graphical user interface for interacting with a user to provide electronic mail communication capability to the user. |
| US07672998B1 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling the transmission of messages
The invention provides systems, mechanisms and techniques for controlling transmission of outbound messages, such as e-mail or other types of messages, onto a computer network from an originator computer system. Connection equipment can authenticate and authorize the connection for the computer user and can capture and map originator network address information assigned to the originator computer system. A quota server can then determine if the message count exceeds the message limit for the originator identity associated with the outbound message Embodiments of the invention control message transmission from a sending or origination point prior to the messages being transmitted on the computer network, resources of a computer network are conserved and these embodiments prevent computer users from transmitting large amounts of outbound messages in excess of the message limits. |
| US07672997B2 |
Speaker annotation objects in a presentation graphics application
A method, system, and program product for controlling the content displayed during a computer driven presentation of a presentation graphics application. Hidden object presentation properties are assigned to presentation graphics objects during creation of a presentation graphics file, the properties controlling the circumstances under which hidden objects are displayed during a computer driven presentation or screenshow. One type of hidden object presentation property indicates whether an object is viewable on an audience display and presenter display, or only a presenter display, during a multi-display screenshow. Another type of hidden object presentation property, such as hidden object value, determines the audience to which the object is displayed. Hidden object value properties may be hierarchical, individually selectable in any combination, or mutually exclusive. During screenshow setup, one or more display attributes are assigned to each logical display to be used in the screenshow, the display attributes determining the objects viewable thereon. |
| US07672994B2 |
Data relay method and information processing method
A data relay and information processing method including storing in a database section identification information for identifying language-dependent data and replacement data corresponding to the language-dependent data in association with each other, receiving server data from the server system, detecting the replacement data from the database section on the basis of the identification information contained in the server data, replacing the language-dependent data as contained in the server data by the replacement data, and transmitting the server data as replaced to a client system. Thus, even in the case where the language used in the server system providing a service on the Internet is different from the language used in the client system, it is possible to recognize the information from the server by the client with reference to the replacement data. |
| US07672985B2 |
Automated creation and delivery of database content
A method and apparatus are disclosed which automatically build a database by automatically identifying a term of interest and building a term database with supplemental content from an assigned source for that term. A term can be selected by applying various rules. An advertiser can sponsor the term, for example, by having an advertisement window automatically pop-up on a keyword search. Content windows can be attached to the term, the content window containing information such as definitions, related products or services, sponsorship information, information from content syndicators, translations and reference works. Data objects that represent the contents of the database and templates are syndicated to remote servers running a processing engine. The processing engine uses these data objects to execute linking rules without requiring a connection to the database. |
| US07672983B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking activity of a garbage collector with a plurality of threads that operate concurrently with an application program
The time cost of collecting a region in a Garbage-First garbage collector is adjusted to account for concurrent thread activity. The overhead of a concurrent thread is tracked by dividing elapsed time into relatively short time “windows” and monitoring the system during those windows to determine how long that thread is scheduled to run during those windows. Using measurements of this type for each concurrent thread, the percentage of each elapsed time window dedicated to each concurrent thread is determined. Finally, by summing the percentages of elapsed time dedicated to concurrent thread activity, the cost of collecting a region can be increased by adding the overhead attributable to concurrent activity. |
| US07672978B2 |
Handling of content in a data processing device
A method is shown for handling content in a data processing device, the data processing device comprising at least a first application and a data-handling module. The method comprises: synchronizing, in the control of said data-handling module, content of a first external device and at least one file residing in a specific folder of the data processing device, the file being accessible by at least one first application, and the file being generated by means of the first application or the file being directed to the first application, or both. |
| US07672977B2 |
Image reproducing apparatus, method of controlling same and control program therefor
A number of images are grouped and recorded in an image database. A main image is displayed in a main display area. Images having both “PORTRAIT” and “BEACH” photographic scenes, which have been assigned to the main image, assigned thereto are found in groups different from the group to which the main image belongs. The images found are displayed in an auxiliary display area as related images. |
| US07672976B2 |
Method for the reduction of image content redundancy in large image databases
A method of increasing information content for content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems includes the steps of providing a CBIR database, the database having an index for a plurality of stored digital images using a plurality of feature vectors, the feature vectors corresponding to distinct descriptive characteristics of the images. A visual similarity parameter value is calculated based on a degree of visual similarity between features vectors of an incoming image being considered for entry into the database and feature vectors associated with a most similar of the stored images. Based on said visual similarity parameter value it is determined whether to store or how long to store the feature vectors associated with the incoming image in the database. |
| US07672975B2 |
Methods and systems for repairing playlists
Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience. |
| US07672973B2 |
Patient interface device or component selecting system and method
A patient interface device selection system that includes a database storing a plurality of sets of data. Each set of data in the plurality of sets of data is associated with a unique patient interface device or a component thereof. A patient data collection system, such as a measuring device, acquires a set of patient data that correspond to at least one characteristic of a patient. A processing system compares the acquired patient data with the plurality of sets of data, and determines the patient interface device or the component thereof that is suitable for use by such a patient based on a result of the comparison. |
| US07672972B1 |
Digital content licensing method involving application service provider
A predetermined number of assigned units for each of a plurality of individually selectable pieces of digital content are checked when each piece of digital content is executed in a customer computer network or on an application service provider. Execution of a requested digital content is granted when the number of required units to execute the requested digital content is less than or equal to the total number of available units. Any licensed digital content may be executed on the separate application service provider through a communication network. Access is granted for execution of the requested digital content by a license manager based on whether the application service provider required units of the requested digital content are greater than the available units on the requesting customer computer network. Execution of the requested digital content on the application service provider may be immediate if the application service provider is available or execution can be delayed. If the requested digital content cannot be executed immediately, the required units can be locked up and charged to the customer computer network available units or left uncharged. |
| US07672971B2 |
Modular architecture for entity normalization
A system and method identifying duplicate objects from a plurality of objects. The system and method groups similar objects into buckets based on a selected grouper, matches objects within the same bucket based on a selected matcher, and identifies the matching objects as duplicate objects. |
| US07672970B2 |
Associative search engine
This invention relates to an advertisement machine which provides advertisements to a user searching for desired information within a data network. The machine receives from a user, a search request including a search argument corresponding to the desired information and searches, based upon the received search argument a first database having data network related information to generate search results. It also correlating the received search argument to a particular advertisement in a second database having advertisement related information. The search results together with the particular advertisement are provided by the machine to the user. |
| US07672968B2 |
Displaying a tooltip associated with a concurrently displayed database object
Techniques for displaying information associated with a database are disclosed. A database-informer displays information (or additional information) about various database objects displayed for a user. The database-informer may be presented to user as a tool-tip. However, the database-informer can be customized and dynamically constructed based on various variables that are dynamically determined at runtime. As such, the information can be dynamically determined based on variables stored in different tables and provided on-demand when the database-informer is invoked by the user. As a result, database users can be provided with customized and up-to-date information without having to view different tables. |
| US07672967B2 |
Method and system for obfuscating data structures by deterministic natural data substitution
A method and system create a data structure from an obfuscated data structure. First, the system operates on a first data structure whose obfuscation is desired, and creates a data string based on a portion of the first data structure. Next, based on the data string, a second data structure is deterministically generated from a third data structure and the second data structure replaces the first data structure. |
| US07672964B1 |
Method and system for dynamically initializing a view for a streaming data base system
A method for dynamically initializing a view for a streaming database system. The method includes accessing a stream of events. An initial view is materialized from the stream, wherein the initial view comprises a dynamically defined view of the stream of events from the streaming database system. The method also includes processing a plurality of recent view snapshots from the initial view. A view state derived from each of the recent view snapshots is generated. An updated view is subsequently maintained in accordance with the view state, wherein the updated view incorporates new events of the stream. |
| US07672960B2 |
Performing operations on a set of objects in a database system
A method and system for updating data for a set of objects in a database is provided. A request identifies a set of objects using a property of the objects and an operation to be performed thereon. The object request is translated to a relational request such that a column in a table corresponding to the property can be operated upon by a relational data store mechanism. |
| US07672959B2 |
Update detecting apparatus
The present invention provides an update detecting apparatus capable of properly extracting an important update. The update detecting apparatus includes a difference extracting unit, a morphological analyzing unit, and an update determining unit. The difference extracting unit extracts the difference between text data included in a server-side file and text data included in a cache file. The morphological analyzing unit divides the difference extracted by the difference extracting unit into words (morphemes) and generates a word group. The update determining unit determines that an update is performed in the server-side file when a word satisfying a predetermined condition is included in the word group generated by the morphological analyzing unit. |
| US07672953B2 |
Publishing work activity information key tags associated with shared databases in social networks
Communications, such as emails or other information, in a work setting can be retained in a shared database that operates similar to an Internet social network. As work activities are performed, the content of the work activities can be associated with one or more shared databases based on the individual performing the activities, a common topic or theme associated with the activity and/or a manual entry. As various individuals review information contained in the shared database, notifications relating to who reviewed the content and a time of review can be sent to a contributor of the content to provide for accountability issues. |
| US07672951B1 |
Guided navigation system
A navigation system is used in combination with a data retrieval system to more effectively locate the correct answers or information in search content. The navigation system provides taxonomies that identify different information categories and sub-categories (facets). Classifiers automatically classify the search content by identifying the content corresponding with associated facets. The facets, in conjunction with the associated classifiers, provide robust classification and correlation between both structured and unstructured content. Rules can be used in conjunction with the facets and classifiers to automatically control different navigation operations. The navigation system can also leverage ontologies to dynamically create taxonomies and provides unique facet expansion and intra-document classification operations. |
| US07672945B1 |
Mechanism for creating member private data in a global namespace
A system and techniques are described for creating member private data in a global namespace. According to one aspect, first data that is associated with a key is stored in a repository shared by multiple members. After the first data has been stored, second data that is associated with the key is stored without overwriting the first data. Mapping data is stored. The mapping data maps the key, relative to a first member, to a first data structure that stores the first data. The mapping data also maps the key, relative to a second member, to a second data structure that stores the second data. Based on the mapping data, the first member is allowed to access the first data and not the said second data. Based on the mapping data, the second member is allowed to access the second data and not the first data. The first data and the second data may include key values and subtrees of child keys. |
| US07672942B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching non-normalized data values
Enables locating and merging potential data record matches. Enables locating duplicates through the definition of matching strategies. Each strategy may include transformations, matching rules and scoring thresholds to implement fuzzy matches that match closely related data records that are not exact matches. Performing a search allows for narrowing down the records to a desired set on which to apply a given matching strategy. Merging is performed on the potential duplicates thus located to consolidate data and remove duplicates. By narrowing down the records to a closely related set via a search, merging is simplified to work on a small number of closely related records, thus simplifying the process. The total matching score obtained via execution of match strategies may be utilized to determine which potential record(s) to merge for example. May utilize past user input to provide intelligent inputs for rules, tokens, weights, fields, parameters or any other past user input. |
| US07672941B2 |
Pattern matching using deterministic finite automata and organization of such automata
A deterministic finite state machine is operated to detect any one of a plurality of digital signatures each corresponding to a succession of characters and each defined by a sequence of states in the state machine. The machine is organized such that for each state after the first in any sequence there are not more than two allowed exit transitions of which one is to a default state. Input characters are examined to determine a transition from a current state of the machine to a next state. When the machine responds to an input character to perform a transition to the default state, the input character is re-examined to determine the next state of the state machine. The reduction in transitions saves considerable space in memory. |
| US07672939B2 |
System and method providing automated margin tree analysis and processing of sampled data
The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate database processing in accordance with a plurality of various applications. In one aspect, a large database of objects is processed, wherein the objects can be represented as points in a vector space, and two or more objects are deemed ‘close’ if a Euclidean distance between the points is small. This can apply for substantially any type of object, provided a suitable distance measure can be defined. In another aspect, a ‘test’ object having a vector x, is processed to determine if there exists an object y in the database such that the distance between x and y falls below a threshold t. If several objects in the database satisfy this criteria, a list of objects can be returned, together with their corresponding distances. If no objects were to satisfy the criterion, an indication of this condition can also be provided, but in addition, the condition or information relating to the condition can be provided. |
| US07672937B2 |
Temporal targeting of advertisements
A system and method utilize temporal targeting of content, such as advertisements. The targeting may be based on time of day, day of year, season or upcoming holidays. In addition, prior search history may be utilized to determine current popularity and/or predict future popularity for a particular concept that may be used for targeting. |
| US07672928B2 |
Query forced indexing
A searchable index is created using a query process and an indexing process. The query process cooperates with the indexing process to catalogue items that are located within a specified search scope. Previously indexed items are evaluated to ensure that their indexes are up-to-date. Items that are out-of-date have unreliable indexes that should be updated. Items to be indexed within the specified search scope are grouped in batches for processing. As processing of each batch is completed their respective indexing results become available such that partially indexed search scopes are useable while the indexing process continues. Since indexing results trickle in on an ongoing basis, users are permitted to process and/or view indexing results without waiting for the complete indexing process to be completed. |
| US07672927B1 |
Suggesting an alternative to the spelling of a search query
A method and apparatus for generating a list of candidate alternative spellings is provided. Among a plurality of files, a first file, which contains a link that indicates a user-entered spelling, is found. The link links to a second file. A second spelling, which is spelled similarly to, but not exactly the same as, the first spelling, is located within the second file. The second spelling is added to a list of candidate alternative spellings of the first spelling. The second spelling does not need to be contained in any result field (e.g., title, abstract, or URL) that is associated with the second file. |
| US07672923B1 |
Grid network management via automatic trend analysis of a service level agreement
A method for managing a GRID network. The method includes performing trend analysis of a job type repeatedly processed by the GRID network to anticipate a future load on the GRID network associated with the job type. The job type is associated with a service level agreement (SLA). At least one internal performance metric of the GRID network is measured to monitor current GRID network status. The future load that is anticipated is compared with the at least one performance metric to predict future satisfaction of the SLA. |
| US07672918B2 |
Artificial neuron
Artificial neurons and processing elements for artificial neurons are disclosed. One processing element generates a continuous value signal based on the first plurality of inputs and generates a responsiveness based on a second plurality of inputs. An output value determining portion generates an output signal that is equal to a predetermined value when the responsiveness signal corresponds to a non-responsive and equal to the continuous value signal when the responsiveness signal corresponds to a responsive state. Another processing element produces an output signal having a magnitude equal to zero except during a fixed time after an event when the output signal has a magnitude based on an event time. |
| US07672913B2 |
Automated action-selection system and method, and application thereof to training prediction machines and driving the development of self-developing devices
In order to promote efficient learning of relationships inherent in a system or setup S described by system-state and context parameters, the next action to take, affecting the setup, is determined based on the knowledge gain expected to result from this action. Knowledge-gain is assessed “locally” by comparing the value of a knowledge-indicator parameter after the action with the value of this indicator on one or more previous occasions when the system-state/context parameter(s) and action variable(s) had similar values to the current ones. Preferably the “level of knowledge” is assessed based on the accuracy of predictions made by a prediction module. This technique can be applied to train a prediction machine by causing it to participate in the selection of a sequence of actions. This technique can also be applied for managing development of a self-developing device or system, the self-developing device or system performing a sequence of actions selected according to the action-selection technique. |
| US07672912B2 |
Classifying knowledge aging in emails using Naïve Bayes Classifier
The Naïve Bayes Classifier predicts the classification of a set of data based on the features of that data and a series of counts reflecting the information obtained from prior data sets, with one count per feature per class. An external boost can be applied to the counts generated by the NBC to account for external information. Such a boost is added to the counts generated by the NBC, and the boosted counts are then used by the NBC. A boost can be applied to some or all of the counts and the boost for each count can be applied independently. Likewise, the counts can be periodically aged by multiplying the counts with an aging factor of between 0 and 1 per period. Aging factors can be applied uniformly across all counts, or can be individually applied, enabling some counts to age more than others. |
| US07672909B2 |
Machine learning system and method comprising segregator convergence and recognition components to determine the existence of possible tagging data trends and identify that predetermined convergence criteria have been met or establish criteria for taxonomy purpose then recognize items based on an aggregate of user tagging behavior
Systems and methods that recognize items based on aggregated tagging behavior of users regarding the items. Individual users can establish relationships among tagged items and the system analyzes aggregate of such established relationships, to recognize the item and/or infer additional information regarding the items (e.g., wisdom of crowd such as metadata annotations, relevance ranking, and the like). Subsequently, search engine crawlers can be supplied with such additional information (e.g., extra metadata for reverse link search tables) to facilitate enterprise management and search. |
| US07672905B2 |
Apparatus and method for rendering digital content
An apparatus for rendering a digital content having license information defining specifics of permission of a rendering operation includes a license processor that acquires, from the license information of the digital content, a constraint defining conditions for rendering between the digital content and other digital content; an operation execution command generator that generates an operation execution command for rendering the digital content according to the constraint acquired by the license processor; and a content renderer that renders the digital content based on the operation execution command generated by the operation execution command generator. |
| US07672902B1 |
System and method for pre-funding interest for early termination of client account having funds in one or more aggregated accounts
A method, program product and system for pre-funding interest in the process of managing a group of aggregated accounts, each aggregated account held in a different one of a plurality of deposit institutions, each of the aggregated accounts associated with at least one financial entity and holding funds of a plurality of clients of the at least one financial entity, each of the clients having a client asset balance in a respective client account associated with the at least one financial entity, the method comprising: (a) receiving or calculating a pre-funding amount for interest for one or more client accounts; (b) receiving access to or obtaining control over funds for the pre-funding amount; (c) receiving information about a termination of a given client account with funds held in the one or more aggregated accounts prior to an end of an interest period; (d) receiving or calculating an interest payment due to the client account for the client asset balance; and (e) transferring before the end of the interest period an amount from the funds for the pre-funding amount to satisfy the interest payment due for the one or more aggregated accounts. |
| US07672897B2 |
Method of community purchasing through the internet
In accordance with the present invention, a method and system of communal purchasing is disclosed. The preferred embodiments describe a community purchase model where a product can be purchased a particular price only if enough buyers are willing to purchase at that price. The preferred embodiments pool together the collective buys for a product to get a better price than if an individual buyer was to purchase the product by himself/herself. Therefore, a fixed “discount” price is used to collect a number of buys, wherein the number of buys is recorded in a specific product record and the transaction to purchase the product is consummated if the number of buys for the product reaches a minimum number of buys. Moreover, further embodiments obtain a pre-payment or a guarantee for payment for the product while collecting buys for the product. In addition, further embodiments set a cutoff date by when the number of buys must reach the number of minimum number of buys or cancel the product purchase if the cutoff date has been reached and the number of buys for the product associated with the product record does not reach the minimum number of buys. |
| US07672894B2 |
Automated bidding system for use with online auctions
A computer implemented bidding method for use in bidding on auction items that allows for a desired optimization of bid amounts. The method includes selecting a set of one or more biddable items offered at auction wherein for a biddable item the auction offers a ranking for one or more received bids according to bid amounts, determining the current bids for a set of the biddable items, determining a bid amount for a selected biddable item based on a given utility function to determine a set of rankings for achieving a desired optimized outcome from the bidding, and submitting a set of bid amounts. |
| US07672893B1 |
System and method for trading taxable and non-taxable securities
A system for trading Certificates of Deposits, Discount Notes, CMOs, Corporate Bonds, High Yield Bonds, Illiquid Agency Securities, Mortgage Pass-Through Securities, Secondary Zero comprises an updatable offering inventory module and a price discovery module. The system allows users to send Request for Quotes (RFQs) to pre-determined dealers and capture dealer responses thereto. Traders who send RFQs have the ability to accept the best dealer response and execute a trade as an agent or to improve the best dealer response and execute the trade as a principal. |
| US07672890B2 |
Signal testing methodology for long-only portfolios
Described are methods and apparatus, including computerized methods and computer program products, for signal testing for a long-only portfolio. The methodology can be used for assessing the efficacy of a strategy for selecting securities in a long-only portfolio, and the strategy can be implemented to construct a revised long-only portfolio. The signal testing methodology can take into account the position and/or return of securities that do not have either a positive or negative attribute as well. |
| US07672886B2 |
Systems and methods for managing client accounts
Providing interest to clients' deposited funds without limitation on the number of demand withdrawals from deposit accounts is accomplished by an administration system that keeps all of the records for the clients' deposits and withdrawals, calculates the total of the deposits and withdrawals for all clients, and uses the calculation to determine whether funds are deposited to or withdrawn from one or more deposit accounts in which all clients' deposit funds are kept. Clients can make unlimited withdrawals, such as by check, credit card, debit card, or electronic transfer, through the administrator. By placing the administrator as the holder of the deposit account(s), exemptions to the limitation on earning interest in demand accounts is facilitated; additionally, dispersing the deposit account funds among multiple banks allows the client to obtain FDIC insurance for all of the deposited funds, which may amount to insurance in excess of the statutory maximum allowed (presently $100,000.00). |
| US07672885B2 |
Consolidated purchasing system for search term auctions
A consolidated purchasing system for search term auctions is provided. The system typically includes receiving logic, analyzing logic, and purchasing logic. The receiving logic receives orders from customers. The analyzing logic receives and consolidates the plurality of orders, analyzes a dynamic auction for search terms on a search engine, and determines search terms upon which to bid and an amount to bid for the search terms. The determination of the amount to bid on the search terms is in response to a budget and an expected return on the search terms. The purchasing logic receives instructions from the bidding logic and bids on the search terms in the dynamic auction, wherein the cost of a position on a search result list for the search engine changes in response to input from auction participants. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US07672884B2 |
Method and system for rule-base compliance, certification and risk mitigation
The present invention relates to a system and method for carrying out, facilitating, overseeing and otherwise managing initial and ongoing compliance, certification, risk mitigation and/or loss prevention, as it relates to a rule by analyzing and arranging the rule into a set of algorithms and documents. Information about an entity is input, compared to the rule by way of a set of algorithms, documented, and a report setting forth the compliance requirements and then-current compliance with the rule of the entity is provided. The entity is also provided with any documents required to ensure compliance with the rule. |
| US07672883B2 |
System and method for matching an offer with a quote
Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit). In this way, even though the provider provides low rate quotes to win the offer, the provider may still realize a much higher rate for the goods or services by quoting additional, higher rate quotes as well. |
| US07672879B1 |
Interactive activity interface for managing personal data and performing transactions over a data packet network
A software suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from a plurality of data sources and accessible through a single interface operated on a data-packet-network is provided. The data sources are available for direct network-access through multiple access points available from within the interface. The software suite comprises, a calendar module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of time and date-sensitive calendar data, a transaction module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of financially oriented account data, a portfolio tracking module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of investment oriented account data, a net-worth reporting module having at least one display interface for displaying a solution-oriented net-worth report compiled from the aggregated data, a bill-payment module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and initiation of payment action regarding current billing data and an account-alert module having at least one display interface for reporting time and event sensitive account alerts related to changes in account data due to occurring events or pre-configured time parameters. |
| US07672876B2 |
System for shopping in a store
A system for shopping in a store is provided that includes a multi-network for communications in a store, a shopping cart that weighs items placed therein and then transmits that weight information through the multi-network, and a wireless end device that may be handheld and/or releasably attached to the shopping cart whereby a shopper uses the wireless end device to send and receive information to the store though the multi-network. |
| US07672875B2 |
Presenting an alternative product package offer from a web vendor
The server system, communicatively connected to multiple client systems via a network, facilitates at least one web page for download to the client systems, where the web page offers multiple products for purchase. Responsive to the server system detecting a particular product selection from a particular client system, the server system downloads to the particular client system a first package offer of the client selected product and at least one second product from among at least one vendor selected product at a first price at a first discounted rate for purchase of both the client selected particular product and the at least one second product. In addition, the server system includes a selectable option for replacing the first package offer in the download of the first package offer. Responsive to detecting, at the server system a user selection of the selectable option from the particular client system, the server system creates at least one alternative product package offer for purchase of both the client selected product and at least one third product from among a different set of vendor selected products. The server system downloads the alternative product package offer to the client system for selection for purchase by the user, wherein the user is enabled to select a final product package including the client selected product and at least one third product form the different set of vendor selected products at a total price having a final discounted rate. |
