Document Document Title
US07685647B2 Information processing apparatus
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a recording medium for sending and receiving data in a manner enhancing security. A host and a drive unit are interconnected by a suitable bus and exchange data over that bus. The host requests the drive unit periodically to issue an initializing vector IV for use in encrypting and decrypting the data exchanged over the bus. The drive unit supplies the initializing vector IV to the host on request. If these steps are not carried out periodically, the drive unit stops outputting data to the host. The present invention is adapted advantageously to personal computers equipped with a drive unit for reproducing data from a recording medium.
US07685646B1 System and method for distributing protected audio content on optical media
A system and method for producing and using a protected optical media is described. One feature provides for a compact disc containing digital rights management protection to prevent unauthorized copying of copyrighted materials. Another feature provides for secure copying, storage, transfer, and playback of digital audio content from a protected compact disc or computer storage. Yet another feature provides for a versatile optical media that can be used in both traditional audio compact disc players and in computer CD-ROM drives without risking the security of the content on the media or preventing purchasers from having a robust content experience.
US07685644B2 Managing user access to data
A method of managing user access to data includes detecting that a user seeks access to a data portion that belongs to a specified category. One or more authorizations are evaluated, each authorization having an authorization segment corresponding to the specified category. The method includes permitting the sought access to the data portion if at least one of the authorization segments corresponding to the specified category identifies the data portion to which access is sought. The method may permit access to data that falls within a union of granted authorizations. An authorization segment may correspond to a data dimension or to a meta dimension, such as an authorized action or data source, that does not directly relate to a data dimension.
US07685643B2 System and method for managing multimedia contents in intranet
A system and method for managing non-free multimedia contents in an intranet. The system includes proxy managers provided in a server of the intranet, for example, a media center or set-top box, and clients, for example, DRM smart clients in wired/wireless digital information appliances, such as Digital TVs or PDAs. Various kinds of encrypted multimedia contents and license information are converted by the proxy managers into multimedia contents and license information having a format executable by the DRM smart clients.
US07685639B1 Using inserted e-mail headers to enforce a security policy
An outgoing e-mail manager inserts headers into outgoing e-mail messages originating from at least one source on a computer. Each header includes data concerning the source of the e-mail. An e-mail header manager monitors an e-mail stream, and reads headers inserted into e-mail messages. The e-mail header manager applies a security policy to e-mail messages, responsive to the contents of the inserted headers.
US07685638B1 Dynamic replacement of system call tables
Techniques are disclosed that exploit system call mechanism to effect robust security applications. In one particular case, security software is able to effectively “sandbox” user mode applications at the thread granularity level, by replacing the system call mechanism of the operating system with a custom mechanism that limits the rights available to a target application that is vulnerable to malicious attack. The techniques allow the security software to create service tables with varying degrees of security levels, and do not impact performance of non-targeted running processes/threads.
US07685632B2 Access authorization having a centralized policy
A facility for performing an access control check is provided. The facility receives a request to perform an access control check to determine whether authorization exists to access a resource. The access control check is performed against the identity of a principal, a policy that applies to the principal, and the identity of the resource the principal wants to access. The principal may either be an application program or a combination of an application program and an identity of a user in whose context the application program is executing.
US07685630B2 Methods and systems for providing scalable authentication
Methods and systems of authenticating a plurality of users for access to an on-line group activity are described. The systems and methods prevent overloading of any participant's computer due to authentication. In some configurations, multiple endpoints are designated as authenticators and requests for authentication are load balanced amongst the authenticators.
US07685629B1 Methods and systems for authenticating users
A method of authenticating users to reduce transaction risks includes indicating a desire to conduct a transaction and determining whether the transaction requires access to protected resources. Moreover, the method determines whether inputted information is known, determines a state of a communications device when the inputted information is known, and transmits a biometric authentication request from a server to an authentication system when the state of the communications device is enrolled. Additionally, the method includes validating the communications device, capturing biometric authentication data in accordance with a biometric authentication data capture request with the communications device, biometrically authenticating the user, generating a one-time pass-phrase and storing the one-time pass-phrase on the authentication system when the user is authenticated, comparing the transmitted one-time pass-phrase against the stored one-time pass-phrase, and granting access to the protected resources when the transmitted and stored one-time pass-phrases match.
US07685625B2 Image reproducing apparatus for channel map updating and method thereof
Disclosed is an image reproducing apparatus for updating a channel map, and a method thereof. The image reproducing apparatus includes an identification (ID) detector for detecting the ID of a broadcast information card when a broadcast information card is mounted, a comparing unit for comparing the ID of the broadcast information card detected by the detector with the ID of a existing broadcast information card, the ID being received from a broadcast station and stored in a storage unit, a deleting unit for deleting an existing first channel map when the ID of the detected broadcast information card is different from the ID of the existing broadcast information card, and a receiving unit for receiving data including a new second channel map from the broadcast station in place of the first channel map deleted by the deleting unit. Accordingly, accurate update conditions are proposed, thereby enhancing user convenience and increasing accuracy.
US07685623B2 Audio/video signal distribution system
The invention concerns an audio/video signal distribution system, comprising audio/video signal sources (MGT, DVD, C, HIFI) and audio/video signal receivers (TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4), and a central processing and multiplexing unit (MDS, MDS′). The invention is characterized in that it comprises a twisted pair service network (PS) for routing said audio/video signals from the sources to the processing and multiplexing unit and a twisted pair distribution network (P, D) for routing the processed multiplexed audio/video signals from the processing and multiplexing unit to the receivers.
US07685622B2 Television signal receiver system
A television signal receiving system is operative to optimally tune to one or a plurality of television channels and provide one or plurality of optimum television channel signals to one or a plurality of television signal receivers. The television signal receivers are operative to request a particular channel of a television signal processor. The television signal processor is coupled to an antenna array. Television signals from the antenna array are processed in accordance with the principles of the subject invention to provide optimum television channel signals. The optimum television channel signals are demodulated then remodulated before being distributed to the various television signal receivers.
US07685621B2 Digital television broadcast signal receiver
In a digital TV broadcast signal receiver connected to a multi-directional antenna called smart antenna, a time necessary for deciding an optimum signal receiving direction of each receivable channel is shortened with using local information relating to a location of the multi-directional antenna and information of TV towers including location information of TV towers and channel information of channels, TV broadcast signals of which are transmitted from each TV tower. When the local information is inputted, the digital TV broadcast signal receiver identifies at least one TV tower and selects a channel based on the channel information. An optimum signal receiving direction of the selected channel are decided as the optimum signal receiving directions of all the channels transmitted from the same TV tower.
US07685619B1 Apparatus and method for 3D electronic program guide navigation
A system, method, and user interface for displaying electronic program guide (EPG) and personal video recorder (PVR) information as navigable three-dimensional images is described. In one embodiment, a three dimensional image is formed in which EPG data is presented on one surface of a three dimensional image and PVR data is presented on at least one other surface of the three-dimensional image.
US07685618B1 Data broadcast method
A technique for broadcasting a broadcast data service together with broadcast digital television data as part of a broadcast signal, the broadcast data service comprising a plurality of data portions including data portions having digital data in non-real time. The technique comprising, during normal broadcasting, only broadcasting portions of the broadcast data service required to replace previous respective portions which have been changed and broadcasting television data of the broadcast data service as non-real time data.
US07685615B2 Television signal reception method and module
According to the invention, in the method of receiving broadcast television signals: a main component (C1) is received (E6) in a multimedia receiver terminal (T); a secondary component (C2) is acquired (E5) in the multimedia receiver terminal (T) via a remote computer network (R), main time stamps (TSFCS1) referenced to a predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted beforehand into the main component (C1), and secondary time stamps (TSFCS2) referenced to said predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted into the secondary component (C2) prior to reproduction, the time stamps marking content reproduction advance; and the received main component (C1) and the acquired secondary component (C2) are reproduced (E6) on the multimedia receiver terminal (T) in compliance with the chronology of the secondary time stamps and the main time stamps, to reproduce for the user a coherent audiovisual content made up both of the main component (C1) and of the secondary component (C2).
US07685609B1 Using a distributed form object model to facilitate form event processing
A system and method for facilitating distributed form processing is disclosed. The system ma deploy a form to both a client and a server, wherein the form is consistent with a common object model supported by both the client and the server. Scripts associated with the form may be marked to run on the client or on the server. When a script fires, if it is marked to run on the client, the script executes on the client. When the client fires a script marked to run on the server, the client sends the state of the form to the server, the server runs the script and returns the new state of the form to the client. The client updates the state of its form to reflect the changes made by the server.
US07685605B1 Distributed framework for intertask communication between workstation applications
In a workstation environment, several applications operate concurrently and it is desirable to communicate between applications. The present invention provides an apparatus for communicating between applications by using an extensible communication protocol with a graphical user interface. The user transmits an interest object associated with an event from a second application to a server, which forwards the interest object to a first application. When the first application practices the event, information concerning the practice of the event is transmitted from the first application to the second application without going through the server.
US07685603B2 Selecting client adapters
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for selecting client adapters. A client abstraction layer identifies one or more selection data elements in a client request and selects an adapter to communicate with the client based on the selection data elements, wherein each selection data element specifies an adapter type, a client type, or data describing the client. The adapter can be selected based on a multi-stage selection process that involves performing an adapter-request process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify the adapter type; if the adapter-request process fails to select an adapter, performing a client-identification process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify the client type; and if the client-identification process fails to select an adapter, performing a client-description process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify data describing the client.
US07685602B1 Controlling software components in a multi-node processing system
A multi-node processing system includes a plurality of nodes in which various software components may be executed. To coordinate the control of the software components in the plural nodes, an instance of a manager module may be started in each of the nodes. In one example arrangement, the manager module may include a WINDOWS® NT or WINDOWS® 2000 service control manager. In the WINDOWS® NT or WINDOWS® 2000 environment, the software components that are controlled through the service control manager may be services. To perform control of the various software components, requests may be sent to the manager module instance in each of the nodes. The manager module then launches one or more server services in each node to perform the desired control task, which may be start the software component, monitor the software component, or terminate the software component.
US07685600B1 Synchronizer with out-of-line monitors for shared objects in read-only memory
A computer-implemented method for referencing a mutable out-of-line monitor for a shared object in read-only memory, comprising creating a lockword with a pointer field set to zero and a pre-set inflated bit when the object is stored in read-only memory. An out-of-line monitor table is referenced when encountering the lockword with the pointer field set to zero and the pre-set inflated bit. The desired monitor referenced in the out-of-line monitor table is identified based on the address of the lockword.
US07685595B1 Browser-controlled installation of software on remote computer system
A method for a web browser-controlled installation of software on a remote computer system includes accessing at least one remote computer system; temporarily transferring a non-user interface, platform-independent installation program having an embedded web application and light-weight web server onto the at least one remote computer system, wherein the web application provides a web user interface; accessing a web browser and connecting to the light-weight web server via the web interface provided by the web application; providing instructions for installing software on the at least one remote computer to the web interface; the light-weight web server transferring the instructions to the non-user interface installation program; transferring and installing software on the at least one remote computer system; and removing the installation program, web application, and light-weight web server from the at least one remote computer.
US07685594B2 Method and data structure for reconfiguring a software package
The present invention provides a method of configuring a package that enables the reduction of load on a network without a temporary need for a large recording area on the client side when reconfiguring a software package from given components. A second computer receives, from a first computer, combination information on a combination of one or more components and position information indicating storage locations of components recorded in the first computer, receives a selection of given components from a user, determines the combination of the components selected based on the combination information, receives the selected components based on the determination of the combination and the position information corresponding to the selected components, and configures the secondary software package using the received components.
US07685589B2 File loading synchronization
Systems and methods to synchronize file loading operations are described. In one aspect, file loading operations are divided into multiple loading levels. The loading levels are incremental with respect to one another. The loading levels are executed in a sequential order. Each loading level includes operations that are independent and distinct of operations of all other loading levels. The systems and methods load a file to an allowed loading level. The allowed loading level includes operations associated with one or more of the multiple loading levels.
US07685584B1 Heuristic method for the analysis of switch tables in position-independent binary code
A system and method for the analysis of putative switch tables in position-independent binary code. The method includes defining a block of data as a potential switch table by computing one or more switch targets. The switch targets are computed by, determining the reference address (point) of the switch table, determining the size of the entry in the switch table and determining the target address by adding the value of the entry to the reference address wherein said reference address and said target address define a selected block of data. The method also includes evaluating the selected block of data as a potential switch table and determining the best value and the best split for a selected block of data. The method also includes determining the best list of switch tables from a selected block of data.
US07685582B2 Looping constructs in object model software
A system and method for providing looping constructs to an object model where the looping construct is contained within a child object of a parent object. The system and method further provides for an enumerator to map between indexes representing a collection of objects to a child object comprising a looping construct, and thereby enabling iterations for each variable of the collection of objects.
US07685581B2 Type system for representing and checking consistency of heterogeneous program components during the process of compilation
A representation of types, type-checker, method and compiler are provided for checking consistency in various forms of an intermediate language. Specifically, the typed intermediate language is suitable for use in representing programs written in multiple (heterogeneous) source languages including typed and untyped languages, loosely and strongly typed languages, and languages with and without garbage collection. An unknown type representation indicates that an element of the intermediate language is associated with an unknown type. A method of type-checking a code segment written in a programming language is provided using a rule set that contains rules for type-checking an unknown type. The unknown type allows for selectively retaining type information as the compilation process continues and allows multiple programming languages to be type-checked by the same type system.
US07685579B2 Method and apparatus for performing adjustable precision exception handling
An adjustable precision exception handling technique is providing for handling exceptions encountered during translation of subject code to target code at varying levels of precision, depending upon the particular type of exception encountered. As an exception signal is detected by the translator, the state of the subject processor is captured at a precision determined to be sufficient for the detected exception.
US07685578B2 Method and protocol tester for decoding data encoded in accordance with a protocol description
A method and protocol tester for decoding data for the performance of a measurement task, which data is encoded in accordance with a protocol description, includes modifying the protocol description with respect to the measurement task by compressing protocol elements that are of no relevance to the measurement task and decoding the encoded data according to the modified protocol description to provide only decoded data relevant to the measurement task. The decoded data may be filtered before further processing according to a filter condition determined by the measurement task. Alternatively the filter condition may be installed as part of the modified protocol description. Then additional filtering may be applied when there are further filter conditions determined by the measurement task. The result is a protocol tester that permanently stores the protocol description while allowing modification of the protocol description for each measurement task, reducing storage and calculation requirements.
US07685568B2 Service management of a service oriented business framework
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing services by an application server, the method including collecting a request from a consumer software component for a service from a provider software component, and checking the request against a set of semantic descriptions in a manifest of methods provided by objects in the provider software component.
US07685567B2 Architecture that extends types using extension methods
Architecture that extends existing types including constructed and sealed types using extension methods. Extension methods are static methods that can be invoked using instance method syntax. Extension methods are declared by specifying the keyword “this” as a modifier on the first parameter of the methods. Extension methods have all the capabilities of regular static methods. In addition, once imported, extension methods can be invoked using instance method syntax. Also disclosed are rules for importing extension methods, and extension method invocations. Extension methods are imported through using-namespace-directives. In addition to importing the types contained in a namespace, a using-namespace-directive imports all extension methods in all static classes in the namespace. In effect, imported extension methods appear as additional methods on the types that are given by their first parameter and have lower precedence than regular instance methods.
US07685564B2 System and method of producing computer programming
In order to enable persons without particular programming knowledge to themselves write their own computer programs, there is proposed a computer-supported method of producing and/or executing program code, with at least one visualization surface for the representation of establishable objects, by way of which information, in particular data, are inputted and outputted when executing the program code, wherein objects of the visualization surface are writingly and readingly accessed by means of the produced program code. The method according to the invention is distinguished in that program components of the category run and function are provided for selection, and in addition instructions for interconnecting program components which regulate the call-up of the program components and their serial or simultaneous execution. The invention also concerns a corresponding system with an execution environment for carrying out such a method.
US07685563B2 Reusable customized project system
An extensible project system for software development is provided by allowing a flavor, with a specific purpose, to be applied to a base project system. More than one flavor may be applied. Where components are distributed objects, such as where COM (component object model) is used, the project system is assembled by aggregation of a base project object, which contains some data for creating a project system with a flavor object, which modifies the project system. The base project object is the participating object in the aggregation and the flavor object is the controlling object. Multiple flavors may be applied to create a project system intended for multiple purposes, corresponding to the applied flavors.
US07685562B2 Method and code generator for integrating different enterprise business applications
A method and code generator system for integrating different enterprise business applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for integrating a local business system with an external business system, comprises using a code generator to generate integration source code, wherein using a code generator comprises; interrogating a repository containing integration data by an introspector; and using the integration data with a code filter, wherein the filter generates the integration source code.
US07685561B2 Storage API for a common data platform
An application program interface (API) for a data platform. The API includes a generic data access component that exposes at least one of stores, sessions, transactions, and query services of the data platform, which data platform is associated with a data store. A data classes component of the API provides canonical, application-independent classes that expose types and relationships of a data model of the data platform. The API includes a domain data classes component of application-specific and framework-specific classes that expose domain-specific properties and behaviors of the data platform. The data platform can be a common data platform that interfaces to the data store to provide data services accessible by a plurality of disparate application frameworks, which data services allow a corresponding application of the different frameworks to access the data store.
US07685556B2 Mask data correction method, photomask manufacturing method, computer program, optical image prediction method, resist pattern shape prediction method, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mask data correction method used when forming a photomask used in a photolithography process, comprising correcting mask data on the basis of simulation performed by using information including nonuniformity of an illumination luminance distribution in an exposure apparatus which uses the photomask formed by using the mask data obtained by the correction result.
US07685555B1 Macro inference within electronic design automation tools using hardware description language templates
Within an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool, a method of macro inference can include translating a hardware description language (HDL) template into a macro template and translating a circuit design into a format corresponding to the macro template. The method further can include matching a portion of the translated circuit design with the macro template and replacing the portion of the circuit design matching the macro template with a macro associated with the macro template. The resulting updated circuit design is then output, e.g., to a user, a computer file, or another EDA tool.
US07685548B2 Detection method for identifying unintentionally forward-biased diode devices in an integrated circuit device design
A detection method for identifying unintentionally forward-biased diode devices identifies one or more forward-biased diodes directly from a graphical representation of an integrated circuit (IC) device design. The graphical representation describing one or more IC components as a plurality of geometric shapes that correspond to a set of patterns in at least one semiconductor layer. A detection method may work in conjunction with one or more checks (e.g., electrical rule check (ERC)) to analyze the graphical representation and ensure its manufacturability by reducing the likelihood the forward-biased diodes will be present in the manufactured IC device.
US07685544B2 Testing pattern sensitive algorithms for semiconductor design
A computer program product for generating test patterns for a pattern sensitive algorithm. The program product includes code for extracting feature samples from a layout design; grouping feature samples into clusters; selecting at least one area from the layout design that covers a feature sample from each cluster; and saving each pattern layout covered by the at least one area as test patterns.
US07685537B2 Computer interface method and apparatus with portable network organization system and targeted advertising
A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application includes programming that accesses the sewer to determine if one or more components of the application need upgrading. If so, the components can be downloaded and installed without further action by the user. A distribution tool is provided for software distribution and upgrading over the network. Also provided is a user profile that is accessible to any computer on the network. Furthermore, multiple users of the same computer can possess Internet web resources and files that are personalized, maintained and organized.
US07685536B2 Webpage autorefresh
A system, method and apparatus is provided for automatic refresh of webpages. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes detecting a series of refresh requests for a first webpage exceeding a predetermined threshold within a period of time less than a predetermined time threshold. The method also includes setting a proposed refresh time to an interval of a set of predetermined intervals. The interval is the interval nearest to an average interval for the series of refresh requests within the series of predetermined intervals. The method additionally includes querying a user to begin an autorefresh for the first webpage. The method further includes receiving authorization to autorefresh the first webpage. The method also includes initiating autorefresh of the first webpage.
US07685535B2 Information processing apparatus, method, and information processing program
An information processing apparatus includes: a display section provided with a screen capable of displaying a content of an application; a user-input processing section for acquiring an instruction input from a user; and a screen-hierarchy control section for managing a screen hierarchical order of each application when contents of a plurality of started applications are displayed in the display section. When one of at least two applications of a plurality out of the applications is set to be a master application and the other of the applications is set to be a slave application, the screen-hierarchy control section disposes and links the slave application at an immediately lower level than that of the master application in the screen hierarchy, and performs screen-hierarchy control such that the master application and the slave application are moved in the screen hierarchy in a state being linked at the time of updating the screen hierarchy.
US07685532B2 Data input device, image processing device, data input method and computer readable recording medium on which data input program is recorded
A method for displaying a plurality of key icons on a display includes displaying a first screen on the display, the first screen having at least one first key icon and a plurality of second key icons, wherein the first key icon corresponds to a first input instruction while each of the second key icons respectively corresponds to a respective one of a set of second input instructions; and displaying a second screen on the display, the second screen having at least one third key icon and a pull down menu, wherein the third key icon is bigger than the first key icon but corresponds to the first input instruction, and the pull down menu corresponds to the set of second input instructions.
US07685531B2 Systems and methods for locating content in a memory
A user interface for displaying information includes a region for displaying information regarding one or more files that are stored in a memory, and a navigation map located adjacent the region, the navigation map displaying a graphic associated with information being displayed in the region, the graphic representing a quantity of the displayed information and a quantity of non-displayed information in the region. A method for locating an object stored in a memory includes providing a navigation tool displaying a plurality of folders, wherein a first folder and a second folder can be selected from the plurality of folders, and simultaneously displaying at least some content from the first folder and at least some content from the second folders in response to a selection of the first and the second folders.
US07685530B2 Preferred contact group centric interface
A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.
US07685523B2 System and method of voice recognition near a wireline node of network supporting cable television and/or video delivery
A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed.
US07685522B1 Self-describing forms
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for generating a form and extracting user data from a form, the form including one or more data fields. Zoning information and structural information about the data fields are defined and encoded according to a symbology defined by rules for encoding information in a medium in which the form will be presented. The encoded zoning and structural information is incorporated in a representation of the form to be presented in the medium. Data entered on the form by a user can be extracted based on the encoded zoning and structural information.
US07685520B2 Electronic programming guide with selectable categories
An electronic content guide may organize content such as television programs into categories and subcategories. The categories and subcategories may be topical as well as time-based. As a result, the user can select a given time-based criteria and within that time-based criteria select topical subcategories. As a result, the number of programs that may be displayed in any given graphical user interface may be reduced to a manageable level. This may be done without requiring a great deal of scrolling to view selected categories, subcategories and particular programs.
US07685518B2 Information processing apparatus, method and medium using a virtual reality space
An object in a virtual reality space is made perform complicated movements. A user (or a keeper) who controls an object (or a pet) in a virtual reality space enters a command at the client terminal of the user by means of chat operation. The entered command is sent to a server. The server has a table listing the relationship between commands and movements to be performed by the object in the virtual reality space. For example, the relation is between command “Jump” and movement of jumping. The server interprets the received command by referencing this table. The interpretation result is sent to the client terminal. On the client terminal, the object (the pet) in the virtual reality space performs complicated movements such as dancing according to the received interpretation result.
US07685517B2 Image editing of documents with image and non-image pages
According to this invention, bookbinding data containing pages created by respective applications can be constructed regardless of the type of application. Even when one or more desired pages contained in bookbinding data are selected, image editing is designated, but a non-image page exists in the selected pages, the non-image page can be excluded from editing targets, and the process can shift to image editing. For this purpose, when a plurality of pages are selected and image editing is designated, whether each selected page is an editable image page is determined. An editable page is temporarily stored. After all the selected pages are determined, an image editing application is activated to edit stored editable image pages.
US07685516B2 Creation of electronically processable signature files
The invention relates to aspects in connection with the automatic generation and processing of signature files. The signature files are generated in paper form on the basis of documents (28) that comprise a personal signature (34) and also control information items (30) assigned to the signature (34) and/or the documents (28). The documents in paper form (28) are scanned in within the scope of a batch processing operation in order to generate signature files that contain the personal signatures (34) in an electronically processable form and also representations of the respectively assigned control information items (30). The control information items (30) contained in a signature file are identified and interpreted document-wise. Then the signature files are automatically processed as a function of the content of the assigned control information items (30).
US07685514B1 Method and system for incorporation of graphical print techniques in a web browser
A web browser application program provides graphical print techniques, which allow the user to control how a web page is presented. The data processing system, under instruction of a program, responds to an instruction by the user to present a selected portion of a first document by creating a new document from the first document including the header, trailer, and the selected portion. The data processing system responds to an instruction by the user to change the font size of a selected portion of the first document by creating a copy of the first document and modifying or inserting font tags within the copy of the document. The data processing system responds to an instruction by the user to present the first document with page break indicators by creating a copy of the first document and inserting page break indicators within the copy to be presented to the user. The graphical print techniques may also be used together.
US07685512B2 Representing logical model extensions and wire format specific rendering options in XML messaging schemas
A computer readable medium, method, and device for generating eXtensible Markup Language (XML) schema fragments for use in validating an XML message in a particular wire format is disclosed. The method uses as its input a custom XML schema based message model containing logical model extensions or wire format specific rendering options. The output of the method is an XML schema that includes XML schema fragments. The output schema complies with an accepted XML schema standard recognized by a standard schema validator. At run time, the output XML schema, along with the standard schema validator, may be used at a node which does not understand the custom message model to validate incoming XML messages. Depending upon the manner of generating of the XML schema fragments, the resultant validation may be strict or lax.
US07685509B1 Dividing a form field into areas associated with separate entry filters
In many situations, the objective of data entry is to obtain a complex or structured value. This has traditionally been accomplished by providing a discrete entry field for each element of data entry. By extending the notion of an entry filter, and introducing the notion of a discrete editable element within an entry field, it is possible to apply a structure to that entry field. A management component enables one or more entry filters to be associated in turn with each editable element, and ensures that the entry filters are applied correctly to the appropriate elements.
US07685506B2 System and method for synchronizing data between a plurality of databases
A system for facilitating the information transfer and processing associated with home construction and home sales. Various discrete software modules are disclosed each handling a specific task associated with home construction and sales. Also, a system for communicating between separate data bases is disclosed wherein separate and distinct sales offices, each having their own data base, may communicate with a parent, market office having its own data base wherein the data bases of the sales offices and the market office are synchronized according to the method of the present invention so that any data updates in any of the sales offices would be automatically updated in the associated market offices. This aspect of the present invention allows a corporation responsible for home construction and sales amongst various regional, market, and sales offices to coordinate a plurality of discretely separate data bases in a way such that they are all synchronized with one another at a predetermined time.
US07685505B2 Coding apparatus, and associated method, for forming a punctured binary convolutional code for use in a radio communication system
Coding apparatus, and an associated method, for forming punctured binary convolutional codes for use in a multi-band OFDM ultra wide band radio communication system. Input data to be communicated is provided to a convolutional coder that forms a ⅓ rate code forming first-stage codes. The ⅓ rate code is punctured by a puncture matrix to form resultant code words. The puncture matrix is of values that optimize code performance at various code rates.
US07685504B2 Method and apparatus for controlling transmitting, receiving, and re-transmission
A method and apparatus operable to execute an error correction decoding process, while controlling the increase in the amount of data that is stored in the receiving apparatus, is disclosed. Data is preferably transmitted to a receiving apparatus to execute the error correction decoding process using received data and re-transmitted data. Transmitting data is generated by executing the rate matching process to a first part of the error correction coded data and generating a second transmitting data. The second transmitting data includes at least the data not included in the first part by executing the rate matching process. Also included is a transmitting means for executing the transmission of the second transmitting data as the re-transmission after the transmission of the first transmitting data.
US07685502B2 LDPC decoder
An LDPC decoder has a determined number of processing units operating in parallel. Storage circuitry contains first words having a juxtaposition of a first type of message. The storage circuitry also contains second words having a juxtaposition of a second type of message. A message provision unit provides each processing unit with the messages. A message write unit may write words into the storage circuitry in a way that depends on the contents of the words. The message provision unit may provide data in a way that depends on the contents of the words.
US07685500B2 Forward error correction coding in communication networks
Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed for block encoding/decoding information wireless networks having narrow decoding latency restrictions. A method includes identifying a length of information to be sent in a block code and encoding the information to be sent in the block code into one or more codewords, where the number of codewords and the amount of information encoded within each codeword is adjusted based on the identified length and to achieve a similar codeword error probability for each codeword considering available decoding time for decoding a last codeword is less than available decoding time for decoding a first codeword. In certain implementations low density parity check (LDPC) encoding may be used in combination with OFDM to provide reliable communications in a high throughput WLAN.
US07685498B2 Digital broadcasting system and digital broadcast transmission and reception method
A digital broadcasting system transmitting and receiving a broadcast stream created from a broadcast source. The system includes a hierarchical coding unit (2) coding the broadcast source depending on a characteristic of the broadcast source and generating, from the coded broadcast source, a first layer code and a second layer code which can respectively be used for reproduction of the broadcast source and includes a synthesis unit (5) generating data bursts, each including the generated first and second layer code. The system also includes a multiplexing unit (7) creating the broadcast stream by multiplexing the generated data bursts, a transmission unit (9) transmitting the created broadcast stream to the network, a tuning/demodulation unit (301) receiving the transmitted broadcast stream, a synchronization unit (302) extracting, from the received broadcast stream, at least one of the first layer code and the second layer codes and a TS decoder (303) reproducing the broadcast source using the extracted code.
US07685495B2 Apparatus and method for channel interleaving in communications system
An apparatus and method for interleaving systematic bits and parity bits to generate an output sequence that can be transmitted in multi-slot packets from a base station to a remote station in a wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a memory element and a control element coupled to the memory element, wherein the control element is configured to demultiplex the systematic bits and parity bits into sequences, wherein the systematic bits and parity bits are sequentially distributed among the sequences. The control element is further configured to reorder the sequences based on an index set, to group the sequences into segments and to interleave each of the segments forming matrices having elements. The control element is also configured to modulate the elements of the matrices, and to truncate the modulated elements of each matrix, so as to produce the output sequence which comprises truncated modulating elements from each matrix of the matrices.
US07685488B2 Circuit interconnect testing arrangement and approach therefor
Logic level crossings in an integrated circuit are detected. According to an example embodiment, a reset signal is provided to a flip-flop (314) as a function of a logic level of an integrated circuit. A logic level crossing condition of the integrated circuit is indicated as a function of the reset condition of the flip flop. In one implementation, the flip-flop is reset when the logic level is different than an expected logic level. In another implementation, a pair of flip-flops (414, 418) are implemented such that only one flip-flop is reset at a particular logic level; if the logic level crosses, both flip-flops are reset. The aforesaid condition of both flip-flops being reset is used to indicate the logic level crossing.
US07685485B2 Functional failure analysis techniques for programmable integrated circuits
Techniques are provided for isolating failed routing resources on a programmable circuit. Failing test patterns and the test logs are fed to a Statistical Failure Isolation (SFI) tool. The SFI tool extracts failing paths from the test patterns. A statistical analysis is performed on interconnect resources related to failing paths. The resources on the paths are then tallied to create a histogram of resources. These resources are then be fed into an Adaptive Failure Isolation (AFI) tool to auto-generate verification patterns. A tester uses the verification patterns to isolate failed interconnect resources.
US07685484B2 Methods for the support of JTAG for source synchronous interfaces
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a method for the support of a JTAG interface for the testing of connectivity between integrated circuits. The method comprises delivering output from a JTAG register to a primary register, delivering a JTAG control signal to the primary register and a clock signal gating control logic, delivering output from the primary register and a secondary register to a multiplexer, delivering clock signal output from the clock signal gating control logic to the multiplexer, wherein the clock signal is delivered is a constant and known value, and delivering the output from the multiplexer to an I/O driver.
US07685480B1 Content addressable memory having redundant row isolated noise circuit and method of use
A system and method are provided for reducing the capacitive coupling noise on a fuse line of a content addressable memory (CAM) system. The CAM system includes a plurality of CAM arrays having a plurality of rows of CAM cells to store data coupled to wordlines, searchlines, bitlines and matchlines for reading from, writing to, and searching data in the CAM cells and a hit circuit coupled to the matchlines of each of the plurality of CAM arrays, the hit circuit to compare the data stored in the CAM cells against data presented on the wordlines of the CAM array.
US07685473B2 Computer system, method of detecting a stall in a computer system, and signal-bearing medium embodying a program causing a computer system to perform a method of detecting a stall in a computer system
A computer system includes a processor that executes a device driver, and a bus controller that controls an input/output bus that connects a plurality of input/output devices. The bus controller includes a stall detector that detects a stall state of the input/output bus and an error reply generator that transmits an error reply to the processor regarding a transaction transmitted to the input/output bus where the stall state is detected.
US07685471B2 System and method for detecting software defects
A method for detecting software defects includes selecting from a target program comprising a plurality of modules a first module for evaluation and isolating the first module. The method also includes iteratively performing the following steps until the first module has been reduced such that a validation program is able to determine whether the first module contains a defect: generating an environment surrounding the first module, the generated environment preserving at least one external constraint on the first module; reducing the size of the first module; and reducing the number of program states associated with the first module.
US07685469B2 Method and apparatus of analyzing computer system interruptions
A method of analyzing a computer application interruption may analyze a cause of the computer application interruption, determine whether the cause of the computer application interruption was user disruptive or non-user-disruptive, determine whether the cause of the computer application interruption was operating system related or non-operating system related and determine whether the computer application interruption caused the computer application to stop operating or operate at a degraded level of performance.