| US07672873B2 |
Music purchasing and playing system and method
An online music purchasing system and method is disclosed, in which a radio service operates on a user's computer and is configured for receiving and playing digital radio representations of media content in near real-time in a radio session. A content server is configured for serving the digital radio representations of media content to the radio service, and a radio sequence server is configured for serving a sequential list of currently-playing and previously-played media content of the radio session to the radio service. An account server is configured for receiving a signal indicative of a user's desire to purchase a file of one of a currently-playing or previously-played media content. A download manager is configured for downloading the file to the user's computer according to the signal indicative of the user's desire to purchase the file. |
| US07672870B2 |
System and method for monitoring consumer purchasing activity
The present invention provides a system for implementing a purchaser incentive program on a network-wide level. The system associates SKU and UPC data on a network level to provide consumers with a purchasing environment that is both convenient and cost-efficient. The association of SKU and UPC data at a network level also provides consumers with the ability to analyze their own purchase data for a variety of purposes, including analyses relating to the consumer's spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates a network-wide search for an item that a consumer desires to purchase under terms or conditions that are selected by the consumer and are therefore perceived to be optimal by that consumer. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates data analysis by a consumer based upon any of several factors, including items purchased, prices for those items, retailer ID, SKU number, UPC, manufacturer ID, and/or the like. The system may compile any of the above data across multiple entities for the purpose of data analysis, such as analyses which may be employed in consumer budgeting for example. |
| US07672867B2 |
Optimized deployment of parts in a distribution network
A method for deploying parts is disclosed. Locations that include supply locations and demand locations are defined. A supply location supplies parts to a demand location. A demand is computed for each part at each location. An availability lead-time is estimated for each part at each location. A lead-time demand is computed for each part at each location using the availability lead-times for the part. A stock level is computed for each part at each location. A completely filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels, and a partially filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels. A coverage function for the parts at the locations is generated from the completely filled demand and the partially filled demand. |
| US07672863B2 |
System and method for load balancing based on service level objectives and information on the contents of start and finish processes of business services
A load balancing method comprises the steps of: registering a business configuration definition of each business service including a schedule of the business service with a business configuration management repository; storing at least a service level objective of each business service; storing information on performance of each information processing module; acquiring the registered schedule and the stored service level objective of the designated business service; partitioning the schedule of the designated business service into a plurality of partial schedules according to the acquired service level objective; selecting one or more information processing modules whose performance information stored in the performance management table satisfies the service level objective in each partial schedule; and reserving the information processing modules selected for the partial schedules as information processing modules for executing the designated business service in the schedule. A partition fulfilling agreements on service quality can be constructed dynamically. |
| US07672860B2 |
Computerized method and system for determining the contribution of defenses to premises liability for an accident
A computer-implemented method and system for estimating a contribution of a defense to premises liability is provided. In one embodiment, a set of characteristics of an accident may be provided to a computer system. A contribution of the defense may be determined from at least one of the characteristics of the accident. In one embodiment, a characteristic may include a location of the accident. The defense may selected from a group of one or more defenses. |
| US07672857B2 |
Health services delivery system with incentives
A system of health care service and an associated method of the administration thereof to a plurality of subscribers including a providing entity organizationally structured to implement a health care program which includes categorizing subscribers desirous of health care service, including preventative services, into a plurality of predetermined profiles. The profiles are defined by personal characteristics including age, gender, clinical history, etc. and each profile is associated with a predetermined curative or preventative treatment regimen with which a respective subscriber is expected to comply. An incentive system is implemented to motivate the subscribers into compliance with the assigned treatment regimen and comprises the assignment of credits and penalties based on a degree of compliance with the treatment regimen. Valuable consideration is awarded to the subscriber evidencing a satisfactory degree of compliance. |
| US07672856B1 |
Method for pricing network bandwidth services on a virtual private network
A computer method is disclosed for calculating an approximate cost of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS)-based virtual private network (VPN) services. The method computes a lower bound and an upper bound for the bandwidth used in an MPLS-based VPN. These are then combined to produce an estimate for the cost of the bandwidth. |
| US07672853B2 |
User interface for processing requests for approval
A facility for presenting approval requests is described. The facility simultaneously displays information describing both a first approval request and a second approval request, where the first approval request is generated using a first application program, and the second approval request is generated using a second application program that is distinct from the first application program. |
| US07672852B2 |
Localization of prompts
Localized prompt statements. For each prompt statement to be executed, identifying a resource string that corresponds to a variable associated with the prompt statement permits retrieval of one or more localized media files. For example, the media files may provide for playing spoken prompts in a localized language. Executing the prompt statement includes rendering the retrieved media files. In one aspect, the localized prompt statements contain both text and numeric values wherein a spoken prompt is grammatically correct for the numeric value contained in the prompt. |
| US07672847B2 |
Discriminative training of hidden Markov models for continuous speech recognition
Methods are given for improving discriminative training of hidden Markov models for continuous speech recognition. For a mixture component of a hidden Markov model state, a gradient adjustment is calculated of the standard deviation of the mixture component. If the calculated gradient adjustment is greater than a first threshold amount, an adjustment is performed of the standard deviation of the mixture component using the first threshold. If the calculated gradient adjustment is less than a second threshold amount, an adjustment is performed of the standard deviation of the mixture component using the second threshold. Otherwise, an adjustment is performed of the standard deviation of the mixture component using the calculated gradient adjustment. |
| US07672843B2 |
Audio signature extraction and correlation
A signature is extracted from the audio of a program received by a tunable receiver such that the signature characterizes the program. In order to extract the signature, blocks of the audio are converted to corresponding spectral moments. At least one of the spectral moments is then converted to the signature. Also, a test audio signal from a receiver is correlated to a reference audio signal by converting the test audio signal and the reference audio signal to corresponding test and reference spectra, determining test slopes corresponding to coefficients of the test spectrum and reference slopes corresponding to coefficients of the reference spectrum, and comparing the test slopes to the reference slopes in order to determine a match between the test audio signal and the reference audio signal. |
| US07672834B2 |
Method and system for detecting and temporally relating components in non-stationary signals
A method detects components of a non-stationary signal. The non-stationary signal is acquired and a non-negative matrix of the non-stationary signal is constructed. The matrix includes columns representing features of the non-stationary signal at different instances in time. The non-negative matrix is factored into characteristic profiles and temporal profiles. |
| US07672832B2 |
Standardized natural language chunking utility
A method is disclosed for providing a chunking utility that supports robust natural language processing. A corpus is chunked in accordance with a draft chunking specification. Chunk inconsistencies in the corpus are automatically flagged for resolution, and a chunking utility is provided in which at least some of the flagged inconsistencies are resolved. The chunking utility provides a single, consistent global chunking standard, ensuring compatibility among various applications. The chunking utility is particularly advantageous for non-alphabetic languages, such as Chinese. |
| US07672822B2 |
Automated three-dimensional alternative position viewer
Computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing data representing a three-dimensional object model includes generating an image of a modeled object. The modeled object is formed from a number of different components that can be arranged in different positions, and the generated image depicts a change in a position of a first one of the components with respect to a second one of the components. |
| US07672820B2 |
Analyzing linearization of models in modeling environments
A device provides an interface for permitting a user to define a block diagram model that represents a system, linearizing at least a portion of the block diagram model, analyzing a linearization result of at least one block of the block diagram model to determine contribution information of the at least one block toward a linearization result of the block diagram model, and outputting information concerning a result of analyzing the linearization result. |
| US07672818B2 |
Method for solving implicit reservoir simulation matrix equation
A method for solving a matrix equation AX=B, wherein A represents a block sparse matrix, B represents a right hand side block vector and X represents a solution block vector. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving the block sparse matrix and the right hand side block vector, constructing a reduced transformed block sparse matrix from the block sparse matrix, constructing a reduced transformed residual block vector from the block sparse matrix and the right hand side block vector, and solving for the solution block vector using the reduced transformed block sparse matrix and the reduced transformed residual block vector. |
| US07672817B2 |
Flight in factory
The invention relates to methods of measuring an aircraft under simulated flight-loads while the aircraft is not in-flight. While the aircraft is under the simulated flight-loads, positions of one or more portions of the aircraft may be measured in order to determine how the aircraft is performing under such loads. The aircraft may be readjusted and/or redesigned based on the measurements in order to reduce drag on the aircraft. |
| US07672816B1 |
Wrinkle-predicting process for hydroforming
Disclosed is a system and process which is a computer aided application using artificial intelligence modeling. This artificial intelligence model is able to predict the propensity for sheet metal parts to wrinkle when manufactured using a hydro forming process. The model uses geometric and material parameters to predict defects and facilitates defect predictions certainty into the ordinarily arduous redesign process directed at eliminating defects. |
| US07672813B2 |
Mixed statistical and numerical model for sensor array detection and classification
A method and system for detecting and classifying biosensor and chemical sensor data includes processing data fetched from an array of sensors. A statistical analysis of the processed data is performed, to obtain statistically analyzed sensor data. A determination is made, based on the statistically analyzed sensor data, whether or not there a response signal has been generated from the array of sensors. If a response signal is determined to have been generated, a numerical pattern recognition is performed on the data collected from the array of sensors, in order to categorize the data. |
| US07672812B2 |
Cable fault detection
A cable fault detection component (168) receives input data indicative of a fault in an electrical power system. The component (168) analyzes the input data to determine if the fault is indicative of a self-clearing cable fault and generates corresponding output data (276). In one implementation, the cable fault detection component (168) is implemented as a software module which operates on a computer (105) of a substation intelligence system (104). |
| US07672810B2 |
Method, device and computer program for evaluating an object using a virtual representation of said object
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating an object by reading and commands of a macro normally used in measurement equipment for evaluating a physical object, and applying said commands to a numerical (virtual) representation of a physical object. Said method provides a evaluation of the physical object, by applying said macro to a virtual representation of said object. |
| US07672809B2 |
Object tracker
Object tracking using ultrasonic signals. A receiver receives a signal transmitted from a transmitter. The receiver uses at least two receiving elements for forming at least two analysis signals on the basis of the received signal. The receiver includes a detector, such as a phase detector, which examines the analysis signals and forms an indication on a difference between the analysis signals. The indication is, for example, indicative of a phase difference between the analysis signals. The transmitted signal is a modulated ultrasonic signal, wherein the receiver demodulates the signal to recover the modulating signal. The indication can be used to determine a heading angle information of the object to be tracked. The heading angle information may be a direction of the object with respect to the transmitter. The heading angle information can be used to make e.g. a corrective action to audio signals to be formed for listening. |
| US07672806B2 |
Displacement detection device for a portable apparatus
In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected. |
| US07672805B2 |
Synchronization of modules for analog and mixed signal testing in an open architecture test system
A method and apparatus for synchronizing digital and analog/mixed signal modules in a test site of an open architecture test system is disclosed. Event triggers from digital modules are routed to an ASYNC module, which selectively distributes them to analog/mixed signal modules. When an event occurs, the trigger may activate an analog/mixed signal module to perform a certain operation. The ASYNC module may also receive triggers from the analog/mixed signal modules and selectively distribute them back to the digital modules or analog/mixed signal modules. The digital modules can be programmed to wait for an analog/mixed signal module to complete an operation, as indicated by a trigger received from that analog/mixed signal module, before continuing. Because embodiments of the present invention enable synchronization of digital and analog/mixed signal modules under pattern control, synchronization can be very precise and repeatable as compared to synchronization from a site controller. |
| US07672803B1 |
Input of test conditions and output generation for built-in self test
A system and method is discussed for providing programmable test conditions for a built-in self test circuit of a flash memory device. The present invention employs a flash memory having BIST circuit for testing the memory and a BIST interface circuit adapted to adjust the test conditions of the memory tests. The BIST interface circuit is operable to receive one or more global variables associated with the test conditions of a plurality of tests used on the flash memory and to output results of the memory tests based on the value of the variables. The global variables are used to adjust the test conditions and to trim one or more references used in various flash memory tests and operations. The system may further include a serial communications medium for communicating the global variables to the BIST interface and test results from the interface. |
| US07672801B1 |
Gridlock processing method
Targets are sensed by a first sensor in a first coordinate system and by a second sensor in a second coordinate system. Gridlock or congruence between the coordinate systems is achieved by sensing at least four targets with both sensors. Pseudomeasurements are generated in both local and external coordinate systems by taking the differences between a first target location and each of second, third, and fourth target locations. The pseudomeasurements are filtered in corresponding pairs, to thereby generate an estimated rotation matrix between the local and external coordinate systems. The estimated rotation matrix is applied to the local coordinate system. The target locations in the rotated local and external coordinate systems are filtered in corresponding pairs to generate an estimated translation vector. The rotation and translation are applied to the local coordinate system to bring it into congruence with the external coordinate system. |
| US07672799B2 |
Defect inspection apparatus and defect inspection method
A defect inspection apparatus includes: stages each mounting an inspecting object on which a circuit pattern having a group of parallel lines is formed, and each running perpendicular or parallel to the group of lines; an illumination optical system which illuminating a surface of the inspecting object with a slit beam being slit light so that a longitudinal direction of the slit beam is substantially perpendicular to the running directions of the stages, and which has a first inclined angle formed by the direction of the group of lines and a projection line, of an optical axis of the slit beam, to the inspecting object; a spatial filter that shields or transmits reflected and scattered light of the inspecting object according to a difference in distribution of orientation; and a detection optical system that detects the reflected and scattered light transmitted through the spatial filter by image sensors. Moreover, the illumination optical system illuminates the inspecting object with another slit beam from a direction opposite to an incident direction of the slit beam on a plane. |
| US07672795B1 |
Method for sampling seepage
A method includes the steps of providing a tidal seepage meter having a power supply, a controller capable of controlling the power supply according to a sampling schedule, a motor capable of receiving power from the power supply according to the sampling schedule, a selector valve having an input port and at least two outlet ports and capable of selecting an output valve according to the sampling schedule, a seepage chamber capable of receiving seepage and inputting seepage to the selector valve via the input port, and a first sample container and a second sample container capable of receiving seepage from the selector valve via the output valve, transferring the sampling schedule to the tidal seepage meter, positioning the tidal seepage meter in sediment; and sampling seepage according to the sampling schedule. The sampled seepage water may then be analyzed and the results may be displayed to a user. |
| US07672794B2 |
System and method for operating a flow process
A system for monitoring, diagnosing, and/or controlling a flow process uses one or more flow meters based on an array of pressure sensors. A signal processor outputs at least one of a flow signal, a diagnostic signal, and a control signal in response to the pressure signals from the pressure sensors. The flow signal indicates the at least one parameter of the fluid, the diagnostic signal indicates a diagnostic condition of a device in the flow process, and the control signal is effective in adjusting an operating parameter of at least one device in the flow process. The system may be arranged as a distributed control system (DCS) architecture for monitoring a plurality of flow meters based on array-processing installed at various locations throughout a flow process. |
| US07672791B2 |
Method of performing three-dimensional molecular superposition and similarity searches in databases of flexible molecules
The virtual screening of a database of molecules is based on explicit three-dimensional molecular superpositions. The torsional flexibility of the database molecules is taken fully into account, and an arbitrary number of conformation-dependent molecular features may be considered. A fragmentation-reassembly approach is utilized, which allows for an efficient sampling of the conformational space. A fast clique-based pattern-matching algorithm generates alignments of pairs of adjacent molecular fragments on the (rigid) query molecule that are subsequently reassembled to complete database molecules. Using conventional molecular features (hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, charges, and hydrophobic groups), it is possible to rapidly produce accurate alignments of medium-sized drug-like molecules. Examples with a test database containing a diverse set of 1780 drug-like molecules (including all conformers) show that average query processing times of the order of 0.1 seconds per molecule can be achieved on a PC, depending on the size of the query molecule. |
| US07672788B2 |
Disulphide bond connectivity in protein
A method, computer system, and computer program product for determining N disulphide bond connections in a protein having 2N bonded sulphur atoms. Each sulphur atom is available for forming the N disulphide bond connections through use of an undirected graph having the 2N sulphur atoms as nodes and having an edge connecting each pair of nodes. Each sulphur atom is comprised by a cysteine of the protein. The cysteines are sequenced along a chain in the protein as ordered list of position indexes. A weight W of each edge between cysteine position indexes I1 and I2 is calculated as decreasing with increasing separation d between I1 and I2, wherein d is |I1−I2|/100. The N disulphide bond connections are determined by optimizing an objective function formed from the calculated weights W. |
| US07672783B2 |
System and method for recording, transmitting and analyzing data and information accrued from electromagnetic radiation
A system and a method for recording, transmitting and analyzing data and information accrued from, low-frequency, electromagnetic radiation, where the electromagnetic radiation originates from at least one impulse source of natural and/or artificial origin, from at least one atmospheric discharge or from at least one transmitter, a precise characterization of the impulse source, a reliable differentiation between cloud-ground lightning and cloud-cloud lightning within a cloud or between clouds is provided for, including localize the altitude of the impulse source, the emission altitude or the broadcast altitude, and/or the directionality, the spatial direction path of the impulse emission or impulse broadcast caused by the impulse, by determining the difference between the arrival time of the signal at the measuring station located closest to the impulse source and the arrival time of the signal at at least one, preferably two, measuring stations which are not located closest to the impulse source. |
| US07672781B2 |
Miniaturized wireless inertial sensing system
A system includes a moveable body and a first device for mounting on the movable body. The first device includes an orientation sensor, an inertial position sensor, a first processor, a frequency agile RF transceiver, and a memory device. |
| US07672776B2 |
Mobile device with on-screen optical navigation
A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement. |
| US07672775B2 |
Systems, methods, and data structures for correcting traffic information
Systems, methods, and data structures for correcting traffic information data may accumulate traffic information data including, for each link, a link travel time during at least one trip time. The systems, methods, and data structures may convert the link travel time into a vehicle speed and correct the converted vehicle speed if a the vehicle speed or a first speed change amount is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. |
| US07672774B2 |
Method and system for determining traffic information traffic profiles
A method of determining traffic information for a mobile vehicle includes receiving a plurality of service requests at a call center from a telematics unit via a wireless connection. The service request includes time, date, and vehicle location data. A database of the received service requests is compiled. A plurality of eligible service requests is determined based on the time and date of the received service requests in the database. A traffic profile is determined based on a comparison of digital map data to vehicle location data of the eligible service requests. |
| US07672772B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaluating a degree of a safety in traveling of a vehicle
The apparatus acquires acceleration data in time series at a fixed position of a tire while a vehicle having the tire is traveling on a road surface, obtains a spectrum of the acceleration by subjecting the acquired time series acceleration data to frequency analysis, and detects a peak value of the spectrum of the acceleration in a frequency range of 500 Hz-1500 Hz. The apparatus evaluates a degree of a safety in traveling of the vehicle according to the detected peak value. The acceleration data is acquired by an acceleration sensor mounted on the fixed position of the tire. |
| US07672766B2 |
Suspension control device, vehicle comprising said device, production method thereof and associated program
The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a means (21) for calculating a set modal stress (F1) for the shock absorber as a function of at least one absolute modal body shell speed (Vmod), a means (34) for calculating a set modal stress (F2) for the shock absorber as a function of a relative modal body shell speed (Vmod2) in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels, a means (22) for detecting a bias on the vehicle, and a means (23) for calculating a weighting coefficient α for calculating a set modal stress (F) for the shock absorber using formula F=(1−α)·F1+α·F2. |
| US07672763B1 |
Method for coupling a telematics device to a vehicle using an in-vehicle wiring harness with multiple adaptors for an on-board diagnostic connector
An embodiment provides a method for coupling a telematics device to a host vehicle. One embodiment of the method may include: 1) coupling an electrical cable to an engine control unit of the host vehicle; 2) coupling the electrical cable to the telematics device; and 3) coupling a diagnostic connector to the electrical cable. The diagnostic connector may be configured to interface with a diagnostic scan tool that corresponds to the host vehicle. |
| US07672761B2 |
Watercraft comprising a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element as a wind-powered drive unit
Disclosed is a wind-powered watercraft in which a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element that is provided with a profiled wing and is used as the exclusive, an auxiliary, or an emergency drive unit is connected to the vessel only via one traction rope, said traction rope optionally fanning out into a number of holding ropes. The wind-attacked element can be modified via at least one active drive element that is disposed thereupon and is effectively connected thereto by modifying the aerodynamic effect thereof in order to be guided into a given position relative to the watercraft or to dynamically maneuver. |
| US07672759B1 |
Communication with a steering wheel switch
A method and system for indicating a status of a load of a sub-system in a marine vehicle where the load is controlled by a switch provided on a steering wheel of the marine vehicle. The method comprises: providing a switch controller in the steering wheel for controlling communications between the steering wheel and the marine vehicle; providing a switch for the load on the steering wheel; providing a status indicator for the load on the steering wheel; detecting an activation of the switch by the switch controller; the switch controller transmitting a command to the load in the marine vehicle in response to the activation; providing a load controller in the marine vehicle, the load controller controlling a power input to the switch controller, the load controller receiving the command and activating the load in response to the command; detecting a status of the load; interrupting a power input to the switch controller for a predetermined interruption duration corresponding to the detected status; the switch controller activating the status indicator to indicate the detected status of the load. |
| US07672756B2 |
Vehicle communications using the internet
Vehicle including a data generating system which obtains or generates information about the vehicle and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating directly with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet. The data generating system may be a diagnostic system which diagnoses the state of the vehicle or the state of a component of the vehicle and generates an output indicative or representative thereof. The data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the operation of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the presence of contents in the compartment and/or when contents are present, information about contents in the compartment. |
| US07672751B2 |
System and method for controlling temperature of a liquid residing within a tank
A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a tank, a first heating element, a first switch, a temperature-based switch, and logic. The first heating element is mounted on the tank, and the temperature-based switch is coupled to the first heating element and to the first switch. The logic is configured to control a state of the first switch based on a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank. |
| US07672750B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a microstructure etching process
An etching monitoring apparatus and related method for use in the manufacture of microstructures (and in particular MEMS) located within an etching chamber is described. The apparatus and related method operates by setting the temperature of the chamber within which the microstructure is located at a starting temperature, and maintaining the partial pressure of an etching gas within the chamber at a constant value. As a result the surface temperature of the micro structure within the chamber is primarily determined by the etch rate. Therefore, by employing a thermometer to monitor the change in etching surface temperature, a direct diagnostic for monitoring the etching process is provided. |
| US07672747B2 |
Recipe-and-component control module and methods thereof
A recipe-and component control module (RACCM) is provided. The RACCM is a server for performing data management in a plasma processing system with a plurality of components. The RACCM includes a plurality of intelligent agents. Each intelligent agent of the intelligent agents is configured to interact with each component of the plurality of components. The RACCM also includes a coordinating agent, which is configured to receive processed data from the plurality of intelligent agents. |
| US07672742B2 |
Method and system for reducing audio latency
A method for reducing audio latency when executing program instructions for processing audio data is provided. In this method, a top threshold value and a bottom threshold value are provided. A determination is then made as to the amount of audio data stored in an audio buffer of an audio renderer. Thereafter, the amount is compared with the top threshold value and the bottom threshold value, and accordingly, an audio data feed to the audio renderer is adjusted incrementally such that the amount is between the top threshold value and the bottom threshold value. |
| US07672741B2 |
Position/force control device
A position/force control device includes position detectors on a master 1 side and on a slave 3 side. Reaction force estimation observers 2 and 4 estimate reaction force based on outputs of the position detectors. A position control part 5 generates acceleration signals apm, aps for controlling positions on the master side and on the slave side on the basis of the position signals outputted by the position detectors. The operation force control part 6 generates acceleration signals afm, afs for controlling forces applied to the master side and to the slave side based upon the outputs from reaction force estimation observers 2 and 4. The acceleration composition part 7 composes the two sets of acceleration signals apm, aps, and afm, afs, and outputs the driving signals for the master side and the slave side. |
| US07672734B2 |
Non-linear electrode array
A system for stimulation includes an implantable pulse generator, a lead, and conductors. The lead includes an array body disposed at a distal end of the lead and electrodes concentrically arranged on the array body. A center electrode may also be disposed on the array body. The electrodes may be arranged in more than one concentric ring. A method of using an implantable stimulator includes implanting an implantable stimulator and providing an electrical signal to at least one electrode of the implantable stimulator to stimulate a tissue. The electrical signal may be provided between diametrically opposed electrodes or between electrodes that are not diametrically opposed. If the implantable stimulator has a center electrode, the electrical signal may be provided between the center electrode and at least one concentrically arranged electrode. |
| US07672730B2 |
Methods and apparatus for effectuating a lasting change in a neural-function of a patient
Methods and apparatus for treating an impaired neural function in a brain of a patient. In one embodiment, a method for treating a neural function in a brain of a patient includes determining a therapy period during which a plurality of therapy sessions are to be performed to recover functional ability corresponding to the neural function. The method continues by identifying a stimulation site in or on the brain of the patient associated with the neural function, and positioning an electrode at least proximate to the identified stimulation site. The patient is then treated by providing electrical stimulation treatments to the stimulation site. The treatment can comprise delivering electrical stimulation signals to the electrode during the therapy sessions. After expiration of the therapy period, the method includes preventing electrical stimulation signals from being delivered to the stimulation site. |