US07685468B2 Method and system for test case generation
A method and apparatus is described for generating a test case for an application or system modelled using a Stochastic Automata Network model. The method contemplates the inclusion of a plurality of automata and including the steps of: (a) setting an initial global state as the current global state, wherein a global state comprises a set of local states each corresponding to one of the automata; (b) creating a record of the initial global state; (c) selecting an event from a set of events that can be applied to the current global state; creating record of the selected event; (e) identifying those of the automata affected by the selected event and updating the current global state by updating the states of the affected automata; (f) creating a record of the current global state; and repeating steps (c) to (f) until a termination condition is satisfied. The invention may also be used for the generation of test scripts. In terms of specific usage case, the invention may be used for software reliability testing and for fault-tolerance measurements.
US07685467B2 Data system simulated event and matrix debug of pipelined processor
A method and/or a system of a processor-agnostic encoded debug architecture in a pipelined environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a processor includes processing an event specified by a data processing system coupled to the processor to determine a boundary of the event, generating a matrix having combinations of the event and other events occurring simultaneously in the processor, capturing an output data of observed ones of the event and other events, and applying the matrix to generate an encoded debug data of the output data. The method may also include determining which of the combinations are valid based on an architecture of the processor. The event may be a trace-worthy event whose output value cannot be reliably predicted in an executable file in the data processing system and/or a sync event that is specified by a user of the data processing system.
US07685465B1 High-availability data center
Method/system is disclosed for recovering computing capacity and critical applications after a catastrophic failure. The method/system involves distributing the computing capacity over multiple computing clusters, each computing cluster having concurrent access to shared data and software applications of other computing clusters. Sufficient backup computing capacity is reserved on each computing cluster to recover some or all active computing capacity on the other computing clusters. Message traffic throughout the computing clusters is monitored for indications of a catastrophic failure. Upon confirmation of a catastrophic failure at one computing cluster, the workloads of that computing cluster are transferred to the backup computing capacity of the other computing clusters. Software applications that have been designated for recovery are then brought up on the backup computing capacity of the other computing clusters. Such an arrangement allows computing capacity and critical software applications to be quickly recovered after a catastrophic failure.
US07685461B2 Method, apparatus and program storage device for performing fault tolerant code upgrade on a fault tolerant system by determining when functional code reaches a desired state before resuming an upgrade
A method, apparatus and program storage device for performing fault tolerant code upgrade on a fault tolerant system by determining when functional code reaches a desired state before resuming an upgrade. A concurrent code-load to a plurality of storage controllers of a storage system is initiated. A role transition is detected. The storage system determines when the storage system returns to a desired state. The code-load is resumed when the storage system returns to the desired state.
US07685460B1 Multiple concurrent restore using same user interface
A method and system for performing multiple concurrent recovery operations using a single instance of a user interface. One exemplary method includes initiating a first recovery operation via a single user interface. The first recovery operation includes copying a first data object from a first backup storage location to a first recovery storage location. The exemplary method further includes initiating a second recovery operation via the single user interface without requiring a user to open a separate instance of the user interface. Similarly, the second recovery operation includes copying a second data object from a second backup storage location to a second recovery storage location. At least a portion of the second recovery operation occurs concurrently with at least a portion of the first recovery operation.
US07685459B1 Parallel backup
A backup system can be provided, which system can comprise an identifier operable to identify a data object for possible backup and a generator operable to generate an identity representation for the data object on the basis of the content thereof. The identity representation can be transmitted to a backup store where it can be tested against identity representations for previously stored objects. The system can also comprise a receiver operable to receive from the backup store an indication of whether the data object described by the identity representation has previously been stored at the backup store. The system can be operable to transmit the data object to the backup store in the event that the data object described by the identity representation has not previously been stored at the backup store.
US07685458B2 Assigned task information based variable phase delayed clock signals to processor cores to reduce di/dt
Systems and methods for managing power consumption in an integrated circuit to reduce the rate of change of current (di/dt) in the integrated circuit. One embodiment comprises a system having multiple processor cores. A timing system provides each of the processor cores with a corresponding operating clock signal. The timing system uses variable delay elements to impart variable delays to the clock signals. A delay management unit determines the delays that should be used by the task processing units in executing their assigned tasks and provides this information to the variable delay elements to set the appropriate delays in each of these elements. The delay information is also provided to a task management unit, which assigns the tasks to specific processor cores based upon the delays selected by the delay management unit, so that consecutively fired processor cores are not adjacent to each other.
US07685456B1 DDR interface bus control
Systems and techniques for improved bus control, which may be particularly useful for double data rate (DDR) data transfer. A circuit may include a clock transmitter in communication with a clock bus, a clock receiver in communication with the clock bus, and a driver in communication with the clock bus. The driver may drive a voltage of the clock bus to a first voltage level when the clock transmitter is not transmitting a clock signal on the clock bus and the clock receiver is not receiving a clock signal on the clock bus.
US07685454B2 Signal buffering and retiming circuit for multiple memories
A signal buffering and retiming (SBR) circuit for a plurality of memory devices. A PLL-based clock generator generates a set of phase-shifted clock signals from a received host clock signal. Each of a plurality of phase selectors independently selects a subset of contiguous clock signals from the set of phase-shifted clock signals. Each subset of contiguous clock signals is applied to a different set of one or more verniers, each vernier independently selecting one of the contiguous clock signals as its retiming clock signal for use in generating either (1) an output clock signal or a retimed bit of address or control data for one or more of the memory devices or (2) a feedback clock signal for the PLL-based clock generator. The SBR circuit can be designed to satisfy relatively stringent signal timing requirements related to skew and delay.
US07685447B2 Circuit interrupter and method modulating configurable processor clock to provide reduced current consumption
A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a current sensor structured to sense current flowing through the separable contacts, a microprocessor cooperating with the sensor and the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, and a power supply structured to at least power the microprocessor. The microprocessor includes a configurable clock and a routine structured to reduce current consumption from the power supply through modulation of the configurable clock.
US07685445B2 Per die voltage programming for energy efficient integrated circuit (IC) operation
Methods and apparatus to provide per die voltage programming for energy efficient integrated circuit (IC) operation are described. In some embodiments, the voltage potential supplied to an IC component is lowered below a peak performance voltage level, e.g., to reduce power consumption by the component. Other embodiments are also described.
US07685443B2 Server card power switch
One aspect of the present invention provides a server card that is removably insertable into a server chassis. An electronic power switching mechanism is disposed on the server card and is configured to cause three power states of the server card including a fully operational state, a standby state, and a fully shutdown state. In the fully operational state, a system power of the server card is enabled and a standby power of the server card is enabled. In the standby state, a system power of the server card is disabled and the standby power of the server card is enabled. In a shutdown state, the system power of the server card is disabled and the standby power of the server card is disabled.
US07685440B2 Switch with fully isolated power sourcing equipment control
In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus (e.g., an Ethernet switch) having an isolated side and a line side. A line-side connector is connectable to a cable. An isolated-side physical-layer module (1) is electrically coupled to the connector via a signal-isolation transformer and (2) processes signals transmitted over the cable. A line-side power conditioning module (1) is electrically coupled to an isolated-side power switcher via a power-isolation transformer that converts an AC power signal received from the power switcher into a transformed AC power signal and (2) converts the transformed AC power signal into a cable power signal to be supplied via the connector to the cable in order to power a cable-powered device connected to the cable. An isolated-side control module performs a detection function in which the control module determines whether or not a cable-powered device is connected to the cable.
US07685437B2 Query optimization in encrypted database systems
A client-server relational database system includes a client computer connected to a server computer via a network. Data from the client computer is encrypted by the client computer and hosted by the server computer. The encrypted data is operated upon by the server computer to produce an intermediate results set. The intermediate results set is sent from the server computer to the client computer where it is operated upon by the client computer and then returned to the server computer where it is further operated upon by the server computer before being sent again from the server computer to the client computer in order to produce actual results.
US07685436B2 System and method for a secure I/O interface
A security processor performs all or substantially all security and network processing to provide a secure I/O interface system to protect computing hardware from unauthorized access or attack. The security processor sends and receives all incoming and outgoing data packets for a host device and includes a packet engine, coupled to a local data bus, to process the incoming and outgoing packets. The processor further comprises a cryptographic core coupled to the packet engine to provide encryption and decryption processing for packets processed by the packet engine. The packet engine also handles classification processing for the incoming and outgoing packets. A modulo engine may be coupled to the local data bus.
US07685434B2 Two parallel engines for high speed transmit IPsec processing
The invention relates to a network interface system for interfacing a host system with a network. The network interface system includes a bus interface system, a media access control system, and a security system. The network interface offloads IPsec processing from the host processor. According to the invention, the security system includes two processors for encrypting and authenticating the outgoing data. Outgoing data packets are sent alternately to one or the other processor, whereby transmission processing can be accelerated relative to receive processing.
US07685433B2 Recognition of live object in motion
Movement of a living object is measured by a movement sensor carried by one living object at a time for forming one measurement signal per one living object. The measurement signal is compared with a predetermined reference signal which may be measured from a known living object in a similar way. A recognition operation is performed based on the comparison between the measurement signal and the predetermined reference signal, the recognition operation resulting in recognition or non-recognition.
US07685427B2 System and method for loading digital watermarks automatically
A system for loading digital watermarks automatically includes an application server (4). The application server includes a main controller. The main controller includes: a document fetching module (401) configured for fetching a document to be printed, and for accessing a document DRM header of the document fetched; a watermark downloading module (402) configured for downloading a digital watermark corresponding to the document; and an integrating module (403) configured for transforming the document into a graphical file and integrating the graphical file with the downloaded digital watermark. A related method is also disclosed.
US07685420B2 Cookie-based mechanism providing lightweight authentication of layer-2 frames
Methods and apparatus for improving the resilience of wireless packet-switched networks to Layer-2 attacks is provided via a lightweight mechanism for detecting spoofed frames. The mechanism enables a receiving node to detect spoofed frames from information contained in cookies sent with frames. A first cookie, containing initial information, is sent to the receiving station from the transmitting node along with the first frame of a frame set. For each received frame, spoofing detection includes applying a function to information received via a corresponding cookie received with the subject frame, the result of which function is compared with information received via a previous cookie. The validity of the subject frame is asserted if the result of applying the function to information received in the corresponding subject cookie correlates with previous or initial information received in a previous or the first cookie, respectively. An exemplary implementation includes using a one-way hashing function. Advantages are derived from a low computational overhead in effecting spoofed frame detection and from an ability of the proposed solution to co-exist with other standardized security mechanisms.
US07685417B2 Remote data viewer
A medical image and data application service provider system provides a way of remotely viewing and manipulating medical images and data for diagnostic and visualization purposes by users unconstrained by geography. Medical images and data are stored on one or more servers running application service provider software along with meta-data such as access control information, origin of information and references to related data. A set of medical data consisting related information is sent as an encrypted stream to a viewing station running client software in a secure execution environment that is logically independent of the viewing station's operating system.
US07685411B2 Multi-mode instruction memory unit
An instruction memory unit comprises a first memory structure operable to store program instructions, and a second memory structure operable to store program instructions fetched from the first memory structure, and to issue stored program instructions for execution. The second memory structure is operable to identify a repeated issuance of a forward program redirect construct, and issue a next program instruction already stored in the second memory structure if a resolution of the forward branching instruction is identical to a last resolution of the same. The second memory structure is further operable to issue a backward program redirect construct, determine whether a target instruction is stored in the second memory structure, issue the target instruction if the target instruction is stored in the second memory structure, and fetch the target instruction from the first memory structure if the target instruction is not stored in the second memory structure.
US07685410B2 Redirect recovery cache that receives branch misprediction redirects and caches instructions to be dispatched in response to the redirects
In one embodiment, a processor comprises a branch resolution unit and a redirect recovery cache. The branch resolution unit is configured to detect a mispredicted branch operation, and to transmit a redirect address for fetching instructions from a correct target of the branch operation responsive to detecting the mispredicted branch operation. The redirect recovery cache comprises a plurality of cache entries, each cache entry configured to store operations corresponding to instructions fetched in response to respective mispredicted branch operations. The redirect recovery cache is coupled to receive the redirect address and, if the redirect address is a hit in the redirect recovery cache, the redirect recovery cache is configured to supply operations from the hit cache entry to a pipeline of the processor, bypassing at least one initial pipeline stage.
US07685409B2 On-demand multi-thread multimedia processor
A device includes a multimedia processor that can concurrently support multiple applications for various types of multimedia such as graphics, audio, video, camera, games, etc. The multimedia processor includes configurable storage resources to store instructions, data, and state information for the applications and assignable processing units to perform various types of processing for the applications. The configurable storage resources may include an instruction cache to store instructions for the applications, register banks to store data for the applications, context registers to store state information for threads of the applications, etc. The processing units may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) core, an elementary function core, a logic core, a texture sampler, a load control unit, a flow controller, etc. The multimedia processor allocates a configurable portion of the storage resources to each application and dynamically assigns the processing units to the applications as requested by these applications.
US07685401B2 Guest to host address translation for devices to access memory in a partitioned system
Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for guest to host address translations for devices to access memory in a partitioned system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an interface, partitioning logic, first address translation logic, and second address translation logic. The interface is to receive a request from a device to access memory in a partitioned system. The partitioning logic is to determine whether the device is assigned to a first partition or a second partition. The first address translation logic is to translate a first guest address to a first host address in the first partition. The second address translation logic is to translate a second guest address to a second host address in the second partition.
US07685400B2 Storage of data blocks of logical volumes in a virtual disk storage subsystem
When data is stored in many storage subsystems, metadata, such as a sequence number, is also generated and stored with the data. When the data is accessed, the metadata is checked to ensure that the desired data element has been accessed. In conventional storage subsystems, data elements, such as logical blocks, are stored sequentially in logical pages of each logical volume. Consequently, sequence numbers closely correlate with block positions within the physical pages and sequence number/position patterns tend to repeat frequently and access errors may not be detected. Algorithms are provided to calculate new, offset, physical block positions which reduce the close association of sequence numbers and physical positions, thereby reducing such aliasing. The algorithms incorporate the logical volume number, the logical page number, or both, in addition to the logical block number. As a result, detection of access errors becomes more likely.
US07685399B2 Method, system, and computer program products for data movement within processor storage
A method for moving the data between the memory addresses in a computer system in which data referenced by memory addresses is stored in physical memory. The method comprises providing a translation mechanism for mapping respective pages of contiguous memory addresses to corresponding locations in the physical memory in accordance with a specified mapping, whereby a first page of memory addresses is mapped to a first location in the physical memory and a second page of memory addresses is mapped to a second location in the physical memory; and changing the specified mapping of the translation mechanism to a new mapping in which the second page of memory addresses is mapped to the first location in the physical memory, thereby effectively moving the data stored at the first location from the first page of memory addresses to the second page of memory addresses without moving the data between locations in the physical memory.
US07685395B1 Spanning virtual arrays across multiple physical storage arrays
Described are a storage network and method of presenting a virtual array in the storage network. The storage network includes a first storage array and a second storage array. At least one of the first and second storage arrays has one or more logical units of storage assigned to a virtual array that spans the first and second storage arrays. In addition, at least one of the first and second storage arrays has one or more physical ports coupled to the virtual array. The virtual array is assigned a unique virtual port identifier (ID) for each physical port coupled to the virtual array. A host coupled to a switch can communicate with the virtual array using a virtual port ID assigned to the virtual array.
US07685394B2 Method and apparatus for configuring a storage device
A method and apparatus is disclosed in which a storage device controller is arranged to use a set of sequential physical block addresses on a storage device as a single logical block address.
US07685392B2 Providing indeterminate read data latency in a memory system
A method for providing indeterminate read data latency in a memory system. The method includes determining if a local data packet has been received and storing it into a buffer device. The method also includes determining if the buffer device contains a data packet and determining if an upstream driver for transmitting data packets to a memory controller via an upstream channel is idle, and in response thereto the data packet is transmitted to the upstream driver. The method further includes determining if an upstream data packet has been received and the upstream driver is not idle, then the upstream data packet is stored into the buffer device. The upstream data packet is selectively transmitted to the upstream driver. If the upstream driver is not idle, then any data packets in progress are continued being transmitted to the upstream driver.
US07685389B2 Apparatus, system, and method for setting protection states of protected partitions in storage media
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for setting protection states of protected partitions in storage media. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive protection state transition commands from a host for a target partition, a check module configured to verify a protection state for the target partition, and a write module configured to perform the protection state transition according to a plurality of defined allowable state transitions. The system includes a host device, a storage device coupled with the host, the storage device comprising an enclosure having storage media and a control module, and the apparatus. The method includes receiving protection state transition commands from a host for a target partition, verifying a protection state for the target partition, and performing the protection state transition according to a plurality of defined allowable state transitions.
US07685388B1 Method and system for single pass volume scanning for multiple destination mirroring
A method for operating a computer data storage system stores snapshots of an active file system of the storage system at a plurality of destinations. A latest snapshot stored at each destination of the plurality of destinations is identified. Those data blocks which are newer than the latest snapshot stored at the each destination are sent to the each destination. The active file system is scanned to find each data block newer than the oldest snapshot stored at a selected destination, and all such data blocks are tagged. Those data blocks which are tagged are sent to the selected destination.
US07685387B2 Storage system for multi-site remote copy
Information about remote copy target volumes of other storage systems 2 each having one and the same original volume V1 is registered for each remote copy target volume in advance. When there occurs a failure in a copy source storage system 2, a copy source volume for remote copy target volumes using the storage system 2 having a failure as their copy source is selected newly from the registered copy source volumes, and remote copy is resumed.
US07685386B2 Data storage resynchronization using application features
A data storage resynchronization system is provided. The system includes a primary site having a primary server, primary storage unit, primary replication agent, and a primary storage controller. Data is written to primary pages on the primary storage unit upon receiving a command to do so from the primary server. A secondary site has a secondary server, secondary storage unit, secondary replication agent for receiving a command from the primary replication agent to write the data at the secondary site and secondary storage controller. Data is written to secondary pages on the secondary storage unit upon receiving a command to do so from the secondary replication agent when the secondary and primary pages correspond, and means for comparing corresponding pages and sending primary pages to the secondary replication agent for replacement of corresponding secondary pages at the secondary site where page-change indicators of the corresponding pages do not match.
US07685385B1 System and method for satisfying I/O requests before a replica has been fully synchronized
Various methods and systems are disclosed for handling I/O requests to a replica that has not yet been fully synchronized. One method involves detecting the transfer of the role of working volume from a first volume to a second volume. The second volume is configured as a replica of the first volume, but the second volume may not be fully synchronized with the first volume at the time that the role of working volume is transferred. Subsequent to the role of working volume being transferred to the second volume, a read request to the second volume is satisfied by accessing a log. The log is configured to store values that have been written to the first volume, and at least one of the values written to the first volume has not been written to the second volume.
US07685384B2 System and method for replicating files in a computer network
A system and method for performing real-time replication of data across a network is provided. A mirroring engine receives a write request from a host application operating on a source computer. The mirroring engine compares data in the write request with corresponding data stored in memory. If data in the write request differs from stored data, the mirroring engine processes the write request. Processing involves computing a data signature across data in the write request and associating the signature with a transaction number and a status byte. The transaction number is used to uniquely identify the data signature and can be used to ensure that the signature is properly handled if it is received, for example, out of order. The status byte contains information used for handling the data signature and transaction number as well as information identifying how the data signature was computed. In an embodiment, the status byte may contain a bit for identifying if the data signature was computed across an entire block of data or if the signature was computed over only a portion of a data block, such as for example, only data bytes that have changed as compared with those in the stored data. Processing may further include compressing and encrypting the data signature, transaction number and status byte prior to transmission over a network. Embodiments may further employ a meta-file for storing data signatures, transaction numbers, status bytes, and other information useful for performing real-time data replication over a network.
US07685378B2 Methods and apparatus for adjusting a journal area for continuous data protection
In a storage system implementing journaling for data backup and restore, users are able to easily determine information regarding amounts journal data generated over specified periods of time. Flexible and automatic adjustment of the journal area is enabled by providing the user with the information on the relationships between the amounts of journal data generated over periods of time. Also dynamic allocation of storage capacity from free space may be applied to the journal volume on an as-needed basis, and may be used to minimize the size of the journal volume when certain journal entries are determined to be no longer needed. Thus, users are able to determine an appropriate size of a journal area in accordance with requirements for predetermined preservation periods for backup data. Thereby, management of the journal area is simplified and the costs to manage the journal area are reduced.
US07685377B1 Piecewise logical data management
A method for storing data that is reconstructable in a piecewise manner comprises receiving a user data unit in the form of a data stream to be stored in the data storage system. A plurality of logical data units associated with the user data unit are then identified. A digital signature is associated with each logical data unit and stored within a component of the data storage system. The logical data unit digital signature is used by the data storage system to determine whether or not to actually store each logical data unit. A digital signature for the entire user data unit is also determined and associated with the user data unit. A reconstructed user data unit when desired is then assembled by examining the stored logical data unit digital signatures.
US07685376B2 Method to support heterogeneous memories
A method and apparatus is described herein for supporting heterogeneous local memories. A resource affinity table includes an entry for each local memory mapped into an address space. Each entry associating the corresponding local memory with a logical distance, such as a domain number. During runtime thread scheduling, memory operations, and other tasks are potentially assigned to the local memory devices based on the logical distance associated with each memory in the resource affinity table. As a consequence, heterogeneous memory types or homogeneous memories with different access times may be efficiently combined in a system to achieve large amount of memory at a smaller cost without sacrificing performance by allowing an operating system to make intelligent scheduling choices based on logical distances/access times of the aforementioned memories.
US07685373B2 Selective snooping by snoop masters to locate updated data
A system and structure for snooping cache memories of several snooping masters connected to a bus macro, wherein each non-originating snooping master has a cache memory, and wherein some, but less than all the cache memories, may have the data requested by an originating snooping master and wherein the needed data in an non-originating snooping master is marked as updated, and wherein a main memory having addresses for all data is connected to the bus macro. Only those non-originating snooping masters which may have the requested data are queried. All the non-originating snooping masters that have been queried reply. If a non-originating snooping master has the requested data marked as updated, that non-originating snooping master returns the updated data to the originating snooping master and possibly to the main memory. If none of the non-originating snooping masters has the requested data marked as updated, then the requested data is read from main memory.
US07685370B1 Data synchronization with multiple producers
A data processing system can establish or maintain data coherency by issuing a data flush operation. An agent can initialize a first flush operation by writing to a flush register. The agent can determine that the flush operation is complete by reading a status indicator from a status register. Additional agents can independently issue flush operations during the pendency of the first flush operation. A second flush instruction and any additional flush instructions that issue during the pendency of the first flush operation set a flush pending indicator in a status register. Once the first flush operation completes, the host performs all pending flush operations in a single second flush operation. The status indicator does not indicate a completed flush operation for the first flush operation until all flush operations are complete. Multiple co-pending flush operations are collapsed into at most two flush operations.
US07685366B2 System and article of manufacture for storing data
Provided are a system, and article of manufacture, wherein a first storage unit is coupled to a second storage unit. The first storage unit and the second storage unit are detected. A determination is made that the first storage unit is capable of responding to a write operation faster than the second storage unit, and that the second storage unit is capable of responding to a read operation at least as fast as the first storage unit. Data is written to the first storage unit. A transfer of the data is initiated from the first storage unit to the second storage unit. The data is read from the second storage unit, in response to a read request directed at both the first and the second storage units.
US07685354B1 Multiple-core processor with flexible mapping of processor cores to cache banks
A multiple-core processor providing flexible mapping of processor cores to cache banks. In one embodiment, a processor may include a cache including a number of cache banks. The processor may further include a number of processor cores configured to access the cache banks, as well as core/bank mapping logic coupled to the cache banks and processor cores. The core/bank mapping logic may be configurable to map a cache bank select portion of a memory address specified by a given one of the processor cores to any one of the cache banks.
US07685350B2 Remote node index mapping mechanism for serial attached storage devices
According to one embodiment, a host bus adapter (HBA) is disclosed. The HBA includes a first lookup table to retrieve a remote node index (RNI) based upon an address received from a remote device as a component of an open address frame, a second lookup table to retrieve a remote node context (RNC) based upon the RNI and connection management logic coupled to the second lookup table to control a connection between the HBA and the remote device based upon the RNC.
US07685347B2 Interrupt controller for invoking service routines with associated priorities
An interrupt controller efficiently manages execution of tasks by a multiprocessor computing system. The interrupt controller has inputs for receiving service requests for invoking service routines. The service routines have higher priorities than the tasks executed on the processors. Associated with each processor is a register for storing the priority of the task executing on the processor. A comparator coupled to the processors determines the processor executing the task having a lower priority among the priorities of the tasks executing on the processors. For each service request received, a distributor generates an interrupt request for invoking the service routine of the service request on the processor with the lower priority. The register with the lower priority is set to the higher priority of the service routine in response to the interrupt request. For each processor, the interrupt controller has an output for transmitting the interrupt request to the processor.
US07685337B2 Solid state storage subsystem for embedded applications
A non-volatile storage subsystem solution is provided for embedded applications. The storage subsystem is preferably designed to communicate with the host system using a signal interface, such as a USB or SATA interface, that uses substantially fewer signal lines than the IDE interface traditionally used for embedded applications. Thus, the amount of board real estate used to carry interface signals in the host system is reduced. To further reduce board real estate, the host system may include a processor that includes an integrated controller (e.g., a USB or SATA controller) corresponding to the host-subsystem signal interface. The storage subsystem may plug into, and lock to, an internal connector on a circuit board of the host system.
US07685335B2 Virtualized fibre channel adapter for a multi-processor data processing system
An enhanced fibre channel adapter with multiple queues for use by different server processors or partitions. For a non-partitioned server, the OS owns the adapter, controls the adapter queues, and updates the queue table(s). An OS operator can obtain information from the fibre channel network about the fibre channel storage data zones available to the physical fibre channel adapter port and can specify that one or more zones can be accessed by a specific processor or group of processors. The processor or group of processors is given an adapter queue to access the zone or zones of storage data. This queue is given a new World Wide Port Name or new N-Port ID Virtualization identifier, to differentiate this queue from another queue that might have access to a different storage data zone or zones. For a partitioned server, one partition owns the adapter, controls the adapter queues, and updates the queue table(s). The partition management tool can obtain information from the fibre channel network about the fibre channel storage data zones available. A system operator can assign one or more storage zones under a fibre channel storage adapter to a partition. Each partition that has access to a zone or zones under an adapter is given an adapter queue to access the zone or zones. This queue is given a new World Wide Port Name or new N-Port ID Virtualization identifier, to differentiate this queue from another queue that might have access to a different storage data zone or zones.
US07685328B2 Generic universal serial bus device operable at low and full speed and adapted for use in a smart card device
A USB device, integrated circuit, smart card and method are disclosed. A USB transceiver is connected to a data interface and operable at a respective low speed and full speed configuration. A processor as a USB device controller is operatively connected to the low speed USB transceiver and full speed USB transceiver and operable for transmitting a different device descriptor to a USB host for performing an enumeration depending on whether a low speed or high speed operation is chosen.
US07685327B1 Identification of multi-device systems
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying a system. In various embodiments, values of identification codes are read from each of a plurality of electronic devices of the system. The values of the identification codes are used to generate a system identifier value.
US07685326B2 Control device, and controlled device
The invention provides a control device and a controlled device capable of reducing a management burden on a manufacturer by means of an easy-to-use method. A TV is a control device which controls a DVD recorder, including: a device ID acquisition unit which requests the DVD recorder to transmit a device ID, and receives the device ID from the DVD recorder; a device ID determination unit which determines whether or not the device ID is an initial value; a device ID generation unit which generates a new device ID in the case where the device ID is determined to be the initial value; a device ID update unit which requests the DVD recorder to update to the new device ID; a device ID/attribute information storing unit which stores the new device ID as the device ID of the DVD recorder; and a connected device control unit which controls the DVD recorder by using the device ID stored in the device ID/attribute information storing unit.
US07685324B2 Audio-video processing apparatus and program therefor
Provided is an audio-video processing apparatus having significant operability. The first electronic device (100) includes a state information sending unit (105) that sends, to a second electronic device (200) being the audio-video processing apparatus, a state information indicating a state of the self electronic device. The second electronic device (200) includes: a second manipulation item information storage unit (202) that stores one or more pieces of first manipulation item information, each of which includes item information indicating an item in a manipulation menu and operation instruction information that is information instructing the first electronic device (100) to perform a specified operation corresponding to the item; a state information obtainment unit (203) that obtains the state information from the first electronic device (100); a manipulation menu display preparation unit (204) that displays a manipulation menu based on one or more pieces of manipulation item information stored in the second manipulation item information storage unit (202), depending on the state information obtained by the state information obtainment unit (203).
US07685323B1 Automatic configuration of devices in a network
A method for automating configuration of devices in a network having a network bus for communicating with the devices, wherein the network is implemented in a physical environment the method comprising detecting a device assembly that is connected to the network bus, wherein the device assembly includes a plurality of devices assembled thereon in a predetermined physical order; upon detecting a device assembly connected to the network bus, determining whether the detected device assembly is of a predetermined first type; upon determining that the detected device assembly is of the first type, reading data from the plurality of devices assembled thereon in an order corresponding to the predetermined physical order of the plurality of devices as assembled on the device assembly; and identifying a physical location in the physical environment of each of the plurality of devices on the first-type device assembly based on the order in which data of the plurality of devices is read from the first-type device assembly.
US07685322B2 Port number emulation for wireless USB connections
Port number emulation for wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) connections is provided. Virtual USB port numbers are emulated and associated with external devices that are wirelessly connected to a host device. The associations are maintained in a data structure. When a wireless external device connects with the host device after a period of disconnection, the emulated port number associated with the wireless external device is identified. The virtual port number is provided to a software component in the host device so that the external device can resume interaction with software components in the host device across enumerations. In one example implementation, the virtual USB port numbers are provided to a plug and play manager, which handles the wireless USB devices in a manner similar to wired USB devices.
US07685318B2 Electronic device and control method thereof
In a device having a capability of using time data acquired from an external time information generator, a notification unit notifies a user of time information. The notification unit also notifies the user whether the notified time information is based on time data acquired from the external time information generator. Processing performed by the device is restricted depending on a status associated with time information. Although some types of processing are allowed when the device is in a status in which the time information is based on the time data acquired from the external time information generator, the same type of processing are disabled when the device is in any other status associated with time information.
US07685314B2 System integration system and method
The present invention provides a system and method that facilitates system integration through standardized messages. In one embodiment, standardized-message processing is enabled through the configuration of internal and external integration objects through a user interface.
US07685313B1 Universal conversion server
A method and system for re-formatting computer files. The method comprises the steps of inputting a data file into a computer, and determining if the data file is compatible with the computer. If the data file is not compatible with the computer, the data file is transmitted over the Internet to a universal server; and the universal server transforms the data file into a format compatible with the computer, and sends the transformed data file back to the computer. Preferably, the universal server identifies the type of file, and transforms the file into a different format of the same type. Also, in a preferred embodiment, a user of the computer identifies user requirements, these requirements are transmitted to the universal server, and the file is reformatted in accordance with the user requirements.
US07685311B2 Geo-intelligent traffic reporter
A traffic reporter gathers real-time information on traffic conditions within a network and sends out traffic reports to traffic managers. The traffic reporter analyzes the network and also gathers network information from the traffic managers and analyzers dispersed throughout the network. These traffic reports provide real-time information on network conditions to allow the traffic managers to route network traffic in the most efficient, reliable, and fastest manner.
US07685307B2 Method and apparatus for binding transceivers of telematic devices
A method and apparatus for binding a first wireless communication unit installed on a first asset and a second wireless communication unit installed on a second asset, wherein the first asset is connected to the second asset by electrical power lines. The method and system can be used for binding a wireless communication unit of a tractor and a wireless communication unit on a trailer. The method monitors the current in the auxiliary power connection between the assets. By transmitting and detecting power pulses through the auxiliary power line, the wireless communication units can ensure that the two assets are attached and therefore it would be proper to establish a wireless connection between the two wireless communication units. The number of power pulses can be used to identify differing devices. Such method can also be used to detect an open fuse or circuit breaker. In the case of an open fuse, voltages can be used in place of power pulses to complete the binding process.
US07685304B2 Web services multi-protocol support
A solution is provided wherein a single service implementation may be exposed to users as two or more different web service protocols. The service then appears to the user to be utilizing a desired protocol even though the service itself is potentially operating under a different protocol. A gateway may be utilized that maintains mappings between the supported protocols. When a user sends a request to a particular service, the gateway may determine whether the request is in the format of the protocol utilized by the underlying web service. If not, the gateway may convert the format to match the correct protocol. An embodiment is also possible where a single endpoint is utilized for multiple services having multiple protocols. This may be coupled with an ability to detect a protocol automatically from request contents, thus seamlessly integrating multiple protocols into a user's experience.
US07685296B2 Systems and methods for client-based web crawling
The present invention provides systems and methods for obtaining information from a networked system utilizing a distributed web crawler. The distributed nature of clients of a server is leveraged to provide fast and accurate web crawling data. Information gathered by a server's web crawler is compared to data retrieved by clients of the server to update the crawler's data. In one instance of the present invention, data comparison is achieved by utilizing information disseminated via a search engine results page. In another instance of the present invention, data validation is accomplished by client dictionaries, emanating from a server, that summarize web crawler data. The present invention also facilitates data analysis by providing a means to resist spoofing of a web crawler to increase data accuracy.
US07685294B2 Querying ASAP policy systems
Methods and devices for querying any-service-any-port policy systems. A method for a network device to route calls using policy considerations receives a call request associated with a call and queries a policy system to determine if the network can accept the call. A message is then generated that includes a response to the request.
US07685290B2 Method and apparatus for handling SCTP multi-homed connections
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reliably handling Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) multi-homed connections across multiple translation (e.g., NAT devices), such that messages sent between endpoints, which include one or more multi-homed devices, reach their intended destination. In one embodiment, a method for handling SCTP multi-homed connections across multiple translation devices is disclosed. When an SCTP association between two hosts is being established through a particular translation device, multi-homing information for one or both of the hosts is communicated from the particular translation device to one or more other translation devices which are associated with the particular translation device. This is done so that the one or more other translation devices can store the received multi-homing information and when data is received at the one or more translation devices for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, the data is then caused to be sent to its intended destination based on the stored multi-homing information. The multi-homing information is also stored for the particular translation device. When data is received at the particular translation device for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, the data is caused to be sent to its intended destination based on the multi-homing information.
US07685288B2 Ad-hoc service discovery protocol
An ad-hoc discovery protocol improves reliability, security and scalability of multicast and server-based discovery. In switching from multicast to server-based discovery, the discovery client is made responsible for multicast suppression, and not discoverable devices with services. Messages include message identifier and time-to-live parameters to detect recast queries and avoid duplicating replies. A device's announcement message includes endpoint identifier, configuration number and stateless boot time parameters to detect changed device configuration and rebooted state for refreshing cached device and service descriptions. Paging parameters allow a discovery client to control the number of discovery responses returned at a time from a discovery server.
US07685287B2 Method and system for layering an infinite request/reply data stream on finite, unidirectional, time-limited transports
An improved method and system for layering RPC communications on top of an HTTP transport. An RPC data stream of individual request/reply packets is mapped to HTTP primitives, and RPC requests are mapped to one large, HTTP, POST-like request (IN channel). Corresponding replies are mapped to another large, HTTP, GET-like request (OUT channel). The client establishes the IN channel and OUT channel as simultaneously open connections with a large content-length for each. Before the content-length is exhausted, the client and server open a new IN or OUT channel while the corresponding channel is still alive, so that there is always at least one opened IN or OUT channel available. If traffic is too infrequent, the client keeps the connection alive so that it will not be closed for being idle. This provides a bi-directional virtual connection that remains open for an unlimited time for tunneling unlimited amounts of RPC traffic.
US07685286B2 Network scoring system and method
A client may be configured to access a network by identifying a network bandwidth configuration setting to be used by the client in accessing a networked content source, enabling the client to access the content source using the network bandwidth configuration setting, monitoring client access to the content source, comparing client access metrics to metrics associated with the network bandwidth configuration setting, determining, based on the comparison, whether to adjust the network bandwidth configuration settings for the client, and adjusting the network bandwidth configuration setting if appropriate.
US07685285B2 Method and apparatus for managing executions of a management program within a data processing system
A management apparatus for managing executions of a management program within an information processing apparatus is disclosed. The management apparatus includes a use state acquisition means, an index value recording means, a time band selection means, and a program execution instruction means. After acquiring a use state of the information processing apparatus, the use state acquisition means quantifies the acquired use state into an index value. The index value recording means then records the index value for a time band. The time band selection means selects a time band where an index value indicates that the information processing apparatus has not been used at or above a predetermined reference rate. The program execution instruction means causes the management program to be executed on the information processing apparatus at the scheduled time band selected by the time band selection means.
US07685281B1 Programmatic instantiation, provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers
A system is taught in which a module having processing elements can access network and storage interfaces that are external to the module of the processing elements as though those interfaces were located internal to the module of the processing elements. The system may be operated as one or more provisioned servers, each of the provisioned servers including capabilities as identified by a corresponding set of specifications and attributes, according to various embodiments. Typically the specifications (or constraints) and attributes are specified with a Server Configuration File. An Enterprise Server system may be provisioned into any combination and number of servers according to needed processing and I/O capabilities. Each of these servers may include distinct compute, storage, and networking performance. Provisioned servers may be managed similar to conventional servers, including operations such as boot and shutting down.
US07685279B2 Geo-location and geo-compliance utilizing a client agent
A system includes an interface to receive network geolocation information associated with a first party to a network session between the first entity and a second entity, coupled via a network. The network geolocation information is determined utilizing a network address of the first entity. The system further includes a decision logic module to obtain supplemental information concerning the first entity by harvesting the supplemental information locally at the first entity. The decision logic module is further to generate an assessment regarding compliance with a geolocation policy defined in connection with access to the second entity, the assessment being generated utilizing the network geolocation information and the supplemental information.
US07685278B2 Adapting Bayesian network parameters on-line in a dynamic environment
A method for adapting a Bayesian network includes determining a set of parameters for the Bayesian network, for example, initial parameters, and then updating the parameters in response to a set of observation data using an adaptive learning rate. The adaptive learning rate responds to any changes in the underlying modeled environment using minimal observation data.
US07685271B1 Distributed platform for testing filtering rules
A distributed testing platform tests network traffic filtering rules. A control point receives a network traffic filtering rule and test parameters describing how to test the rule. The control point distributes the rule and parameters to a plurality of testing nodes. The testing nodes are located on a network at locations where they receive a variety of different network traffic. The testing nodes test the rule against traffic received by the nodes according to the test parameters. The traffic can include real-time traffic and corpora of traffic designed to test different types of rules. The testing nodes return test results describing the testing to the control point. The control point analyzes the test results to determine the accuracy and performance of the rule.
US07685269B1 Service-level monitoring for storage applications
Embodiments of a system and method for providing service-level monitoring for applications in SANs. Embodiments may identify what applications are running on which hosts in a SAN, automatically identify which paths the applications use through the storage infrastructure to reach their storage, and may monitor SAN components of the paths. One embodiment may provide a task group monitor that monitors groups of SAN components and reports problems detected on group members at the application level. Embodiments may proactively monitor SAN infrastructure including the hardware and/or software components of storage, hosts, fabric, etc. needed for scheduled application tasks such as backup tasks and may alert the operator when problems are detected. Thus, embodiments correlate detected infrastructure problems directly to the applications that are affected, allowing these problems to be addressed at the application level, and prior to scheduled execution of tasks. One embodiment may be implemented in a SAN management system.
US07685265B1 Topic-based notification service
Methods and systems for managing notifications. A web service embodying aspects of the invention is responsive to requests structured according to an extensible messaging framework and extracts request information, including at least a content provider identifier and a topic identifier, from the request to execute a selected notification management function.
US07685262B2 Method and system for transfer of imaging protocols and procedures
A technique is provided for sharing clinical protocols for diagnostic imaging systems. The clinical protocols generally represent operational parameters, such as configuration data and procedures, which are clinically developed for a particular imaging diagnosis. An interface or access point, such as a network accessible database or website, is provided to facilitate the exchange of these clinical protocols between clinicians. The present technique also may facilitate the formation of new clinical protocols and/or the integration of new clinical protocols into various diagnostic imaging systems. Accordingly, clinicians can electronically exchange and configure a variety of imaging protocols for potentially greater quality in the particular imaging diagnosis.
US07685261B1 Extensible architecture for the centralized discovery and management of heterogeneous SAN components
An extensible architecture for centralized discovery and management of heterogeneous Storage Area Network (SAN) components. A SAN management server may be provided for communicating with the heterogeneous SAN components to perform centralized discovery and management of the SAN. The server may manage a data repository for storing data objects representing the components of the SAN. The SAN management server may include one or more explorers for communicating with SAN components to perform one or more discovery or management operations. Each explorer may be added to the system as a separate module. The SAN management server may receive SAN management commands and select and sequence one or more of the explorers to perform one or more SAN component discovery or management operations. The SAN management server may convert data obtained from the heterogeneous SAN components into a common data model.
US07685253B1 System and method for disconnected operation of thin-client applications
System and method for disconnected operation of thin-client applications. In embodiments, a thin client on a client system may be used to access an application on a server via a network. Prior to the thin client disconnecting from the application, a version of the application including at least a portion of the application logic of the application may be downloaded to the client system to be accessed using the thin client during disconnected operation of the client system. After reconnection of the thin client to the application, changes made, if any, to application data on the client system may be integrated into the application data on the server.
US07685239B2 Image communication apparatus, image communication method, and memory medium
In an Internet facsimile apparatus, it is an object of the invention to provide means for notifying the user of details of a message disposition notification situation (MDN) of a transmission image. When E-mail data is sent, an MDN for E-mail to be sent is requested and communication management information of the sent E-mail is updated on the basis of a reception result of reply E-mail responsive to the MDN request.
US07685238B2 Privacy protection on application sharing and data projector connectivity
Privacy protection of data content is provided by identifying one or more applications running on a suitably configured device, and marking each of the applications to indicate that a respective one of the applications is permitted or not permitted to issue messages in an all share public mode. The data content of such messages is hidden from public view in response to the application not having the requisite permission to issue messages in the all share public mode. A computer program and mobile terminal device for providing privacy protection of data content are also presented.
US07685231B2 Member activation
A method and system are herein disclosed for registering a member at a targeted web-based information management system using a reduced amount of member and system interaction to confirm and establish the member's contact information. Generally, the method may communicate permission to solicit a potential member to the information management system. In one embodiment, the member previously communicated permission to receive solicitations from other systems to another web-based information management system. The method may communicate the permission from another web-based system to the present system. The permission may include member identification and/or demographic data. The method may communicate a solicitation message from the system to the member, the solicitation message comprising at least a portion of the member identification data. The member may then communicate a confirmation message to the targeted web-based information management system, wherein the confirmation message is in reply to the solicitation message and includes the portion of the member identification data. Using the confirmation, the system may then match the portion of the member identification data from the confirmation message to the portion of the member identification data from the confirmation message.
US07685229B1 System and method for displaying server side code results in an application program
A system and method allows a user to view server side code results on a computer system by storing source code for a web page on the server, retrieving the web page from the server, associating the server side code results with the server side code that caused the server to produce them, and displaying the server side code results, for example in place of the server side code. The operation of the method and system may be periodically repeated to incorporate updates to the server side code results. The user may graphically adjust characteristics of the server side code results, and if the user so adjusts them, the system and method adjusts the source code for the web page consistent with the adjustments made by the user.
US07685222B2 Power of two multiplication engine
A multiplication engine is described in which a decision threshold engine utilizes a Y-adder powers of two shift table to iteratively generate shift-add combinations. The shift-add combinations are output in a sequence with decreasing levels of contribution wherein the accuracy of the associated multiplication increases up to any desired level of accuracy to meet the requirements of the application. The multiplication engine can be used for generating the combinations either statically or dynamically. One embodiment describes a Y-adder hardware slider table engine in which the shift table is implemented with shifters and adders that can be set for active state or pass through state, and selectively summed to generate a product result directly from the table without the need to combine shift and add hardware.
US07685219B2 Parallel systolic CORDIC algorithm with reduced latency for unitary transform of complex matrices and application to MIMO detection
Various embodiments include a parallel coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) technique, according to which multiple elements in a vector representing a received multiple input multiple output (MIMO) signal may be processed in parallel. The result is a reduction in the computational complexity of the MIMO detection technique as measured by the required resources and the latency. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07685216B2 Automatic input error recovery circuit and method for recursive digital filters
Recursive digital filter circuitry which avoids persistent unstable conditions therein provides a serial clock signal, a synchronization signal, and a serial data input to corresponding inputs of a 3-wire serial interface circuit to produce a serial clock output signal, a synchronization output signal, and a parallel data output signal which are applied to corresponding inputs of a recursive digital filter. The serial clock signal and the synchronization signal are input to an auto-reset circuit which detects a fault associated with the synchronization signal or the serial clock signal and produces a reset signal in response to detection of the fault for resetting the recursive digital filter.
US07685214B2 Order-preserving encoding formats of floating-point decimal numbers for efficient value comparison
A method for conversion between a decimal floating-point number and an order-preserving format has been disclosed. The method encodes numbers in the decimal floating-point format into a format which preserves value ordering. This encoding allows for fast and direct string comparison of two values. Such an encoding provides normalized representations for decimal floating-point numbers and supports type-insensitive comparisons. Type-insensitive comparisons are often used in database management systems, where the data type is not specified for values to compare. In addition, the original decimal floating-point format can be recovered from the order-preserving format.
US07685213B2 Conversion of floating-point numbers from binary into string format
A method, system, and computer program product that convert a real number from a floating point representation to a character string. Mantissa bits are extracted from the floating-point representation of a value into an integer format. The mantissa bits of the integer format may be shifted left by a number of positions that is equal to a base 2 exponent of a first representation of the value. Prior to converting the value, the floating-point representation of the value can be divided by 2n, where n is the number of the mantissa bits in the floating-point representation of the value. A set of operations can then be performed to convert a result of the division to a number greater than or equal to 1.0 and less than 10.0. The set of operations may include multiplication operations and/or retrieving a constant from a lookup table.
US07685211B2 Deterministic file content generation of seed-based files
A method for deterministic file content generation of seed based files is comprised of extracting a seed value from a seeded file signature, passing the seed value to a seeded content generating function to produce a set of generated content, and appending the set of generated content to the seed file signature to produce a seed-based file. A delta offset may also be included in the seeded file signature, the delta offset indicating where modified content is to be substituted within the generated content.
US07685210B2 Media discovery and curation of playlists
A media player monitors user playback control actions, such as skip commands, during a playback experience associated with a playlist. Based on these actions, the media player sets one or more media files to an inactive state. The media player defines a subgroup, or modified playlist excluding the inactive media files for further processing.
US07685209B1 Apparatus and method for normalizing user-selected keywords in a folksonomy
An annotation method for annotating content includes displaying a set of suggested keywords on an editing interface page configured to receive one or more annotations for the content. A request is received via the editing interface page to annotate the content with at least one keyword from the set of suggested keywords. Association information is generated that associates the at least one keyword with the content.
US07685206B1 Authorization and access control service for distributed network resources
Providing access to a resource via authorization data that conditionally defines the access by an expression that identifies the resource by name and by at least one property of the resource. An authorization service issues the authorization data (e.g., as a token) and evaluating authorization data received from a client. The authorization service evaluates the expression in the authorization data to identify the resource and determine the rights associated with the user for the resource. The authorization service implements role-based access control to control access to resources in a distributed, multi-site network.
US07685204B2 System and method for enhanced media distribution
A method and a computer readable medium for searching for media items from a network of users using a media management application and an instant messenger platform and a system for handling searches such searches. In one aspect, the method comprises receiving from a user having a group of messenger friends, a search request for a media item, identifying other users of the instant messaging service to form a list of candidate users, searching media items associated with each candidate user to develop a search result that fulfills the search request, and returning to the searching user the search result comprising information identifying which candidate user is associated with a media item source that can act as a source of a media item identified in the search result.
US07685200B2 Ranking and suggesting candidate objects
A method of ranking and suggesting objects, such as tags, is described in which a group of objects are suggested to a user in relation to a particular information object, such as a web page or file. A user either selects one of the suggestions or enters an alternative object and on receipt of data identifying the particular object selected by the user, the group of suggestions is updated based on whether the object selected by the user was one of the suggestions or not. The updating of the group may also be based on other factors, such as ranking parameters associated with each of the objects.
US07685199B2 Presenting information related to topics extracted from event classes
An information dissemination system provides users information related to topics extracted from event classes. Event classes can generally be thought of as scripts that specify topics and actions for obtaining information related to the topics. The event classes are executed to obtain information related to the particular event class. The information dissemination system identifies a user event that is of interest to a user. The information dissemination system then identifies an event class that corresponds to the user event. The information dissemination system then performs the actions specified for the event class, obtains the action results, and renders the action results to the user.
US07685193B2 Database system with multiple processing nodes
A method and apparatus are provided for distributing a database join operation across a plurality of processing nodes. The database join operation is performed between a first table having M1 rows and a second table have M2 rows and involves forming M1×M2 combinations of rows from the first and second tables. The method includes allocating across the plurality of processing nodes the M1×M2 combinations of rows from the first and second tables. Each of the M1×M2 combinations is present on one of the nodes, and each node stores combinations corresponding to a subset of the M1 rows from the first table and a subset of the M2 rows from the second table. The method further comprises performing for each processing node the join operation in respect of all combinations of rows allocated to that processing node and collating results across all the processing nodes to complete the join operation.
US07685192B1 Method and system for displaying interest space user communities
A method and system for displaying interest space user communities. A method may include detecting a request to access a given online content source, where the request is generated on behalf of a given user, where the given online content source is one of a number of online content sources included within an interest space, and where the interest space is identified dependent upon indications of user navigation activity among the online content sources. The method may further include displaying to the given user a representation of the interest space in response to detecting the request, where the representation includes respective indications of at least a subset of the content sources included within the interest space, and for a given content source within the subset, displaying to the given user respective indications of users on whose behalf a respective previously-generated request to access the given content source has been detected.
US07685191B1 Selection of advertisements to present on a web page or other destination based on search activities of users who selected the destination
A tracking system passively tracks and records searches conducted by actual search engine users. The recorded data for each search event preferably includes the search query submitted, the search engine used, the search result item (e.g., web page) selected, the position (e.g., page number) of this item, and the user's IP address. The collected data is aggregated and analyzed to generate data regarding the search queries used to locate and access particular destinations (e.g., web pages and sites). This data may be used for various purposes, such as (1) to, generate reports showing, e.g., how users reach a particular destination from different search engines and geographic locations, (2) to select content to display on a destination page, such that the content is relevant to search queries commonly used to locate that page, and (3) to update the database of one search engine to reflect searches conducted on other search engines.
US07685189B2 Optimizing backup and recovery utilizing change tracking
Application data associated with an application program located on a storage device is restored utilizing tracked changed blocks of the storage device. The changed blocks of the storage device are tracked as the application program modifies the application data. When a system failure has occurred, file change data is generated for each file of the application data as a function of tracked changed clocks of the storage device and file system metadata of the storage device. Additionally, a file difference record for each changed file is generated to indicate changes between the application data and the last backup. The file difference record is applied to the application data such that application data corresponds to the state of last backup.
US07685186B2 Optimized and robust in-place data transformation
In-place data transformations are performed on file data by moving data blocks from a source file into a temporary file and then from the temporary file into a destination file each time in a back to front fashion enabling truncation of the source file while the temporary file is being expanded and written into. Similar read, write, and truncate operations are performed between the temporary and destination files as well resulting in optimized use of available disk and/or memory space. An initial log file with information such as source file name, size, transformation type and direction is generated for recovery from a mid-transaction interruption. Based on a state (truncation, data content) of the temporary and source files, a status of data transfer prior to interruption is determined and remaining data transferred.
US07685184B2 View maintenance on multiple tables located in different software components with the same primary keys
A method performed by a processor allows an individual to update or maintain a database including a core and an extension. The core contains core tables including general data and the extension contains extension tables including specific data. The core tables and the extension tables have the same primary keys and the specific data are an extension of the general data. The method includes receiving an input from the individual for modifying the database, modifying the core using the received input, and automatically modifying the extension to reflect the modifying of the core.
US07685182B2 Interleaved garbage collections
An automated memory management or garbage collection routine uses a first garbage collection routine to perform garbage collection on new objects, and a second garbage collection routine to perform garbage collection on old objects. The two garbage collection routines are operated concurrently, with each routine separately marking objects to be reclaimed. The second routine may operate in a background mode by traversing a tree of objects from a copy of memory, while the first routine may operate on actual memory.
US07685180B2 System and article of manufacture for transparent file restore
Provided is a system and program for automatically handling an error when retrieving a file for an application. An error is detected while the application retrieves a file from the storage device. A user defined policy is checked to determine whether a backup copy should be restored, and the file is restored from the backup copy if the user defined policy indicates that the backup copy should be used.
US07685174B2 Automatic regeneration of computer files
A method for regenerating computer files on a computer system having a computer with an operating system, the method includes receiving an input from a user to specify monitored files, detecting modification of at least one of the monitored files, and replacing the at least one modified monitored file with a backup copy of the at least one modified monitored file.
US07685172B2 In-flight file descriptors checkpoint
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for enabling the restoration of in-flight file descriptors during a checkpoint operation. Responsive to a checkpoint operation being initiated on a process in a workload partition, in-flight file pointers in an in-flight file queue on a socket bound to the process are identified. A file descriptor is instantiated in the process file table of the process for each identified in-flight file pointer in the in-flight file queue. After completion of the checkpoint operation, the in-flight file queue on the socket may be reconstructed in a restore operation using the instantiated file descriptors.
US07685171B1 Techniques for performing a restoration operation using device scanning
Described are techniques for performing restoration processing for a data segment. A list of tokens is received. The list represents a first data state of said data segment. Each of the tokens correspond to a data portion of said data segment. Data portions of the data segment are scanned. A token is determined for each data portion. The token represents the data currently stored in said data segment at said each data portion. For each data portion of said data segment, it is determined whether a first token from said list associated with said each data portion is different from a second token associated with said each data portion. The second token is determined as part of said scanning and corresponds to data currently stored at said each data portion. Each data portion of the data segment determined to have a first token that is different from a second token representing data currently stored at said each data portion is restored.
US07685170B2 Journaling database queries for database replication
A database journal mechanism stores both row operations and database queries in a database journal. The database queries in the journal provide significant additional information that may be used in a number of different ways. For example, a database replication send mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiments could read a database query in the journal and determine that the query affects several rows. The database replication send mechanism could then transmit the database query to the computer system that hosts the replicated database. A database replication receive mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiments receives the database query, and executes the database query on the replicated database. As a result, the transmission of a single database query can replace the transmission of many row operations.
US07685169B2 Multiple concurrent active file systems
Maintenance of plural active file systems, wherein each of the active file systems initially access data shared with another of the active file systems, and wherein changes made to each of the active file systems are not reflected in other active file systems. When a second active file system is created based on a first active file system, the first active file system and the second active file system initially share data. When changes are made to the first active file system, modified data is recorded in the first active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system. When changes are made to the second active file system, modified data is recorded in the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the first active file system. Also, creation of the plural active file systems.
US07685165B2 Policy based resource management for legacy data
A policy-based resource management system provides an infrastructure that uses high-level definitions of data-types along with desired policy rules to manage legacy data. In particular, relevant legacy data is identified as well as the characteristics of storage devices where the legacy data resides. The storage management system determines what if any of the legacy data is stored in a manner that is non-compliant with the policy rules and corrects any violations. It generates corrective action plans, and then uses existing data migration software to migrate the data. Accordingly, the legacy data may be managed in a policy-based manner without requiring typical storage management software.
US07685164B2 Low overhead methods and apparatus for shared access storage devices
Provided are implementations for improved access to information stored on a storage device. A plurality of first nodes and a second node are coupled to one another over a communications pathway, the second node being coupled to the storage device for determining meta data including block address maps to file data in the storage device, and the first nodes being configured for accessing file data from the storage device using said meta data, wherein at least one first node caches data including meta data for a file accessed by said first node. A file application on said first node is configured to get requested file data by accessing said cached data for the file. A file notification system sends a file change notification to said first node indicating changes affecting the cached data, wherein the file application on the first node inspects the change notification to determine whether to get the requested file data directly using said cached data, whereby file accesses may be effected for an extended time with data locally cached at first nodes of the system.
US07685162B2 Method and device for adjusting user-dependent parameter values
A method and device for adjusting user-dependent parameter values in or on at least one automotive device in a motor vehicle and for saving the settings in at least one data memory inside the vehicle and/or outside the vehicle are provided. To improve the convenience of the known method with one or more main users and one more temporary users, there is a query in a first step to ascertain whether the user-dependent parameter values currently set are to be saved as temporary parameter values or as quasi-permanent parameter values in the at least one data memory inside the vehicle and/or outside the vehicle. In a second step, the user-dependent parameter values currently set are saved in accordance with the response to the inquiry, and in a third step, regardless of the result of the inquiry, the quasi-permanent parameter values are always set.
US07685161B2 Methods, data structures, and systems for processing media data streams
Methods, media data structures, and systems are provided for compressing, streaming, and playing media data. Data sections for frames of media data are compared, and similar data sections are stored once in a compressed media data. A meta data structure maps each similar data section in the compressed media data to its appropriate frame in the media data. A media player that is self-loading and executing is transmitted to a recipient. In one embodiment, the media player detects a network data transmission rate and configures accordingly. Next, the media player requests the meta data structure and the compressed media data and automatically begins receiving, decompressing, and playing the frames of the media data.
US07685152B2 Method and apparatus for loading data from a spreadsheet to a relational database table
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for transferring data from a specified spreadsheet, having a name, rows and colunms, to a relational database table. The method includes the steps of receiving the spreadsheet at a given location, assigning a name to the relational database table that is derived from the spreadsheet name, and creating names for colunms of the table from the contents of a first row of the spreadsheet. Data types for respective colunms of the table are derived from the contents of a second row of the spreadsheet. After creation of the table, data is loaded into locations of the table from respectively corresponding cells of the specified spreadsheet.
US07685144B1 Dynamically autocompleting a data entry
Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating and maintaining personal data, such as an address book, a financial portfolio, a discussion groups or blogs book, or other types of personal data stores, based on a person's structured search data and/or usage data (e.g., browsing) and/or other sources of personal data (e.g., emails the user receives). Related metadata can also be used in the generating and/or maintaining of the personal data. Dynamic personal data ranking and/or autocomplete functions are also provided, which can be used in conjunction with the automatic generation and maintenance of the user's personal data, to further ease the user's burden in managing and/or handling such data.
US07685143B2 Unified logging service for distributed applications
A unified logging service is provided which may be employed across a variety of applications, allowing collected information to be stored, aggregated, and accumulated; presenting a more complete view, than previously available, related to those applications. The unified logging service provides a generalized centralized web services based service with the capability of accepting and collecting a variety of log formats containing a variety of logged events. These events may originate from clients using differing log formats or types in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. Acknowledgement of receipt of log files may be provided to the originating clients. A log routing capability is also provided as well as a central repository for storing and forwarding log messages flowing throughout the system. These services may be accessed locally or remotely via published web services interfaces.
US07685142B2 Directory services system and methods with mapping in database tables
A method and apparatus for addressing problems associated with the implementation of directory services, such as X.500 and LDAP, in a SQL environment, particularly problems associated with interrogating database provided to implement directory services in the SQL environment. According to the disclosed method and apparatus, the system is based on the use of tables that may be arranged to have a plurality of columns, so that they support a variety of functions in order to implement directory services, such as X.500 and LDAP. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of creating one or more SQL commands corresponding to a directory service. In another aspect, the present invention provides a many examples of tables and their function. Many examples of an implementation of directory services using SQL based technology are disclosed.
US07685133B2 System and method for automated discovery, binding, and integration of non-registered geospatial web services
A method and computer system for identifying internet web pages containing documents that comply with a predetermined XML schema. The method includes searching the internet with a search engine for web pages using initial search terms and identifying a first set of HTTP URLs, web crawling at least the first set of HTTP URLs to identify additional HTTP URLs, appending a query to the identified URLs, and evaluating the responses to the query to determine which responses comply with the predetermined XML schema. The XML schema can be a Web Mapping Services schema. The system can store responses that comply with the XML schema in a database of servers, periodically check the database for validity, and convert the map requests for map servers in the database to a GIDB Portal Interface API.
US07685130B2 Searching for services in natural language
A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.
US07685125B2 Proving relationships between data
A method for a provider to provide and prove an association between a first data value A and a second data value B, including: computing evidence E of the form E=H(A∥B)k*(p−1)/q modρ, where H is a secure hash function, E is an evidence of an association between A and B; ensuring that the verifier has A, B and E; and running an interactive proof with the verifier to convince the verifier that the evidence is valid and that the provider knows the value of k without disclosing the value of k to the verifier.
US07685123B1 Method and system for controlling access to dynamically specified resources
In an RBAC system, a capability is defined as including an operation and an object on which the operation is to be performed. The capability is assigned to a role, which is in turn assigned to a user. Then the user will have the authorization to perform the operation on the object. Rather than specifying the object by predetermining the identity of the object, an expression (e.g., a regular expression, a query, etc.) may be specified in place of the predetermined object. In response to a request initiated by a user, the expression is then evaluated to determine the identity of the object(s) on which the operation may be performed.
US07685116B2 Transparent search query processing
A method and system for transparently processing a search query by displaying a search query interpretation or restatement inside a search box. Upon receiving a natural language input from a user, the method converts the natural language input to a search query interpretation of the natural language input. Then, the method displays the search query interpretation to the user inside a search box, executes a search based on the search query interpretation and displays a search result to the user. The system includes a user interface to receive a search query input from a user, a restatement engine to convert the search query input into a search query interpretation, a search box to display the search query interpretation to the user, and an execution engine to execute a search based on the search query interpretation and provide a search result for display to the user.
US07685115B2 Method for classifying private data using secure classifiers
A computer implemented method classifies securely a private query sample using exact k-nn classification. A secure dot product protocol is applied to determine securely distances between a private query sample and a plurality of private labeled samples. A secure k-rank protocol is applied to the distances to determine a nearest distance of a kth nearest labeled sample having a particular label. Then, a secure Parzen protocol is applied to the nearest distance to label the private query sample according to the particular label.
US07685113B2 Demand breakout for a supply chain
A system for demand breakout for a supply chain includes a memory operable to store a plurality of orders for at least one product. Each product may be produced using at least one precursor. The memory is also operable to store a production schedule identifying one or more resources in the supply chain, a quantity of each product and precursor scheduled to be produced by the resources, and a time period associated with production of each product and precursor. The system also includes one or more processors collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of the product that correspond to each product order. The one or more processors are also collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of one or more precursors that correspond to each product order.
US07685111B2 Information management device, information management system, and computer usable medium
One identification information piece to identify one data correlated with another data can be output as being correlated with the another data. In addition, when the one data is displayed or printed on the basis of the output one identification information piece or when another data associated with the one data is searched out, a score is given to the correlation of the one data with the another data and the one data correlated with the another data is preferentially output in accordance with the score.
US07685108B2 System and method for geocoding diverse address formats
A method and system for providing geocodes in response to complete or partial address information is disclosed. The disclosure teaches embodiments that are naturally upgraded to integrate changing spatial information due to addition of countries, better data, political changes, and other similar changes in geographical data. A single geocoding engine is capable of handling the various address formats in use in different countries and jurisdictions. The disclosed embodiments are error tolerant and capable of overcoming many errors due to spelling, variety of languages and formats used to provide and address. The diversity in addresses due to, for instance country-specific formats such as postal-codes are naturally integrated into existing database of geocoding information. Preferably, the embodiments are based on JAVA to allow platform independence and use XML based communication to use networks without requiring excessive resources while providing fast services.
US07685106B2 Sharing of full text index entries across application boundaries
A method and system for sharing full text index entries across application boundaries in which documents are obtained by a shared, platform level indexing service, and a determination is made as to whether the received documents are duplicates with regard to previously indexed documents. If a document is determined to be a duplicate, the index representation of the previously indexed copy of the document is modified to indicate that the document is also associated with another application or context. If a document is not a duplicate of a previously indexed document, the document is indexed to support future searches and/or other processing. The index representation of a document includes application category identifiers associating one or more applications or contexts with the document. When a document is indexed, one or more category identifiers are generated and stored in association with that document. The category identifiers for an indexed document may, for example, represent an application that received, stored, or otherwise processed that document. The application category identifiers enable category specific searching by applications sharing a common search index. A software category filter may be provided to process search results from the shared search index, so that only documents associated with certain categories are returned. Accordingly, one or more search categories may be determined for a given search query, based on an application generating the search query, or some other context information, and then used to filter the search results provided from the shared search index.
US07685103B2 Method, system, and program for predicate processing by iterator functions
Disclosed is a technique for processing predicates in an iterator function. When an iterator function included in a statement is invoked, one or more predicates included in the statement are obtained. The one or more predicates are applied to a row of data. If applying the one or more predicates results in a match, the row of data is returned. If applying the one or more predicates does not result in a match, a search is performed for another row of data for which application of the one or more predicates results in a match. Also disclosed is a technique for processing predicates in which a statement including an iterator function and one or more predicates is received. A qualification descriptor that describes the one or more predicates and one or more functions that are to be used to evaluate the one or more predicates is created. Then, the iterator function is invoked one or more times, until receiving a done indicator from the iterator function.
US07685100B2 Forecasting search queries based on time dependencies
Techniques for analyzing and modeling the frequency of queries are provided by a query analysis system. A query analysis system analyzes frequencies of a query over time to determine whether the query is time-dependent or time-independent. The query analysis system forecasts the frequency of time-dependent queries based on their periodicities. The query analysis system forecasts the frequency of time-independent queries based on causal relationships with other queries. To forecast the frequency of time-independent queries, the query analysis system analyzes the frequency of a query over time to identify significant increases in the frequency, which are referred to as “query events” or “events.” The query analysis system forecasts frequencies of time-independent queries based on queries with events that tend to causally precede events of the query to be forecasted.
US07685099B2 Forecasting time-independent search queries
Techniques for analyzing and modeling the frequency of queries are provided by a query analysis system. A query analysis system analyzes frequencies of a query over time to determine whether the query is time-dependent or time-independent. The query analysis system forecasts the frequency of time-dependent queries based on their periodicities. The query analysis system forecasts the frequency of time-independent queries based on causal relationships with other queries. To forecast the frequency of time-independent queries, the query analysis system analyzes the frequency of a query over time to identify significant increases in the frequency, which are referred to as “query events” or “events.” The query analysis system forecasts frequencies of time-independent queries based on queries with events that tend to causally precede events of the query to be forecasted.
US07685096B2 Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data
A method for turning variable-length file path names into fixed-length object identifiers in a data repository, the method comprising, assigning a fixed-value identifier to a file system in the data repository, computing a first deterministic pseudo-random function that combines a first component of a plurality of file system pathname components associated with a file with the fixed-value identifier, computing a second deterministic pseudo-random function that combines a second component of the plurality of file system pathname components with the result of the first function, and using at least one of the computed deterministic pseudo-random functions to produce a fixed-length object identifier for the file.
US07685095B2 Executing a parallel single cursor model
Techniques are provided for executing database statements, or portions thereof, in parallel without using slave SQL to communicate to each slave the operations to be performed by the slave. Techniques are provided for incorporating within a shared cursor the code fragments that govern both sides of the interaction between a query coordinator (QC) and remotely-located slaves. Further, techniques are provided for the QC to communicate with each slave on how and which portions of the execution plan to execute and when. A state-transition engine for slave execution under the control of the query-coordinator is also provided.