| US07672728B2 |
Neural stimulator to treat sleep disordered breathing
Various aspects relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments include at least one sensor for use in detecting sleep disordered breathing, a pulse generator adapted to deliver a first electrical signal through at least one electrode to stimulate a neural target, and a controller adapted to communicate with the at least one sensor and with the pulse generator. The controller is adapted to detect sleep disordered breathing using the at least one sensor and provide a therapy for sleep disordered breathing in response to a detected apneic event. The therapy for sleep disordered breathing is adapted to deliver the first electrical signal through the at least one electrode to induce a cough reflex to terminate the apneic event. Various embodiments stimulate a superior laryngeal nerve, various embodiments stimulate a recurrent laryngeal nerve, and various embodiments stimulate a vagus nerve. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US07672725B2 |
Method and apparatus for using heart rate variability as a safety check in electrical therapies
A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started, stopped, adjusted, or optimized. In one embodiment, the HRV parameter is used as a safety check to stop an electrical therapy when it is believed to be potentially harmful to continue the therapy. |
| US07672724B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing electrical stimulation parameters using heart rate variability
A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started, stopped, adjusted, or optimized. In one embodiment, the HRV parameter is used to evaluate a plurality of parameter values for selecting an approximately optimal parameter value. |
| US07672722B1 |
Hardware-based state machine for use in discriminating near field signals from far field signals for use in an implantable cardiac stimulation device
A hardware-based state machine is provided for use in a pacemaker or other implantable cardiac stimulation device for use in discriminating near field signals sensed in the atria from far field signals emanating from the ventricles. The state machine is interposed between atrial/ventricular channel sense amplifiers and a main microcontroller of the device. The state machine operates to quarantine each P-wave interrupt received from the atrial channel sense amplifier to determine whether the P-wave interrupt corresponds to a true P-wave (i.e. a near field P-wave) as opposed to a false P-wave (i.e. a far field R-wave). Interrupts corresponding to true P-waves are forwarded by the quarantine circuit to the microcontroller after a short time delay. Interrupts corresponding to false P-waves are not forwarded. Hence, the microcontroller receives only true P-wave interrupts and therefore does not need to devote processing resources to distinguishing between true P-waves and false P-waves. |
| US07672713B2 |
Multi-channel catheter tip
A tip assembly for a catheter includes a housing having a recess that receives an optical bench. The optical bench accommodates adjacent fibers, one of which is in optical communication with a first beam re-director. The first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam incident thereon to travel in a direction away from the optical bench. An engaging structure coupled to the optical bench provides torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along the catheter. |
| US07672712B2 |
Internal marker device for identification of biological substances
A device for visualizing structure located on the interior of a biological substance. The device includes a marker member that may be a solid cylinder or lumen having an interior volume having a distal end removably insertable in the biological substance relative to the interior structure to be visualized. An image-enhancing material is contained relative to the marker member in a manner such that the imaging material does not directly contact the biological substance. The imaging material of choice is one capable of producing an emission or signal detectable external to the biological substance by suitable imaging instrumentation. Also disclosed is a method for visualizing critical structures or radiation therapy targets in imaging processes such as positron emission tomography and/or single photon emission computerized tomography, MRI, or ultrasound either used alone or in combination or in registration with anatomical imaging processes such as computed tomography or mammography. |
| US07672709B2 |
Determination of the position of a radiographic or radioscopic unit
The invention relates to a method for the determination of the position of a radiographic or radioscopic unit (16) with relation to a reference point (Rref) on producing a radiographic image of an object (10). The position of the unit (16) with relation to a reference point (Rref) is determined from the determination of the position of a test pattern (25), with relation to the unit (16), which is mechanically fixed to the object, by using the image of the test pattern with relation to the reference point (Rref). The invention further relates to a determining device for carrying out said method. |
| US07672708B2 |
Method and apparatus for the non-invasive imaging of anatomic tissue structures
A method for the non-invasive imaging of an anatomic tissue structure in isolation from surrounding tissues, including: receiving from an input device magnetic imaging data from a patient of the anatomic tissue structure and surrounding tissues; segmenting the imaging data to isolate the anatomic tissue structure imaging data from the imaging data for the surrounding tissues; separating the anatomic tissue structure imaging data into data populations corresponding to tissue microstructures; constructing an image from the imaging data for at least one of the tissue microstructures; and storing or displaying the image. An apparatus embodying the disclosed method is also described, as well as a method for the quantitative measurement of a nerve tissue suspected of demyelination. |
| US07672706B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring pulse wave velocity with an intravascular device
The systems and methods described herein allow measurement of the velocity of a pulse wave propagating within a body lumen using an intravascular elongate medical device. The elongate medical device can include a data collection device configured to collect pulse wave data at a location within the lumen. The data collection device is communicatively coupled with a velocity measurement system and configured to output the collected data to the velocity measurement system. The velocity measurement system is configured to calculate the velocity of the pulse wave based on the collected data. The velocity of a pulse wave over a region of the lumen can be used for tissue characterization, diagnosis and the like. |
| US07672704B2 |
Methods and compositions for blood pool identification, drug distribution quantification and drug release verification
Methods and compositions useful for detecting an in vivo blood pool, monitoring the distribution of a compound of interest to a desired site in an organism by magnetic resonance imaging, monitoring the accumulation of a compound of interest at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging, and monitoring the release of liposomal contents to an external stimulus at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed. Some compositions comprise envirosensitive or non-sensitive liposomes. Contrast agents, such as manganese-based compounds, are also disclosed. |
| US07672703B2 |
Electrode for measuring electrocardiogram and electrocardiogram device including the same
An electrode for measuring an electrocardiogram. The electrode comprises a signal detector operable to detect an electrocardiogram signal. An electrolytic gel is coated onto a first surface of the signal detector. The gel is electrically conductive and operable to adhere to a skin. A connector is electrically connected to the signal detector. |
| US07672699B2 |
Driving apparatus using magnetic substance for sliding type portable wireless terminal
A driving apparatus enables a sliding-type portable wireless terminal to be opened or closed with reduced noise and through multiple stages of opening. The portable wireless terminal may have various functions corresponding to each of the multiple stages. The driving apparatus comprises: a main body; a sub body sliding in a longitudinal direction of the main body, so as to be opened from or closed onto the main body; a first magnetic module provided at a rear surface of the sub body and having a first magnet, the first magnet having a first polarity and extending in a longitudinal direction of the first magnet; and a second magnetic module provided at a front surface of the main body and having a second magnet, the second magnet having a second polarity and being opposed to the first magnet. |
| US07672694B2 |
Low power chip architecture
An architecture for selectively powering a receive module (108) is disclosed. The architecture comprises the receive module (108) which is functionally adapted, while power is applied to the receive module (108) by a power module (601), and after a power-up time interval has elapsed, to process a traffic packet. The architecture further comprises the power module (601) that is adapted to apply power to the receive module 108 dependent upon arrival of a wake-up packet. |
| US07672691B2 |
SIM/UIM card arrangement in portable wireless terminal
There is provided a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)/UIM (User Identity Module) card arrangement in a slide type portable wireless terminal having a main body and a slide body sliding by a predetermined length in a lengthwise direction of the terminal to slide up and down on the main body. In the arrangement, when the slide body is fully slid up, a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)/UIM (User Identity Module) card is installed on a rear surface, which is open to the view, of the slide body. |
| US07672690B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating system selection in a multi-network radio communication system
Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate selection of with which network portion of a WLAN-cdma2000, or other multi-network radio communication system, that the mobile node should communicate. A parameter message is communicated to the mobile node. The parameter message includes indications, values of which are extracted from the message, buffered at a buffer, and subsequently accessed. A selector utilizes the accessed values to determine with which of the network portions that the mobile node shall communicate. |
| US07672685B2 |
Transmitter and transmission control method, and receiver and reception control method
A base station carries out training for obtaining correlation information that correlates the reception quality of a packet channel transmitted from a terminal and the transmission power of an associated channel, and based on the correlation information, uses the transmission power of the associated channel to obtain a predicted value of the reception quality of the packet channel, and controls the transmission of data through the packet channel based on that predicted value. The base station transmits through the associated channel transmission control information for controlling the transmission of the reception quality of the packet channel by the terminal. The terminal controls the transmission of the reception quality of the packet channel based on the transmission control information included in the data of the associated channel transmitted from the base station. |
| US07672683B2 |
Non-interfering multipath communication system
A non-interfering multipath communication technique establishes a base transmit and receive period for a variety of spaced apart transceiver devices of a base station and communicates between at least one field station and the base station through those transceiver devices; a period of the base station is allocated amongst the transceiver devices to maintain the non-interfering multipath communication between the at least one field station and the base station. |
| US07672677B2 |
Method and system to transfer and to display location information about an object
The present invention relates to a method and system to display information about an object. The system includes a mobile device to relay information about an object to a location content provider. The location content provider formats the information into a visual representation and transmits the information to one or more digital television provides. One or more of the digital television provides can forward the information to a recipient to display on the recipient's television. |
| US07672676B2 |
Method and system for positioning in a mobile communications network
A method and system for obtaining the position of a mobile station located in a current network of a communications system including a plurality of networks supporting different positioning protocols. The current network is identified at a location center based on the identified current network. A suitable positioning protocol is selected among at least two protocols for communication of location information with the current network. |
| US07672673B2 |
Mobile communication system, relief method of competition between downlink RRC message and inter-cell movement of user equipment, and radio network controller
The present invention provides a relief method of competition between a Down Link RRC message and inter-cell movement of user equipment which can continue communication even when acknowledgment of the Down Link RRC message cannot be performed. An RLC layer of the radio network controller (RNC) divides a Down Link RRC message into RLC AMD_PDU and transmits them, and gives an RLC error notice to an RRC layer from the RLC layer when a number of RLC AMD_PDU resending is exceeded because RLC ACK cannot be received from user equipment (UE). An RRC layer of the radio network controller activates a timer. When receiving CELL UPDATE within a fixed period, the RRC layer regards the RLC error as competition with inter-cell movement of the user equipment to reset the RLC layer of the radio network controller. The RRC layer of the radio network controller makes RLC RESET INDICATOR be TRUE in RRC:CELL UPDATE CONFIRM from the radio network controller so as to reset the RLC layer of the user equipment. |
| US07672670B2 |
Method and system for providing status information for Broadcast/Multicast Service in a mobile communication system
In response to a BCMCS service request from a mobile station, a base station separately informs the mobile station whether the requested BCMCS service is available. Thus, the base station can include only broadcast channel information necessary for actual broadcast in a broadcasting overhead message, and if the BCMCS service is stopped or unavailable, the base station can order the mobile station to interrupt the BCMCS service, thereby reducing the load on system resources. |
| US07672669B2 |
Method and apparatus for controllable simulation of mobility
Systems and methods enabling the efficient and repeatable simulation of mobility, during performance measurements of wireless data communications equipment are described. These are particularly useful for testing the impact on performance of spatial separation between Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) devices, clients, relative to their counterparts, access points. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the controlled emulation of spatial distance effects by injecting impairments into the transmitted and received wireless data packet streams are disclosed to simulate the impact of distance on properties of signal level, signal to noise ratio, and frame error ratio. Injection of impairments may be accomplished by varying the transmit power, artificially inducing errors into transmitted frames, and withholding acknowledgements for otherwise valid received frames, at levels consonant with the amount of distance to be emulated. This enables various mobility performance measurements to be made on WLAN devices without actually requiring that they be physically separated. |
| US07672668B2 |
Calibration system architecture for calibrating multiple types of base stations in a wireless network
A method of calibrating a base station that comprises an adaptive antenna array is provided. The method includes selecting one operational mode from a plurality of operational modes for the base station. An operational mode component set corresponding to the selected operational mode is selected from a plurality of operational mode component sets in the base station. The base station is calibrated using the selected operational mode component set. |
| US07672666B2 |
Method and system for implementing vehicle functions through a mobile communication device
A method and system for implementing vehicle functions through a mobile device are provided. More particularly, a technique is implemented for initiating selected vehicle functions through a remote mobile device such as a mobile phone, rather that through a key fob. The system includes network functionality contained within the primary switching element of the network, e.g., a mobile switching center (MSC), to receive an access code (such as *89) from a user. The switching element subsequently transmits command signal(s) via a base station to a vehicle to perform vehicle functions such as locking, unlocking and starting. |
| US07672665B2 |
Method for user information transfer
A method for transferring user specific information from a first vehicle in a mobile communication system to a second vehicle in the mobile communication system includes retrieving user specific information from the vehicle using a wireless connection, transferring the retrieved information to the second vehicle, and deactivating the user specific information in the first vehicle. |
| US07672662B2 |
Method and system for multimedia tags
A multimedia data construct called a tag may be stored and transferred. A user can use multimedia content, to create a the content portion of a tag. The multimedia file is then incorporated into the tag or it can be referenced by a pointer in the tag. The multimedia file is artistic expression of the user and the tag uniquely associates the user's identity with the multimedia file by prohibiting alteration of the content after the user completes its creation. The tag includes at least one dynamic indicator that may be changed based on one or more predefined rules upon transmission. The tag may include an ID, that may be based on subscriber information. Encryption techniques may be employed to protect privacy concerns so that such subscriber information is not freely available. |
| US07672657B2 |
Tunable filter apparatus, systems, and methods
Embodiments of an active bandpass filter are described. Such a filter includes a transistor; a series-tuned inductive-capacitive (LC) network (STLCN) in a common source circuit associated with the transistor to produce a tuned degenerative filtering of at least one interfering signal; and a first, variable resistance associated with the STLCN to provide a first control of a resonance quality factor (Q) associated with the filter. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07672654B2 |
Broadcasting receiver and method of receiving a broadcasting wave
A receiver has an amplifier for amplifying a TV broadcast signal. A mixer mixes the amplified signal with an oscillation signal corresponding to a channel selection signal and generates a low frequency signal. A bandpass filter generates a signal having an amplitude corresponding to the low frequency signal. Electric field intensity filtering circuits filter the low frequency signal. A subtractor calculates a difference between the output from the filtering circuits and the output from the bandpass filter to generate a difference signal which is negatively fed back signal to the amplifier when an amplitude of the difference signal is larger than a predetermined value. The signal from the filtering circuit is the negative feed back signal when the amplitude of the difference signal is not larger than the predetermined value. An AGC signal corresponding to an electric field intensity of the output from the mixer is inputted to the amplifier. |
| US07672647B2 |
Integrated circuit for transmitting and/or receiving signals
An integrated circuit for transmitting and/or receiving signals includes a differential antenna terminal for coupling to an antenna, a processing circuit for processing differential signals, and first differential lines coupling the differential antenna terminal to a differential input and/or output of the processing circuit. |
| US07672643B2 |
System and method for transmitter leak-over cancellation with closed loop optimization
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for transmitter leak-over cancellation. In one example, a method includes transmitting a signal via a transmit chain in a wireless device, where a portion of the signal leaks over into a receive chain of the wireless device. A portion of the signal is diverted from the transmit chain into cancellation circuitry coupled to the receive chain to manipulate an amplitude and phase of the portion before combining the manipulated portion with the signal and other portion to at least partially cancel interference caused by the leak-over portion. After downconverting, a remainder portion is filtered from the received signal. A power level of the remainder portion is detected and compared to a threshold value. An amplitude and phase configuration of the cancellation circuitry is modified based on a result of comparing the power level to the threshold value. |
| US07672642B2 |
Uplink communication in GSM/EDGE system
Embodiments of the invention relate to uplink communication in a GSM/EDGE telecommunication system. A method according to certain embodiments of the invention include at least one wide-band carrier wave in the group of carrier waves being generated in a mobile station by applying linear modulation at a first modulation symbol rate, the first modulation symbol rate being a multiple of a second modulation symbol rate, while preserving a predefined carrier spacing and allowing the at least one wide-band carrier wave to overlap with at least one adjacent carrier wave. |
| US07672641B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device (100) having at least a first portion (102) and a second portion (104) is disclosed. The first portion is joined to the second portion by a mechanical connection. The electronic device (100) includes a first communication unit (106) present on the first portion (102), and a second communication unit (108) present on the second portion (104). The first communication unit (106) and the second communication unit (108) provide a first link for internal data communication between the first portion (102) and the second portion (104), when communicatively engaged with each other. Further, at least one of the first communication unit (106) and the second communication unit (108) provide a second link for external data communication with an external device when the first communication unit (106) and the second communication unit (108) are not communicatively engaged with each other. |
| US07672635B2 |
Method and apparatus for image forming and effectively applying lubricant to an image bearing member
A lubricant supplying device including a molded lubricant having a Martens hardness of about 40 N/mm2 to about 70 N/mm2 measured with a test force of 50 mN and a load-applying period of 30 seconds, a rotative member including a fibrous brush of a thickness of about 5 deniers to about 15 deniers in a circumference of a rotative supporting axis of the rotative member with a density of about 20,000 fibers to about 100,000 fibers per square inch, and configured to apply lubricant shavings of the molded lubricant to an image bearing member held in contact with a cleaning member and to remove the lubricant shavings remaining on the surface of the image bearing member, and a pressing member configured to press the molded lubricant against the rotative member at a pressure force ranging from about 2 N/m to about 12 N/m. |
| US07672629B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus, fixing unit and image forming apparatus provided with the fixing unit
A fixing unit includes a heating rotary member for heating a sheet, a pressing rotary member that is pressed against the heating rotary member with a specific pressure, forming a nip in between, and at least one separating member having a far end directed toward a surface of one of the rotary members with a narrow gap (d) on a downstream side of the nip so that the far end of the separating member hooks on and separates the sheet which is going to turn with the one rotary member. The gap (d) between the far end of said separating member and the surface of the one rotary member and a minimum width (L) of a top margin of the sheet along a leading edge thereof where the toner image is not formed are set to satisfy a relationship expressed by the inequality: d+1.5≦L≦3d+1.5. |
| US07672625B2 |
Developing device using electrostatic transport and hopping (ETH)
A developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus that use ETH development, and are capable of forming good multi-color images with a simple construction, and are capable of preventing the dispersal of powder. The developing device is for developing latent images on a latent image carrying member by applying powder to the latent image carrying member, and comprises: a transport member disposed in opposition to the latent image carrying member and having a plurality of transport electrodes that generate a progressive wave electric field to move the powder; a voltage supply device for applying a multi-phase voltage to the transport electrodes; and a transport member surface potential determination device for determining the surface potential of the transport member. The voltage supply device in the developing device according to the present invention applies a multi-phase voltage to the transport electrodes so that the surface potential on the transport member is between the potential of the image portions and the potential of the non-image portions of the latent image carrying member. |
| US07672624B2 |
Bearing and locating member for a toner cartridge for use with an image forming device
The present application is directed to toner cartridges with a bearing plate to locate and provide a bearing surface to one or more rotational members. The bearing plate may be positioned on an outer wall of a body of a toner cartridge. The bearing plate may include apertures to receive shafts of a series of rotational members. The bearing plate may locate the shafts relative to the body such that each is operatively connected together through a gear train. Bearing plate may also provide a bearing surface for the rotating shafts. |
| US07672622B2 |
Support element, toner replenishing device, toner supply apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A support element for supporting a coil spring that rotates to transport toner, and transmitting a rotational force of driving means to the coil spring. The support element includes: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the coil spring is inserted; a first support member, a second support member with a projection, a third support member, and a fourth support member, which support non-end portions of a first coil spring; and joint members for joining the end inserting member and the support members. This realizes a coil spring support element with which the flow rate of toner from a toner bottle can be increased, and the rotational force of driving means such as a motor can be efficiently transmitted to the coil spring. |
| US07672621B2 |
Developing device and toner cartridge
A toner cartridge is to be attached to a developing device. The developing device is provided with a developing roller comprising a rotational axis extending along a horizontal direction, a first casing, and a first transporting member. The first casing includes a developing chamber for accommodating the toner to be supported by the developing roller, a first feed opening for feeding the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing chamber, and a first return opening for returning the toner from the developing chamber to the toner cartridge. The first transporting member is located within the developing chamber. The first transporting member transports the toner within the developing chamber from the first feed opening to the first return opening. The first feed opening and the first return opening are offset along the horizontal direction. The first feed opening is located higher the first return opening. |
| US07672617B2 |
Image apparatus with toner replenishing
An imaging apparatus has an image carrier, an exposure unit to irradiate the image carrier; a developing part; a rotator on which a plurality of such developing parts is provided; a color toner replenishing part which moves from a retracted position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed, to a replenishing position where light emitted from the exposure unit is obstructed, and with which the color toner of the color developing part in the replenishing position is replenished; and a black toner replenishing part which is disposed in a position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed and with which the black toner is replenished to the black developing part in the replenishing position. |
| US07672615B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of adjusting a moving speed ratio
An image forming apparatus, includes: an intermediate transfer type image forming unit that primarily transfers a toner image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member and then secondarily transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a printing medium; and a control unit that controls a moving speed ratio ΔV represented by Expression 1 depending on a usage history of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, Δ v [ % ] = v 2 - v 1 v 1 × 100 ( 1 ) where V1 is a moving speed [mm/s] of a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and V2 is a moving speed [mm/s] of a surface of the intermediate transfer member in a moving direction of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a surface layer containing a curable resin on a surface facing to the intermediate transfer member. |
| US07672605B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus
A transfer device is provided for an image forming apparatus designed such that toner images formed on a plurality of image bearing members are transferred one over another on a transfer body disposed in contact with each of the image bearing members with predetermined pressure and thus a toner image in two or more colors is formed on the transfer body. The transfer device includes a pressure varying mechanism which is capable of separating the transfer body from at least some of the image bearing members, and capable of varying transfer pressure between the image bearing members and the transfer body in contact with said image bearing members. |
| US07672602B2 |
Developing unit and image forming apparatus which forces consumption of toner
A developing unit supplies toner from a developing roller to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, and creates a visual image. A forced consumption unit causes, when a proportion of number of pixels used for forming the electrostatic latent image for a maximum image effective-width is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a forced consumption of toner by an amount corresponding to a difference between a toner amount corresponding to the number of pixels and a predetermined toner consumption amount. The forced consumption unit adds toner of an amount used in the forced consumption to an amount of toner to be supplied in a next imaging process. |
| US07672600B2 |
Image forming apparatus, subunit replacing method, and maintenance method of an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that includes: a movable unit that can move between a first position that is for when image formation is being performed and a second position that is retreated from the first position; a first display that is used when the movable unit is in the first position; and a second display that is used when the movable unit is in the second position. |
| US07672589B2 |
Method and polarization-multiplex system for reducing the signal degradation of an optical polarization-multiplex signal
Method for reducing signal degradation in an optical polarisation-multiplex system. The modulated optical signals to be transmitted are synchronised or generated such that the phase difference for NRZ-modulated signals is at least approximately 0° and the phase difference for RZ-modulated signals is at least approximately 180°. They can also be achieved by means of different synchronising devices. |
| US07672587B2 |
Reconfigurable semitransparent optical switching device
An optical switching device is provided. The device includes an input stage (1) comprising broadcast modules (MD1-MD3) that provide duplicates of the same multiplex, an output stage (2) comprising programmable multiplexer modules (OWS1-OWS3) having inputs associated with respective broadcast modules, and an intermediate stage (3) connecting each programmable multiplexer module input that is associated with a broadcast module to an output of the associated broadcast module. Each broadcast module includes a programmable demultiplexer module (IWS1-IWS3) having a transit output (B1), and a selection output (B2) and a star coupler (SC1-SC3). The transit output (B1) is connected to a first input (C1) of the coupler and an input and an output of a processing device (RG, RG′) are respectively connected to a selection output (B2) and to a second input (C2) of the coupler. |
| US07672585B2 |
Optical switch system
Each of a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operates as an optical gate switch and selects an optical signal indicated by a gate control signal from an optical gate switch control unit. A plurality of photodetectors monitor the power of an optical signal input through a corresponding input port. A VOA control unit calculates an amount of attenuation corresponding to each input port based on the power of each optical signal. A variable optical attenuator attenuates the selected optical signal according to the calculated amount of attenuation in synchronization with the gate control signal. |
| US07672572B2 |
Recording apparatus and recording method
An apparatus and method of addressing data losses when power to a digital recorder is unexpectedly interrupted during recording, and the file management information needed to play back digital content is not completely written to a disc. The recovery process for correcting inconsistencies between the AV data and management information left on the disc is time-consuming. By recording the recovery data used for the data recovery process when power is turned on again, the management information can be recompiled based on the recovery data. Thus, inconsistencies between the AV data and management information can be corrected. Additionally, AV data and recovery data in this case can be written alternately to contiguous areas on disc. |
| US07672568B2 |
Outputting apparatus, outputting method, recording apparatus, recording method, reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and recording medium
Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section. Another recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes a discrimination section for discriminating a type of the recording medium, and a control section for selecting a recording control method for recording the data onto the recording medium in response to the discrimination section and controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium in accordance with the selected recording control method. |