US07685094B2 Common schema for aggregating information exchange requirements
A new approach to aggregating a plurality of information exchange requirements (IERs) into a common schema is disclosed. A device has a digital storage medium that includes a data structure for implementing a plurality of information exchange requirements each having a plurality of attributes. The data structure includes a data portion configured for storing digital data, and an attribute portion distinct from the data portion comprising a plurality of attribute fields, wherein each of the plurality of attribute fields describes an aspect of the digital data corresponding to one of the plurality of attributes associated with at least one of the plurality of information exchange requirements, to thereby implement the common schema.
US07685092B2 Automatic problem-oriented transformation of database performance data
Methods and systems, including computer program products, for monitoring and analyzing a database performance problem stored in a separate performance database with cube-based analysis program tools. The methods and systems include means for detecting one or more performance problems, mapping performance problems to cubes, filling the cubes with performance data collected before, and outputting the filled cubes to an output interface usable to deploy said cubes for cube-based database performance analysis.
US07685088B2 System and method for generating new concepts based on existing ontologies
A system and a method for automatically generating new concepts based on existing ontologies are provided. The system creates new concepts in existing ontologies based on new concept descriptions expressed in a natural language format, and comprises: a normalizer for receiving and parsing the new concept descriptions so as to transform them into normalized one and output them, wherein said normalized concept description includes one or more description part(s) having kernel concepts, said description parts can only contain the terms which can be identified in said existing ontologies, and each of said kernel concept contains a headword and zero or more property(s); and a new concept factory for, based on the normalized description of the new concept, identifying the kernel concepts in each normalized concept description part, and extracting the identified kernel concepts, related properties, and the relations among the kernel concepts for a user to create new concepts according to existing ontologies. Therefore, ontologies will be easier to be managed, reused and expanded, while keeping smaller size and less complexity of the ontologies.
US07685086B2 Method for discovering undeclared and fuzzy rules in databases
A scheme is used to automatically discover algebraic constraints between pairs of columns in relational data. The constraints may be “fuzzy” in that they hold for most, but not all, of the records, and the columns may be in the same table or different tables. The scheme first identifies candidate sets of column value pairs that are likely to satisfy an algebraic constraint. For each candidate, the scheme constructs algebraic constraints by applying statistical histogramming, segmentation, or clustering techniques to samples of column values. In query-optimization mode, the scheme automatically partitions the data into normal and exception records. During subsequent query processing, queries can be modified to incorporate the constraints; the optimizer uses the constraints to identify new, more efficient access paths. The results are then combined with the results of executing the original query against the (small) set of exception records.
US07685083B2 System and method for managing knowledge
An intelligence system is provided that is comprised of several basic components: a system for converting incoming unstructured data into a well described normalized form supported by a dedicated ‘mining’ language tied intimately to a system ontology; a system for accessing and manipulating data held in memory or in persistent storage in its normalized binary form; an ‘ontology’ that represents and contains the items and fields necessary for the target system to perform its function; a memory system tied to the ontology; a memory management system for splitting incoming data into those portions to be directed to each container; a query system for querying each container to retrieve portions of composite objects; a UI to display and interact with data within the system; a memory system that forms collections of datums and enables manipulation and exchange of these collections both within the local machine as well as across the network.
US07685081B2 Bipedal walking simulation
An artificial multiped is constructed (either in simulation or embodied) in such a way that its natural body dynamics allow the lower part of each leg to swing naturally under the influence of gravity. The upper part of each leg is actively actuated in the sagittal plane. The necessary input to drive the above-mentioned actuators is derived from a neural network controller. The latter is arranged as two bi-directionally coupled chains of neural oscillators, the number of which equals twice that of the legs to be actuated. Parameter optimisation of the controllers is achieved by evolutionary computation in the form of a genetic algorithm.
US07685079B2 Methods for evaluating robustness of solutions to constraint problems
Methods for evaluating robustness of solutions to constraint problems include: (a) determining one or more inputs for the constraint problem; (b) determining bias, uncertainty, or bias and uncertainty of the one or more inputs; (c) randomly perturbating at least one of the one or more inputs based on the bias, uncertainty, or bias and uncertainty of the one or more inputs to determine one or more modified inputs; (d) generating a solution to the constraint problem based on the one or more modified inputs; (e) storing the solution; (f) repeating (c) through (e) until multiple solutions are stored; and/or (g) determining the robustness of the stored multiple solutions by comparison of the stored multiple solutions to each other. The one or more modified inputs include the randomly perturbated input or inputs and/or the non-perturbated input or inputs.
US07685078B2 Method and appartus for using B measures to learn balanced relevance functions from expert and user judgments
The present invention relates to systems and methods for determining a content item relevance function. The method comprises collecting user preference data at a search provider for storage in a user preference data store and collecting expert-judgment data at the search provider for storage in an expert sample data store. A modeling module trains a base model through the use of the expert-judgment data and tunes the base model through the use of the user preference data to learn a set of one or more tuned models. A measure (B measure) is designed to evaluate the balanced performance of tuned model over expert judgment and user preference. The modeling module generates or selects the content item relevance function from the tuned models with B measure as the selection criterion.
US07685074B2 Data mining of user activity data to identify related items in an electronic catalog
Various methods are disclosed for monitoring user browsing activities that indicate user interests in particular products, or other items, represented in an electronic catalog, and for using such information to identify items that are related to one another. In one embodiment, relationships between items within an electronic catalog are determined by identifying items that are frequently viewed by users within the same browsing session (e.g., items A and B are related because a significant portion of those who viewed A also viewed B). The resulting item relatedness data may be stored in a table that maps items to sets of related items. The table may be used to provide personalized item recommendations to users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of the electronic catalog with lists of related items. In one embodiment, the table is used to provide session-specific item recommendations to users.
US07685071B2 Mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal moves and backs up a content, which was downloaded from a content server, to a personal computer. When the mobile communication terminal receives an encryption key generation request from the personal computer via a cable, the mobile communication terminal extracts information to be used for generating the encryption key and generates the encryption key by using the extracted information and own telephone number. And the generated encryption key is transmitted to the personal computer via the cable. Accordingly, the backed up and moved content can be reproduced with the personal computer.
US07685068B2 Arrangement and method for tele-commerce with client profiles
A system with a transaction operator processor (1) for supporting a business transaction, the business transaction, including at least receiving an order from a communication device (7(j)) of a client, and arranging for an automatic payment transaction associated with said business transaction from a client account to a merchant account; the system has at least one client service provider processor (5(i)) provided with a memory storing client profile data necessary for the business transaction and arranged to communicate the client profile data to the transaction operator processor (1) during the business transaction, the transaction operator processor (1) performing the business transaction upon receipt of the client profile data.
US07685067B1 Computer-assisted funds transfer system
A payment request associated with a transfer of funds is received and a risk management assessment for both sides thereof is performed. If the risk management assessment procedure produces an adverse indication, the payment request is declined. Otherwise, the payment request may be processed for delivery of a payment associated therewith. The risk management assessment may be performed on the basis of credit/authentication information derived from customer information received with (or even prior to) the payment request. Such customer information may include credit card account information and/or bank account information (e.g., checking account) information. In some cases, the risk management assessment may include an automated component and a manual (non-automated) component. Such a manual component may be needed where the automated component of the risk management assessment provides suspect information regarding one of the parties to the transaction. Where the payment request is processed for delivery of the payment, such processing may include submitting a payment authorization request, and, upon receiving a settlement indication regarding that payment authorization request, transmitting the payment. In some cases, the payment may be transmitted as a check, while in others it may be transmitted as a money order or instruction to have funds automatically deposited in an account.
US07685065B2 Method and system for providing minimum contract values in an annuity with lifetime benefit payments
A data processing method administers a deferred annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity product has a contract value, a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments and a minimum contract value. Administration of the product determines a minimum contract value, while paying a lifetime benefit payment and a guaranteed death benefit. The lifetime benefit payment does not reduce the contract value below the minimum contract value. If necessary, the lifetime benefit payment is funded by the general account assets of the company that issues the annuity product.
US07685064B1 Method and apparatus for evaluating a financial transaction
A system and method for evaluating financial transactions, which may involve credit requests, is provided. Credit requests are categorized into three tiers: the third-tier is for requests capable of being processed by computers, the second-tier is for requests that meet predefined criteria and cannot be categorized as third-tier requests, and the first-tier is for requests that cannot be categorized as second-tier or third-tier requests. The first-tier requests are manually reviewed by a credit executive. The second-tier requests are delegated to more junior credit personnel via an inventive pre-approval procedure. The third-tier requests are processed, at least in part, by computers. Additionally, requests that exceed a credit line, or limit, may be approved by reallocating credit from other credit lines.
US07685063B2 Client-server architecture for managing customer vehicle leasing
A system for managing a credit profile for a customer having a fleet of leased vehicles, the system comprising: (a) a client computer; (b) a server in communication with the client computer; and (c) a database in communication with the server, the database being configured to store a plurality of customer credit profiles, each customer credit profile comprising a credit limit for a customer and a leased vehicle limit for a customer, the credit limit corresponding to a maximum amount of monetary credit that has been authorized for extension to the customer, the leased vehicle limit corresponding to a maximum number of leased vehicles that are authorized for the customer's leased vehicle fleet; and wherein the server is configured to (1) provide a plurality of GUIs for display on the client computer, wherein at least one of the GUIs is configured to submit a request for a change to a customer's credit profile in response to user input, at least one of the GUIs is configured to display at least a portion of the customer's credit profile in response to user input, and at least one of the GUIs is configured to receive input from the user corresponding to an action to take on the submitted request, and (2) update the customer's credit profile in accordance with the action input. Also disclosed herein is a method for managing a credit profile for a customer having a fleet of leased vehicles.
US07685057B2 System and method for facilitating unified trading and control for a sponsoring organization's money management process
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system, method, process, software and standards that enable a unified trading and control process utilized by sponsoring organizations and asset managers (money managers) for sub advised or externally managed investment portfolios as to increase control over the trading process by a sponsoring organization, enhance regulatory compliance, substantially lower trading costs and improve investment performance on a recurring basis for the shareholders and beneficiaries investing in registered and non registered mutual funds and institutional investment portfolios.
US07685056B2 System and methods for continuously offered guaranteed mutual fund with full and permanent allocation to risky markets investments
Software implemented guarantee valuation engine and methodology that enable a mutual fund that is continuously offered; always fully invested in traditional assets that correlate to a benchmark and which is subject to a guarantee with respect to net asset value on a specified future date to be re-priced on a daily basis and to have the effect of such re-pricing in the reported NAV of the fund.
US07685050B2 Systems and methods for improving the liquidity and distribution network for luxury and other illiquid items
Systems and methods for improving the liquidity and distribution network for luxury and other illiquid items are provided. These systems and methods preferably include the trading of futures and options contracts, which will provide the liquidity and distribution network for luxury items. Possible embodiments of these systems and methods include the trading of futures and options contracts for diamonds and wine. Another embodiment of this invention preferably includes generating indexes for diamond prices, wine prices, luxury item prices, housing values, mortgage prepayments, privately-held companies or for anything with from sufficiently liquid points of value. Another embodiment of this invention preferably includes a centralized data base for retrieving closing and current auction prices for determining the value of, and best method for the auctioning of various items. The data provided by this data base would improve liquidity by creating greater price transparency.
US07685047B2 Portable alpha-plus products having a private equity component
A financial product. The financial product includes a cash component, an alpha engine component, a private equity component and a beta component. The cash component includes an investment in a liquid portfolio. The alpha engine component includes an investment in an alpha-generating portfolio. The private equity component includes an investment in the private equity portfolio. The beta component is structured to track a total return of one or more indices.
US07685044B1 Low latency trading system
Systems and methods for transmitting trade orders from a client trading engine to an exchange where the trades are executed. The system may comprise a low latency system in communication with the client trading engine and the exchange server(s). The low latency system is for receiving trade orders from the client trading engine, performing one or a limited number of pre-order risk checks on the trade orders, and, when the trade orders pass the risk checks, transmitting the trade order to the exchange server(s). The system also comprises a post-order risk checking data center in communication with the low latency system via a network. The post-order risk checking data center is for performing post-order risk checks on the trade orders after the low latency system transmits the trade orders to the exchange server(s).
US07685042B1 System and method for chart pattern recognition and analysis in an electronic trading environment
A system and method are provided for chart pattern recognition and analysis. In one embodiment, a graphical interface is provided to enable a trader to select a portion of a chart to be used in the chart pattern analysis. The pattern of the selected portion of the chart could then be used to find one or more similar chart patterns in a user-defined timeframe, such as any future time period or a time period in the past. When a reoccurring chart pattern is found in any future time period, an alert signal can be generated to alert a user of a possibility of the chart pattern reoccurrence. Alternatively, chart pattern matches can be found in a time period in the past, and a set of studies can be applied to the found matches to generate a set of reoccurring indicator values. The reoccurring indicator values can be used in combination with the chart pattern to detect any similar chart patterns in the future.
US07685041B1 Spike filter for financial data represented as discrete-valued time series
A method of filtering real-time financial data to provide accurate data to users is provided. The method includes comparing the trading price of a currently reported stock trade with the trading price of a previously reported stock trade and identifies the currently reported stock trade as a potential bad trade if the percentage difference between the two is greater than a reference percentage. The real-time spike filter confirms the currently reported stock trade as a bad trade based on: (i) a comparison of the trading prices of the currently reported stock trade and a next reported stock trade; and (ii) a comparison of the trading prices of the previously reported stock trade and the next reported stock trade.
US07685040B2 Investment methods and systems for use in association with a pairs trading strategy
Investment methods for use by institutional investors are provided. The method may include the steps of selling a call associated with a first group of securities of the investor to a first broker/dealer; entering into a short swap arrangement with an equity swap entity, the short swap arrangement being associated with the call and the first group of securities; entering into a capped swap arrangement with a second broker/dealer based on a second group of securities; and, entering into a long swap arrangement with the equity swap entity based on the second group of securities. Methods for arranging an investment strategy for an institutional investor are also provided.
US07685039B1 Cost-based technology and manufacturing exchange
Cost-based methods of exchanging/transferring intellectual property (IP) among parties are provided that include royalty rates and mark-up rates based on a common factor. The common factor of an embodiment includes the cost of a component material of a product. The IP includes at least one of technology, patents, and trade secrets. The methods include a first company that transfers IP to a second company. The first and second companies, in effecting the transfer, establish a royalty rate that is a first percentage of a cost of a component material of the products and a mark-up rate that is a second percentage of the cost of the component material.
US07685038B2 Method and system for block trading of securities
Method and system for block trading of securities. Embodiments of the present invention can provide an automated dealer system that formulates customized, risk-controlled, two-sided indicative quotations for block quantities of a security. A quotation can be delivered to requesting counterparties via a secured network or Web-based platform. The system can also allow counterparties to submit orders for block trades based on the customized quotations. A customized quote can be based on the size of the block and historical characteristics of the security. The quoting service can be customized to take into account a minimum premium to be charged for a trade, profitability considerations discounts, and time considerations.
US07685036B1 System and method for delivering a financial message
Systems and a method for delivering a financial message. The system for delivering a financial message includes, inter alia, an intervention system configured to allow an internal user of the system to add or edit content of a message to a client user prior to delivery. Advantageously, financial advisors and other internal users have the ability to interact with a client user to provide proactive financial advice.
US07685035B2 Network system, server apparatus, and network management program
A network system is provided that connects, on the network, a plurality of devices having document processing functions, a plurality of clients instructing the devices on necessary job executions, and a server. The server includes a collection recorder that collects information of a job executed by a device to record the information as job data, and a count processor that counts jobs according to count parameters set by a client. A browser installed to the client can select a count parameter, direct the count process, and view the count results generated by the count process.
US07685034B1 System and method for finance-based competition
Various embodiments of a system and method for finance-based competition are described. The system and method for finance-based competition may provide a game engine configured to enable a user to engage in a finance-based competition with one or more other users. The winner of the competition may be determined by one of various standards related to various financial attributes. In various embodiments, the game engine may be configured to enable a user to compete against one or more user-defined goals. A user may set various goals that he would like to complete during a given time period, such as saving a certain amount of wealth, funding a child's education fund, purchasing a second home, minimizing taxes owed to a taxing authority, and other finance-related goals. In various embodiments, the game engine may be configured to generate one or more finance-related predictions using a rules engine.
US07685033B2 Method and apparatus for automatically mapping account-data to tax-forms
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically inserts account-data into a tax-form. During operation, the system receives account-data at a server from a data-provider. The system also receives a tax-form at the server from an application. Next, the system automatically analyzes the account-data to determine a data-map which maps the account-data to the tax-form without assistance from a user. Finally, the system inserts the account-data into the tax-form by applying the data-map to the account-data.
US07685031B2 Systems, methods and computer programs for financial data evaluation
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating financial information, including systems and methods with computational/evaluation capability to process data sets comprising financial data. In one of the implementations, the systems and methods may be utilized for asset accounting. A calculation module may be provided that includes an evaluation engine that operates internally on a flat, generic data structure that is independent of the particular application. The externally-defined data structure of the data set may be mapped onto the internal data structure. Further, rules-based modules may provide information related to the client-defined rules. A user interface may enable a user to receive back the evaluated financial information, for a specified time period, the financial information being responsive to an original user request entered via the user interface. As a result, the evaluation engine can be used for a variety of different applications.
US07685030B1 Sparse delta model for position and balance information
Systems and techniques for operating on data representing an account include posting an activity record representing account activity. The systems and techniques may involve setting an activity date for an activity having an accounting impact, determining a balance value, setting an accounting impact date, and setting a journal activity date. The balance value may correspond to the net sum of activity for the activity date. The accounting impact date may correspond to the latest accounting impact date among all journals affecting the balance value. The journal activity date may correspond to the latest accounting impact date among all journals affecting the sum of activity for prior processing dates applied on the date. In some cases, the activity record may be posted to a specific period.
US07685023B1 Method, system, and computer program product for virtualizing a physical storefront
An interactive virtual model of a physical storefront can be presented to a shopper within a user interactive interface of a computing device remotely located from the physical storefront. At least a portion of the organizational structure of the interactive virtual model can be identical a portion of the organizational structure of the physical storefront. The organization structure can varies from storefront-to-storefront of different physical storefronts, each being related to a different interactive virtual model. A change involving at least one physical object within the physical storefront can be sensed. Responsive to sensing the change, a virtual object presented in the interactive virtual model can be changed so that the change to the physical object occurring in the physical storefront is reflected in the interactive virtual model and is shown in the user interactive interface.
US07685020B2 Mobile commerce receipt system
A mobile commerce receipt system and method providing a user of a mobile telecommunications terminal with a reliable electronic proof of reservation, purchase and/or payment made. By e-commerce means, the user places an order with a vendor or merchant and makes electronic payment. The vendor issues an electronic contract, sending the contract to a Trusted Third Party (TTP) receipt server. The TTP validates the contract, generates an electronic, digital receipt which is to sent the vendor. The vendor sends the receipt to the mobile terminal of the user, the mobile terminal storing the receipt for subsequent presentation at the point of delivery of the ordered goods or services.
US07685017B2 Communication intermediating method, intermediating device, and communication device
Promoting efficient communication among users. Uses having a symbol of the same network resource are led to the same virtual space. Specifically, intermediary server 2 converting ID of merchandise icon and ID of virtual space for chat is provided. When user terminal 1 obtained a merchandise icon reports merchandise icon ID to the intermediary server 2, ID of a virtual space corresponding to the merchandise icon is returned to the user terminal 1. A user can share information on each merchandise by participating in this virtual space. Namely, users having a common purpose can chat with each other.
US07685010B2 Concise communication of real-time business information in an enterprise network
A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods for concisely communicating real-time business information to end users in an enterprise network is described. An integrated business system having at least ERP and CRM functionality is accessed via a browser-based user interface. A plurality of portlet windows are simultaneously displayed within a browser window, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area therein. The portlet windows are selected and arranged according to a customizable user profile for each user, and include reporting portlets displaying up-to-date business results retrieved from the integrated business system. Each reporting portlet further comprises report access links associated with at least one of the business results that, when selected by the user, invoke browser-based displays of up-to-date business data underlying those business results. Preferably, in accordance with a user-customizable alert setting stored in the user profile, regular electronic mail messages are sent to the user communicating up-to-date versions of those business results. Preferably, data labels that identify business items within the browser-based user interface and on the electronic mails are expressed in a business vernacular tuned to each user according to customizable business vernacular settings in their user profiles.
US07685001B2 Method and system to offer and to acquire clinical knowledge using a centralized knowledge server
In a method and system for providing clinical knowledge from a provider to a medical user based on one or more diagnostic questions submitted by the user to the provider, a clinical knowledge communication server is provided with an associated knowledge database. The at least one or more diagnostic questions are sent by the user to the server. With the server, an initial examination of the at least one or more diagnostic questions is conducted. Examination steps are associated with the at least one or more diagnostic questions and placed in a sequence. The sequence of examination steps are then sent to the medical user. The provider may also request clinical knowledge from the medical user such as, for example, relating to the diagnostic questions submitted by the user.
US07685000B1 Predictive modeling system and method for disease management
A method and system for administering a disease management program to improve healthcare quality, reduce healthcare costs, and optimize delivery of healthcare services. A multi-condition risk assessment is conducted for all or a substantial portion of a population of program participants, and collected multi-condition risk assessment data are combined with claims data for predictive modeling of future healthcare risk and expense. Participants are risk-stratified into one or more classifications of future healthcare cost risk, and appropriate intervention or delivery of healthcare services is made based on the risk classification.
US07684991B2 Digital audio file search method and apparatus using text-to-speech processing
A digital audio file search method and apparatus for digital audio files is provided that allows a user to navigate the audio files by generating speech sounds related to the information of the audio files to facilitate searching and playback. The digital audio file search method and apparatus searches for audio files in a portable digital audio player in combination with an automobile audio system through speech sounds by utilizing text-to-speech processing and by prompting response from a user in response to the generated speech sounds. The text-to-speech technology is utilized to generate the speech sound based on tag-data of the audio files. When hearing the speech sounds, the user gives instruction for searching the files without being distracted from driving the automobile.
US07684990B2 Method and apparatus for multiple value confirmation and correction in spoken dialog systems
A method for multiple value confirmation and correction in spoken dialog systems. A user is allowed to correct errors in values captured by the spoken dialog system, such that the interaction necessary for error correction between the system and the user is reduced. When the spoken dialog system collects a set of values from a user, the system provides a spoken confirmation of the set of values to the user. The spoken confirmation comprises the set of values and possibly pause associated with each value. Upon hearing an incorrect value, the user may react and barge-in the spoken confirmation and provide a corrected value. Responsive to detecting the user interruption during the pause or after the system speaking of a value, the system halts the spoken confirmation and collects the corrected value. The system then provides a new spoken confirmation to the user, wherein the new spoken confirmation includes the corrected value.
US07684989B1 Method and system for integrating an interactive voice response system into a host application system
The present invention relates particularly to a method and system for integrating an interactive voice response (IVR) environment into an existing host processing system to provide automated telephone responses to callers to the host system. The integrated IVR environment is highly scaleable with hardware and software open to the host system for in-house modification and/or addition of components and applications to accommodate additional and/or modified host business logic, host applications, and other host requirements. The integrated IVR environment also alleviates the high cost often associated with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the IVR functionality for a host processing system.
US07684985B2 Techniques for disambiguating speech input using multimodal interfaces
A technique is disclosed for disambiguating speech input for multimodal systems by using a combination of speech and visual I/O interfaces. When the user's speech input is not recognized with sufficiently high confidence, a the user is presented with a set of possible matches using a visual display and/or speech output. The user then selects the intended input from the list of matches via one or more available input mechanisms (e.g., stylus, buttons, keyboard, mouse, or speech input). These techniques involve the combined use of speech and visual interfaces to correctly identify user's speech input. The techniques disclosed herein may be utilized in computer devices such as PDAs, cellphones, desktop and laptop computers, tablet PCs, etc.
US07684983B2 Speech recognition apparatus and vehicle incorporating speech recognition apparatus
When a voice input is detected as being applied to a directional microphone, sounds output from selected loudspeakers from among a plurality of loudspeakers, which otherwise would obstruct the speech recognition process, are attenuated, and sound signals supplied to the selected loudspeakers are combined with sound signals supplied to the other loudspeakers, and the combined sound signals are supplied to the other loudspeakers.
US07684981B2 Prediction of spectral coefficients in waveform coding and decoding
Techniques and tools for prediction of spectral coefficients in encoding and decoding are described herein. For certain types and patterns of content, coefficient prediction exploits correlation between adjacent spectral coefficients, making subsequent entropy encoding more efficient. For example, an audio encoder predictively codes quantized spectral coefficients in the quantized domain and entropy encodes results of the predictive coding. Or, for a particular quantized spectral coefficient, an audio decoder entropy decodes a difference value, computes a predictor in the quantized domain, and combines the predictor and the difference value.
US07684978B2 Apparatus and method for transcoding between CELP type codecs having different bandwidths
The present invention overcomes problems of tandem coding method such as degradation of speech quality, increased system latency and computations. An apparatus for trans-coding between code excited linear prediction (CELP) type codecs with different bandwidths, includes: a format parameter translating unit for generating output formant parameters by translating formant parameters from input CELP format to output CELP format; a formant parameter quantizing unit for receiving the output format formant parameters and quantizing the output format formant filter coefficients; an excited parameter translating unit for generating output excitation parameters by translating excitation parameters from input CELP format to output CELP format; and an excitation quantizing unit for receiving the output format excitation parameters and quantizing the output format excitation parameters.
US07684976B2 Constructing regular-expression dictionary for textual analysis
A regular-expression dictionary, as opposed to an exact-match dictionary, is constructed for utilization within computerized textual analysis. One or more data types are defined for entries within the regular-expression dictionary, within a markup-language schema. A structure in the markup-language schema is provided that encompasses the data types of the entries within the regular-expression dictionary. For each of a number of entries of the regular-expression dictionary, a mapping methodology is defined between a source definition of the entry to the structure and the data types within the markup-language schema. Furthermore, a definition of the entry is mapped to the data types within the structure of the markup-language schema, using the mapping methodology defined. The markup language may be eXtensible Markup Language (XML), or another type of markup language.
US07684974B2 Systems for displaying conversions of text equivalents
Embodiments of the invention include a system for displaying an audit diagram. The system includes a monitor capable of electronically displaying the audit diagram. The monitor includes a text equivalent constructed from an input text, and a conversion representation including an operator indicator, a result arrow, and a rule arrow.
US07684969B2 Forming statistical model of independently variable parameters for timing analysis
Forming of a statistical model for a set of independently variable parameters for analysis of a circuit design is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a timing model including delay and delay changes due to process parameter variations (Pi) that impact timing; selecting an element of the circuit design that dominates circuit delay in the timing model; determining a delay sensitivity of each of a set of derived process parameters (Vj) for the element that are linear combinations of the process parameter variations (Pi); and selecting only those derived process parameters with a high sensitivity for use in the statistical model. The invention simplifies the statistical model and reduces the number of calculations require for timing analysis. A method of performing a timing analysis using the simplified statistical model is also disclosed.
US07684966B1 System and method for hazardous incident decision support and training
A system and method for providing hazardous incident decision support and training includes a user interface component that receives situation definition data, a hazard assessment component and a decision aid. Decision support advice and decision prompts are presented by the system in response to the situation definition interface and hazard assessment. The hazard assessment and expert advice of the system are updated with elapsed time. In another embodiment of the present invention, graphical user interfaces are provided to display a set of menu entries wherein individual menu entries represent a hazardous incident characteristic. The user may select one or more of the menu entries to create a situation definition. Such definitions may be used, for example, to identify a hazardous agent based upon user-inputted signs and symptoms data.
US07684962B2 Hardware/software capability rating system
Techniques and tools for rating computer products are described. For example, software ratings are based on subjective evaluations to determine computer system requirements for a positive user experience, while a computer running a capability tool rates a computer system's (or hardware component's) ability to run software. A capability rating for hardware is determined by comparing a set of features and performance results with capability rating requirements. In another aspect, a capability rating is communicated using a standardized presentation. In another aspect, capability rating level requirements are proposed (e.g., by a ratings board) and then finalized. A capability rating level is determined for computer products (e.g., by a testing organization) based on the finalized requirements and analysis of the products (e.g., by a computer running a capability tool). In another aspect, a software system comprises an inventory module, a performance testing module, and an inventory and performance evaluator module.
US07684961B1 Light path diagnostics
Described is an electronics system having an individually replaceable electronics module installed therein. The individually replaceable electronics module includes a component, a light-emitting device (LED) disposed near the component, a processor module for performing diagnostics on the component and producing a message based on results of the diagnostics, and a microcontroller in communication with the processor module to receive the message produced by the processor module. The microcontroller determines whether the component is faulting based on the message. A DC power source is coupled to supply power to the microcontroller after the individually replaceable electronics module is electrically disconnected from the electronics system so that the microcontroller can illuminate the LED if the received message indicates that the component is faulting.
US07684959B2 Stability index display
The stability index objectively reflects system reliability and yet intuitively reflects the user experience on the system while also providing an understanding of how/when/why problems began.
US07684950B2 System for detecting and transmitting test data from a pressure chamber filled with a high-pressure fluid
The invention relates to an arrangement for detecting and transmitting test data from a housing (10) including a pressure chamber (11) that is filled with a high-pressure fluid and is homogeneously pressurized via strip conductors (21) which are connected to a sensor (23) and are guided out of the housing (10). A circuit board (12), both faces of which are subjected to the pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber (11) and at least one portion (30) of which extends out of the housing is disposed inside the pressure chamber (11) as a support of the strip conductors (21). The housing (10) that encloses the pressure chamber (11) is separated on the plane of the printed board (12), the faces of the housing halves (13, 14) clamping the printed board (12) in such a way that radial forces exercised within the printed board when pressure is applied are absorbed by the housing.
US07684947B2 Method for matching the actual characteristic curve of a hydrodynamic component to a predefined set characteristics curve during the final test of the hydrodynamic component
A method for matching an actual characteristic curve or diagram that characterizes the operating mode of a hydrodynamic component to a set characteristic curve or diagram is provided. The method includes a set characteristic curve or diagram of the hydrodynamic component is stored in a writable/readable memory storage unit a set manipulated variable being assigned to each operating point; the current actual characteristic curve is determined from the operating parameters that characterize the individual operating states and, for each operating point, is compared with the given set characteristic curve or diagram, a correction of the set manipulated variable being carried out for the respective operating point in the event of a deviation beyond a preset range of tolerances; and, in the event a deviation does not occur, the current set value is set as the new set value and read into the memory storage unit as a set manipulated variable.
US07684944B2 Calibration apparatus, calibration method, and testing apparatus
There is provided a calibration apparatus that calibrates a jitter measuring circuit for outputting a jitter measuring signal with a level according to an amount of jitter in an input signal based on the input signal and a delay signal obtained by delaying the input signal by means of a variable delay circuit. The calibration apparatus includes a delay control section that sequentially sets a first delay amount and a second delay amount in the variable delay circuit and a gain computing section that computes gain in the jitter measuring circuit based on the jitter measuring signal respectively output from the jitter measuring circuit for the first delay amount and the second delay amount.
US07684935B2 Fiber cable cutting device
A device is disclosed for continuously cutting a fiber cable into sections, as well as a process for operating this device. The device includes a rotary knife carrier fitted with a plurality of knife blades, against which the fiber cable is pressed via a compression wheel. Wear and break of the knife blades are sensed by one or more structure-borne noise sensors. In addition, a characteristic parameter is formed from the signal from the structure-borne noise sensor(s) and compared with a comparison value. Deviations from the comparison value are recognized as disturbances.
US07684934B2 Pattern recognition of whole cell mass spectra
A method for reproducibly analyzing mass spectra from different sample sources is provided. The method deconvolutes the complex spectra by collapsing multiple peaks of different molecular mass that originate from the same molecular fragment into a single peak. The differences in molecular mass are apparent differences caused by different charge states of the fragment and/or different metal ion adducts and/or reactant products of one or more of the charge states. The deconvoluted spectrum is compared to a library of mass spectra acquired from samples of known identity to unambiguously determine the identity of one or more components of the sample undergoing analysis.
US07684933B2 Automated intelligent system for lubricant manufacture optimization
A method and system to blend components to form a lubricant having a predetermined characteristic. The method includes determining the characteristic from a model that relates that characteristic as a function of the amount of its components and properties of the components. These predetermined characteristics include KV (kinematic viscosities), CCS (cold cranking simulator), HTHS (high temperature, high shear viscosity), Noack Volatility, MRV (mini-rotary viscometer), Brookfield Viscosity, Soot-Dispersancy, Oxidation, Deposit, Wear, Sulfur, Phosphorus, Base Number, Color, Ash Content, Aniline Point, Acid Number, Viscosity Index, Turbidity, Demulsibility, Foam Stability, Acute Toxicity, Biodegradability, Nitrogen, and Detergency.
US07684931B2 Gas monitoring system and sidestream gas measurement system adapted to communicate with a mainstream gas measurement system
A method and apparatus for interfacing a plurality of gas measurement systems, including a mainstream and a sidestream gas measurement system, to a host system via an interface unit. The present invention also pertains to a sidestream gas measurement system that output signals emulating the signals output by a mainstream gas measurement system or portion thereof, so that the sidestream gas measurement system can seamlessly communicate with a host system configured to communicate with a mainstream gas measurement system or a portion thereof.
US07684930B2 System for obfuscating identity
Compositions, apparatus, systems, kits, and methods for obfuscating the nucleic acid and/or protein content of an environment.
US07684929B2 Geometrical optimization of multi-well trajectories
A novel method is presented to automatically design a multi-well development plan given a set of previously interpreted subsurface targets. This method identifies the optimal plan by minimizing the total cost as a function of existing and required new platforms, the number of wells, and the drilling cost of each of the wells. The cost of each well is a function of the well path and the overall complexity of the well.
US07684926B2 Electronic control apparatus having first microcomputer which forwards externally supplied updating data to a second microcomputer having a lower data receiving performance than the first microcomputer
An electronic control apparatus such as an ECU of a motor vehicle contains first and second microcomputers, with the first microcomputer having a substantially higher data receiving performance than the second microcomputer. Data for updating a ROM of the second microcomputer, transmitted to the first microcomputer from an external apparatus at a relatively high data rate, are temporarily stored in RAM by the first microcomputer and then transmitted to the second microcomputer at a rate which is appropriate for the receiving performance of the second microcomputer.
US07684921B2 Vehicle running control apparatus and map information data recording medium
The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.
US07684920B2 Method for driver input gauging
In a method for parameter-related driver input gauging in motor vehicles, with the position of a moveable control element being determined, a theoretical maximum value of at least a parameter relevant for the drive system is defined and an actually recallable value of this parameter is determined. A change from a static to a dynamic driver input gauging is carried out below the actually recallable value of the parameter relevant for the drive system. A static gauging is carried out in a lower value range of this parameter such that the maximum displacement of the movable control element is assigned to the theoretical maximum value of the parameter, and if a threshold of the driver input is exceeded in an upper value range, a dynamic gauging is carried out such that the maximum displacement of the moveable control element is assigned to an actually recallable value of the parameter.
US07684919B2 Multiple speed transmission having fuel economy mode
An method of operating a multiple speed (gear ratio) mechanical transmission and engine combination to optimize (reduce) fuel consumption comprises the steps of determining a fuel efficiency map for an engine, providing a multiple speed mechanical transmission controller having data and program storage capabilities, providing data regarding the fuel efficiency map to the controller and providing a control algorithm in the controller whereby operation of the engine/transmission combination is optimized for fuel economy in accordance with the fuel efficiency map.
US07684913B2 System and method for adjusting a zero point of a seat load sensing system
A method (60) for adjusting the zero point of a vehicle seat weight sensing system (10) includes the step of determining a zero point error (64) of the seat weight sensing system. The method (60) also includes the step of adjusting the zero point error (68) in response to determining that the zero point error was influenced by an object on the vehicle seat.
US07684911B2 Suspension control calibration integrity
A vehicle includes a semi-active suspension including suspension dampers controllably adjustable in accordance with electronic stability control commands and ride and handling commands. Vehicle steering response states, turning direction states and vehicle dynamics states are binary coded in respective state variables and suspension control calibrations are binary coded in calibration words. Integrity and security of state variables and calibration words are ensured in efficient binary digit resource allocation schemes.
US07684906B2 Method of controlling hybrid vehicle
A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle that is driven by at least one of an engine and a motor generator, the motor generator exchanging power with a battery. The method includes determining whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating, or traveling at a constant speed; selecting a range of a state of charge of the battery based on whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating, or traveling at a constant speed; and controlling at least one of: torque and number of rotations of the engine and the motor generator, such that the power being exchanged between the battery and the motor generator is such that the state of charge is within the selected range.
US07684903B2 Method and system for controlling semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in a wait mode, including: obtaining information regarding a waiting time required for a product to arrive at the apparatus on a production line, the product being subjected to a predetermined process by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; obtaining information regarding a time required to control energy saving between lowering electric power and other energy used by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the wait mode to a level at which the processing is not ready and raising the electric power and the other energy to a processable level at which the product processing is ready; and judging whether or not to execute the energy saving control of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus based on results of comparison of the required time with the waiting time and of estimation on an effect of energy saving obtained by executing the energy saving control during the waiting time.
US07684897B2 Robot program generating device and robot program analyzing device
A work model (or an image) is displayed on an image plane of a robot simulator (201), and a measuring portion and a measuring method are designated (202, 203) and a work shape and a work loading state are designated (204), and then it is judged whether or not the measuring portion and the measuring method are good (205). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are good, a program is generated and the processing is completed (207, 208). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are not good, an alarm is given (206), and the continuation (207) or the repetition (201) of the processing is directed. At the time of analyzing the program, the loading (101), the analysis and display of the measuring portion and the measuring method (102, 103) and the work information (104) are designated, and then it is judged whether or not the measuring portion and the measuring method, which have been analyzed, are good (105). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are good, the processing is finished (107). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are not good, an alarm is given (106), and either the completion of the processing (107) or the correction of the program (201) is selected. Due to the foregoing, a burden imposed for raising and maintaining the visual sensor robot system can be reduced.
US07684895B2 Wafer loading station that automatically retracts from a moving conveyor in response to an unscheduled event
In a first aspect, a wafer loading station adapted to exchange wafer carriers with a wafer carrier transport system comprises a biasing element adapted to urge the end effector of the wafer loading station away from a moveable conveyor of the wafer carrier transport system upon the occurrence of a unscheduled event such as a power failure or an emergency shutdown. In a second aspect, an uninterruptible power supply commands a controller to cause the wafer carrier handler to retract the end effector from the wafer carrier transport system upon the occurrence of the unscheduled event, and provides the power necessary for the same. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07684892B2 Process for generating control sequence of operations
A method for generation of a control code set for a manufacturing process includes generating a list of sequences of operations with an automatic sequence of operations generator, selecting an optimized sequence of operations from the list of sequences of operations, and utilizing the optimized sequence of operations to generate the control code set.
US07684891B2 System and method for tool use management
The present invention provides a system and method for tool use management wherein a CNC machine retains information identifying the tools associated with the machine as well as their current locations (if any), and executes an algorithm for determining the source tools needed by a part program and matching the source tools with the available tools.
US07684889B2 Cigarette production and packaging unit and method and device for control thereof
A production and packaging installation with a control arrangement (33) and production units having respectively adjustable mechanisms, such as, a (cigarette-) production machine (maker 10), a packaging machine (packer 11), possibly a film-wrapping machine (12), possibly a multipacker (13) and possibly a carton packer (cartoner 14), for the production and ready-to-dispatch packaging of, in the first instance, products—cigarettes and cigarette packs—of a first type and, thereafter, products of a second type each comprising starting materials, such as paper blanks, film and the like, and also specifies the control arrangement itself and a method of controlling the line, it being the case that at least a first set of parameters (61) associated with products of the first type and a second set of parameters (62) associated with products of the second type are stored in a selectable manner in a memory of the control arrangement (33) and, upon selection of a set of parameters (61, 62), a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism can be transmitted to the or each production unit by the control arrangement (33), by way of the selected parameters.
US07684888B2 Extendable MES for Cross-AMHS Transportation
In one aspect a factory automation system for a wafer fab is provided. The factory automation system is adapted to facilitate cross-AMHS transfers of wafer lots within a semiconductor foundry. The factory automation system may include a first MCS and an associated first AMHS; a second MCS and an associated second AMHS; and a third MCS and an associated third AMHS. The system may also include a first bridge connecting the first AMHS and the second AMHS to allow a FOUP to travel between the first AMHS and the second AMHS. The system may also include a second bridge connecting the second AMHS and the third AMHS to allow a FOUP to travel between the second AMHS and the third AMHS. The system also includes a unified control unit in communication with the first, second, and third MCSs, the unified control unit for coordinating transfers of FOUPs between the first, second, and third AMHSs.
US07684887B2 Advanced process control method and advanced process control system for acquiring production data in a chip production installation
For monitoring production data, a grouping table in which machines are grouped into machine groups, machine components are grouped into machine component groups, chip manufacturing recipes are grouped into recipe groups or chip manufacturing parameters are grouped into parameter groups is used, whereby a considerable improvement in the comparability of the production data to be monitored is achieved.
US07684884B2 Audio processor, input/output processing apparatus, and information processing apparatus
There is provided an information processing apparatus in which a CPU and an audio processing unit are coupled by a bus. The audio processing unit includes a ring buffer that temporarily retains audio data, and performs an input/output process of the audio data. An interrupt signal generator generates a buffer empty signal, when the audio data is output from a buffer in the ring buffer and the buffer is empty, decimates the buffer empty signal in accordance with a sampling frequency of audio, and then feeds the interrupt signal that survives the decimation to the CPU. The CPU, upon receiving the buffer empty signal, issues a DMA transfer instruction for writing the audio data into the empty buffer in the ring buffer.
US07684878B2 Programmable hardware element pre-regulator
System and method for providing a programmable power supply. The programmable power supply may include a programmable hardware element (PHE) that couples to a power supply (DC-DC converter) and which in turn couples to a linear regulator. The PHE may implement a PID control algorithm that receives a measurement of the output power and may use PID and/or non-linear control to ensure that the power supply and the linear regulator maintain similar power levels. The PHE may be configured based on a graphical program, thus enabling fast and efficient modifications to the programmable power supply.
US07684876B2 Dynamic load balancing using virtual controller instances
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates enabling efficient load allocation within an industrial automation environment. A controller with a processing capability can be associated with an industrial automation environment. A balance component can distribute a portion of a load to the controller based upon an evaluation of at least one of the load or the processing capability.
US07684874B2 Server based gaming system and method for selectively providing one or more different tournaments
A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.
US07684871B2 System, method and apparatus for evaluating tissue temperature
Method, system and apparatus for monitoring target tissue temperatures wherein temperature sensors are configured as passive resonant circuits each with a unique resonating signature at monitoring temperatures extending below a select temperature setpoint. The resonant circuits are configured with an inductor component formed of windings about a ferrite core having a Curie temperature characteristic corresponding with a desired temperature setpoint. By selecting inductor winding turns and capacitance values, unique resonant center frequencies are detectable. Temperature monitoring can be carried out with implants at lower threshold and upper limit temperature responses. Additionally, the lower threshold sensors may be combined with auto-regulated heater implants having Curie transitions at upper temperature limits.
US07684870B1 Direct current fibrillator
An implantable cardiac device to induce fibrillation in the heart of a patient to allow testing of the defibrillation capability of the device. The device induces fibrillation using a direct current across the heart. The shock to the heart may be applied in a method to minimize discomfort to the patient. The heart is monitored during application of the shock. The voltage of shock at the heart is gradually increased until fibrillation is induced. Once the fibrillation is detected the shock may be stopped. This results in a minimized voltage level and duration for the shock to the heart, thereby diminishing pain and discomfort to the patient.
US07684866B2 Apparatus and methods for applying neural stimulation to a patient
Systems and methods for neural stimulation may include a stimulus unit; a first electrode assembly having a first set of contacts; and a second set of contacts. The stimulus unit can be an implantable pulse generator including a first terminal that can be biased at a first signal polarity and a second terminal that can be biased at a second signal polarity. The first electrode assembly includes a support member configured to be placed at the stimulation site, the first set of contacts carried by the support member, and a first lead configured to be attached to the first terminal of the implantable pulse generator for biasing the surface contacts at the first polarity. The second set of contacts is detached from the surface electrode assembly. The second set of contacts can be one or more conductive elements fixed to or forming portions of the implantable pulse generator, or a separate electrode array.
US07684863B2 LV threshold measurement and capture management
The invention provides methods and apparatus for determining in a non-tracking pacing mode (e.g., DDI/R, VVI/R) whether a ventricular pacing stimulus is capturing a paced ventricle, including some or all of the following aspects. For example, increasing a ventricular pacing rate a nominal amount to an overdrive pacing rate higher than a most recent heart rate and evaluating a conduction interval from a first pacing ventricle to a second sensing ventricle and then continuing to monitor the underlying rate to ensure that a threshold testing pacing rate will not exceed a predetermined minimum interval and providing pacing stimulation to the first ventricle and sensing the second ventricle to determine whether the pacing stimulation to the first ventricle was one of sub-threshold and supra-threshold. The methods and apparatus are especially useful in conjunction with ensuring actual delivery of a ventricular pacing regime (e.g., cardiac resynchronization therapy or “CRT”).
US07684862B2 Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy
A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the therapy. The processor determines whether a return cycle length generated subsequent to the delivery of the first plurality of pacing pulses is greater than a cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and less than a sum of the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and a total prematurity associated with the first plurality of pacing pulses, and adjusts delivery of a second plurality of pacing pulses in response to the return cycle length not being greater than the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and less than the sum of the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and the total prematurity associated with the first plurality of pacing pulses.
US07684858B2 Methods and systems for placing an implanted stimulator for stimulating tissue
Systems for providing stimulation with an implantable system control unit and for optimally positioning that system control unit include a system control unit configured to provide a stimulus to a patient with a member attached to the system control unit for pulling the system control unit into position within the patient. Methods of optimally positioning the implantable system control unit within a patient such that the system control unit is proximal to target tissue that is to be stimulated by the system control unit include threading a member through a patient's body using a needle, the member passing proximal to the target tissue and being attached to the system control unit, and pulling the system control unit into place with the member.
US07684856B2 Detection of artifacts in bioelectric signals
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting artifacts in a bioelectric signal, especially in a frontal EEG signal. In order to accomplish an uncomplicated mechanism for detecting artifacts in clinical applications, an impedance signal is measured through a first electrode set attached to the skin surface in a measurement area of a patient's body, the impedance signal being indicative of the impedance of the signal path formed between individual electrodes of the set. Simultaneously with the impedance measurement, a bioelectric signal is acquired through a second electrode set also attached to the skin surface of the measurement area, and the time periods are determined during which the impedance signal fulfills at least one predetermined criterion indicative of the presence of artifact in the bioelectric signal. In one embodiment, the first and second electrode sets are formed by a common set of two electrodes.
US07684852B2 System, formulation, kit and method for tagging colonic residue in an individual
This invention relates to a colonic residue tagging system, formulation, kit and method for use in preparing an individual for a predetermined activity which requires tagging at least some colonic residue in a digestive tract such that a medically and/or diagnostically useful procedure can be performed on the digestive tract. Such predetermined activity includes, but is not limited to, colon screenings. In one alternative embodiment, a dietary regimen comprising low residue foods is coordinated with the colonic residue tagging regimen, prior to a predetermined activity, thereby resulting in tagged stool such that a medically or diagnostically useful procedure can be performed on the digestive tract. The present invention also provides an individual sufficient amounts of fluids and nutrition while minimizing the amount of stool formation prior to the predetermined activity. In another alternative embodiment, the foods comprise an effective amount of tagging agent, such that when the food is consumed over time, at least some of the colonic residue in the digestive tract will be sufficiently tagged so that a medically or diagnostically useful procedure can be performed on the digestive tract.
US07684849B2 Marker localization sensing system synchronized with radiation source
A receiver for determining the location of a marker that is excited with an exciting waveform. A sensing array having coils is used to sense magnetic flux from the resonating marker. The coils provide inputs to the receiver. The receiver includes a correlation processor for analyzing the inputs in a coherent manner. Further, the receiver is synchronized to act on inputs that are gathered when a treatment radiation source is inactive.
US07684842B2 System and method for preventing sensor misuse
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a pulse oximetry sensor. The pulse oximetry sensor may comprise an emitter configured to transmit a signal into tissue, a detector configured to detect the signal, and a quality assurance component coupled to a first sensor component and second sensor component. The quality assurance component may be configured to break and disable the sensor upon separation of the first sensor component from the second sensor component.
US07684839B2 Connecting structure for magnesium diboride superconducting wire and a method of connecting the same
A magnesium diboride superconducting wire has excellent conduction property and stability. The superconductive connection of the magnesium diboride superconducting wire covered with a superconducting coating layer and a same or different kind of another superconducting wire are connected in a metal tube filled with a solder by way of the superconductive coating layer.
US07684833B2 Micro-controller controlled power management chip
Novel power-management chips (PMCS) and a related method to increase the flexibility of power-management chips and to disburden a main controller of mobile electronic devices, such as e.g. a mobile phone, have been achieved. Key of the invention is to implement a microprocessor system on a power-management chip. This microprocessor, having a flash-memory and a RAM has either no or minimum interaction with a main controller of the mobile electronic device since the microprocessor on the PMC is controlling all power supply requirements of the mobile electronic device. The novel PMC is more flexible; since it is free programmable and customers can adapt their PMC more efficiently to the specific purposes of their application.
US07684832B2 Method of connecting an UMTS mobile radio to a network
To achieve a shortening of the initial synchronization time and/or extension of the stand-by time with a method of connecting an UMTS mobile radio to a network, the UMTS mobile radio receives and stored in one or more time-limited RF receive windows the signals that are subsequently evaluated when the HF receiver is switched off.
US07684823B2 Cellular mobile radio network and method for setting up a base station of a cellular mobile radio network
A cellular mobile radio network having at least one base station integrated into a facility supplied via a power supply network and being connected to an assigned base station controller. The at least one base station includes a module for exchanging radio frequency signals with mobile radio devices; a first transceiver module configured to couple the at least one base station to the power supply network; and a control device configured to control the facility. The control device is connected to the facility via the power supply network or directly, and includes an identification module and a module for communicating with a central unit, the control device being identifiable by the central unit based on the identification module.
US07684821B2 Multi-tap keyboard user interface
There is provided a multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices, comprising associating groups of one or more keys of the input devices to define at least one input region and in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region. A repeated input (multi-tap) to a same input region cycles through a plurality of actions associated with the input region. Auditory feedback comprising a vocalized description of the action is provided. The multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback may adapt a mobile device (e.g. PDA or smart phone) for use by visually impaired users.
US07684820B2 System and method for selecting a ground station in an air-ground data network
Systems and methods for selecting a ground station for air-ground communications are disclosed. In an embodiment, a system includes a communications device operable to maintain bi-directional communications between an aircraft and a selected ground station, and a communications processor coupled to the device that is configured to select the ground station by executing a logical rule that is based upon a signal strength value of the ground station and at least one of an aircraft altitude and an occupancy value of the frequency channel.
US07684814B2 System, apparatus, and method for enhancing mobile communication terminal push to talk service
Disclosed is a system, apparatus, and method for enhancing a mobile communication terminal PTT service which includes a Voice Message System (VMS) server for storing a voice message sent from a sender's terminal when a recipient's terminal is in a receive-not-ready state; and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for transmitting the stored voice message to the recipient's terminal at the request of the recipient's terminal.
US07684809B2 Location based fraud reduction system and method
Embodiments of the present invention provide for reduction of the likelihood of fraud by having at least one of an identifier of a location from where a request is submitted or information that can lead to identification of the location, submitted with or in addition to a request. Then, determination is made whether to service the request, based at least in part on the location from where the request is submitted or processed. In various embodiments, the location may be compared against predetermined permissible location(s) or a current user location. The request may be a request to conduct a transaction, access data, access a physical or informational resource, or access a secured area.
US07684806B2 Device, system and method of point to multipoint communication
Some embodiments of the invention provide devices, systems and methods of point to multipoint communication. For example, an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a resource allocator to allocate a wireless communication channel resource to one or more stations of a wireless communication system based on a net benefit function that takes into account an overhead incurred by controlling the allocation of said channel resource.
US07684805B2 Systems and methods for facilitating instant communications over distributed cellular networks
In instant communications over a wireless network, a user from a private organization sends the request for instant communications communication through a private server controlled by the private organization. The private server sets up a private account with the wireless carrier and the user communicates via the private account.
US07684799B2 Method for data transfer with a mobile station while in discontinuous reception state
A method for sleep mode during an impending handover is disclosed. The method comprises receiving (104) from a network a handover threshold value. Then once in sleep mode, monitoring (128) a channel condition of a handover candidate cell and determining that the handover threshold value of the handover candidate cell has been exceeded. After receiving a pending data indicator, remaining awake (134) to receive a data set associated with the pending data indicator. The network re-schedules (216) transmission of the data set to the mobile station.
US07684795B2 Processing subscriber data regarding services available to a subscriber in a visited area
A mobile communication system includes a home location register that transmits an inquiry to the visitor location register about services supported by the visitor location register in response to receiving a location update message, receives a reply from the visitor location register, determines the services supported by the visitor location register based on the reply received from the visitor location register and transmits information to the visitor location register on services that, according to the information stored in the home location register, are available to the subscriber and that are supported by the visitor location register. Similarly, the visitor location register receives the inquiry about the services from the home location register, transmits the information to the home location register on the services supported by the visitor location register in response to the inquiry, and receives the transmitted information.
US07684779B2 Wireless terminal baseband processor high speed turbo decoding module
A baseband processing module for use within a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver includes a downlink/uplink interface, TX processing components, a processor, memory, RX processing components, and a turbo decoding module. The RX processing components receive a baseband RX signal from the RF front end, produce a set of IR samples from the baseband RX signal, and transfer the set of IR samples to the memory. The turbo decoding module receives a set of IR samples from the memory, forms a turbo code word from the set of IR samples, turbo decodes the turbo code word to produce inbound data, and outputs the inbound data to the downlink/uplink interface. The turbo decoding module performs metric normalization based upon a chosen metric, performs de-rate matching on the set of IR samples, performs error detection operations, and extracts information from a MAC packet that it produces.
US07684775B2 Method and apparatus for compensating DC level in an adaptive radio receiver
A radio frequency receiver 30, 32, includes a first component block 12, 16, 18, 20; a second compensating component block 22, 22a-22b, 34; and control circuitry 26 operable for controlling the state (e.g., load, bias, gain) of the first component block. When the control circuitry 26 causes a change in the state of the first component block that is expected to induce a DC offset in a signal, the control circuitry 26 changes the state of the second component block to compensate for an estimate of the DC offset. Preferably, the second component block is a filter 22, 22a-22b, 34, that temporarily changes from a nominal cutoff frequency to an elevated cutoff frequency so that voltage will settle quickly and accurately at an estimated voltage, the estimated voltage being predetermined and based on the state change to the first component block. A method is also described for practicing the invention.
US07684771B2 Method and apparatus for controlling power of a transmitted signal
In the method and apparatus of controlling power of a transmitted communication signal, a communication signal is amplified and transmitted. At least one parameter on the transmitted signal is received, and a measure of interference with the transmitted signal is determined based on the received parameter. An average power level of the communication signal is increased by clipping the communication signal prior to amplification by an amount based on the determined measure.
US07684769B2 Data communication apparatus and module using human body
In circumstance of a wearable computing system, in order to effectively transfer data between electronic devices using electric property of human body, minimization, low power, and high-speed are required. Human body data communication apparatus and module using broadband signaling technology is provided to perform high-speed peer-to-peer data communication with a signal electrode and low power. The apparatus and module have a direct coupling interface with a single electrode without an antenna and a sensor, and a transmitter transmitting digital signal without modulation, and a receiver recovering a clock and data by detecting a broadband pulse signal.
US07684766B2 System and method for managing talk burst authority of a mobile communication terminal
A method for managing talk burst authority of a mobile communication terminal for a PTT service comprises detecting a trigger signal generated from a voice activity detector in response to an audio input; activating a voice recognition processor to process the audio input; deactivating the corresponding voice recognition processor after a predetermined time has lapsed; transmitting a talk burst request message to the PTT server, when the audio input is for requesting permission to speak; transmitting the audio input to the PTT server; and storing the audio input in a buffer.
US07684763B2 Transceiver circuit and method for providing local oscillator signals in a transceiver circuit
A transceiver circuit includes a transmission path and also at least two reception paths, which in each case contain a frequency conversion device with a local oscillator input. A first, a second and a third oscillator circuit, and also a programmable frequency divider circuit are furthermore provided. The outputs of the oscillator circuits are connected to a respective input of the programmable frequency divider circuit. The frequency divider circuit contains three outputs connected in each case to a local oscillator input of the transmission path and the two transmission paths. According to one example of the invention, the frequency divider circuit is designed for frequency division of a signal present at an input and for outputting the frequency-divided signal to one of the three outputs. With the programmable frequency divider circuit, signals at the three inputs of the frequency divider circuit can thus be divided arbitrarily in terms of their frequency and be output at the outputs in a manner dependent on the desired operating mode of the transceiver circuit.
US07684762B2 Method of transmitting feedback information in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)/OFDM access (OFDMA) mobile communication system
A method of transmitting feedback information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises a mobile station (MS) which determines whether to transmit feedback information to a base station (BS) without solicitation from the BS. After determining to do so, the MS transmits a request message to request the BS to allocate an uplink resource for transmitting at least one unsolicited header and thereafter receives the uplink resource allocation from the BS. Lastly, the MS transmits the at least one unsolicited header via the allocated uplink resource.
US07684757B2 Wireless device and wireless network system
When the communication channel is to be changed, a more optimal communication channel is determined by summing up the results of measuring communication states transmitted from individual wireless terminals A, B, and C and making a collective judgment. Weighting coefficients are set to the individual wireless terminals A, B, and C. Values indicating whether or not the respective communication states of the individual wireless terminals are optimal with channels ch1 to ch4 to be used for communication (which are, e.g., 1, 0, 1, 2 with the respective channels ch1, ch2, ch3, and ch4 for the wireless terminal A and larger as the communication states are less optimal) are multiplied by the weight coefficient (the value of 3). The resulting values are summed up on a per-channel basis and the most optimal communication channel (of which the summed value is lowest) is selected. As a result, wave interference with the other wireless terminal is reduced.
US07684753B2 Method and device for transmission parameter selection in mobile communications
In a MIMO delay spread (OFDM) system or a MIMO single carrier (non-OFDM) system wherein a transmitter transmits signals to a receiver through multipath fading channels, an equivalent frequency-domain MIMO multipath channel matrix is used to estimate the maximum mutual information regarding the relationship between transmitted signals and received signals. It is possible to compute the upper bound of the maximum mutual information at least based on the total energy of all resolvable paths in the fading channels. The upper bound or the changes in the upper bound can be used to adjust the transmission parameters used in data transmission. The transmission parameters include the modulation order in the modulation process, the code rate and the puncturing rate.
US07684744B2 Fixing device with separation claws and image forming apparatus including the device
A fixing device includes a fixing roller that heats a toner image. A pressure roller forms a nip with the fixing roller by contacting and pressing the fixing roller. Separation claws are disposed side by side along a shaft center of the fixing roller within a sheet passing region of the fixing roller on a downstream side from the nip in a carrying direction of the recording sheet to separate the recording sheet from the fixing roller. Each claw includes a tip that contacts a circumferential surface of the fixing roller. The claws are disposed so that an interval from the nip to the tip of a claw at a position close to at least one end of the sheet passing region becomes smaller than an interval from the nip to the tip of a claw at a position other than the position close to the end.
US07684742B2 Image forming method, and image transferring mechanism, a method of scale reading, a belt transfer unit, and image forming apparatus, which use or include a non-metallic scale with a colored resin layer
An image forming apparatus includes an image transferring device having a belt transfer unit for effectively performing an image transfer operation. The belt transfer unit includes a transport mechanism transporting a toner image, a scale provided around an entire perimeter of a surface of the transferring member and including at least one colored resin layer, and a scale reading mechanism arranged facing the scale and reading the scale. With the above-described belt transfer unit, a feedback control can effectively be performed to maintain constant reading accuracy and to prevent a voltage leak from a transfer mechanism.
US07684737B2 Method for forming image and image forming apparatus having a developing agent with a distribution of adhesive force to a surface of an image carrier
The developing agent is selected to have a distribution of adhesive force to the surface of an image carrier, which is configured such that the ratio of the developing agent having an adhesive force which is not less than 2.5 times as high as an average value of a distribution of adhesive force is 3% by weight or less based on an entire weight of the developing agent.
US07684736B2 Image forming method, screen set and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming a color image of CMK color plates by electrophotography system in which a K color plate having highest visibility among CMYK colors is composed of a rational number mesh. Profile of halftone dots (201Kh) becomes constant substantially and the factor for generating streak and unevenness is suppressed. Furthermore, C color plate and M color plate are formed of super cells and the K color plate, C color plate and M color plate are formed at an interval of 30°. Consequently, a Rosetta formed of halftone dots (201Ch, 201Mh, 201Kh) of CMK is optimized and the factor for generating moiré component is suppressed.
US07684735B2 Charging apparatus and image forming apparatus
A charging apparatus having a corona electrode is provided which exhibits high durability against ozone and moisture in the air, which can charge a surface of a photoreceptor drum stably throughout the life of an image forming apparatus, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. In a charging apparatus including corona electrode having a flat plate section and a pointed projection section, a support member, a shield case, and a grid electrode, a coating layer including a material different from the material of the corona electrode is formed at least on part of the surface of pointed projections constituting the pointed projection section.
US07684734B2 Method for assembling drum drive unit capable of reducing drum rotational speed fluctuations and image formation apparatus containing a drum drive unit
In a tandem type image formation apparatus, a drum drive unit which always simultaneously drives respective photoreceptor drums, is assembled such that it is possible to synchronize cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the respective photoreceptor drums in assembling. In this manner, the photoreceptor drums rotate so as to synchronize the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums even after assembling. Therefore, a phase difference in the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums is determined, and the photoreceptor drums are assembled so as to be shifted by the phase difference.
US07684733B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member rotatably supported in an image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member rotatably supported in an image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a substantially cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed thereon and having a latent image forming area. The photosensitive layer is, when incorporated in the image forming apparatus, pressed harder at a middle portion than at end portions in an axial direction of the latent image forming area, and a thickness at the middle portion is larger than at the end portions. The photosensitive layer may have a dynamic indentation hardness larger at the middle portion than at the end portions.
US07684728B2 Image forming apparatus, process unit and developing cartridge
An image forming unit includes a process unit including image carrier holder units arranged in one direction and held in the process unit and developing cartridges provided in correspondence with the image carrier holder units and configured to be removably mounted in the image carrier holder units. Each image carrier holder unit includes an image carrier, a charger configured to charge the image carrier, a pair of side frames disposed to hold the image carrier therebetween, a center frame disposed between the side frames, the center frame being configured to support the charger, and a first support portion disposed on the center frame. Each developing cartridge includes a developer frame, a developer carrier provided in the developer frame, and a supported portion provided in the developer frame and configured to face the center frame when the developing cartridge is mounted in the image carrier holder unit.
US07684727B2 Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit, and a fusing device for fusing and fixing a toner image on a sheet. The device has a heat roller; a pressure roller; and a contact member placed in contact with the heat roller. The first unit is movable, along a first direction, to be drawn out of the apparatus. With the first unit out of the apparatus, the second unit is movable, along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, to be drawn out of the first unit. The device is divided into a first and a second portions where the pressure and heat rollers and the member are respectively located. The first and second portions are supported on the first and second units, respectively. The second portion is detachable from the first portion when the second unit is drawn out from the first unit.
US07684726B2 Image forming apparatus having the outer cover including acoustic insulation and heat conductive layers
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material by heat and an outer cover, and the outer cover is configured to be the multi-layer of an intermediate layer having a metal made wall and an acoustic absorption member for absorbing a sound, and the intermediate layer is provided with the outer cover configured to have an heat conductive member higher in heat conductivity than the acoustic absorption member.
US07684722B2 Image forming apparatus having a comparing unit and a controlling unit
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus which registers jobs in an order of acceptance of the jobs and which carries out an image forming process and a post-processing for a recording medium according to a content of the registered jobs comprising a comparing unit to compare a time needed for a post-processing of a first job which is being executed with a time needed for an image forming process of a second job which is on stand-by and which is registered and a control unit to execute the image forming process of the second job which is on stand-by after an image forming process of the first job which is being executed is ended and while the post-processing of the first job is being executed according to a comparison result of the comparing unit.
US07684721B2 Image forming device and image input device
In an image forming device which acquires image information of a document and forms an image on a recording sheet, an image forming device body has a first reading unit and a processing unit, wherein the first reading unit acquires image information of a document and the processing unit forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image information. An image input device has a second reading unit which acquires image information of a document. The image input device is arranged in the image forming device body at a position lower than a position of the first reading unit.
US07684720B2 Machine integrated semi-automated service credit for a metered device
A metered device includes a printing system for generating billable and non-billable electrostatographic images. The device includes a billing meter configured to store usage data related to the generation of the electrostatographic images. A CPU or processing unit is configured to increment the billing meter for each billable and non-billable electrostatographic image generated by the printing system. A user interface configured for controlling the image capture device, enables interrogation of the CPU. The device further includes a service counter for storing usage data related to the generation of non-billable electrostatographic images. The service counter is configured for editing by the CPU through the user interface to credit the usage data stored on the billing meter. The device further includes a network interface for transmitting the usage data stored on the billing meter to a billing service and a memory for storing the usage data that is transmitted to the billing service.
US07684719B2 Charging apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member through electric discharge by applying, to the charging member, a DC voltage biased with an AC voltage; and voltage condition determination means for determining a voltage condition during image formation on the basis of each of the values of AC currents obtained by applying a plurality of DC voltages biased with the AC voltages to said charging member.
US07684713B2 Phase control apparatus and optical DQPSK receiver
A calculation processing unit controls temperature of a Peltier device based on a slope of a waveform obtained by subtracting a waveform of a B-arm monitoring signal from a waveform of an A-arm monitoring signal and a value obtained by subtracting a value B of the B-arm monitoring signal from a value A of the A-arm monitoring signal. Similarly, the calculation processing unit controls a phase of the A-arm and a phase of the B-arm. An A-arm side micro-controller controls temperature of an A-arm side heater 22 based on the value of the A-arm monitoring signal, and controls the phase of the A-arm. A B-arm side micro-controller controls temperature of a B-arm side heater based on the value B of the B-arm monitoring signal, and controls the phase of the B-arm.
US07684712B1 Non-linear equalizer in a coherent optical receiver
A method of recovering a most likely value of each symbol transmitted through an optical communications network using a high speed optical signal. A stream of multi-bit digital samples of the optical signal is processed to generate a respective multi-bit estimate X′(n) of each transmitted symbol. A first function is applied to each symbol estimate X′(n) to generate a corresponding soft decision value {tilde over (X)}(n). Each soft decision value {tilde over (X)}(n) is processed to generate a corresponding hard decision value. {circumflex over (X)}(n) having an ideal amplitude and phase. A plurality of successive soft decision values and hard decision values are processed to determine a second function, which is applied to each soft decision value {tilde over (X)}(n) to generate a most likely symbol value {circumflex over ({circumflex over (X)}(n).