| US07672562B1 |
Optical cable having an enlarged section to facilitate pulling
An optical fiber cable includes a stopper, an enlarged section, around a portion of its outside surface that is adapted to engage a tool, which is used for pulling the cable through a conduit or the like. The stopper may be an integrated part of the cable, or it may be applied to the cable as a shrink tube or an adhesive tape. |
| US07672560B2 |
Coupling device for use in optical waveguides
An optical coupling device for coupling light with an optical waveguide comprises a mirror formed within an optical waveguide. The mirror comprises a first material, a first reflective end, and a second reflective end. The first material is light conducting and has a first refractive index. The first and second reflective ends reflect and transmit light. The mirror has an axis line. The optical coupling device is useful for extracting light from a waveguide and providing a backlight for a liquid crystal display. |
| US07672557B2 |
Optical fiber and a method for fabricating a low polarization-mode dispersion and low attenuation optical fiber
A method of fabricating an optical waveguide fiber that includes the steps of providing a cylindrical glass optical fiber preform having a longitudinally extending centerline hole, and closing the hole under conditions suitable to result in uniform and symmetric hole closure. The method may include first plugging a first end and a second end of the centerline hole to prevent gas flow therethrough. The method preferably involves closing the centerline hole of the preform by drawing the preform down into an optical waveguide fiber. |
| US07672556B2 |
Flat design composite drop fiber cable with mid-span access capability
A fiber cable having a first fiber containing portion with a plurality of optional fibers disposed therein. A second strength portion is separable from the first fiber containing portion arranged in a substantially flat arrangement. The second strength portion is separatably coupled to the first fiber containing portion. |
| US07672554B1 |
Space expanders in optical devices
New designs of optical devices, particularly for multiplexing or demultiplexing as well as adding or dropping are disclosed. According to one aspect of the designs, one or more beam redirecting parts (e.g., prisms or mirrors) are used in an optical device to redirect a beam for at least two purposes: to increase a distance between two optical parts that are not positioned along an optical path, by using one or two of such beam redirecting parts, and to minimize an angle of incidence (AOI) to an optical filter or to adjust the AOI to an optimum value. As a result, devices employing the techniques provide small AOL and flexibility in adjustment and are amenable to small footprint, broad operating wavelength range, enhanced impact performance, lower cost, and easier manufacturing process. |
| US07672551B2 |
Configurations and methods for manufacturing optical devices using an athermal platform
The present invention discloses an improved optical device having at least a first and second optical components. The optical device further includes a first extending tube securely attached to the first and second optical components as a first building block wherein the first and second optical components are aligned and position adjusted in the position-holding-and-fixing means and securely attached thereto by a room-temperature UV curable epoxy UV cured at room temperature. The optical device then further assembled using a step-by-step building block assembling process with more building blocks assembled by optical components similar to the first building block described above. In other preferred embodiment, the first and second optical components held in the extending tube having a pre-aligned dihedral angle between the first and second optical components. |
| US07672550B2 |
Illumination light source and image display apparatus
A coherent light source includes a plurality of light emitting points arranged in one-dimensional array. A beam shaping unit shapes a light beam so that a diameter of a light emitted from the coherent light source in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the light emitting point array is larger than a diameter in the direction of the light emitting point array, and an intensity distribution of the light emitted from each of the light emitting points is uniform. A magnification of a focusing optical system is set such that a light emitted from the beam shaping unit is coupled to an optical fiber based on a maximum diameter of the light emitted from the beam shaping unit. |
| US07672546B2 |
Optical transport network having a plurality of monolithic photonic integrated circuit semiconductor chips
A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip comprising an array of modulated sources, each providing a modulated signal output at a channel wavelength different from the channel wavelength of other modulated sources and a wavelength selective combiner having an input optically coupled to received all the signal outputs from the modulated sources and provide a combined output signal on an output waveguide from the chip. The modulated sources, combiner and output waveguide are all integrated on the same chip. |
| US07672543B2 |
Triggering applications based on a captured text in a mixed media environment
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes an action processor and method, and MMR documents with an associated action. The MMR document structure is particularly advantageous because the ability to specify different actions for different MMR documents, combined with the ability to create any number of MMR documents for a particular location on any media, allows the MMR architecture to serve as a universal trigger or initiator for additional processing. In other words, addition processing or actions can be triggered or initiated based on MMR recognition. The action processor receives the output of the MMR recognition process which yields an MMR document including at least one action. The action processor executes that action which includes various commands to the MMR system or other systems coupled to the MMR system. The MMR system architecture is advantageous because an action can be executed by pointing the capture device at a block of text, and the action is performed. Example actions include retrieving the text in electronic form to the capture device, retrieving the specification for the action, inserting data to a MMR document, transferring data between documents, purchasing items, authoring actions or reviewing historical information about actions. The MMR system includes a variety of user applications (one or more actions) initiated by the MMR recognition of a text patch such as information retrieval for a travel guide book, stock listings or advertisements; information capture such as recording content from a conference, recording and storing multimedia associated with the document, capturing information for a calendar and on the fly authoring; purchasing media files for storage on any part of an MMR document. |
| US07672538B2 |
Generation of still image from a plurality of frame images
Some of a plurality of frame images are made comparison object images for use in synthesizing a still image. Selecting one of the comparison object images as a comparison reference image and one as a target image, the comparison reference image and target image are compared, and a parameter is calculated. If the parameter does not meet a predetermined criterion, the target image is excluded from the comparison object images. Additionally, any number of frame images from among the plurality of frame images are set as comparison object images, and the aforementioned comparison is carried out until the total number of comparison object images and reference images serving as reference for synthesis is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. A synthesized image generating module 75 synthesizes the reference images and comparison object images whose total number is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, to generate a still image. |
| US07672537B2 |
Method and system for improved detection of material reflectances in an image
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method for manipulating an image is provided. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of selecting matched shadow/lit pairs of image portions from each of separate, different materials depicted in the image, utilizing the selected matched pairs to determine spectral ratio information for the image, calculating a correction term as a function of the spectral ratio information and utilizing the correction term to manipulate the image, to remove effects, such as, for example, path radiance. |
| US07672532B2 |
Dithered encoding and decoding information transference system and method
Methods for encoding transitions between low-intensity regions and high-intensity regions such that the transitions are more readily detectable in a digital image captured by a digital image capture device. The encoding applied to the transitions act to retard and minimize blooming effects and ISI that can occur in the digital image, especially when the transitions are captured from a television, computer display screen or other transmissive media. |
| US07672522B2 |
Image decoding device and image decoding method
This invention realizes an image decoding apparatus and an image decoding method capable of correctly performing a decoding process in short time with a simple construction. In an image decoding apparatus and an image decoding method for performing a decoding process under a prescribed coding method, simple playback frames comprising an I-picture and following prescribed pieces of P-pictures on the basis of the I-picture existing at a desired position in picture data encoded with the coding method are extracted in a fast playback mode. |
| US07672521B2 |
System and method for improved page composition
A system and method for page composition in a processor-controlled printing system. Formatted image data is first received to a processor, the data representing image elements to be merged into a new document. At least one compressed cell describing each of the page elements is generated based on the formatted image data. A compressed cell contains pixilated image data of a predetermined pixel size. An element table including at least one cell pointer for each page element is generated. Each cell pointer includes a memory location and a cell type for each compressed cell that is pointed to by the generated element table. A merged page is composed based on the cell type entries of the element tables. A page composition system and a computer readable media having computer instructions for implementing the method of page composition are also provided. |
| US07672518B2 |
Use of frequency transform in the analysis of image sensors
A method for detecting and removing noise from an image, the method includes the steps of applying a frequency transform to the image for obtaining a magnitude image; comparing a threshold value to values of the magnitude image for obtaining thresholded values; setting one or more thresholded values to a predetermined value; and reconstructing the image from the magnitude image having the predetermined values for removing noise from the image. |
| US07672512B2 |
Forms for completion with an electronic writing device
Embodiments include an article of manufacture, apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, an article of manufacture includes a display surface that includes a machine-distinguishable form identifier keyed to an electronic version of the form and at least two fields. Each field of the at least two fields respectively includes a unique machine-distinguishable field identifier keyed to a field of the electronic version of a form, a content area that accepts a hand-formed entry, and a unique user-understandable field identifier. |
| US07672509B2 |
Fast image and video data propagation and blending using intrinsic distances
Images are colorized, recolorized, or otherwise manipulated by adding scribbles of a blending medium (such as chrominance) to a measurement medium (such as luminance) of the image. The blending medium propagates from the scribbles according to an intrinsic or geodesic distance that is a function of the measurement medium. Intrinsic distances may be weighted. An effect scribble may produce an effect, such as result data, in the blending medium according to a predefined function. A preprocessing scribble may be converted to one or more effect scribbles which are then propagated. A measurement scribble may propagate so as to alter the intrinsic distances of other scribbles. |
| US07672508B2 |
Image classification based on a mixture of elliptical color models
A method of classifying images based on elliptical color models is utilized in a number of applications. One or more color models are generated from a set of images with a region of interest. Then, sets of images are utilized for training. One set of images has regions of interest, and the other set of images is without regions of interest. By utilizing the two sets of images, a maximum difference between the sets is achieved, so that a color model is most representative of the object desired. Then using the optimal color model, a collection of images are able to be searched, and images are retrieved based on the probability that the images contain the desired object. |
| US07672506B2 |
System for spatial analysis of a physical quantity
A system is provided in which the spatial values (S1 to Sn) of the physical quantity are represented by measurement pulses (I1 to In), the temporal ordering of which represents the values, which are processed by processing units (U1 to Un) arranged in at least one row and each include an output (SOR1 to SORn). During successive processing cycles, a measurement pulse processed therein can be delivered to form the output signal (SU) of the system. Each processing unit includes an inhibiting unit (BI) for, in other units and during a given processing cycle, inhibiting the passage to the outputs of the other units respective measurement pulses processed therein and hence preventing them from forming the output signal, if the measurement impulses are temporally ordered later in the given processing cycle than the one processed in the unit concerned. |
| US07672504B2 |
Method and system for obtaining high resolution 3-D images of moving objects by use of sensor fusion
A system to scan 3D images applies sensor fusion of a passive triangulation sensor in combination with an active triangulation sensor to obtain high resolution 3D surface models from objects undergoing arbitrary motion during the data acquisition time. |
| US07672502B2 |
Substrate positioning device, substrate positioning method and program
Noise reduction processing for detecting the circumferential edge of a wafer W placed on a rotary stage with a light-transmitting sensor, obtaining detection values provided by the light-transmitting sensor as substrate edge shape data, detecting sudden abnormal data in the substrate edge shape data, eliminating the detected sudden abnormal data and interpolating the substrate edge shape data with estimated data generated based upon surrounding data in place of the abnormal data, notch mark judgment processing for detecting a notch mark candidate in the substrate edge shape data having undergone the noise reduction processing and making a decision as to whether or not the sets of data corresponding to the notch mark candidate area satisfies a predetermined judgment condition, and substrate positioning processing for positioning the substrate based upon a notch mark that satisfies the predetermined judgment conditions are executed. |
| US07672501B2 |
Substrate inspection system including a visual inspection device for inspection by image processing
A substrate inspection system is formed with an inspection device associated with a reflow process at the end of a series of production processes for substrates, image collectors each associated with a different one of the production processes upstream to the reflow process and an image display device for receiving images from the inspection device and the image collector and displaying the received images. The inspection device inspects a specified number of substrates to obtain measured values and calculates a margin for each component with respect to a specified reference value and transmits to the image collectors and the image display device the component code of the component with a small margin value. The image collectors save the image corresponding to the component code from the inspection device. The image display device receives images of the component corresponding to the component code from the inspection device and the image collectors and display images of the same component and the same substrate at each process. |
| US07672498B2 |
Method for correcting inhomogeneities in an image, and an imaging apparatus therefor
A method is for correcting inhomogeneities in an image that is recorded from an examination object. The method includes recording an image to be corrected, calculating a correction image from the image to be corrected and correcting the recorded image with the aid of the correction image in order to produce a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the image to be corrected. When calculating the correction images, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object are identified with the aid of a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value. Further, these pixels are allocated signal intensities that in each case are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood. |
| US07672495B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for displaying marks in an image data set
A method and an apparatus display marks in an image data set, wherein an image data set comprising marks is provided and wherein during a review phase not all marks within the image data set are displayed at the same time. A list of the marks can be generated by sorting the marks depending on a predetermined sorting criterion and wherein the marks are displayed temporally one after another within the image data set in accordance with the generated list. The image data set is for example a medical image data set, wherein the marks are computer-aided detection (CAD) marks and wherein the sorting criterion is the probability of marking illness, in particular the suspiciousness. |
| US07672493B2 |
Method for analyzing medical image data using level set
A method for analyzing medical image includes obtaining a plurality of surface fronts on an object, such points being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object; varying the volume of each one of the points such volumes combining into a common volume; and terminating the process when the common volume reaches boundaries of the object. |
| US07672492B2 |
Method of incorporating prior knowledge in level set segmentation of 3D complex structures
A process includes: generation of knowledge of the anatomical object to be separated from neighboring objects and identification of high level features (e.g., prior knowledge that includes: a mean shape template of the vertebra; and, high level features, e.g., readily identifiable boundary regions between the vertebrae neighboring objects, such as neighboring vertebra and rib structures); and the subsequent use of this prior knowledge to level set. |
| US07672487B2 |
Digital encoding of images of skin-covered body parts
Methods and apparatus for obtaining a digital code representative of a skin-covered body part (fingertip or other). An image of the body part is acquired, where the image includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an associated shade value. A plurality of subsets of pixels from the plurality of pixels is identified, with each subset including at least two pixels having a common one of a plurality of designated shade values. For each of a plurality of combinations of pixels taken from the pixels in the subsets of pixels, a geometric measure of the pixels in that combination is determined and then the geometric measures are encoded into a digital code for the skin-covered body part. In this way, a unique code is obtained that does not contain information about the structure of the body part, thereby alleviating privacy concerns in applications such as access control and offender supervision. |
| US07672479B2 |
Low maintenance flat mail line scan camera system
A camera assembly is disclosed which may be implemented on a mail processing system for photographing flats mail items. In one embodiment, the assembly includes lighting components (e.g., light emitting diodes) which are capable of projecting light toward a mail item in a viewing station at a specific angle, which angle may be adjusted to reduce the amount of specular reflection from an item toward a camera. The lighting components may reside in a nose unit which may be easily attached to and detached from the housing for ease of maintenance. The nose unit may be attachable to the housing in a manner which seals the camera and lighting components off from the operating environment, such that airborne dust and debris does not enter the housing or nose unit and damage the camera or lighting components. |
| US07672477B2 |
Detecting hidden auxiliary code signals in media
Methods for embedding and reading identification codes from media signals use embedded code signals modulated with the auxiliary message. These embedded code signals convey hidden tracking codes in images, video, music and printed objects. The embedded code signals are embedded by varying characteristics of the signal. The identification code varies for different copies of a media signal and indexes distribution information such as point of sale information and ownership information. |
| US07672473B2 |
Loudspeaker
In a loudspeaker, a lead wire of a voice coil is fastened to a diaphragm, and is extended along the diaphragm. A bottom surface of a frame supporting the diaphragm is placed so as to face against a rear surface of the diaphragm. A protrusion is formed on the bottom surface so as to protrude toward the rear surface of the diaphragm. Therefore, the loudspeaker can prevent the lead wire of the voice coil, which is extending along the diaphragm, from being broken. Further, the loudspeaker can prevent the forward protruding diaphragm from being crushed and damaged. |
| US07672469B2 |
In-ear monitors with removable cables
An audio monitor system that includes a pair of in-ear monitors, each of which includes a connector and a corresponding detachable cable, is provided. Each connector may include a two pin jack assembly and each detachable cable may include a corresponding two pin plug assembly. Preferably, each plug assembly of each detachable cable includes a hooded member. More preferably, a portion of the hooded member covers a portion of the corresponding connector, thus effectively sealing the plug/connector assembly from contamination. Even more preferably, interlocking members are included on each hooded member and each corresponding connector, the interlocking members preventing accidental decoupling of the cable from the connector. The plug and connector assemblies may include means for insuring that a desired pin polarity is maintained during cable coupling. |
| US07672466B2 |
Audio signal processing apparatus and method for the same
An audio signal processing apparatus includes a splitting unit for splitting an audio signal of a first system and another audio signal of a second system into pluralities of frequency band components, a level comparing unit for calculating a level ratio or a level difference between each of the frequency bands of the first system and each of the frequency bands of the second systems, and an output control unit for removing frequency band components whose level ratio or level difference calculated by the level comparing unit is equal and substantially equal to a predetermined value from at least one of the first and second systems. |
| US07672463B2 |
Apparatus to control temperature of audio amp
A temperature control apparatus used with an audio amp to prevent the audio amp from overheating and noise from being generated by effectively controlling a cooling fan of the audio amp includes a power supply to supply an electrical power, a power amp to amplify an input audio signal using the electrical power supplied from the power supply, a signal detector to detect the amount of the current flowing from the power supply during a predetermined time, a temperature sensor to sense a temperature over a predetermined level generated from the power amp, and a micro controller to control a cooling fan according to the amount of current output from the signal detector and/or the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. |
| US07672462B2 |
Method and system for acoustic shock protection
An acoustic shock protection method and device are provided. A pattern analysis-based approach is taken to an input signal to perform feature extraction. A parameter space is identified, which is corresponding to the signal space of the input signal. A rule-based decision approach is taken to the parameter space to detect an acoustic shock event. The device may be advantageously implemented using a weighted overlap-add approach to provide low group delay, high-fidelity and a high degree of protection from acoustic shock events. |
| US07672460B2 |
Mix-net system
Each participant apparatus (103) encrypts a plaintext by using a secret key of secret key cryptography, encrypts the encryption key by a public key, and sends the plaintext and public key to a substitution/decryption apparatus (112). With this processing, the limitation on the length of a ciphertext to be processed can be eliminated. In this invention, a verifiable proof text using a public key by each substitution/decryption apparatus is verified by a verification apparatus (109) by using the public key. If one of a plurality of organizations to decrypt and shuffle ciphertexts has not correctly executed the operation, a third party can specify it and prove that the specified organization is unauthorized. |
| US07672457B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium recording a wireless communication authentication program
A wireless communication authentication program whereby a slave station in a small-scale wireless LAN system can be authenticated by a simple procedure. A wireless communication authentication device periodically increments a first system timer value (Step S1) for which an optional numerical value is set beforehand. A wireless communication device sets therein a second system timer value (Step S2) so as to coincide with the first system timer value and periodically increments the second system timer value (Step S3). The wireless communication device transmits an authentication request command including a third system timer value (Step S4), and the wireless communication authentication device compares the third system timer value included in the authentication request command with the first system timer value thereof assumed at the time of reception of the command (Step S6). In accordance with the comparison result, the wireless communication authentication device determines whether to authenticate the wireless communication device. |
| US07672452B2 |
Secure scan
According to the invention, a circuit that is capable of automated scan testing is disclosed. Included in the circuit are a cryptographic engine, a digital circuit, an input pin, and an output pin. The cryptographic engine capable of performing at least one of encryption and decryption of one or more digital signals. The digital circuit includes combinatorial logic and a number of memory cells. The memory cells have scan inputs connected serially in a scan chain. The input pin and output pin are coupled to the scan chain. At least one of the input pin and the output pin carries at least some cipher text data of the scan chain. |
| US07672451B2 |
Small sized hinge device for use in electronic handheld device
Disclosed is an electronic handheld device. The device has a first panel, a second panel rotatable relative to the first panel about an axis and a hinge. The hinge has first and second hinge members. The first member is engaged with the first panel. The second member is engaged with the second panel and rotatable relative to the first member about the axis. The first panel has a hole generally extending along the axis. The first hinge member is configured to linearly move within the hole. The first hinge member has an outer wall that has a curved surface and a key. The curved surface is a circular arc having a radius from the axis when viewed along the axis. The key is located outside an imaginary circle, a portion of the circumference line of which overlaps the circular arc. |
| US07672447B1 |
Frequency domain echo canceller
An echo canceller reduces an echo signal produced when the transmitted signal leaks back into the receiver via a hybrid. The echo canceller estimates the echo signal from the transmitted signal, and then subtracting the estimated echo signal from the received signal. In practice, the echo path channel in a DMT-modem is much longer than the cyclic prefix, and therefore, the received echo signal will be subjected to both ISI (inter-symbol-interference) and ICI (inter-carrier-interference). A traditional echo canceller, designed for a xDSL-modem, uses either a time domain adaptive FIR-filter or a combined echo canceller implemented in both time and frequency domain. A matrix-based adaptive echo canceller is implemented in the frequency domain. Various example embodiments are disclosed. |
| US07672444B2 |
Client survey systems and methods using caller identification information
A system and method is provided that includes an automatic call distribution system adapted to communicate over a network and includes a first software control module and a caller identification information device. The automatic call distribution system is configured to capture the caller identification information associated with an incoming call placed by a client and to route the incoming call and the caller identification information received from the network to a call agent station. The system also provides an interactive voice response system in communication with the automatic call distribution system for administering a survey to a client in communication with the call agent station. The survey is then associated with the client's caller identification information and identification information of the call agent. |
| US07672439B2 |
Concatenated audio messages
Audibly identifying an event includes enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier. The identifier enables identification of an entity related to the event. A notification of an occurrence of the event is received. The notification includes the identifier. An intended recipient is alerted of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound that is related to the event. |
| US07672438B2 |
Providing multiple line functionality using alternative network telephony
Providing multiple line functionality using alternative network telephony is disclosed. A local telephone installation comprises a first local telephone equipment associated with a first local node, a second telephone equipment associated with a second local node, and local telephone wiring connected to the first and second local nodes. The local telephone installation is associated for purposes of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) with a single telephone line. A request from a calling party to establish a connection with the local telephone installation is received at a third local node. It is determined whether the calling party desires to establish a connection to (1) a first telephone extension associated with the first local node or (2) a second telephone extension associated with the second local node. A connection is established from the third local node to the desired extension over the local telephone wiring in a manner that does not affect the other extension. |
| US07672437B2 |
System and method for processing traffic study requests
A system and method for processing traffic study requests in a communications network. The system provides a log-in window for a user identification validation. If a user is an authorized user of the system, the system provides a window for displaying a CPNI disclaimer. The system provides a new order request window for receiving customer information and input parameters. The system provides a new study request window for receiving a telephone number to be studied. Once the traffic study is completed, the system receives a report of the traffic study. The system then forwards the report to the user. |
| US07672433B2 |
Apparatus for increasing radiative heat transfer in an x-ray tube and method of making same
A target assembly for generating x-rays includes a target substrate, and an emissive coating applied to a portion of the target substrate, the emissive coating comprising one or more of a carbide and a carbonitride. |
| US07672432B2 |
X-ray machine and related voltage generator
A voltage generator for an X-ray machine comprising an X-ray tube with a cathode and an anode is described. The voltage generator comprises a negative voltage multiplier for supplying a polarization voltage to the X-ray tube and a filament transformer which can be connected to the X-ray tube for supplying an energisation voltage to the X-ray tube. The voltage generator is characterized in that the negative voltage multiplier comprises a cavity able to house said filament transformer. |
| US07672431B2 |
X-ray arrangement and x-ray contrast process for imaging an object under examination that contains at least one radiopaque element as well as use of the x-ray arrangement
To increase the contrast in the imaging in an object under examination that contains at least one radiopaque element, an arrangement that has the following features is used: a) at least one essentially polychromatic x-ray radiation source that emits x-ray radiation, b) at least one energy-dispersive detector, with which the intensity of the x-ray radiation that gets through the object under examination is detectable, c) at least one correlation unit, with which the intensity of the detected x-ray radiation from a pixel of the object under examination with a first energy E1 can be correlated with the intensity of the detected x-ray radiation from the same pixel with a second energy E2, d) at least one output unit for visualizing the object under examination from the pixel signals that are obtained by correlation of the intensities. |
| US07672429B2 |
Radiotherapy device control apparatus and radiation irradiation method
A radiotherapy device control apparatus controls a radiotherapy device. The control apparatus includes a reference image creation section, a transmitted image creation section and an affected area position control section. The radiotherapy device includes a therapeutic radiation irradiation device that radiates therapeutic radiation, an imager that generates an image of a subject by using radiation transmitted through the subject, and a drive device that moves a couch, where the subject is arranged, with respect to the therapeutic radiation irradiation device. The affected area position control section judges whether a relative position of the couch with respect to the therapeutic radiation irradiation device is appropriate and changes the relative position of the couch by using the drive device based on a first position and a second position. |
| US07672428B1 |
Radiotherapy apparatus
Recent advances in treatment planning and in the apparatus able to deliver such plans has called for the dose rate, i.e. the instantaneous power output of the radiation source, to be varied with time. This presents a difficulty in that the checking systems must monitor a varying power level against a varying valid range. We therefore monitor, instead, the energy of the individual pulses that form the beam. Known checking systems average out many pulses to determine the recent average power output by checking an ionization chamber every 100 ms or so. By reducing that time to less than a few milliseconds, a single pulse can be captured. The usual manner of varying the output of a radiation source of this type is to vary the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and therefore the measured power output will remain constant notwithstanding changes to the time-averaged power output, and can be compared to a standard. |
| US07672426B2 |
Radiation scanning units with reduced detector requirements
In one embodiment, a scanning unit for inspecting cargo conveyances uses a partial radiation beam and a detector of reduced length. In another embodiment, a scanning unit for inspecting objects comprises a detector with gaps along its expanse. In both cases, the cost of the scanning system may be reduced. The object, the source, and or the detector may be moved to enable generation of computed tomographic images. Methods are disclosed, as well. |
| US07672424B2 |
Image reconstruction with voxel dependent interpolation
A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a radiation detector (16) and a radiation source (12) which projects a non-parallel beam of radiation into field of view (14). A footprint of each voxel (v) which is projected on the detector (16) is corrected based on the position of the voxel (v) in the field of view (14) in relation to the radiation detector (16) and the radiation source (12). The contributions from substantially parallel redundant projections are further combined based on a fractional distance frac from a center point (82) of the voxel (v) to a center of each of the adjacent redundant projections. |
| US07672420B2 |
Shifter register for low power consumption application
A high voltage shift register stage which directly accepts low voltage clock signal inputs without using clock buffers. In particular, a shift register stage circuit is adapted to operate with a low voltage swing clock signal, with the stage circuit having a single state node, a, driven directly. This arrangement allows for reduced power consumption and higher operating speeds. |
| US07672418B2 |
Control rod guide tube and method for providing coolant to a nuclear reactor fuel assembly
Control rod guide tubes for a nuclear reactor having a body with an axial length that defines a lower end portion and an upper end portion and a cavity within a substantial length of the body. Orifices are included at the upper and lower end portions of the body. A control rod chamber is located within the cavity and is configured for receiving a control rod. A plurality of ports is coupled to the cavity and is positioned at a substantial length from the upper end portion of the body. Also included are at least two flow channels within the cavity that extend a substantial portion of the axial length of the body. Each flow channel is fluidly coupled to one or more of the ports for receiving fluid flow from outside the body and an outlet proximate to the upper end portion of the body for providing the received fluid flow. |
| US07672416B2 |
High-speed serial transceiver with sub-nominal rate operating mode
A communication device comprises a receiver and a data recovery module. The receiver may be an element of a serial transceiver embedded in or otherwise associated with an FPGA or other type of reconfigurable hardware. The receiver is operable with an unlocked sampling clock. The data recovery module is configured to detect transition edges in data signal samples generated by the receiver using the unlocked sampling clock, and to determine from the detected edges a sampling point for use in recovery of the associated data. The data recovery module is further configured to provide adjustment in the sampling point in the presence of transition edge variations, such as one or more exception conditions, that are attributable to the unlocked sampling clock. |
| US07672414B2 |
Data transmission
A data communication system transmits data between a transmitting node and a receiving node. The transmitting node may transmit data from streamed data signals across respective transmission paths of a communication link, transmit timing information for base clock signals across the communication link, and transmit configuration data. The configuration data may associate transmission paths and corresponding base clock signals. The receiving node may receive data from the transmission paths of the communication link and process the timing information for the base clock signals in response to the configuration data to generate a respective sample clock signal corresponding to each respective transmission path. Moreover, the receiving node may associate the sample clock with data from the respective transmission path depending upon the configuration data to recover the streamed data signals. |
| US07672409B2 |
Base station software for multi-user detection uplinks and downlinks and method thereof
A method of multi-user detection in a given uplink and downlink time slot in a software-defined receiver which includes filtering and sampling a received signal; forming a block-banded matrix A of the sampled signals; and solving {circumflex over (d)}=T−1y, where T=(AHA), y=AHx. The methods of solving for the matrix T includes a) computing Cholesky factors of the matrix T by approximating using the block-banded property of the matrix T and A; b) Schur decomposition for Cholesky factors of the matrix T and approximating the lower triangular Cholesky factor matrix R using block Toeplitz property of matrix T; or c) Fourier Transformation. |
| US07672408B2 |
Signal separation device and signal separation method
A signal separation device is disclosed that is able to reduce a number of calculations required when separating a received signal transmitted from transmission devices into the individual transmission signal. The signal separation device includes a signal point derivation unit that multiplies the received signal with respective elements of a unitary matrix, and derives at least one received-signal signal point on a signal constellation diagram; a definition unit that defines plural sections on the signal constellation diagram, each of the sections including a predetermined number of signal points; a detection unit that detects a received-signal section from the sections, the received-signal section including the received-signal signal point; a selection unit that selects signal points in the received-signal section as candidates of the received-signal signal point; and a determination unit that determines the transmission signals based on the selected signal points. |
| US07672405B2 |
Method for controlling the signal gain of a multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) baseband receiver
The invention provides a method for controlling the signal gain of a MultiBand Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MB-OFDM) baseband receiver. The symbol boundary of a signal is first detected. Power of the signal is then measured according to the symbol boundary, so that a zero-padding section of the signal is not measured. A gain magnitude for amplifying the signal is then determined according to the power of the signal. The signal is then amplified according to the gain magnitude. |
| US07672404B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing the time required to acquire a GPS signal
A method of correlating a digital communications signal is described. In an example, a window is defined equal to a portion of an epoch of the digital communication signal. The digital communication signal is then correlated across the window. A determination is made as to whether a correlation peak results from the correlating. Timing parameters are then established for receiving additional digital communication signals in response to presence of the correlation peak. |
| US07672403B2 |
Radio receiver, system on a chip integrated circuit and methods for use therewith
A system on a chip integrated circuit includes a first in-phase digital submodule and a first quadrature phase digital submodule such that the first in-phase digital submodule and the first quadrature phase digital submodule are operable to produce at least one output signal based on at least one input signal. A digital clock generator generates a first in-phase digital clock signal having a plurality of first in-phase digital clock cycles over a predetermined period and a first quadrature phase digital clock signal having a plurality of first quadrature phase digital clock cycles over the predetermined period. The plurality of first in-phase digital clock cycles are substantially interleaved with the plurality of first quadrature phase digital clock cycles over the predetermined period. |
| US07672398B2 |
Method and system for adjusting the amplitude and phase characteristics of real and imaginary signal components of complex signals processed by an analog radio transmitter
A method and system for determining amplitude and phase compensation values used to adjust the amplitude and phase characteristics of real and imaginary signal components of complex signals processed by an analog radio transmitter. The compensation values may be determined in response to detecting a significant temperature change in the transmitter. Corresponding amplitude and phase adjustment signals having levels that correspond to the compensation values are provided to respective amplitude and phase imbalance compensation modules to adjust the amplitude and phase characteristics of at least one of the real and imaginary signal components. |
| US07672396B2 |
Reducing image spectral leakage due to I-Q imbalance
Methods of reducing spectral leakage due to I-Q imbalance within a transmitter are disclosed. The method includes the transmitter receiving a data stream of coefficients of a multi-carrier modulation signal. The data stream is pre-processed by processing a set of the coefficients that correspond with selected notch frequencies to reduce the effects of I-Q imbalance of the transmitter, wherein at least a portion of the set of coefficients corresponds to non-symmetrical notch frequencies. The pre-processed data stream is multi-carrier modulated. The multi-carrier modulated pre-processed data stream is I-Q modulated before transmission. |
| US07672392B2 |
Arrangements and methods for a digital communication system
Methods, computer-readable medium, a transmitter, a receiver and a transceiver include the transmitter and the receiver in a digital communication system for reducing the transmit power level when there is no user data is to send, i.e., when dummy data is sent instead. That is achieved by defining a symbol alphabet Q and scrambling a modulated bit stream including user data and dummy data with randomly generated symbols from the symbol alphabet Q. |
| US07672391B2 |
MIMO receivers having one or more additional receive paths
In a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system, a receiver is implemented with at least one additional receive path beyond the number of transmit antennas used to transmit the signals (e.g., wireless OFDM signals) received at the receiver. In one embodiment, the additional receive path is used to reduced co-channel interference (CCI) in the recovered OFDM signals. In particular, each receive path applies recursive filtering to generate separate subcarrier signals. A processor converts the separate subcarrier signals from the different receive paths into a first set of subcarrier signals corresponding to each transmitted OFDM signal, where each first set of subcarrier signals has desired signal and possibly CCI. The processor also generates a second set of subcarrier signals corresponding to the CCI. The processor subtracts portions of the second set of subcarrier signals from each first set of subcarrier signals to generate recovered OFDM signals having reduced CCI. |
| US07672384B2 |
Bandwidth and power efficient multicarrier multiple access
Techniques are described for multicarrier multiple access wireless transmission, e.g. orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions, over frequency selective fading channels. The techniques are designed to maintain constant modulus transmissions for uplink while effectively mitigating intersymbol interference. Specifically, the techniques utilize non-redundant unitary precoding across OFDMA subcarriers to maintain constant modulus transmissions for uplink communications. For example, the techniques involve precoding a block of information symbols and assigning a different subcarrier for each symbol of the block. The subcarriers are selected to be equi-spaced and may be selected, for example, from a phase-shift keying constellation. The number of symbols per block is equal to the number of subcarriers assigned per user. Importantly, even with multiple subcarriers per user, the techniques enable constant modulus transmissions for uplink. Consequently, the techniques may achieve high power and bandwidth efficiency as well as improved performance over conventional OFDMA and GMC-CDMA transmissions. |
| US07672380B2 |
Noise-tolerant signaling schemes supporting simplified timing and data recovery
Described are communication systems that convey differential and common-mode signals over the same differential channel. Noise-tolerant communication schemes use low-amplitude common-mode signals that are easily rejected by differential receivers, thus allowing for very high differential data rates. Some embodiments employ the common-mode signals to transmit backchannel signals for adjusting the characteristics of the differential transmitter. Backchannel control signals are effectively conveyed even if the forward channel transmitter is so maladjusted that the received differential data is unrecognizable. Systems in accordance with the above-described embodiments obtain these advantages without additional pins or communications channels, and are compatible with both AC-coupled and DC-coupled communications channels. Data coding schemes and corresponding data recovery circuits eliminate the need for complex, high-speed CDR circuits. |
| US07672377B2 |
Method and system for video encoding and transcoding
A method of removing a motion vector from a group of motion vectors used in an encoding process includes providing a list of motion vectors, selecting an initial motion vector from the list of motion vectors, and providing an intermediate motion vector using a motion vector refinement process. The motion vector refinement process uses, in part, the initial motion vector. The method also includes forming a region defined by one or more parameters associated with the initial motion vector and one or more parameters associated with the intermediate motion vector, selecting an additional motion vector from the list of motion vectors, determining that the additional motion vector points into the region, and modifying a state of the additional motion vector. |
| US07672375B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus
A video encoding method comprises selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination. |
| US07672372B1 |
Method and system for data management in a video decoder
A method and system for minimizing bus traffic in a video decoder is disclosed. A method and system for processing a portion of a reference picture includes designating the reference picture, selecting a display picture within the reference picture, transmitting a display picture size, and sending a display picture offset. A method and system for compressing IDCT coefficients corresponding to a macroblock, the macroblock having a plurality of blocks, includes locating each non-zero IDCT coefficient corresponding to one of the plurality of blocks, assigning an index to the non-zero IDCT coefficient, the index designating a location within the one of the plurality of blocks, packing the non-zero IDCT coefficient in little endian format, and specifying a terminator bit corresponding to the non-zero coefficient, the terminator bit indicating the end of all non-zero IDCT coefficients for the one of the plurality of blocks. A method and system for selectively controlling each hardware device within a video decoder includes obtaining a video stream, performing VLC decoding, encoding a plurality of instructions to control each hardware device within the video decoder, decoding each one of the plurality of instructions, and optionally performing an IDCT in response to each one of the plurality of instructions. |
| US07672363B2 |
Method of and system for determining the delay of digital signals
A method of and system for determining the time required for a digital bit or bit stream to traverse a round-trip path from a source transceiver to at least one destination transceiver and back is disclosed. The relative timing of the transmitted bit or bit stream is compared to the return bit or bit stream using a high speed comparison configuration so as to provide in substantially real-time various measurements related to or derived from the time required to traverse the round trip path, including distance measurement in indoor positioning, real-time locating, adaptive cruise control, intelligent transportation systems, robotics, collision avoidance, personnel accountability, emergency location, search/rescue. In addition, a method of and system for determining the distance between transceivers, and a method of and system for determining the angular position of a transceiver with respect to at least two other transceivers are disclosed. |
| US07672359B2 |
Spread-spectrum receivers with extended dynamic range
A received analog spread-spectrum signal is selectively attenuated prior to digitization, where the amount of attenuation is based on the amplitude of the digitized signal before the digitized signal is filtered to compensate for interference that may exist in the received signal. By selectively attenuating the signal only when the digitized signal is relatively large, the receiver can be implemented using a relatively small analog-to-digital converter (ADC) than would otherwise be the case for a particular signal processing application. Taking advantage of the signal-concentration characteristics of spread-spectrum receivers, embodiments of the present invention can be designed to operate with signal having negative signal-to-noise ratios at the A/D conversion step. |
| US07672358B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing signal correlation at multiple resolutions to mitigate multipath interference
A method and apparatus for selecting a signal processing resolution. A received signal is processed using a first resolution. When a multipath condition is detected, the signal is processed using a second resolution. |
| US07672357B2 |
Base station apparatus of mobile communication system
A base station including a transmitting and receiving amplifier for amplifying CDMA signals exchanged with a mobile station; a radio stage connected to the transmitting and receiving amplifier for carrying out D/A conversion of a transmitted signal that undergoes baseband spreading, followed by quadrature modulation, and for carrying out quasi-coherent detection of a received signal, followed by A/D conversion; a baseband signal processor connected with the radio stage for carrying out baseband signal processing of the transmitted signal and the received signal; a transmission interface connected with the baseband signal processor for implementing interface with external channels; and a base station controller for carrying out control such as management of radio channels and establishment and release of the radio channels. The base station communicates with the external channels by mapping logical channels into physical channels. The CDMA signals are spread using a short code and a long code. |
| US07672351B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus
A projection and a raised portion are formed on an upper surface of a blue-violet semiconductor laser device. A projection and a raised portion are formed on a lower surface of a red semiconductor laser device. The height of the projection is smaller than the height of the raised portion, and the height of the projection is smaller than the height of the raised portion. The blue-violet semiconductor laser device and the red semiconductor laser device are joined to each other such that the projections are opposed to each other. |
| US07672346B1 |
Narrow spectral width lasers optimized and temperature stabilized with volume Bragg grating mirrors
Apparatus, methods, systems and devices for temperature independent or minimally temperature dependent narrow spectrum laser having an optimized output. The resonator includes at least one volume Bragg grating mirror that changes reflectance with temperature. The volume Bragg grating mirror in combination with a narrow spectrum laser optimizes the laser performance by being temperature tuned to the optimum reflectance. In an embodiment, the volume Bragg grating mirror has a temperature dependent reflectance that compensates for changes in the stimulated emission cross section of the gain medium and leads to a laser with output energy that is independent of temperature. |
| US07672345B2 |
Semiconductor laser drive control apparatus
A drive signal for driving a semiconductor laser is generated on the basis of an image signal inputted in synchronism with a pixel clock. A bias signal to the semiconductor laser is generated at a timing earlier than the drive signal by a predetermined time. The bias signal is disabled in synchronism with the leading edge of the drive signal. |
| US07672343B2 |
System and method for high power laser processing
A high power laser processing system is disclosed that includes a laser source and at least one optical element. The laser source provides a high power laser illumination of a first wavelength. The optical element includes a substrate that is substantially transparent to the first wavelength illumination, at least one highly reflective coating on a first side of the substrate, and at least one anti-reflective coating on a second side of the substrate. |
| US07672342B2 |
Method and radiation source for generating pulsed coherent radiation
A method of generating pulsed coherent radiation, comprises the step of generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of laser light pulses with a non-linear medium contained in a resonant cavity, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure. Furthermore, a radiation source of generating pulsed coherent radiation is described, comprising a laser pulse source for generating laser light pulses, a resonant cavity including a non-linear medium for generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of the laser light pulses with the non-linear medium, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure. |
| US07672327B2 |
Method for providing multicast and/or broadcast services to user terminals
The invention relates to a method for providing multicast and/or broadcast services to user terminals (8, 9) via a cellular network (2, 5). In order to increase the efficiency of multicast or broadcast transmissions, it is proposed that each of said user terminals (8, 9) willing to receive content data of at least one multicast and/or broadcast service enters at least once for a pre-determined time a state in which it is capable of receiving content data of said multicast and/or broadcast service. The invention equally relates to a corresponding user terminal, to a corresponding cellular network and to a corresponding mobile radio system. |
| US07672324B2 |
Packet forwarding apparatus with QoS control
A technique capable of controlling packets to be output to a plurality of ports is provided. Disclosure is made of a packet forwarding apparatus for distributing packets received from a physical port to be transmitted over a plurality of physical ports, which includes a transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting/receiving packets via a physical port, a port group decision unit for deciding a port group corresponding to a plurality of physical ports, and a port group control unit for controlling flow of packets for each port group decided by the port group decision unit. |
| US07672323B2 |
Dynamic and intelligent buffer management for SAN extension
In a network system for transporting GFP-encapsulated Fibre Channel/FICON data across a SONET/SDH transport network between two Fibre Channel/FICON ports, a transport interface for one Fibre Channel/FICON port intelligently allocates the amount of buffers for receiving Fibre Channel/FICON data from the other Fibre Channel/FICON port by determining the latency of travel across the SONET/SDH transport network. The first transport interface inserts a special latency instruction message into the Fibre Channel/FICON data before encapsulation in a GFP frame. After transport across the SONET/SDH network, the receiving second transport interface immediately sends the special latency instruction message back across the SONET/SDH transport network to the first transport interface which times the return of the special latency instruction message. From the time interval, the first transport interface can determine the latency of the SONET/SDH transport network and allocates the amount of buffers appropriately. This latency determination procedure is performed periodically so that the amount of allocated buffers can change as the latency of the SONET/SDH transport network changes. |
| US07672320B2 |
IP communications system for notifying a gateway controller of an IP address allocated to a gateway and a method therefor
A gateway device in an IP communications system can be controlled by a gateway controller even when an IP address of the gateway device is not fixed. The IP communications system includes a gateway device having a subscriber terminal interconnected thereto, a gateway controller for controlling the gateway device, provided on a subscriber side in accordance with a protocol conforming to the master-slave architecture, a database for providing subscriber information to the gateway controller, and an IP address allocator for dynamically allocating IP addresses. The gateway device requests the IP address allocator to allocate an IP address to acquire an IP address, and notifies the gateway controller of that IP address to get the IP address stored in the database. |
| US07672319B1 |
Integrated router/switch-based mechanism for mapping COS value to QOS value for optimization of LAN-to-WAN traffic flow
An integrated processor-controlled router and switch fabric architecture provides connectivity between local area network (LAN) ports of an Ethernet switch serving a plurality of local area network users and a wide area network (WAN) interface that provides connectivity with the internet. Packets received from user ports of the Ethernet switch contain priority-representative information. Packets delivered by the processor-controlled router to the WAN interface are prioritized in accordance with the priority-representative information. |
| US07672317B2 |
Method, system, and devices for transmitting information between a user equipment and an IP packet gateway
A method, a system, and network elements for transmitting information between a user equipment and an IP packet gateway, are disclosed, the IP packet gateway communicating with an IP network via an interface, wherein, when the UE is requesting at least one service requiring access to the IP network, authorization of the requested service is checked, wherein an error message is sent from the IP packet gateway to the user equipment, when the requested service is not authorized. The present invention discloses several options of signaling error messages between IP packet gateway and UE, for example, via IP layer signaling (e.g. RESV ERR messages) or link layer signaling (e.g. IS2000 and IOS signaling). The solution according to the present invention, in particular, relates to a CDMA network in connection with an IP multimedia subsystem network. |
| US07672310B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically changing the preamble length of a burst communication
Preamble length of burst communication signals dynamically changed to compensate in changes to linear distortion of a communication channel. Pre-equalization coefficients are provided to network element which pre-equalize communications with the CMTS. Long preamble lengths are used for a select few communications while short preamble lengths are used for the rest of the communication signals. When change in distortion characteristics is detected, a station maintenance is performed on the affected network element and new pre-equalization coefficients are determined and provided to the network element. Alternatively, all communications may be provided with long preamble lengths and communications may continue while the CMTS determines new pre-equalization coefficients. |
| US07672308B2 |
Admission control for data connections
The present invention describes a method, system and network node for controlling quality of service for existing data connections using shared radio resources in a wireless communication network. The Quality Control monitors the satisfaction level of every user as well as the user satisfaction rate in the system. The purpose of this function is to indicate the degraded situation to the Admission Control. In that way, appropriate actions to counteract those situations in which the provision of QoS is not in line with the negotiated QoS for a determined amount of users can be triggered. The Quality Control indicates the Admission Control about the convenience of starting to block users that request guaranteed QoS, such as streaming service users, or non Real Time (nRT) users to avoid the degradation in the provision of QoS for those users already admitted to the system. |
| US07672305B2 |
Crossbar switch, information processor, and transfer method
Port input sections generate, when the head flits of a packet are stored in the first and second registers, first and second mediation request signals destined for a desired request destination, and further generate a first notification signal used to notify the presence or absence of the first mediation request signal destined for any request destination. Upon reception of a mediation result signal, the port input sections output the flit from the first register and sequentially forward flits to be stored in the first register and the second register, and the port output sections sequentially output the flit outputted from the first register of any one of the port input sections to the node. A register suppresses a delay of the mediation result signal caused by a transmission path in a predetermined range, upon reception of the first and second mediation request signals sent thereto and the first notification signal, transmit and receive each mediation result signal between the mediation sections as a second notification signal; and perform mediation at the mediation circuit to output a mediation result signal. |
| US07672304B2 |
Method and system for switching frames in a switching system
A method for switching frames in a switching system is provided. The method includes receiving a first stripe set for a first port at a second port. The first stripe set is stored in a particular location in a queue of the second port. A determination is made regarding whether a first full flag associated with the first port has been set. If the first full flag has not been set, the first full flag is set and the particular location in the queue of the second port is provided to the first port. |
| US07672301B2 |
Distribution stage for enabling efficient expansion of a switching network
A distribution stage is disclosed comprising a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of first stage switching devices, a plurality of outputs coupled to a plurality of second stage switching devices, and a distribution configuration. The distribution configuration is configured to receive a plurality of bandwidth units (BU's) from each first stage switching device, and to distribute at least one BU from each first stage switching device to each second stage switching device, such that each second stage switching device is assured of receiving at least one BU from each first stage switching device. In effect, the distribution stage ensures that each first stage switching device has a logical link to each second stage switching device. In one embodiment, the distribution stage is configured in accordance with a distribution configuration that is static. Because the distribution configuration of the distribution stage is static, it does not add complexity to the overall switching determination of a switching network. Thus, the distribution stage enables the switching network to be expanded without degrading the switching performance of the network. |
| US07672297B2 |
Mediation system and method for hybrid network including an IMS network
Mediation systems and methods for hybrid networks including an IMS network. A system and method mediates an IMS network having a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) for providing session control for user endpoint (UE) devices with an alternative network to create a hybrid network. A service and corresponding service request code are defined to utilize at least a subset of capabilities provided by said alternative network. The S-CSCF is provisioned to identify and receive an alternative network service request message from a UE, including providing a call model having at least one filter code to associate said alternative network service code with at least one application server (AS) dedicated to serving alternative network service requests, said AS being responsive to service point triggers (SPTs). The AS is in communication with and capable of controlling delivery of at least a subset of services provided by said alternative network. The alternative network is a wireless broadcast network, such as a DVB-H network or a forward link only (FLO) network. The IMS network and S-CSCF and ASs are provisioned to provide two-way transport for interactive services for said hybrid network. The call model for alternative network services is constructed as a dynamic call model. |
| US07672295B1 |
Method and system for design for run-time control of voice XML applications
A method and system for implementing run-time control over voice application behavior. The method includes identifying a plurality of control point locations within a given voice application and a plurality of corresponding required responses to the control points. A design-for-control methodology is used to instrument the control points of voice application. A control agent is configured with web-based controls to manage the control points. The control points are used to alter the voice application's behavior during run-time. |
| US07672289B2 |
Method for defining, allocating and assigning addresses in ad hoc wireless networks
A method allocates and assigns addresses to nodes in an ad hoc wireless network. A set of potential addresses of nodes in an ad hoc wireless network are defined as having N fields, in which the number of bits in each field is one or more bits. A subset of the set addresses is allocated initially as addresses to be assigned to nodes joining the network, in which each address has N-K fields, where 0 |
| US07672285B2 |
Method and apparatus for minimizing co-channel interference by scrambling
An approach is provided for minimizing co-channel interference in a communication system is disclosed. Non-header portions of frames, which are transmitted over the communication system, are scrambled according to respective different scrambling sequences. The above arrangement is particularly suited to a digital satellite broadcast and interactive system. |
| US07672281B1 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining situational awareness information from nodes in a communications network