US07684711B2 Pulsed high loss loop back signalling scheme
An optical transmission system comprises two optical fibers carrying optical signal traffic between two terminals, and a plurality of optical repeaters coupled to the two fibers each repeater having a permanently connected passive high loss loop back circuit between the two fibers. One terminal includes a transmitter, which launches a pulsed supervisory signal on a dedicated supervisory wavelength into one optical fiber, and a receiver, which detects a portion of the supervisory signal looped back from each repeater in order to identify the existence and location of faults in the transmission system. The pulsed supervisory signal is of sufficiently short duration such that portions of the signal returned from each repeater do not overlap with one another and interference with the counter-propagating traffic is avoided by utilizing a dedicated supervisory wavelength. Each return pulse is integrated sequentially by a single detector and processed by heterodyne reception and synchronous demodulation.
US07684709B2 Fiber aided wireless network architecture
A FAWNA that allows high-speed mobile connectivity by leveraging the speed of optical networks. Specifically, SIMO FAWNA, which comprises a SIMO wireless channel interfaced with a fiber channel through wireless-to-optical interfaces. Received wireless signal at each interface are sampled and quantized prior to transmission. The capacity of the FAWNA approaches the capacity of the architecture exponentially with fiber capacity. It is also shown that for a given fiber capacity, there is an optimal method of operating wireless bandwidth and number of interfaces. An optimal method to divide the fiber capacity among the interfaces is shown, which ensures that each interface is allocated a rate so that noise is dominated by front end noise rather than by quantization distortion. A method is also presented in which, rather than dynamically changing rate allocation based on channel state, a less complex, fixed rate allocation may be adopted with very small loss in performance.
US07684708B2 All-optical flip-flop and control methods thereof
Embodiments of the invention pertain to remote optical control of holding beam-type, optical flip-flop devices, as well as to the devices themselves. All-optical SET and RE-SET control signals operate on a cw holding beam in a remote manner to vary the power of the holding beam between threshold switching values to enable flip-flop operation. Cross-gain modulation and cross-polarization modulation processes can be used to change the power of the holding beam.
US07684706B2 System and method for traffic distribution in an optical network
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for traffic distribution in an optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, a traffic distribution module in a passive optical network (PON), includes a filter configured to receive downstream traffic in a first set of one or more wavelengths and a second set of one or more wavelengths from an optical line terminal (OLT), direct the traffic in the first set of wavelengths to a primary power splitter, and direct the traffic in the second set of wavelengths to a first connector. The traffic distribution module also includes a primary power splitter and a plurality of secondary power splitters. The primary power splitter is configured to receive the traffic in the first set of wavelengths and distribute the traffic in the first set to the plurality of secondary power splitters coupled to the primary power splitter such that optical network units (ONUs) in the PON receive the traffic in the first set of wavelengths. The traffic distribution module also includes a first connector configured to couple to a first module connector of a pluggable module and to forward the traffic in the second set of wavelengths to the pluggable module via the first module connector. The traffic distribution module also includes a plurality of second connectors configured to couple to a plurality of second module connectors of the pluggable module, receive the traffic in the second set of wavelengths from the pluggable module via the associated second module connectors, and forward the traffic in the second set to the plurality of secondary power splitters for distribution to particular ONUs in the PON.
US07684704B2 Method, apparatus and system for the communication of services in an optical access network
A method, apparatus and system for the communication of services in an optical access network includes transmitting services to customer premises using a passive optical downstream link and receiving services from said customer premises using an active optical upstream link. In an embodiment of the present invention, services from a central office are communicated to customer premises using a passive means for splitting an optical signal, and services from customer premises intended for the central office are communicated to the central office using active components including at least one receiver, a switch and a transmitter.
US07684700B2 Loss-of-signal detecting device
The invention relates to an optical transmitting device. Particularly, the invention provides a loss-of-signal detecting device that detects a loss of an optical signal received by a terminal station or a relay station, in the order of an SD and an SF. The loss-of-signal detecting device includes: an optical input unit that outputs received-optical-power reduction information and a LOS alarm based on a measuring of received optical power of an optical input signal; a synchronizing unit that extracts a synchronous clock contained in the optical input signal, and outputs an LOL alarm when the clock is asynchronous; and a loss-of-signal detecting unit that determines the presence or absence of the received-optical-power reduction information, sets the LOS alarm valid based on the output of the LOL alarm when the received-optical-power reduction information is present, and immediately sets the LOS alarm valid when the received-optical-power reduction information is absent, thereby detecting a loss of signal based on a valid LOS alarm.
US07684694B2 Apparatus for supporting a camera and method for using the apparatus
A camera support assembly including an elongated support, such as a extensible support, which support extends between a base assembly and a handgrip, whereby a user of the camera may secure a camera to the base assembly and, while holding the handgrip, position the camera a distance away, which may be greater than arms length, to capture a still or moving image of the user, of an obstructed scene, or of hard to reach and/or unsafe areas.
US07684687B2 Imaging apparatus having multiple optical systems
To enable easy ascertainment of operating status of an imaging device having multiple optical systems. The imaging apparatus has a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system. When the two optical systems are actuated simultaneously, an image captured through the first imaging optical system and an image captured through the second imaging optical system are displayed side by side on an LCD, and an indicator is displayed concurrently on the LCD. The LCD displays a zoom position of each of the optical systems as well as the operating statuses of the optical systems.
US07684686B2 System and method for capturing, associating and distributing photographic images
A system and method for capturing and distributing digitized photographic images via an electronics communications network are provided. A subject is provided with a portable identification wireless transmitter. A digital camera coupled with a wireless receiver creates a digital photographic document and includes the identification of the user in a formatted electronic message. The document may also retain information identifying the time and locale of the creation of the image. The document is made accessible to the electronic communications network, in association with a data structure. The data structure and/or the document may be associated within an independent or additional identifier of the subject or of a third party. Information associating the subject and locale related to the origination of the image are inserted into an available data field of a standard digital image format, such as a JPEG, MPEG of GIF format.
US07684682B2 Fan circuit with a fan speed control circuit
A fan speed control circuit is used for controlling rotation speed of a fan. The fan speed control circuit receives a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a system and comprises a programmable control unit and a current control unit. The programmable control unit receives the PWM signal, is connected to a Hall element for receiving a voltage signal therefrom, and provides a control signal. The current control unit takes the control signal to control current flowing through a stator coil unit of the fan so as to control the speed of the fan. The programmable control unit has a program written for the PWM signal, and when the fan speed control circuit is used in another system with a different PWM signal, the programmable control unit can be given a new program for the different PWM signal for controlling the speed of the fan.
US07684679B2 Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus includes a JPEG CODEC that produces JPEG data by compressing image data. Markers SOI and EOI are embedded in produced JPEG data, and such the JPEG data is recorded into a magnetooptical disk by a disk drive. Upon completion of recording a plurality of frames of the JPEG data, each frame of the JPEG data is read out into a work area of an SDRAM, and the markers SOI and EOI are detected from the read JPEG data. Index information of each frame of the JPEG data is generated on the basis of the detected markers SOI and EOI. Generated index information is recorded following a last frame of the JPEG data.
US07684668B2 Directional light homogenizer assembly
An exemplary directional light homogenizer includes a one-piece, hollow hexagonal cross-section tube. The tube has an internal highly light reflective surface. The tube defines a first end configured to receive a non-homogenous light from a light source and a second end configured to output homogenized light. At least one curved section is disposed between the first end and the second end, and the curved section has a curvature greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees. An output section of the tube is straight, has a finite length, and terminates at the second end.
US07684666B2 Method and apparatus for tuning an optical delay line
The present invention is a method and an apparatus for tuning an optical delay line. In one embodiment, an optical delay line includes at least one ring resonator in which light is guided or is confined and at least one heater positioned laterally from the ring resonator. The heater produces heat in a localized area, allowing for the tuning of individual delay elements with minimal crosstalk.
US07684664B2 Microresonator optical switch
An optical switch includes a microresonator comprising a plurality of nanoparticles. The microresonator is configured to receive signal light having a signal wavelength and to receive a pump pulse having a pump wavelength. At least a portion of the microresonator is responsive to the pump pulse by undergoing a refractive index change at the signal wavelength.
US07684661B2 Optical module and method of producing optical module
An optical module where breaking of an optical fiber is avoided to improve ease of handling in the assembly process of the module and mechanical reliability of the module including resistance to impact. The optical module has a PD (3) and an optical fiber (5a) that are mounted on the same substrate (2). A covering section (6) for covering the optical fiber (5a) is placed on a deep trench section (24) having a predetermined depth in the Z2 direction from a V-groove-formed surface where a V-groove for mounting the optical fiber (5a) is formed. The distance h from an end face (3a) of the PD (3) to an end face (24a) of the deep trench section (24) and the distance k from an end face (51a) of the optical fiber (5a) to an end face (6a) of the covering section (6) satisfy the relationship of h>k. The optical fiber (5a) is mounted with both the end face (6a) of the covering section (6) and the end face (24a) of the deep trench section (24) made to be in contact with each other.
US07684660B2 Methods and apparatus to mount a waveguide to a substrate
Methods and apparatus to mount an optical waveguide to a substrate are disclosed. A disclosed method involves providing a substrate having a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes at least one alignment fiducial and the second layer covers the at least one fiducial. At least a portion of the second layer is removed to render the fiducial visible and a waveguide is automatically aligned with the first fiducial. The waveguide is then fixed to the substrate.
US07684655B2 Electro-optic modulator
An electro-optic device includes a semiconducting layer in which is formed a waveguide, a modulator formed across the waveguide comprising a p-doped region to one side and an n-doped region to the other side of the waveguide, wherein at least one of the doped regions extends from the base of a recess formed in the semiconducting layer. In this way, the doped regions can extend further into the semiconducting layer and further hinder escape of charge carriers without the need to increase the diffusion distance of the dopant and incur an additional thermal burden on the device. In an SOI device, the doped region can extend to the insulating layer. Ideally, both the p and n-doped regions extend from the base of a recess, but this may be unnecessary in some designs. Insulating layers can be used to ensure that dopant extends from the base of the recess only, giving a more clearly defined doped region. The (or each) recess can have non-vertical sides, such as are formed by v-groove etches, A combination of a vertical sidewall at the base of the recess and a non-vertical sidewall at the opening could be used.
US07684651B2 Image-based face search
A search includes comparing a query image provided by a user to a plurality of stored images of faces stored in a stored image database, and determining a similarity of the query image to the plurality of stored images. One or more resultant images of faces, selected from among the stored images, are displayed to the user based on the determined similarity of the stored images to the query image provided by the user. The resultant images are displayed based at least in part on one or more facial features.
US07684647B2 Rigid body tracking for radiosurgery
A method and apparatus compares in-treatment X-ray images of a volume with pre-treatment reference images of the volume and determines a combined similarity measure. A combined registration search space is searched to maximize the combined similarity measure and to jointly register the in-treatment X-ray images with the pre-treatment images.
US07684642B2 Correction of redeye defects in images of humans
In a method and system for correcting redeye in a digital image of a human, a defect pair separation is measured. The members of the defect pair are each redeye defects in the image. Each defect has one or more pixels. The defects are adjusted, that is, retained unchanged or reduced in size to provide adjusted defects. The adjustment can follow growth of initial seed defects. The adjustment is responsive to the defect pair separation and can include trimming of pixels beyond a size limit calculated using the defect pair separation. Following the adjustment, the color of the adjusted defects is changed to reduce redeye.
US07684641B1 Inside testing for paths using a derivative mask
Systems and methods for identifying pixels that are inside a two-dimensional path may be used to fill the path. The path is segmented and a slope direction is determined for each pixel that is covered by the segmented path. The slope directions are stored in a derivative mask that may be integrated for each scanline to produce a fill mask. The resulting fill mask indicates the pixels that are inside the two-dimensional path. The fill mask may be used to fill the path.
US07684638B2 Dynamic image contrast enhancement device
This invention provides a dynamic image adjusting apparatus for dynamically adjusting the contrast of a first image signal which includes a plurality of pixels. The adjusting apparatus includes a first transformation module, an operation module, and a second transformation module. The first transformation module receives the first image signal for generating a plurality of adjusting signals, wherein each pixel of the first image signal corresponds to one of the plurality of adjusting signals. The operation module is coupled to the first transformation module and receives a first set of adjusting signals of the plurality of adjusting signals to generate a first gain curve. The second transformation module is coupled to the operation module and the first transformation module, and generates a second image signal according to the first gain curve and the plurality of adjusting signals.
US07684637B2 Method, computer program, and apparatus for detecting specific information included in image data of original image with accuracy, and computer readable storing medium storing the program
An image processing apparatus includes an image input device that reads an original image and obtains image data from the original image by selecting one of plural types of image reading modes of the image input device, an image pre-processing mechanism that performs at least one pre-processing relative to the image data obtained by the image input device, an image pre-processing selecting mechanism that selects at least one pre-processing according to the image reading mode selected by the image input device and causes the image pre-processing mechanism to perform the selected at least one pre-processing, and an information extracting mechanism that extracts specific information included in the image data subjected to the at least one pre-processing performed by the image pre-processing mechanism.
US07684631B2 Method and apparatus for predicting discrete cosine transform coefficients
A method of and an apparatus for predicting discrete cosine transform coefficients. A discrete cosine transform coefficient prediction method and apparatus performs a discrete cosine transform on a row and column of pixel blocks nearest to a transform coefficient to be predicted in a discrete cosine transform block to be predicted among pixel blocks adjacent to the discrete cosine transform block to create a prediction coefficient for the transform coefficient to be predicted, and predict the transform coefficient to be predicted using the created prediction coefficient. By using prediction coefficients with higher correlation to a transform coefficient of a discrete cosine transform block to be predicted, an image may be efficiently compressed.
US07684629B2 Data compression apparatus, and data compression program storage medium
According to a data compression apparatus for compressing data such as image data, there is determined a difference between adjacent numerical values on the continuity of numerical values constituting data to be compressed. Of the numerical values appearing in the difference data, only the numerical value “YY” is encoded. There is performed such a coding that a continued number Z of the numerical value “YY” is expressed with different bit numbers in accordance with Z<128 or z≧128. In the coding, when data to be compressed is concerned with the binary data represented by only two sorts of numerical values, there is created new data to be compressed, which consists of continued numerical values represented by a unit bit number, in such a manner that the two sorts of numerical values are discriminated in one bit and the continuity of the one bit is expressed for unit bit number on a batch basis, and the created new data is transferred to the first data compression section.
US07684628B2 System and method for non-iterative global motion estimation
A fast non-iterative Global Motion Estimation (GME) algorithm is disclosed for estimating the perspective transform global motion parameters from the Motion Vectors (MV) obtained from the block matching process that includes grouping a plurality of motion vectors in the input video stream into a predetermined number of groups of motion vectors, calculating a set of global motion parameters from each of the predetermined groups of the motion vector, and processing the set of global motion parameters generated from the calculation to obtain a final estimation.
US07684625B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, printed matter inspection apparatus, printed matter inspection method and printed matter inspection program
A split image generation portion generates split images. A split projected waveform generation portion generates split projected waveforms from the split images respectively. A projected waveform synthesizer portion generates projected waveforms by combining the split projected waveforms. A feature volume extraction portion extracts feature volumes from the generated projected waveforms. A feature volume correlation portion correlates feature volume data of a target image with feature volume data of a reference image. A correction value calculation portion calculates correction values in accordance with geometrical distortion between the reference image and the target image on the basis of a result of the correlation and generates an n-dimensional lookup table. An image collation portion collates the target image with the reference image in consideration of the geometrical distortion by using the lookup table.
US07684623B2 Pattern recognition of objects in image streams
The disclosure describes pattern recognition detectors and software used to detect patterns in image streams. The detectors operate on streams of image data, making them suitable for detecting certain types of patterns in documents and images passed between processes and devices. For instance, the streaming mode detectors operate in printer drivers on streams of image data being passed to a printer. Also, the streaming mode detectors operate in scanner drivers on streams of image data being passed from a scanner. The disclosure describes pattern detectors for shapes with complex features as well as objects comprised of many smaller shapes. The disclosure also describes novel raster line and edge tracing pattern techniques.
US07684620B2 Image processing apparatus and method for dividing an image into component images
The image particulars of a document image or a part thereof are analyzed and the image particulars of the image are determined according to the outcome of the analysis. Then, the analyzed image particulars of the image are converted to the determined image particulars. Additionally, the analyzed image is divided into component images contained in the image. The image particulars of the image are converted as a result of these processes so that information of the component images for making them as objects of easy viewing with an appropriate data size are output.
US07684619B2 Text flow in and around irregular containers
Providing text flow in or around an irregular container, such as a non-rectangular graphic, is disclosed. In the case of flow around a container, the intersection, if any, between a proposed text rectangle and the irregular container is determined. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of an area of intersection between the proposed text rectangle and the graphic is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle. In the case of flow around a container, one or more difference areas, if any, in which a proposed text rectangle is present but the container is not present are found. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of any of said one or more difference areas is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle.
US07684618B2 Passive embedded interaction coding
A system and method for encoding a document image and finding a location based on that image are described. A document page is encoded into codes associated with various locations of the document page. The codes are assembled into a code book. Captured images may then be similarly encoded and searched against the codes in the codebook. One or more codes and associated locations may be returned, thereby providing one or more possible locations for the captured images.
US07684617B2 Apparatus and methods for processing images
In one embodiment, a system for processing an image receives color information including three variables representing a color of each of a plurality of pixels which constitute the image. The system derives a target characteristic value corresponding to a target pixel among the plurality of pixels based on the three variables of the target pixel. The system derives proximate characteristic values corresponding to a plurality of proximate pixels which are proximate to the target pixel. The system replaces the three variables of the target pixel with the three variables of one of the proximate pixels depending on a relationship between the target characteristic value and the proximate characteristic values.
US07684616B2 Method and apparatus for representing a group of images
A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colors for the group of images and deriving a dominant color representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant color values.
US07684611B2 Photoresist edge bead removal measurement
An edge bead removal measurement method includes determining an edge of a wafer about a circumference of the wafer. A location of a wafer notch on the edge of the wafer is determined. A location of a center of the wafer is determined. A distance from the edge of the wafer to an edge bead removal line about the circumference of the wafer is determined.
US07684610B2 Rotating prism component inspection system
An inspection system is provided. The system includes a rotating prism having a first end and a second end. The first end receives a first image area, such as a circular view, and rotates about a center point so as to cover a field of view area that is larger than the first image area, such as a larger circle that is defined by the smaller circle of view as it rotates around the center point. The second end remains centered on the center point and provides a viewing area that does not change in dimension. An image data system at the second end of the rotating prism generates image data as the prism rotates so as to generate two or more sets of image data that are contained within the field of view area.
US07684605B2 Method of adjusting image quality of an X-ray image
An intuitively manageable method for adjusting at least one parameter (X) that determines the image quality of an X-ray image produced by an X-ray device (1) is provided, wherein, on a user interface (18) of the X-ray device (1) a setting zone (25) for the parameter (X) is shown pictorially, and in relation to the setting zone (25) the current setting (Xact) of the parameter (X) is likewise shown pictorially. At least two sub-zones (32, 33, 34) of the setting zone (25) are differentiated from each other by color, wherein a first sub-zone (32) corresponds to a parameter-setting that guarantees good image quality and a second sub-zone (34) corresponds to a parameter-setting that is critical for the image quality.
US07684603B2 Complete field of view of contrast medium in a time-varying ultrasonic imaging apparatus
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an image data production device for producing image data composed of a plurality of frame image data items acquired successively from the subject during a scan time, a continuous time field image data production device for producing continuous time field image data from the image data by adding up the plurality of frame image data items acquired successively during the scan time, a time-sequential change process image data production device for producing time-sequential change process image data, and a synthesis/output device for synthesizing an image represented by the continuous time field image data and each of the images represented by the time-sequential change process image data by superimposing the image represented by the continuous time field image data on each of the images represented by the time-sequential change process image data.
US07684595B2 Method of facial recognition
An original image of a target is provided. The original image is guidedly perturbed into a first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images being recognizable as representing the target and distinguishable from the original image. The first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images is guidedly perturbed into a second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images being unrecognizable as representing the target. A contour is generated between the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images and the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images.
US07684592B2 Realtime object tracking system
A real-time computer vision system tracks one or more objects moving in a scene using a target location technique which does not involve searching. The imaging hardware includes a color camera, frame grabber and processor. The software consists of the low-level image grabbing software and a tracking algorithm. The system tracks objects based on the color, motion and/or shape of the object in the image. A color matching function is used to compute three measures of the target's probable location based on the target color, shape and motion. The method then computes the most probable location of the target using a weighting technique. Once the system is running, a graphical user interface displays the live image from the color camera on the computer screen. The operator can then use the mouse to select a target for tracking. The system will then keep track of the moving target in the scene in real-time.
US07684591B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus and information processing method, program, and recording medium
A information processing apparatus and method is disclosed wherein an image of a predetermined region can be picked up and a desired moving body in the predetermined region can be tracked readily to pick up an image of the moving body. A sensor image acquisition module acquires a sensor image. A moving body detection module detects moving bodies existing in a predetermined region based on the sensor image. A tracking object designation module designates one of the detected moving bodies. When a moving body is designated by the tracking object designation module, an image pickup mode changeover module sets the image pickup mode to a continuous tracking mode in which the designated moving body is tracked to pick up an image of the moving body. The invention can be applied, for example, to a monitoring system.
US07684588B2 System and method for providing robust information tags to image files
A system that generates an electronically readable image file that represents an image. In one embodiment, the system comprises an image input, an encoding module, and a tag module. The image input obtains color information representative of an image. The encoding module encodes the color information representative of the image into an image file by encoding the color information into a format associated with the image file. The tag module inserts a tag into the image file, wherein the tag is an object to be rendered, and conveys information about the generation of the image file.
US07684586B2 Dual voice coil speaker
A speaker includes a diaphragm having a principal vibration part and annular internal and external supports for supporting the principal vibration part, a large-diameter voice coil unit mounted at the outer edge of the principal vibration part, a small-diameter voice coil unit mounted at the inner edge of the principal vibration part, and a yoke integrated with the diaphragm. Positioning members fixed to the diaphragm as well as secured to a predetermined site of the yoke are provided for restricting the positions of the diaphragm relative to the yoke in a radial direction and an axial direction perpendicular to the radial direction so that the large-diameter voice coil unit and the small-diameter voice coil unit are arranged within respective magnetic gaps in a magnetic circuit.
US07684585B2 Thermal management system for speaker system having vented frame for establishing air passages
A thermal management system improves thermal property of the speaker system by promoting air circulation to cool the speaker system. The thermal management system includes a speaker frame, an air guide formed on the speaker frame for guiding the air, a ventilation slit formed on the air guide which penetrates through the speaker frame for air communication, and a spider mounting ring for mounting a spider of the speaker system on the speaker frame. The spider mounting ring has a cut-out at its upper edge which positionally match the air guide. The cut-out is curved sharply at its upper surface while a lower edge of the spider mounting ring is gently curved, thereby creating an air passage of directional property.
US07684584B2 Electrically angle-adjustable speaker
An electrically angle-adjustable speaker includes a seat unit, a rotation unit and a speaker unit. A hole is provided at the central portion of the seat unit and a horizontal-rotation driving mechanism is provided by the hole. An arcuate toothed track is provided on the rotation unit, and a limiting track is provided below the track. A hole is provided at the central portion of the rotation unit. A vertical-rotation driving mechanism and a first limiting device are provided in the front portion of the hole. Two pivot bearings are provided in the rear portion of the hole. A toothed track and a positioning track are provided on the arcuate upper surface of the speaker unit. After the aforesaid components are put together, the electrically angle-adjustable speaker of the present invention is formed.
US07684582B2 Electrodynamic acoustic transducer
An acoustic transducer includes a frame, voice coil movable along a pole, magnetic structure generating magnetic flux in a gap where the voice coil moves, diaphragm attached to the coil, waveguide extension in front of the pole, inner flexible roll seal connecting the waveguide extension to neck area of the diaphragm, and outer seal connecting outer periphery of the diaphragm to the frame. The inner flexible roll seal seals the gap between the voice coil and the pole, isolating the air in front of the diaphragm from the air behind the diaphragm. The inner seal provides damping of unwanted resonances of the diaphragm. Together, the inner seal and the outer seal do not substantially decrease the piston area of the transducer, and do not substantially affect the transducer's movement. In combination, the inner seal and the waveguide extension tend to increase efficiency and decrease audio distortions of the transducer.
US07684579B2 Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
The present invention provides a hearing device comprising a first component (10) with a housing (11) comprising at least one electronic module, said housing (11) being adapted to be carried outside of or at the human body and a second component (20) to be inserted either partially or fully into an ear canal of a human body, said second component (20) comprising a shell (21). The hearing device further comprises connecting means connecting both mechanically and electrically said first and said second component (10;20), comprising a tube (30) with electric wire arranged within the tube (30) and two fasteners (31;32) being arranged at each end of said tube (30). Said first fastener (31), being adapted to detachably connect said second component (20) with said connecting means, comprises a receiving housing or compartment, adapted to contain at least a part of a receiver (23) to be placed within said second component (20). By providing a detachable fastener (31;32) at least at one end of the tube (30) acting as connecting means between the first and second component (10;20) of the hearing device, the connecting means may be easily detached from either the first or the second component (10;20) of the hearing device.
US07684571B2 System and method of generating an audio signal
A method of generating an audio signal comprises receiving a plurality of input audio signals from a plurality of microphones forming a microphone array, the plurality of input audio signals being representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of the microphone array at a given instant in time; receiving a motion input signal from a motion sensor, the motion input signal being representative of the motion of the microphone array; and manipulating the received plurality of input audio signals in response to the received motion input signal to generate an audio output signal that is representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of a virtual microphone, the apparent motion of the virtual microphone being independent of the motion of the microphone array.
US07684569B2 Electronic device control system and method and electronic device, and control apparatus
In an electronic apparatus control system provided with: a plurality of electronic apparatuses connected to a network covering a predetermined area; and a controller for controlling these electronic apparatuses, the controller (11) is provided with: a generating device for generating a group key peculiar to the network (18) in order to encrypt the information flowing through the network (18); and a wireless unit (21) for transmitting the generated group key to a plurality of the electronic apparatuses. The electronic apparatus is provided with: a memory device for storing the group key transmitted; an encrypting device for encrypting the information flowing through the network (18) using the group key; and a decoding device for decoding the encrypted information using the group key. Owing to this construction, it is possible to present a copy protection improved in the maintainability and reduced in the cost, for protecting copyright effectively even in a case that information is flown out of the network (18).
US07684567B2 Smartcard dynamic management
A method for securing a portable security module for use with a decoding element, the portable security module and the decoding element allowing to descramble scrambled audiovisual information. The method comprises analyzing at the portable security module a sequence of command messages, the command messages of the sequence being received at the portable security module at distinct times.
US07684565B2 System for securely communicating information packets
A system for securely transmitting Real Time Protocol voice packets to a remote multimedia terminal adapter over an Internet protocol network. The system features an MTA (a local multimedia terminal adapter) having a key stream generator for generating a first key stream used for encrypting the voice packets. The remote multimedia terminal adapter receives and decrypts the voice packets. Also, the system includes a remote key stream generator for generating the first key stream in order to decrypt the encrypted voice packets and a packet decryptor decrypting the encrypted voice packets using the first key stream, wherein both key stream generators are capable of generating a second key stream to prevent reuse of any portion of the first key stream during the communication session.
US07684564B2 Method for solving Frobenius equations for elliptic-curve cryptography
The present invention comprises fast new methods for computing high-precision solutions of Frobenius equations that arise in elliptic-curve cryptography. In particular, this invention may be used to accelerate the computation of the number of points on an elliptic curve over a finite field. The advantage over methods in prior art is that the invention is faster than previously known methods. The methods enable optimally fast canonical lifting of elliptic curves defined over finite fields, optimally fast pre-computations to determine an efficient representation of intermediate quantities, and optimally fast lifting of finite-field elements to compute multiplicative representatives. Furthermore the invention enables rapid computation of norms and traces amongst other applications.
US07684560B2 Earset
An earset including a main housing with a microphone and an ear speaker mounted therein; a cover rotatably connected to the main housing and rotating along a first hinge axis to expose or close the ear speaker, the ear speaker being exposed with rotation of the cover and rotating along a second hinge axis to be protruded out from the main housing and fitted into the ear of a user; and first and second hinge devices providing the first and second hinge axes, respectively, and rotatably connecting the cover and the ear speaker to the main housing.
US07684555B2 Method and system for failover capability for remote call center agents
A method for providing fail-over capability in a local branch of a call center includes determining, by a local device, which of a plurality of phones are call center phones. The determination is based on a predetermined rule set. In an alternative embodiment, the method may also include determining, by the local device, which of the plurality of call center phones are available for receiving calls. This may include determining whether a “do not disturb” function of each respective call center phone is invoked, and in response, determining whether the call center phone is available. In addition, this method may involve placing, by the local device, each call center phone into a “do not disturb” mode if the call center phone does not answer a call sent to the call center phone.
US07684552B2 Phone batch calling task management system
A system and method for postponing and managing outgoing calling tasks for on or off-site retrieval are presented. More precisely a system and method are presented to compile a list of pending calling tasks, transfer a task to a calling device and prompt a user to make a call. Optionally the list may contain synchronized sublists, one sublist on a personal computer and a second sublist an a mobile calling device. At the completion of a calling task or other event, the list is automatically updated.
US07684551B2 Method, means and a computer program product for managing online charging in a communications network
A method of online charging in a communication network. The method includes receiving a service request from a user, determining whether the service request is an access network session, a media network session or a service network session, determining if a type of charging model the user wants to use to provide the service request is an event based model, a volume based model, a time based model, an event based model or a combination of the models, determining which network element corresponding to the access network session, the media network session and the service network session in the communication network is responsible for providing the service request from the user, and provisioning identification rules for providing the service request to the network element that is determined to be responsible for providing the service request from the user. Further, the step of provisioning the identification rules comprises updating the rules when the access network session, the media network session and the service network session interact with each other in a charging transaction requested in the service request from the user.
US07684548B1 Notification and response system with attendance tracking features
A notification and response system utilizes an administrator interface to transmit an attendance messages from an administrator to a contact devices for guardians, employees, and students associated with an institution. The system comprises a dynamic information database that includes guardian, employee and student contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the attendance message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry standard protocol simultaneously to groups of guardian, employee, and student contact devices based upon priority information. Once the attendance message is received by the guardian, employee, or student contact devices, the guardian, employee, and student contact devices transmit a response through the industry standard protocol back to the dynamic information database.
US07684544B2 Portable digital radiographic devices
A portable handheld digital radiographic device is disclosed. The device has a touchscreen interface, an x-ray generator, and a computer system. These components are integrated into one combined device that is designed to be small, lightweight and portable.
US07684532B2 Clock data recovery circuitry associated with programmable logic device circuitry
A programmable logic device (“PLD”) is augmented with programmable clock data recover (“CDR”) circuitry to allow the PLD to communicate via any of a large number of CDR signaling protocols. The CDR circuitry may be integrated with the PLD, or it may be wholly or partly on a separate integrated circuit. The circuitry may be capable of CDR input, CDR output, or both. The CDR capability may be provided in combination with other non-CDR signaling capability such as non-CDR low voltage differential signaling (“LVDS”). The circuitry may be part of a larger system.
US07684528B2 Method for whitening colored noise in a communication system
A filter settings generation operation includes sampling colored noise present at the input of a receiver to produce a sampled signal. The sampled signal is spectrally characterized across a frequency band of interest to produce a spectral characterization of the sampled signal. This spectral characterization may not include a signal of interest. The spectral characterization is then modified to produce a modified spectral characterization. Filter settings are then generated based upon the modified spectral characterization. Finally, the input present at the receiver is filtered using the filter settings when the signal of interest is present to whiten colored noise that is present with the signal of interest. In modifying the spectral characterization, pluralities of spectral components of the spectral characterization are independently modified to produce the modified spectral characterization. Modifications to the spectral characterization may be performed in the frequency domain and/or the time domain. Particular modifications include amplifying spectral components, weighting spectral components based upon prior spectral components, and averaging spectral components with prior spectral components.
US07684524B2 Enhanced automatic gain control mechanism for time-slotted data transmissions
An automatic gain control (AGC) method according to the present invention applies an initial gain by a digital AGC circuit in a timeslot is determined using a final calculated gain from the same timeslot in the previous frame together with an offset factor. An erase function is activated for a given data sample block when the number of saturated data samples that are detected within the block exceeds a threshold value. The power measurement made by the AGC circuit and used to update the gain is adjusted based on the number of measured data samples that are saturated. These elements provide a gain limiting function and allows limiting of the dynamic range for further signal processing.
US07684521B2 Apparatus and method for hybrid decoding
Typical communication systems operate with a single channel decoder, and hence would have to settle for the performance from the single channel decoder regardless of the conditions of the communications channel. The present invention uses a hybrid channel decoder comprising multiple channel decoders, each configured to optimize the quality of the re-constructed signal for different channel conditions. Therefore, the desired decoder can be selected as conditions of the communications channel, or the data signal, change over time, so as to optimize the re-constructed data signal. In embodiments, the data signal is a speech signal.
US07684512B2 Method of scheduling mobile user transmissions and methods of decoding mobile user transmissions
In an example method of scheduling mobile users, mobile users are assigned to one of at least a first layer and a second layer, where each of the first and second layers are associated with a same frequency band. The mobile users are further assigned, in the first layer, to different frequency sub-bands in the frequency band such that the users in the first layer have non-overlapping first sub-band assignments. The mobile users are further assigned, in the second layer, to different frequency sub-bands in the frequency band such that the users in the second layer have non-overlapping second sub-band assignments. The mobile users are then scheduled for transmission based on the first and second layer and the first and second sub-band assignments. In a further example decoding method, layer transmissions are decoded in succession with interference cancellation performed between each layer decoding step. In a second example decoding method, mobile users in multiple layers and within assigned channels are jointly decoded.
US07684511B2 Antenna virtualization in communication systems
Communication systems and methods are described in which multiple transmit signals are generated from an input stream or signal. The communication systems and methods, collectively referred to as antenna virtualization or virtual antenna systems, generate from each input stream multiple transmit signals that when driven into multiple antennas create a radiation pattern that effectively appears to originate from a single antenna. The communications operations include receiving at least one input stream. Multiple transmit signals are generated from the received input stream; the number of transmit signals generated is greater than the number of received input streams. Generation of the transmit signals involves transforming the input stream. The transforming includes applying one or more of a variable delay, a phase shift, and signal shaping to information of the input stream. The transmit signals are transmitted by a separate antenna of an antenna system.
US07684508B1 Transmission diversity detecting apparatus capable of generating quality indicator and related method thereof
The invention relates to a transmission diversity detecting apparatus and method. The transmission diversity detecting apparatus is applied in a Wideband Code-Division Multiple-Access (WCDMA) system having a CIPCH channel and a synchronization channel for detecting an antenna diversity of a cell. The transmission diversity detecting apparatus includes an antenna diversity detecting unit for determining the antenna diversity; and a quality indicator generator, electrically connected to the antenna diversity detecting unit, for generating a quality indicator utilized for indicating the reliability of the antenna diversity determined by the antenna diversity detecting unit.
US07684507B2 Method and apparatus to select coding mode
Briefly, an apparatus and method that may adaptively select a coding mode of an OFDM sub-carrier symbol of a data stream according to a received channel state information related to the OFDM sub-carrier.
US07684501B2 Apparatus and method for carrier frequency offset and phase compensation in communication system
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for carrier frequency offset and phase compensation, which can compensate the phase rotation of an OFDM symbol resulted from carrier frequency offset between the receiver and transmitter of an OFDM System. The apparatus and method for carrier frequency offset compensation generates an estimated carrier frequency offset according to a phase error between estimated frequency responses of two consecutive received OFDM symbols within the pilot subchannel, and calculates an accumulated phase rotation, according to the estimated carrier frequency offset, for compensating the received OFDM symbol. On the other hand, the apparatus and method for phase compensation generates an estimated residual phase error according to the pilot signal of a frequency offset-compensated OFDM symbol and the original pilot signal transmitted by the transmitter, and compensates the frequency offset-compensated OFDM symbol or a following one according to the estimated residual phase error.
US07684498B2 Signal processing using pilot based coding
Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining a group reference value corresponding to a plurality of data included in one group and a difference value corresponding to the group reference value through first grouping and internal grouping for the first grouping and obtaining the data using the group reference value and the difference value.
US07684497B2 Method and apparatus for generating M-ary CPM waveforms from a superposition of PAM waveforms
To reflect advantages of a constant phase modulation waveform, the invention provides a pulse amplitude modulated PAM waveform that is a superposition of Q0≦2L−1 PAM component pulses in each symbol interval such that a significant portion of signal energy over each symbol interval is within the Q0 PAM component pulses. The present invention distributes most signal energy in one pulse and progressively lower energies in the remaining Q0−1 pulses of a symbol interval. The Laurent Decomposition is a special case of the present invention, but the present invention exhibits the energy distribution of the Laurent Decomposition in non-binary CPM waveforms and in multi-h (binary and non-binary) CPM waveforms, where h is a modulating index. All energy is distributed among only Q=2L−1 pulses in each symbol interval, though only Q0
US07684496B2 Methods and systems for digital data transmission
Methods and systems for transmitting a discrete information over a communication path comprising analogue communication lines and a pulse-code modulation (PCM) channel are considered, which methods and systems allow to increase the data transfer rate over the entire path up to the data transfer rate in the PCM channel irrespective of the quality of analogue communication lines really employed. In this case, the spectrum of signal being transmitted over the analogue communication line is selected such that the information transfer rate over this analogue communication line is equal to the information transfer rate over the PCM channel, and the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the analogue communication line is the least possible for this analogue communication line. During the conversion of the analogue signal into the PCM channel signal, the sampling rate of this signal is decreased in proportion to the ratio of the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the PCM channel to the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the analogue communication line.
US07684495B2 Systems and methods with error resilience in enhancement layer bitstream of scalable video coding
A scalable layered video coding scheme that encodes video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video, adds error resilience to the enhancement layer. Unique resynchronization marks are inserted into the enhancement layer bitstream in headers associated with each video packet, headers associated with each bit plane, and headers associated with each video-of-plane (VOP) segment. Following transmission of the enhancement layer bitstream, the decoder tries to detect errors in the packets. Upon detection, the decoder seeks forward in the bitstream for the next known resynchronization mark. Once this mark is found, the decoder is able to begin decoding the next video packet. With the addition of many resynchronization marks within each frame, the decoder can recover very quickly and with minimal data loss in the event of a packet loss or channel error in the received enhancement layer bitstream. The video coding scheme also facilitates redundant encoding of header information from the higher-level VOP header down into lower level bit plane headers and video packet headers. Header extension codes are added to the bit plane and video packet headers to identify whether the redundant data is included.
US07684494B2 Systems and methods with error resilience in enhancement layer bitstream of scalable video coding
A scalable layered video coding scheme that encodes video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video, adds error resilience to the enhancement layer. Unique resynchronization marks are inserted into the enhancement layer bitstream in headers associated with each video packet, headers associated with each bit plane, and headers associated with each video-of-plane (VOP) segment. Following transmission of the enhancement layer bitstream, the decoder tries to detect errors in the packets. Upon detection, the decoder seeks forward in the bitstream for the next known resynchronization mark. Once this mark is found, the decoder is able to begin decoding the next video packet. With the addition of many resynchronization marks within each frame, the decoder can recover very quickly and with minimal data loss in the event of a packet loss or channel error in the received enhancement layer bitstream. The video coding scheme also facilitates redundant encoding of header information from the higher-level VOP header down into lower level bit plane headers and video packet headers. Header extension codes are added to the bit plane and video packet headers to identify whether the redundant data is included.
US07684493B2 Systems and methods with error resilience in enhancement layer bitstream of scalable video coding
A scalable layered video coding scheme that encodes video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video, adds error resilience to the enhancement layer. Unique resynchronization marks are inserted into the enhancement layer bitstream in headers associated with each video packet, headers associated with each bit plane, and headers associated with each video-of-plane (VOP) segment. Following transmission of the enhancement layer bitstream, the decoder tries to detect errors in the packets. Upon detection, the decoder seeks forward in the bitstream for the next known resynchronization mark. Once this mark is found, the decoder is able to begin decoding the next video packet. With the addition of many resynchronization marks within each frame, the decoder can recover very quickly and with minimal data loss in the event of a packet loss or channel error in the received enhancement layer bitstream. The video coding scheme also facilitates redundant encoding of header information from the higher-level VOP header down into lower level bit plane headers and video packet headers. Header extension codes are added to the bit plane and video packet headers to identify whether the redundant data is included.
US07684485B2 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.
US07684481B2 High speed data packet access minimum mean squared equalization with direct matrix inversion training
The present invention provides a equalizer processing module operable to cancel interference associated with received radio frequency (RF) burst(s). This equalizer processing module includes a first equalizer processing branch and an optional second equalizer processing branch. The first equalizer processing branch is operable to be trained by applying a recursive DMI process such as a Levison algorithm, based upon known training sequences and equalize the received RF burst. This results in soft samples or decisions which in turn may be converted to data bits. The soft samples are processed with a de-interleaver and channel decoder, where the combination is operable to produce a decoded frame of data bits from the soft samples. This allows interfering signals to be cancelled and more accurate processing of the received RF bursts to occur.
US07684480B2 Method and system for equalization of a replacement load
A system (10) and method (50) of equalizing an audio signal from an existing radio or head unit (30) using an interface unit (10) between the radio or head unit and a replacement load (34) can include the steps analyzing (64) an existing equalization to provide a measure of an existing frequency response, generating (66) a substantially inverted frequency response to the existing frequency response, and applying (74) the inverted frequency response to the replacement load to provide a desired response. Such as system can include an interface unit (12) having an automatic input level control unit (14), an analog to digital converter or digitizer (16), a DSP (18) providing an output to a DAC (20), a level booster unit (22) and a processor such as a microcontroller unit (24).
US07684475B2 Control system methods and apparatus for inductive communication across an isolation barrier
Improved control apparatus and methods transfer information between devices, such as controllers and field devices, utilizing a modulator that generates a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal containing information to be transferred by a first of the devices, e.g., the controller, to the second device. A transformer or other inductive device transfers the PWM signal across the isolation barrier, where it is demodulated to analog form for application to the second device, e.g., the field device. Information transferred from the second device to the first device can be transferred in an amplitude modulated (AM) signal that utilizes, as its carrier, a fixed duty cycle output of the modulator that generates the PWM signal.
US07684473B2 Receiver for wireless communication network with extended range
Techniques for detecting and demodulating a signal/transmission are described. Signal detection is performed in multiple stages using different types of signal processing, e.g., using time-domain correlation for a first stage, frequency-domain processing for a second stage, and time-domain processing for a third stage. For the first stage, products of symbols are generated for at least two different delays, correlation between the products for each delay and known values is performed, and correlation results for all delays are combined and used to declare the presence of a signal. For demodulation, the timing of input samples is adjusted to obtain timing-adjusted samples. A frequency offset is estimated and removed from the timing-adjusted samples to obtain frequency-corrected samples, which are processed with a channel estimate to obtain detected symbols. The phases of the detected symbols are corrected to obtain phase corrected symbols, which are demodulated, deinterleaved, and decoded.
US07684471B2 Rake-finger combiner with reduced resource requirement
An efficient architecture for a rake combiner is disclosed, for constructively combining the desired multi-path signals from a Code-Division Multiple-Access (CDMA) based system, such as a Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) system, or an IS-95 CDMA system. The described rake combiner employs a single M-stage tap-delay line, an N+1 input adder, an arrangement of index offsets, pass gates, comparators and an M-stage counter to perform the combination, where M represents the delay spread in terms of symbol duration and N represents the number of rake fingers to be combined. The rake combiner architecture facilitates lowered resource requirements through use of a single tap-delay line in contrast to a conventional rake combiner which uses a series of M-stage tap-delay lines and an N input adder to perform the combination.
US07684470B2 Fast acquisition of a pilot signal in a wireless communication device
In a remote unit of a wireless communication system, the speed of acquisition, or reacquisition, of a pilot signal by a search engine is increased. PN space is divided into segments and a coarse search of each segment is performed using a set of “fast” search parameters. A set of peak signal strengths, along with their corresponding PN offsets, is saved for each segment of PN space. Following the search of all segments of PN space, the peak signal strengths which were saved during the coarse acquisition are evaluated. Coarse acquisition search results are used by the remote unit to determine fine search window parameters for subsequent searches performed by the remote unit search engine. The fine search parameters concentrate searching efforts on portions of PN space most likely to contain a viable base station pilot signal.
US07684467B2 Performing blind scanning in a receiver
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving data corresponding to a portion of an incoming radio frequency (RF) spectrum, determining a set of estimates including one or more pairs of a channel frequency estimate and a symbol rate estimate from the data via a linear spectrum analysis, and determining a refined set of estimates from the set of estimates via at least one non-linear spectrum analysis.
US07684462B2 System and method for controlling variations of switching frequency
System and method for providing frequency control to a power converter. The system includes a pseudorandom signal generator configured to generate a digital signal. The digital signal is associated with at least an N-bit datum, and N is a positive integer. Additionally, the system includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive the digital signal and generate a first control signal, an output signal generator configured to receive the first control signal and generate at least a first output signal associated with a frequency, and a pulse-width-modulation generator configured to receive at least the first output signal. The N-bit datum represents a pseudorandom number.
US07684461B2 Multimode receiver
The present invention relates to a receiver for processing a received signal (SEQ), said receiver being multimode. The invention is characterized in that it comprises; a) a single RF chip for processing the received signal (SEQ) in any mode, said chip comprising a spreading section (SPREAD SEC) for spreading and downconverting to baseband a received signal (SEQ), and a channel filtering section (CH SEC) for DC offsets rejection on a received signal (SEQ), and b) a single baseband chip (BB) comprising despreading means (DSPR) for despreading a spread signal (SEQ).
US07684458B2 Surface-emission laser diode and fabrication process thereof
A surface-emission laser diode comprises a cavity region over a semiconductor substrate and includes an active layer containing at least one quantum well active layer producing a laser light and a barrier layer, a spacer layer is provided in the vicinity of the active layer and formed of at least one material, an upper and lower reflectors are provided at a top part and a bottom part of the cavity region, the cavity region and the upper and lower reflectors form a mesa structure over the semiconductor substrate, the upper and lower reflectors being formed of a semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector having a periodic change of refractive index and reflecting incident light by interference of optical waves, at least a part of the semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector is formed of a layer of small refractive index of AlxGa1-xAs (0
US07684455B2 Oscillator and imaging apparatus utilizing resonant tunneling diode structure
An oscillator including a substrate and a resonant tunneling diode including a gain medium provided on the substrate. The gain medium includes at least two quantum well layers and plural barrier layers for separating the quantum well layers from each other. The quantum well layers each have one of a compressive strain and a tensile strain. The plural barrier layers that sandwich the quantum well layers having the strain have a strain in a direction opposite to the direction of the strain of the quantum well layers.
US07684449B2 Optical fiber for fiber laser device and fiber laser device using same
A cladding is provided at an outer periphery of a solid-core doped with rare earth ions, and a metal layer is formed to be adjacent to the cladding to provide an optical fiber for a fiber laser device. The metal layer having an inner metal layer and an outer metal layer is disposed along an entire length of the optical fiber for a fiber laser device. An exciting light is incident to the optical fiber for a fiber laser device, and the exciting light is reflection-excited to emit a high power laser oscillation light. A monitoring current is constantly flown into the metal layer. When the disconnection of the optical fiber for a fiber laser device is detected based on the monitoring current, the energization of the optical fiber for a fiber laser device is stopped.
US07684448B2 Method and apparatus for data interleaving and data de-interleaving against periodical position interference
A method for data interleaving and data de-interleaving against periodical position interference, the process of data interleaving includes: multiplexing data of different transport channels, interleaving the data multiplexed, and outputting the data interleaved; the process of data de-interleaving includes: receiving the data interleaved, de-interleaving the data received, and de-multiplexing the data de-interleaved into different transport channels; performing a randomized operation in the process of the data interleaving and an inverse operation of the randomized calculation in the process of the data de-interleaving to make the outputted position of the data of different transport channels after the interleaving be random. It may be avoided by applying the present invention that all synchronization interference signals in a wireless channel are concentrated in the data of the same transport channel.
US07684446B2 System and method for multiplexing setpoints
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of providing analog setpoints that eliminate, or at least substantially reduces, the shortcomings of prior art analog setpoint systems and methods. One embodiment of the present invention includes a method of multiplexing analog setpoints comprising transmitting the analog signal to a plurality of target devices, wherein the analog signal represents multiple setpoints, transmitting a first setpoint indicator separate from the analog signal to indicate to a first target device that a first setpoint for the first target device is being represented by the analog signal, saving a first setpoint value asserted by the analog signal at the first target device in response to the first setpoint indicator.
US07684441B2 Automated precision alignment of data in a utility monitoring system
A data alignment algorithm that automatically aligns data from multiple monitoring devices to the same zero-crossings at the same point in time. Cycle-by-cycle frequency data is received from each monitoring device and a cross-correlation algorithm is performed to determine a correlation coefficient between a reference monitoring device and another monitoring device. The data of the other monitoring device is shifted by one cycle and another correlation coefficient is calculated by the cross-correlation algorithm. The data of the two monitoring devices is aligned at the point at which the maximum correlation coefficient is calculated or the point at which the correlation coefficient exceeds a threshold value. The clocks of the monitoring devices can also be synchronized at the same point of alignment.
US07684435B2 Base station system for mobile communication
A base station system for mobile communication between a mobile terminal and a base station controller, the base station system utilizing a digital modem unit for receiving a signal to be transmitted to the mobile terminal from the base station controller, framing the received signal according to a frame format for transmission different than an Ethernet specified data format, the frame format being a predetermined remote RF (radio frequency) unit frame, the digital modem unit transmitting a plurality of the remote RF unit frames in series over an Ethernet using twisted pair cable, at least one remote RF unit hub receiving the remote RF unit frames transmitted by the digital modem unit and distributing the received remote RF unit frames to a plurality of remote RF units via the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, and the plurality of remote RF units producing a deframed signal by deframing the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub, modulating the deframed signal to an RF signal, and transmitting the RF signal to the mobile terminal, wherein the remote RF unit frames are divided into a traffic frame for use in transmitting traffic data, which is transmitted and received by the mobile terminal and a control frame for use in transmitting a control address and control data, the control address differentiating the plurality of remote RF units from one another, the control data containing a command to control operation and functions of the plurality of remote RF units.
US07684433B2 Method and apparatus for bi-directional communication between analog and digital devices
A bi-directional communications interface includes a source multiplexer for connecting to a video source. The source multiplexer includes a source multiplexer input port for receiving an analog video signal from the video source, a source multiplexer output port for driving the video source with an upstream data signal, and a source multiplexer bi-directional port for coupling the analog video signal from the source multiplexer input port to the video cable and for coupling the upstream data signal from the video cable to the source multiplexer output port.
US07684431B1 System and method for arbitration in a packet switch
A packet switch arbitration system and method for arbitration in a packet switch. In one aspect, a method of issuing grants to an ingress port is disclosed in which a first grant request and burst signal are activated at an ingress port having more than one word available for transfer through the switch. A first grant is issued to the ingress port on a first interval. A subsequent grant is issued to the ingress port on a subsequent interval, where the subsequent grant is issued before the ingress port has validated the first grant request.
US07684428B2 System and method to free unused time-slots in a distributed MAC protocol
The system and method of the present invention provide a protocol for a device (400) to announce that a previously reserved time-period or time-slot is not (completely) used and becomes available, so that other devices can transmit during the unused time. The system and method are especially intended for systems with distributed medium reservation by the devices, i.e., those systems adhering to a distributed reservation protocol (DRP).
US07684427B2 Switching matrix with two control inputs at each switching element
A switching matrix has a first number of inputs and a second number of outputs as well as a conductor arrangement and controllable switching elements by means of which the inputs can be connected with the outputs. The controllable switching elements are fashioned such that at least two independent control signals are required to trigger a switching event.
US07684424B2 Memory interleaving in a high-speed switching environment
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for memory interleaving in a high-speed switching environment includes multiple memory units that each include one or more memory devices. The system also includes multiple port modules. Each port module can receive a packet communicated from a component of a communications network, write the received packet to one or more of the memory units, and read a packet from one or more of the memory units for communication to the component of the communications network. The system also includes an interconnection network including a hierarchical structure that includes one or more switching stages. The interconnection network couples the memory units to the port modules such that each of the port modules can write to each of the memory units according to a first schedule and read from each of the memory units according to a second schedule and such that a first port module can read a first portion of a packet from one or more memory units for communication to a first component of the communications network before a second port module has received a second portion of the packet communicated from a second component of the communications network.
US07684423B2 System and method for virtual network interface cards based on internet protocol addresses
A system including a network interface card (NIC) associated with a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a host operatively connected to the NIC. The NIC includes a default hardware receive ring (HRR), a plurality of non-default HRRs, and a hardware classifier. The hardware classifier is configured to analyze an inbound packet using a destination Internet Protocol (IP) address and to send the inbound packet to one of the plurality of non-default HRRs if the inbound packet is a unicast packet, and to send the packet to the default HRR if the inbound packet is an inbound multi-recipient packet. The host includes a plurality of virtual NICs (VNICs) and an inbound software classifier, that includes a plurality of software receive rings (SRRs) and is configured to obtain inbound packets from the default HRR, and to determine to which of the plurality of SRRs to send a copy of the packet.
US07684421B2 Information routing in a distributed environment
An information management system for a device network is disclosed. The information management system may include a service requester node, a monitoring node, and a service provider node. The system may include a service oriented request message including a message header, having a list of destination nodes, including the service provider node, to which the service oriented request message is addressed, and a service request. The system may include a routing module disposed in the monitoring node and configured to analyze the list of destination nodes in the message, create a modified message including at least one child node selected from the service provider nodes based on a fan-out of the device network, and forward the modified message to the at least one child node, the modified message including a message header, having an updated list of one or more destination nodes, including the service provider nodes, to which the modified message is addressed, and the service request. The routing module may be configured to receive a response to the service request from the at least one child node, aggregate the response received into a single message, and send the single message to a parent node in the device network.
US07684419B2 Ethernet encapsulation over optical transport network
A method and system for encapsulating a frame for transport over an optical transport network are disclosed. A method includes receiving a packet at a network device and encapsulating the packet. The packet is received from a network having a line frequency different than a payload frequency of the optical transport network and the encapsulated packet is configured for transport directly over the optical transport network without modification to compensate for the different frequencies.
US07684417B2 Method of migrating processes between networks and network system thereof
To eliminate interruption of a service used by a user and reset of communication caused by switching of an operating server such as a process migration or the like. On receiving a session migration start request, server/network cooperation control means 2 issues an operating server-switching control start notification to an operating server switching control means 3 (step S702). On receiving the operating server switching control start notification, the operating server switching control means 3 switches an operating server. Next, on receiving an operating server switching control completion notification, the server/network cooperation control means 2 sends a connection destination target network-switching request to a connection control means 4 (step S707). The connection control means 4 switches the connection destination target network of the user corresponding to a user name whose connection destination target network is to be switched, from a target network including a main server to a switch destination target network including a backup server (step S708).
US07684415B2 Audio network system
A plurality of partial networks can work independently from each other, and each partial network connects together several nodes including a connection node for transmission of audio signals. A connection network connects respective connection nodes of the respective partial networks so as to connect the plurality of the partial networks with each other through the connection nodes. The connection node of the partial network operates when the audio signal is transmitted from the partial network to the connection network, for forwarding the audio signal from a transmission channel used for carrying the audio signal in the partial network to another transmission channel to be used for carrying the audio signal in the connection network, and operates when the audio signal is transmitted from the connection network to the partial network, for forwarding the audio signal from a transmission channel used for carrying the audio signal in the connection network to another transmission channel to be used for carrying the audio signal in the partial network.
US07684414B2 System and method for using performance enhancing proxies with IP-layer encryptors
A mechanism to allow hosts on the plaintext side of IP-layer encryptors to utilize Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) on the ciphertext side of IP-layer encryptors is provided. Two processes are utilized for each IP-layer encryptor to extend a higher-level protocol (as represented, for example, by OSI layers 4-7) from the plaintext or red-side of the IP-layer encryptor to the ciphertext or black-side of the IP-layer encryptor. These two processes are known as the red-side Performance Enhancing Proxy Enabler (PEPE) and the black-side PEPE. The red-side and black-side PEPEs of a local IP-layer encryptor work together with red-side and black-side PEPEs of a remote IP-layer encryptor to transmit packets between the IP-layer encryptors using a higher-level protocol. Hence, PEPEs allow packets exchanged by red-side hosts separated by IP-layer encryptors to be transmitted on the black-side using a higher-level protocol. Therefore, PEPEs allow hosts on the red-side to take advantage of PEPs on the black-side.
US07684409B2 Efficient message delivery in a multi-channel uni-directional communications system
A method and system for efficiently delivering messages from a service provider to individual receiving devices in a unidirectional, multi-channel communications system that provides parallel distribution of information from the service provider to the receiving devices. The messages are transferred from the service provider to the receiving device only on an agreed-upon channel at an agreed-upon time, wherein each message is tagged with an address corresponding to the receiving device by the service provider and then transmitted by the service provider to the receiving device on the agreed-upon channel with the receiving device filtering the agreed-upon channel to detect the address and decode its messages. The agreed-upon channel and the agreed-upon time of message transfers are coordinated between the service provider and the receiving device prior to transferring the message from the service provider to the receiving device.
US07684408B2 Communication mode control method, mobile communication system, base station control apparatus, base station, and mobile communication terminal
A communication mode which should be set to a mobile communication terminal having a function of switching between an autonomous mode and a scheduling mode is determined based on an amount of interference in each of the communication modes in the cell of a base station, and/or communication characteristics of each of the communication modes, and a signal indicating an amount of communication data notified from the mobile communication terminal. The base station then notifies the determined communication mode to the mobile communication terminal.
US07684406B2 Data packet filtering in a client-router server architecture
A computer network system comprising a plurality of client hardware elements forming a computer network (414); a server network segment (412); and a router (416) for interconnecting the computer network (414) with the server network segment (412); the computer network (414) being assigned at least one first access address range, and the server network segment (412) being assigned at least one second access address range and at least one third access address range, wherein the at least one second access address range is separate from the at least one first access address range and the at least one third access address range represents at least a sub-range of the at least one first access address range, and wherein the router (416) is set up to only route addresses within the same access address range.
US07684404B1 Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell formatting
A method for formatting ATM cells compliant with SPI-4 Phase 2 specification is presented. The method enables selection among various cell formats depending on the devices employed, and enables use of a payload-only test format, a typical format having payload and header data, a format having header error correction (HEC) data and dummy data, and a format having HEC data and user data.
US07684402B2 Method and network device for fast look-up in a connection-oriented communication
A method for fast look-up in a connection-oriented communication includes generating a connection associated information according to peer information of a first peer and a second peer, storing the connection associated information into the first peer and the second peer, and building a connection between the first peer and the second peer according to the connection associated information. Generating the connection associated information includes generating an index and a way.
US07684401B2 Method and system for using extended fabric features with fibre channel switch elements
A fiber channel switch element and method for routing fiber channel frames is provided. The switch element includes a receive segment that can add a virtual storage area network (“VSAN”) tagging header to frames that are received by the receive segment; and strip the VSAN tagging header before frames are sent to ports that do not support virtual fabric capability. The receive segment includes a table used for matching fabric extension parameters. An incoming frame's VSAN identity value is compared to a control word entry to generate a value used for routing the incoming frame. The table is used to determine if a frame is part of a virtual fabric. The routing table for each port is used to route frames and the routing table includes entries for supported virtual fabrics.
US07684400B2 Logarithmic time range-based multifield-correlation packet classification
Classification of network data packets includes a determination sets of one or more filter-identifiers where each set is associated with a respective data-packet classifier field. A result-set of filter-identifiers may be derived based on an intersection of the filter-identifier sets.
US07684399B2 Optical transmission network with asynchronous mapping and demapping and digital wrapper frame for the same
An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components. The asynchronous network operation provides for asynchronous remapping or remapping of any client signal utilizing any type of transmission protocol where the line side rate or frequency is always the same frequency for the payload signal and the local frequency at an intermediate node is set to a local reference clock in accordance with the payload type and its overhead ratio, i.e., the overhead ratio is varied to meet the desired difference between the line rate or frequency and the desired client signal payload rate or frequency for the particular client signal payload type.
US07684392B2 Communication processing system, communication processing method, communication terminal, data transfer controller, and program
A virtual network prefix is provided as a dedicated prefix for a mobile node in a domain having a plurality of subnets. The domain includes a layered network that has a quasi-micro mobility network (QMMN) and a pure-micro mobility network (PMMN). The quasi-micro mobility network (QMMN) performs prefix-based routing, and the pure-micro mobility network (PMMN) performs routing using two different routing protocols, that is, prefix-based routing and host-based routing. In each network, processing for changing a route, such as changing cache data or the like, is performed depending on how a terminal moves.
US07684390B2 Integrated circuit capable of transmitting probe packets across a stack of switches
A method according to one embodiment may include communicating with at least one external device using at least one port, said at least one external device comprises at least one probe port. The method of this embodiment may also include receiving at least one data packet and generating at least one probe packet. The method of this embodiment may further include generating at least one probe packet device vector and transmitting the probe packet and the probe packet device vector to at least one probe port of at least one external device via at least one port. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07684383B1 Method and system for dynamic call type detection for circuit and packet switched networks
A method and system for dynamic call type detection for circuit and packet-switched networks. A network endpoint, such as a gateway, will receive an incoming signal and make an examination of the signal to detect characteristics of the signal. Upon detection of a characteristic of the signal, the gateway will generate a data packet, identifying the characteristic, and send the packet to a receiving network endpoint. The initial gateway will continue to examine the incoming signal and continue to send packets identifying characteristics of the signal as more characteristics are detected. The receiving gateway may then begin reproducing the signal in part by generating a signal that has the characteristics as indicated by the data packets. Once the initial gateway no longer receives the incoming signal, and determines that an event has occurred, the gateway will send a packet to the receiving gateway to inform it of the event.
US07684382B2 Provider network for providing L-2 VPN services and edge router
The provider network that interconnects user networks includes a plurality of edge routers. At least one of the plurality of edge routers includes an obtaining unit for obtaining information of a packet transferred by the edge router itself, a creating unit for creating a flow list in which flow information of packets transferred from the user network side to the provider network side is registered based on the packet information, a monitoring unit for monitoring a traffic state of a flow of each packet registered in the flow list based on information of packets transferred from the provider network to the user network, and a notifying unit for notifying the traffic state of the flow registered in the flow list to a maintenance engineer.
US07684381B2 Offset beacon for distributed management and control of wireless networks
Using this methodology, a wireless network can be self-forming or “ad-hoc” in nature. That is, the formation of the network does not depend upon the presence of a pre-determined central coordinator. Second, it can accommodate relatively rapid changes in network configuration, including changes in the number and location of the devices participating in the network, and changes in the channel conditions experienced by communication devices. Third, it can accommodate an extended network system where the population of devices that are able to communicate wirelessly, either directly, or indirectly via devices that also act as repeaters, may be spread over a relatively large geographic area. Fourth, it can provide robust Quality of Service through the use of time reservations or “slots” during which one device or a limited number of devices are allowed to transmit. Fifth, it can provide good power management qualities, such that there are mechanisms which allow devices minimize active time and to transition in and out of reduced power “sleep” states while still maintaining the ability to communication.
US07684367B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting data using multi-round contention avoidance
An apparatus and method for transmitting data by using Multi-round Contention Avoidance (MrCA) are provided. The method includes initializing a contention window for each of a plurality of contention rounds and setting a backoff counter corresponding to a size of the contention window for each contention round, starting from a first contention round to a last contention round, decrementing a backoff counter of a corresponding contention round in a time slot unit and transmitting data when the decremented backoff counter is zero and when the corresponding contention round is a last contention round. Accordingly, the number of contending nodes is exponentially decreased for each contention round, resulting in significant decrease in a collision probability in addition to improving fairness on channel use among users.
US07684366B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for selecting quality of service-related information in a radio communication system
Apparatus, and an associated method, for reporting QoS information associated with a reverse link communication service effectuated in a radio communication system, such as a CDMA2000 cellular communication system. The mobile station includes a service quality level selector that selects a selected service quality level, such as a communication rate, at which the communication service is to be effectuated. The mobile station further selectably includes a message generator that generates a service quality indication message. A detector detects the scheduling architecture of a network part of the communication system with which the mobile station communicates. And, information contained in the message generated by the message generator is dependent, in part, upon the scheduling architecture.
US07684365B2 Half duplex frequency division duplex scheduling
A method, computer program, and a wireless system for scheduling half duplex frequency division duplex bursts includes populating a burst frame having an uplink sub-frame and a downlink sub-frame with one or more block pairs, each block pair including an uplink block and a down link block. Populating the burst frame includes identifying a largest unscheduled block pair, and appending one of the uplink block and the downlink block of the identified block pair to a shortest sub-frame string. Populating the burst frame also includes appending the other of the uplink block and the downlink block to a diagonally opposed sub-frame string. The method also includes determining if a conflict exists between the uplink block and the downlink block for each scheduled block pair.
US07684358B2 Method for providing interactive data service in a mobile communication system
A method for providing an interactive data service between a base station and a mobile station in a mobile communication system including at least one mobile station, the base station communicating with the mobile station, and a server connected to the base station. The base station simultaneously transmits data transmitted from the server, to one or more mobile stations over a forward common channel. A particular mobile station receiving a service through the common channel transmits reverse transmission data over a dedicated channel.
US07684355B2 Transparent wireless bridge route aggregation
In an example embodiment, there is described herein a “Wireless Route Aggregation Protocol” (WRAP) that is used to aggregate multiple wireless links into a WRAP “route bundle” that functions as a single logical LAN bridge link. WRAP link aggregation can be used for example to increase the bandwidth and robustness of the wireless path between two wired Ethernet LANs.
US07684353B2 Method and apparatus for managing transmission and reception of data over a network
In a network which includes at least a transmission-side apparatus having a plurality of logical plugs and a reception-side apparatus having a plurality of logical plugs, correspondence between transmission-side logical plugs (e.g., P2 to P4) and reception-side logical plugs (e.g., P4 to P6) is established. The reception-side apparatus stores therein plug data Splug (P2) representing one of the transmission-side logical plugs, plug data Dplug representing a logical plug corresponding to the plug data Splug, among the plurality of reception-side logical plugs, and connection number Nconn representing the number of logical plugs to be connected. The transmission-side apparatus adds to control data a plug number PluNO (P3) representing the logical plug which has output the control data and transmits the control data. The reception-side apparatus determines whether to receive the control data, on the basis of PluNO, Splug, and Nconn, and specifies a logical plug (P5) which receives the control data, on the basis of PluNO, Splug, and Dplug.