A method of communicating in a wireless ad-hoc network is disclosed. The network has a plurality of nodes, including a requesting node, configured for wireless communication therebetween. Each node transmits a situational awareness message to adjacent nodes. The message informs other nodes of a geographic location of the transmitting node. Each adjacent node, upon receiving the message, re-transmits the message to nodes adjacent the adjacent nodes when the transmitting node is within a predetermined re-transmitting distance. The requesting node transmits a situational awareness request to the nodes in the network. Each node in the set of nodes transmits a situational awareness response to the situational awareness request. The situational awareness response provides a geographic location of said each node in the set of nodes. Each node in the network that receives the situational awareness response re-transmits the situational awareness response along a transmission path toward the requesting node. |
| US07672280B2 |
Broadcast/multicast service method based on user location information
In a broadcast/multicast service based on user location information, when a terminal sets contents desired to be received in a specific area, a broadcast/multicast server checks current location information of the terminal transmitted from a location server or from the corresponding terminal, selects contents provided in the corresponding area, and transmits it to the terminal. Thus, a waste of a communication channel can be prevented, and since a user can selectively receive contents or information according to his/her location, user's satisfaction and convenience can be enhanced. |
| US07672278B2 |
Adaptor for wireless network
A printing device of the present invention has an additional function of switching over connection with two wireless networks. The printing device enters a user's wireless LAN based on first setting information, while establishing connection with a maker's wireless LAN based on second setting information to communicate with a printer, which is one of additional devices newly entering the user's wireless LAN. In response to a requirement from the printer, the printing device temporarily disconnects from the user's wireless LAN and enters the maker's wireless LAN to transmit setting information relating to the user's wireless LAN to the printer. This arrangement desirably relieves the labor of the user for settings in the additional devices to establish connection with the wireless network. |
| US07672275B2 |
Caching with selective multicasting in a publish-subscribe network
Packet routing via payload inspection at routers in a core of a distributed network. Packets include subjects and attributes in addition to routing information. The subjects correspond with particular types of content for subscriptions, and the attributes encapsulate the data or content. The routers store filters corresponding with subscriptions to content. Upon receiving a packet, a router inspects the payload section of the packet containing the attributes in order to retrieve the attributes and apply them to the filters for the subscriptions. If an attribute satisfies a filter, the packet is routed to the next link. If the attributes do not satisfy the filters, the router discards the packet. These routing decisions are distributed among routers in the network core. The router locally caches the data in the network core. |
| US07672272B2 |
Frame size adaptation in real-time transport protocol
A system and method in an unlicensed-radio access network for transporting a circuit-switched payload between an access network controller and a mobile station utilizing a packet-based transmission protocol. The controller sends to the mobile station, a channel activation message that includes a minimum acceptable sample size of the circuit-switched payload to be included in each packet. The mobile station determines whether it can support communications utilizing the minimum acceptable sample size, and if not, selects a larger sample size. The mobile station may send an acknowledgment message that indicates the sample size to be utilized. Alternatively, the mobile station begins transmitting packets, and the controller analyzes received packets to determine the sample size the mobile station is using. The controller then encodes transmissions to the mobile station utilizing the determined sample size. |
| US07672270B2 |
Communication system, method of communication between and among vehicles and vehicle comprising such a communication system
In order to provide a communication system as well as a vehicle comprising such a communication system for communication between and among vehicles and a method for communication between and among vehicles moving in any different directions within the same area by means of at least one channel designed for transmitting at least one message, the channel comprising at least one code for communication of the vehicles within at least one cluster in which at least one group of vehicles are clustered, wherein interference is to be eliminated, the vehicle comprises directional antennas oriented in different directions in relation to the moving direction of the vehicle to enable the sending direction of the message to be allocatable to directions in relation to the moving direction of the vehicle and the channel is assigned to direction areas, north, east, south and west. |
| US07672269B2 |
Methods of distributing an installation program on a wireless link and supporting memory circuit and apparatus
A self-contained installation program having at least one payload condition is provided (314) and distributed (316) to a plurality of selected nodes, using a wireless link, that subsequently installs the self-contained program based, at least in part, on a correspondence with the at least one payload condition. Examples of such payload conditions include, but are not limited to, an ability to sense at least one physical property, a deployment role or physical address of the receiving node, a physical location of the receiving node, available node resources, group membership, and so forth. |
| US07672266B2 |
Receiver with adaptive detection threshold for TDMA communications
A method of and a digital data recovery circuit (1) for extracting digital data from an analog data signal in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communications system, wherein the analog data signal of a communications link is exchanged in bursts or time slots. The circuit (1) comprises analog-to-digital (ADC) converter means (4), digital filter means (6) for providing a threshold or slice level, and digital comparator means (5) for comparing the digital data signal and the slice level for providing the recovered digital data. The digital filter means (6) comprise storage means (15) for digitally adjusting the filter time constants and slice level for each burst or time slot independently in accordance with specific settings applicable to a communications link associated with a burst or time slot. |
| US07672262B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for command and control of remote instrumentation
A remote instrument control and reporting system utilizes a host communication gateway based on hardware and software that interfaces with a field device, remote terminal unit, or control system that operates across multiple communications infrastructures to a common back end data delivery system. This design allows Modbus hosts or similar SCADA polled technologies, such as a field bus that utilizes various industrial protocols to control instruments at and acquire instrumentation data from physically isolated installations. In particular, this design is well suited for applications such as oil well electrical submersible pumps. The data is communicated through, for example, a low Earth orbit satellite into a host communications gateway that simulates within a host computer environment the same polling registers that the data was collected from in the remote locations. |
| US07672258B1 |
Signalling channel and radio system for power saving in wireless devices
Wireless devices, transmitters, systems and methods are provided that have a narrow band signalling channel and a wide band channel, for example an OFDM channel. In order to save power, the wireless device is nominally powered down with the exception of a receiver specific to the narrow band signalling channel. Once instructed to do so over the narrow band signalling channel, the wireless device wakes up the rest of its wide band receive circuitry. |
| US07672257B2 |
Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station
A mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration. |
| US07672252B2 |
Method and system for resolving switch number conflicts in a stackable switch system
A method for resolving switch number conflicts in a stackable switch system includes communicating a message between switches in the stackable switch system and determining, based on the communicated message, that two or more switches in the stackable switch system have the same switch number. The method also includes, in response to the determination that two or more switches have the same switch number, determining whether any of the switches should keep the switch number or select a new switch number. |
| US07672251B2 |
Multiple service method and device over heterogeneous networks
A multiple network service sharing method and a device for the same are provided. With the sub-network aggregation information collecting function and service arbitration function, the network user can easily add new network services to the existing network structure. The method and device support wired, wireless, IP-based and non-IP-based networks. |
| US07672248B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically changing network communication configuration information when a communication session is terminated
A network host device is enabled to initiate providing of network communication configuration information for a network to at least one network-enabled device for establishing a communication session via the network. It is determined when a last communication session is terminated of a last one of the at least one network-enable device. In response to determining when the last communication session is terminated, the network host device is disabled from providing the network communication configuration information. In response to determining when the last communication session is terminated, the network communication configuration information for the network is automatically changed. |
| US07672247B2 |
Evaluating data processing system health using an I/O device
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for monitoring health of a data processing system. A determination is made whether a response is received within a first time period in response to an I/O device sending a receive descriptor to the data processing system. A determination is made whether a second time period passes before the receive descriptor becomes available for sending to the data processing system in response to an unavailability of the receive descriptor for sending by the I/O device to the data processing system. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the first time period passes without receiving a response. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the second time period passes without a receive descriptor becoming available to send the data processing system. |
| US07672246B2 |
System and method for using per-packet receive signal strength indication and transmit power levels to compute path loss for a link for use in layer II routing in a wireless communication network
A system and method for evaluating at least one communication link between a transmitting node and a receiving node in a communications network. The system and method perform the operation of assigning respective link quality values to the respective communication links based on a transmit power level (TPL) value at which the respective data packets were transmitted by the transmitting node over the respective links, a received sensitivity (RS) value of the receiving node receiving the data packets, and a receive signal strength indication (RSSI) value provided by the network for each respective link. Based on the link quality values, the system and method can determine whether additional data packets are to be sent by the transmitting node to the receiving node via the communication link. Specifically, the link having the highest link quality value is selected. |
| US07672243B2 |
System and method to identify and communicate congested flows in a network fabric
The invention provides a system and method for identifying and communicating congested paths throughout a network fabric. Briefly, the present invention augments the congestion management mechanism defined in ASI to allow for the communication of congested paths through the fabric, rather than the simple congested output port notification supported today through the use of DLLPs. Further, it also uses the communication mechanisms already defined in the ASI specification to implement this additional capability. Specifically, the present invention uses Transaction Layer Packets (TLPs) to communicate the information concerning congested flows throughout the network. This packet type allows the inclusion of much more information than DLLPs, allowing a more comprehensive and elegant solution to the issue of congestion management in an Advanced Switching network fabric. |
| US07672241B2 |
Link-aware transmission control protocol
In a TCP/IP network, congestion control techniques such as slow start and congestion avoidance are employed. Such networks include wired and wireless links. However, normal operation of the wireless links exhibit different latencies than those exhibited over the wired link. The protocols employed in the wired network do not lend themselves well to efficient communication over wireless connections, and can cause slow start to be triggered. Determining when a sender will timeout due to non-receipt of an ACK, and intervening with a suppression message having an advertised window of zero to pause the user, are employed to prevent congestion control mechanisms such as slow start and congestion avoidance from activation. |
| US07672240B2 |
Method and system for using Bayesian network inference for selection of transport protocol algorithm
A method for optimizing a network stack includes inputting network information into a transport protocol algorithm selector, inputting a first transport protocol algorithm into the transport protocol algorithm selector, analyzing a result of the transport protocol algorithm selector, selecting the first transport protocol algorithm based on the result, receiving a first packet in the network stack, and processing the first packet using the first transport protocol algorithm. |
| US07672238B2 |
Mapping off-network traffic to an administered network
Traffic flows through an administered network from an off-network source and/or to an off-network destination are simulated and analyzed by selecting an ingress and/or egress node within the administered network, the ingress node capable of collecting traffic from an off-network source, and the egress node capable of routing traffic to an off-network destination. Traffic flow is mapped from the source or ingress node through the administered network to the egress node. The traffic flow may be simulated and analyzed. The ingress and/or egress nodes may be selected in a variety of ways. |
| US07672235B1 |
System and method for buffering real-time streaming content in a peer-to-peer overlay network
One embodiment provides a system and method for synchronously buffering real-time streaming content in a peer-to-peer overlay network to improve inter-peer-node synchronization. A requesting peer node identifies a partner peer node that transiently stages content segments. The requesting peer node determines the status of its local buffer and sends a request that indicates such status to a partner peer node. After receiving the most recent segment not present in the buffer from the partner peer node, the requesting peer node transiently stages the received segments in the buffer. |
| US07672234B2 |
Congestion avoidance within aggregate channels
Network congestion avoidance within aggregated channels is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method first transmits a packet associated with a first channel of a plurality of related channels from a source protocol layer (e.g., a source IP layer) of a source through a network (e.g., the Internet). Next, the method triggers an ECN event by the packet at the network. Finally, at least one channel is determined to have decreased packets transmitted therethrough, in response to the triggering of the ECN event (e.g., based on a congestion pricing criteria). |
| US07672232B2 |
Methods and systems for frequency and time division access
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for managing and allocating bandwidth in a communication medium. |
| US07672219B2 |
Multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
A bidirectional communication system is provided. The system includes a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. The host unit is communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones and the first remote unit includes a modulator for modulating the plurality of tones with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, the tones are substantially orthogonal when received at the host unit. |
| US07672218B1 |
Orthogonal code division multiplexing for twisted pair channels
A plurality of data signals are separated into parallel bit streams with each parallel stream having a bandwidth characteristic such that the combined cumulative effect of all the individual bandwidths produces a spectral characteristic of the data signals that match the spectral high speed data characteristic of a twisted pair. |
| US07672213B2 |
Optical print head using a glass arm waveguide
This invention relates to an optical mechanism comprising: an optical beam generating mechanism to generate an optical beam; and a unitary, transparent waveguide for guiding the optical beam to an optically writable surface wherein optical elements for guiding the optical beam are coated onto the waveguide to create a relatively compact optical system, a relatively low exit numerical aperture for the exit pupil, and for bending and re-directing the optical beam. |
| US07672211B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus, objective optical element and optical information recording reproducing apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. In the optical pickup apparatus, the third light flux which has passed through an optical path difference providing structure forms a first best focus and a second best focus. |
| US07672210B2 |
Holographic recording medium, method for recording and reproducing the same, and reproducing apparatus
A holographic recording medium 10 is configured to have a recording layer 12 on which information can be recorded as holograms; and first and second heat generating layers 14A and 14B provided in a pair so as to sandwich the recording layer 12. Then, the first and second heat generating layers 14A and 14B are allowed to generate heat by being irradiated with a heat generating laser beam LB3 having a wavelength that is different from that of a signal beam LB1 or a reference beam LB2 for reproducing or recording information. The holographic recording medium and a method for recording and reproducing the same, and a recording and reproducing apparatus can compensate for shrinkage of the recording layer due to recording or variations in temperature, thereby allowing for reproduction of the holograms under optimum conditions. |
| US07672206B2 |
Recording method of optical disc device and method for determining whether there is abnormality in the same
A recording method and a malfunction detection method of an optical disc device are provided. The level of a signal driving a laser diode is detected during a recording operation. The detected level is compared with a reference limit, and the recording operation is controlled according to the comparison result. If the detected level exceeds the reference limit, a recording speed or power is adjusted downwardly, otherwise it is adjusted upwardly. If the detected level exceeds the reference limit, a malfunction in a front photodetector inside the optical disc device is reported to an external host. Appropriate control of the recording operation according to the disc reflection light incident on the front photodetector prevents degradation of recording quality. The reporting of the abnormality/malfunction in the optical disc device or the front photodetector makes it possible for the user to take a quick action against the abnormality or malfunction. |
| US07672204B2 |
Optical disc, method and apparatus for managing a defective area on an optical disc
A method and apparatus for managing a defective area on a optical recording medium, e.g., of writable once type, permits more efficient writing and management of defect list information or temporary defect list information for managing the defective area in a minimum recording size. The method includes writing data in a defective area existing on a high density optical disc, e.g., such as a BD-WO, in a spare area in place of the defective area, producing defect list information for access to the data replacement written in the spare area and writing in a particular area for defect management. The defect entries actually corresponding to the replacement written data, and writing location information of the next available spare area are written and managed as defect list information for management, or the writing location information of a location where replacement writing is possible is written and managed as defect definition structure information. |
| US07672203B2 |
Dubbing device for dubbing data
The present invention is a dubbing device for dubbing data from a portable first recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which dubbing to the second recording medium with a large capacity is automatically carried out when reproducing data from the first recording medium. When data is reproduced from the first recording medium, database means is searched on the basis of identification information for the first recording medium and execution control of dubbing is performed in accordance with the result of search for recording history information. For example, whether or not data to be reproduced from the first recording medium has been already recorded on the second recording medium is discriminated, and dubbing is carried out if the data to be reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium. |
| US07672200B2 |
Method of inter-layer search in a disk drive
A method of inter-layer search of a multi-layer disk, the method including determining whether a search is required of a layer other than a currently accessed layer; searching the currently accessed layer for a position corresponding to a target address on the layer not currently accessed; and moving access to the layer not currently accessed according to the position corresponding to the target address. |
| US07672197B2 |
Optical pickup device and manufacturing method thereof
An optical pickup device having a lens through which light transmits, a holder to which the lens is mounted, a position adjusting member which is mounted on the holder, and a housing to which the holder is mounted has a structure to allow adjustment of a mounting position of a lens assembly formed by mounting the lens and the position adjusting member on the holder when the lens assembly is assembled in the housing. In this manner, the lens can be mounted to the housing with high precision. |
| US07672195B2 |
Diagonal gather trace interpolation
Diagonal gather trace interpolation systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining seismic traces from a marine seismic survey performed using typically two seismic sources fired in a flip-flop pattern. The seismic traces are processed in common field file trace groups from each cable by performing trace interpolation in opposing diagonal directions. Among other things, diagonal trace interpolation may improve azimuthal regularization. In any event, the disclosed interpolation methods maintain spatial bandwidth increased spatial resolution with increased inline and crossline sampling components. Diagonal gather trace interpolation exploits reduced input trace separation to provide improved stability and detection of a greater range of formation dip angles. After interpolation and regularization, the seismic traces may be imaged and interpreted for improved seismic exploration and monitoring. |
| US07672181B2 |
Semiconductor memory, test method of semiconductor memory and system
Each sub word line is coupled to a gate of a transfer transistor of a memory cell. A first switch of a sub word decoder couples the sub word line to a high level voltage line when a main word line is in an activation level. A second switch couples the sub word line to a low level voltage line when the main word line is in an inactivation level. A third switch couples the sub word line to the low level voltage line when a word reset signal line is in an activation level. A reset control circuit disables the inactivation of the main word line or the activation of the word reset signal line during a test mode. One of the second and third switches is forcibly turned off, and thereby, an operation failure of a sub word decoder can be detected easily. |
| US07672180B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of confirming a failed address and a method therefor
A semiconductor memory device includes an address buffer, a row decoder, a column decoder, a fuse circuit, a memory cell array including regular and redundant memory cells, a regulator, a regular sense amplifier, a redundant sense amplifier, a selection circuit, an input/output buffer, and a test control circuit for a test mode. The test control circuit controls the regular and redundant sense amplifiers so as to output the signal upon accessing a regular memory cell different in level from that output upon accessing a redundant memory cell, whereby a failed address can be electrically confirmed with ease. |
| US07672177B2 |
Memory device and method thereof
A memory device and a method thereof. The memory described includes a control module and a single-port memory array. The control circuit generates control signals according to a clock signal, a read command signal and a write command signal. The single-port memory array is accessed according to the control signals. |
| US07672175B2 |
System and method of selectively applying negative voltage to wordlines during memory device read operation
Systems and methods of selectively applying negative voltage to word lines during memory device read operation are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory device includes a word line logic circuit coupled to a plurality of word lines and adapted to selectively apply a positive voltage to a selected word line coupled to a selected memory cell that includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device and to apply a negative voltage to unselected word lines. |
| US07672174B2 |
Equalizing circuit for semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes an equalizing signal generation circuit comprising a clamping circuit that clamps a voltage level less than the voltage level of a high voltage level by being controlled by the high voltage, and an equalizing signal driver receiving an output signal of the equalizing signal generation circuit as a driving signal. |
| US07672171B2 |
Non-planar flash memory array with shielded floating gates on silicon mesas
A first plane of memory cells is formed on mesas of the array. A second plane of memory cells is formed in valleys adjacent to the mesas. The second plurality of memory cells is coupled to the first plurality of memory cells through a series connection of their source/drain regions. Wordlines couple rows of memory cells of the array. Metal shields are formed between adjacent wordlines and substantially parallel to the wordlines to shield the floating gates of adjacent cells. |
| US07672170B2 |
Flash memory device and program method thereof
A method for programming a flash memory device with a plurality of memory cells. A selected memory cell is programmed under a condition where a bulk area is biased with a high voltage. A program pass/fail of the memory cell is verified with the high voltage applied to the bulk area. |
| US07672168B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device adapted to store a multi-valued data in a single memory cell
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell. |
| US07672166B2 |
Method of programming in a non-volatile memory device and non-volatile memory device for performing the same
Provided are methods for programming in a non-volatile memory device, using incremental step pulses as a program voltage that is applied to a selected wordline. Methods may include applying a precharge voltage to an even bitline and an odd bitline such that the even bitline and the odd bitline are alternately charged with the precharge voltage and a boosted voltage that is higher than the precharge voltage. Methods may further include applying a bitline voltage corresponding to program data to a selected bitline of the even bitline and the odd bitline. |
| US07672163B2 |
Control gate line architecture
A non-volatile storage system that includes less word line drivers than word lines by having a limited set of individually controllable drivers for a subset of unselected word lines requiring word line by word line control, and have the remaining word lines connected to a common source. |
| US07672161B2 |
Adaptive detection of threshold levels in memory
Systems, methods, and/or devices that facilitate accessing data from memory are presented. An adaptive detection component can be employed to reduce or minimize detection error and distinguish information stored in memory cells during read operations. A decoder component can include the adaptive detection component, which can employ an adaptive Linde-Buzo-Gray (LBG) algorithm. The decoder component can receive information associated with a current level from a memory location during a read operation, and can analyze and process such information. The adaptive detection component can receive the processed information and, along with other information, can process such information using the iterative LBG algorithm until reconstruction levels and corresponding threshold levels are determined. Such reconstruction levels and/or threshold levels can be compared to the value associated with the information read from the memory location to determine the data value of the data in the memory location. |
| US07672154B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of programming the same
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of programming the same. The semiconductor memory device includes a mode input value generating unit and a logic operating unit. The mode input value generating unit changes a connection state between input values of a current driving circuit so as to correspond to each of at least two operating modes, and defines a logic function of a magnetic memory cell connected to the current driving circuit in response to each operating mode. The logic operating unit performs a logic operation on the logic functions of at least two magnetic memory cells defined according to each of the operating modes and generates a result of logic operation. |
| US07672149B2 |
Device for feeding electrical energy from an energy source
A device (1) for feeding electrical energy from an energy source with variable source voltage into an electric power supply network (15), said device (1) including a transformer (112) for galvanic isolation, a resonant inverter (11) with semi-conductor switches (a-d; A, B), one or several resonant capacitors (17; 18, 19; 20, 21) and one rectifier (113), is intended to provide high efficiency and have galvanic isolation. This is achieved in that the resonant inverter (11) is operated in the full resonant mode if the operating voltage is in an operation point (MPP) and in the hard-switching mode if the voltages exceed the operation point (MPP). |
| US07672145B2 |
Electronic component module
An electronic component module includes a module body including a substrate having components mounted thereon. A metal case is attached to the substrate to cover the components of the module body. The metal case includes a top-plate portion arranged substantially parallel to the main surface of the substrate and claw portions arranged at both edges thereof. The claw portions each include a claw body defined by a rectangular portion that is bent at an edge of the top-plate portion and extends in the direction of the substrate and a holding claw. In addition, contacting portions are bent at both ends of the rectangular portion to extend towards the inner portion of the main surface of the substrate. The contacting portions come into contact with the main surface of the substrate, and the holding claws are soldered to the side surfaces of the substrate. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an electronic component module in which the proportion of a mounting area, in which components can be mounted, to a main surface of a substrate is increased, and in which positioning of a metal case can be easily performed. |
| US07672143B2 |
Card holder and bracket in computer system
In a computer system, a card holder is removably attached to a bracket to hold an add-in card in an I/O connector. The card holder is capable of being slid onto the bracket and a side edge of the add-in card. |
| US07672132B2 |
Electronic packaging apparatus and method
An electronic assembly includes a substrate, a device attached to the substrate, and a thermally conductive heat spreader covering the device and at least a portion of the substrate. A metal substantially fills the space between the device and the thermally conductive heat spreader. A method includes attaching at least one die to a substrate, placing a thermally conductive heat spreader over the die, and injecting a molten metal material into the space between the thermally conductive heat spreader and the die. |
| US07672126B2 |
Mounting apparatus for fan
A mounting apparatus is used to mount a fan having a bottom panel with a mounting hole defined therein. The mounting apparatus is configured to support the bottom panel on a top side thereof. The board forms a clip on the top side of the board, and defines a through hole adjacent the clip. The clip includes a elastic shank standing on the top side of the board, a flange formed on a top end of the shank and suspended over the shank, and a driving pole extending downwards from the shank and through the through hole of the board to have a driving end of the driving pole located below the board adapted to bend the shank. The clip is inserted in the mounting hole of the bottom panel with the flange engaging on a top surface of the bottom panel. The bottom panel is sandwiched between the flange and the top side of the board. The driving end of the driving pole is manually bendable to disengage the flange of the clip from the top surface of the bottom panel. |
| US07672124B2 |
Computer case with locking side panel and bezel
A computer case includes a chassis comprising a first wall and a second wall detachably attached to the first wall, a cover detachably attached to the first wall, and means for coupling the cover to the first wall. The coupling means is driven by the second wall to fix the cover to the first wall and prevent the cover from being detached from the first wall before the second wall disengaged from the first wall. |
| US07672122B2 |
Flash memory disk with rotatable and telescopic protection structure and method using the same
A flash memory disk includes a holder, a plug, a housing and a pulling ring. The plug is joined with the holder and exposed out of the holder. The housing has a containing space for accommodating the holder and the plug, wherein two sides opposite to each other respectively have a through sliding groove and the third side of the housing there has an opening. The two arms of the pulling ring have sliding blocks, and the sliding blocks are moveable and matched with the through sliding grooves, wherein the pulling ring is rotated about the axis connecting both the sliding blocks, and when the sliding blocks of the pulling ring is moved, the holder would be located between a first position where the plug is entirely accommodated in the containing space and a second position where the plug is entirely protruded out of the opening. |
| US07672117B1 |
Cover assembly for an electronic device including a laptop computer
A cover assembly for an electronic device including a laptop or like portable computer, wherein the base is formed of an at least partially protective material and corresponds in dimension and configuration to an outer surface configuration of the electronic device. A retainer assembly comprises a plurality of retaining structures disposed within interior portions of the electronic computer and removably connected thereto so as to maintain the cover assembly in an operative position relative thereto. The retaining structures are disposed and dimensioned to facilitate a complete closure of the electronic device, while remaining at least partially, on the interior of the electronic device. An access structure includes at least one opening formed therein in aligned relation with connecting ports of the electronic device so as to facilitate access to the connecting ports through the at least one opening. |
| US07672115B2 |
Inverter
The subject matter of the invention is an inverter including a casing (1), said casing (1) including at least two casing chambers (2, 3) that are each closable through a separate cover (2a, 3a). |
| US07672112B2 |
Component-embedded substrate and component package using component-embedded substrate
A component-embedded substrate includes a chip capacitor. The chip capacitor includes a ceramic laminate body and a plurality of terminal electrodes. The component-embedded substrate has a first principal surface and a second principal surface. At least two of the plurality of terminal electrodes are connected to the first principal surface and define a first terminal electrode group, and at least two of the plurality of terminal electrodes are connected to the second principal surface and define a second terminal electrode group. One terminal electrode in the first terminal electrode group is electrically connected to one terminal electrode in the second terminal electrode group via the internal electrodes, and capacitance is provided by a pair of the terminal electrodes in the first terminal electrode group via the dielectric layer, and capacitance is provided by a pair of the terminal electrodes in the second terminal electrode group via the dielectric layer. A direction in which the internal electrodes are stacked is parallel or substantially parallel to the two principal surfaces. |
| US07672111B2 |
Electrostatic chuck and method for manufacturing same
An electrostatic chuck includes: a metal plate with an insulator film formed on a surface thereof by thermal spraying; and a dielectric substrate with an electrode formed on a surface thereof. The metal plate and the dielectric substrate are bonded together via an insulative adhesive interposed therebetween so that the insulator film is opposed to the electrode, and the insulator film has a thickness of 0.6 mm or less. Alternatively, An electrostatic chuck includes: a metal plate with an insulator film formed on a surface thereof by thermal spraying; and a dielectric substrate with an electrode selectively formed on a surface thereof. The metal plate and the dielectric substrate are bonded together via an insulative adhesive interposed therebetween so that the insulator film is opposed to the electrode. The insulative adhesive is interposed also between the insulator film and a portion of the surface of the dielectric substrate where the electrode is not formed, and the insulative adhesive has a thermal conductivity of 1 W/mK or more. |
| US07672108B2 |
Fault interrupter and disconnect device
A circuit or fault interrupting and disconnect device includes a tripping apparatus that ensures a vacuum interrupter of the device is opened upon initiation of a change of state of an associated disconnect blade assembly. The disconnect blade assembly may have an open state and a closed state. A drive mechanism couples to the blade assembly to move the blade assembly to its various states. The drive mechanism couples to the interrupter trip assembly to provide for opening of the contacts of the vacuum interrupter prior to the blade assembly making or breaking contact. |
| US07672106B1 |
Switching incandescent lamps and other variable resistance loads with a solid state, smart, high side driver having overcurrent and temperature sensing protection circuits
A circuit and method for controlling a smart, high side driver with current and temperature sensing so that it can turn ON a relatively high current load of incandescent lamps or similar loads within a practical time. The output of the high side driver is sensed. In response to the coexistence of an ON command applied to the control input of the high side driver and the output terminal of the high side driver switching to an OFF state, an OFF command is applied to the control input of the high side driver. That OFF command is maintained for a selected cooling time interval. An ON command is applied to the control input of the high side driver after the selected cooling time interval. The selected cooling time interval is at least long enough to allow the MOS/FET temperature to cool to the thermal reset of its status temperature TRS, which is the temperature below which the driver operates with its highest current limit ILIMH when it is turned back on. |
| US07672105B2 |
Production of limited lifetime devices achieved through E-fuses
An apparatus for disabling a circuit when the circuit is in a first preselected condition includes a critical element that has an enable state and a disable state. The critical element is configured in relation to the circuit such that the circuit cannot operate normally if the critical element is in the disable state. A trigger generates a state signal that causes the critical element to enter the disable state when a comparison of a current condition to a stored value indicates that the circuit is in the first preselected condition. In a method of controlling operation of a circuit, a current condition is sensed. Whether the current condition corresponds to a stored value is determined. If the current condition corresponds to the stored value, then a critical element is caused to enter a disable state so that the circuit is prevented from operating normally. |
| US07672100B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection structures with reduced latch-up risks
The present invention provides an ESD protection circuitry in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) having protected circuitry to prevent false triggering of the ESD clamp. The circuitry includes an SCR as an ESD clamp having an anode adapted for coupling to a first voltage source, and a cathode adapted for coupling to a second voltage source. The circuitry also includes at least one noise current buffer (NCB) coupled between at least one of a first trigger tap of the SCR and the first voltage source such that the first trigger tap of the SCR is coupled to a power supply. |
| US07672099B2 |
Current fault detector and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof
A power controller is positioned within a current path between the line side and the load side of an electrical circuit. The power controller closes the current path in the presence of a control supply and opens the current path in the absence of the control supply. A power supply electrically connected to the current path provides the control supply. A sensor system receives power from the power supply, monitors the current in the current path and outputs a sensor signal indicative of a current condition within the current path. A logic controller also receives power from the power supply, receives the sensor signal and removes the control supply from the power controller when the sensor signal does not satisfy an established criteria. The sensor system may include one or both of an imbalance sensor for monitoring the current balance among two or more electrical lines and over-current sensors for monitoring current in individual lines. |
| US07672097B1 |
Electrical device with circuit status indicator
An electrical control device including an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit has a circuit protection component such as, e.g., a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). The exemplary GFCI includes a TEST circuit activator and a RESET circuit activator, as well as a visual circuit status indicator indicia that is in an active (illuminated) state when the circuit is in a fault condition. The status indicator indicia is visually, physically, ergonomically or otherwise positively informatively associated with the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator. The positive informative association between the indicator indicia and the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator may be made by physical and/or visual boundaries or markings on a cover portion of the device or by integrally incorporating the indicia in the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator. The indicia may be a steady state or a blinking illumination. According to an aspect, a prompting indicator provides a prompting indicia for a user to activate the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator or replace a defective component of the device. |
| US07672089B2 |
Current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor with dual keeper layers
This invention provides a CPP TMR or GMR sensor with an amorphous ferromagnetic lower keeper layer and a crystalline ferromagnetic upper keeper layer. The amorphous ferromagnetic lower keeper layer strongly exchange-couples to an underlying antiferromagnetic pinning layer and planarizes its rough surface. The crystalline ferromagnetic upper keeper layer strongly antiparallel-couples to an adjacent ferromagnetic reference layer across a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The amorphous ferromagnetic lower keeper layer is preferably made of a Co—Fe—B alloy film with an Fe content high enough to ensure strong exchange-coupling to the underlying antiferromagnetic pinning layer, and with a B content high enough to ensure the formation of an amorphous phase for planarizing an otherwise rough surface due to the underlying antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The crystalline ferromagnetic upper keeper layer is preferably made of a Co—Fe alloy film with an Fe content low enough to ensure strong antiparallel-coupling to the adjacent ferromagnetic reference layer across the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The sensor is annealed at temperatures low enough to prevent the amorphous phase from transforming into a polycrystalline phase, but also high enough to maximize TMR. |
| US07672087B2 |
Magnetoresistive effect element having bias layer with internal stress controlled
Provided is an MR effect element in which the magnetization of the pinned layer is stably fixed even after going through high temperature process. The MR effect element comprises: a non-magnetic intermediate layer; a pinned layer and a free layer stacked so as to sandwich the non-magnetic intermediate layer; an antiferromagnetic layer stacked to have a surface contact with the pinned layer, for fixing a magnetization of the pinned layer to a direction in-plane of the pinned layer and perpendicular to a track width direction; and hard bias layers provided on both sides in the track width direction of the free layer, for applying a bias field to the free layer, a product λS×σ of a saturation magnetostriction constant λS of the pinned layer and an internal stress σ on a cross-section perpendicular to a layer surface of the hard bias layer being negative. |
| US07672086B1 |
Method and system for providing a magnetic element having a current confined layer
A method and system for providing a current confined magnetic element is disclosed. The method and system include providing a pinned layer, providing a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and providing a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The method and system also include sputtering a current confinement layer. The current confinement layer includes an insulator and a conductor that are immiscible. The conductor forms a plurality of nano-dots in an insulating matrix. At least a portion of the plurality of nano-dots extends through the current confinement layer. |
| US07672085B2 |
CPP type magneto-resistive effect device having a semiconductor oxide spacer layer and magnetic disk system
The invention provides a giant magneto-resistive effect device (CPP-GMR device) having a CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure comprising a spacer layer, and a fixed magnetized layer and a free layer stacked one upon another with said spacer layer interleaved between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein the spacer layer comprises a first and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each formed of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor oxide layer interleaved between the first and the second nonmagnetic metal layer, wherein the semiconductor oxide layer that forms a part of the spacer layer is made of indium oxide (In2O3), or the semiconductor oxide layer contains indium oxide (In2O3) as its main component, and an oxide containing a tetravalent cation of SnO2 is contained in the indium oxide that is the main component. The semiconductor oxide layer that forms a part of the spacer layer can thus be made thick while the device has a low area resistivity as desired, ensuring much more favorable advantages: ever higher MR performance, prevention of device area resistivity variations, and much improved reliability of film characteristics. |
| US07672082B2 |
Flexible wiring board for magnetic head assembly
A flexible wiring board for a magnetic head assembly is provided. The flexible wiring board includes a wiring pattern connected to a head body at one end and to an external circuit system at the other end, an insulation protection film that protects the wiring pattern, and a base composed of a metal that extends over the insulation protection film and the wiring pattern. The base has a guide through hole that functions as a guide for bending the base. The guide through hole has a plurality of notches disposed at different positions in a length direction of the base. The notches reduce a remaining width of the base in a bend width direction of the base. |
| US07672076B2 |
Servo writer and servo writing method
Disclosed are a servo writer and a servo writing method capable of writing a servo signal onto a servo band of a magnetic tape in an excellent condition, regardless of the thickness of the magnetic tape. The servo writer includes a magnetic tape traveling system for traveling a magnetic tape, a DC erase head for magnetizing a servo band of the magnetic tape in one direction along the length of the magnetic tape, a servo signal write head for writing a servo signal onto the servo band in the direction opposite to the one direction, a servo signal read head for reading the servo signal from the servo band, and control device for controlling a degauss current supplied to the DC erase head, based on an output read from the servo signal by the servo signal read head. |
| US07672074B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic recording method
A thermally assisted magnetic recording method includes the following steps. The recording layer of a magnetic recording medium is irradiated with a laser beam to produce a locally heated region. This heated region is moved by causing the recording layer and the laser beam to move relative to each other. To record desired information, a recording magnetic field is applied to the heated region of the recording layer. The laser beam has a cross section elongated in the direction in which the heated region is moved. |
| US07672073B2 |
Iterative repeatable run-out nulling for magnetic head tester
A method for operating a head testing apparatus or, more generally, a host hard disk drive using a mounted hard disk that has had its servo track information pre-written in an external servo-writing apparatus rather than in the head testing or host apparatus itself. The method eliminates repeatable errors and repeatable runout by effectively replacing the pre-written servo tracks, which are eccentric, with new track profiles that are tracked like circular tracks. The problem of repeatable errors is caused by repeatable runout superimposed upon written-in position errors when a disk written in one machine is transferred to another. This problem is eliminated by forming IRON (Iterative Repeatable Runout Nulling) profile tracks from the initially pre-written servo tracks, where the IRON profile tracks are effectively tracked as concentric circular tracks and generate no PES. The IRON profile is formed by an iterative method that starts with the measurement of the PES of one of the pre-written tracks and iteratively forms a new track profile that is effectively circular. |
| US07672072B1 |
Disk drive modifying an update function for a refresh monitor in response to a measured duration
A disk drive is disclosed including a disk, and a head actuated over the disk. A refresh monitor is maintained for data stored on the disk, wherein the refresh monitor comprises an update function responsive to an operating parameter of the disk drive. A duration monitor is maintained, and the update function of the refresh monitor is modified in response to the duration monitor. The data stored on the disk is refreshed in response to the refresh monitor. |
| US07672070B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing improved visual capabilities of optical instruments
An apparatus for forming an image has one or more lenses in an optical path, at least one angular-sensitive light transmission filter in the optical path, in which transmission varies with change in angular orientation of the filter with reference to the direction of light in the optical path, and a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the light transmission filter. |
| US07672068B2 |
Sub-micron adjustable mount for supporting a component and method
An optical assembly includes a light path and at least one optic to be positioned in the path. A support arrangement supports the optic having a foot arrangement including at least one foot that receives a direct manipulation with the foot slidingly engaged against a support surface to move the optic relative to the light path. Movement of the foot may move the optic along a predetermined path. The foot defines a footprint for engaging the support surface and receives the direct manipulation in a way which changes the footprint on the support surface to move the optic responsive to changes in the footprint. A movement arrangement may selectively bias the foot against the support surface during a movement mode, intended to permit movement of the foot against the support surface, and in a locked mode, intended to lock the foot against the support surface. |
| US07672065B2 |
Lens system and projector utilizing the same
A high-performance lens system includes lens elements of small diameters for projecting enlarged images from light valves (mainly Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs))for forming images by changing reflecting directions of light. The lens system includes, sequentially in order from a magnifying side, a first lens group which makes up a substantially afocal optical system as a whole and a second lens group having a positive refractive power as a whole. Depending on the application a third lens group made up of a single positive lens element is provided in the vicinity of the light valve on a contracting side of the second lens group. |
| US07672062B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projection type display device
A projection zoom lens is provided and includes: in order from the magnification side, a positive first lens group performing focusing with being fixed during power-varying and having a focusing function; a negative second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, which are moved with correlation during the power-varying; and a positive fifth lens group G5 fixed during the power-varying. An aperture diaphragm is fixed between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group during the power-varying. In addition, the expression of 1.7 |
| US07672059B2 |
Fluidic lens with electrostatic actuation
An electrostatically actuated fluidic device capable of providing a variable focal length lens is disclosed. The device includes an elastic capacitor section, an elastic lens section in fluid communication with the capacitor section, the elastic lens section being characterized by a focal length and a fluid capable of fluid motion disposed at least partially in the capacitor and lens sections. A voltage may be applied to the capacitor section causing it to deform, which causes a portion of the fluid to flow into or out of the lens section. As a result, a change in volume of fluid in the lens section causes it to deform resulting in a variation in the focal length of the lens section. |
| US07672058B2 |
Compound eye
A compound eye is provided. The compound eye includes a microfluidic device defining a plurality of wells therein. A plurality of lenses are disposed in corresponding wells of the microfluidic device. Each lens has a tunable focal length. A tuning structure tunes the focal length of each lens in response to a predetermined stimulus. |
| US07672054B2 |
Illumination homogenizing optical element
An illumination homogenizing optical element is disclosed that includes at least one optical surface having a plurality of refractive structures formed as either grooves or protrusions that, individually, are wider than the wavelength of light incident onto said illumination homogenizing optical element. At least part of the light incident onto the illumination homogenizing optical element is removed from the optical path by refraction of said light so as to provide even illumination on an illuminated surface. The illumination homogenizing optical element is advantageous over prior art illumination homogenizing optical elements in that it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing sufficient optical performance. |
| US07672052B2 |
Optical sheet and method of assembling liquid crystal display module using the same
The present invention relates to an optical sheet and a method of assembling a liquid crystal display module that is capable of preventing an inflow of impurities on a backlight unit, thereby minimizing screen staining caused by the impurities. An optical sheet installed between a liquid crystal display panel and a light guide member according to the present invention includes a transparent peeling sheet adhered to the front surface of the optical sheet facing the liquid crystal display panel; and a semitransparent peeling sheet stuck to the rear surface of the optical sheet facing the light guide member. |
| US07672050B2 |
Refractive index controlled diffractive optical element and its manufacturing method
A refractive index controlled diffractive optical element having a two-dimensional refractive index distribution to be written on a transparent material, wherein a first refractive index region with a refractive index n1 and width d1 is formed in a transparent material, and the ith refractive index region with a refractive index ni (assuming ni≠ni−1) and a width di is formed adjacent to the (i−1)th refractive index region and opposite to the (i −2)th refractive index region (at an arbitrary side of the (i−1)th refractive index region when i=2) where i is an integer within a range of 2≦i≦x. Accordingly, a diffractive optical element simultaneously having high diffraction efficiency to a particular order and thinness of the element itself can be obtained. |
| US07672045B2 |
Compact two-element infrared objective lens and IR or thermal sight for weapon having viewing optics
A compact objective lens is disclosed which is particularly suitable for infrared optical systems. The lens features a simple design with only two lens elements, namely a first lens element receiving incident radiation and having front and rear surfaces, and a second lens element receiving incident radiation from the first element and having front and rear surfaces. The lens forms an image of a scene on a focal plane. At least three of the four surfaces of the elements are aspheric surfaces. The lens has an f-number less than about 2, a field-of-view less than about 30 degrees, and an effective focal length less than about 6 inches. The elements are made from a material selected to pass radiation in the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum, e.g., germanium. The lens is suitable for use as an objective lens for a long-wave infrared sight for small arms, e.g., rifle or shoulder-launched surface to air missile launching system, i.e., a lens optimized for operating in the electromagnetic spectrum between about 7.5 and about 15 micrometers. |
| US07672044B2 |
Lens made of a crystalline material
As a preliminary stage in manufacturing a lens or lens part for an objective, in particular a projection objective for a microlithography projection system, an optical blank is made from a crystal material. As a first step in manufacturing the optical blank, one determines the orientation of a first crystallographic direction that is defined in the crystallographic structure of the material. The material is then machined into an optical blank so that the first crystallographic direction is substantially perpendicular to an optical blank surface of the optical blank. Subsequently, a marking is applied to the optical blank or to a mounting element of the optical blank. The marking has a defined relationship to a second crystallographic direction which is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first crystallographic direction. |
| US07672043B2 |
Catadioptric imaging system exhibiting enhanced deep ultraviolet spectral bandwidth
A relatively high spectral bandwidth objective employed for use in imaging a specimen and method for imaging a specimen is provided. The objective includes a lens group having at least one focusing lens configured to receive light energy and form an intermediate image, at least one field lens oriented to receive the intermediate image and provide intermediate light energy, and a Mangin mirror arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy and apply light energy to the specimen. The objective may provide, in certain instances, a spectral bandwidth up to approximately 193 to 266 nanometers and can provide numerical apertures in excess of 0.9. Elements are less than 100 millimeters in diameter and may fit within a standard microscope. The field lens may include more than one lens and may be formed of a material different from at least one other lens in the objective. |
| US07672041B2 |
Optical fiber lighting apparatus
An optical fiber lighting apparatus includes an exciting light source, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, a wavelength conversion unit, and a reflecting member. The first optical fiber guides the exciting light emitted from the exciting light source. The wavelength conversion unit receives the exciting light exiting from the first optical fiber to generate a wavelength-converted light having a wavelength different from that of the exciting light. The second optical fiber guides at least part of the wavelength-converted light generated by the wavelength conversion unit. The reflecting member reflects, of the reflected scattered light and/or the wavelength-converted light generated by the wavelength conversion unit, at least part of light that has not directly struck the incident region of the second optical fiber, toward the incident region of the second optical fiber. |
| US07672040B2 |
Electro-optic displays, and materials for use therein
A flexible electro-optic display comprises a layer of solid electro-optic material; a backplane comprising at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the layer of electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer disposed between the layer of electro-optic material and the backplane and adhesively securing the layer of electro-optic material to the backplane, the adhesive layer having a storage modulus (G′) of at least about 104 Pascals at 10−3 Hz and 70° C. |
| US07672039B2 |
Display panel and manufacturing method therefor
To stabilize the supply of color material particles as well as reduce the wasteful amount of color material particles used and suppress deformation or damages of the outer walls of a plurality of cell regions partitioned by partition walls provided upright, an interval holding section having a first height dimension for holding an interval between a non-display area of the surface of a substrate for a display panel, which has an electrode at each of the cell regions, and a non-transfer area of the surface of an electrophotographic transfer body, is provided between the non-display area of the surface of the substrate and the non-transfer area of the surface of the transfer body, at a predetermined value at the time when the transfer body transfers the color material particles to the substrate, and the color material particles are transferred to the substrate from the transfer body while biasing the substrate toward the transfer body in such a way that the interval holding section holds the interval between the non-transfer area of the transfer body and the non-display area of the substrate at the first height dimension. |
| US07672038B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing electrophoretic displays
A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a flexible plate on the substrate; forming an electrophoretic layer on the flexible plate; forming a transparent protection layer on the electrophoretic layer; forming an edge protection member between the flexible plate and the transparent protection member, the edge protection member surrounding the electrophoretic layer; and providing a laser beam to irradiate the flexible plate from a side of the substrate facing away from flexible plate, so as to release the substrate from the flexible plate. |
| US07672034B2 |
Method for manufacturing optical modulator, optical modulator, and optical modulation system
A manufacturing method is provided for a light modulation device that improves utilization efficiency of light. After forming a first reflective layer using a metallic material such as Pt or the like, on a substrate, a light modulating film is formed using an electro-optic material in which refractive index changes in accordance with an applied electrical field. After that, planarization is carried out so that irregularities on an upper surface of the light modulating film are less than or equal to 1/100 of the wavelength of light incident on the light modulation device. A transparent electrode is then formed using ITO, ZnO, or the like, on the light modulating film, and a second reflective layer including a dielectric multilayer is formed. |
| US07672029B2 |
Creation of lookup table for printing with contrasting density ink
In printing using a plurality of chromatic color inks of different lightness interchangeable with one another in color reproduction, ink consumption is reduced while preserving the quality of the printed result. On the basis of first color data represented in terms of density of a first reference color, second color data represented in terms of density of a plurality of second reference colors is generated. The plurality of second reference colors are the ink colors. They include two same hue reference colors of different lightness interchangeable with one another when reproducing a certain color. The lookup table holds the first color data and the second color data associated with one another. For a set of densities of a plurality of second reference colors representing achromatic color of higher lightness than the reference lightness, density of the same hue reference color having lower lightness is 0. The reference lightness is lightness equal to or less than the minimum lightness which is the lightness of the color having the lowest lightness among the colors that can be reproduced on a printing medium using only ink of the darker color of the two same hue reference colors. |
| US07672026B2 |
Sheet presser and image scanner
A sheet presser including two pivot shaft portions fixedly disposed substantially coaxially with each other and parallel to a sheet of a document conveyed in a direction; a pressing member mounted on the shaft portions; a biasing member biasing the pressing member around the shaft portions in a direction to press the sheet; the pressing member having two elongate bearing bores each long in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the sheet, which are formed in respective portions which are distant in a lateral direction of the pressing member to bear the shaft portions; and the biasing member biasing the pressing member such that at least one of the shaft portions is held in contact with one end of the bearing bore which is away from the sheet, so that an acute angle formed between the conveyance direction and the pressing member is within a predetermined range. |
| US07672024B2 |
Contact image sensor module
A contact image sensor module for scanning a document includes a light source, a photosensing array and a lens assembly. The light source emits a light beam to the document, thereby generating an optical signal. The photosensing array is used for converting the optical signal into an electronic signal. The lens assembly is used for focusing the optical signal reflected from the document and imaging the optical signal onto the photosensing array. The photosensing array includes a first photosensing element with a first width and a second photosensing element with a second width. The first width is greater than the second width. |
| US07672022B1 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing an image
A method analyzes an image to be scanned and analyzes at least part of the image pixel-by-pixel. Elements in the image are characterized according to a perceived characteristic and each image element having a given characteristic that is adjacent a similar or identical image element is identified. In one form, there are preferably at least three different characteristics, such as black, background and edge, by which the image elements can be characterized. In another form, image elements that are close enough to each other in physical location and close enough to each other in image characteristic are grouped together or included in a blob. Sub-blobs can be found to be part of a more predominant blob. In a further form, image elements are identified that represent an edge in the image, along with identifying those edge elements that are adjacent at least one other edge element. |
| US07672020B2 |
Moire -based auto-stereoscopic enhancement of images for duplex rendering on transparencies
Method for duplex printing on transparencies to create auto-stereoscopic enhancement to rendered images. On one side of the transparency is provided a uniform halftone with a selected median spatial frequency as printed. On the other side, the image for enhanced rendering consisting of two partitions is printed: that partition which is to be perceived as the background is printed using a halftone with spatial frequency equal to the median plus some delta x, while the other image partition is printed using a halftone with a spatial frequency equal to the median minus the same delta x. The spatial frequency difference creates a corresponding shift-magnification factor M with an amplified total depth of the shift-magnification factor M times the thickness of the transparency. |
| US07672018B2 |
Image generation such that halftone colors are expressed with dither patterns selected based on densities of gross areas of dots
An image is generated by performing area coverage modulation to express a halftone color according to a gross area of dots displayed in a pixel of the image. The image is generated in such a manner that the halftone color is expressed with a selected one of dither patterns corresponding to respective predetermined densities, each of the densities being determined by the gross area of dots calculated in view of shapes of the dots. |