US07684352B2 Distributed storage of routing information in a link state protocol controlled network
A distributed hash table is implemented to store routing information on a network. Node IDs exchanged in connection with implementation of a link state routing protocol are used as keys in the distributed hash table, and routes are stored at one or more nodes on the network. When a route is learned, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should store the route. When a route is needed, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should have the route information. The manner in which the route is processed against the set of keys is the same in both instances, so that the DHT may be used to store and retrieve route information on the network. The DHT may be implemented to store MAC addresses, IP addresses, MPLS labels, or other information of interest to enable routes to be stored and learned by network elements on the network.
US07684351B2 Inter-domain optimization trigger in PCE-based environment
A technique triggers optimization of a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) that spans multiple domains of a computer network from a head-end node of a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain. The technique is based on the detection of an event in the remote domain (“event domain”) that could create a more optimal TE-LSP, such as, e.g., restoration of a network element or increased available bandwidth. Specifically, a path computation element (PCE) in the event domain learns of the event and notifies other PCEs of the event through an event notification. These PCEs then flood an event notification to label switched routers (LSRs) in their respective domain. Upon receiving the notification, if an LSR has one or more TE-LSPs (or pending TE-LSPs), it responds to the PCE with an optimization request for the TE-LSPs. The PCE determines whether a particular TE-LSP may benefit from optimization based on the event domain (i.e., whether the TE-LSP uses the event domain), and processes the request accordingly.
US07684347B2 Method and apparatus for network packet capture distributed storage system
This is invention comprises a method and apparatus for Infinite Network Packet Capture System (INPCS). The INPCS is a high performance data capture recorder capable of capturing and archiving all network traffic present on a single network or multiple networks. This device can be attached to Ethernet networks via copper or SX fiber via either a SPAN port (101) router configuration or via an optical splitter (102). By this method, multiple sources or network traffic including gigabit Ethernet switches (102) may provide parallelized data feeds to the capture appliance (104), effectively increasing collective data capture capacity. Multiple captured streams are merged into a consolidated time indexed capture stream to support asymmetrically routed network traffic as well as other merged streams for external consumption.
US07684345B2 Method for monitoring upstream burst performance in a point to multi-point access network
The present disclosure is related to a method for monitoring upstream burst performance in a point to multi-point access network. The method comprises: determining the expected time of the upstream data burst from the current terminal end (TE) reaching the head end (HE) using the timeslot assigned to the current TE, monitoring the actual time of the upstream data burst from the current TE reaching the HE, calculating and saving the difference between the expected time and the actual time of the upstream data burst from the current TE reaching the HE; calculating and outputting whether the difference is equal to or exceeds the TE's performance index value for the predetermined monitoring terms. The method provided by the present disclosure may monitor upstream burst performance of the entire network and discover the TEs with potential malfunctions, to effectively improve the network's stability.
US07684341B2 Enhanced return path performance using modulation-based alignment criteria
A method of allocating power among a plurality of signals, at least two of the signals employing different signal formats, located on different channels of the return path of a cable data network, divides a total power available for the signals on the return path in accordance with a minimum value of an average BER for all the signals and allocates power to each of the signals in accordance therewith. Specifically, a number of parameters are obtained including modulation type and symbol rate for each signal format employed on the return path, the AWGN noise floor across the reverse link, the nominal maximum available RF power for transmitting signals on the reverse path. A predetermined BER expression for each of the modulation types employed on the return path is then obtained, each of the expressions requiring a plurality of input values that includes the above-noted parameters. An expression is then formulated for an average BER based on the predetermined BER expressions and on a number of channels of each signal format type associated with a corresponding BER expression. The power to be allocated to each signal format by minimizing the average BER is then calculated.
US07684337B2 Method and system for communicating in cooperative relay networks
A method and system for communicating information in a cooperative relay network of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes including a source, a set of relays, and a destination. Channel state information for each channel between a particular relay of the set of relays and the destination is estimated. A subset of the relays is selected based on the channel state information. The channel state information is fed back to the subset of relays. The source node can then broadcasting data packets from the source to the subset of relays, and the subset of relays forward coherently the data packets from the subset of relays to the destination using beamforming based on the channel state information, while adjusting power to minimize a total energy consumption in the network.
US07684334B2 Method of call processing at communication node
In a method of processing a call in response to a connection request that includes reported bandwidths in both upstream and downstream directions, a communication node on the calling side (1) manages available bandwidths in upstream and downstream directions on a per-path basis; (2) searches for a path having upstream/downstream available bandwidths, which are greater than the upstream/downstream reported bandwidths; (3) if such a path can be found, accepts the call connection request as a call communicated in both directions on this path; (4) if such a path cannot be found, searches independently for a path having an available bandwidth greater than the upstream reported bandwidth and a path having an available bandwidth greater than the downstream reported bandwidth; and (5) if these two paths can be found, accepts the call connection request as a call communicated on the separate paths on a per-upstream- and downstream-direction basis.
US07684333B1 Reliable quality of service (QoS) provisioning using adaptive class-based contention periods
A method and system for allocating bandwidth of a wireless channel to different types of traffic includes partitioning the bandwidth of the wireless channel into a plurality of contention periods. Traffic flows are associated with access categories, and one or more of the access categories are assigned to each contention period. During at least one of the contention periods, traffic flows associated with a proper subset of the access categories contend for access to the wireless channel.
US07684329B2 Method and apparatus for augmenting physical layer ARQ in a wireless data communication system
A system (100) and various methods and apparatus for efficient communications of data across various protocol layers are disclosed. A control and transceiver system (1400) configured for determining a data rate control (DRC) value and for transmission a maximum number of time slots allowed for transmission of a physical layer packet of data (510). After detecting a normal termination of transmission, the decoding thresholds (401, 402) are adjusted for decoding a positive acknowledgment message, and repeating decoding of acknowledgment channel (340) with the adjusted thresholds (401, 402). Retransmitting the physical layer packet of data at least one more time after based on whether the repeat of decoding of the acknowledgment channel (340) produces a negative acknowledgment message. The retransmission may be conditioned upon a throughput level of communications between the base station and the mobile station.
US07684328B2 Data transfer network
The present invention provides a data transfer network receiving a higher evaluation overall than conventional ones from various perspectives such as the number of effective nodes, the required number of links, and the required maximum node capacity. The present invention is a data transfer network of a hyper configuration in which each node is an element of m (m is 2 or more) different local networks. Further, at least one of the local networks to which the respective nodes belong is a hub network and, when a node belongs to a local network other than a hub network, the local network is a full mesh network.
US07684325B2 Method for network analysis and network analyser module
A method for network analysis in an access network (1) in connection with a data transmission network, in particular an xDSL network, with a plurality of subscriber lines (4.1-4.3). The method comprising the step of collecting data on physical layer operational parameters ({φoi}) of at least one subscriber line (4.1-4.3) and the steps of simulating a behavior of higher network layers based on said collected data when deploying at least one application (6.1-6.3) on said subscriber line (4.1-4.3); generating data on higher layer performance parameters for said application (6.1-6.3); and generating an advice signal (AS) based on said data and indicative of the compatibility of the physical layer/application couple with predetermined Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements for said application (6.1-6.3). Thus, the proposed method provides network operators with information concerning the question if a given service application (6.1-6.3) will run on a respective data transmission (core and access) network (1, 1′) in accordance with the QoS values recommended for said application (6.1-6.3), in particular a high-bandwidth rich media service type application, e.g. a triple-play service.
US07684324B2 System and method for prioritizing individual streams within a multimedia flow
The present invention provides a system and method for prioritizing delay-sensitive packets relative to each other for transmission from a router in a network, based on a delay variation estimated for each delay-sensitive packet by a quality of service monitor. In accordance with the present invention, late delay-sensitive packets are assigned a higher priority than, and are transmitted before, other delay-sensitive packets, thereby reducing the level of jitter and improving the quality of the packet streams that comprise late delay-sensitive packets.
US07684323B2 Service error handling in a communications network
Control device behavior in error situations where an error response is received from an application is improved. In case a response message received from an application for a communication request is evaluated as an error message by the control device, control of the communication request can be continued on the basis of service-specific data.
US07684319B2 Transmission control protocol congestion window
Techniques for managing a TCP congestion window. Such techniques include incrementing an acknowledgement (ACK) count for non-duplicate Transmission Control Protocol ACKs received, comparing the ACK count to a congestion window factor representing the ratio of a congestion window size associated with a connection to a maximum segment size associated with the connection, and, based on the comparing, incrementing the congestion window factor.
US07684318B2 Shared-communications channel utilization for applications having different class of service requirements
A technique is disclosed that enables latency-tolerant and latency-intolerant applications to intelligently share a shared-communications channel in a manner that seeks to satisfy the needs of all of the applications. In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables each application to be associated with a different class of service, wherein each class of service is associated with one or more quality-of-service parameters (e.g., minimum throughput, maximum latency, etc.). The illustrative embodiment then effectively apportions access to the shared-communications channel by regulating different degrees of bursting (i.e., the transmission of multiple frames at a single transmission opportunity) based on the class of service associated with the application.
US07684316B2 Multicast fast reroute for network topologies
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a multicast join message at a node having a plurality of interfaces, identifying the interface at which the join message was received, and selecting one or more of the interfaces to transmit the join message based on whether the join message was received on a ring interface. If the join message was received on one of the ring interfaces, the join message is transmitted on another of the interfaces. If the join message was not received on one of the ring interfaces, the join message is transmitted on both of the ring interfaces. The method further includes receiving multicast data and transmitting the multicast data on the interface at which the join message was received.
US07684315B1 Ordered switchover of cable modems
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) provides for ordered switchover of the cable modems it serves when a primary module of the CMTS fails. When the primary module in the CMTS fails, a backup module takes over service of the cable modems. The backup module restores the service flows of the cable modems based on a restoration order determined by session recovery priorities that are related to quality of service levels required by the service flows. In particular, service flows that are engaged in VoIP “911” calls are restored first. Service flows engaged in other VoIP calls are next restored. Lastly, service flows engaged in regular data sessions are restored.
US07684313B2 System and method for FFT window timing synchronization for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed data stream
A system and method for determining an FFT window location for reception of an OFDM signal received over a transmission channel. The OFDM signal includes a plurality of symbols each having a guard interval. The system includes a correlation module that determines a location of maximum correlation in a first symbol, an FFT module to perform an FFT on the OFDM signal based upon an initial FFT window location, and an adjustment module. The adjustment module determines a plurality of permissible echo location options based upon the initial FFT window location, selects a permissible echo location option that corresponds most closely to the location of maximum correlation, and adjusts the initial FFT window location based upon the selected permissible echo location option so that the adjusted FFT window location includes substantially all of a useful symbol length of the first symbol while a maximum number of echoes are included within the guard interval of the first symbol.
US07684311B2 Equalizer and equalization method
There is provided an equalizer that includes: a first extracting circuit extracting a plurality of pilot symbols from an inputted signal; an inverse Fourier transform circuit inversely Fourier transforming the extracted plurality of pilot symbols, and computing a complex gain per path; a second extracting circuit extracting a plurality of paths by using the complex gains; a Fourier transform circuit Fourier transforming the extracted paths; and an equalization computing circuit extracting phase components of the Fourier-transformed paths, and carrying out multiplication by using the inputted signal and the extracted phase components.
US07684310B2 Preamble for identifying mobile stations in a wireless communication network
Techniques and apparatus for identifying the target mobile stations for data transmission in a wireless communication network. Techniques and apparatus can include generating a first N-symbol bi-orthogonal sequence from Walsh functions based on a first portion of a MACIndex and generating a complex preamble signal based on a second portion of the MACIndex. Generating the complex preamble signal can include applying the first N-symbol bi-orthogonal sequence between an In-phase branch and a Quadrature branch channel of a complex signal, which can include switching between the In-phase and Quadrature branch channels based on the second portion of the MACIndex to communicate information.
US07684309B2 Multi-purpose high-density optical disc
An optical recording medium includes a first half-disc and a second half-disc. The first half-disc includes a substrate and an information layer (including a reflective layer) formed on a first side of the substrate. The second half-disc is bonded by an adhesive to a second side of the substrate of the first half-disc. In addition, a cover layer is formed over the first reflective layer. The cover layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm. The substrate of the first half-disc has a thickness in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. The first and second half-discs together have a combined thickness in a range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm.
US07684308B2 Systems and methods for recording optical information
A system controlling recording on an optical disc is provided. A first counter performs a bit count according to provided channel bit clock signals. A second counter performs a sector count responsive to the bit count obtained by the first counter. The Land/Groove switch predicts machine uses the result of bit count and sector count to predict the land/groove switch point. The processor uses the physical ID (PID) to determine the track type of a sector at which a recording operation initiates. The power controller determines a recording power for the recording operation according to the Land/Groove switch predict machine.
US07684306B2 Optical pickup apparatus
There is provided an optical pickup apparatus that can obtain a stable servo signal by reducing stray light generated by diffraction in a recording layer other than a recording layer on which light is condensed. A hologram element provided in an optical pickup apparatus for recording information onto a recording medium and/or reproducing information on the recording medium by use of light includes fourth and fifth divisions where at least first-order diffracted light among diffracted light beams obtained by reflection and diffraction on a recording layer other than a light-condensed recording layer on which light is condensed by an objective lens so as not to be directed toward first and second light-receiving elements for detecting focus position information and third to eighth light-receiving elements for detecting track position information.
US07684303B2 Read-only optical recording medium on which unique identification information is written
A method for recording a unique ID to a read-only optical disk adopts the 1-7 PP modulation technique and provides in a plurality of predetermined positions postscript areas each having a predetermined postscript pattern. The postscript pattern takes a form of 3T (pit)-2T (land)-3T (pit) and has a length of 8T (largest code length of a modulated bit string). Modulated bit strings before and after the 3T-2T-3T postscript pattern are formed so that the pit-land-pit postscript pattern complies with the rule of the variable-length modulation even when it is replaced as a whole with a pit-only pattern. Further, the land in the middle will not physically change when irradiated with laser light having a reading-level power, but will be melted with a power higher than the reading-level one.
US07684301B2 Information recording method and apparatus with suppressed mark edge jitters
Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.
US07684300B2 Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus
An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus comprises an optical disk having a reflection layer, an optical information recording layer, a super resolution layer and a protection layer on the recording surface of a substrate, a laser emission control unit for emitting the laser light to record and reproduce the optical information and changing the pulse-like emission pattern, a pickup for radiating by focusing the laser light and receiving the reflected light, a spindle and a spindle motor for supporting and rotationally driving the optical disk, and a reproduction signal processing unit for arithmetically processing the received signal.
US07684297B2 Optical record carrier recording method, optical record carrier and apparatus for writing information
A method, an optical record carrier and an apparatus for writing information to an optical record carrier include reading a write strategy from the optical record carrier which has at least two write strategies, and forming pits and lands by controlling a radiation source with the read write strategy. The method further includes determining which of the at least two write strategies is the most optimal one by reading an indication present on the optical record carrier. The most optimal write strategy is used to form the pits and the lands. If an apparatus for writing information to an optical record carrier is capable of applying two or more write strategies stored on the optical record carrier, then the apparatus reads the indication and applies the write strategy which is the most optimal one.
US07684295B2 Recording medium, method of recording control information on a recording medium, method of recording/reproducing data using control information, and apparatus for recording/reproducing data using control information
The present invention provides a method of recording disc control information in a recordable optical disc including at least one recording layer, and more particularly, a method of recording information indicating a specific location of disc control information within the disc control information itself and a method of searching requested disc control information, thereby enabling to uniformly apply the standardized disc control information to efficiently cope with the record/playback of the optical disc and to efficiently search a plurality of disc informations. In recording disc control information within a management area of an optical disc including at least one or more recording layers, the present invention includes providing at least one or more disc control informations to the management area wherein the at least one or more disc control informations are separately provided per applicable recording layer and per applicable writing speed and wherein an information designating a location of 1st disc control information per the applicable writing speed is separated from an information designating a location of disc information of the applicable recording layer to be recorded within the disc control information.
US07684294B2 Recording or reproduction apparatus
A recording or reproduction apparatus is disclosed which optimizes a standby state for recording or reproduction of a cartridge disk and can achieve rapid restoration of recording action upon ejection. A shutter close mode wherein a recording medium in a cartridge recording medium is not driven by a driving section and a shutter mechanism is closed can be maintained as one of modes during a loading process of the cartridge recording medium to achieve a dust preventing effect, a collision preventing effect with a head and a power saving effect while the cartridge recording medium is in a standby state. If a request to discharge the cartridge recording medium is issued, then the successive changeover from a drive on mode to a drive off mode shutter close mode eject mode is controlled using individual commands for the modes.
US07684290B2 Object lens actuator
In an object lens actuator, stiffness of a lens holder is improved and the higher order resonance frequency is sufficiently increased. The stiffness of the lens holder is improved by providing a flat plate perpendicular to the focusing direction between the side wall of a lens holding part and the outer sidewall along the tracking direction at approximately the middle of both ends of the lens holder along the focusing direction.
US07684280B2 Histogram generation with banks for improved memory access performance
Dividing memory used for storing histogram data into multiple banks is disclosed to allow for phased RMW cycles. Although the same address lines are provided to each bank, address control logic ensures that each successive RMW cycle is handled by a different bank, so that another RMW cycle can be started in one bank while the previous RMW cycle is still being performed in another bank. By staggering or phasing the starts of the RMW cycles in a wraparound fashion, each histogram bin is spread out over multiple banks, but testing can proceed faster than if only a single bank was used. After the histogram data has been captured, the areas of memory in each bank associated with a particular bin can be added together to compute the total count for that bin.
US07684277B2 Non-volatile memory device with controlled application of supply voltage
Embodiments of the invention provide a memory device comprising a non-volatile memory element, a read-out circuit for reading out an item of memory information stored in the memory element, a switching unit, by means of which a supply voltage can be applied to the read-out circuit, and a control unit, which has the capability of controlling the switching unit in a manner dependent on the memory information stored in the memory element.
US07684275B2 Semiconductor memory devices having memory cell arrays with shortened bitlines
A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell array that comprises first memory cells arranged in a matrix of first rows and first columns; a second memory cell array that comprises second memory cells arranged in a matrix of second rows and second columns; a row decoder that is configured to select and activate one of the rows of the first and second cell arrays in response to a row address; a sense amplifier that may be disposed between the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array; a switch that is configured to selectively connect the sense amplifier to the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array; and a switch controller that is configured to control the switch to connect the sense amplifier to one of the first and second memory cell arrays based on the row address.
US07684274B2 High performance, area efficient direct bitline sensing circuit
In a method and apparatus for reading a logic state stored in an 8 transistor memory cell (8TMC), a differential sense circuit includes a differential input circuit having a pair of differential inputs and an output. An output signal is provided at the output and is indicative of a difference between two signals received at the pair of differential inputs. The difference is in accordance with the logic state read from the 8TMC. A sense amplifier is coupled to the output, the sense amplifier being operable to amplify the output signal that is greater than a threshold and switch the output signal to a voltage level corresponding to the logic state. The difference between the two signals measurable over a configurable time period is greater than a corresponding change in any one of the two signals measured over the same period, thereby improving the performance of the 8TMC.
US07684272B2 Semiconductor memory device with transfer switch and method of operating the device
A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier SA, a pair of bit lines BLT, BLB, a transfer switch SW provided between the sense amplifier SA and the pair of bit lines BLT, BLB, a precharge circuit PC that precharges the sense amplifier SA and the pair of bit lines BLT, BLB at the same potential, and a control circuit CTL. The control circuit CTL sets the transfer switch SW in the off state in the state before data is written or read, and turns on the transfer switch SW when writing or reading data via the pair of bit lines BLT, BLB. With this arrangement, a defective current flowing to the sense amplifier SA can be decreased, even when a word line WL and a bit line BL are shortcircuited.
US07684270B2 Equalizer circuit and method of controlling the same
In a conventional equalizer circuit, in an equalizing operation for setting voltages of a wiring pair having a predetermined voltage difference therebetween to be the same, it takes a long time to make the voltages of the wirings in a pair converge to a voltage having an offset with respect to a midpoint voltage of the voltages of the wiring pair after the equalizing operation. According to an equalizer circuit of the present invention, provided is an equalizer circuit (50) which sets the voltages of a first wiring (SAP) and a second wiring (SAN) to be substantially the same and which has a first transistor (N1) connected between the first wiring (SAP) and a first power supply circuit (for example, HVDD−Va) and a second transistor (N2) connected between the first wiring SAP and the second wiring (SAN). The equalizer circuit 50 makes the first transistor (N1) conductive, and then makes the second transistor (N2) conductive.
US07684268B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of cell array blocks; a boosted voltage driving unit for selectively supplying a boosted voltage to the cell array blocks; and a controller controlling a driving operation of the boosted voltage driving unit in response to a cell array block select signal.
US07684267B2 Method and apparatus for memory redundancy in a microprocessor
An apparatus for redundancy of a memory array includes a primary memory array including a plurality of memory cells, one or more of which are defective. A redundant array includes a CAM array that includes a plurality of memory cells. The CAM array is addressed by the address of a defective memory location within the primary memory array and provides a match identification and a resource identification. The redundant array also includes a translation array wherein an offset to configure an input/output multiplexer is stored. The redundant array also includes a redundant data array including a plurality of memory cells wherein one or more memory cells of the redundant data array are used instead of one or more defective memory cells of the primary array.
US07684264B2 Memory system with RAM array and redundant RAM memory cells having a different designed cell circuit topology than cells of non redundant RAM array
A memory system including a random access memory (RAM) array and a corresponding redundant RAM array which stores information redundant to the RAM array, where a designed cell circuit topology of cells within the redundant RAM array differs from a designed cell circuit topology of cells within the RAM array. The redundant RAM array is selectively accessed when accessing the RAM array to store data to the redundant RAM array for failed cells of the RAM array.
US07684262B2 SRAM leakage reduction circuit
A method and system are provided for maintaining a virtual ground node of an SRAM memory array at a minimum level sufficient for maintaining data retention. A circuit can maintain the virtual ground node at a virtual ground reference voltage of Vdd−(1.5*Vth), or maintain 1.5*Vth across the memory cells, where Vth is a threshold voltage of an SRAM memory cell transistor and VDD is a positive supply voltage. By tracking the Vth of the memory cell transistors in the SRAM array, the circuit reduces leakage current while maintaining data integrity. A threshold voltage reference circuit can include one or more memory cell transistors (in parallel), or a specially wired memory cell to track the memory cell transistor threshold voltage. The value of the virtual ground reference voltage can be based on a ratio of feedback chain elements in a multiplier circuit.
US07684258B2 Semiconductor memory and controller with time-shared mode for row address, column address and data mask signals inputted via address terminals
To perform mask control of data signals without increasing the number of external terminals even when the number of bits in a data mask signal is large, an address input circuit sequentially receives a first address signal, a second address signal, and a first data mask signal supplied to an address terminal in synchronization with transition edges of a clock signal. Namely, the first data mask signal is supplied to the address terminal at a different timing from timing at which the first and second address signals are received. The first address signal, second address signal, and first data mask signal are output, for example, from a controller accessing a semiconductor memory. A data input/output circuit inputs/outputs data via a data terminal and masks at least either of write data to memory cells and read data from the memory cells in accordance with logic of the first data mask signal.
US07684254B2 Flash memory device and method of erasing memory cell block in the same
A flash memory device comprises a memory cell array having a plurality of blocks. An address register section is configured to receive a start block address of the first block to be erased among a plurality of blocks to be erased and a last block address of the last block to be erased among the plurality of blocks to be erased. A controlling logic circuit is configured to output an erase command signal and an erase block address corresponding to one of the blocks to be erased. A block address comparing section is configured to compare the erase block address output by the controlling logic circuit with the last block address, and output an erase progress signal based on the comparison of the erase block address and the last block address to the controlling logic circuit. The controlling logic circuit outputs an erase block address of to another block to be erased until the erase progress signal indicates that the last block to be erased has been or is being erased.
US07684242B2 Flash memory device and method of operating the same
A flash memory device is disclosed. The flash memory device includes a memory cell array configured to have memory cells for storing data, and store initial data in a part of the memory cells, a page buffer circuit configured to have page buffers for providing data to be programmed in the memory cell or reading data from the memory cell, a controller configured to control the page buffer circuit so that the initial data stored in the memory cell array are read when operation of the flash memory device is started, discriminate error of the read initial data, and amend the error of the initial data, and an initial data latching circuit for latching the initial data of which the error is amended by the controller.
US07684241B2 Flash memory devices having multi-page copyback functionality and related block replacement methods
Methods of executing a multi-page copyback program in a non-volatile memory device are provided, where the non-volatile memory device includes a memory having a plurality of memory blocks. A page of data of the memory block having a first address is replaced responsive to a generated multi-page copyback program command. It is determined if the first address of the page of data is the same as a stored address of the page at which the failure was detected. The first address is incremented if it is determined that the first address and the stored address are not the same. The pages of data are replaced, the addressed are compared and the addresses are incremented until it is determined that the incremented address and the stored address are the same. Related devices and systems are also provided herein.
US07684240B2 Flash memory device having bit lines decoded in irregular sequence
An embodiment of a flash memory device comprises a cell array including memory cells coupled to bit lines, a decoder configured to decode successive logical column addresses into physical column addresses that are arranged non-sequentially, and a gate circuit to partially select the bit lines in response to the decoded addresses. Physically adjacent bit lines may be activated so that electrical coupling effects are eliminated by non-successively activating the bit lines.
US07684233B2 Multi-bit magnetic memory device using spin-polarized current and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
A multi-bit magnetic memory device using a spin-polarized current and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. The magnetic memory device includes a switching device and a magnetic storage node connected to the switching device, wherein the magnetic storage node includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer which are vertically and separately disposed from one another. The first and second magnetic layer have transmission characteristics opposite to each other for spin-polarized electrons, and have magnetic polarizations that are opposite to each other. The free magnetic layer may include first and second free magnetic layers, which are separately disposed from each other. The magnetic storage node may further include third and fourth magnetic layers that are separately disposed between the first and second free magnetic layers.
US07684231B2 Methods and apparatus for low power SRAM based on stored data
Methods and apparatus provide for controlling an SRAM memory, the SRAM memory including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows (word lines) and columns (bit lines), comprising: inverting a state of data for input to one or more columns of the array; and storing the inverted data in one or more memory cells of the one or more columns.
US07684229B2 Scalable embedded DRAM array
A method and apparatus for scaling an embedded DRAM array from a first process to a second process, wherein the scaling involves reducing the linear dimensions of features by a constant scale factor. From the first process to the second process, DRAM cell capacitor layout area is reduced by the square of the scale factor, while cell capacitance is reduced by the scale factor. The voltage used to supply the logic transistors is scaled down from the first process to the second process. However, the voltage used to supply the sense amplifiers remains constant in both processes. Thus, in an embedded DRAM array of the second process, sense amplifiers are supplied by a greater voltage than the logic transistors. This allows the sensing voltage of DRAM cells to be maintained from one process generation to another, while allowing memory size to scale with the square of the process scale factor.
US07684228B2 Device and method for using dynamic cell plate sensing in a DRAM memory cell
A memory cell, device, system and method for operating a memory cell utilize an isolated dynamic cell plate. The memory cell includes a first and second pass transistor and a first and second capacitor. The first pass transistor and first capacitor and the second pass transistor and second capacitor are each configured in series for individual respective coupling between a first digit line and a second digit line. The first and second pass transistors are further configured for respective control by first and second wordlines. The memory cell further includes an interconnection formed on a cell plate conductor between a terminal end of the first capacitor and a terminal end of the second capacitor. Furthermore, the interconnection is electrically isolated from other portions of the cell plate conductor.
US07684225B2 Sequential and video access for non-volatile memory arrays
An array of non-volatile memory cells arranged in logical columns and logical rows, and associated circuitry to enable reading or writing one or more memory cells on a row in parallel. In some embodiments, the array of memory cells may include a phase change material. In some embodiments, the circuitry may include a write driver, a read driver, a sense amplifier, and circuitry to isolate the memory cells from the sense amplifier with extended refresh. In some embodiments, the circuitry may further include shift registers and one or more arithmetic logic units to provide a video memory.
US07684224B2 Structure comprising 3-dimensional integrated circuit architecture, circuit structure, and instructions for fabrication thereof
An integrated circuit design, structure and method for fabrication thereof includes at least one logic device layer and at least two additional separate memory array layers. Each of the logic device layer and the at least two memory array layers is independently optimized for a particular type of logic device or memory device disposed therein. Preferably also disposed within the logic device layer are array sense amplifiers, memory array output drivers and like higher performance circuitry otherwise generally disposed within memory array layer substrates. All layers may be independently powered to provide additional performance enhancement.
US07684220B2 System and method providing over current and over power protection for power converter
System and method for protecting a power converter. A system includes a threshold generator configured to generate a threshold signal, and a first comparator configured to receive the threshold signal and a first signal and to generate a comparison signal. The first signal is associated with an input current for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a pulse-width-modulation generator configured to receive the comparison signal and generate a modulation signal in response to the comparison signal, and a switch configured to receive the modulation signal and adjust the input current for the power converter. The threshold signal is associated with a threshold magnitude as a function of time. The threshold magnitude increases with time at a first slope during a first period, and the threshold magnitude increases with time at a second slope during a second period. The first slope and the second slope are different.
US07684216B2 Quasi resonant switching mode power supply
A switching mode power supply (SMPS) and a driving method thereof are provided. The SMPS includes a power supply block that includes a first switch coupled to a first coil of a primary side of a transformer for converting an input voltage, wherein the power supply block supplies power to a second coil and a third coil of a secondary side of the transformer according to operation of the first switch; and a PWM signal generator determines a turn-on time of the first switch according to the input voltage, and the turn-on time is determined regardless of a power magnitude of an output terminal connected to the second coil. Accordingly, screen noise due to a ripple can be eliminated and stress on the switch breakdown due to excessive power input can be reduced to enable an SMPS with stable driving.
US07684215B2 Switching mode power supply and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) and a driving method thereof. To this end, the present invention provides a SMPS, which is driven in either a Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) or Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM) in accordance with a determination of a time when a voltage between a first stage and a second stage of the switching transistor is resonated. In accordance with the present invention, the SMPS of a quasi-resonant switching mode can be driven with high efficiency regardless of a signal level of an input voltage and the amount of an output terminal load.
US07684212B2 Electrical connector and system for a component in an electronic device
The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.
US07684211B2 Add-in card fastener
An add-in card fastener is provided. The fastener includes a base, a pressing part, a latch and a supporting part. The base is fixed on an inner surface of a computer case. The pressing part is pivotally connected to the base. The pressing part has a pin located on a first surface of the pressing part to press an add-in card on a motherboard. The supporting part is connected to the base. The latch is located on one side of the supporting part and presses a second surface of the pressing part when the pressing part presses the add-in card. The second surface of the pressing part is opposite the first surface of the pressing part.
US07684206B2 Electronic circuit module including chip mounted to multi-layer wiring plate in flip chip manner
The invention provides an electronic circuit module capable of reliably mounting a chip to a multi-layer wiring plate in a flip chip manner.In an electronic circuit module according to an embodiment of the invention, a chip including bumps with a height of d is mounted to a multi-layer wiring plate including surface electrodes and internal electrodes in a flip chip manner. In the multi-layer wiring plate, when the minimum thickness of the surface electrode and the internal electrodes overlapping each other below each of the bumps is TD and the maximum thickness of the surface electrode and the internal electrodes overlapping each other in a space surrounded by the bumps is TI, the surface electrodes and the internal electrodes are arranged so as to satisfy TI
US07684203B2 Module with fixed structures
The present invention relates to a module with fixed structures, which comprises a module body, a latch and a resilient snapper mounted on the module body like a cantilever. The latch movably connected to the module body can move between the lock position and the unlock position, and on the module body is set a stop surface for preventing the latch from disengagement. The latch moves between the lock and unlock positions. When in the lock position, the latch is at least partly in the downward movement path of the free end of the resilient snapper; and when in the unlock position, the latch is out of the downward movement path of the free end of the resilient snapper. By employing a latch to control the moving space of the resilient snapper, the structure concerned is simple, and moreover only upon a toggle operation can the latch be switched between different positions. This ensures that only when the latch is unlocked, can the resilient snapper be operated in a way to enable the module to be taken out of the slot. While the latch is locked, incorrect operations are avoidable.
US07684200B2 Electronic apparatus and electronic system
An electronic apparatus includes: a main body; and a front face panel movably supported to cover a front face of the main body or to expose at least a portion of the front face thereof, and the front face panel is provided with a housing portion detachably retaining a portable apparatus; and the front face side of the main body is provided with an insertion/ejection slot for inserting or ejecting a memory medium.
US07684198B2 Stacked heat-transfer interface structure
A stacked heat-transfer interface structure for dissipating heat from a circuit board is disclosed to include a heat plate affixed to the circuit board, and relatively thinner first heat transfer devices and relatively thicker second heat transfer devices respectively attached to first and second heat generating electronic devices of the circuit board that have different heights for transferring heat from the first and second heat generating electronic devices of the circuit board to the heat plate for dissipation. Each first heat transfer device comprises a first heat-transfer sheet member having a high heat conductivity and a low thermal resistance and bonded to one first heat generating electronic device, an elastically deformable second heat-transfer sheet member having a low heat conductivity and a high thermal resistance and bonded to the heat plate to compensate for height tolerance of the respective first heat generating electronic device, and a heat-transfer block for spreading heat energy from the first heat-transfer sheet member onto the heat plate through the second heat-transfer sheet member.
US07684197B2 Memory module assembly having heat sinks with improved structure
A memory module assembly includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of heat-generating electronic components thereon, first and second heat sinks formed by stamping a metal sheet and attached on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and a clamp clamping the first, second heat sinks and the printed circuit board together. The first and second heat sinks each comprise a plurality of fins extending therefrom and define a plurality of openings between the fins. The fins and openings are alternately arranged on each of the first and second heat sinks along a height direction thereof. The second heat sink includes a pair of positioning tongues extending from opposite side edges thereof. The first heat sink engages with the second heat sink via the positioning tongues of the second heat sink extending in and engaging with the first heat sink.