| US07672017B2 |
Color reproducing device
A multi-spectral camera is provided which includes an image pickup optical system which forms an image of a subject. A wavelength selecting device receives light beams from the image pickup optical system and outputs a light beam having a selected wavelength. A wavelength switching device selectively switches the selected wavelength of the wavelength selecting device. An image pickup element receives the light beam output from the wavelength selecting device and outputs image data. A spectroscope receives the light beams from the image pickup optical system and outputs spectral data. And a subject characteristic calculating unit calculates a spectral data characteristic of the subject from the spectral data output from the spectroscope. |
| US07672014B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and printer driver
An image processing apparatus includes: a color conversion LUT selecting section selecting a fundamental color conversion LUT from among a set of fundamental color conversion LUTs, preliminarily prepared in compliance with different combinations of fundamental ink colors, based on information of ink colors to be used in multicolor-printing and information of fundamental ink colors defining each fundamental color conversion LUT; a color converting section converting pixel values, associated with a multicolor original image, from a display color space of the selected fundamental color conversion LUT to an ink color space of the selected fundamental color conversion LUT; and a correction processing section correcting pixel values stored in the selected fundamental color conversion LUT, in the ink color space, based on feature points information of the ink colors to be used in the multicolor-printing and feature points information of fundamental ink colors defining the selected fundamental color conversion LUT. |
| US07672011B2 |
Image recording system, image data resource apparatus, image recording apparatus, image processing method, and program
A printer driver of a Non-PC controls to quantize image data at quantization resolution (resolution 1), convert the quantized data into data resolution (resolution 2), and then transfer the data of the data resolution to an engine unit of an image output apparatus. The engine unit converts the data resolution of the received data into recording resolution (resolution 3) for a recording medium. Here, the quantization resolution is set to be lower than the data resolution. Thus, processing loads in the image processing unit can be reduced, whereby it is possible to provide image output capable of maintaining image quality and speed even under the circumstance that there is no sufficient memory and high-speed CPU, and to provide image output capable of maintaining image quality and speed according to a matrix recording method flexibly coping with various environments and minimizing the load in the engine unit. |
| US07672009B2 |
Systems and methods for providing true scale measurements for digitized drawings
The present invention provides a measurement tool for use with an application suited for viewing a digitized drawing. The measurement tool enables the measurement of lengths (of both lines and poly lines) and areas (of both regular and irregular shapes) from a digital drawing in true scale. This is particularly advantageous with original architectural drawings or other drawings that are scanned from paper into a digital format and where measuring or annotating the drawing in true scale is important. |
| US07672006B2 |
Multi-marking engine printing platform
A multi-functional print platform includes at least two marking engines that process information at different processing rates and a scheduler that distributes portions of a job across the at least two marking engines based at least on a content of the job and the different processing rates of the at least two marking engines. |
| US07672005B1 |
Methods and apparatus for scan block caching
A method and apparatus for comparing portions of data from a digital raster signal to a plurality of scan blocks of data, where each scan block in the plurality describes either a defined image area or entire image frame is disclosed. Included are a hashing function that calculates hash codes for spatially-defined segments of an incoming raster signal; a recent scan hash table containing hash codes for scan blocks received within a specified time period; a comparator for comparing calculated hash codes for the spatially-defined segments of the incoming raster signal with hash codes stored in the recent scan hash table; a pixel capture and timing module for capturing a digital raster signal; and an output selector for selecting for transmission a compressed form of a scan block, a hash code index, or no data if a scan block exists in a remote frame playout buffer. |
| US07672002B2 |
Method and system for interactively viewing images using scalable vector graphics
A method for interactively viewing raster images using scalable vector graphics (SVG), including receiving an SVG document, the SVG document including a reference to a raster image within the SVG document, the reference indicating a rectangular portion, a display width and height, and an IP address for a server computer, passing the SVG document to an SVG viewer, rendering the SVG document, including requesting from the server computer a first portion of raster image data corresponding to the rectangular portion, display width and display height, the first portion of raster image data being derived from the raster image, receiving the first portion of raster image data from the server computer, displaying the first portion of raster image data, transmitting a user request for a different portion of the raster image data, receiving a modified SVG document, modified according to the different portion requested by the user, passing the modified SVG document to the SVG viewer for re-rendering. A system and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed. |
| US07672000B2 |
Position detecting method and apparatus
A method of detecting positions of first and second marks, at least one of the first and second marks being associated with a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a pattern. The method includes steps of sensing an image of the first and second marks, an image of the first mark and an image of the second mark having respective periodic patterns, of which periods are different from each other, and being formed in respective regions separate from each other, performing an orthogonal transform of a signal of the sensed image to obtain frequency components corresponding to the first and second marks, calculating positions of the first and second marks based on phases of respective frequency components corresponding to the first and second marks in the transformed signal, and positioning the substrate based on the calculated positions to expose the positioned substrate to a pattern. |
| US07671997B2 |
High power broadband superluminescent diode
A superluminescent diode according the present invention employs a uniform AlGaInAs quantum well on an InP substrate, emitting in a range of 1100 to 1800 nm. The favorable conduction band: valence band offset ratio of this material system enables superluminescent diodes which simultaneously provide high power and large optical bandwidth. A recent reduction to practice of the present invention simultaneously demonstrates output power exceeding 100 mW and bandwidth exceeding 100 nm. A preferred embodiment of this invention uses multiple uniform AlGaInAs quantum wells with two confined quantum states and energetic separation in a range of 100-130 nm. An alternate preferred embodiment uses non-uniform wells, with each well having two confined quantum states. The present invention is particularly useful in time domain and spectral domain optical coherence tomography systems, providing increased resolution and tissue penetration for in-vivo imaging. |
| US07671992B2 |
Measurement system and scanning device for the photoelectric measurement of a measurement object pixel by pixel
The measuring device comprises a lighting system, a photoelectric receiver unit and optical means. The lighting system applies light to image elements disposed in strip-shaped lighting regions (15) at a standardized angle of incidence range. The photoelectric receiver unit comprises several photoelectric line sensors (21) disposed parallel at a distance apart which are sensitized to different wavelength ranges by color filters (22) connected upstream. The optical means comprise linear optical arrays (31) which pick up the measurement light reflected by the image elements at a standardized range of angle of reflection and direct it to one of the respective line sensors (21). By means of optical screening and other structural features, cross-talk effects between adjacent image elements are largely reduced. |
| US07671990B1 |
Cross hatched metrology marks and associated method of use
The present invention is directed to novel metrology marks and methods for their use. The marks comprise cross hashed overlay metrology marks formed on a substrate including a plurality of target regions. The mark including a first grating structure formed in one layer of a target region and including a second grating structure formed in another layer of the target region. The periodic features of the first and second grating structures are oriented substantially orthogonal one another to form a cross-hatched metrology target in the target region. Additionally, the patent discloses methods of employing the metrology marks to obtain overlay metrology measurements. |
| US07671989B2 |
Information maintenance during intensity attenuation in focused beams
Maintenance of information content in a focused beam of electromagnetic radiation when the intensity thereof is attenuated by application of an aperture-like element. |
| US07671981B1 |
System for spectroscopic carpet identification
A tunable laser spectroscopic carpet identification system comprises a tunable laser spectroscopy system for generating a tunable signal that is transmitted to a carpet sample. The system detects the tunable signal after interaction with the carpet sample so that an analyzer is able to relate a spectral response of the carpet sample to a chemical composition of the carpet sample. In one example, the spectroscopy system comprises a laser cavity in which the tunable signal is generated, a semiconductor gain medium in the laser cavity, and a tunable element for controlling a wavelength of tunable signal generated in the laser cavity. To deal with variations in water content, the analyzer estimates a water content of the carpet sample using the spectral response of the carpet sample and then determines the chemical composition of the carpet sample in part based on the estimate of the water content. |
| US07671979B2 |
Apparatus and process for determination of dynamic lens field curvature
A technique for the determination of dynamic lens field curvature uniquely associated with a photolithographic scanner is described. A series of lithographic exposures is performed on a resist coated silicon wafer using a photolithographic scanner. The lithographic exposures produce an array of focusing fiducials that are displaced relative to each other in a unique way. The resulting measurements are fed into a computer algorithm that determines the dynamic lens field curvature (ZDLC) perpendicular to the scanning direction in an absolute sense. Furthermore, the effects of wafer flatness, wafer surface non-uniformity, and stage error are considered. The ZDLC information can be used to improve lithographic modeling, overlay modeling, and advanced process control techniques related to scanner stage dynamics. |
| US07671974B2 |
Cuvette apparatus and system for measuring optical properties of a liquid such as blood
A optical sensor for measuring tranmissive properties of a solution having: a cuvette body with an enclosed flow passage for the solution, wherein the flow passage further includes a solution inlet and a solution outlet and a cuvette between the inlet and outlet; a light source projecting light of a predetermined wavelength through the cuvette and solution flowing through the cuvette and to a light sensor, wherein the cuvette has inner wall surfaces opaque to the light of said predetermined wavelength, and the inner wall is in contact with the solution. |
| US07671970B2 |
Stage apparatus with two patterning devices, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method skipping an exposure field pitch
In order to improve the productivity of a lithographic apparatus, a stage apparatus for holding two patterning devices is described. The patterning devices are arranged such that the distance between the patterns in the scanning direction corresponds to the length of the pattern in the scanning direction. By doing so, an improved exposure sequence may be performed by exposing a first die with a first pattern, skipping a second die adjacent to the first die, and exposing a third die adjacent to the second die using a second pattern. |
| US07671969B2 |
Semiconductor wafer flatness correction apparatus and method
There are provided a wafer stage, an exposure apparatus having the same, and a wafer flatness correction method using the same. The wafer stage includes a chuck having first and second vacuum holes, a first vacuum pump applying a vacuum suction force to the first vacuum holes and a second vacuum pump applying a vacuum suction force to the second vacuum holes. Further, the exposure apparatus and the wafer flatness correction method using the same are disclosed. |
| US07671968B2 |
Lithographic apparatus having masking parts and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a masking device that includes a first masking part configured to obscure a first part of a first patterning device before the pattern of the first patterning device is impinged by a radiation beam, a second masking part having an adjustable length, the second masking part configured to obscure a second part of the first patterning device after the pattern of the first patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam and to obscure a first part of a second patterning device before the pattern of the second patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam, and a third masking part configured to obscure a second part of the second patterning device after the pattern of the second patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam. |
| US07671963B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus includes a liquid supply system member configured to contain a liquid in a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and the substrate and a liquid supply system member compensator arranged to compensate an interaction between the liquid supply system member and substrate table. |
| US07671961B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, column spacers at designated areas of the second substrate, protrusions having a first height on the first substrate corresponding to portions of the column spacers, compensation patterns having a second height on the first substrate corresponding to the edges of the column spacers, the second height being lower than the first height, and a liquid crystal layer filling a gap between the first and second substrates. |
| US07671959B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
The invention provides display devices that minimize permeation of oxygen and moisture, as well as methods of manufacturing such display devices. A display device according to the present invention includes an insulating substrate, a cover substrate connected to the insulating substrate, and a display element positioned between the insulating substrate and the cover substrate. The display device further includes a first sealant along an edge of one of the insulating substrate and the cover substrate, the first sealant including a first part and a second part spaced apart from each other, a second sealant provided along the edge of the other of the insulating substrate and the cover substrate, the second sealant being arranged between the first part of the first sealant and the second part of the first sealant, and an encapsulation film interposed between the first sealants and the second sealant. |
| US07671958B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, liquid crystal, a switching element, a signal wiring, a planarizing film, a first electrode, an electrode insulating film, a second electrode, and a terminal. The terminal is provided at least in a portion of a region on the first substrate in which the planarizing film is not formed. The terminal includes a terminal body portion, a terminal insulating film, and a terminal electrode portion. The terminal body portion is made of the same material as that of the signal wiring. The terminal insulating film is made of the same material as that of the electrode insulating film. The terminal electrode portion is made of the same material as that of the second electrode. The terminal electrode portion is electrically connected to the terminal body portion through the opening region. |
| US07671955B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and pixel array structure thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a pixel array structure is provided. The first substrate includes a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines, and the second substrate includes a common electrode. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel array structure includes a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of protrusions. The pixel units are arranged as an array, and each pixel unit includes an active device and a pixel electrode electrically connected the active device, wherein the pixel electrode has a plurality of electrode sections. The protrusions are substantially located in at least one junction region of the electrode sections. The liquid crystal molecules in the LCD panel have fast response speed and correct arrangement direction. |
| US07671950B2 |
In-plane switching liquid crystal display comprising compensation film for angular field of view using positive biaxial retardation film
Disclosed is an in-plane switching liquid crystal display, which uses a positive biaxial retardation film while adjusting an optical axis direction and the retardation value of the positive biaxial retardation film. The in-plane switching liquid crystal display improves the contrast characteristic at a predetermined angular position as well as at a front position thereof, so a color shift according to the viewing angle in the black state is minimized. |
| US07671948B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first optical compensation plate fixed to the first substrate, a second optical compensation plate disposed at a side of the first substrate or the second substrate, and a pivot mechanism supporting the second optical compensation plate to be pivotable around an optical axis of light passing through the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US07671946B2 |
Electronically compensated LCD assembly
The invention relates to a method of electronic contrast enhancement for an LCD panel for use in an imaging device. The method comprises the step of coupling the LCD panel with a trim retarder in a pre-determined azimuthal orientation for at least partially compensating the residual in-plane retardance, followed by the step of non-mechanical fine-tuning of a dark state of the LCD panel. In the preferred embodiment, the fine-tuning of the dark state of the LCD panel is realized by adjusting the dark-state magnitude of the LC voltage. The method can be used in batch, e.g. wafer-level manufacturing of integrated trim retarder/LCD panels assemblies that can be electronically tuned to provide high on/off contrast. |
| US07671942B2 |
Transflective LCD device and method having first domain in reflective portion, second and third domains in transmission portion and with additional electrodes in third domain for third storage electrode
Provided is a transflective LCD device that can selectively use a reflect mode and a transmit mode in a VA mode LCD device having a multiple domain. The transflective LCD device includes: gate lines and data lines arranged to cross each other on a first substrate to define a pixel regions having a reflection portion and a transmission portion; thin film transistors located at each crossing of the gate lines and the data lines, wherein the thin film transistors include a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, and source/drain electrodes; a transparent electrode connected to the thin film transistor and located in the transmission portion; a reflective electrode connected to the thin film transistor and located in the reflection portion; a connection electrode that electrically connects the transparent electrode with the reflective electrode; a first storage electrode located in the reflection portion and a second storage electrode under the connection electrode; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates. |
| US07671940B2 |
Dual panel display and method for improving display performance thereof
A dual panel display has a housing, a first display panel, a second display panel, and a backlight module positioned between the first display panel and the fixing face of the housing. The backlight module includes a light guide panel, a light source, at least a transflective film and at least an optical property enhancement film between the light guide panel and the second display panel. The transflective film is positioned between the light guide panel and the fixing face for reflecting a part of light from the light guide sheet so that the part of light passes back into the light guide panel. |
| US07671929B2 |
Display panel and pixel element thereof
A pixel element includes a transistor, a pixel electrode and a storage capacitor. The transistor is a switch device of the pixel element. A data signal is applied to the pixel electrode by switching the transistor. The storage capacitor includes the first electrode and the second electrode. Several holes are formed on a surface of the first electrode. Therefore, layers disposed over the first electrode duplicate the shape of the holes, so that the layers have rough surfaces, for increasing the reflectivity. |
| US07671925B2 |
Circuits, methods, and computer program products for reducing cross-color artifacts in video data
A circuit for reducing cross-color artifacts in video data can include three luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separator circuits each configured to provide sets of chrominance coordinates based on a respective three contiguous composite video frames. A first circumcircle calculator circuit is coupled to the three Y/C separator circuits and is configured to provide a circumcircle for a set of chrominance coordinates corresponding to the first, second and third contiguous composite video frames. A second circumcircle calculator circuit is coupled to the three Y/C separator circuits and is configured to provide a circumcircle for a set of chrominance coordinates corresponding to the second and third contiguous composite video frames and a fourth contiguous composite video frame. Related methods and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US07671918B2 |
Camera with autofocus function
A camera includes a first transfer unit which transfers, in a first transfer time, pixel data of a first pixel range of a plurality of pixel data, a second transfer unit which transfers, in a second transfer time that is shorter than the first transfer time, pixel data of a second pixel range of the plurality of pixel data, a number of pixels of the second pixel range being less than a number of pixels of the first pixel range, a first control unit which causes the first transfer unit to transfer the pixel data, updates a display screen on the basis of the pixel data, and controls the autofocus adjustment, and a second control unit which causes the second transfer unit to transfer the pixel data, interrupts the updating of the display screen while the pixel data is being transferred, and controls the autofocus adjustment. |
| US07671914B2 |
Increasing readout speed in CMOS APS sensors through block readout
A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped in blocks and provided with block signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected block significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Block signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications. |
| US07671913B2 |
Method for converting image data, converting circuit for image, and electronic camera
A circuit for converting the format of image data, the motion of the image data being smooth, includes a memory (16) to which moving image data in the NTSC format is written; a memory controller (14) retrieving respective signals, from the memory (16), required for producing image data of an odd field and an even field in the PAL format; line-interpolating circuits (73) and (74) converting retrieved image data into first image data and second image, respectively, both image data having the line frequency of the PAL format; a frame-interpolating circuit (75) outputting the image data of the odd field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the odd field of the first image data and image data of the odd field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio, and outputting the image data of the even field in the PAL format by mixing image data of the even field of the first image data and image data of the even field of the second image data at a predetermined mixing ratio; and a coefficient-generating circuit (77) changing the mixing ratios every field period in the PAL format. |
| US07671906B2 |
Image transfer system and method therefor, image transmission apparatus, and image reception apparatus
An image transmission apparatus transfers to an external apparatus data amount information indicating an amount of target image data and information of a priority order of the target image data. The apparatus also receives from the external apparatus a response signal indicating whether the external apparatus will accept transmission of the target image data in accordance with the data amount information, the information of priority order, and a free storage capacity to store the target image data in the external apparatus. Transmission of the target image data is controlled in accordance with the response signal. |
| US07671903B2 |
Electronic camera apparatus and method in which data are recorded, transferred, and erased
An electronic camera displays recorded information, such as image frames, to permit the selection of items of information to be transferred to external equipment. Each time an item of information is transferred, an informative indication (e.g., an icon) is displayed in association with the transferred item to confirm the transfer and to permit an operator to select items of recorded information that may be erased. If an error occurs during transfer of a series of items, the operator can determine from the display the point at which the error occurred, avoiding the need for transferring items that have already been transferred. |
| US07671902B2 |
Image capture and distribution system and method
Images captured at a venue and relating to one or more patrons of the venue are incorporated into one or more products in accordance with image selections and/or product selections made by the patron(s). The images may be captured at venues with a variety of image capture devices such as pre-mounted cameras, cell phones, cameras brought by patrons to the venue, or cameras provided to patrons by the venue or another entity. The patrons may obtain products such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, prints, slideshows, or other products incorporating one or more selected images. Patrons may also view the images on portable electronic devices. |
| US07671901B2 |
Image processing apparatus and mobile terminal apparatus
An image processing apparatus has an input portion for receiving video signals, an illumination sensor for detecting illumination of an environmental light, a corrector for correcting the video signals, and a controller for controlling the corrector to correct the video signals in accordance with distribution of luminance or hue or saturation of the video signals and with the detected illumination when any change occurs in the video signal. The apparatus further has a detector for detecting a change of the video signals in accordance with a mean value of luminance of the inputted video signals, a corrector for correcting the video signals, and a controller for controlling the correction portion to correct the video signals in accordance with distribution of luminance or hue or saturation of the video signals when the detector detects the change of the video signals. |
| US07671900B2 |
Imaging apparatus and its control method displaying an electronic viewfinder screen and a frame within the screen including color information
In an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit, an image processor, and a recording unit, an electronic viewfinder screen is displayed with an image capture frame on the basis of image data captured by the imaging unit and output from the image processor. A conversion source color is determined on the basis of color information included in the frame of an image displayed on the electronic viewfinder screen in response to a first operation input. A conversion destination color is determined on the basis of color information included in the frame of an image displayed on the electronic viewfinder screen in response to a second operation input. Color conversion parameters of the image processor are set to convert a color within a predetermined range including the conversion source color into a color within a predetermined range including the conversion destination color on a color space. |
| US07671897B2 |
Image output and input systems
An image output/input system includes a phase comparator, an image synchronous signal generator, a sensor timing generator, a sensor, an image/color processing unit, and a video encoder. The phase comparator receives a digital signal and a vertical synchronous signal and compares their period and phase to generate a clock correction signal. The image synchronous signal generator receives the clock correction signal and adjusts a subsequent period of the vertical synchronous signal according to the clock correction signal. The sensor timing generator receives the vertical synchronous signal and generates the sensor control timing, and the sensor receives the sensor control timing and generates raw image data. The image/color processing unit receives the raw image data and deals with the image and color process of the raw image data to generate target image data. The video encoder receives the vertical synchronous signal and the target image data and encodes them to generate analog encoded image data. |
| US07671895B2 |
Imaging pickup device with half-shutter alert
The image pickup device of the present invention is capable of photographing still images during photography of a moving image, and is provided with a notifying means for visually notifying a subject that a photographic operation of a still image is to be performed when a release button 23 is pressed half-way down during photography of the moving image, and then performs the photographic operation when the release button 23 is fully pressed. The first notifying means may be a light emitting means 25 which lights up or flashes when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down, or maybe a flash lamp device in which a light source 27 pops up when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down. |
| US07671894B2 |
Method and system for processing multiview videos for view synthesis using skip and direct modes
A method processes a multiview videos of a scene, in which each video is acquired by a corresponding camera arranged at a particular pose, and in which a view of each camera overlaps with the view of at least one other camera. Side information for synthesizing a particular view of the multiview video is obtained in either an encoder or decoder. A synthesized multiview video is synthesized from the multiview videos and the side information. A reference picture list is maintained for each current frame of each of the multiview videos, the reference picture indexes temporal reference pictures and spatial reference pictures of the acquired multiview videos and the synthesized reference pictures of the synthesized multiview video. Each current frame of the multiview videos is predicted according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list with a skip mode and a direct mode, whereby the side information is inferred from the synthesized reference picture. |
| US07671891B2 |
Online camera calibration
Online camera calibration methods have been proposed whereby calibration information is extracted from the images that the system captures during normal operation and is used to continually update system parameters. However, such existing methods do not cope well with structure-poor scenes having little texture and/or 3D structure such as in a home or office environment. By considering camera families (a set of cameras that are manufactured at least partially in a common manner) it is possible to provide calibration methods which are suitable for use with structure-poor scenes. A prior distribution of camera parameters for a family of cameras is estimated and used to obtain accurate calibration results for individual cameras of the camera family even where the calibration is carried out online, in an environment which is structure-poor. |
| US07671885B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus having curl restraining mechanism
An ink-jet recording apparatus is provided which can perform image recording on a recording medium being conveyed while restraining a curl at the front end of the recording medium. The ink-jet recording apparatus has an upstream curve forming portion that curves a recording medium being conveyed into a nearly U-shape when viewed in a cross selection orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording medium, and an upstream conveying direction change portion that shifts the conveying direction of the recording medium being conveyed from the feed tray to between a platen and a recording head such that the recording medium is curved to form a nearly U-shape when viewed in a cross section along the conveying direction. |
| US07671882B2 |
Semiconductor laser modulation driving apparatus and image forming apparatus
A semiconductor laser modulation signal is generated for modulating a semiconductor laser. The semiconductor laser is driven based on the semiconductor laser modulation signal. An output impedance of a semiconductor laser modulation signal generating unit and an input impedance of a semiconductor laser driving unit are corrected. The semiconductor laser modulation signal is transmitted as a low amplitude differential signal, from the semiconductor laser modulation signal generating unit to the semiconductor laser driving unit. |
| US07671881B2 |
Timing detection circuit and apparatus for modulating light beam
A timing detection circuit including a first timing detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and an output circuit is disclosed. The first detection circuit detects, among multiphase clocks having n mutually different phases and a frequency of k times the frequency of a reference clock, a closest clock having a clock edge closest to a valid edge of the synchronizing signal and generates first detect signal DET_A indicating the detected clock. The second timing detection circuit detects within which of k successive cycles of the representative clock selected from the multiphase clocks the valid edge of the synchronizing signal is positioned and generates second detect signal DET_B indicating the detected cycle. The output circuit receives the first detect signal and the second detect signal and outputs first output signal OUT_A and second output signal OUT_B. |